Jennifer A

Psalm 38 is one of several penitential or confessional psalms. Within this Psalm, David allows us to feel the very painful and dark places of his sinful guilt. We experience his physical, emotional, and spiritual pain which he openly expresses to God.

A few years ago, when I initially studied Psalm 38, I asked myself if my relationship with God was as intimate, as David’s was with God, to the point where was I actually grieving when I sinned against Him and others, and was I as honest with God when I sought for His forgiveness?

Friends, David most likely penned this psalm in response to his adultery with Bathsheba and his involvement in her husband, Uriah, being killed at battle so that David could marry her. I think we all can agree that David’s decisions were sinful and most certainly not guided by the Holy Spirit. I also think we can all experience his appeal for God’s forgiveness, and his understanding that he stepped into sinful places that resulted in excruciating pain. David’s plea for God’s forgiveness revealed his trust, faith, and hope that God would not forsake him, and that by remaining obedient to God, He would come and answer David.

The relationship that you and I have with Jesus should surpass all of our earthly relationships. Jesus should come before our biological family, before our spiritual family, and before our friends. Why? Well, when our hearts are in oneness with Jesus, we stand firmly by faith with Him, and thus our decisions are guided by the Holy Spirit and are not moved towards sin, rather our choices reveal the heart of Jesus. This intimate relationship with Jesus, then allows all of our other relationships to be guided by the His pure and holy love.

NOTE: please do not get misled by earthly “thoughts” of the word intimate. I encourage you to look up some synonyms and the Biblical definition. As Christ’s Family, we most certainly want a closeness, togetherness, affinity, rapport, attachment, familiarity, confidentiality, friendliness, comradeship, companionship, amity, affection, warmth, understanding, close relationship, close attachment, etc. with our Lord of Lords, our Kind of Kings, our Healer, and the One Who is forgave us of our sins and is coming back for you and me, JESUS!

Psalm 38

A psalm of David, asking God to remember him.

1 O Lord, don’t rebuke me in your anger
or discipline me in your rage!
2 Your arrows have struck deep,
and your blows are crushing me.
3 Because of your anger, my whole body is sick;
my health is broken because of my sins.
4 My guilt overwhelms me—
it is a burden too heavy to bear.
5 My wounds fester and stink
because of my foolish sins.
6 I am bent over and racked with pain.
All day long I walk around filled with grief.
7 A raging fever burns within me,
and my health is broken.
8 I am exhausted and completely crushed.
My groans come from an anguished heart.

9 You know what I long for, Lord;
you hear my every sigh.
10 My heart beats wildly, my strength fails,
and I am going blind.
11 My loved ones and friends stay away, fearing my disease.
Even my own family stands at a distance.
12 Meanwhile, my enemies lay traps to kill me.
Those who wish me harm make plans to ruin me.
All day long they plan their treachery.

13 But I am deaf to all their threats.
I am silent before them as one who cannot speak.
14 I choose to hear nothing,
and I make no reply.
15 For I am waiting for you, O Lord.
You must answer for me, O Lord my God.
16 I prayed, “Don’t let my enemies gloat over me
or rejoice at my downfall.”

17 I am on the verge of collapse,
facing constant pain.
18 But I confess my sins;
I am deeply sorry for what I have done.
19 I have many aggressive enemies;
they hate me without reason.
20 They repay me evil for good
and oppose me for pursuing good.
21 Do not abandon me, O Lord.
Do not stand at a distance, my God.
22 Come quickly to help me,
O Lord my savior.

Prayer: Jesus, Thank You for Your forgiveness. Help us to remain intimately close with You so that we are disgusted by sin. Holy Spirit, guide us to quickly recognize sin before it takes place and to rebuke it in the Name of Jesus. Quicken us, Lord, to seek Your forgiveness and to extend Your forgiveness to others. Thank You for never abandoning us, and for always being available. We ask all of this in Your Holy Name, Jesus. Amen.

I have mentioned before that Psalms 120 – 134 are known as the Psalms of Ascent. These psalms were most likely sung by the Israelites as they traveled (or ascended) Mount Zion to enter Jerusalem’s Temple for worship at three appointed feasts: Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles.

Today we are looking at Psalm 120. In verse 5 the psalmist mentions Meshech and Kedar. Meshech, is believed to be present day Turkey, and was far north of Israel, while Kedar was a powerful tribe of Arab nomads in the desert east of Israel. The psalmists’ metaphorical use of these two geographical locations would have put the psalmist as living in a barbaric foreign land that was at war, and where the psalmist did not belong.

Right away, within the first two prayerful verses, we see the psalmists’ trust and love for the Lord with a cry for His help. The help the psalmist is seeking is from evil: evil words, liars, deceitful people, and deceptive tongues. In verses 3 – 4 the psalmist shifts from prayer to warning. This warning is for those who stand in rebellion against God, His Word, and His people. God’s people are protected as long as they do as Paul instructs in Ephesians 6:10-20 and constantly wear The Whole Armor of God. The final pieces of the Armor align with verses 3 – 4, “In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.” We see in verses 6 – 7 that the psalmist is tired of evil and longs for rest in the Lord’s shalom, the peaceful wholeness of God where there is no evil.

Friends, we can endure the present world, even with the evil around us, because by our faith and salvation in Christ Jesus our eternal future is certain. So, we must trust, love, and rest in God and His divine plan, as we continue to grow even closer to Him today through His Word.

Psalm 120 (NLT)

A song for pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem.

1 I took my troubles to the Lord;
I cried out to him, and he answered my prayer.
2 Rescue me, O Lord, from liars
and from all deceitful people.
3 O deceptive tongue, what will God do to you?
How will he increase your punishment?
4 You will be pierced with sharp arrows
and burned with glowing coals.

5 How I suffer in far-off Meshech.
It pains me to live in distant Kedar.
6 I am tired of living
among people who hate peace.
7 I search for peace;
but when I speak of peace, they want war!

Prayer: Lord, thank You for being our shalom, the only True place of rest while evil surrounds us. Holy Spirit, please continue to stir within each of us to hate that which is evil and to cling to the One Who is Truth and Love, Jesus. Help us to remain clothed with every piece of Your armor, today. We ask all of this in Your Holy Name, Jesus. Amen.

Friends, if you joined us yesterday, you may recall during Pastor Mary’s sermon on “Genuinely Loving Others” she referenced Luke 4:25-26, when Jesus recounted the story of the prophet Elijah and the widow at Zarephath in Sidon, as originally told in 1 Kings 17:8-24. There were approximately 900 years between the events that took place in 1 Kings 17 with Elijah, the widow, and her family and Luke 4 with Jesus’ ministry when He recounts those events that took place within the Old Testament. Jesus used the example of the widow of Zarephath, just as Pastor Mary pointed out yesterday, to reveal that God’s love is not limited to Israel or to any one group of people, His love is made available to all of His creation, as long as His creation will grab a hold of Him and welcome His love into their hearts to bring on going change.

Today’s passage from the lectionary is 1 Kings 17:8-16, but I highly suggest that you continue to the end of verse 24 as this love story has 8 verses beyond our devotion and they are absolutely miraculous. Within this story we see that God’s love ministers to the broken and breaks the barriers of those who are seemingly “outsiders or enemies” due to geographical, cultural, and/or religious differences. God spoke to both Elijah and the widow, two of His children who would have never crossed paths within their own strength. Yet, they both listened to God’s instructions, they obeyed despite having human doubt, and as a result God’s provision and love was revealed beyond what either of them could have ever thought possible.

You and I are called to love our enemies, to reach out to the unlikely, and to be Jesus’s hands, feet, and heart in this dark world, as we share His love. Allow the Holy Spirit to move through you today as you extend the love of Christ.

1 Kings 17:8-16 (NLT)

The Widow at Zarephath

8 Then the Lord said to Elijah, 9 “Go and live in the village of Zarephath, near the city of Sidon. I have instructed a widow there to feed you.”

10 So he went to Zarephath. As he arrived at the gates of the village, he saw a widow gathering sticks, and he asked her, “Would you please bring me a little water in a cup?” 11 As she was going to get it, he called to her, “Bring me a bite of bread, too.”

12 But she said, “I swear by the Lord your God that I don’t have a single piece of bread in the house. And I have only a handful of flour left in the jar and a little cooking oil in the bottom of the jug. I was just gathering a few sticks to cook this last meal, and then my son and I will die.”

13 But Elijah said to her, “Don’t be afraid! Go ahead and do just what you’ve said, but make a little bread for me first. Then use what’s left to prepare a meal for yourself and your son. 14 For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: There will always be flour and olive oil left in your containers until the time when the Lord sends rain and the crops grow again!”

15 So she did as Elijah said, and she and Elijah and her family continued to eat for many days. 16 There was always enough flour and olive oil left in the containers, just as the Lord had promised through Elijah.

Prayer: Jesus, thank You for being the perfect example of love. Please forgive our unloving ways and allow us to see others through Your lens as You touch our hearts to experience Your love for Your creation. Holy Spirit, quiet our thoughts about others, speak to our spirit so that we know Your love for them, and help us to represent Your love. In Your Name, Jesus, we pray. Amen.

Sinful and worldly foolishness is the opposite of Godly and divine wisdom.
Sinful and worldly laziness is the opposite of Godly and divine strength.
Sinful and worldly wickedness is the opposite of Godly and divine righteousness.

Proverbs 26 draws our attention to not be a fool who is lazy and wicked, as those are sinful choices that are attached to this world. We are daughters and sons who contain the Holy Spirit, and we call on the Spirit to guide us with wisdom and strength so that we are living righteously in the Name of Jesus Christ.

We have spent 26 days together in the Book of Proverbs asking the Holy Spirit for more Godly and divine wisdom, to provide us with His strength so that we can walk with more righteousness as we grow closer in relationship with Jesus.

Every second of the past 26 days, so for the last 2.2 million seconds, we have either chosen to honor and obey God, or we have chosen to dishonor and disobey God. We must remember, while God wants to move in our spirit to shine His light on the Truth that each of these Proverbs offers our eternal existence; simultaneously, the enemy wants us to feel like these Proverbs are too repetitive, maybe boring, or even not applicable to our lives, which could not be further away from the Truth.

God designed the Book of Proverbs, and the repetition is intentional. This teaching tool makes certain that you and I fully understand the importance of Godly wisdom. This is not an attempt to make things boring, rather the repetition and presentation of wisdom in different ways is meant to help us remember and internalize Godly wisdom so that the Holy Spirit can apply it to our lives and through our lives.

Proverbs 26 (NLT)

1 Honor is no more associated with fools
than snow with summer or rain with harvest.

2 Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow,
an undeserved curse will not land on its intended victim.

3 Guide a horse with a whip, a donkey with a bridle,
and a fool with a rod to his back!

4 Don’t answer the foolish arguments of fools,
or you will become as foolish as they are.

5 Be sure to answer the foolish arguments of fools,
or they will become wise in their own estimation.

6 Trusting a fool to convey a message
is like cutting off one’s feet or drinking poison!

7 A proverb in the mouth of a fool
is as useless as a paralyzed leg.

8 Honoring a fool
is as foolish as tying a stone to a slingshot.

9 A proverb in the mouth of a fool
is like a thorny branch brandished by a drunk.

10 An employer who hires a fool or a bystander
is like an archer who shoots at random.

11 As a dog returns to its vomit,
so a fool repeats his foolishness.

12 There is more hope for fools
than for people who think they are wise.

13 The lazy person claims, “There’s a lion on the road!
Yes, I’m sure there’s a lion out there!”

14 As a door swings back and forth on its hinges,
so the lazy person turns over in bed.

15 Lazy people take food in their hand
but don’t even lift it to their mouth.

16 Lazy people consider themselves smarter
than seven wise counselors.

17 Interfering in someone else’s argument
is as foolish as yanking a dog’s ears.

18 Just as damaging
as a madman shooting a deadly weapon
19 is someone who lies to a friend
and then says, “I was only joking.”

20 Fire goes out without wood,
and quarrels disappear when gossip stops.

21 A quarrelsome person starts fights
as easily as hot embers light charcoal or fire lights wood.

22 Rumors are dainty morsels
that sink deep into one’s heart.

23 Smooth words may hide a wicked heart,
just as a pretty glaze covers a clay pot.

24 People may cover their hatred with pleasant words,
but they’re deceiving you.
25 They pretend to be kind, but don’t believe them.
Their hearts are full of many evils.
26 While their hatred may be concealed by trickery,
their wrongdoing will be exposed in public.

27 If you set a trap for others,
you will get caught in it yourself.
If you roll a boulder down on others,
it will crush you instead.

28 A lying tongue hates its victims,
and flattering words cause ruin.

Prayer: Jesus, thank You for emphasizing wisdom throughout the Book of Proverbs. You have been made wisdom, and we want to continue to grow closer to You which means that we need to grow in Your divine wisdom. Holy Spirit, please continue to strengthen and grow each one of us, fill us with more of Your wisdom, and guide us to live in oneness and righteousness with You. Steer us away from foolishness, keep us from laziness, and guard us from being wicked or entertaining wickedness. We ask all of this in Jesus’s Name. Amen.

Pastor Mary mentioned in yesterday’s devotion that Solomon reiterates many things that he shared within the pervious chapters; and in Proverbs 20 we see much of the same pieces of wisdom being shared. You will notice that within each Proverb, Solomon rephrases the nuggets of Godly wisdom that he is sharing with not only his son, but with all believers, including you and me. This is not an exercise of annoyance, rather an exercise of continuously pointing believers towards having an obedient heart for Truth; a heart that is not only in relationship with Jesus, but one that longs to grow more faithful and righteous.

Today, is the inauguration of President Donald Trump back into office as the 47th President of the United States, it is also Martin Luther King Jr. Day. During Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech on August 28, 1963, at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C. there were approximately 250,000 people who marched on Washington for jobs and freedom at the largest civil rights gathering. During that speech, Dr. King quoted the Word of God 4 times. On the 8th time that he said “I have a dream” he went on to quote Isaiah 40:4-5, as he said, “I have a dream that one day ‘every valley shall be exalted, and every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight; and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together’.” As many of you know, Dr. King was a minister and theologian who loved Jesus, and here we are almost 57 years after he was assassinated, honoring not only his life and what he did for civil rights, but how he loved Jesus and stood as a vessel for God’s Truth before the world to witness God’s love, justice, righteousness, and peace. We need to pray for this same wisdom that Dr. King embodied for our 47th President of the United States, President Donald Trump. Just as Solomon speaks of the wise counsel of the kings of his time, we want that same Godly wise counsel for our President so that it will translate God’s love, justice, righteousness, and peace to impact all of America and the world.

Proverbs 20 (NLT)

1 Wine produces mockers; alcohol leads to brawls.
Those led astray by drink cannot be wise.

2 The king’s fury is like a lion’s roar;
to rouse his anger is to risk your life.

3 Avoiding a fight is a mark of honor;
only fools insist on quarreling.

4 Those too lazy to plow in the right season
will have no food at the harvest.

5 Though good advice lies deep within the heart,
a person with understanding will draw it out.

6 Many will say they are loyal friends,
but who can find one who is truly reliable?

7 The godly walk with integrity;
blessed are their children who follow them.

8 When a king sits in judgment, he weighs all the evidence,
distinguishing the bad from the good.

9 Who can say, “I have cleansed my heart;
I am pure and free from sin”?

10 False weights and unequal measures—
the Lord detests double standards of every kind.

11 Even children are known by the way they act,
whether their conduct is pure, and whether it is right.

12 Ears to hear and eyes to see—
both are gifts from the Lord.

13 If you love sleep, you will end in poverty.
Keep your eyes open, and there will be plenty to eat!

14 The buyer haggles over the price, saying, “It’s worthless,”
then brags about getting a bargain!

15 Wise words are more valuable
than much gold and many rubies.

16 Get security from someone who guarantees a stranger’s debt.
Get a deposit if he does it for foreigners.

17 Stolen bread tastes sweet,
but it turns to gravel in the mouth.

18 Plans succeed through good counsel;
don’t go to war without wise advice.

19 A gossip goes around telling secrets,
so don’t hang around with chatterers.

20 If you insult your father or mother,
your light will be snuffed out in total darkness.

21 An inheritance obtained too early in life
is not a blessing in the end.

22 Don’t say, “I will get even for this wrong.”
Wait for the Lord to handle the matter.

23 The Lord detests double standards;
he is not pleased by dishonest scales.

24 The Lord directs our steps,
so why try to understand everything along the way?

25 Don’t trap yourself by making a rash promise to God
and only later counting the cost.

26 A wise king scatters the wicked like wheat,
then runs his threshing wheel over them.

27 The Lord’s light penetrates the human spirit,
exposing every hidden motive.

28 Unfailing love and faithfulness protect the king;
his throne is made secure through love.

29 The glory of the young is their strength;
the gray hair of experience is the splendor of the old.

30 Physical punishment cleanses away evil;
such discipline purifies the heart.

Prayer: Jesus, thank You for being the example of wisdom for our lives. Holy Spirit, please impart Your wisdom to each of us today. Be with President Trump today and each day that he serves as our 47th President. Impart Your Godly wisdom to him so that he can make sound decisions for our country. We ask for You to guide his heart, words, actions, inactions, and steps each day that we are all within his care. May You be glorified, Jesus, in America and throughout the world. We ask this in Your Name, Jesus. Amen.

Friends, within the first section of Proverbs 12, Solomon continues to use short impactful comparison statements to convey the difference between living under the guidance of Godly wisdom versus a lifestyle guided by foolishness and sin. He highlights how the love of discipline is deeply rooted in Christ Jesus and cannot be understood by those who are self-motivated as their wicked minds are narrow and directly connected to their hardened hearts.

In verse 10, Solomon speaks about the godly caring for their animals, while the wicked are always cruel. God’s Family should always have a heart for His entire creation, just as King David reminds us “The LORD is good to everyone. He showers compassion on all of His creation.” (Psalm 145:9) With the Lord as our example, we too must shower compassion on all of His creation.

Within the second portion of Proverbs 12 Solomon defines the “fool”, states the importance of our words, and points to how we must not be lazy. The fools always have to be right, are overly confident, and lie to advance their agenda. While the humble, those who are obedient to God, listen to others, remain calm with insult, and always tell the truth. The wise must pray like King David and ask God to “Take control of what I say, O LORD, and guard my lips. Don’t let me drift toward evil or take part in acts of wickedness.” (Psalm 141:3-4) Solomon tells us many times throughout his writings that we are to work in excellence in all that we do, and Paul reminded the Church of Colosse, which still applies to us as the Church today that we are to “Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.” (Colossians 3:23)

Proverbs 12

1 To learn, you must love discipline;
it is stupid to hate correction.

2 The Lord approves of those who are good,
but he condemns those who plan wickedness.

3 Wickedness never brings stability,
but the godly have deep roots.

4 A worthy wife is a crown for her husband,
but a disgraceful woman is like cancer in his bones.

5 The plans of the godly are just;
the advice of the wicked is treacherous.

6 The words of the wicked are like a murderous ambush,
but the words of the godly save lives.

7 The wicked die and disappear,
but the family of the godly stands firm.

8 A sensible person wins admiration,
but a warped mind is despised.

9 Better to be an ordinary person with a servant
than to be self-important but have no food.

10 The godly care for their animals,
but the wicked are always cruel.

11 A hard worker has plenty of food,
but a person who chases fantasies has no sense.

12 Thieves are jealous of each other’s loot,
but the godly are well rooted and bear their own fruit.

13 The wicked are trapped by their own words,
but the godly escape such trouble.

14 Wise words bring many benefits,
and hard work brings rewards.

15 Fools think their own way is right,
but the wise listen to others.

16 A fool is quick-tempered,
but a wise person stays calm when insulted.

17 An honest witness tells the truth;
a false witness tells lies.

18 Some people make cutting remarks,
but the words of the wise bring healing.

19 Truthful words stand the test of time,
but lies are soon exposed.

20 Deceit fills hearts that are plotting evil;
joy fills hearts that are planning peace!

21 No harm comes to the godly,
but the wicked have their fill of trouble.

22 The Lord detests lying lips,
but he delights in those who tell the truth.

23 The wise don’t make a show of their knowledge,
but fools broadcast their foolishness.

24 Work hard and become a leader;
be lazy and become a slave.

25 Worry weighs a person down;
an encouraging word cheers a person up.

26 The godly give good advice to their friends;
the wicked lead them astray.

27 Lazy people don’t even cook the game they catch,
but the diligent make use of everything they find.

28 The way of the godly leads to life;
that path does not lead to death. Prayer: Lord, thank You for Your Word that guides and directs our steps. Holy Spirit, please continue to impart Your wisdom to each of us. Be with us today and quicken our spiritual hearts to know when we are not in alignment with You. Allow our spiritual ears to listen to Your guidance, put a watch over our mouths, so that we may speak only what You have for us to speak. We want our words to be one with Your Word that breathes life and love into this world and hearts. We ask all of this in Your Holy Name, Jesus. Amen.

Friends, our choices are a huge deal. When Satan whispers, no one will ever know, remember that is not possible with our omnipresent God. God knows and sees everything, and He knows our hearts. Our commitments, our word, and our actions are to be sacred, as everything we do and say is connected to Almighty God. He wants to forgive all of our sins, and within that place of forgiveness we must turn and seek His Holy Wisdom as guidance for our lives.

Proverbs 5:1-23 (NLT)

Avoid Immoral Women

1 My son, pay attention to my wisdom;
listen carefully to my wise counsel.
2 Then you will show discernment,
and your lips will express what you’ve learned.
3 For the lips of an immoral woman are as sweet as honey,
and her mouth is smoother than oil.
4 But in the end she is as bitter as poison,
as dangerous as a double-edged sword.
5 Her feet go down to death;
her steps lead straight to the grave.
6 For she cares nothing about the path to life.
She staggers down a crooked trail and doesn’t realize it.

7 So now, my sons, listen to me.
Never stray from what I am about to say:
8 Stay away from her!
Don’t go near the door of her house!
9 If you do, you will lose your honor
and will lose to merciless people all you have achieved.
10 Strangers will consume your wealth,
and someone else will enjoy the fruit of your labor.
11 In the end you will groan in anguish
when disease consumes your body.
12 You will say, “How I hated discipline!
If only I had not ignored all the warnings!
13 Oh, why didn’t I listen to my teachers?
Why didn’t I pay attention to my instructors?
14 I have come to the brink of utter ruin,
and now I must face public disgrace.”

15 Drink water from your own well—
share your love only with your wife.
16 Why spill the water of your springs in the streets,
having sex with just anyone?

17 You should reserve it for yourselves.
Never share it with strangers.
18 Let your wife be a fountain of blessing for you.
Rejoice in the wife of your youth.
19 She is a loving deer, a graceful doe.
Let her breasts satisfy you always.
May you always be captivated by her love.
20 Why be captivated, my son, by an immoral woman,
or fondle the breasts of a promiscuous woman?

21 For the Lord sees clearly what a man does,
examining every path he takes.
22 An evil man is held captive by his own sins;
they are ropes that catch and hold him.
23 He will die for lack of self-control;
he will be lost because of his great foolishness.

Prayer: Jesus, thank You for forgiving our sins. Holy Spirit, please continue to impart Your wisdom for our daily choices. Protect us from the evil one who seeks to lure us away from You. Quicken our spirit to turn away from worldly desires and people who want to cause harm and sinful living. We ask all of this in Your Holy Name, Jesus. Amen.

Jesus’s warning about the end times is recorded within the Synoptic Gospels: Matthew 24-25, Mark 13, and Luke 2, and His warning is known as the Olivet Discourse or Prophecy. It was a conversation that Jesus had with Peter, James, John, and Andrew on the Mount of Olives just three days before His crucifixion. The location of their discussion plays a crucial historic and prophetic role, as Jesus left earth from this location after He appeared to His disciples for 40 days in His resurrected state (Acts 1:1-3, 9, 12) and He will return to the Mount of Olives when He comes again to rule the earth (Zechariah 14:1-4).

If you and I were present with Peter, James, John, and Andrew during their conversation with Jesus, and He answered questions about the temple, Jerusalem, and end times, image how we would have felt listening to Jesus foretell about the future. Keep in mind, we would have experienced His ministry as you and I had followed Him and witnessed His miracles firsthand. We would have known without a shadow of a doubt that we were disciples of the Messiah. This conversation would have meant even more in three days’ time when you and I witnessed the fulfillment of the prophesies and Jesus’s Word that He spoke to us when He said, “There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” (John 15:13)

Friends, you and I are blessed without having seen Jesus and because we believe His Word by faith. (John 20:29) As we prepare to enter into a new year, we need to remember that God is a good Father Who seeks to rescue His children (believers) during every moment, good and bad. All He asks is that we allow Him to abide within us. We must let the Holy Spirit guide our hearts and illuminate Christ’s Spirit within our lives. We want to be prepared when Jesus returns. Jesus made sure to provide us with the best set of instructions (His Word) and His walking life was, is, and will forever be our example of how we are called to live today, tomorrow, and the remainder of 2025 and the rest of our walking lives.

Remain in close relationship with Jesus this year and dig deep into His Word each any every day so you are not sleeping, but watching for Him, and prepared for His returns. Blessings for your 2025!

Mark 13:32-37 (NLT)

32 “However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows. 33 And since you don’t know when that time will come, be on guard! Stay alert!

34 “The coming of the Son of Man can be illustrated by the story of a man going on a long trip. When he left home, he gave each of his slaves instructions about the work they were to do, and he told the gatekeeper to watch for his return. 35 You, too, must keep watch! For you don’t know when the master of the household will return—in the evening, at midnight, before dawn, or at daybreak. 36 Don’t let him find you sleeping when he arrives without warning. 37 I say to you what I say to everyone: Watch for him!”

Prayer: Jesus, thank You for Your Word that is our guide, that brings us closer to You, and that prepares us for Your return. Help each of us to grow even closer to You this new year. Holy Spirit, we do not want to be sleeping, we want You to radiate within us and out through us. Guide us each day with Your wisdom and fill us to overflow with Your fruits so that as we produce more love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control we are receiving those fruits back in blessings. We love You, Jesus, and we look forward to seeing what You have planned for 2025. In Your Holy Name, Jesus. Amen.

Our passages today take us throughout the Bible and reveal the Good News about the birth of the Messiah, the Savior of the world, Jesus Christ – Immanuel, Who is God with us. We see that the prophets, in the Old Testament foretold about the Child Who would come to rule as the Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace. The psalmists wrote about the Lord and sang praises to Him and proclaimed the Good News of His saving love. The Apostle Luke, in the New Testament, documented the story of the Baby born in the manger. His account aligns with what the prophet Isaiah foretold 700 years before Jesus’s birth. Luke’s writing allows us to step into each person’s position within the story. We witness how Jesus is their Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love, just as He is for each one of us. As this Advent week of Love guides us to focus on the birth of the One Who is Love, Jesus, we cannot forget what the Apostle Paul instructed. The Baby, Who we celebrate His birth this Christmas season, is the One Who brought us salvation, and He is the same One Who will return for His Church. We reside in this evil world, but live by His wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God, as we reveal His Love to the world, and until He returns for us, His Church.

Isaiah 9:6-7 (NLT)

6 For a child is born to us,
a son is given to us.
The government will rest on his shoulders.
And he will be called:
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 His government and its peace
will never end.
He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David
for all eternity.
The passionate commitment of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies
will make this happen!

Psalm 96:1-2 (NLT)

1 Sing a new song to the Lord!
Let the whole earth sing to the Lord!
2 Sing to the Lord; praise his name.
Each day proclaim the good news that he saves.

Luke 2:1-20 (NLT)

The Birth of Jesus

1 At that time the Roman emperor, Augustus, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the Roman Empire. 2 (This was the first census taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 All returned to their own ancestral towns to register for this census. 4 And because Joseph was a descendant of King David, he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, David’s ancient home. He traveled there from the village of Nazareth in Galilee. 5 He took with him Mary, to whom he was engaged, who was now expecting a child.
6 And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. 7 She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them.

The Shepherds and Angels

8 That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. 9 Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, 10 but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. 11 The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! 12 And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.”
13 Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in highest heaven,
and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”
15 When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
16 They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. 17 After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. 18 All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished, 19 but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often. 20 The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. It was just as the angel had told them.

Titus 2:11-14 (NLT)

11 For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people. 12 And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God, 13 while we look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed. 14 He gave his life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds.

Prayer: Thank You, Jesus, for coming into this dark world to save us. Help us to share your love into this world. Holy Spirit, open doors for each of us to connect with people who need You. We praise You, Jesus, for being our Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love. Guide our hearts to love as You love. In Your Name, Jesus. Amen.