Advent :: Day Twenty-Four

“So when they met together, they asked him, ‘Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?’ He said to them: ‘It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.’ After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. ‘Men of Galilee,’ they said, ‘why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.’” Acts 1:6-11

Note: Today’s devotion is from The Christ of Christmas by Calvin Miller (B&H, 2006)

The word Immanuel is second only to the word Lord is Christian worship. The Incarnation is the noblest idea of any world religion. God did not watch human despair from the safety of heaven. He clothed Himself in humanity. He ceased watching the human war and became a soldier. Oh, the things that God experienced in becoming a man:

• the blistering summer sun, 
• the shivering rains of winter, 
• the blight of world hunger when He fasted after His baptism, 
• the desperation of bereavement when His earthly father died, 
• the empathy of a mother’s tears when she stood at the cross, 
• the disappearance of all friends at His arrest in Gethsemane, 
• the pain of a friends denials when Peter quaked before the truth, 
• the staggering shock of treachery by His friend Judas, 
• the horror of naked judgment with no one to speak on His behalf, 
• the agony of the crucifixion where He experienced the status of a convict,  
• the agony of death, 
• the loneliness of being forsaken by everyone. 

All these things-when put together-spell Immanuel. These things are what the God of all mercy took upon Himself. 

But why did He do it? Because these sorts of things for the fabric of all our living. We cannot live without bumps and pains, without heartache and desolation, without mosquito bites and cancer. Immanuel was God saying, “You shall not bear such pain alone.” God became flesh to redeem. 

Let Jesus be incarnate in your life, and then maybe when you have stooped to serve the desperate and dying, you will hear them say the word Immanuel. When Christ becomes incarnate in your life, you will hear those you serve saying to you, “I cannot help but believe in Christ. I have seen Him in your life.” 

An Additional Reading: Read 1 Corinthians 2:1-5. How much convincing does it really take to share with someone the blessings of Christmas? The world rarely responds to our profound arguments. It is rarely moved by our wise perspectives, even when we present them well. It is more often won by our thoughtfulness than our theology. It is more often drawn to God by His presence in our lives than by our persuasion. It is our Christ, not our creed, which captures people’s hearts. 

Prayer: Lord, make me an instrument of Your incarnation. Live in me until my life is so submerged in Yours that I am invisible. Wherever I go, whatever I do, may I hear those around me breath the word Immanuel, suggesting that I am nothing and You are everything.

From LifeWay Christian Resources

Advent :: Day Twenty-Three

“‘How will this be,’ Mary asked the angel, ’since I am a virgin?’ The angel answered, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.’” Luke 1:34-35

Note: Today’s devotion is from The Christ of Christmas by Calvin Miller (B&H, 2006) 

There was a man named John who was sent from God. He came as a witness to testify about the light, so that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but he came to testify about the light. (John 1:6-9) 

His name was John. He was born to be the forerunner of Christ, born to bear witness of the light. In a way, John was like us. We, too, have been born to bear witness of that light. Each time we approach the Advent season, we become joyously occupied with celebrating what the light has done in our lives. While John the Baptist was the first person called to be a witness of that light, His calling has become ours. 

John knew people would always be critical of the light. The light has always had to shine in a darkness that fails to appreciate it. Still, though the darkness rejects it, the light of witness shines still. 

What does it mean to be a witness of the light? It simply means that we point to Jesus and say, “See, Jesus is the light of the world!” How did John the Baptist do this? Well, when he first saw Jesus coming to the Jordan River, he pointed to Him and cried, “Here is the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is the One I told you about.” John’s job was not to coerce those around him to accept his announcement as truth. Nor did Jesus expect him to make believers all by himself. Like John, we cannot make believers. Believers make themselves by voluntarily coming to faith, one at a time. 

But like John, we can point to Christ and say with all of our hearts, “Here is the Lamb of God!” 

What if they do not believe us? No matter. We have done our best to tell them of God’s grace. God will never hold us accountable for being ineffective in pointing the way. But He will hold us accountable for our cowardly silences. Being an effective witness means that we call attention to our testimony and leave the results to Him. Anything else – anything less – is failing the expectations of God. We are born again; we must bear witness! 

Christmas is a door thrown open, a season like few others. Christ is the first part of the word Christmas – a syllable of joy on everyone’s tongue. Are your eyes open wide? Is your heart alive with the hope of pointing someone to a gift like none other? Promise you’ll be watching, listening, sharing. This Christmas, keep your light turned on. 

Prayer: Lord, I want people around me to know that I believe You are the light of the world. I want to love You so much that people can see in my life – even if they never listen to my words - that I believe You are the light of the world. I know that making my witness visible, in and of itself, is not enough. I must have courage in the presence of my friends to point to You and say clearly, “Behold, the Lamb of God! Behold, the light of the world.” If I continue to walk silently while others are walking in darkness, it is my own fault, for You, Jesus, are the light of my life – of all life. 

From LifeWay Christian Resources

Advent :: Day Twenty-Two

“‘I am the Lord’s servant,’ Mary answered. ‘May it be to me as you have said.’ Then the angel left her…And Mary said: ‘My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me—holy is his name. His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation.’” Luke 1:38, 46-50

Once Mary had the assurance and the promise that nothing was impossible with God, she willingly risked reputation, probably even her life, and accepted the challenge of being the human instrument needed to cradle within her the Son of God. Mary had the capacity of servanthood. 

Read Mary’s musical response once again. Think about the commitment required for Mary to risk glorifying God at this point in her life. The world does not come by this understanding of servant hood naturally. It is a characteristic of those in the family of faith. 

How can you bring glory to God today in the form of a servant?  

Proddings from the Holy Spirit often enable us to become servants of the Most High. How has God’s Spirit been moving or prodding you? 

Write out a prayer sometime today.  

Reflect upon what you have experienced during this season of Advent.  

Write out your commitments, confessions, praises, and requests.  

Read the prayer to God as a way of bringing closure to this worship experience called Advent.

From LifeWay Christian Resources

Advent :: Day Twenty-One

“‘How will this be,’ Mary asked the angel, ’since I am a virgin?’ The angel answered, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.’” Luke 1:34-35

Sometimes, the challenges we face in life feel impossible. Regardless of what some say, this is true even when we are walking close to the Lord and in the light we celebrate at a time like Advent.  

I would prefer being in Egypt, facing uncertainty, knowing I was where God wanted me, than to be any other place in the entire world. He who has promised, “Lo, I am with you always…” is faithful! 

Pray today for someone you know who is going through a time of uncertainty. Ask God to show you a way that you can minister.

From LifeWay Christian Resources

Advent :: Day Twenty

“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. But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.’ Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.’ When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.’ So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 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. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 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 2:8-20

There is something about this story which never grows old. God chose the shepherds to hear the gospel proclamation first. He sent the angelic choir in all of its majesty and splendor, to herald the good news. He provided a way for Joseph and Mary to get the child to the exact place where Old Testament prophecy could become reality. God allowed the animals in the manger to witness the miracle of miracles. 

Shepherds and animals. Simple and sometimes a bit smelly, but they alone witness the magnificent. When is the last time you witnessed a miracle? When is the last time you dropped everything, your schedule, your busy agenda, your business concerns, even your religious traditions, so that you could witness first-hand something God was doing?

God may have chosen the shepherds because they were the only ones being still on the night Jesus was born. Maybe you need to be still and wait upon God too. 

Pray for those who still have not heard the good news of the birth of Jesus Christ.

From LifeWay Christian Resources

Advent :: Day Nineteen

“In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to his own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.” Luke 2:1-7

When God looks into our lives, all of the business of our days, rushing to malls, fighting traffic, meeting deadlines, hurrying off to company parties, cooking, baking, wrapping, making, mailing. 

Does He find any room at all to be born, fresh and new? 

When God looks at our homes, is there a place prepared for him? Is there room reserved on the schedule where time is given in prayer? Have we given to Him an opportunity to use us by anticipating the fulfillment of His promises by the faith we exhibit in everyday circumstances?

From LifeWay Christian Resources

Advent :: Day Eighteen

“In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, ‘Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.’ Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God.’” Luke 1:26-30

If God broke into human history once again as He did at the birth of Jesus, would He find us “favorable”? Mary’s testimony, recorded for the world to see, is phenomenal. What made her favorable to God? 

We might imagine several character traits such as devotion, purity, or dependability. Maybe God found Mary’s prayer life to be favorable. We really don’t know. A better question might be “Does God find favor with me?” 

You have been chosen to accomplish something significant in the Kingdom. Live your life in such a way that when God gets ready to do a special work in and through you, you will not have to make emergency preparations, forsake sin, mend your ways, nor rebuild your reputation in order to be used.  

Pray about the unfavorable characteristics in your heart today.

From LifeWay Christian Resources

Advent :: Day Seventeen

“After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, ‘Get up, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who were trying to take the child’s life are dead.’ So he got up, took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel.” Matthew 2:19-21

Kings and kingdoms will all pass away, but there’s something about the name of Jesus. In God’s scheme of things, He provided a way of escape for His son on more than one occasion. This was because God’s plan was greater than man’s, and greater than Satan’s. His plan for your life is greater than anything else too. 

At times, we do not understand what God is doing. We question the difficulties we face wondering why things don’t always go our way. I’m sure that Joseph wondered at the logic of closing down his carpenter’s shop to pack everything up and head for Egypt. Yet it was a part of God’s plan.

From LifeWay Christian Resources

Advent :: Day Sixteen

“When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi.17Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled: ‘A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.’” Matthew 2:16-18

God has a plan, but He isn’t the only one in the planning business. Herod was being used in a diabolical plot to end the life of Jesus before it had much of a chance to begin. You see the fruit of a wicked heart in Herod’s life, a heart unwilling to personally search for the Lord. 

Pray that in the personal planning of your daily schedule, there will be time set aside to personally get in on the search for God’s incarnational reality in your life. If you are reading this near the end of the day, ask yourself this question: Where was God in my day today? If you are beginning your day with this devotion, determine to find where God is working and find fulfillment in His plans. 

From LifeWay Christian Resources

Advent :: Day Fifteen

“When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. ‘Get up,’ he said, ‘take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.’ So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: ‘Out of Egypt I called my son.’” Matthew 2:13-15

Joseph must have had an extremely sensitive heart to be used in the way he was during the time of Jesus’ life, especially during these days when Jesus was such a little, vulnerable, baby boy. Joseph’s mind must have been clear and clean, for God spoke to him in dreams. 

Would you ask God to do a miracle in cleansing the hearts and minds of His people? Media influences such as television, movies, the music we listen to, and the magazines we often read have so polluted our thought patterns that the discerning ability of God’s people has been disastrously affected. We search for God’s will in everyday matters; yet, we often get confused because of a value system that is ungodly. 

From LifeWay Christian Resources