Abide | 6 Months in the New Testament - Daily Readings From the Bible Sample

Prayer

You’ll take a few minutes to read through today’s passages in just a moment. Before you do, start with a simple prayer like this:

“God, I invite you into this moment and ask that you open my heart to Your Word. Help me to know you deeply through it, and let your truth transform my heart, mind, and soul today.”

Once you finish your reading, take a few moments to walk through P.R.A.Y.

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P - PAUSE to be still. Meditate on what you’ve just read, allowing it to sink in.

R - REFLECT on Scripture. What was God saying to you today through His Word? Speak aloud a verse to remember, and maybe even write it down.

A - ASK for God’s help. The challenge is to be with Jesus and become more like Him. How does today’s Word challenge you to do that?

Y - YIELD to His will in your life. God lovingly invites you into His beautiful plan for you, His church, and the world. Take up His invitation to live differently; understanding His plan is beyond anything we could ask or imagine.

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Some Context on Luke

Who Wrote the Book of Luke?

Christian tradition holds that Luke, a first-century C.E. historian, physician, and disciple of Jesus, is the author of this compilation of stories and eyewitness accounts of the life of Jesus.

Who was the Book of Luke written for?

Luke is addressed to a man named Theophilus, as is the book of Acts, which functions as a companion or sequel to Luke’s gospel. In contrast to either Mark or Matthew, Luke's gospel is clearly written more for a wider gentile audience. Luke is traditionally thought of as one of Paul's traveling companions, and it's certainly the case that the author of Luke was from those Greek cities in which Paul had worked.

Context

The events described in Luke take place in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the surrounding occupied lands of the Greco-Roman Empire during the early 1st century, between 10 B.C.E and 40 C.E. Luke was likely composed between 60 and 80 C.E.

Literary Styles

The book of Luke is written in narrative, along with some discourse sections.

Key Themes

• The upside-down Kingdom of God
• Israel’s freedom and new covenant
• God’s faithfulness to his people seen in his human incarnation

Structure

Luke is divided into four parts. 1-2 introduce Jesus and John the Baptist. 3:1-9:50 detail the upside-down Kingdom of God. Chapters 9:51-19:27 focus on Jesus' inclusion of outsiders. And 19:28-24:53 conclude with Jesus’ persecution, crucifixion, and resurrection.