God and Sinners Reconciled

Read Romans 5:6-11

The pinnacle of the advent season has arrived. Today marks the day where, for centuries, the church has celebrated heaven breaking through time and space in a grand descension to earth.  God’s passionate pursuit of his people is made manifest in a lowly manger in Bethlehem.

Today is Christmas.

This is a time for rejoicing.  Christian, fully delight in the festivities and trappings this holy day affords. Eat your fill of delicious food, laugh in the presence of good company, and embrace the joy of giving and receiving. As you engage your senses and emotions in all that surrounds you, let every detail remind you of this resounding truth: God is good. Let your heart and soul be ushered back to that fateful night when the angels transformed a pasture into a sanctuary and filled the skies with the sound of rejoicing and the proclamation of the King's arrival.

And yet in the midst of the exclamatory praise from the heavenly hosts this reality remains: the Bethlehem manger lies in the ominous shadow of a Roman cross. "...For while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." 

But we do not dwell on the foretold suffering of the man of sorrows today. No, for we know the rest of the story, and the subsequent joy that was set before him as he endured that scornful tree. “…We rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.” So for today, and forever, we join with the angelic choir in proclaiming, “Gloria in excelsis Deo…Glory to God in the highest, peace on earth and goodwill to men on whom his favor rests.”

The Messiah has indeed arrived, and he comes bearing the gift of reconciliation with God.

Starter prayer:

Father,

You are good. Your love on display in your passionate pursuit of your people is overwhelming. Give me eyes to see, ears to hear, and a heart to receive the truth of your goodness in everything I do today. Flood my soul with the joy of your salvation found in your son, Jesus Christ, alone, and may his name be forever glorified and treasured in my life. 

Amen.

The Great Condescension

Read Philippians 2:5-11

Humility.

It is a concept that is often lost in a world where the pursuit of self-promotion and esteem reigns supreme. Our culture feasts on the lifestyles of the rich and the famous— actors, athletes, and musicians who spend the bulk of their energy ensuring their reservations in the limelight. In the end, we're all striving for the same, for pride and self-exaltation are in our DNA. We desperately want to be noticed.

In stark contrast, Christmas is a celebration of the greatest display of humility in the history of the universe: God becoming a human.

There are few passages in the scriptures that capture the reality of what transpired at advent better than Philippians 2:5-11. The chasm between God’s throne and that lowly manger in Bethlehem was infinite. Only a God of infinite power and wisdom possessed the ability to bridge a gap so expansive. Everything about that first Christmas night asserted his humility. His poor parents, a filthy stable, a feeding trough, shepherd visitors, the town of Bethlehem—all served as a testimony to his self-ascribed meekness. And his personification of humility would not end at the manger scene; rather, this was merely the preface to a grand story of modesty.

While fully maintaining his divinity, he set aside all of the rights to which he was entitled. He became human, but not just any human—a lowly servant. He would spend his days ministering to the poor, the sick, the outcasts...the sinners. His servitude would reach a pinnacle as he willingly scorned the shame of a criminal's cross— one ultimately reserved for the very people responsible for nailing him there. On that forsaken tree, his righteousness would be exchanged for all of the wretchedness of mankind, subjecting himself to the appropriate wrath of the Father.

From his preincarnate glory on his heavenly throne to a meek baby lying in a wooden manger to a stripped and beaten criminal hanging on an executioner’s cross...

...this was the great condescension of God.

Starter Prayer:
Jesus,
Thank you for your powerful demonstration of humility. Thank you for condescending to live among us, to love us, to serve us, and ultimately to die for us. Empower me to live a life that models your servitude and humility.
Amen.

The Herod in All of Us

Read Matthew 2:13-23

Buried in the beauty and grace of the nativity story is a scene of terror. When a godless king becomes aware of a potential threat to his throne, he foolishly devises a plan to use the wise men as pawns to lead him to the child in need of elimination. But as the Psalmist notes, “The Lord frustrates the counsel of the nations; He thwarts the plans of the peoples, (Psalm 33:10)” and through a warning to the wise men, God leads Joseph and his young family to safety in Egypt. When the proud king becomes aware of the deception, his response is rash and swift, resulting in a massacre in the town of Bethlehem and the neighboring communities.

It is impossible to imagine the terror and agony that pervaded the village that day at the hand of a ruthless Herod. Yet in the midst of this horrific narrative, this profound message resounds: Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners. This is precisely the kind of depravity that the advent of God was set to address. Most of us will assess this infanticide with a sense of astonishment at how someone could be so vile—so wicked. The reality is, however, we all possess an inherent despicability. When our sin, regardless of how trivially we view it, is exposed in the light of the holiness of God, we stand no more advantageously before God than a deplorable Herod.

We, like all of the Herod’s throughout history, are in desperate need of a savior to rescue us from the grave consequences of our depravity. By sparing his son as an infant, God would prepare a savior, and by refusing to spare his son as a man, God would provide a savior.

Starter Prayer:
Father,
I know there is much wickedness in my heart. It has been there from the moment I was conceived, and I know that apart from your grace in my life, my sin would rule me. Thank you for providing a savior to forgive me for and free me from my depravity. Thank you for not sparing your son, but offering him up for us all.
Amen.

Wisdom Hunters

Read Matthew 2:1-12

It is a peculiar story. Pagan astrologers from the east journeying to Israel; compelled by a star in the night sky they claimed belonged to the newly born king of the Jews. What concern would these gentiles have for a Jewish monarch, leading them to traverse hundreds of miles through foreign countryside?

They were in search of wisdom. 

The pursuit of knowledge and understanding was their mission in life, and from the western sky they sensed its beckoning call. Characteristic of those who possess wisdom is a continual pursuit of the great virtue, for they know it to be “better than jewels, and nothing desirable can compare with it” (Proverbs 8:11). These wise men were in search of the crown jewel of wisdom found not in teachings, instruction, proverbs, or philosophies. Rather, these men were in search of wisdom…the person.

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, 

and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”

Proverbs 9:10

Their journey would lead the men to the very one who authored wisdom and fully personified it. Upon their arrival, like the shepherds before them, the wise men responded most appropriately by kneeling in worship and joyfully laying their offerings at his feet. Simeon’s song of praise to the Lord prophesied the messiah to be “…a light for revelation to the Gentiles...,” words that would find their first fulfillment in a group of wisdom hunters from the east, demonstrating that the gospel’s reach was far beyond Israel’s borders.

Starter Prayer:
Father,
Living in awe of you is truly the beginning of wisdom. Help my life to be characterized by a continual pursuit of knowing you and your word. Keep me far from the temptation of foolishness, and when I find my way to that wicked path, bring swift correction.
Amen.

A Dying Wish Fulfilled

Read Luke 2:25-35

How long had it been? A few days? A month? Years? Perhaps decades? Just how long did Simeon await the fulfillment of the Holy Spirit’s promise to him? He was confident he would not taste death until he laid eyes on the Messiah, but when exactly that would happen was a mystery to Simeon. Given his overwhelming excitement toward seeing the Christ child combined with his apparent eagerness to peacefully go to his final resting place, Simeon must have been waiting for quite some time—perhaps even a lifetime. Throughout the wait, however, Simeon was a man filled with hope.

The text describes him as “righteous and devout, looking forward to Israel’s consolation.” Simeon lived an entire lifetime of devotion to the Lord, waiting expectantly for Israel’s great comforter to arrive. He knew that God would be faithful to his promises, and his confidence in the Lord led him to a life of obedience to his Lord.

Then, finally, it happened. A young couple, carrying a baby boy, walks into the temple complex and Simeon bursts into praise. He was now free to die in peace for he had seen the hope of the world. Salvation was coming to all people— Jew and Gentile alike. The Holy Spirit was faithful to his promise and through a little baby named Jesus, an old man's dying wish was finally fulfilled.

Accompanying this scene of great joy, however, is a stark warning. This child would not only usher in deliverance, but also judgment. He would stand in bold opposition to the arrogant, bringing imminent judgment to those who rejected his offer of salvation. And for the young mother who gently cuddled this baby, a sword of agony would pierce her very soul as one day she would witness what her child would have to endure to make this salvation possible.

Starter Prayer:
Father,
As I await your return, give me a holy anticipation like Simeon's. Help me to look forward to that day with great excitement and an appropriate longing to see Jesus face to face. May the hope of that day fuel me to live righteously and devoutly in the meantime. Thank you for the hope of your salvation, found solely in your son, Jesus Christ.
Amen.

The Dedication of a Lamb

Read Luke 2:21-24

Generations of Israelite sons had been brought before the priests in dedication to the Lord. However, the presentation of this particular son is unique. The ceremony represents a family reunion of sorts as God the Son is offered before God the Father as one truly set apart. Consider the joy that must have welled up in the Heavenly Father as he looked upon his boy and considered the delight they had experienced together from eternity past. Perhaps his joy was met with sorrow at the thought of what this baby would ultimately be called upon to endure.

Hebrew law required a sacrifice be made for Mary’s purification following her childbirth. She was to offer a sacrificial lamb at the temple whereby a priest would carry out the act, making atonement for her sins and providing for her cleansing. An exception was made, however, for those individuals unable to afford a lamb. A pair of turtledoves or pigeons would serve as the substitute for the more expensive lamb (see Leviticus 12:1-8). Mary and Joseph’s meager circumstances dictated they make use of this clause for the poor.

What the priest was ignorant of, however, was that Mary and Joseph possessed a sacrificial lamb far greater than any he had ever laid hands on. The very child being dedicated in the temple on this day would be the lamb whose sacrifice would usher in a new covenant. Through him the sacrificial system would be finally and forever fulfilled. This solitary baby boy would bear the full weight of the sins of the entire world for all time.

Starter Prayer:
Father,
I can’t imagine the range of emotions you must have felt as your son was dedicated in your holy temple. You were well aware of what his future held and for what purpose he was ultimately being set apart. At any moment you could have withdrawn this gift of grace being offered. You would have been perfectly justified in doing so. Yet you didn’t. Instead you willingly traded your son’s life for mine. Help me to live every day in response to your overwhelming generosity toward me.
Amen.

A Lofty Message for a Lowly Audience

Read Luke 2:8-20

When God bursts through time and space to become a human being, a grand birth announcement is in order. One would expect a far-reaching broadcast of this earth-shaping news to be blasted across the airwaves; to rulers far and wide— among the most influential with an appeal to spread this blessed news! Yet once again, in most peculiar fashion, God operates contrary to human instinct and delivers the first report of this sacred birth to an unlikely and lowly audience—a band of shepherds.

Shepherds were not exactly at the top of the socioeconomic hierarchy, and religiously speaking were considered ceremonially unclean. These men were often regarded as outcasts, spending theirs days— and nights— in the fields with livestock, only to visit town with carousing on their minds and a stench on their bodies. To God, however, these were the perfect individuals to declare the message of his glory come down to earth.

“Today a Savior, who is Messiah the Lord, was born...

For You...

Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to people He favors!”

The gospel isn’t reserved for an elite few, but rather it transcends social, economic, and cultural barriers. It captures the hearts and affections of the lowly, the outcast, the rejects. Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners, exemplified in a ragtag bunch of nobody shepherds, whom in a moment had their lives forever transformed. What likely began as a typical evening under the night sky with the Creator of the universe far from their minds, concluded with the shepherds “glorifying and praising God for all they had seen and heard.”

May our encounter with the person and work of Jesus Christ prompt the same response.

Starter Prayer:
Father,
I praise you for having the power to save anyone. Thank you for revealing yourself to the shepherds 2,000 years ago, and thank you for loving an unlikely person like me today. I don’t deserve your grace, but I gladly and gratefully welcome it. Help me to respond the way the shepherds so appropriately responded by “glorifying and praising” you.
Amen.

The Modest King Arrives

Read Luke 2:6-7

Many images come to mind when we think of royalty. Thrones and crowns, extravagant gowns and brilliant jewels, eager servants and admiring crowds. When kings and queens are present, all are aware and red carpets await their imperial footsteps.

Certainly similar pomp would be expected for the arrival of God’s eternal ruler. Yet the Luke narrative demonstrates the great disparity between earthly kings and the King of Kings. This King comes not with a grandiose display of pageantry, but rather stunning humility. His regal throne is a feeding trough covered in livestock mucus and saliva. His royal palace is a filthy and odorous stable, where gold tiling is replaced with animal excrement.

From the moment of his birth, this King came, “not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45). This humble housing is but a foreshadow of the most unfitting place for the Creator of the universe— a criminal’s cross. Yet this King would embrace it willingly. At the highest of price, he would purchase an everlasting palatial dwelling place for those least deserving— the very sinners who made his humiliation necessary.

Starter Prayer:
Jesus,
Thank you for your amazing display of humility. Help me to live a life of gratitude for what you did in coming to earth to live, die, and rise again for my salvation. You deserved riches and I deserved rags, but you willingly traded places with me. I am eternally grateful.
Amen.

An Improbable Journey

Read Luke 2:1-5

“Bethlehem Ephrathah, you are small among the clans of Judah; One will come from you to be ruler over Israel for Me. His origin is from antiquity, from eternity.” 

(Micah 5:2)

God always keeps his promises. 700 years prior to Caesar’s decree, God made a promise through the mouth of his prophet Micah that a remote village named Bethlehem would be the birthplace of an eternal ruler over Israel. Only the messiah would fit the unique description of “eternal ruler,” yet a geographical roadblock stood in the way of the fulfillment of the Bethlehem promise. Mary and Joseph resided in Nazareth and were certainly preparing for the imminent arrival of their child in the comfort of their own home. So how does God cause a young couple to make a highly improbable three-day journey across 90 miles of terrain to visit a lowly rural community while in the final stages of pregnancy?

He directs the heart of a king.

“A king's heart is like streams of water in the LORD's hand: He directs it wherever He chooses.” (Proverbs 21:1)

In a powerful expression of his sovereign will, God uses a decree from Caesar Augustus to bring this young Nazarene couple to the little town of Bethlehem. Faithful to his promise seven centuries earlier, God would bring his "eternal ruler" into the world in the most unlikely of places.

Starter Prayer:
God,
You are always faithful to your promises. Thank you for the many clear prophecies from your Word that point to Jesus being the messiah. You truly are a God who is in the details. If you were faithful to your word to put a small town like Bethlehem on the map for eternity, I can certainly trust you with the details in my life. Help me to trust you more.
Amen.

Forgiveness of Sins…and So Much More

Read Luke 1:67-80

The birth of Jesus was still months away, but through the loosened tongue of Zechariah, the Holy Spirit had a stunning message for his people. He revealed parts of the gospel that perhaps God’s people of the day were not anticipating.  2,000 years later, we are still frequently overlooking the depth and breadth of the message of the gospel.

We have often made a habit of reducing the gospel to an oversimplified message of the forgiveness of sins. Yes, the gospel features the incredible opportunity to be forgiven, a necessary prerequisite to being reconciled with God. But the reach of the gospel goes beyond the forgiveness of sins. Consider the deep truths included in Zechariah’s prophecy: God has visited his people and in so doing has provided redemption; He has saved us from our enemies, namely sin and death; in his mercy he has spared us from what we rightly deserve, his wrath; He has graciously allowed us to serve him, free from fear; He has made us holy and righteous forever through the perfect righteousness of Christ; His merciful compassion has lead us out of darkness and into light, out of death and into life, and to a place and state of true peace.

The gospel is more expansive than we can imagine. The implications of the advent of the messiah are far greater than we could ever comprehend. Even Zechariah's beautiful words of prophecy barely scratch the surface of all the gospel entails. The benefits of this glorious gospel are infinite and for those who embrace its truth, we will spend all of eternity wading in the bottomless depths of its rich waters.

Starter Prayer:

Father,

Thank you for the gospel.  Thank you for your passionate pursuit of your people, including me.  Help me to continually grasp more and more of the depth and breadth of the gospel.  Help me to stop pursuing finite things for my satisfaction when infinite joy is found in knowing you and your truth.

Amen.

His Name is John

Read Luke 1:57-66

When God unmistakably moves, people notice and respond. The great herald of the Lord has come into the world, and the events surrounding his conception and birth leave those who know Zechariah and Elizabeth in complete bewilderment. As this elderly couple becomes first-time parents, the neighbors and relatives are quick to recognize this is a clear display of God’s mercy and is cause for rejoicing.

The naming of the child also presents an opportunity to display God’s supernatural intervention. One spouse breaks with cultural tradition and suggests a most peculiar name, John. The other spouse, unable to speak, confirms that John will indeed be this child’s name. The response from the people is one of amazement. With the final stroke of his pen, Zechariah regains his speech, and words of praise to God flow from his mouth. All of these events worked in coordination to bring appropriate fear throughout the region in which they lived. Truly God was behind these events, and they were convinced this child would indeed be special.

John the Baptist was recognized as a great man. Jesus himself referred to John as the greatest among those born of women. Yet there wasn’t anything inherently special about this particular messenger. Rather it was the rich content of his message that bore the weight of his greatness. Before he was born, God chose him to be a herald, to deliver the greatest message in the history of the world.

His very words would commence the public ministry of Jesus Christ, “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world.”

Starter Prayer:
Father,
You entrusted John with the most important message in the world. You’ve entrusted me with the same message. Help me to be bold in pointing people to your son, Jesus Christ. He is truly the great Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, and eternal life is found in him alone.
Amen.

Carrying God

Read Luke 1:46-56

After allowing the reality of carrying the Christ-child to settle in, and revealing this divine privilege to her relatives, Mary comes to terms with just how blessed she is. What would you do if you had been entrusted with the honor of bearing God’s son?

Mary sang.

Her song eloquently and passionately ascribed magnificence to her God. He is the clear focal point of her admiration and the object of her affections. She sings of his greatness and the subsequent joy in her soul. She sings of her lowly condition met with his undeserved favor. She sings of the legacy that her God has forever established for her. She sings of His incomprehensible holiness, mercy, and might. She sings of the satisfying richness now filling her poor and hungry soul. He is her great helper, and for him…she sings.

Mary was entrusted with the great privilege of carrying God. She was selected to play a vital role in ushering the King of Kings into the world. Mary only saw glimpses, however, of the great metanarrative unfolding. She knew Jesus would be the savior of the world, but while she sang her magnificent song, she was unaware of his pending sacrificial death, glorious resurrection, divine ascension, and imminent return to establish his kingdom forever.

Mary only saw in part.  Sing for joy, Christian, for you know the entire story.

Starter Prayer:
Father,
I confess I often lose sight of the most important things, namely knowing you and being known by you. Thank you for Mary’s example of finding everlasting joy in the midst of her poverty and social disgrace. Help me to be forever filled with joy at the knowledge of the truth of the gospel.
Amen.

Leaping for Joy

Read Luke 1:39-45

In light of the news of her pregnancy, Mary quickly makes her way to the home of her relatives. Perhaps she will receive some encouragement from these two godly people, as the recent events would have likely led to her social alienation. What Mary is unaware of is that Elizabeth has some shocking news of her own. Before either woman can share the news of their pregnancies, a fetal John the Baptist issues the spoiler. Even this unborn child experiences emotion at being in the presence of his Creator.

In this scene two unborn children, one being the messiah and the other his great messenger, interact with one another. This supernatural encounter features John the Baptist’s first “preparing of the way of the Lord,” as he recognizes, through the power of the Holy Spirit, that he is in the presence of the messiah. From the womb, the child responds with the most appropriate of emotions: joy.  It causes him to leap.

In response to her unborn child’s elation, Elizabeth declares what is known to be true of Mary and the child she is carrying, “You are the most blessed of women, and your child will be blessed!” The “most blessed of women” is a powerful statement, yet it had nothing to do with anything inherent in Mary’s character. Rather, it was in response to the character of the child in her womb.

When we fully embrace the presence of Christ in our lives we, like Mary, are blessed. This blessing comes not from anything we have done or could ever do, but is provided by all that Christ is and has done. While Jesus physically resided in Mary’s womb 2,000 years ago, his Spirit indwells us today. Because of this, like Mary, we are among those most blessed.

Starter Prayer:
Father,
Help me to leap with joy at the thought of being in your presence. You are indeed the Holy One, and if even an infant can grasp that, how much more should I, who have seen your marvelous deeds, be filled with joy? Thank you for taking up residence in my heart and for considering me among those most blessed.
Amen.

From Disgrace to Delight

On Sunday, preceding the reading of Matthew 1:1-17, we listened to the dramatic presentation of the poem included below.  In the richness of the words is a creative and powerful interpretation of an emotional Joseph wrestling through the reality of the news of Mary's pregnancy.  After watching the embedded video below and reading the words to the poem, read Matthew 1:1-17.

In the Silence - a poem written and performed by Wesley Rozenboom

"Joseph, how could you be such a fool. The women I love I now know has known another man, and is with child.
I need to just keep walking and not turn around cause there’s nothing for me back there.
at least not anymore.
So I keep putting one foot in front of the other as I consider these things.
What I thought was a promise etched in stone turned out to be a breeze that left me alone.
Now all I hear is the silence.
The incestuous sound that wont stop saying nothing will ever be the same
the silence that gives way to the raging river of my thoughts.
Have the leaves really stopped rustling?
Has the wind really stopped blowing?
Or is it that I’ve placed a brace around my heart for fear that it might buckle under the weight?
I’d finally found a lily amongst the thorns, a refreshing stream cutting through a parched mountain landscape. but what I got was a poisonous berry sweet to the eye but bitter in the back of my throat.
I remember when we first met and started making memories.
I forgot how to play it cool and you forgot how to stop smiling.
but somewhere along the way our love began to die and your 'I love yous' became a lie.
I never noticed the silence that seeped itself somewhere in between your soul and your smile. I’m sorry.
And now my feet lead me down the decrepit road of that night.
Mary, who was he? Did he shower you with love that made you think you could fly? Or did he simply have a smile that for a moment caught your eye?
Did you pause before you took another step?
Did you tell yourself that this didn’t lead to death?
Did my face flash through your thoughts as your bodies intertwined in knots?
Was it everything you thought it’d be? Was he everything that isn’t me?
Did you find what you were looking for?
Have you forgotten our God in your attempts to shackle your wrists with broken chains?
Was this a moment of weakness or has the mask you wear finally been taken off?
Cause my deepest wound is the fear that I never knew you.
Oh LORD hear your servant's cries. My soul is full of trouble. Lean down and wipe my tears for I am drowning in them.
I don’t want this! Did I make the right choice? Help me not carry this the rest of my days.
I’m sorry Lord but I do not posses the faithfulness and strength of your prophet Hosea for I am dust, and an unimportant man.
My only request before you is that you not deal with Mary as her sins deserve or repay her according to her offenses.
For Lord you are compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and rich in faithful love.
So Mary out of a desire to see you keep breathing I'll keep. silent.
But today I untie your rope from this dock and let you drift away. silent.
I’m left alone standing on the shore. silent.
Not knowing whether or not to wave or just walk away. silent.
Working up the courage to call out 'I still love you' but..."

Blessed Slavery

Read Luke 1:26-38

“Rejoice, favored woman! The Lord is with you,” came the message from the angelic being. Mary’s hesitation to join in the celebration is understandable. After all, this is an angel standing before her; a supernatural being speaking directly to her. This wasn’t exactly her everyday experience, and this was the same angel that sent the prophet Daniel sprawling facedown in terror at the mere sight of such a being (Daniel 8:16-17). Yet something deeper was troubling Mary; something beyond the pure magnificence of the scenario in which she found herself. It was as if she anticipated a calling on her life; one that would almost certainly be difficult. For what possible reason could God be sending this angel to her?

And then came the message that would alter her life, both now and for eternity, and establish her name forever in the pages of the indestructible word of God.

“Mary, you are going to give birth to a son…God’s Son.”

The news had to have hit her with the force of a million volts. The vast spectrum of emotions she had to have experienced must have been astounding. Why would God consider her for such a privilege, such a responsibility, such suffering? What would her family think? What would her friends think? How does a young virgin woman explain to those who know her that she is with child…God’s child? And most of all, what about…Joseph?

There is no question Mary’s road would be difficult. Yet her confidence, hope, and peace lay not in her own strength. She was a young woman whose bedrock was unshakeable. She knew the God of Israel, and she trusted in His goodness. Therefore, her response to the herald’s message was most appropriate:

“I am the Lord’s slave…may it be done to me according to your word.”

Starter Prayer:
Father,
Give me faith like Mary’s. I know I won’t always understand the ways you are at work in my life, and I know the things you ask of me won’t always be easy, but, like Mary, let me always consider it a privilege to be called your servant. You are the greatest of masters. There is no more joy-filled place to be than under your reign.
Amen.

Suffering Saints

Read Luke 1:5-25

Zechariah was a priest, one of God’s anointed, set apart to serve in the temple sanctuary. He and his wife, Elizabeth, unique among their peers, were characterized by righteous and blameless living. Certainly there would be an expectation that this remarkable couple, who exhibited a lifetime of devotion and obedience to God, would experience God’s tangible favor throughout their lives. However, the first chapter of Luke’s gospel tells a very different story of the faithful pair. Zechariah and Elizabeth experienced decades of suffering, for a barren womb meant not only personal sorrow but also social disgrace.

Yet the eye of the Lord was on these two suffering saints, and it would be they through whom he would bring the great herald of the messiah into the world. Their long-awaited son would “be great in the sight of the Lord…turn[ing] many of the sons of Israel to the Lord their God.” And his most honored responsibility would be “to make ready for the Lord a prepared people.” John would be his name, and he would deliver the great inauguration speech for the King of Kings, declaring, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”

God never promises a life free of heartache for those who call upon his name. Often the road of obedience is marked with suffering. But suffering for the Lord is indeed a privileged position, and for this couple, the painful circumstances led to a continuous cry to the heavenly father accompanied by a lifetime of faithful obedience. Much to their surprise and delight, after decade upon decade, the Lord answered.

Starter Prayer:
Father,
I know you never promised this earthly life would be free from heartache and sorrow. Thank you for the examples of your servants Zechariah and Elizabeth. Help me to be faithful and obedient to you regardless of my circumstances. You are the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow, forever worthy of my praise and my life.
Amen.

So That You May Know...

Read Luke 1:1-4

Many of us grew up in households where the culture of Christianity was the norm. We identified as Christians largely because that is what our parents did. Stop for a moment and ask yourself this question, “Why am I a Christian?” Is it because it is all you have ever known? Is it because you were pulled into a culture where identifying as a Christian was simply expected? While that type of introduction to Christianity doesn't necessarily make someone any less Christian, it is an unstable foundation. The much firmer bedrock for our faith is this: the claims of Christianity are emphatically and compellingly…true.

In addition to being a physician, the author of the gospel of Luke was a meticulous historian. In the pages of his historical account of the life of Jesus, we observe great attention to detail from the good doctor. From the earliest stroke of his pen, he is straightforward about his agenda for writing:

“so that you may know the certainty of the things about which you have been instructed.”

The bible is not a collection of ancient myths. We can have much confidence that the pages of this sacred text are home to absolute truth. In his introductory sentence, Luke notes that many have written about the life of the messiah, and that his own account was delivered to him firsthand by eyewitnesses who observed the details of the life of Jesus. Through careful investigation, Luke accomplishes his objective of providing an “orderly sequence” of the life and ministry of the messiah.

As we continue to journey through the advent season, building in anticipation of the grand celebration of Christ’s arrival, know this: God’s Word is trustworthy and true. These are not fables, fairytales, or clever moral anecdotes. 2,000 years ago the events unfolded as they are recorded in the words we will read over the next few weeks leading up to Christmas. As an accomplished and trustworthy reporter does his due diligence to research and record the objective facts surrounding an event, so too, Luke goes to painstaking lengths to give us the masterful gospel account that bears his name.

This advent season, do not merely read the advent story in the name of family tradition, as appropriate as that may be. Rather, read it with eyes to see and ears to hear how history actually unfolded and how the events surrounding the life of Christ indeed has eternal implications for your very soul.

Starter Prayer:
God,
Thank you that your word is trustworthy and true. Give me fresh eyes to see the advent story unfold from the pages of your sacred gospel in a way that sets my faith on an even firmer foundation. Draw me into deeper affections of the One to whom all of scripture points, namely your Son, Jesus Christ.
Amen.

An Unlikely Lineage

Read Matthew 1:1-17

Biblical genealogies are complex to read. Name after name, many of which are difficult to pronounce to the 21st century American reader, can leave the reader questioning their greater purpose in the metanarrative of the bible. Nonetheless, “All scripture is God-breathed, and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness.” In addition to making a case for the historicity of Jesus, the genealogy recorded in Matthew 1 provides beautiful insight into the character of God. We learn much about his grand invitation for men and women throughout history to participate in his marvelous story of redemption.

Five names in particular stand out in this passage in Matthew. They are the only women listed in the genealogy, and their stories demonstrate what every individual participating in this sacred lineage desperately needed: a Redeemer.

Tamar was impregnated by her father-in-law after veiling her identity and being mistaken as a prostitute.

Rahab was a Gentile and former prostitute.

Ruth, also a Gentile, was a poor field-worker.

Bathsheba, identified in the text as “the wife of Uriah,” was a participant in the adulterous relationship that left her pregnant and her husband murdered.

Mary was a young, unmarried pregnant woman who was inevitably labeled a social outcast despite being innocent of sexual immorality.

These five women, along with the men listed in the text, were recipients of God’s undeserved favor. Through them, the Father brought into the world the promised Savior, so that we, too, might be the beneficiaries of such undeserved favor.

Starter Prayer:
Father,

You have always been in the business of using unlikely and insignificant people to accomplish your grand purposes. Thank you for the long history of your sovereign intervention in the lives of weak and helpless people. Thank you for making me a part of that history. I need a redeemer as much as anyone. Thank you for providing Him.
Amen.

Delightful Fear

Read Isaiah 11:1-10

Many of the Old Testament prophecies about the coming messiah provide insight into what the savior's reign will be like. Few of these prophecies are as vivid and extensive as Isaiah 11. Through the empowerment of the Spirit, the messiah’s holy résumé will include wisdom, understanding, counsel, strength, knowledge, righteousness, and faithfulness. He will care for the poor, bring justice for the oppressed, and strike down the wicked. Peace will be experienced among all his creation, including creatures once counted as enemies.

Perhaps the most upright characteristic of the coming King is this:

“His delight will be in the fear of the Lord.” 

His proper understanding of the holiness of the Father does not result in fearful cowardice or trepidation. Rather, as he beholds the glory and splendor of the Lord, his response is pure delight.

The perfection of the messiah’s reign, fueled by his overwhelming delight in the Father, will be unmistakable, and the everlasting result will be “the nations will seek Him, and His resting place will be glorious.”

Starter Prayer:

Father,
Thank you for sending your son so that we can boldly and confidently enter into your presence. Help me to delight in the fear of the Lord, and to have a continuous longing to experience your glory and majesty.  Keep my eyes fixed on you, and let my life be characterized by those qualities that you perfectly possess: wisdom, understanding, strength, knowledge, righteousness, and faithfulness.

Amen

Divine Preparation

Read Genesis 3:1-15

At the great commencement of sin in the Garden of Eden, the Author of life was not left scrambling for an appropriate response. He was not forced to go to his cosmic drawing board to devise “Plan B.” There was no sign of panic, anxiety, or loss of control, all of which are outside the bounds of his perfect nature.

No, the Father had long since been prepared.

"I will put hostility between you and the woman, 


and between your seed and her seed.
 

He will strike your head,
 

and you will strike his heel."

The Genesis account of the fall of mankind with the disastrous sampling of the forbidden fruit provides transparent insight into the eternal will of God. Without a moment’s hesitation, the Father unveils the very first clue to his redemptive plan. One day, a solitary man from among the offspring of Eve would deliver a fatal blow to the head of God’s most vile enemy. However, it would not be without suffering a strike to his own heel delivered on a Roman cross.

It was the great conspiracy among the Holy Trinity from eternity past. The Father knew the implications of creating humans with the freedom to choose between obedience and rebellion. He knew what would be required to bring about reconciliation from imminent brokenness. He knew precisely what it would cost. The Son, too, was well aware.

And together, they welcomed it.

The advent of Jesus Christ was not a reaction to an unforeseen rebellion in the Garden. Rather, the rebellion was merely the necessary prelude to the main event, the advent of Jesus Christ.

Starter Prayer
Father,
You know all things. You knew when you knit me together in my mother’s womb I would be a creature of rebellion. You knew that it would require the highest price to purchase my redemption. Your son’s blood was at stake. Yet you chose to create me anyway. Thank you for your beautiful master plan and for not withholding your Son to pay for my debt, that I, too, might have the privilege of being called your child.
Amen.

What's in a Name?

Read Isaiah 9:6-7

Every new parent knows the responsibility and finality of producing a name for their child. With the mere stroke of a pen on a legal document that infant will be inextricably linked to a name. It becomes the primary identifying characteristic of that child.

What if that child is God?

Through the voice of his prophet, God makes a bold declaration of what the Redeemer will be called.

Wonderful Counselor. The wisdom that proceeds from the mind and mouth of the messiah will simply be wonderful. His wealth of knowledge will be enough to provide design throughout the largest of galaxies and the smallest of cells as well as insight into the soul of every being. Nothing will be beyond his divine comprehension.

Mighty God. He will be a king whose power knows no limits. With the mere words of his mouth he will conquer kingdoms, raise the dead to life, and speak stars into existence. In his might alone, he will bring final victory in the battle over sin and death. God alone can possess this kind of power, and this child will indeed be divine.

Everlasting Father. He will be faithful forever to his role as provider, protector, and nurturer. He will be the father to the fatherless, the great comforter to all who call on his name. There will never be a cessation of his position as the great patriarch of his people.

Prince of Peace. His divine monarchy will be one free of conflict, anxiety, war, turmoil, strife, and restlessness. Under his rule, his people will finally and forever experience peace. Most significantly, he will end the war of all wars, the great rebellion of his people against himself. This peace will be won as he lives rightly, dies sacrificially, and rises victoriously.

Through it all, he will bear the name that is above every name.

His name is…Jesus.

Starter Prayer:
Jesus,
You have been given the name that is above every name. Thank you for being perfect in wisdom, power, compassion, and peacemaking. Help me to always trust in your good character. Help me to live my life in such a way that your name will be glorified in the things I say and do.
Amen.

Let Every Heart Prepare Him Room

Read Psalm 105:1-4

The human heart is a volatile device. The Lord describes it as “deceitful above all things and beyond cure (Jer. 17:9).” Calvin referred to it as an “idol factory.” It perpetually chases vain things, convincing its owner therein lies joy and fulfillment. The result is inevitable disappointment.

Yet, the human heart is also a magnificent creation. It is the wellspring of emotion; love, joy, elation, passion, sorrow, grief, anger, frustration, peace, and hope. This wide range of ever-fluctuating emotions all points to one grand diagnosis: the human heart is insatiable. We are continuously searching far and wide for anything that will help quench the deepest longings of our souls. In our searching we are left with the question, “How can that which is insatiable ever be satisfied?” The only answer to this seemingly unsolvable equation is this: We were created to desire the One who is infinitely desirable.

The more we taste the sweetness of Christ, the more we desire Him. This is the nature of our hearts, and the beauty of the object of our affections is that he always has more to give. He is the great well that never runs dry. Take your drink. And another. And another. Join with the Psalmist in declaring:

"Give thanks to Yahweh, call on His name;

proclaim His deeds among the peoples.

Sing to Him, sing praise to Him;

tell about all His wonderful works!

Honor His holy name; 

let the hearts of those who seek Yahweh rejoice. 

Search for the Lord and for His strength; 

seek His face always." 

Christian, innumerable things are competing for your affections. This advent season will you make the necessary preparations to clear out the chaff in your heart and allow the One who is infinitely desirable to take up exclusive residence?

Starter Prayer:
Jesus,
I believe you are the true source of satisfaction. Yet my heart is so prone to wander. Help me to believe your promises and to stop settling for lesser things. Fill me with the everlasting joy that comes from knowing you.
Amen.

Hope for the Captives

Read Isaiah 40:1-5

We all experience feelings of hopelessness.  For some it might be the angst associated with financial struggles.  For others it may be relational brokenness that shows no signs of healing.  Still others face the emotional strife and despair brought on from physical ailments or upsetting diagnoses.

For the people of Israel it was the threat of living as exiles in Babylonian captivity. In the midst of their anguish, God would speak a word of encouragement to his people through his prophet Isaiah. His message was one of comfort, identifying those facing exile as “[His] People.”  With tender words, the heavenly Father would reassure his children that regardless of their circumstances he would see and understand their suffering, and that ultimately, he would bring about their restoration.  What Israel didn’t know, however, was that threaded in the prophecy was an infinitely greater promise.

“Prepare the way of the Lord in the wilderness;

make a straight highway for our God in the desert…

And the glory of the Lord will appear,

and all humanity together will see it.”

God was ultimately providing the solution for a problem far greater than their physical captivity.  In the foretold arrival of the glory of the Lord, made manifest in the person of Jesus Christ, God was addressing his people’s spiritual captivity.  The same is true for us.  We, like Israel, are no longer hopeless, held captive by the penalty of our sin and rebellion against God.  Christ, the hope of the world, has indeed come to set the captives free.

Starter Prayer
Father, 

I confess I often struggle with feelings of hopelessness.   I know this is a result of me taking my eyes off you and bearing my burdens on my own.  Help me to place all of my trust and all of my hope in your son, Jesus Christ.  I know he is trustworthy and he is the only hope of the world.
Amen.

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year...for Sorrow?

Read Isaiah 53:1-7

The Christmas season is one filled with joyful celebration and elation. Radio playlists are replete with familiar tunes such as, “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” which, in addition to the title, includes the lyrics, “It’s the happiest season of all.” This has indeed held true in my own life. I love the Christmas season and all the festivities and traditions associated with it.

This year, however, the season has struck me a bit differently. I’ve suddenly become aware that this is also a season where deep sorrow is appropriate. Don’t get me wrong, I plan to participate in and fully enjoy all that this season affords in the celebration of the arrival of the Christ-child 2,000 years ago. But how often during this time of year do we stop to consider what exactly transpired to make the incarnation necessary? Advent was the only sufficient response to a grave rebellion. Your rebellion. My rebellion. The baby sleeping in the manger did not incidentally grow up to be a suitable savior of the world, the atoning sacrifice to cover a multitude of sins. This was the plan from the beginning. He was sent specifically to address the issue of our innumerable offenses against a holy God. Consider the prophet Isaiah’s words,

“He Himself bore our sicknesses,

and He carried our pains;

but we in turn regarded Him stricken,

struck down by God, and afflicted.

He was pierced because of our transgressions,

crushed because of our iniquities;

punishment for our peace was on Him,

and we are healed by His wounds.

We all went astray like sheep;

we all have turned to our own way;

and the Lord has punished Him

for the iniquity of us all.” 

Christmas is indeed a time for celebration. Christmas is also a time for sorrow and repentance. Have you recently expressed to God your grief over all that you have contributed, namely your sin, to make your salvation necessary?

Starter Prayer

Father,
I’m sorry for the way I have rebelled against you. I often turn to my own way rather than your way. Thank you for sending your son to take the punishment for my sin. Help me to trust that your way is better than mine, and help me to never lose sight of the gift of grace you have given me through your son.
Amen.

A Holy Anticipation

Read Malachi 3:1-4

Advent.  That word likely stirs up a variety of images and memories in your mind.  For me it includes candles being lit in church each Sunday in December, traditional Christmas hymns being sung with joy and excitement as the blare of the organ shook the stained-glass windows of our small rural church, and, of course, fighting with my sisters over who had rights to the stale pieces of chocolate in the cheap advent calendar we purchased each year.

The word “Advent” implies, “The arrival of a notable person, thing, or event.”  Advent is about anticipation—a holy anticipation.  The closure of the Old Testament features a stark warning from the prophet Malachi about the consequences of half-hearted worship, even concluding with the threat of a curse.  Yet woven in the prophetic text is the promise of the future coming of the Lord to his temple as a messenger of the covenant.

And then, silence. 

Four hundred years of silence to be precise.  Generation after generation of God’s people passed without hearing from their heavenly Father.  But then with a word to the priest Zechariah, God emerges from the silence to foretell of His imminent arrival.  Advent indeed marks the arrival of the most notable person in human history.  The person is Jesus Christ, God himself in human flesh.  The God who “sits enthroned above the circle of the earth” declared that he would break through the chasm that separated his unique holiness from our feeble humanity, and become like us.  In Eden, Adam and Eve brought sin and death to all people by trying to be like God.  In Christ, God responds with the offering of salvation to all people by becoming a man.

Let your anticipation build as you contemplate the arrival of the King.

Starter Prayer:

Father,

In the midst of the distractions of the season, please turn my trivial longings into a holy anticipation of something—no, someone— greater.  Use this time to draw me into a deeper enthrallment with your incarnation; the kind that would result in a deeper embrace of the gospel and a greater appreciation for your passionate pursuit of your people.

Amen.

Cornerstone Advent

Throughout the Old Testament, God promised a savior, a Messiah who would set His people free. 
For centuries, they waited in silence. And then God spoke...

Join us this Advent season in celebrating Jesus and how He breaks the Silence in our lives. Sign up to receive daily readings and prayers as we orient our hearts toward our Savior and glorify His name above all.