Luke 1

So compared to the other three gospels, Luke does just what he says, he started from the beginning and laid the whole story out sequentially and logically. My kind of man. I think it's also interesting to note that he said many had already written an account of Jesus' life so: a) how cool that he still knew his version needed to be written and b) how cool that God chose these particular four to include as scripture. I mean, Luke and Mark weren't chosen as disciples yet still their stories were chosen to be God's everlasting Word.

Luke is the only one to give us a clear rendition of Jesus' birth (with the exception of the wise men and flight to Egypt sections of Matthew). This careful telling of John the Baptist's birth is cool too. The beautiful prophetic songs and speeches by Elizabeth, Mary, and then Zechariah are each full of lovely imagery. But one little detail sprung out to me out of this whole chapter. It all happened after a roll of the dice. Zechariah was chosen by lot to go into the Most Holy Place.

I think I like this because of what I believe about fate, chance, and coincidence. Basically, I don't believe in any of it. Instead, I believe in providence. The sovereign hand of God leading each of us step by step. That doesn't mean I believe that control of chance belongs to us. I don't think we can use it to force a response or signal or outcome from God, but He certainly controls every single possible variance and it all happens exactly according to His plan.

Some of the things in my life right now seem like a tragedy of errors or bad luck or misfortune. But I don't buy that. That's hopeless and full of despair to think that everything's just a flip of the coin or that I simply got the short end of the stick. Our sovereign King rules it all. He is capable of being all-present, all-knowing, and all-powerful.

All of the fascinating detail that Luke included are worth telling because they are orchestrated. It's not just a retelling of a meaningless story of random chance. It's weaving a picture of a big God with a big love to give and a big story to tell. And just like John's life, He's orchestrating mine too.