Word@Work Luke20 - Luke 1:80
Published: Tue, 01/19/10
Word@Work from BeaconLight
HIDDEN GROWTH
Luke 1:80 And the child grew and became strong in spirit; and he lived in the desert until he appeared publicly to Israel. (NIV)
John the Baptist is absent from the Bible between his circumcision-naming ceremony and the beginning of his public ministry. This verse is the only clue to his upbringing and preparation for serving the Lord. Of course, we know that his parents were old when he was born, and presumably they died when he was a child or early teenager. We do not know who may have looked after him, or for how long he lived a solitary life in the desert. But we do know that he was filled with the Holy Spirit from birth (see Luke 1:15) and became 'strong in spirit', as did the Lord Jesus (see Luke 2:40). So we know that God himself was nurturing and protecting John, with or without the help of others.
As the son of a priest, John's primary spiritual education came from God's Word: taught either by his father or another priest. But John knew its meaning because the Holy Spirit interpreted God's message to his heart. He would have heard the stories of his remarkable birth, and the Spirit would have confirmed his special responsibility to be the forerunner of Christ as he read Isaiah 40:3-5. But what is the significance of the time spent in the desert? Well, Jesus Himself spent time away from the crowds in prayer with Father God; the Apostle Paul spent time in the desert of Arabia - time to pray and meditate, and to allow the Holy Spirit time to educate the heart with God's will and purpose.
Today, there is a tendency to rush everything, to cram education into a little time, and to pass examinations with speed. But God is never in a hurry. He uses time to mould our hearts into His shape. And it takes time to meditate - by that I do not mean the emptying of our minds, but allowing God to order our minds with His truth. Biblical meditation honours God by taking His Word seriously, and welcoming His Holy Spirit to explain His thoughts (rather than us imposing our ideas!). Biblical meditation is not just for special people; every follower of Jesus should set time aside each day, week and year to wait on the Lord (see Is 40:31). Some say they are too busy; but that is not a time constraint, it is really arrogance in putting God's priorities lower than our own. No wonder some believers feel they do not know what God wants of them, if they have not taken the trouble to read and pray.
Prayer: Gracious Lord. Thank You for giving me Your Holy Word and Your Holy Spirit. Please forgive me the many times when I have ignored You and preferred my own opinions and the priorities of my own lifestyle. Forgive my proud arrogance which has kept Your voice away from my heart. Help me to want to draw close to You again, to read the Bible and to pray, listening to what You are saying. May I also encourage my friends and colleagues to do likewise. For the sake of the glory of Jesus, and in His Name. Amen.
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You can read the verses around this Bible passage from the Internet Bible: - in English, and many other languages
John the Baptist is absent from the Bible between his circumcision-naming ceremony and the beginning of his public ministry. This verse is the only clue to his upbringing and preparation for serving the Lord. Of course, we know that his parents were old when he was born, and presumably they died when he was a child or early teenager. We do not know who may have looked after him, or for how long he lived a solitary life in the desert. But we do know that he was filled with the Holy Spirit from birth (see Luke 1:15) and became 'strong in spirit', as did the Lord Jesus (see Luke 2:40). So we know that God himself was nurturing and protecting John, with or without the help of others.
As the son of a priest, John's primary spiritual education came from God's Word: taught either by his father or another priest. But John knew its meaning because the Holy Spirit interpreted God's message to his heart. He would have heard the stories of his remarkable birth, and the Spirit would have confirmed his special responsibility to be the forerunner of Christ as he read Isaiah 40:3-5. But what is the significance of the time spent in the desert? Well, Jesus Himself spent time away from the crowds in prayer with Father God; the Apostle Paul spent time in the desert of Arabia - time to pray and meditate, and to allow the Holy Spirit time to educate the heart with God's will and purpose.
Today, there is a tendency to rush everything, to cram education into a little time, and to pass examinations with speed. But God is never in a hurry. He uses time to mould our hearts into His shape. And it takes time to meditate - by that I do not mean the emptying of our minds, but allowing God to order our minds with His truth. Biblical meditation honours God by taking His Word seriously, and welcoming His Holy Spirit to explain His thoughts (rather than us imposing our ideas!). Biblical meditation is not just for special people; every follower of Jesus should set time aside each day, week and year to wait on the Lord (see Is 40:31). Some say they are too busy; but that is not a time constraint, it is really arrogance in putting God's priorities lower than our own. No wonder some believers feel they do not know what God wants of them, if they have not taken the trouble to read and pray.
Prayer: Gracious Lord. Thank You for giving me Your Holy Word and Your Holy Spirit. Please forgive me the many times when I have ignored You and preferred my own opinions and the priorities of my own lifestyle. Forgive my proud arrogance which has kept Your voice away from my heart. Help me to want to draw close to You again, to read the Bible and to pray, listening to what You are saying. May I also encourage my friends and colleagues to do likewise. For the sake of the glory of Jesus, and in His Name. Amen.
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