Dec. 25
“Mary’s Song”
Luke 1:46-55
46 And Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord
47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
48 for He has been mindful of the humble state of His servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed,
49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me—Holy is His name.
50 His mercy extends to those who fear Him, from generation to generation.
51 He has performed mighty deeds with His arm; He has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
52 He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble.
53 He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty.
54 He has helped His servant Israel, remembering to be merciful
55 to Abraham and his descendants forever, just as He promised our ancestors.”
Dec. 26
“Now What”
Matthew 2
Have you ever had an incredible maybe life altering experience that just left you so amazed and awe struck?
If you have, then you know that after everything has calmed down, there usually is a “Now what?” moment. All your senses are keenly tuned and aware. Your emotions are either coming down off of a high or trying to get back up from an extreme low. Your body and mind are trying to figure out what to do next.
In the early story of Jesus what came next for Mary and Joseph is a frightening dilemma. Wise men from the East (probably trained by Daniel’s influence and writings) came to find the one who was born “King of the Jews” because they had seen the star.
Isn’t it amazing that those closest to an incredible sign can’t recognize it, yet those afar off who are watching can pick it up and respond?
Herod, wanting no threat to his rule, tries to trick the wise men and have them report back to him with Jesus’ whereabouts. But God intervenes and sends a messenger to the wise men and they return home another way. Herod, infuriated, makes a decree that all male children under 2 years old are to be put to death.
Talk about a major let down from an emotional high! Surely Mary and Joseph had to be wondering, “Now what?”
God didn’t leave them directionless. He came to Joseph and told him to take his family down to Egypt.
When faced with a “Now what?” moment, God always provides a way.
Will we listen and obey?
Dec. 27
Jesus’ Family Reunion
Jesus is not famous because of his ancestry. He existed in heaven before the creation of the world. He is the Christ, the Son of God. However, He is also the Son of man. He came to earth and was born of a virgin. So there is a genealogy that extends from Adam to Jesus. You will find His lineage listed in Matthew’s Gospel.
Jesus’ genealogy contains 42 names. Five are women. Three of the women are known for their sins. To me, this shows the true nature of Christ. He is a friend of sinners.
Tamar (Matthew 1:3) was the daughter-in-law of Judah, one of Jacob’s 12 sons. There is quite a colorful story about what happened to her. Long story short, she became pregnant and twins were born. One of them, Perez, became an ancestor of Jesus.
Rahab (Matthew 1:5) lived in Jericho. Joshua sent two spies into Jericho. They came to the house of Rahab the prostitute, where she welcomed them. She hid the spies on the roof of her house under bales of flax. Later, she was incorporated into the nation of Israel, and bore a son, Boaz, an ancestor of Jesus.
Then there’s Bathsheba who is not called by name only that “she was the wife of Uriah” (Matthew 1:6). Another long story short, she gave birth to a second son, Solomon. He became king of Israel and an ancestor of Jesus.
The Christmas story is good news for people like Tamar. She was dealt a cruel blow. But she is invited to Jesus’ family reunion.
Christmas is good news for people like Rahab. She is welcomed into His family tree.
Christmas is good news for people like Ruth. Again, she suffered a great loss. She lost her husband, homeland and had to glean to have enough to eat. Jesus died for people like Ruth and those like her.
Christmas is good news for people like Bathsheba – people who have made a huge mistake. She had a burden that she had to bear and wished she could redo the past.
I am glad Jesus let us know who His ancestors were. Most families today have some relative(s) who have had their own lives turned upside down because of sin. Jesus came to welcome all people into His family.
That’s why Christmas is such good news!
Dec. 28
The Gifts of Christmas
Only in Christ’s death is the purpose of His birth understood. Were it not for His death, there would be no significance in our celebration of Christmas.
We are aware that Jesus’ life is the greatest gift ever given.
The wise men offered gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh when they knelt before the King of Kings. Their gifts spoke prophetically as to the kind of kingdom He had come to rule. Their gifts declared His kingship, His deity, and His death.
Myrrh is a resin that is used to make perfume. It was used as ceremonial oil, and in the embalming process. In this offering of myrrh, the wise men spoke the truth that this Christ child was born to die.
Frankincense denotes that the honored one is to be worshiped. The greatest truth the church has to offer is the Incarnation. John 1:14 says, “The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” Were it not for the doctrine of His death, there would be no doctrine of His resurrection, and there would be no doctrine of His return.
Then the Wise men offered the gift of gold, a tribute to a king. He was the most unlikely person to ever be king. You certainly could not have been able to see his kingship by the way He died. Those who witnessed His death argued with Pilate and said it couldn’t be true that He was a king. They went so far as to say, “If you must leave that sign there, make it read, “He claims to be King of the Jews.”” But Pilate answered, “What I have written I have written” (John 19:22).
As you gather together during this Christmas season, be deeply aware of the fact that you are honoring the Christ, the greatest gift ever given; and may you bow before Him as your Lord and King.
Dec. 29
“How to Wait On the Lord’s Salvation”
Luke 2:22-38
Simeon was a man who sought after God. God had revealed to him that he would not die till he saw the Messiah.
If you had a unconditional promise like that from God, how would you respond?
Maybe you would bank on it and not worry. You would go about life doing as you wish, knowing that somehow God was going to make good on His promise and surely the Messiah would find you where ever you may be.
Luke states that Simeon came “in the Spirit” to the temple.
Even with the promise from God, Simeon still lived a life of submission to God’s leading. Had he not, he would have missed the promise.
God’s promises will come true, whether or not we enjoy them or fully get to see their fruition depends on our obedience to God.
Simeon wasn’t the only one waiting for the Messiah. Anna was a widow who committed her decades of time to to prayer and fellowship in the temple. Anna was allowed to see the Messiah as well.
Anna may have not been given the promise that Simeon received, but because of her sacrifice and faithfulness, Anna was given the gift of witnessing God’s Redeemer of Jerusalem.
How many of God’s promises are we missing because we are not in the right place at the right time? How can we know the right place and time?
Vs. 27—“And he came in the Spirit into the Temple…”
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