Devotionals

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!

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-three of our journey and our symbol is the Lamb.

So, ponder this: the greatest announcement that would ever be made for the greatest event to ever take place in the world was not reserved for the religious, political, or wealthy elite who exalted and paraded themselves before the people they were positioned to serve. In fact, it is the humble shepherds tending their flocks on the fields near Bethlehem who are the first to hear the good news of Messiah’s birth. Why shepherds with sheep?

God always does things purposefully; so, involving shepherds of sheep is an image God will continue to use to help people understand His purpose. Shepherds watch for enemies that might attack or steal the sheep, take care of the wounded in their flock, and search for the lost or trapped sheep who, on their own, have no hope of being found. Sheep need a shepherd to lead them or they wander and die. The Son of God came to shepherd humans who, like sheep, are prone to wander and die in sin.

Therefore, there is an even bigger picture here than just the shepherds. The image of sheep is important. Many theologians believe these shepherds supplied the lambs for the Temple sacrifices that were performed for the forgiveness of sins; a temporary covering. The Son of God came into the world to be the final sacrificial Lamb who’s blood would cover sin and offer eternal salvation to those who would identify with Him; belong! The Lamb reminds us the shepherds were the first to welcome the Good Shepherd AND the Lamb of God into the world.

It was an angel who introduced the shepherds to the Lamb of God. I can’t even imagine what a host of angels—the armies of heaven—would look like, but it was obviously terrifying for the shepherds. They had the capacity to be filled with awe at the sight of the heavenly glory breaking through the darkness. Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love had come to be enthrone on human hearts. And, can you imagine the power behind their glorious praise? May we join with the choir of heaven and praise our Savior and King!

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.

Matthew 2:1-6 NLT Visitors from the East
2 Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the reign of King Herod. About that time some wise men from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking, 2 “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star as it rose, and we have come to worship him.”
3 King Herod was deeply disturbed when he heard this, as was everyone in Jerusalem. 4 He called a meeting of the leading priests and teachers of religious law and asked, “Where is the Messiah supposed to be born?”
5 “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they said, “for this is what the prophet wrote:
6 
‘And you, O Bethlehem in the land of Judah,
 are not least among the ruling cities of Judah,
for a ruler will come from you
 who will be the shepherd for my people Israel.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the shepherds and angels, as well as their message for the world announcing your birth. Such Good News for our hearts! We have a clearer understanding of Your astounding greatness and love, as well as identifying ourselves as humble recipients. Thank you for tenderly taking care of us, as well as delivering us from sin. We know your Voice and are ready to follow. In Jesus’ name. 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-two of our journey and our symbol is the Hammer.

My husband, John, loves working with wood. He’s not a carpenter, but he is creative and has made many beautiful things for me out of wood over the years. Working with wood requires certain tools, a plan, precise measuring, and a lot of patience to make things fit together well.

God builds His story throughout Scripture fitting all the pieces of writing together like a Master Architect. In the Old Testament, Jeremiah is sent by God to prophesy to Israel that one day He will send them a righteous ruling King and Messiah through the line of David. Then, in our New Testament lesson today, Matthew introduces us to Joseph, a descendant of David, a righteous man, and a carpenter by trade who will unexpectedly participate in the advent of Messiah.

Joseph is in love with a young maiden named Mary and he wants to marry her. He has a plan to build a life with her, but suddenly things do not play out according to Joseph’s proposed structure and design. Surprisingly, even though Mary is betrothed to Joseph, she is pregnant with a child he did not father. Joseph considers breaking his engagement to Mary, but he loves her and knows she and the child will struggle to survive alone. Joseph wrestles with these new and confusing chain of events and wonders how to move forward.

Things become a lot clearer for Joseph when an angel appears to him in a dream and shares the Lord’s plan for Mary and her child. Joseph is to name the child, Jesus, and raise the Son of God as his own. Joseph will be instrumental in building a spiritual home that will prepare Jesus for his mission—to save the world by building the lives of people for the glory of Father God. The Hammer reminds us that Joseph—a carpenter whose name means God will add—was chosen and used by God to be the earthly father of Jesus whose name means God Saves. The Good News is all about God’s addition of His Son and what He will do to save His world.

Jeremiah 33:14-15 NLT 14 “The day will come, says the Lord, when I will do for Israel and Judah all the good things I have promised them.
15 
“In those days and at that time
    I will raise up a righteous descendant from King David’s line.
    He will do what is just and right throughout the land.

Matthew 1:1, 16-25 NLT 16 Jacob was the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary.
Mary gave birth to Jesus, who is called the Messiah.

17 All those listed above include fourteen generations from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the Babylonian exile, and fourteen from the Babylonian exile to the Messiah.

The Birth of Jesus the Messiah
18 This is how Jesus the Messiah was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But before the marriage took place, while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit. 19 Joseph, to whom she was engaged, was a righteous man and did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he decided to break the engagement quietly.
20 As he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. “Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. 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.’”

24 When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded and took Mary as his wife. 25 But he did not have sexual relations with her until her son was born. And Joseph named him Jesus.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for this amazing lesson from Joseph. Like Joseph, please help us to allow your plan to overshadow our own plans. May we also respond with grace and love when life takes a sudden turn. In Jesus’ name. 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-one of our journey and our symbol is the Lily.

Abundant scientific research shows, human beings think faster than they speak; which for many folks is a good thing. If everything entering our minds came out in our words, we would need rolls of duct tape for our mouths each day. Otherwise, a path of self-destruction could be the result.

The average person can speak about 125 words per minute. However, according to wikipedia, a person listens to 400+ words per minute. How much of what we listen to actually engages our understanding? Most people actually hear and comprehend about 150-160 words per minute. And on an average, we maybe remember only about 25% of what we actually hear. The spiritual battlefield is the mind, because we are to choose to “think” on whatever is pure and praiseworthy to the glory of God (Phil 4:8).

The symbol of the Lily is a sign of purity—only Jesus, born of a virgin and Fathered by the Spirit of God can bring us purity. In our passages for today, our focus is on this purity and how what we are told by God’s Word—the Message—and how we comprehend the words we hear. Mary has an encounter with the angel Gabriel. Mary is told—similar to Zechariah—that God is going to bring forth new life in a Son. This is a seemingly impossible and tremendously unexpected event in the life of Mary who has saved her purity for marriage. How is she to interpret what she has heard? The answer is to comprehend that God is with her and this Son is Holy.

I can only image how this news must have registered in Mary’s mind as she heard it, but this would definitely remain with her as things she would always remember. I love how Dr. Luke writes and tells us Mary, as young as she is, comprehends how babies are made and what she hears makes no sense. Yet, she pauses and ponders the words carefully. She looks for a bit more information. She remembers the Word of the Lord that came to her relative, Zechariah, was fulfilled, because her elderly aunt is pregnant. Therefore, Mary thinks carefully and responds, “May everything you have said about me come true” (Luke 1:38).

God’s Word has been planted in the hearts of believers in order to save our souls; however, our minds do not have the ability to perfectly comprehend spiritual things. Our flesh starts sending messages to our minds and the enemy start chirping with evil messages that contradict the Word of the Lord. We must struggle to silence all those words that would lead us into disobedience to the Lord or do not glorify God. Jesus’ brother James tells us we must tame our tongues [which act like a rudder] in order to turn from evil and turn toward pure righteousness; to pay attention to listening and our talking (James 1:19).

Isaiah 7:14 NLT 14 Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Listen carefully, the virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and she will call his name Immanuel (God with us).

Luke 1:26-38 NLT The Birth of Jesus Foretold
26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee, 27 to a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David. 28 Gabriel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!”
29 Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean. 30 “Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found favor with God! 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. 32 He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. 33 And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!”

34 Mary asked the angel, “But how can this happen? I am a virgin.”

35 The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God. 36 What’s more, your relative Elizabeth has become pregnant in her old age! People used to say she was barren, but she has conceived a son and is now in her sixth month. 37 For the word of God will never fail.”

38 Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” And then the angel left her.
Prayer: Father, thank you for the purity of our King, Jesus. Thank you for Mary and her purity to be a vessel you inhabit, as well as her obedience to say and affirm the Word over her life. Help us when we do not understand spiritual things and give us the purity of heart to see you and your Kingdom before us each day. We know you are with us. As well, help us to keep a watch over our minds and our words, because we set ourselves up to reap what we sow. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

BTW, word count for this devotional: 999 words to remember (smile).

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 of our journey and our symbol is the Grasshopper.

While I was baking cookies, Monday, our sixteen-month-old granddaughter, Amana, came over to stay for a few hours with us while her parents worked. She became fascinated with the old metal measuring spoons I was using that had belonged to my grandmother. So, after I was done with them, I handed the spoons to Amana. Seconds later when I turned to check on her she did not have the measuring spoons in her hand. I looked everywhere around us for the spoons. Lost. Sometimes when we are looking for something we lost, it can be right in front of us and we still do not see it.

Yesterday, we got reacquainted with Zechariah, the elderly Temple priest, and his startling encounter with Gabriel—the angel who delivered a message of hope, peace, and joy in the coming of Messiah. The angel proclaimed that Zechariah and Elizabeth [Mary’s maternal aunt] would have a son late in life; they were to name him, John. All of this came to pass as the angel had said because God was writing John’s Story to introduce His Son—the Savior for the world.

In our passage today, John is grown and knows his mission to serve the purposes of God as a messenger to call people to repentance. John lives in a prepared state—even in the wilderness—and he readily proclaims his message about God’s faithfulness to the covenant He made with Israel to send a Redeemer. The Kingdom of God is at hand and John is a living parable of repentance. He separates himself from the hypocrisy of the corrupt and defiled—the Jewish leaders who prefer their flowing robes, prestige, and palaces. However, John never exalts himself; rather, he points the lost to the coming holy One who can deliver them from evil and cleanse them from the filth of the world. Jesus Messiah open their eyes to the reality of the spiritual Kingdom right in front of them, so they can find their Way back in relationship to God.

The symbol of the Grasshopper [a special kind of locust] reminds us John the Baptist’s message is of great importance; it prepares us for spiritual change. John’s diet of locust and wild honey reminds us he lived off the land, but was sustained and led by God’s Spirit. John’s message prepares the Way for you and me. Sin blinds us, so we must turn from it by turning toward God. Evil may try to eat our spiritual “lunch” [destroy our hope, peace, and joy], but the grace of God will sustain the obedient ones and fulfill the purpose He has for our lives. Just keep walking by faith!

Isaiah 40:3 NLT Listen! It’s the voice of someone shouting,
“Clear the way through the wilderness
for the Lord!
Make a straight highway through the wasteland
for our God!

Malachi 3:1 NLT The Coming Day of Judgment
1 “Look! I am sending my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me [Messiah]. Then the Lord you are seeking will suddenly come to his Temple. The messenger of the covenant, whom you look for so eagerly, is surely coming,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.
Malachi 4:5 NLT
5 “Look, I am sending you the prophet Elijah before the great and dreadful day of the Lord arrives.

Mark 1:1-8 NLT John the Baptist Prepares the Way
1 This is the Good News about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God. It began 2 just as the prophet Isaiah had written:
“Look, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,
and he will prepare your way.
3
He is a voice shouting in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord’s coming!
Clear the road for him!’”

4 This messenger was John the Baptist. He was in the wilderness and preached that people should be baptized to show that they had repented of their sins and turned to God to be forgiven. 5 All of Judea, including all the people of Jerusalem, went out to see and hear John. And when they confessed their sins, he baptized them in the Jordan River. 6 His clothes were woven from coarse camel hair, and he wore a leather belt around his waist. For food he ate locusts and wild honey.

7 John announced: “Someone is coming soon who is greater than I am—so much greater that I’m not even worthy to stoop down like a slave and untie the straps of his sandals. 8 I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit!”

Matthew 11:5-15 NLT 5 The blind see, the lame walk, those with leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, and the Good News is being preached to the poor.” 6 And he added, “God blesses those who do not fall away because of me.”

7 As John’s disciples were leaving, Jesus began talking about him to the crowds. “What kind of man did you go into the wilderness to see? Was he a weak reed, swayed by every breath of wind? 8 Or were you expecting to see a man dressed in expensive clothes? No, people with expensive clothes live in palaces. 9 Were you looking for a prophet? Yes, and he is more than a prophet. 10 John is the man to whom the Scriptures refer when they say,

‘Look, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,
and he will prepare your way before you.’

11 “I tell you the truth, of all who have ever lived, none is greater than John the Baptist. Yet even the least person in the Kingdom of Heaven is greater than he is! 12 And from the time John the Baptist began preaching until now, the Kingdom of Heaven has been forcefully advancing, and violent people [violent forces] are attacking it. 13 For before John came, all the prophets and the law of Moses looked forward to this present time. 14 And if you are willing to accept what I say, he is Elijah, the one the prophets said would come. 15 Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand!

John 1:19-23 NLT The Testimony of John the Baptist
19 This was John’s testimony when the Jewish leaders sent priests and Temple assistants from Jerusalem to ask John, “Who are you?” 20 He came right out and said, “I am not the Messiah.”
21 “Well then, who are you?” they asked. “Are you Elijah?”
“No,” he replied.
“Are you the Prophet we are expecting?”
“No.”
22 “Then who are you? We need an answer for those who sent us. What do you have to say about yourself?”
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!’”

Prayer: Lord, thank you for coming to save us. We were the lost and now we are the found. Please continue to open our blind eyes to the provision of grace in front of us each day. Help us Holy Spirit to obediently follow you into provision. Satan has no power to destroy what your Word has put into motion. Therefore, we turn to praise, clear the sin from our lives, and live the gospel message. In Jesus’ name. Amen.