It's Day 3 and we're in Luke 3.
As you read, listen for where God wants to speak to you. What jumps out to you? What speaks to situations you're dealing with right now?
Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 8 - Repentance is not just saying we're sorry - there also has to be a change in the our actions.
If you want to read the chapter online, here's a link.
If you have a question or comment, email me at butcher@ymail.com.
Your Questions:
- "Luke 1:65: Ok. So NASB says fear; NIV says awe. Completely 2 different meanings to me." - Great question. This raises the issue of translating the Bible. The New Testament was originally written in Greek; the Old Testament in Hebrew. To get them into another language, you have to translate them into that language. As the translators do that, they have to make judgment calls about what the writer intended when he wrote it originally, because some words have multiple meanings. Often this includes looking at the larger context of that chapter and discerning what the author meant. An example: what do I mean if I say, "That made me depressed." The word "depressed" has multiple meanings: it could mean, "That wasn't what I wanted to have happen"; it could mean, "I am feeling pretty sad about that"; it could mean, "I am clinically depressed and need professional help." If you look at the larger context of what I said and saw that I was talking about a football game, you'd guess that almost certainly it was the first meaning. As translators worked on that word in Luke 1:65, it's a Greek word that in some contexts can mean "fear" and in others mean "awe," so the translators did the best they could to discern the mean. Sometimes they come to different conclusions. At that moment, we can dig in ourselves and see what we believe the right answer is.
- "First; I detest wine so not asking to be able to drink wine. HAHA!
1 Timothy 3 verse 8 says...in the same way, deacons are to be worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain.
Luke 1 verse 15 says....for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink...
So it's ok for deacons to drink wine as long as they don't get drunk and John the Baptist is to never drink wine or any other "alcohol".
I have heard many disagreements in today's world about drinking. Some feel drinking is ok if you don't get drink, any type of alcohol. Some feel drinking wine is ok. Some think you can't even cook with any type of "alcohol". I have a friend who will not frequent any establishment that has alcohol being sold.
So my question is; (finally); is the drinking of wine only for deacons of the church? Are these scriptures only for that period of time and wine or any other fermented drink is out of the question? I had this question in my book and then read this chapter." -
The general rule for deacons is that they may drink a little wine, but should not get drunk. This is, to my mind, the general rule for Christians. I personally choose not to drink because I know there are people that might stumble in their faith if they saw me drinking, so I choose not to do that.
The Luke 1:15 reference is to John the Baptist. His is a unique mission and a unique situation for the angel to command that.
There are disagreements over how much drinking is ok. Many Baptists say none; many other Christians say in moderation. There is no doubt from the gospels that Jesus drank wine (although, granted, wine back then was very weak). I have relatives who used to refuse to eat in any establishment that served wine. For me personally: I don't drink, but I do eat at restaurants that sell alcohol, as well as shopping at stores (like Walmart and Krogers) that sell wine.
I would say, "Let each be fully convinced in his own mind" (i.e. let each one discern the truth as well as he can and live that out). It's ok that we disagree on this issue - it's not a major point of faith.
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