It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas???
Government mandates. Travel headaches. Challenging weather. Christmas day?
Many in our country are facing new rounds of CoVid related mandates. Many are preparing to travel for the Christmas holiday and bracing for the headaches that come with it. We have seen weather systems wreak havoc on parts of our country and Christmas Day is only 8 days away.
Makes traveling at Christmas challenging and perhaps makes one opt for the coziness of home and a warm fire.
I’m sure Mary and Joseph would have wished for the same choice. The Christmas account makes little of the trip Joseph took his expecting bride on from the 90 miles from Nazareth to Bethlehem. But a government mandate issued by the Caesar made it a mandatory thing.
In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to his own town to register. (Luke 2:1-2)
So Joseph followed the mandate and set out with his 9-month pregnant wife.
4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.
I’m not sure what prompted the thought this morning was, “How long would it take Joseph and Mary to get from Nazareth to Jerusalem. Some feel five days minimum and up to 14 days. So perhaps today was departure day for Joseph and Mary…or at least they are “on the road.”
We often get a peaceful look at Mary riding on a donkey under the stars of the night. However, reading about the terrain and listening to a video, there is nothing easy about the trip from Nazareth to Bethlehem. It is filled with rugged terrain, elevation changes, and the wilderness of the area from Jericho to Jerusalem (Think of the parable of the Good Samaritan). The need to travel with food and water. The trip was not smooth. Safety was not guaranteed. Weather was unpredictable.
Joseph could have given up. Mary could have begged to turn around. But they didn’t. They made the uncomfortable, arduous journey to Bethlehem.
Imagine the weariness of a 5-10 day journey and then it was time for the baby to be born. There was no room…and the baby was on the way. So Mary . And that’s where Jesus was born.
(Here’s an interesting video on the travel route Joseph and Mary might have taken: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gtq1Fugkihk)
What does this all have to do with Christmas?
Marvel at the amazing work of love God orchestrated to bring our Savior into the world!
If I were Joseph, I’d be complaining about the government mandate…but God was using it to fulfill prophesy and stay true to his promises.
If I were Mary, I’d be complaining about the trip when it was long and uncomfortable and desire to be home where it was familiar and comfortable…but God was at work strengthening the faith of Mary to help me understand a servant of God trusts the work and timing of God.
If I were Caesar I would be counting the revenue the census would bring in, but God was counting the souls that would be saved as his promises were fulfilled.
Matthew 2:6 “ ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.’”
If I were God, I would never have scripted it this way. But from the first step of the journey from Nazareth to the first breath of baby Jesus, God’s plan is perfectly being carried out.
Galatians 4:4 But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, 5 to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons.
Christmas is only 8 days away, but the promises and plan of God is in the works!
Apply: How in your life have you looked back and noticed the amazing, loving detail God has worked in your life to bring blessing in your life? Whether through challenges or good times…he can and does guide and bless both!
Prayer: Lord, as I prepare to celebrate the birth of your Son, help me never forget that while Christmas is a special day, every day leading up to it and from it are days that you ordained and guided to show your love to me and the world! AMEN.
Who’s taking care of you?
Devotions this week based on the Message: “Believe the GOOD NEWS of Christmas!”
Who’s taking care of you?
He tends his flock like a shepherd:
He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart;
he gently leads those that have young. (Isaiah 40:11)
For most of us, the relationship of a shepherd to his sheep is a bit foreign. I have never been around sheep except in a petting zoo, nor have I ever been asked to watch a flock of sheep (a good thing for the sheep!) Yet, this picture of God’s relationship to us as a shepherd has a relationship to his sheep is one that occurs multiple times in the pages of Scripture.
Isaiah 40 is no different.
If you were a member of the people of Israel, God had designated that the kings and priests of his people would be the ones who would watch over and protect the people from physical and spiritual harm. A few did well. Most failed God and failed the people. The people were going into captivity to a foreign nation and the Lord was allowing judgment on the people for their drifting away from the loyalty to the Lord.
So who was taking care of the people to whom Isaiah was writing?
One might have felt a bit insecure if anyone was taking care of them if they were under enemy control and the judgment of God.
Yet, the good news of Isaiah 40 continues with the words above. God HAD NOT abandoned his people. In fact, he chose to override the earthly “shepherds” and do it himself. HE would be the shepherd of his people.
Which is a far more comforting and powerful picture of his love not just for the people of Isaiah’s day, but for you and me as well. God has not abandoned his people, rather providing the perfect care for his people.
God’s Spirit gives Isaiah four verbs as to what the Lord would do as our “good shepherd.” Each emphasizes an important aspect of God’s relationship and care for us.
- He TENDS his flock like a shepherd. The tending work of the shepherd was to ensure that the sheep had their physical needs taken care of. He would lead them to “green pastures” to eat and “beside quiet waters” to drink. Their PHYSICAL needs were taken care of.
- He GATHERS the lambs in his arms. The gathering work of the shepherd would ensure the safety of those most vulnerable. The heart of the shepherd was willing to “lay down his life for his sheep.” He let go of his safety to ensure the safety of the lambs and the sheep.
- He CARRIES them close to his heart. The carrying work of the shepherd was not just transporting a sheep from one place to another while holding them at arms length, the carrying work of the shepherd let the lamb know they were loved. He truly cared about them. The shepherd would provide the emotional and relational need of the sheep.
- He gently LEADS those that have young. The leading work of the shepherd was intentional. They didn’t wander in circles. When it was time to move the shepherd knew where they were headed. He had a destination in mind. The shepherd would ensure all reached that destination.
These verbs are what God does for us in sending Jesus, who said, “I am the good shepherd”! HE is the one who takes care of our physical needs. He is the one who ensures we are safe from the prowling destruction of Satan. He is the one who establishes the relationship with us as his children and ensures us that we are loved. He is the one who desires to lead us to heaven and there spend an eternity with us.
This is the GOOD NEWS of Christmas. God sent Jesus to this world to do all that was necessary to shepherd us, not because he had to, but because he had a heart of loved that wanted to.
Jesus came with the passion to shepherd you because he cares deeply for you!
Apply: Read Psalm 23. How does God tend, gather, carry and lead you?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for coming at Christmas to be our shepherd…to tend us, gather us, carry us and lead us. AMEN.
He did what?
Devotions this week based on the Message: “Believe the GOOD NEWS of Christmas!”
He did what?
When someone has a level of power, we expect more from them and to use that power properly.
When someone uses the power of political office to simply gain for themselves, we question their integrity and their motives (and probably vote against them the next opportunity we have.)
When someone uses the power of finances to fund a group or organization that is intent on evil for an individual or group of individuals, we wonder, “How could they do that?”
When someone has power and uses it to be a blessing to others and add value to human life, we perhaps are just as startled, but grateful that someone would take advantage of an opportunity not for personal gain, but for others gain.
The words God’s Spirit gives to Isaiah after announcing “Here is your God!” (yesterday’s devotion), describe more about that God. Here’s what he said:
Isaiah 40:10 See, the Sovereign Lord comes with power, and his arm rules for him. See, his reward is with him, and his recompense accompanies him.
Nothing is more powerful than the power of God. The power of his Word spoke the world into existence. The power of his breath parted the waters of the sea. The power of his rule determined the rise and fall of earthly rulers. And the list goes on.
The Lord is coming with power!
His “reward is with him and his recompense accompanies him.” God could use his power to round up every person, parade them in front of the heavenly hosts and say, “I’ve captured those who stood against me and am ready to enslave them in hell for an eternity.”
Yet, the way God chooses to use his power is to do just the opposite.
He chose to lay aside the full use of his divine power to live as one of us and serve us. He used the power of his word to defeat the temptations of Satan. He used the power of the cross to pay the price my sins deserved. He used the power of his resurrection to demand the surrender of death to life.
The irony of the power of God is how he chose to exhibit it. No one would say that a Roman cross would be the symbol of God’s power and how he chose to use it, but it is just that:
17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not with wisdom and eloquence, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. 18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. (1 Corinthians 1:17-18).
Or Romans 1:16
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.
While God certainly exhibits his power in nature, in the rise and fall of nations, in the overcoming of illness and hardship, the greatest exhibition of his power is the fact he gave up his full use of it to take on human flesh and live in our place, die in our place, and rise to give us a place in heaven. This message of the Gospel changes hearts, changes eternities and leaves the power of sin, death and the devil begging for mercy.
God has all power…but the good news of Christmas is he chose to use that power to SAVE us!
Apply: Read Psalm 68 and reflect on the power of the Lord and how he has chose to show it.
Prayer: With the words of Mary (Luke 1:51-53), Lord we praise you that you have performed mighty deeds with your arm; scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts, brought down rulers from their thrones but have lifted up the humble, filled the hungry with good things but sent the rich away empty. Thank you for using your power to save me from the power of my sin, the influence of Satan and the sentence of eternal death. AMEN
Where is God?
Devotions this week based on the Message: “Believe the GOOD NEWS of Christmas!”
Where is God?
Where is God when homes and businesses are ripped apart by tornados? Where is God when innocent unborn are killed? Where is God when a pandemic ravages the lives of people around the world?
Do you feel like sometimes that God has just given up on our world? Does it seem like the forces of evil are so strong and prevalent that God has just abandoned us to their wickedness? Do you think that God doesn’t care anymore? Perhaps you feel like he’s left YOU all alone.
These thoughts have crossed my mind.
Searching for God amidst the tragedies and challenges of life is certainly elusive at times.
But that’s why we need Christmas.
Not parties, presents, and eggnog. In fact, perhaps all those things that “go” with Christmas are clutter to look around, move aside, or crawl through to see what God wants us to see at Christmas:
Luke 2:10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.
What was that good news? “Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. (Luke 2:11).
Isaiah put it this way (Isaiah 40:9)
You who bring good tidings to Zion, go up on a high mountain.
You who bring good tidings to Jerusalem, lift up your voice with a shout,
lift it up, do not be afraid; say to the towns of Judah,
“Here is your God!”
One short phrase the messengers were to proclaim from the highest spot they could find, “Here is your God! (was this the angels on Christmas morning?)
These four words seem pretty simple, but they are so profound!
HERE is your God! Not over there…not in the distance…not coming soon…but HERE…WITH us! At Isaiah’s day and today we have given God many reasons to NOT be here. We have turned away from him, sought solutions in our selves and science, discounted his message as myth and disregard his view of the world in place of our own. Why would God want to be anywhere near here?
No one would want to be somewhere where no one wanted him.
Yet into that very world, God sent Jesus, his Son, to be HERE…with us!
Matthew 1:23 “The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”—which means, “God with us.”
Here, in the manger of Bethlehem is YOUR God! This simple pronoun takes what is generic and makes it personal. It’s like saying “There are presents under the tree” vs. “There is a present for YOU under the tree.” The second phrase compels you to action. The first leads you to shrug it off. The messengers of good news were told, “Tell all the people, ‘Here is YOUR God!’” Personal. Born for YOU! Lived for YOU! Died for YOU! Rose for YOU! Rules for YOU! Will return for YOU!
Yes, the pain of losing earthly possessions is real. The evil around us is challenging. The fragility of life is sobering. Yet none of it deters the good news of Christmas. God came to be WITH us. And that promise has NOT changed!
Apply: What changes in your heart and perspective when you pause to consider, “God is with YOU!”?
Prayer: Jesus, thank you for not abandoning the world of sin, but stepping into it to be with me and be my Savior! AMEN.
“It’s not supposed to happen this way!”
Devotions this week based on the Message: “Believe the GOOD NEWS of Christmas!”
“This isn’t supposed to happen…
…especially at Christmas.”
For unknown reasons, the Lord allowed a devastating tornado to roll through the mid section of our country the end of last week. In an interview with one of the business owners of a factory making candles, the reporter expressed condolences for eight lives that were lost during that storm. “It’s supposed to be a season of joy and hope. This is especially hard at Christmas.”
It is. And our hearts and prayers are with the people whose lives are disrupted by this storm (A way to help is to contribute to WELS Christian Aid and Relief https://wels.net/serving-others/christian-aid-relief/)
Anytime news like this or similar experience of loss of life or property, it is hard to watch and hear about and certainly hard to experience first hand. However, when these things happen around Christmas, it has a heightened sense of bad news.
No one likes bad news around Christmas.
Even our culture knows that Christmas is supposed to be good news! We “expect” good things around Christmas…visits with family, bonuses at work, or special gifts and memories. It’s these things and others which makes Christmas time good!
Or do they?
On an earthly, secular level they do. However, any earthly good news can quickly turn bad. Bonus the end of this year…jobless at the end of next. Great memories with family this year…loved ones missing due to death next year. A favorite present received this year…only to be lost or stolen next year.
Good news can quickly turn into bad news when the good news we are focusing on is simply things we have or experience on this earth.
That’s why we need to believe the good news of Christmas and understand why it is so good.
The good news of Christmas is so good because the good news of Christmas is based in Jesus, not anything earthly.
Not a surprise, right? You expected me to write that. It’s what the angels said to the shepherds, “10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.” (Luke 2:10)
What was that good news? “11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.” (Luke 2:11)
As we did on Sunday, this week’s devotions are intended to reflect again why the good news of Christmas is so good and what makes it so good.
Because no matter what happens around Christmas, God always wants us to have the good news of the angels…even when “bad news” enters our life around Christmas, we can still have peace, joy and hope knowing the good news of Christmas rests in Jesus, not life’s circumstances.
Apply: How could you help someone who has had bad news at Christmas…this year or in years past?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for coming at Christmas to always make the day and season about good news! AMEN.