Devotionals

Intro: Today, we continue to look at Scripture as it aligns with the season of Epiphany—the appearance of Jesus as the Chosen One of God who will die for the sins of the world. Sudden epiphanies are glimpses and gifts from God; He wants to reveal His plan for salvation to the world. As well, God wants to use each of his children to be a part of His plan. So, John the Baptist is given a specific assignment from God—to baptize with water in order to reveal the Messiah. John obeys the Word of the Lord and a manifestation of the Truth follows. Pause and think about that for just a minute.

What is involved in this revelation? The Word is sown into John’s heart and he must choose to act by faith—John obeys and actually does what the Lord has told him to do. But, Satan always comes to steal the sown Word and stop God’s children from fully trusting in Him. Satan uses the religious leaders to try and stop John. However, John is not fooled by evil; his obedience is what sets him up for the next layer of Truth to be revealed. He will see something he could not have imagined apart from the Word of God. Now, John will have greater opportunities to passionately testify to the truth of Jesus; to testify to the Light who gives light to everyone. And, FYI, that testimony catches fire and connects the disciples with the call of Jesus on their lives.

We need to hold fast to the Word sown in our hearts; it brings wisdom. If you are reading the devotions, participating in Bible Study, and attending worship opportunities, the Word is being sown in your heart. Therefore, we need to put into practice what we have heard so, like John, we can see and testify!

John 1:29-34 NLT Jesus, the Lamb of God 23 John replied in the words of the prophet Isaiah: “I am a voice shouting in the wilderness,
    ‘Clear the way for the Lord’s coming!’”
24 Then the Pharisees who had been sent 25 asked him, “If you aren’t the Messiah or Elijah or the Prophet, what right do you have to baptize?”
26 John told them, “I baptize with [in] water, but right here in the crowd is someone you do not recognize. 27 Though his ministry follows mine, I’m not even worthy to be his slave and untie the straps of his sandal.”

28 This encounter took place in Bethany, an area east of the Jordan River, where John was baptizing.
29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! 30 He is the one I was talking about when I said, ‘A man is coming after me who is far greater than I am, for he existed long before me.’ 31 I did not recognize him as the Messiah, but I have been baptizing with water so that he might be revealed to Israel.”

32 Then John testified, “I saw the Holy Spirit descending like a dove from heaven and resting upon him. 33 I didn’t know he was the one, but when God sent me to baptize with water, he told me, ‘The one on whom you see the Spirit descend and rest is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 I saw this happen to Jesus, so I testify that he is the Chosen One of God.[Son of God]”

Prayer: Lord, thank you for John the Baptist and his obedient faith to hang onto your Word. Not only did you reward him with greater revelation, you have rewarded us by his faith example. Help us to hang onto your Word and allow the Spirit to lead us into the deep waters of faith and redemption, so we can experience the revelation of Truth you have for us. Please put a testimony on our lips. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Intro: As we continue on in this season of Epiphany—celebrating the manifestation of the Christ—we know human beings are plunged into the dark waters of creation in order to find the cross in the waters of redemption. We are baptized through salvation in the Spirit. God works to recreate each of us in His image: breathing the life of the Spirit into us and guiding us along the path toward divine wisdom. As we seek and encounter the Light of Christ, we are allowed to know God’s will, spiritually see the perfect righteousness of the Lord, and begin to hear His voice in our spirits in order to learn a new way of living. Believers leave foolish and flesh-driven desires behind. Our assignments begin as we obediently do what the Word and Voice of God instructs. Christ makes us alive to the heavenly realm and beneficiaries of the wholeness only God can bring; we become witnesses to the Truth while still residing in a dark world. This is where Spirit-led believers face the struggle.

Today, in our passage from the Book of Acts, the Apostle Paul has an epiphany of the Christ that knocks him off his high horse! Paul has been living his life in spiritual arrogance and pride; so, God interrupts his journey and calls for change. Paul has not only mistreated the people of faith and propagated a false narrative of the Christ, he has sought to snuff out the life-giving work and direction of the Spirit. The darkness has blinded Paul; Satan has invaded his thoughts. Therefore, God humbles Paul and sets him aside for a bit to gain a new perspective—a heavenly one from the Righteous One. Many new experiences face Paul; the struggle for righteous change.

Satan can disguise himself as an angel of light. He is cunning and his works either make us question the full counsel of God, or he lies to us about our identity and power in Christ. He is not bothered by religious rituals; he just does not want us to put our wholehearted trust in God. Never forget, Satan wants you to put on a victim mentality about your life. Christ came to bring a message to your mess through the waters of redemption and give you a new perspective of what victory looks like in His Kingdom. You and I must live in the light of Truth, as well. When we know the Word of God and seek wisdom, we know the Voice of the Savior who speaks Truth and are instructed how to apply it. Christians live in the light by rejecting the work of darkness. Run from sin, by running toward righteousness. Now is the time!

Acts 22:2-16 NLT
2 When they heard him speaking in their own language [Hebrew/Aramaic], the silence was even greater.

3 Then Paul said, “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, and I was brought up and educated here in Jerusalem under Gamaliel. As his student, I was carefully trained in our Jewish laws and customs. I became very zealous to honor God in everything I did, just like all of you today. 4 And I persecuted the followers of the Way, hounding some to death, arresting both men and women and throwing them in prison. 5 The high priest and the whole council of elders can testify that this is so. For I received letters from them to our Jewish brothers in Damascus, authorizing me to bring the followers of the Way from there to Jerusalem, in chains, to be punished.

6 “As I was on the road, approaching Damascus about noon, a very bright light from heaven suddenly shone down around me. 7 I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’
8 “‘Who are you, lord?’ I asked.

“And the voice replied, ‘I am Jesus the Nazarene [from Nazareth], the one you are persecuting.’ 9 The people with me saw the light but didn’t understand the voice speaking to me.
10 “I asked, ‘What should I do, Lord?’

“And the Lord told me, ‘Get up and go into Damascus, and there you will be told everything you are to do.’
11 “I was blinded by the intense light and had to be led by the hand to Damascus by my companions. 12 A man named Ananias lived there. He was a godly man, deeply devoted to the law, and well regarded by all the Jews of Damascus. 13 He came and stood beside me and said, ‘Brother Saul, regain your sight.’ And that very moment I could see him!

14 “Then he told me, ‘The God of our ancestors has chosen you to know his will and to see the Righteous One and hear him speak. 15 For you are to be his witness, telling everyone what you have seen and heard. 16 What are you waiting for? Get up and be baptized. Have your sins washed away by calling on the name of the Lord.’

Prayer: Lord, thank you for this word, today. The mercy you extended to Paul is the mercy we all need; thank you for waking us up with a call to righteousness. Give us eyes to see the Truth, so we will not be spiritually blind. Help us to walk in the glorious Light of Jesus, so we will not waste a precious second of our time here on earth to make a difference for You and Your eternal Kingdom. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

George Campbell Morgan was an evangelistic Bible teaching preacher in the early 1900’s and when speaking about Psalm 69 he said, “Perhaps in no psalm in the whole psalter is the sense of sorrow profounder or more intense than in this. The soul of the singer pours itself out in unrestrained abandonment to the overwhelming and terrible grief which consumes it.”

Today we will be looking at the first three verses of Psalm 69. Many credit King David as the author, while some say that the Prophet Jeremiah wrote it. Even though these two brothers of faith lived about 400 years apart, God uses their recorded testimonies for you and me so that we can keep learning from them and growing as we journey along on our own faith walks.

David, Jeremiah, and each one of us have experienced moments when we feel like we are completely drowning, where the waves of life are crashing into us, flooding over us, and we just cannot seem to find a foothold. In these moments Jesus tells us to look up (at Him), to not be afraid, and to take courage because He is with us (Matt 14:27).

“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; He rescues those whose spirits are crushed. The righteous person faces many troubles, but the Lord comes to the rescue each time.” Psalm 34:18-19

Psalm 69:1-3 (NLT)

For the choir director: A psalm of David, to be sung to the tune “Lilies.”

1 Save me, O God,
for the floodwaters are up to my neck.
2 Deeper and deeper I sink into the mire;
I can’t find a foothold.
I am in deep water,
and the floods overwhelm me.
3 I am exhausted from crying for help;
my throat is parched.
My eyes are swollen with weeping,
waiting for my God to help me.

Prayer: Jesus, thank You for being all we need in our times of great trouble and despair. Help us to fully rest in You and to trust that You have, are, and will use all of our painful trials for good. We love you, Jesus, and ask all of this in Your Holy Name, Jesus. Amen.

Intro: I am sitting quietly this morning and praying for the Word and the Spirit to guide me deeper into the Truth. I want God to increase my understanding of the miraculous works of His love, what it looks like from His perspective to really love my neighbor, and how I must love myself in a way that pleases Him—every area of my life needs to grow in wisdom [applied Truth]. To love God, my neighbor, and myself is to be attentive to God’s work of bringing wholeness to my soul; to allow a great conformity to His image [nature/character], so I can live authentically for His glory. I will always need to grow and, by acknowledging my need, I know God will be faithful to provide. Do you find yourself, today, with a desire for more of God’s wisdom operating in your life?

Let’s remember, the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom—learning to live in the Light. Living in the fear of the Lord is more than an attitude of respect, it is an obedient choice to live in Christ and reflect the Light of His wisdom. Simply practicing a religion will not position us on the righteous path toward wisdom. We need Jesus—who has been made wisdom for us—and we need to follow Him along the narrow way—the ongoing route of godly wisdom.

So, our passage today from the Book of Wisdom helps us understand: 1) we must all start on the same foundation of a relationship with Christ, and 2) our lives will all be governed by Christ’s boundaries of love based on what God has already declared in His Word. Jesus is the Living Word. Evil has no authority over the life of a believer, therefore, we cannot give it room in the inn of our hearts. Otherwise, we are inviting suffering into our lives rather than blessing. Wisdom helps us become quick learners with vision to change direction, because we can all find ourselves wandering off toward our unrighteous and selfish inclinations. The seeds of wisdom help us from the time of childhood all the way through adulthood; everyone needs godly wisdom or we will quickly find ourselves supporting what is worldly rather than what is righteous before God.

Proverbs 22:1-6 AMP
1
A good name [earned by honorable behavior, godly wisdom, moral courage, and personal integrity] is more desirable than great riches;
And favor [grace] is better than silver and gold.
2 
The rich and poor have a common bond;
The Lord is the Maker of them all.
3 
A prudent and far-sighted person sees the evil [of sin] and hides himself [from it],
But the naive continue on and are punished [by suffering the consequences of sin].
4 
The reward of humility [that is, having a realistic view of one’s importance] and the [reverent, worshipful] fear of the Lord
Is riches, honor, and life [eternal].
5 
Thorns and snares are in the way of the obstinate [for their lack of honor and their wrong-doing traps them];
He who guards himself [with godly wisdom] will be far from them and avoid the consequences they suffer.
6 
Train up a child in the way he should go [teaching him to seek God’s wisdom and will for his abilities and talents],
Even when he is old he will not depart from it.

Prayer: Lord, help us to live with integrity, so we may enjoy your beautiful grace each day. May your wisdom protect us from evil and the consequences of sin. Holy Spirit, help us to teach the younger generations about you by sharing our lives and the things we have learned. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Intro: There are many words in Hebrew that do not translate perfectly into English. The word “kindness” is one of them. In Hebrew—chesed (hesed)—often translates as “loving-kindness,” and means giving oneself fully (loyally), with love and compassion or mercy; however, chesed is actually much more. Essentially, it is a covenant term; it stands for the attitude—by which both parties in a covenant—must honor and express themselves toward one another.

God’s chesed never lets go of his people; even when God’s people act faithless, He remains faithful. So, Jesus becomes the mediator for those who connect to Him by faith. Believers have a covenant of love with God through Jesus Christ as He teaches us how to live in the chesed of the Father. We return the chesed of the Lord by obeying His commands to love God wholeheartedly and love our neighbors as we love ourselves. By the way, the New Testament Greek equivalent of the Old Testament Hebrew chesed is charis translated into English as “grace.” We are given chesed/charis by God and we reciprocate to God and our neighbors in kind. In this way, we are blessed to be a blessing.

In our passage today from the Book of Proverbs, wisdom reminds us chesed is revealed by our trust in the Lord and our willingness to apply the Truth (Christ) to our lives. Proverbs 3:5-6 is my life verse; God planted it in my heart many years ago. I quote it to myself aloud often—especially when I am tempted to go my own way. Our inclination is to use our human understanding to decide what God desires from us. That can be very dangerous, so we must instead trust God’s plan, seek God’s will, and watch for divine doors to be open. Wisdom teaches us to store God’s commands in our hearts, so we can trust, seek, and watch for the Truth.

Proverbs 3:1-12 NLT Trusting in the Lord
1 
My child, never forget the things I have taught you.
    Store my commands in your heart.
2 
If you do this, you will live many years,
    and your life will be satisfying.
3 
Never let loyalty and kindness leave you!
    Tie them around your neck as a reminder.
    Write them deep within your heart.
4 
Then you will find favor with both God and people,
    and you will earn a good reputation.
5 
Trust in the Lord with all your heart;
    do not depend on your own understanding.
6 
Seek his will in all you do,
    and he will show you which path to take.
7 
Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom.
    Instead, fear the Lord and turn away from evil.
8 
Then you will have healing for your body
    and strength for your bones.
9 
Honor the Lord with your wealth
    and with the best part of everything you produce.
10 
Then he will fill your barns with grain,
    and your vats will overflow with good wine.
11 
My child, don’t reject the Lord’s discipline,
    and don’t be upset when he corrects you.
12 
For the Lord corrects those he loves,
    just as a father corrects a child in whom he delights.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for loving us in a perfect covenantal way. You are so faithful in all you extend to us of your nature even though we are so undeserving. Thank you for Jesus who’s sinless life covers and represents us in his righteousness. Thank you for correcting our sin and helping us trust your abundant loving-kindness and grace. Holy Spirit lead and help us turn in the direction of Truth. May wisdom help us remember this lesson, today, and may we be willing to extend grace to others as you have commanded. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Intro: Yesterday, while viewing a few minutes of news during lunch, I was taken with a brief interview posted with injured professional soccer star, Megan Rapinoe, who stated the injury she sustained six minutes into her final game [before her retirement], “proves there isn’t a God.” Although I am sure she was disappointed she wasn’t able to play the whole game, her comments just struck me as incredibly arrogant and, most assuredly, foolish. What more does God need to do to prove His existence?

In Scripture, God tells us to ask for wisdom and the Spirit will bring it. If we choose not to acknowledge God or ask for His wisdom and instead reject His counsel and disobey His guidance, then how can we blame God or doubt His existence? Everything we say and do is a form of seed planted either in the world or in the Kingdom…a seed that will grow and produce either bitter or good fruit. Is God to blame for the seeds we choose to plant in the world? How we live our lives either draws us closer to God for love and protection or it leaves us eating misery because we have sown into our own selfish demands. Turning away from God is indeed foolish.

In our passage from the Book of Proverbs, wisdom calls out the foolish. We all face difficulties, trials, and tribulations during our lifetime; it is part of living in a fallen world. Far too many people have no respect for God. God has nothing to do with our sin; we are responsible for sin. But, God is still present, forgiving, and taking care of those who willingly desire what He has to offer. Trust the Lord and He will guide you into wisdom.

Proverbs 1:20-33 Living Bible

20 Wisdom shouts in the streets for a hearing. 21 She calls out to the crowds along Main Street, and to the judges in their courts, and to everyone in all the land: 22 “You simpletons!” she cries. “How long will you go on being fools? How long will you scoff at wisdom and fight the facts? 23 Come here and listen to me! I’ll pour out the spirit of wisdom upon you and make you wise. 24 I have called you so often, but still you won’t come. I have pleaded, but all in vain. 25 For you have spurned my counsel and reproof. 26 Some day you’ll be in trouble, and I’ll laugh! Mock me, will you?—I’ll mock you! 27 When a storm of terror surrounds you, and when you are engulfed by anguish and distress, 28 then I will not answer your cry for help. It will be too late though you search for me ever so anxiously.

29 “For you closed your eyes to the facts and did not choose to reverence and trust the Lord, 30 and you turned your back on me, spurning my advice. 31 That is why you must eat the bitter fruit of having your own way and experience the full terrors of the pathway you have chosen. 32 For you turned away from me—to death; your own complacency will kill you. Fools! 33 But all who listen to me shall live in peace and safety, unafraid.”

Prayer: Lord, thank you for surrounding us with your presence and care. Help us to willingly yield to your work and ways, rather than demand our own way. We know arrogance is unacceptable to you. Thank you for patiently teaching us to live humbly in your love. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Intro: When I think about starting this new year of my life, I understand everything good has already been planned in the heart of God for me; it is written. As I look forward into the future, I may not see the layers of goodness because they are yet to be revealed; however, I do know the closer I get to God the more prepared and fulfilled this year will be for me. That knowledge alone makes life exciting as I press forward to my goal for 2024: Growing in godly wisdom by aligning with the Truth.

The Book of Proverbs—Wisdom Literature—has been given to us because we need biblical knowledge with practical applications for our lives. These are sayings driven by divine wisdom and revealed through the human wisdom of elders who have learned truth from God. In Hebrew, the word “proverb” means “to be like” or “to rule.” Biblical proverbs, like parables, relay a general truth for godly wisdom in simple terms. Scripture is filled with proverbs and parables. So, we might say that wisdom is the application of the Word of God for our lives; we live the Truth (to be like Christ and to be ruled by him).

Christ is our Source for genuine Wisdom and we grow in it by revelation. When we choose God’s way, he grants us Wisdom because he is leading us closer to himself. The value of Wisdom is indescribable; nothing can compare to it. All of our relationships are affected by Wisdom and it involves great discipline and self-control [fruit] which reminds us victory comes through the work of the Spirit. Wisdom brings contentment, joy, and peace which is where we all want to live; abiding in the glorious nature of God. Let’s devote ourselves to Wisdom! Happy New Year!

Proverbs 1:1-7 The Purpose of Proverbs
1 These are the proverbs of Solomon, David’s son, king of Israel.
2 
Their purpose is to teach people wisdom and discipline,
    to help them understand the insights of the wise.
3 
Their purpose is to teach people to live disciplined and successful lives,
    to help them do what is right, just, and fair.
4 
These proverbs will give insight to the simple,
    knowledge and discernment to the young.
5 
Let the wise listen to these proverbs and become even wiser.
    Let those with understanding receive guidance
6 
by exploring the meaning in these proverbs and parables,
    the words of the wise and their riddles.
7 
Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true knowledge,
    but fools despise wisdom and discipline.

Prayer: Lord, we devote ourselves this year to gaining genuine and godly wisdom. We need your guidance, revelation, and knowledge to better understand your Kingdom on earth and how we can serve you. Holy Spirit, help us to live a disciplined life for your honor and glory. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

As we begin 2024 many of us will make a “New Year’s Resolution” seeking to “change” something. But, as most of us know, from resolutions made in the past, the resolution period seems to start off strong and tends to weaken over time, as the average resolution will last about 3.74 months. I promise I am not trying to be a discouragement as you seek to change something, rather I want us to be encouraged by God’s Word about there being “A Time for Everything” as He spoke through our brother, King Solomon.

As we seek to “change” something, we must keep a few things in mind:

First, the unchangeable God of the Universe is the Author of our lives. He planted eternity within our hearts, and although we cannot see the scope of His miraculous work, He has written each one of our stories from beginning to end. So, when we feel discouraged within this new year, we need to turn to Him, because He isn’t changing a thing, He wants to use each thing or circumstance for our good; we are the ones who are changing within our soul realm, and so the choice is ours to make…we either seek our unchangeable God to navigate through each circumstance or we seek the ever-changing chaotic world that is ruled by Satan and will make us feel absolutely crazy.

Next, God has an appointed time and season for everything within our lives. I know it doesn’t seem like somethings are right, or the timing is completely off, or they are just not fair, or you want everything and everyone to pause for a moment…but we must remember that everything and every circumstance is in place by God. He is in control, and He wants us in these moments to be humbled, to raise up our hands, to exalt Him and to fully trust Him.

Finally, no matter what we walk through this year, we need to know that God has set us within these places, and He wants us to seek Him so He can use us. Even the most painful places, God will make beautiful within His time because He has a purpose for ALL of His creation, and that includes you and me, my friend.

May God bless each one of us this new year!

Ecclesiastes 3:1-13 (NLT)

A Time for Everything

1 For everything there is a season,
a time for every activity under heaven.
2 A time to be born and a time to die.
A time to plant and a time to harvest.
3 A time to kill and a time to heal.
A time to tear down and a time to build up.
4 A time to cry and a time to laugh.
A time to grieve and a time to dance.
5 A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones.
A time to embrace and a time to turn away.
6 A time to search and a time to quit searching.
A time to keep and a time to throw away.
7 A time to tear and a time to mend.
A time to be quiet and a time to speak.
8 A time to love and a time to hate.
A time for war and a time for peace.

9 What do people really get for all their hard work? 10 I have seen the burden God has placed on us all. 11 Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end. 12 So I concluded there is nothing better than to be happy and enjoy ourselves as long as we can. 13 And people should eat and drink and enjoy the fruits of their labor, for these are gifts from God.

Prayer: Jesus, thank You for never changing. Please help me to accept Your plan for my life. I want to trust You more fully and rely less on my own self and understanding of things, since You are the One Who has written my complete story. My life belongs to You. Help me to lay down myself and to carry my cross more frequently this new year. I want to share Your love with those I come in contact with so they too may know and grow in love with You. I ask all of this in Your Name, Jesus. Amen.

Over the last 24 days Pastor Mary used the Jesse Tree to allow our spiritual family some time to grow in our connection with some of our fellow Biblical brothers and sisters. We have been able to see their connections with Jesus, and hopefully we have been able to identify areas of our own relationship with Jesus that need to be strengthened, stretched, refined, and ultimately grown up so our faith walk with Him is more firm and sharable with others.

Our brother, Luke, helps us this Christmas day to recall the birth of Jesus. Keep in mind that the Roman emperor, Augustus, was the “sovereign” ruler of what seemed to be the entire known world, and many viewed him as the “divine” king. But, for Joseph, Mary, and Israel, a census was a reminder that they were a conquered people. The Child that was to be born, Jesus, would be the fulfilment of the Old Testament Scriptures and would put an end to God’s Family being a “conquered people” by anyone, as He is the only Sovereign Ruler the Divine King for all of creation and for all eternity.

Friends, we “top off” our Jesse Tree with “the” star, the Star of Bethlehem. The star at the top of our Biblical tree reminds us to look up, to seek Jesus, the One Who is our true Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love. As we rest in Christ, to bring us His Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love we must remember that being a part of God’s Family does not exempt us from trouble. In fact, Luke reminds us that even Joseph and Mary, the Holy Family, found themselves in trouble leading up to the birth of Jesus. We also know that Jesus found Himself in trouble during His physical existence. The same Jesus Who we celebrate His birth today, is the same Jesus Who was crucified for our sins. “There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” (John 15:13)

Today, we must remember and celebrate the One Who came to save you and me, as The Star of Bethlehem is a reminder that the Gospel is for everyone. God used the most unlikely candidates and the lowliest of circumstances to announce and bring His Son into this broken world. So, never feel unworthy or ashamed because Jesus loves each one of us who call on Him. He wants to use all of us to share and spread His message of love. Share the Love of Christ with as many people today as possible. Merry Christmas, my friends.

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.

Prayer: Jesus, I thank You for coming into this world to save me. Far too often I do not feel worthy to accept what You have done for me, and so I thank You for taking my sin and reminding me of just how valuable I am as Your daughter. Holy Spirit, please guide me today and every day to be a blessing to others. I want to spread Your love, Jesus, I want more hearts to grow in love with You and to know Who You are and how You came to save them. I ask all of this in Your Holy Name, Jesus. Amen.

Intro: For our Advent season this year, I have chosen to enjoy the Jesse Tree by sharing a 24-day practice to prepare us for the celebration of Christ’s birth; the event we celebrate and honor at Christmas. From the root of Jesse’s stump, we will discover or rediscover the people in the family Tree of Jesus Messiah who were instrumental in bringing the presence of God near to us in order to revive the Spirit-led family of faith. With each day’s reading, we will add a new symbol—an ornament—to our family tree.

Today, is day twenty-four of our journey and our symbol is the Baby in the Manger.

I have truly enjoyed the time we have spent together these past twenty-four days studying the many ways God has moved throughout history by drawing near to His human creation in order to reveal His plan, purpose, and promise to love us into His glory. We were created to bring glory to God and if we do not know what is required or understand what pleases Him, we will fail. The Word and the Spirit lead us to the Truth—Jesus, is the Christ for the world.

In our lesson today, we receive the Good News about the Baby in the Manger—Immanuel—God with us. God’s love came down to save us; to kiss the world and draw us all to Himself. The prophets told about our need for a Messiah, but it seemed unlikely that God would send the Messiah to such humble beginnings. Therefore, many missed the beauty of God’s gentleness and compassionate nature for ALL people; we have ALL sinned and fallen short of revealing God’s glory. The penalty for our sin is death; we need a sacrificial Lamb. So, the Glorious One came down to show us the Way and to be the Light of Truth to bring victory to our lives.

We have learned many things through our lessons from the Jesse Tree and the Righteous Branch. God’s plan for redemption includes unlikely people used in unexpected ways for the work of salvation which fills us with great Hope. We have learned God’s Peace is His purpose and gift to bring us wholeness that mends our wounded hearts and restores our broken lives due to sin. We have learned joy is a choice and an act of obedience in response to Christ’s grace and what he has done for us, so we must pursue and dwell in His presence where we find fullness of Joy. And lastly, we have learned God’s Love is faithful and unending and is best seen through His merciful act of sending the Baby in the Manger—the One who would mature and show us how to live in a way that pleases the Father—as well as, be the Messiah who would die for our sins.

God’s love—salvation—is offered in Christ, but we must connect to Him in order to receive the bounty of grace and glory that awaits our lives. The Baby in the Manger is the same Man who hung on the cross. May our response to the Christ be like the faith of Simeon and allow God’s work through His Son to make us spiritually alive, vibrant, and whole. Simeon did not need to see Christ’s crucifixion, but He allows the Spirit to lead him and knew the Messiah when He saw Him. In the Spirit, we know Him, too. Jesus, the Christ, is our Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love and we are the sinners who desperately need Him. Thank You, Son of God, for rescuing us from sin and making us sons and daughters for your glory!

Isaiah 7:14 NLT All right then, the Lord himself will give you the sign. Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel (which means ‘God is with us’).

Matthew 1:21-23 NLT 21 And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”
22 All of this occurred to fulfill the Lord’s message through his prophet:
23 
“Look! The virgin will conceive a child!
    She will give birth to a son,
and they will call him Immanuel,
    which means ‘God is with us.’”

Luke 2:25-33 NLT The Prophecy of Simeon
25 At that time there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon. He was righteous and devout and was eagerly waiting for the Messiah to come and rescue Israel. The Holy Spirit was upon him 26 and had revealed to him that he would not die until he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. 27 That day the Spirit led him to the Temple. So when Mary and Joseph came to present the baby Jesus to the Lord as the law required, 28 Simeon was there. He took the child in his arms and praised God, saying,
29 
“Sovereign Lord, now let your servant die in peace,
    as you have promised.
30 
I have seen your salvation,
31 
    which you have prepared for all people.
32 
He is a light to reveal God to the nations,
    and he is the glory of your people Israel!”
33 Jesus’ parents were amazed at what was being said about him.

John 3:17 NLT God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.

1 Timothy 1:15 NLT This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”—and I am the worst of them all.
Prayer: Lord, thank you for leading us by the Spirit into your glorious presence and salvation. We praise you for being our Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love. Give us a heart to love and direct others to your fountain of Life. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Note: I will be taking a break from writing daily devotionals and teaching Bible Study during the holidays in order to enjoy a time of restoration with family and friends, as we continue to celebrate our King and His glorious Kingdom of extravagant Love. Yet, please stay in the Word of God in your personal study time each day. I will get back to sharing daily devotionals with you on January 2, 2024 and teaching through Bible Study starting January 10, 2024. I love you all. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!