Daily Devotion, December 31, 2020

 

Devotion: Read Isaiah 40:9-11.

In verse 9, the Lord directs our focus upon who He is and what he has done; we are to look upon His glory. It is an acknowledgement of good news. This good news is so powerful that His people are to declare it from “a high mountain,” and with “raised voice with strength.” We should make it loud and clear, and so everyone hears the hopeful truth proclaimed.

The prophet Isaiah describes Christ as a tender Shepherd who carries His own people close to His bosom. He saturates his flock with His love and gently carries us to a safe pasture. Our Savior sacrificially laid down His life to ensure our safety. One glorious day, He will be returning with a strong hand to defeat the foe once and for all. He will gather up His flock, His faithful followers.

We have nothing to fear today because the Shepherd holds us close to His heart. He surrounds us with His care, and He will lead us each step of the journey until we are safely home. We are told in this passage that the same arm of might the Lord wielded to conquer death will be used to bear up his lambs. Nothing can separate you from the love of God in Christ Jesus. Look to Him and call upon Him. Personal Worship Option: Father, when we are fearful and uncertain of what lies ahead, help us to remember that you are tenderly carrying us in Your loving arms, and You know the way. Amen.

Daily Devotion, December 30, 2020

Devotion:

Read Luke 15:3-7.

Luke 15 is a continuation of the stories from Luke 14 of the conversations about who is welcomed at one’s table. In Chapter 15, the Pharisees and scribes are grumbling because Jesus is eating with sinners. Jesus responds with the parable of the shepherd who leaves the 99 sheep to search for the one sheep who is lost.

From the Old Testament prophets, Jesus would be known as the Shepherd-King who would look after his sheep. Luke includes the shepherds in the story of Jesus’ birth.  John’s gospel records Jesus saying, “I am the Good Shepherd, I lay down my life for my sheep.” Jesus knows and understands the shepherd’s life and sheep.

Jesus knows the great treasure of even one sheep. Jesus knows what is involved to go searching for a lost sheep and to follow the footprints of a wandering sheep. And Jesus knows the great joy of finding the lost sheep and bringing the sheep which was lost back home.

The irony of this parable is that it is the Pharisees and scribes who would consider themselves “found” from a long time ago, who now exclude others and have forgotten how they were rescued from their own “lostness.”

Jesus is reminding us of the ways of God. God loves and cares for us enough to do whatever it takes to search for and find us wherever we are and to bring us back “into the sheepfold.” God rejoices more than we could ever imagine in finding us and bringing us back home.

If we find ourselves grumbling about who's “at the table”, we might look again at who the scriptures describe are at Jesus’ table. Perhaps this is a parable for all of us…whether we consider ourselves, “lost” or “found”.

Personal Worship Option: Jesus loves and cares for you. You might feel as if you are Jesus' 100th sheep and wonder if he cares more for the other 99. But Luke 15:3-7 can give you full assurance that Jesus loves and cares for you. Jesus will do anything to search for you and rejoices to carry you back into his sheepfold. If you feel as if you are among the 99 and have been for a long time, reflect on how much Jesus cares for you. Remember the grace you have been given through the years. Ask for God's help in giving more grace to others. 

Daily Devotion, December 29, 2020

 

Devotion: Read Psalm 23.

Of all the comparisons God could have made, in Psalm 23 he chose the image of a needy sheep and a strong but gentle shepherd. Sheep have a natural tendency to wander off and get lost. Sheep are essentially dumb animals that do not learn well and are extremely difficult to train. Well, maybe that explains why he chose sheep to describe us! They do not have good eyesight, nor do they hear well. They are very slow animals who cannot escape predators; they have no camouflage and no weapons for defense such as claws, sharp hooves, or powerful jaws. And, sheep are easily frightened and become easily confused. In fact, they have been known to plunge blindly off a cliff following one after another. I was blessed to see a shepherd leading a flock of sheep in Israel recently. In lock step they followed him up and down hills, through a ravine, down a valley, and off to the grazing spot. Sheep need a shepherd to guide them, protect them, and care for them. Our Great Shepherd created us to need him and to have our needs met by him. Where are you needy today? You may have situations that bring out your fear, worry, feelings of inadequacy, insecurities, doubt, or loneliness. Maybe you are in a season where you feel small and uncertain, or fragile. During those times God attends to your needs; he watches over your heart. He cares for you like a shepherd cares for his sheep. Psalm 23 is God’s way of saying, “I made you to need me. I am with you no matter what.”

In every situation, in every season, your Shepherd is with you. In the green pastures and beside the still waters, he is with you. In life’s paths and through dark valleys, he is with you. In waiting rooms and by hospital beds and at the cemetery, during the chemo treatments, he is with you. Through Covid 19, isolation, and quarantine, he is with you. What need do you need to cast on him? Let him be the shepherd that he desires to be. Let him carry your burden today and then say, “The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need.” Personal Worship Option: You won’t experience all the Lord can be and wants to be as your Shepherd if you aren’t willing to be a sheep. Sheep give all their worries and cares to the shepherd. 1 Peter 5:7 tells us, “Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.” We are to give, to cast our worries on the great Shepherd because he cares about us. How would that look in your life if you really did that today? Think of just one care or concern. Imagine casting it on the shepherd. Imagine putting it on the Shepherd’s shoulders. And then leave it there.

Daily Devotion, December 28, 2020

 

Devotion: Read Isaiah 43:1-5a. 

The OT book of Isaiah is really three books in one. In the first part, Chapters 1-39, the prophet Isaiah warns the southern kingdom of Judah to repent or face punishment in exile for their disobedience. Chapters 40-55 were written during the exile in Babylon, and Chapters 56-66 after the exile. Our passage today is in the second part and was written to the exiles in Babylon. They were living as refugees and slaves in Babylon because they had turned away from God. One might think that God would have turned away from the exiles, given up on them, and perhaps sent a prophet to make their time in Babylon even more painful than it already was.

But instead God sent a message of comfort and hope to the exiles. In our passage for today, God assured them that God has redeemed them, and they are God’s. God promises to be with them, using phrases like “when you pass through the waters, I will be with you,” which may have been a reminder of God’s salvation of Israel at the Red Sea. God is still “the Lord your God!” How reassuring this must have been to those exiles, torn from their homeland and forced to serve in a foreign land. How reassuring these words are for us! We are precious in God’s sight. Personal Worship Option: Give thanks today for God’s abiding, never-ending love. In this season of Christmas, give thanks for the gift of Christ to the world, to each of us, and for the hope and assurance wrapped in that gift.

Daily Devotion, December 27, 2020

 

Devotion: Read Matthew 2:7-15.

Invariably, the gifts of the Magi get the most attention in this passage! We reflect on how gold, frankincense, and myrrh are fitting gifts for a king, priest, and one who would die for us. We even like to claim that our giving gifts at Christmas may be a continuation of a tradition begun by the Magi’s giving. The Magi themselves are interesting characters who came from far away to pay homage and worship this baby and future king.

Today, let’s pay more attention to the “rest of the story.” Insanely jealous King Herod was intent on stamping out any possible competition for his throne, and he would send soldiers to Bethlehem to kill all babies born there within the last two years. Warned in a dream of this imminent danger, Joseph took Mary and the baby and escaped to Egypt, where they lived until Herod’s death. Living in another country as refugees is not an easy life. Customs, language, laws, and so many things are different. Refugees are often viewed with suspicion and are not always treated with hospitality. This part of the birth story reminds us that some aspects of the first Christmas were so very different from the idyllic one we portray sometimes. But this painful part also reminds us that God was and is in control. Praise God!! Personal Worship Option: Pray today for refugees, including our South Sudanese UM pastors and their families, our Grace Home children, and so many others who live now as refugees in Uganda. Give thanks to God, who is indeed still in control. Thank God for new insights as we continue to celebrate Christmas. Blessings to you and yours!!  

Daily Devotion, December 26, 2020

 

Devotion: Read Matthew 1:18-25.

Every person in the small village of Nazareth would have known about the ceremony in which young Mary was pledged to Joseph, a carpenter and likely quite a bit older than Mary. As was their custom, they had pledged their intentions to marry and had promised to be faithful to one another. In this pledging ceremony, the two were legally bound but would not live together as husband and wife until the wedding itself, which would be some time later. Upon learning that Mary was pregnant, Joseph’s first thought must have been the painful stab that his pledged virgin had been unfaithful to him. His next thought would likely have been concern that his neighbors would think he was the father and therefore had sinned with Mary. Lots of other thoughts and no doubt a flood of emotions must have poured over him. Somehow he was able to sort through the options of revenge and justice and decide to do the kindest and most gracious thing he could come up with -- to divorce her quietly.

God offered Joseph the option to marry Mary and be the earthly father of this child who was conceived in Mary by the Holy Spirit. Joseph married Mary, and “...she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.” No mention of Luke’s census, manger, or shepherds. But a different and wonderful story of Joseph’s faith in and obedience to God. Personal Worship Option: Give thanks today for the beautiful way the gospel writers chose to present the story of the birth of Christ. This passage from Matthew, the one read earlier from Luke, and the very theological account by John are like facets on a beautiful diamond. Pray for faith like Joseph’s to listen to and trust God in your life.

Daily Devotion, December 25, 2020

 

Devotion: Read Luke 2:1-7.

Tiny Bethlehem, jammed with pilgrims forced by the Romans to travel to be counted, was not at all still and quiet, and the couple huddled around the manger may have felt just a bit of desperation. Yet, hope was alive and well. Hope found them a place for the night. It wasn’t what they had planned, but it did meet the immediate need. Hope reminded them that they were following God’s plan. Hope brought shepherds knocking on the door to see a baby that had been heralded by angels. Wow - and this was just the beginning! Here’s the thing about Hope. It’s not a granted wish or a favor performed. It is far greater than that, it is a zany, unpredictable dependence on a God who loves to surprise us out of our socks. Personal Worship Option: What are your greatest dreams? Remember, God can do anything and he loves to fulfill dreams. Ask God to show you what he wants you to do, and then ask him for the power and courage to do it.

Daily Devotion, December 24, 2020

 

Devotion: Read Luke 1:26-38.

To grasp Mary’s faith, we need to put ourselves in her place and imagine an angel suddenly appearing to us. Many of us would probably faint from terror. Mary had just experienced some perplexing things--a visit from an angel, who said that she would become pregnant through the Holy Spirit and that her child would be "called the Son of the Most High." This meant he would be the Son of God, the promised Messiah of God's people.

Wonder what raced through Mary's mind and heart? Was she tempted to ask for a better explanation of why and how all this would happen? Was she tempted to say no, you are wrong. Mary must have thought that someone else would be a better choice for this task. This whole thing made no sense and she would never find a way to convince her parents and neighbors this was all legitimate. Despite her bewilderment, Mary remains composed as she listens and responds to the angel Gabriel. Read again the power of Mary's answer to the angel. "I am the Lord's servant... May it be to me as you have said.” For her example of unwavering faith in the face of great uncertainty, Mary deserves our deep respect. Mary had a wide-open heart, a life that was totally available for whatever God had in mind. A servant heart is an available heart. Is your heart open today to what God wants you to do? Personal Worship Option: God, as we celebrate the birth of your Son, our Savior. Help us to acknowledge Him as Lord and to trust Him with our lives. We struggle with the awe of it all. Increase our faith and our faithfulness. Amen.

Daily Devotion, December 23, 2020

 

Devotion: Read Micah 5:1-7.

Time and Hope. In a nanosecond these days, we can hear news from anywhere in the world. And in a nanosecond, if things don’t go the way we expect, we can easily give up hope.

But during the prophet Micah’s day, time held different meanings. Micah is speaking words of hope three hundred years after the days of King David, and approximately seven hundred years before Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem. That’s a long time to keep hope alive!

These words were spoken during very difficult times. Jerusalem is under siege, and the people see no hope. But Micah sees hope. Micah sees beyond the current circumstances to what God is promising to do and has already begun to do. Micah is able to speak of this hope because of God’s presence in his life. Micah knows God and knows the character of God in such a way that Micah knows that God is bringing salvation to the people.

Micah’s words were not what the people were expecting! “Bethlehem? A shepherd king? One who would reach out to the ends of the earth and be their peace?” Even Jewish teachers and priests of the first century AD would read and expect from this prophecy a very different kind of Messiah than they saw in Jesus of Nazareth. But God kept Micah’s words in the hearts of the people such that Micah’s words are quoted in the gospels that Jesus’ birth fulfills the words of the prophets.

Even in the midst of great despair, Micah’s hope was in God and who God is. Micah invites us to follow his gaze and turn our full attention to God. Micah’s words call us to see, hear and to open our hearts to expect the unexpected, to listen to the least likely voices and to stay awake with wonder of all that God is doing in our midst, even in difficult times. Personal Worship Option: Three years after Rev. Phillip Brooks’ trip to the Holy Land, (which was during December after having given the funeral sermon for President Abraham Lincoln in May), he wrote the poem for the Christmas carol, “O Little Town of Bethlehem.” Pause and reflect on the words of the third stanza: “How silently, how silently, the wondrous gift is given; so God imparts to human hearts the blessings of his heaven. No ear may hear his coming, but in this world of sin, where meek souls will receive him still the dear Christ enters in.” Never, ever give up hope, for God is present and at work in our midst. Amen. 

Daily Devotion, December 22, 2020

 

Devotion:

Read Isaiah 11:1-11.

Jesse was the father of King David. Jesus was a descendant from David’s line so in that sense he was also a descendant of Jesse. This passage is a prophecy of Christ’s coming. Jesus, the Savior, is the shoot that comes forth from the stump of Jesse. Remember, at this point in history, Christ had not yet come and Israel was under great oppression by the country of Assyria. Not only does this passage speak to Christ’s coming but it also gives us a description of his future, eternal Kingdom, one where the wolf and the lamb will live together in peace. It will be a land where nothing will hurt or destroy. Nations will rally together and it will be a glorious place. Sounds like heaven, doesn’t it!

In this Christmas season many of us have beautiful Christmas trees in our homes decorated with lights and decorations and ribbons. And when the Christmas season passes, they'll be thrown away or stored in boxes. But there is also another tree, a living tree, a shoot from the stump of Jesse, a fruitful Branch. And this is the tree you will always want in your home. This tree, this Jesus of Nazareth, is someone you'll never want to throw out or store away in a box. Why not? Because, as this passage describes, he is the Spirit of wisdom, the Spirit of counsel, and the Spirit of knowledge who will bring you peace this season and always.

Personal Worship Option: Heavenly Father, thank you for the promise of peace through your Son, Jesus. Thank you for the promise of life eternal. Today I pray for your promised wisdom, counsel, and knowledge as I seek to reflect your light in the world. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Daily Devotion, December 21, 2020

 

Devotion:

Read Isaiah 7:13-17.

After Solomon was king of a united Israel, the kingdom split. Many years later, King Ahaz was ruling over the southern kingdom of Judah. In chapter seven of Isaiah, we find the king very worried. Two other kings have united and are planning an attack on Jerusalem. But God sends the prophet Isaiah to reassure him that they will not be successful and he should stand firm in his faith. Isaiah lets him know that God is giving him a sign. He acknowledges this pregnant woman among them and says she is going to give birth to a son that will be named “Immanuel.” He says that by the time this child is eating curds and honey (food for newly weaned infants), those two kings will be gone.

  

When Matthew was writing his Gospel book about the life and ministry of Jesus, he remembered this sign given by Isaiah and saw it as a foretelling of this baby who would also have the name “Emmanuel” because this really was “God with us.”

Hundreds of years before the birth of Jesus, the king and all his people are scared. Will they survive this attack from their enemies? Is life as they know it going to change dramatically? So God sends them a message of hope and reassurance. Hundreds of years later, God sends another message of hope and reassurance to all the world through his Son.  

There are times when we all face situations that scare us and cause to wonder if life as we know it is going to change. We wonder what will happen to us and whether we will be able to handle what comes our way. God continues to send us a message of hope and reassurance through a baby, a message that says God is with us and will see us through whatever comes our way.

Personal Worship Option: Offer a prayer of thanksgiving and celebration to God for the hope that is given to everyone through a baby named “God with us.”

Daily Devotion, December 20, 2020

 

Devotion: Read John 1:14-18.

One of the greatest statements in the history of humanity is this: “...the Word became flesh and lived among us…” My favorite way of restating that comes from the Bible translation known as The Message: “The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood.” God was willing to move in close to us, to live among us, to experience life in a body like ours and face the vulnerabilities humans deal with every day. It is another way God showed all of us humans for all time how much God loves us and how important we are to God. Think about it: for somebody to move into your neighborhood, they must think a lot of you and those around you.  

Not only did Christ move into our neighborhood, he chose to move into one of our most humble settings. He could have chosen to be born to a wealthy family who lived in the best section of Jerusalem. But he chose to be part of a poor family in the little town of Bethlehem. It really is an amazing part of our story that says so much about our God and what God thinks of you and me and everybody else.  

In Psalm 8 at verse 4, the writer has been marveling at the expanse of God’s creation and then asks this question: “what are human beings that you are mindful of them, mortals that you care for them?” He goes on to answer that question in the following verses. But at Christmas, I think we find God giving another answer: “I care enough to become one of them.”   Personal Worship Option:

One of my favorite Christmas hymns is Charles Wesley’s “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing.” Verse two speaks to this God who became one of us:

Christ, by highest heaven adored; Christ, the everlasting Lord; 

late in time behold him come, offspring of a virgin’s womb.

Veiled in flesh the Godhead see; hail th’incarnate Deity,

pleased with us in flesh to dwell, Jesus, our Emmanuel.

Hark! the herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King!”

Daily Devotion, December 19, 2020

 

Devotion: Read John 11:35.

In some translations, this verse is just two words: “Jesus wept.” But those two words say as much as any others about the fact that Jesus became one of us. He entered our world, became human and entered into our suffering and pain. He was part of a poor family, living in a world of violence and injustice. He knew what it was to be treated unfairly. He knew what it felt like to have people hate you, even when you try to do right by everyone. And he experienced the death of a close friend and the grief of his family. So he wept. He was moved by their pain and heartache. In that moment, maybe as much or more than any other moment while he was here on earth, Jesus truly was “one of us.” 

When you want to connect with another person so as to lead them to their own relationship with Christ, one of the keys to making that connection is to “become one of them” as much as you can. Do a lot of listening to what they think and how they view the world. Try to understand how they came to those viewpoints. Listen for the areas in their life where they are hurting or struggling. Find out what needs they have. Ask what gives them joy and fulfillment. Learn all you can about them and do all you can to help them. In other words, love them. And all along the way, pray for God to help you truly see and hear them. Your goal is for them to describe you this way to someone else: “Yes, I know him (or her). He’s one of us.”

Jesus set the example for us by becoming one of us. As his people, we are to follow his example by becoming “one of them.”  Personal Worship Option: What person or family is God leading you to connect with, such that they would consider you “one of them”? Pray for a name (or names) and guidance on making the initial connection or deepening a connection you already have.

Daily Devotion, December 18, 2020

Devotion: Read Exodus 3:1-10.

The message of God coming to be with us at Christmas echoes all the way back to the time of the Exodus, when God said to Moses “I have come down to deliver (my people)...” God knew the pain and suffering of his people and the time had come for deliverance. Moses was to be the conduit of deliverance, even though he was reluctant, which didn’t dissuade God. He patiently waited for Moses to come to terms with his new “mission”. God’s plan was unconventional which is a trademark of the workings of God.  Think about it . . . deliverance through an ark, a seventy year old shepherd, a boy with a slingshot, and many other examples, but the best example is a baby born in a Bethlehem stable who came to save the world!! God is always working to bring us into relationship with Him and will use unconventional means if necessary. Personal Worship Option: Do you ever feel hopeless at school, home, work? Remember, God hears our needs and answers prayers in the manner that will help us, serve his will, and often surprise us. Trust God in prayer right now for special guidance today.

Daily Devotion, December 17, 2020

 

Devotion: Read Colossians 1:15-23.

Jesus in His humanity is the visible revelation of the invisible God. This is a great mystery but it is a truth that has been given to us from the Creator of the universe. The only way for sinful humanity to be reconciled to God is through the death and resurrection of the eternal Son of God. He paid the price for our sins.

The only way to discover the invisible God is through the person of the Lord Jesus Christ, Who is the visible image of the invisible God - God in the flesh. The only way to really know our Creator is through His only Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, Who is the firstborn over all creation.

The word firstborn does not refer to timeline. The Son is from everlasting to everlasting. The word firstborn refers to His preeminent position in God's creation, His superior standing. Christ is the firstborn over all creation because as the eternal Son of God He was born into humanity as the perfect Son of Man. The Word was made flesh and dwells in us making Him first in significance and first in status. Jesus Christ is first in importance over all His creation, and at the name of Jesus every knee will bow for all creation is subject to His authority. He died so that we might live. Personal Worship Option: Thank You God that You sent Your only Son into the world, to become one of us, so that we might be reconciled back to You and be your children and joint heirs with Christ. You gave us the greatest gift and your love is unimaginable. AMEN

Daily Devotion, December 16, 2020

 

Devotion: Read John 14:8-10.

John’s gospel begins with the words, “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.” Throughout John’s gospel we are given a picture and understanding of who God is in Jesus.

John 14 is often read to bring comfort during times of grief. But let’s read these verses today as if we are listening in on a very special conversation between Jesus and his disciples. Hear both the seriousness and light-heartedness of a conversation between dear friends. See the well-woven threads of profound truths and imagine the new realizations by Jesus’ disciples.

Jesus is preparing his disciples for his time of death, so there is a real heaviness and seriousness to this conversation. Jesus invites his disciples into this conversation with him.

Sincerely searching for answers, Phillip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.”

In the middle of this serious conversation, I see a smile come upon Jesus’ face and a lighthearted voice with almost a chuckle asking, “Don’t you know me, Phillip, even after I have been among you such a long time?" And then I perceive Jesus with a sideways smile upon his face, contentedly saying, “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father.”

(These verses in John 14 are similar to other verses in John’s gospel; particularly in John 7: 28-29, and John 8:19 where Jesus declares that to know Him is to know God.)

We could begin answering Jesus’ question of “Don’t you know me?” , with Jesus’ own “I Am” statements and by even naming just a few of Jesus’ actions from John’s gospel. And all of these answers would be correct, but there is a deeper question here which goes to the heart of the matter summed up in Phillip’s words, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.”  Personal Worship Option: The question Jesus asked Phillip is the same question which Jesus asks us today. We can fill in our name in Phillip’s place. “Don’t you know me, _______, even after I have been among you such a long time?” How would you and I answer Jesus’ question? Pause to ponder your answer. And hear afresh and anew Jesus’ response, “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father.”

Daily Devotion, December 15, 2020

 

Devotion: Read Philippians 2:1-7.

Paul tells the Philippians to take on the attitude of Christ by showing compassion, love, unity, and humility. Christ was humble, willing to give up his rights in order to obey God and serve people. It’s good to ask ourselves to what degree do we reflect these traits in our relationships with our families, with our friends, with our churches, and with our social groups. How deeply is our relationship with Christ solidified in our lives? If an object is cast in color, it is made of that color. In the casting process a liquid material is poured into a shaped mold and the color is solidified into the object. If an object is painted though, the color is simply on the outside. Painted objects can chip and the original color will show through. Have we allowed Christ to cast us? Or is he only on the surface of our lives? When Christ changes us from the inside out, we will reflect his attitude and experience joy and peace. If he only touches our surface, then we have fleeting moments of happiness. Becoming solid instead of surface in our relationship with him requires self-discipline, obedience to God’s Word, and a commitment to develop and reflect the attitude of Christ. Personal Worship Option:

Meditate on the lyrics to this song today:

We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord

We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord

And we pray that our unity will one day be restored

And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love

Yes they'll know we are Christians by our love

Daily Devotion, December 14, 2020

 

Devotion: Read Hebrews 1:1-3.

This week in the Season of Advent, as we prepare for Christmas, we will read passages of Scripture that help us to understand the concept of Christ being the incarnation of God. The Book of Hebrews has as one of its main purposes to show us that Jesus Christ was and is superior. The writer will make key points that Jesus is superior to the angels, greater than Moses, and far greater than any human high priest. This statement in Hebrews 1:3 that the Son is “the exact representation of (God’s) being” (NIV) is the foundation for the superiority of Christ.

It is almost always a complimentary thing when someone says about a young man that he is the “spitting image” of his dad (nicer phrases are used in describing girls who look like their moms). When we see someone who really resembles and even acts like a parent, we realize that if we had never known the parent, we would have an idea of what they were like. The offspring may look, talk, and even behave very much like them; but in the end they are not them. Each of us is unique. But the Son was and is God. Christ came into the world as a human being so that we might know God more fully, and that through faith in Christ, we might have the gift of eternal life. Personal Worship Option: Think about the characteristics and qualities of Jesus of Nazareth, as he is described in the gospels. What does the statement in Hebrews that the Son is the exact representation of God teach us about God? Give thanks today for God’s love that would send the Son into the world in the form of a human being.

Daily Devotion, December 13, 2020

 

Devotion: Read John 1:10-13.

Here we have two verses of really sad news and two verses of really good news. The two sad verses tell of just how far humanity had strayed from God. John has already shared in earlier verses that the world and everything in it had been made by the One who is the Word of God. He comes back to that here and laments that the same world created by Christ did not recognize him. Furthermore, the people who God had called and created to be his own did not receive his own Son. Some Christians look back at that time and wonder how so many Jewish people did not recognize Jesus, but I wonder how many Christians would not recognize him today if he showed up in unexpected ways?

Then comes the really good news. To everyone who did receive him and believe in him, they became the children of God. That is still true today. You get a new identity. You get to have an intimate, personal relationship with the God who gave you life in the first place. You have a 24/7 connection to the God who designed and is still creating the whole universe and therefore can guide you in how to live life at its best and overcome any obstacles that may be thrown in your path. No matter what giant of an enemy tries to defeat you, you can have victory over them simply because you are a child of God.  

If you have strayed from God, you can go back anytime and God will receive you as his own. (If you know someone who has strayed from God, be sure to let them know that as well.) And if you simply have not been fully living into your identity as a child of God, what would it take for you to never let that happen again? Claim and live into your identity as a child of God! Personal Worship Option: Parents want to hear from their children as often as possible. Your “Heavenly Parent” would also like to hear from you as often as possible. It doesn’t have to be about anything major; just a conversation and enjoying each other.

Daily Devotion, December 12, 2020

 

Devotion: Read Matthew 9:9-13.

You have probably heard or read about the tax collectors during the time when Jesus was among us. They were Jews, but they worked for the Romans, collecting taxes from among the people for that government. According to the population of their area, they were assigned a certain amount they were to collect, but they were allowed to collect beyond that amount to keep for themselves. Abuse of the system was rampant. They took advantage of their position to burden the people and line their own pockets. As you might imagine, they were intensely hated by the people.  

Matthew was a tax collector. Jesus called him to be one of his twelve closest disciples. I have to wonder if he was not the one whose life was most radically changed because of this invitation and his acceptance of it. As he watched Jesus heal so many people and as he listened to what Jesus taught, his thinking and outlook on life and people had to change so drastically. As Jesus became so popular among the people because of all he was doing for them, many of them probably also changed their view of Matthew. Even though he no longer had the financial resources he used to have, his life was so much better. He was a new person! And the longer he was with Jesus, the more he continued to change. He changed so much, after Jesus was resurrected from the dead and was about to ascend back to heaven, Matthew was one who Jesus sent out to represent him as an apostle.  

No matter what you are like, through Jesus Christ, you can become a changed person for the better. And no matter what that other person you have reservations about is like, through Jesus Christ they can become a changed person for the better. Wouldn’t it be great if you could somehow help that person come to know Jesus? Personal Worship Option: Who is that person you would love to see decide to follow Jesus? Ask God to help you work toward that happening.

Daily Devotion, December 11, 2020

 

Devotion: Read 2 Corinthians 5:14-17.

When we give our life to Christ, it is like we are created as a new person! The Holy Spirit breathes new life into our lives and we are not the same anymore. We are not reformed, rehabilitated, or re-made - we are re-created! We are not merely turning over a new leaf; we are beginning a new life directed by Christ. Our transformation begins inside out. What has been transformed on the inside manifests itself through our actions. Personal Worship Option: How can you share God’s transforming work in your life? To whom do you need to share this story?

Daily Devotion, December 10, 2020

 

Devotion: Read John 8:1-11.

We are often drawn in to life stories about tragedy, love, and heroism, and we tend to hope for a happy ending. Our imaginations fire up with the plot’s twists and turns. We don’t like it when a character is treated unfairly, and we smile when justice is served. We like happy endings.

At first this story appears to be rather simplistic. The religious leaders try to trap Jesus as they publicly shame a woman caught in adultery. But instead of falling for their trap, he silences them, and they leave. And then he forgives the woman. But, looking deeper, we can see there is a lot more going on. This is complex. The religious leaders are playing power games. They are exercising spiritual abuse first by shaming the woman and then by trying to undermine the credibility of Jesus.

It is easy to judge others and find fault with them, but then Jesus, speaks up: “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone.” It’s as if he is saying that they need to confess their sins, stop judging others, and receive God’s grace. Jesus forgives the woman and she is invited into true life. Jesus invites everyone to die to sin and truly live. Isn’t it wonderful that we can have a new beginning, a fresh start? No matter our mistakes, Jesus still loves us and forgives us and gives us opportunities to have a fulfilling life. Personal Worship Option: Dear God, remind us today that our task is not to judge others but instead to offer people your forgiveness. Help us all to accept your offer of forgiveness and begin living a new story. For Jesus’ sake, Amen.

Daily Devotion, December 9, 2020

 

Devotion: Read Lamentations 3:22-24.

Sunrises and Sunsets! Beautiful gifts from God! A brand new day is a beautiful gift from God, too! We can begin each day knowing of God’s love and mercy. It’s like a fresh start every morning!

These verses from Lamentations give us hope and inspired the lyrics of the beloved hymn, written prior to 1923 by Thomas Chisholm, “Great Is Thy Faithfulness”. Looking back on the writing of the hymn, Chisholm recalled in 1941, "My income has not been large at any time due to impaired health in the earlier years which has followed me on until now. Although I must not fail to record here the unfailing faithfulness of a covenant keeping God and that He has given me many wonderful displays of His providing care, for which I am filled with astonishing gratefulness."

It cannot be overlooked that these verses which sustain us through difficult times are within this book of Lamentations in the Old Testament! (This is one of those tiny, five chapter books in the Bible wedged between Jeremiah and Ezekiel which I usually have to look up the page number to find. And I had forgotten that the words from “Great Is Thy Faithfulness,” came from this book!)

But how profound, that these words are within this book of Lamentations! It’s easy to speak of God’s faithfulness when things are going well, but to speak these words in the midst of suffering gives hope in the midst of despair!

Eugene Peterson’s introduction to Lamentations in The Message says, “Lamentations, written out of the Exile experience, provides the community of faith with a form and vocabulary for dealing with loss and pain. The precipitating event, the fall of Jerusalem, is told in 2 Kings 25 and Jeremiah 52. It is impossible to overstate either the intensity or the complexity of the suffering that came to a head in the devastation of Jerusalem and then continued on into the seventy years of exile in Babylon. Loss was total.”

In the midst of this experience, these words of faith in the faithfulness of God were written and spoken. And the word “faithfulness” is not just a characteristic of God. It is a word of the relationship God has with us and a gift of love from God to us and all of creation. Personal Worship Option: Read these verses again and let them give hope to you. “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, ‘The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.’” Lamentations 3:22-24

Daily Devotion, December 8, 2020

 

Devotion: Read Genesis 45:3-8.

Joseph was a teenager when his brothers threw him in the pit. He is now in his thirties and second in command in Egypt. During those intervening years, Joseph was falsely accused and put in prison. When he was in the pit and in prison, he must have wondered about his future. But instead of falling into despair, he obeyed God and did what was right. He remained faithful to God and somewhere along this journey, Joseph caught a glimpse of God’s divine plan for his life and is able to articulate it to his brothers. He says three times in this passage, “God sent me.” Later he says, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people” (Genesis 50:20). The Hebrew verb used for “intended” means “weave.” He was saying, “You wove evil, but God rewove it together for good.” God's is always working in his divine plan for our good even when other people have evil intent.

Are you faced with heartaches today because of someone's evil deeds? God can use it for good.

Have you been cheated or lied to or betrayed? God can use it for good.

Are you the victim of carelessness that has caused great pain to you? God can use it for good.

Have you lost people in your life and are hurting? God can use that for good.

Have you lost jobs, relationships and comfort because of evil? God can use it for good.

Look for God's divine plan in your human stories and trust him to reweave them into good. Personal Worship Option:

Meditate on this poem of unknown origin made by Corrie Ten Boom (author of The Hiding Place).

My Life is but a weaving

between my Lord and me;

I cannot choose the colors

He worketh steadily.

 

Oft times He weaveth sorrow

And I, in foolish pride,

Forget He sees the upper,

And I the under side.

 

Not til the loom is silent

And the shuttles cease to fly,

Shall God unroll the canvas

And explain the reason why.

 

The dark threads are as needful

In the Weaver’s skillful hand,

As the threads of gold and silver

In the pattern He has planned.

 

He knows, He loves, He cares,

Nothing this truth can dim.

He gives His very best to those

Who leave the choice with Him.

Daily Devotion, December 7, 2020

 

Devotion: Read John 3:1-8.

I love this passage! Nicodemus was one of the Pharisees, devout Jews who believed that one earned God’s love by meticulously following every detail of the law. They were judgemental of others who were not as disciplined as themselves and even lived apart to ensure they were not led astray. Nicodemus was a member of the ruling council or Sanhedrin, so he was a respected person in his community. His coming to see Jesus at night is an important detail. Nicodemus did not wish his peers to know that he was seeking to learn anything from this radical teacher who had very recently caused a great disturbance among the Jewish leaders by clearing out the temple.

Nicodemus was not coming to test or trick Jesus as Pharisees so often did. Nicodemus came earnestly seeking the truth about the kingdom of God. When Jesus told him he must be born again, Nicodemus asked how that is even possible. Nicodemus wanted to know more, and we also should want to know more. Jesus explained that our being born again is a spiritual rebirth, a birth “from above,” and it is different from our physical birth. Our new spiritual being is different from the old self. Born again, we are joined through Christ with the Father in the Spirit. Personal Worship Option: Reflect today on yourself as a spiritual being. Do you remember a time of spiritual rebirth, of being born again? Think how your life today is different because of your relationship with God -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Give thanks for Christ who came to give all of us the opportunity to be born from above.

Daily Devotion, December 6, 2020

 

Devotion: Read John 1:6-9.

In the time when Jesus was here on earth, there was speculation among many that John the Baptist was the Messiah. The writer of this Gospel addresses that issue very early in his book: John was not the light who was the Messiah, but was sent to be a witness to that light. His mission was to help others believe in the light.

Each of us have been given the same mission. Our purpose is to help every person we can to experience this light and come to believe in him. We are invited to be a witness to how this light has affected our life. We have all had experiences of the darkness trying to penetrate and deplete our life. We know of so many ways and through so many people, God has shown this light into those experiences, allowing us to see again and live again.

When you and I fail to share about our experiences with the light, we allow the darkness to remain in place. People who are dealing with the darkness are looking for some light to guide their way. Sometimes all they need is light as soft as the flicker of a candle to guide their next step and assure them that light is still available for their life. Who in your circle of relationships is needing some light right now? Who is searching for direction in their life? Who is scared? Who is lonely? How might you tell them or show them about the light who is Jesus Christ? John came as a “witness to testify to the light…” All who follow Jesus are also invited to share this light they have received.  Personal Worship Option: Name one or two people who you know need some light in their life right now. Pray about how God might use you to provide that light.

Daily Devotion, December 5, 2020

 

Devotion: Read John 1:3c-5.

It has been a year in which darkness in various forms has been part of our lives. A pandemic that has created all kinds of chaos and confusion. Tornadoes that ripped away property and protection. Politics that divided. Many have experienced feelings of isolation, hate, fear, anxiety and despair. In so many ways and forms, darkness seeks to take the life out of us.

The writer of the Gospel of John acknowledges that there is darkness in our world, but also assures us that God has sent a light into our world that cannot be overcome by the darkness. This light who is Jesus Christ shines into that darkness and it scatters away. This light restores life in us.  

While we have seen the darkness at work this year, we have also seen the light at work to overcome it. Healthcare workers have often gone “above and beyond” to provide comfort and care for those struggling with COVID. People came from far and near to help in the days immediately following the tornadoes. At Christ Church, we have sent four live worship services out into the homes of people each Sunday to help them stay connected to God and each other. In other words, God is still sending light into the darkness, wherever it is. And that darkness, no matter its form, cannot overcome the light. Personal Worship Option:

Note three ways you have seen light overcome darkness this year. Offer a prayer of gratitude to God.