Category: Daily Devotions

(Reprinted from December 2021)

Good morning devotion reader…

With Christmas Day in our rear view mirror, I’d like to journey with you through the accounts found (or not found) in the four Gospels that relate different details and perspective on the birth of Jesus.  While the image of the baby in a manger is familiar, I invite you to consider the details that are communicated and the importance of them (Also notice what details we assume about the Christmas event that are not found in the Gospels.)

We begin with Matthew.

Matthew is writing to an audience of Jewish people and has as a purpose throughout his Gospel to draw the connection between Jesus and the Old Testament prophesies.  Perhaps ironic as Matthew was a tax-collector called to follow Jesus, and yet many of his Jewish people thought him to be a traitor.  Yet God’s Spirit inspired him to reach the very Jews that called him a “sinner” with the saving message of the Messiah.

Lineage was important for the Messiah.  I invite you to look at chapter 1:1-17 as Matthew begins the book with tracing the lineage of Jesus back to Abraham.  The Messiah must be a descendent of Abraham to be authentic.  Matthew does the research and checks that box for the reader right at the beginning.

With the lineage of Jesus established, Matthew jumps into the first prophecy:  “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”) (Isaiah 7:14).

But for this prophecy to be fulfilled, it created questions, confusion, and finally confidence in Joseph.  Who wouldn’t wonder what happened if the lady you are engaged to is found to be with child.  Assumption is that another man is involved.

So God intervenes to explain to Joseph what was taking place. Mary was not unfaithful.  Mary was the human vessel for the Son of God to take on human flesh.  The miracle of Isaiah’s prophecy was playing out in real time in Joseph’s life.

Joseph does as the angel of the Lord commanded.  He dismissed the idea of divorce and courageously embraced the role of being the earthly father of Jesus.

“And gave him the name Jesus.”  We don’t hear a lot about Joseph’s role in Jesus’ life, but following the word of the Lord through the angel he gave Jesus his human name: Jesus.  Why?  Because Joseph believed he truly would “save his people from their sins.”

Enjoy reflecting on the faithfulness of the Lord spurring the faithfulness of Joseph to be a faithful father to Jesus and husband to Mary:

18 This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. 19 Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.

20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).

24 When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. 25 But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.

Apply: What detail or insight from Matthew’s account enhances your appreciation of the miracle and significance of Jesus’ birth?

Prayer: Father in heaven, thank you for sending Jesus into the world through the miracle of a virgin birth and under the watchful and faithful care of his earthly father Joseph. AMEN

This week’s devotions are based on the Week 3 “A Savior Born for You! (WATCH HERE)

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First, a happy birthday to my mom Carol!  We are blessed by you and you are a blessing to many!  Happy birthday!

 

Special days call for special clothes.  Perhaps some of you have purchased a special Christmas outfit to wear to church on Christmas Eve.  Many couples find the Christmas/New Year time a season to also get married.  A beautiful dress adorns the bride and a fancy tuxedo the groom.  We want to look our best for these special occasions.

What will you wear the day you meet God face to face?

Ever thought of that?

To be honest, it doesn’t really cross my mind when getting up in the morning to ask, “Are these the clothes I want to be wearing if today is my last day on earth?”  It’s kind of a morbid thought and who knows even if our earthly clothes have any transferability to heaven.

In fact our outward appearance is secondary to the inward condition of our heart.  As the Lord told the prophet Samuel, (1 Samuel 16:7) “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

So what will the Lord see when he looks at your heart?  At first reaction, there are lots of things I would wish he didn’t see.  I wish he didn’t see my pride, my lust, my greed, my anger, my envy, my jealousy, and much more.  I wish these sins didn’t clothe my heart, but rather he would see the opposite.

Here’s where the incredible gift of God’s grace steps in again.  In the same words we considered yesterday from Isaiah 61, the Lord gives us another piece of clothing to wear: garments of salvation.

Isaiah 61:10  I delight greatly in the LORD; my soul rejoices in my God.

   For he has clothed me with garments of salvation

      and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness,

      as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest,

      and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. 

These beautiful clothes pair nicely with the robes of righteousness.  The robes of righteousness convey the perfection of Jesus with which we are covered by his grace.  The garments of salvation are parallel in thought, but convey the right clothes to be wearing as we meet the Lord face to face.  They are the clothes that guarantee our eternal life in heaven.  They are the garments that deliver us from the consequence of our sin and gift us heaven for ever.  They are the garments that were purchased, not with gold or silver, but with the precious blood of Jesus.  They are the garments that are worn in heaven by the saints of God around the throne of God:

Revelation 7:14 And he said, “These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 

If you receive clothes for Christmas, receive them with thanks…even if they aren’t your favorite gift to receive.  However, let these gifts of clothes remind you of two amazing clothing gifts that the Lord gives to you this Christmas…robes of righteousness and the garments of salvation.  Enjoy wearing them every day…now and forever!

Apply: Enjoy the gifts of grace God gives you this Christmas!

Prayer: Lord God, thank you for the great gift of your Son who brought to me the robes of righteousness and the garments of salvation that I humbly get to wear every day! AMEN.

PS…Merry Christmas to you all!  Devotions next week will be the Scriptures surrounding the birth of Jesus.  Enjoy reflecting on them personally and with your family!

This week’s devotions are based on the Week 3 “A Savior Born for You! (WATCH HERE)

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Isaiah 61:10  I delight greatly in the LORD; my soul rejoices in my God.

   For he has clothed me with garments of salvation

      and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness,

      as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest,

      and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. 

Are you excited when you get new clothes for Christmas?  I suppose it might depend on what that clothing is.  If it’s a sports jersey of your favorite player, maybe.  But a pair of socks or another Christmas tie…not really.  I remember as a kid getting clothes or socks at times and while grateful for something new, the toys were the more exciting gifts.

So when Isaiah “delights greatly” and “rejoices” for a new set of clothes, one’s curiosity is peaked.

These clothes aren’t just the basic necessities we wear every day or even the finest Christmas dress off the rack, but clothes that God himself has both made and given to us.  They are not clothes that money could by or our effort could earn, but ones that are placed on us by his grace.  

Robes of righteousness.

What comes to mind when you envision “robes of righteousness?”  Flowing, ornate cloth that catches the attention of everyone, yet their eyes are fixed on the robes, not on the person.  These robes are imparted to us by faith as the Apostle Paul wrote:

Romans 1:16 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. 17 For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last,[e] just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”

Righteousness is the “right adherence to the law.”  It is the perfection that God demands from each one of us.  We may try to figure out what good from our wardrobe will be good enough, or we may try to reconcile that our clothes look better than most, but in reality without the gift from God of his robes of righteousness, we stand imperfect before a holy God.  The outcome of this is not the favor of God, but rather the justice of God.

So no wonder that Isaiah rejoices in the LORD God because he, God, had clothed him, Isaiah, in these robes of righteousness.

Who said grace wasn’t in the Old Testament?  What a beautiful picture of God’s grace than he removes or covers our imperfect, stained, torn clothes with the perfect robes of righteousness won for us by the perfect life of the baby born in the manger of Bethlehem.  

And…we get to wear them every day.  Like a child who has a favorite outfit that wants to wear it every day is the Christian that wants to and gets to wear Christ’s righteousness every day.  What does it look like when people see these robes?  Perhaps Paul again gives us an insight of what it looks like when we wear these precious robes out in public:

Colossians 3:12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. 

Enjoy wearing this wonderful gift from the Lord this Christmas and in the New Year!  Tomorrow…garments of salvation!

 

Apply: Every morning as you are getting dressed, remember that covering your physical clothes are the robes of righteousness Jesus puts on you.  Enjoy wearing them every day!

Prayer: Jesus, thank you for coming to this earth and earning the righteousness I could not and then in your grace putting them on me as robes that I can wear every day! AMEN.

This week’s devotions are based on the Week 3 “A Savior Born for You! (WATCH HERE)

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Isaiah 61:3b They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor.

Here in central Texas we have a variety of oak called “Live Oak” (I have always wondered who determined that name as what is the alternative? Dead Oak? I digress.)  While these trees don’t get super tall, their canopy can cover many square feet and their trunk and branches grow to amazing size.  Some of them have been around for hundreds of years.  The oldest Live Oak near us in Austin, TX is the “Founders Tree.”  Estimated to be over 500 years old, it’s canopy has provided shade for many gatherings and is said to be a primary spot where the Tonkawa and Comanche tribes would meet to work out treaties.  The tree stands as an overseer to the many years of history and interactions in the area.

Trees are amazing parts of God’s creation.  I’ve nearly fallen over staring at the height of a Coastal Redwood Tree in northern California.  I’ve marveled at the colors of the fall trees in the midwest and now take note of the majestic oaks in Texas.  Each tree testifies to its creator.

But have you ever been called a tree? Or thought of yourself as a tree?

God does.

The variety of tree? “Oaks of Righteousness.”

I don’t know if botanists have an official latin term for this species, but what is interesting is that this term is used for those whom a) God has planted and b) who are to be a display of God’s splendor.  That is, when people see “oaks of righteousness” they are to see the work of God and give glory to God.

How so?

Leading up to these words at the end of verse 3 are all the “tasks” that the Servant anointed by God would do (see yesterday’s devotion.)  Oaks of righteousness are ones who have received the work of God’s Servant (Jesus) by faith.  They are ones in whom the good news is at work.  They are ones who have been freed from their sin and brought into the light of God’s truth from the darkness of unbelief.  They have found peace in the disappointments of life and live each day in the joy of being the recipients of God’s favor.  Ultimately they are covered with the righteousness (perfection) that Jesus won for them.

As a result, they stand strong and majestic as a powerful oak, displaying what happens when God works in the hearts of mankind.

This includes you.  You are an “Oak of Righteousness” planted for the display of the Lord’s splendor.

Maybe you didn’t wake up this morning, yawn, and stretch your arms out and say, “I am an Oak of Righteousness!”  But you are.  

You live in the status that God has given you by faith, one that includes the perfect life of Jesus being applied to you.  You are righteous.

You live in the strength that God has given you as he walks with you through the spiritual, emotional, and physical challenges of life.  You are an oak!

You live in the visibility of others which observe your life and hear your story and see what happens to a heart and a life when God’s work takes over.  You are a display of God’s splendor.

I’m not suggesting getting a new name tag for your work place, but perhaps this inspired word given to Isaiah is one that you can embrace every day as a statement of identity and affirmation as you begin your day.

“I am an oak of righteousness, planted today by the Lord to display His splendor!”

 

Apply: What does this statement of identity mean for you as you embrace it as a gift from God?

Prayer: Lord, thank you for planting me in your righteousness and strength.  Forgive me when I fail to display your splendor.  Empower me by your Spirit to be the oak of righteousness you have planted for the display of your splendor.  AMEN.

This week’s devotions are based on the Week 3 “A Savior Born for You! (WATCH HERE)

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‘Tis the season for lists.

A list of all the people for whom you want to buy presents.

A list of all the people to whom you want to send Christmas cards.

A list of all the things you need to pack for your Christmas travel.

A list of all the items you need to buy at the grocery store for Christmas cookies.

A list to keep track of all the lists.

I’m not good at lists and even if I have one, I often forget something that’s even been written on the list!  Oftentimes the lists are too long and something has to be eliminated as “not important enough to do.”  Or a list can be so long, you are paralyzed to even start the list.

As we reflect on the first verses of Isaiah 61 this week, verses 2-3 have quite a list.  The “Servant” of whom Isaiah spoke said he was anointed and sent to preach good news.  OK, that’s not too hard.  What’s the news and I will share it. One item on the list…no problem. But the list doesn’t stop there.  The Spirit of God had more for the “Servant” (Jesus) to do.   Here’s the list:

He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion— to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. 

Perhaps if you would make it a list:

Jesus’ “To-do” list:

• Bind up the broken hearted
• Proclaim freedom for the captives
• Release prisoners from darkness
• Proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor
• Carry out a day of vengeance for our God.
• Comfort all who mourn
• Provide for those who grieve
• Replace ashes with a crown of beauty
• Replace mourning with the oil of gladness
• Cloth people with a garment of praise instead of despair.

How would you do with a list like this?  A bit overwhelming, right?  Yet Jesus was willing to tackle this lengthy and important to-do list for each of us.  We know he understood this was his responsibility as he read these words and identified himself as the fulfillment of them (See Luke 4 or yesterday’s devotion).  While each task has its unique nuance, the reality of all of them is bringing the freedom, forgiveness, and certainty of our sins being forgiven and our relationship with God restored.  From the moment of his conception, to his birth, to his ministry, to his trial, to his crucifixion, to his resurrection, to his ascension, Jesus was accomplishing all that his Father sent him to do.  

I can imagine an interaction with the Father and the Spirit when he returned to heaven.  “Did you get everything done on the list we gave you?”  With certainty, Jesus answers, “Yes.  Yes I did.”

 

Apply: Which “task” on Jesus’ list are you most grateful that he accomplished?

Prayer: Jesus, thank you for willingly taking on the to-do list the Father gave you so that I might enjoy all the blessings that come from your list being completed.  AMEN.