Advent Devotion (Merry Christmas) - He is coming again!

Jesus said: "Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going."

Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:1-6

Today, around the world, Christians celebrate Jesus’ first coming to earth as a time of hope and joy and peace. Our world today does not contain much hope, joy or peace. Hope is gone, joy is fleeting, and peace cannot be sustained. 

But Christmas did not end in a manger, it did not end on the cross, and it did not end at the door of the empty tomb. Christmas will be completed the day Jesus returns to this earth to fulfill all the rest of the prophecies of the Bible. 

God’s plan was never to just send the Messiah (Savior) as a baby. His plan was not even to just have the Savior die and rise again. His plan included all those things – but the final victory is to provide a complete eternal life for each one who responds to God’s love-gift, believing and accepting Jesus as their Lord and Savior. 

The day is coming when the just and righteous judgment of all sin will be completed, and then all effects and consequences of all believers’ sin will be finally and forever buried in the “blood of the Lamb of God.”

Jesus said He came to display Truth to us (John 18:37). He tells us that Truth sets us free (John 8:31-38). He says Truth purifies us (1 Peter 1:22). He gives us Truth as part of our armor against evil (Ephesians 6:14). He says Truth should be the way we live our lives here on this earth (2 Corinthians 4:2).

May we anticipate with hope and joy the return of our Lord Jesus Christ for He is coming again!

Advent Devotion (Day 28) - No Condemnation

For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world, through Him, might be saved.
John 3:17

What a beautiful statement! The God of the universe, speaking through one of Jesus' closest disciples,  John, wanted to make sure that all of humanity understood His heart.

John wrote this within 60 years of Jesus' return to Heaven. Some of his first readers might have even witnessed the crucifixion of Jesus. With memories of such violence against God Himself, these readers, and those who would follow, may have wondered what God thought of the people He created after what they did to His Son.

In this statement, God reassures them that His purpose in sending Jesus remains...Salvation! Jesus revealed the heart of God the Father in sending God the Son...to bring salvation - rescue, hope, healing -to the world through Him.

Paul goes on to repeat this truth in Romans 8:1-2 when he says "Now there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For in Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life has set you free from the law of sin and death."

For those who believe in Jesus as their Savior...there is no condemnation...no eternal punishment for our sins. We don't have to fear death and what comes beyond because we have been saved from the penalty for our sins. We are free in Christ!

Paul reiterates this truth again in Romans 8:34 when he asks, "Who is there to condemn us? For Christ Jesus who died, and more than that was raised to life, is at the right hand of God --and He is interceding for us."

So not only are we not condemned for eternity, we have an intercessor who, even now, speaks up on our behalf...the Lord Jesus Christ.

Advent Devotion (Day 27) - God's Gift of Salvation

For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. – John 3:16

When Jesus first came to this earth He was born into a certain family, a Jewish family, and into a certain line of inheritance...King David's line. But what He brought to the earth was not limited to just this family, this line, this race. Salvation was for everyone! Every family, every line, every race, every nation.

Throughout the centuries, the enemy has tried to convince people that Christianity is a "western" religion, or just for some countries or only for the poor, only for the foreigners. But Jesus made it clear that His message, His truth, His gift of salvation was for all people. He told His disciples right before He returned to Heaven to "go into ALL the world and preach the good news to everyone."

We give gifts at Christmas because it is supposed to remind us of that first and greatest of gifts given by God Himself to our world...salvation and reconciliation through Jesus. It cannot be earned. It can only be accepted. And it cannot be bought. It is free to all who believe.

And how is this gift received?

Admit you are a sinner
Believe that Jesus is God in the flesh and that He died on the cross for your sins and rose from the dead, conquering death
Confess Jesus as Lord and Savior of your life

And what is the result of accepting this gift of salvation...eternal life in Heaven where there will be no more pain or sorrow, no more tears or regrets, no more guilt or shame. It is beyond our wildest imagination! "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love Him."  1 Corinthians 2:9

Advent Devotion (Day 26) - Grace and Truth

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
– John 1:14

The Creator of the universe entered history as a man. God’s Word had created all that exists – God spoke, and everything came into being (Genesis 1) – and now that Word took on human flesh. He did not come as a full-grown man to command everyone to obey Him or to destroy all those who would not. He came as a little baby, helpless and weak, as every other human baby has been.

And He came to us! We tried countless times to make it to God but we never would be able to. Instead, He left everything to search us out...to come to mere human beings to show us, firsthand, His love.

Jesus left Heaven, where He had been an intimate part of God for all eternity. Think of your own words – you defend them, you treasure them when you write them down, they are important to you because they express to others who you are. In the same way, God’s Word was a treasured part of Himself – but He sent His Word to express and explain to people of earth who He is and how much He loves and cares for us. 

Our words can never become alive, but God’s Word is living and active and powerful (Hebrews 4:12) and His name is Jesus. He chose to be limited to time and space for a while, just as we are limited. And being limited to time and space meant He would also be able to die. From the moment He was born, the shadow of the cross would be part of His earthly life.

He is full of grace and truth. What an incredible and desirable balance in a leader and one that seems impossible to obtain. People tend to fall hard on the side of truth, often seeming judgmental and uncaring or they fall hard on the side of grace, often seeming not to stand for anything and falling for everything. 

Not so with Jesus. He always modeled what was right and true. He never condoned sin and would point it out each time, encouraging the sinner to "go and sin no more." Yet, He did it with such love and mercy that sinners wanted to be around Him. They felt loved and accepted in His presence. 

This same Jesus is alive in Heaven today and His Spirit dwells in all those who believe in Him. He has set a model for us to follow as His Church strives to be both grace and truth to a hurting world. 

Advent Devotion (Day 25) - Agony and Joy

"The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about Him. Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”  Luke 2:33-35

The child's father and mother marveled: We can imagine their combination of joy and surprise to see how God had touched the hearts of others with an understanding of their Son. No matter how well you know Jesus, there is something special about seeing someone else come to know Him.

The falling and rising of many in Israel: This would be shown in the way that Peter repented, but Judas despaired and committed suicide; in that one thief blasphemed Jesus, the other believed in Him and joined Him in Heaven that day. Jesus is like a magnet that is attractive to some, but others are repelled from Him.

A sign which will be spoken against: Sign is literally “a target that people shoot at.” Jesus would be the target of great evil. Even today we can see this, all over the world, as Christians are often the target of those who hate Christ.

A sword will pierce through your own soul too: It was important for Mary to know that mothering the Messiah would not be all sweetness and light. It was both a great privilege and a great burden.
Possibly no other human agonized as much over Jesus’ rejection and suffering as His mother did. This was not only because of the natural love of a mother, but also because His rejection was her rejection. Wonderfully, His vindication was hers as well.   David Guzik

As God works out his salvation of sinners, he leads us along unexpected paths that result in unexpected and sometimes agonizing pain. When it does, we can remember Mary. The darkest moment of her life, the sword that stabbed deepest into her soul, was the moment that God used most to bring salvation and joy to the world — and to her!

That’s how he works with us too. When the sword pierces, all it feels like is terrible pain. But later we discover that our deepest wounding often becomes the channel through which the most profound grace flows.  Jon Bloom

Advent Devotion (Day 24) - Waiting Expectantly

Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:
“Sovereign Lord, as You have promised,
You may now dismiss Your servant in peace.
For my eyes have seen Your salvation,
which You have prepared in the sight of all nations:
a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and the glory of your people Israel.”  Luke 2:25-32

Simeon...a man named in this story of Christmas, had been paying attention to God’s promises. Like the wise men, he knew the Scriptures and he was waiting for the "consolation of Israel." Simeon may have known that there were rumors regarding the coming of the Messiah. The news of John the Baptist’s birth and its meaning was widely publicized (Luke 1:65), and the shepherds who heard the angelic announcement may have kept temple flocks. They may have reported what happened among the people of the temple.

Yet it was not rumors, but the Holy Spirit who led him into the temple on that day. Simeon was a man who knew how to be led by the Holy Spirit, both in hearing God’s promise to him and being prompted to go to the temple at the right time. (David Guzik)

Simeon was already an old man, but as we read in our verse above, he had received a promise from God that he would not die until he had seen the promised Messiah. Can you imagine receiving such a promise from God?

Another person was there as well...Anna, the prophetess. "There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem." Luke 2:36-38

To be able to recognize Him, Simeon and Anna must have been looking for Him, expecting Him to come. Jesus has made another promise to those of us living today – the promise that He will return and take us to Himself (John 14:1-6). May we, like Simeon and Anna, expect Jesus' return and wait for Him with joy and peace in our hearts.

Advent Devotion (Day 23) - King, Priest and Savior

Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. Matthew 2:11

After the wise men had bowed down before Jesus and worshipped Him, they gave to God the best that they had. They may have wondered what good are gold, frankincense and myrrh to a baby, but they gave it anyway. They gave God what they had and trusted that God would use it for good. And He did.

Scholars believe it was those gifts that enabled the young family to flee to Egypt, shortly after the wise men's visit, to escape the murderous wrath of Herod. Jesus and his parents lived there for a period of time before returning to Nazareth, thus fulfilling yet another prophecy which said, "out of Egypt I have called My Son", Hosea 11:1.

Those gifts take on further meaning as they were given to honor the roles that Jesus would fulfill during His time on earth and in Heaven:

Gold for the King of Kings
Frankincense (which was used as part of the mixture of incense burnt before God at the Temple) for the High Priest that He is as He intercedes before the throne of God on our behalf
Myrrh (which was used as an embalming oil) to remind us of the powerful price He would pay for our sins on the cross as our Savior

May we be like those wise men. May we seek Jesus with all our hearts, look for God in the situations that do not meet our expectations and give Him all that we are, all that we have. That is how we will see God.

Christmas Devotion (Day 21) - Joseph Obeys

Read Matthew 1:18-24

Matthew 1:24 - When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife…

From reading this story in the Bible, it is clear that the year of engagement was not yet up. But Joseph was so convinced of God’s message that he immediately obeyed. He brought Mary to his home as his wife, where he could protect her from what others might say or do. It is very possible he became a man who was mocked and even charged with doing wrong things as a result of his action. But Joseph would not be kept from doing what God had asked him to do.

By obeying God, Joseph took full responsibility for both Mary and the child she carried. Jesus became Joseph’s legal child even though He was not Joseph’s blood-child. Genealogy was very important to the Jews of his day; in Joseph’s case, he was considered the rightful heir to the throne of David. By accepting Jesus as his legal son, Joseph passed on to Jesus this position of rightful heir to the throne of Israel. Through Mary (see the ancestry in Luke 3) Jesus’ ancestry is traced not only to David, but back to Adam.

How difficult is it for us to obey God when we know we will face scorn or hatred from those around us? God did not promise Joseph an easy life, but through obedience Joseph gained a blessing no other man in history would ever have – he was chosen to be the earthly father of the Messiah.

*When have you chosen to obey God, no matter what? How did God bless you for your obedience?

Advent Devotion (Day 22) - They Looked for God

On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. . – Matthew 2:11

Wise men, adults of incredible mental capability, men with enough power and position that they could meet with King Herod himself. Were they disappointed to not find the "King of the Jews" at Herod's palace?

What were they expecting when they entered that house? They knew they were looking for a young child but they must have wondered...would he somehow be mighty, dazzling, super human, a powerful presence? We don't know what they thought but we do know that they found normalcy...a young toddler with his mother, surrounded by the signs of a poor life, learning to walk, learning to talk. They had begun their journey looking for the king in a palace but found him in a humble home.

So what did they do? Many might have turned right around and left. This was not a king by the world's definition. This was not what they had travelled to see. This was not the king of their hopes, dreams and expectation. But they didn't leave. Instead, they did what God wants each of us to do when we meet with a situation that does not live up to our expectations...they looked for God.

They looked for God in the humble home. They looked for God amongst the poverty. They looked for God despite their possible disappointment. They looked for God in the face of a child.

And when they found God, they bowed down and worshipped Him. They bowed down out of obedience, out of a realization that God had a bigger plan than their own, out of love for a God who would come to earth through such humble means. They recognized that their ways were not God's ways, their thoughts were not God's thoughts.

May we be like those wise men. May we seek Jesus with all our hearts, look for God in the situations that do not meet our expectations and give Him all that we are, all that we have. That is how we will see God.

Christmas Devotion (Day 20) - Joseph's Choices

Read Matthew 1:18-24

Matthew 1:19-20 - And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.’
Joseph was a righteous man who suddenly was faced with a problem he did not know how to solve. The law of the land stated he was completely justified in having Mary killed when he discovered she was pregnant. He knew he was not the father of the baby, so to him this only meant that she had been unfaithful to him.

But Joseph was a righteous man, and he must have loved Mary already because he did not want to kill her or even have her shamed before all the people of the town. As he was thinking about how else he could take care of his problem, he fell asleep. The Angel Gabriel came to visit him in his dream and told him who this baby really was – the promised Messiah. He even gave Joseph the assignment of naming this baby. The name “Jesus” is the same name as “Joshua” in the Old Testament, and “Joshua” means “savior.” 

We continue with Joseph in our next lesson.

*How have you been willing to listen to God for a different way of working through a difficult situation?

Advent Devotion (Day 21) - Worship or Destroy?

When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written."
Matthew 2:3-5

The wise men left their country and followed the star but not to Bethlehem at first. Instead they went to Jerusalem, the home of King Herod of the Jews. It seemed logical to them that if this "King of the Jews" had been born then of course, King Herod and the Jews in Jerusalem would know where the baby was to be found. They would soon find out this was not the case at all.

This King Herod was known as Herod the Great. Herod was indeed great; in some ways great as a ruler, builder and administrator; in other ways great in politics and cruelty.

“He was wealthy, politically gifted, intensely loyal, an excellent administrator, and clever enough to remain in the good graces of successive Roman emperors. His famine relief was superb and his building projects (including the Jewish temple, begun 20 B.C.) were admired even by his foes. But he loved power, inflicted incredibly heavy taxes on the people, and resented the fact that many Jews considered him a usurper. In his last years, suffering an illness that compounded his paranoia, he turned to cruelty and in fits of rage and jealousy killed close associates, including a wife and his sons.” (Carson)

Psalm 19 says the heavens declare the glory of God. The writer, David, had spent many nights under the stars as he kept his father’s sheep. And from this Psalm it is clear he too knew the stories in the stars. This was before writing was widespread, so the common people used other things instead of written words to remember the Bible they had learned. Jewish history today tells us the constellations of stars were stories of each of the Tribes of Israel and the blessings Jacob had given each. So the remembering of the prophecy of the star rising in the house of Judah would have been something the people of Israel would have been able to watch in their night skies.

But the leaders of Israel, including King Herod, had not been paying attention to the skies; they were caught by surprise when the wise men came to ask where their King was to be born. They, like the religious leaders thirty years later, were focused not on God and His coming but on themselves and their hold on power. King Herod was disturbed because this baby born could threaten his power as king. And, like the Jewish leaders that would follow, King Herod tried to stop the plans of God by trying to kill Jesus.

I am struck with how not much has changed in our day and age. So many in this world are not seeking to know God, but instead are seeking power. When they feel threatened by Christians, followers of the Messiah, they react with anger and violence. One just has to look at Syria right now, and what ISIS has done to the Christian population there, to know this is true. In fact, in the last century more Christians have been killed for their faith than all of the previous centuries combined. The spirit of "King Herod" that would destroy Jesus Christ instead of worship Him is still alive and well in our world.

Powerful books

Unbroken - excellent!
Three Cups of Tea (not Christian of course but I think it gave a good idea of the typical Muslim people and may cause the ladies to have a heart for them)
Rhinestone Jesus - about the founder of Mercy House which reaches out to pregnant teens in Kenya…really good
Kisses from Katie - I love this girl and how she has followed God’s lead to Uganda
Scared by Tom Davis - about poverty in Africa and how God helps them - fiction
Prisoners of Hope - true story about two female missionaries taken captive in Afghanistan around 9/11
Death of a Guru - excellent book about a man who is a high level priest in the Hindu faith and how he finds Jesus
The Hiding Place - Corrie ten Boom and her rescue of Jews in WWII Holland
Priceless by Tom Davis - fiction about sex trafficking in Russia
The Cross and the Switchblade - true story of Christ's impact on drug-infested streets
Radhika’s Story - not Christian but quite impacting about a young girl who is caught in the sex trade, true story
Behind the Veils of Yemen - really good about a female missionary living in Yemen - true story
Rich in Love by Irene Garcia - true story about couple who began on very rocky ground but thru God’s help went on to have a wonderful marriage and foster many children
Safely Home by Randy Alcorn - about Christians in China

Christmas Devotion (Day 19) - Simeon and Anna

Read Luke 2:22-38

Luke 2:26 - It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.

There were two people named in this story of Christmas who had been paying attention to God’s promises. We do not read about them until after Jesus was eight days old and brought to the temple for the sacrifice to be made for every first-born child.

Simeon was already an old man, but as we read in our verse above, he had received a promise from God that he would not die until he had seen the promised Messiah. Can you imagine receiving such a promise from God? We know he must have come to the temple nearly each day, but on the day when Jesus was brought there by Joseph and Mary, he had been urged to come by the Holy Spirit.

Another person was there as well, though the Bible does not say she was expecting the Messiah. However, when Anna saw this little family come through the gates, she also recognized Jesus as the promised Messiah.

To be able to recognize Him, they must have been looking for Him, expecting Him to come. Jesus has made another promise to those of us living today – the promise that He will return and take us to Himself (John 14:1-6). We are given many signs to look for in prophecy, including Jesus’ own words in Matthew 24 and 25.

*What signs from prophecy do you see today that cause you to be expectantly watching for His coming?

Advent Devotion (Day 20) - Come To Worship

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”
– Matthew 2:1-2

"On the eastern side of the Arabian desert...a cloister of Magi preserved the traditions of the Babylonian and Persian astrologers. As they looked into the western sky, high above the horizon, a new light triggered a memory...Daniel's calculations...a king! But not just any king. The King of the Jews. A King who would eventually rule the world...They travelled more than three months to see the new King and when they found Him, they did something extraordinary. They fell down on their faces and worshipped!" taken from A Bethlehem Christmas by Charles R. Swindoll

How did the Wise Men know what to look for in the stars, and how did they know to come to Israel? Though we are not told this in the Bible, we do know Daniel was leader of the wise men and astronomers for most of his life in Babylon. It is now more than 400 years later, and the men who had heard these things from Daniel have long since died. But they passed the information on to those who came after them.

There are many different suggestions for the natural origin of this remarkable star. Some say it was a conjunction of Jupiter and Venus; some, other planetary conjunctions; others suggest a supernova; and some think of comets or a specifically created unique star or sign.

Whatever it was, it is significant that God met them in their own medium: He guided the astronomers by a star. This was also in fulfillment of Numbers 24:17: A Star shall come out of Jacob; a Scepter shall rise out of Israel. This was widely regarded by ancient Jewish scholars as a Messianic prediction.

Foreigners, learned scholars, wise, intelligent men. Eager to find the one, true King. So sure of Daniel's ancient prophecies, confirmed by "a star in the east," that they embark on a perilous journey for many months to a distant and foreign land. And they did not go out of curiosity. Their reason for going is clear...we "have come to worship Him."

Christmas Devotion (Day 18) - Wise Men Seek the Star

Read Matthew 2:1-12

Matthew 2:2 - Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.

How did the Wise Men know what to look for in the stars, and how did they know to come to Israel? Though we are not told this in the Bible, we do know Daniel was leader of the wise men and astronomers for most of his life in Babylon. We read about this in Lesson 6. It is now more than 400 years later, and the men who had heard these things from Daniel have long since died. But they passed the information on to those who came after them.

Psalm 19 says the heavens declare the glory of God. The writer, David, had spent many nights under the stars as he kept his father’s sheep. And from this Psalm it is clear he too knew the stories in the stars. This was before writing was widespread, so the common people used other things instead of written words to remember the Bible they had learned. Jewish history today tells us the constellations of stars were stories of each of the Tribes of Israel and the blessings Jacob had given each. So the remembering of the prophecy of the star rising in the house of Judah would have been something the people of Israel would have been able to watch in their night skies.

But the leaders of Israel had not been paying attention to the skies; they were caught by surprise when the wise men came to ask where their King was to be born.

*Are you reading the Bible with the thought of watching for God’s prophesies to be fulfilled?

Advent Devotion (Day 19) - Glory and Peace

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will to men.” – Luke 2:14

As I read these words, words that angels from Heaven spoke to human beings on earth, I am struck with this thought...Who am I? Who am I to attempt to explain what angels meant? Who am I to add my own commentary to the words of God? I am a mere human being, sinful by nature, equipped with an average mind, trying to comprehend the things of God. So it is with much prayer and humility that I try.

Glory to God in the highest...amazing, stupendous wonder...thankful, honor-filled praise...from the lips of angels who had seen God and knew Him in a way no one on earth ever had. And their words of praise were not just for the shepherds, not just for this earth but to the highest heaven, throughout the universe which He made. All creation, everywhere, was to hear of this glory that was given to God, the Creator.

And on earth, peace, good will to men...peace. It's what the world longs for. It's what each of us, each day, look to find at home, at our jobs, in our thoughts, our heart. Peace with our family members, peace with our friends, peace with our colleagues and ultimately, peace within ourselves.

But that total peace could not be found. It had been destroyed with the fatal choice Adam and Eve made in the Garden. To desire to know evil, to want to be gods unto themselves, to break the intimate relationship they had with their Creator. And ever since then, every person born was born into a broken relationship with the Lord. There was no ultimate peace in their hearts because there was no ultimate peace with the One who made them.

God made each of us to be in a loving, peaceful relationship with Him. But that had been destroyed. Only God Himself could restore that relationship, bring reconciliation, bring ultimate peace. And this is what Jesus did. By His birth, life, death and resurrection He brought peace to each of us if we will accept it.

This is what the angels spoke of...peace on earth, peace in each heart that put Jesus on the throne. And this peace was God's "good will" for each man. It is God's will, His desire, that we live at peace with Him. Just as each of us want peace with those we love, God wants peace with each of us because He loves us.

The words of the angels sum up Jesus' mission on earth...to bring glory to God and peace to us.

Christmas Devotion (Day 17) - Born of a Virgin

Read Isaiah 7:14

Isaiah 7:14 - Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
Why was it important that the Messiah, Jesus, was to be born of a virgin? We must understand two very important things.

First, the Messiah, being God, must become human. This was for two important reasons: God as an eternal Spirit could not die. So for Him to be able to die for us He must become human. Also, God as Spirit could not be seen or heard or touched by humans; He needed to become like us so we could understand Him. Therefore, being born of a human woman was the way for Him to become a human being who could be touched and heard and seen, and could die.

Second, it was important He be born of a virgin because of God’s condemnation of sin for Adam and Eve. He had told them sin would result in death. Even though they did not immediately die physically when they sinned, they died spiritually. This spiritual death was passed on to every child through the seed of the man, and without a man’s seed no woman could bear a child. That is, no woman could bear a child without God’s direct miracle. His prophecy, as we saw in our first lesson, was that the Messiah would be born of the woman, a virgin.

*What does Jesus’ virgin birth tell you about God?

Advent Devotion (Day 18) - Right at Home

The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told. – Luke 2:20

And the shepherds returned...to their sheep, to their normal, daily life, to their duties, their responsibilities. Although they just had a life-changing, world-changing experience, they had to return to their normal lives. Maybe they now yearned for something bigger, some sort of job that would have them doing "more" for God, doing something of more "importance."

But this was not God's plan for His first missionaries. He didn't send them to far away countries to spread this good news. He sent them right back to their jobs, to their same duties they had before, yet now their hearts were changed. Now their outlook was changed. Now they were filled with hope and joy unspeakable. Now they would not look at life around them with the same eyes again.

And as they returned to the fields, to their sheep, to their duties. they glorified and praised God. The fields now became, for them, holy ground. The words they shared with each other were now filled with wonder and praise. The stories they told their children each night, shared with their neighbors at the local well, brimmed with praise for God and what He had done.

These first missionaries learned the truth that you don't need to go to a foreign country, to new surroundings, to a new job, to share Jesus Christ. You can, if God calls you, but He didn't call them to leave their flocks and fields. He called them back to the same place, the same circumstances, but with a changed outlook. He called them to share Jesus and His truth with the same people they saw the day before.

We should do the same. Missionary work, the spreading of the Gospel, is not just for those who have that title next to their name. Not just for those who leave home to go to a foreign land. Not just for those who pastor a church or work for a Christian organization.

Missionary work is for all of us. When God has changed our hearts, has shown us the truth of His Son, has shown us our Savior, we should return to our families, our jobs, our friends, our neighborhoods, glorifying and praising Him. Sharing His love, sharing His truth, sharing Jesus, with everyone we know. This is missionary work...whether in a distant land or right at home.

Christmas Devotion (Day 16) - John the Baptist

Read John 1:19-34

John 1:22-23 - So they said to him, ‘Who are you? We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?’ He said, ‘I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah said.’
The son born to Zechariah and Elizabeth was named John, and was called John the Baptist after he began his God-given ministry. In the society of that day, John the Baptist would have had a greater standing than Jesus, because John was in the High Priestly family; many of these people became the religious rulers of the day. Since there were now hundreds or perhaps even thousands in this direct line from Aaron, however, the choice of who would be the next High Priest was a political decision. So John, when he was old enough to care for himself, went to live in the wilderness. This was often the choice of someone who wanted to spend extraordinary time alone with God (like Paul in Galatians 1:17). 

John turned his back on everything he could have had – power and wealth and influence. He lived off the land, eating locusts and honey, until he was about thirty years old. Then, at the time set for a priest to be old enough to begin serving (Numbers 4:3), he began to preach beside the Jordan River.

Because it had been over four hundred years since the last prophet had been sent to Israel by God (see lesson 12), many people came from all over the country to hear him. He told them he was the fulfillment of God’s prophecy in Malachi 3:1, the one to prepare the way for the Messiah.

*How much do you believe God’s prophecies?

Advent Devotion (Day 17) - Treasuring and Pondering

But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. – Luke 2:19

She pondered them in her heart. She was silent, she remembered. She took the facts, she took her thoughts, doubts, fears and hopes and brought them all before the Lord, allowing Him to speak to her heart. She questioned, she gained understanding, she prayed, she asked for peace.

Each of us can take a lesson from Mary, treasuring up and pondering in our hearts all that Christmas means, all that Jesus Christ means, all that salvation through Him and eternity in Heaven means.

"To do this well, though, we must make space for pondering in our hearts. We must not be so busy, or self- absorbed, or materially-committed, or emotionally deadened, or insensitive to the larger world around us that we don’t ponder in our hearts the extraordinary gift of life that we’ve been given and how to live it fully with meaning and purpose.

This is true for those of us who are children and young adults, parents and grandparents. This is a busy era of cell phones and text messaging, of Facebook, of doing school and sports and extracurricular activities, of parenting, jobs and friends that leave little time for contemplation and self-reflection.

Where and when can one ponder in one’s heart anymore as a student, or working 60-80 hours a week and then playing hard during the few waking hours left? Maybe one can ponder in one’s heart out walking or running alone, unless one’s only hearing the I-pod in one’s ears. Maybe one can ponder in one’s heart during a long shower or when writing in one’s journal. Maybe one can ponder in one’s heart by taking formal time for meditation or prayer – even only 20 minutes a day – early in the morning or late at night."  Dean Scotty McLennan

But in order to follow Mary's example, to really treasure and ponder truth, we must set aside some quiet time to do it. It may be tough but committing to that time alone with our own thoughts and the Lord has eternal rewards. And, just like Mary, it will equip us for the joys and trials ahead.

Christmas Devotion (Day 15) - Mary Visits Elizabeth

Read Luke 1:39-45

Luke 1:46-47 - And Mary said, My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.
Mary went to visit Elizabeth and Zechariah. Elizabeth and Mary were related, so Mary most likely knew of the miracle of Elizabeth’s pregnancy in her old age, and she wanted to share her own miracle with someone she knew would understand. When Mary arrived at Elizabeth’s home, the baby in Elizabeth’s womb recognized the Child in Mary’s womb.

There are many people in our world today who believe babies in the womb are not human and cannot feel anything. From our verses today, as well as others in the Bible, we see that even these tiny babies can respond to God. 

Mary’s song in answer to Elizabeth’s blessing is also proof the women of this time memorized Scripture just as the young men did. Much of her song comes from the song Hannah sang when she praised God for giving her a miracle son, Samuel – you can read it in 1 Samuel 2:1-10.

As we learned in our last lesson, Mary knew she would face some very difficult problems because she was pregnant before her marriage. The Law even said Joseph, as the husband, had the right to have her executed. But she chose to obey God and let Him work out the problems.

*When God asks you to do something for Him, and then problems come up, how do you react?

Advent Devotion (Day 16) - The First Missionaries

When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. – Luke 2:17-18

What an incredible night these shepherds had! It had begun in terror when the skies above their heads lit up with an other-earthly radiance. Mighty angelic beings had not only spoken to them but sang God's praises. Heavenly voices, heavenly music and a message almost beyond belief!

The Messiah...the promised Messiah...the deliverer spoken of by their parents, their priests, since they were children, had come! And wonder of wonders, He had come as a newborn baby.

When the shepherds recovered from their fright at the sight of the angels, they ran, sprinted to find this baby. And when they found Him they fell down in awe, wonder and worship. Yes, He was a baby but there was no doubt in their minds that He was also God.

And so with tears streaming down their faces, joy unbounded in their hearts, they...went home and told no one....What???

Of course that is not what the shepherds did! Instead, they went out, that very night, and told everyone they could find about God being born in a manger! And everyone who heard their words were amazed.

And shouldn't we do the same? Shouldn't we tell others about "this child," this Savior, our Savior? We may not be able to tell them that we were visited by angels but we can tell them that we are indwelled with the Holy Spirit. We can tell them about what Jesus has done in our lives. We can tell them that He has a plan for their lives too and that it's a plan to help them and not to harm them, to give them a hope and a future.

The Shepherds were the first missionaries. Filled with joy and hope they went forth to spread the good news of Jesus Christ. May we do the same...today and everyday until He returns.

Christmas Devotion (Day 14) - Gabriel Visits Mary

Read Luke 1:26-38

Luke 1:38 - And Mary said, ‘Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.’ And the angel departed from her.

Mary was probably about seventeen or eighteen years old when she received a visit from the Angel Gabriel. This was about six months after Gabriel had visited Zechariah, as we read in our last lesson. 

Mary was engaged to be married to Joseph. Both she and Joseph came from the royal family of David, so the marriage may have been arranged for them many years before. However, both had to give their assent to the marriage before the engagement contract could be legal. Normally, there would be a year between the engagement and the marriage itself, but the engagement was so binding that a divorce was required to break it, and usually the only reason for such a divorce would be evidence of impurity, such as a child being born.

Mary knew all these things, and yet, when Gabriel told her God’s plan for her to have a baby before the wedding, it was her decision if she wanted to face all the awful things people would think and say about her. Please note she also asked Gabriel how this could be, just as Zechariah had asked. But her question was from innocence rather than doubt – God knew what was in her heart. Gabriel’s answer that this child would be from God was met with Mary’s faith. Her answer, in the verse above, came from trusting God.

*When God asks something of you that might mean you lose favor with others around you, what is your answer?

Advent Devotion (Day 15) - Our Savior!

“Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” – Luke 2:11-12

This is the essence, the core message, the most important truth for each of us to grasp this Christmas...a Savior has been born to us!

But do we know that we need to be saved? The criminal on death row knows, the drug addict knows, the man whose wife just walked out on him because she found him cheating on her knows, the student just caught shop-lifting knows, but what about you, what about me?

It's easy and it's human nature to look at those around us and compare ourselves to them...I'm not as bad as the next person; I would never do that; I would never say that. I think that's why some reality shows have become so popular...they make us feel better about ourselves. But the bare truth is that we have all messed up. Not one of us can get through the day without sinning in some way, without hurting someone else, without breaking one of our own rules and God's rules.

When we finally realize that we do mess up and don't get it right, we start to wonder what the consequences will be, in the long run. And humanity has made up religions in order to try to compensate for their sins. Whether it's weighing sin on the scales and hoping our good deeds outweigh our bad, or spinning prayer wheels, or doing some sort of penance, the fact is we have no way to pay for our sins, to really wipe the slate clean in the eyes of God.

Only one can wipe the slate clean...only one can declare us free from the consequences of our actions...and that is the Judge Himself. And our Judge is our Creator...the Lord God.

His love for us is beyond anything we can imagine. Knowing that we would sin and not be able to pay for those sins ourselves, He made the most selfless, loving decision that could be made. He took the penalty for our sins upon Himself. He saved us by offering Himself on the sacrificial altar. His blood and broken body compensated for our sins...wiped the slate clean.

He is the Savior, the only Savior, for all mankind.

Christmas Devotion (Day 13) - Zechariah and Elizabeth

Read Luke 1:1-24

It had been nearly four hundred years since God had given a prophecy to the people of Israel (last lesson). He had been silent so long the people wondered if He had forsaken them. But then He sent His angel to a priest serving in the temple. This priest was an old man, and his wife was also old enough so she could no longer have children. Yet God told Zechariah he was about to have a son born.

Zechariah doubted God, which was surprising because he had been trained in God’s ways from a young child, trained to be a priest. He knew how God had given a child to Abraham and Sarah in their old age. Because of Zechariah’s doubt, God made it impossible for him to speak, and said he would regain the ability to talk when his son was born.

How often do we doubt what God says to us, even though we read it in the Bible? Maybe, like for Zechariah, God’s words just do not make sense because we cannot see how what He says can happen. Maybe we are listening to someone else trying to explain what God REALLY said, but it is not the same as the words in the Bible. For Zechariah, the moment he was unable to speak he knew he had done the wrong thing by not trusting God. But now he would have to wait for the birth of his son before he would be able to speak again.

*When did you doubt what God said to you? What happened?

Advent Devotion (Day 14) - Joy For All

But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.” – Luke 2:10

Jesus’ coming to earth was good news! His birth would bring joy to all people because He would reconcile them to God. Therefore, this Christmas, let us remember that Jesus came to bring joy. Not just the joy of giving and the joy of spending time with loved ones, but the joy of having our sins forgiven, the joy of a life committed to God, the joy of having a purpose on earth and an eternal home in heaven.

There are many things that steal our joy – things like selfishness, busyness, and unrealistic expectations. Even though it’s Christmas time, we can find ourselves lacking joy. If your joy seems to have been drained away, recall Jesus’ words regarding the way to joy.

“If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in His love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.” (John 15:10, 11)

Our obedience to God and His ways is what gladdens our hearts. When we are in right relationship with Jesus, He gives us joy. King David knew that sin kept him from experiencing God’s pleasure. When he repented of his wrongdoing, he asked God to “restore to me the joy of your salvation”. (Psalm 51:12)

Let Jesus bring you joy this Christmas by surrendering yourself completely to Him.

Heavenly Father, thank You for the joy I can have when I am reconciled to You. Show me any area of my life where I have not been obedient to You, that I might turn from it and walk in Your ways. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation. In Jesus' name, Amen.

** written by Suzanne Benner **

Christmas Devotion (Day 12) - A Forerunner

Read Malachi 3-4

Malachi 3:1 - Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the LORD of hosts. 
The last prophecy for this study, of the Messiah coming, is part of the last prophecy in the Bible before Jesus was born. Much of what you have read in the Scripture for today is about judgment, the judgment on evil the Messiah would bring. 

But just as we read over and over in the Bible, God gives people mercy and grace: another chance to repent and turn from wickedness. This is the purpose of this messenger God will send to prepare the way for the Messiah.

All through their history the people of Israel had been given prophets and leaders to tell them God’s ways and plans. Most of the time, the people had either ignored God’s warnings, or in some cases had even openly told God they did not care or they did not believe His warnings. This was one of the important reasons why God gave them prophecy warnings – telling them ahead of time exactly what would happen so they knew He was telling the truth. God has warned us the same way.

*What prophecy warning are you listening to from God?

Advent Devotion (Day 13) - They Were Looking

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were
terrified. – Luke 2: 8-9

"The only class of people considered lower than shepherds were thieves. Even Gentiles were afforded more respect...I (the angel Gabriel) found myself baffled by God's logic. Were the plan mine, I would have roused the sleeping world by trumpeting the birth of the Messiah in the Temple and in the royal courts. I would have engaged the important people in welcoming the new King to earth...But not God.

He said, 'I will announce the birth of the Savior only to those who care to know it, only to those looking for a savior. Those who want a king to lead them into battle or a leader to make them rich will not know what to do with My Anointed One. If the rich and the learned and the powerful care to find Him, they will have no trouble. I have made the time and place of His birth known to all mankind for many centuries," taken from A Bethlehem Christmas by Charles R. Swindoll

God is so good and so different from the way we operate. The very first people he told, after the birth of Jesus, were young, poor, looked-down-upon shepherds. Maybe equivalent in our day to telling a bunch of migrant workers or the homeless. "Isn't it obvious that God deliberately chose men and women that the culture overlooks and exploits and abuses, chose these 'nobodies' to expose the hollow pretensions of the 'somebodies,'" 1 Corinthians 1:28 (The Message). But these were people who were searching for Him. People who had much time on their hands to pray, little of earth's worldly possessions to distract them and desire in their hearts to know Him.

May we, like the shepherds, humble ourselves before God and truly seek Him with ready hearts.


What can I give Him,  Poor as I am!
If I were a shepherd I would bring Him a lamb,
If I were a wise man I would do my part,
Yet what I can I give Him, I'll give Him my heart.

(from the song In the Bleak Midwinter)

Christmas Devotion (Day 11) - God Chose the Town

Read Micah 5:2

Micah 5:2 - But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days. 

One of the most incredible things about God’s prophecies is how He sometimes gives great details of what He will do. There are actually two very specific prophecies about Bethlehem regarding the Messiah. Besides our verse above, see also Jeremiah 31:15 which is a prophecy about the children of Bethlehem being killed – we will study this a bit more in a later lesson.

It did not matter where Mary and Joseph were living when Jesus was conceived (a later study). God had promised Messiah would be born in Bethlehem, and God would make that happen without picking Mary and Joseph up and spiriting them to Bethlehem just in time for Jesus to be born. 

Do you believe God knows or controls the smallest details of your life? And if He does, are you still able to make choices for yourself? You cannot choose everything in your life. For example, you could not choose who your parents were or who your siblings are. Yet, these relationships have the largest influence of your life in what choices you can make about who you want to be. God’s plan will work out – your choices determine whether you want Him to work out everything for good for you.

*What bad thing in your life have you seen God turn into good?

---

Advent Devotion (Day 12) - He Chose the Stable

She gave birth to her  firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room available for them in the inn. – Luke 2:7

"God chose the stable for His Son to be born in for a very important reason. You see, when God sent His only Son to live on this earth, He made a strategic decision not to shelter Him from the harsh realities of this life. God had no intention of shielding His Son by having Him born into the make-believe world of the rich and famous.

God wanted His Son to experience life in its blue-collar boldness. Jesus’ first breath of air burned with the odor of animal urine. The first noises He heard were the grunts of livestock. Jesus’ first outfit was made of dust cloths, or the equivalent of grease rags. From day one, God the Father determined not to shelter His Son from the rude, crude realities of life on planet Earth.

For our sake, Jesus was given no aristocratic advantage. He had humbler beginnings than any of us. He was born into a real family, and He worked a real construction job. He lived in a neighborhood. He had real friends. He suffered hardship like the rest of us have, and He died a cruel death for a crime He didn’t commit.

So when the Bible urges people who are going through disappointment and pain to pour their hearts out to the now-ascended Savior, we Christians can do so with the absolute assurance that Jesus understands. He’s been there.

Life without advantage? He lived it.
Shortage, poverty? He’s been there.
Discrimination, oppression? Jesus was a refugee before His second birthday.
Rejection? He experienced it.
Ridicule? It was a part of His daily life
Abandonment? By lifelong family and friends in His greatest time of need.
Death of loved ones? Multiple times.
Physical pain? More than you or I will probably ever experience.

Has some experience in your life driven you to within an inch of your breaking point? Has some experience hurt you so deeply that you’ve wanted to cry out, “I can’t go on because nobody understands!”? If so, look at the stable. Be reminded this Christmas that Jesus understands. He’s been there. He can identify with you no matter what you’re going through. What’s more, you matter to Him more than you can possibly imagine.

Can you see how important the stable is? It symbolizes the deliberately unsheltered life of Jesus. It stands as a monument to His ability to identify and sympathize with whatever we are going through. But we must be humble and trusting enough to pour out our hearts to Him and then allow Him to love and minister to us, and restore us to wholeness again.

The essence of Christianity is a relationship with a resurrected Savior. It’s a dynamic restorative relationship, and it’s with One who understands."  Bill Hybels

Christmas Devotion (Day 10) - Salvation Through Death

Read Isaiah 52:13-53:12

Isaiah 53:4-5 - Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. 
As we read a few lessons ago, the prophecies for the Messiah were not all about strength and power and victory. Our Scripture reading today could seem like a complete defeat – but it is actually victory God’s way. 

Messiah was coming, but He must first do a very difficult job. He must come to take care of our sin problem. Sin is such a problem because the only penalty for it is death. There is no sentence of prison time or payment or good work anyone can ever do to pay for even one sin. And once we are physically dead, the death sentence cannot be reversed unless our spirits have been made alive before our bodies died.

Jesus came to earth for one purpose – to die. He told Pilate at His trial that His purpose was Truth – and the most basic Truth is that sin causes death and there is only one way to escape death – Jesus.

Our Scripture reading says, in Verse 4, some may see God the Father as the cause of Jesus’ suffering – but the truth is, WE are the cause of Jesus’ suffering. He came to pay the price for us because of His great love for us.

*What makes you certain Jesus has given you eternal life and forgiveness?

Advent Devotion (Day 11) - God Sends a Baby

           
                        While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born.      – Luke 2:6


It is the year 1809 and "men were following with bated breath the march of Napoleon and waiting feverishly for news of the war. And all the while in their own homes, babies were being born. But who could think about babies? Everybody was thinking about battles.

In one year, there stole into a world a host of heroes. Gladstone was born in Liverpool, England, and Tennyson at Somersby. Oliver Wendell Holmes was born in Massachusetts. Abraham Lincoln drew his first breath in Old Kentucky, and music was enriched by the birth of Felix Mendelssohn in Hamburg.

But nobody thought about babies. Everybody was thinking about battles. Yet, which of the battles of 1809 mattered more than the babies that were born in 1809?

We fancy that God can only manage His world through the big battalions of life, when all the while He is doing it through the beautiful babies that are being born into the world. When a wrong wants righting, or a truth wants preaching, or a continent wants opening, God sends a baby into the world to do it.

And where do you find God on Christmas? In a manger. A baby was born at the heart of the Roman Empire, and when the Roman Empire would crumble and fall, that baby, who would become a man, would also become Savior of the world. " John Maxwell