Advent Devotional Week 4

The Visit that Changed Everything

December 23, 2012

Luke 2:15-20

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.”  So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger.  When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them.  But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart.  The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

The shepherds made a choice.  They heard the message that the angels brought to them from God.  They witnessed a great concert of praise.  They had that powerful and life changing experience and their response was to go and do.  This meant that they had to leave their jobs while still on duty.  It caused them to take a risk and to break with what was expected.  Yet they decided to go and see.  An experience with God brings with it an opportunity to choose.  The Lord invites His people to “go and see” what He is doing.  Sadly, we often let other things stop us from going and seeing what the Lord has for us.  Perhaps this Christmas we can choose differently.

Sure enough, they listened to the angels, followed their directions, and found Jesus just as he was described.  At this point they were no longer shepherds.  They were messengers.  They were a blessing to Mary and Joseph.  Mary treasured what the shepherds had to tell her.  They were the confirmation of everything the angels had told Mary and Joseph.  They brought joy to what was surely a difficult night.  Then the shepherds went back to work.  Everyone they met they shared the Good News with.  Their lives and their words were praise to God.  The shepherds as examples of what it means to be a follower of Jesus Christ.  May we be like them. Let’s be a blessing.  Let’s share the message.  Let’s praise the Lord! 

Advent Devotional Week 3

The Good News that Changed Everything

December 16, 2012

Luke 2:8-14

In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.  But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people:  to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!”

The first to go see the Messiah are shepherds.  Shepherds aren't clean.  They do not smell good.  They are not highly respected an influential parts of society.  They aren't wealthy or powerful.  Yet they are the ones to whom the angel appears.  The Lord chose to give the greatest message the world had ever know to everyday people that the world tended to overlook.  God sees what the world does not.  The message of the Lord is for all people, including those that the world does not value.  The things of heaven are sometimes best seen in the most humble of people and places.

The shepherds were terrified.  This is a common and natural reaction to an angel’s appearance.  They did not consider themselves worthy of the message the Lord was giving them.  Yet they listened.  When the angel says not to fear, they did not debate the point.  They heard the Good News and did not run away from what God had for them.  How many of us have run away from the Good News?  We ignore, avoid, disconnect, or rationalize away the things of God far too often.  Simply by staying and listening these shepherds heard an angelic concert of praise.  Who else has ever heard such a thing?  How beautiful and life changing must that have been?  Are we missing the message God has for us?  Let’s listen this Christmas.

Advent Devotional Week 2

The Manger that Changed Everything

December 9, 2012

Luke 2:5-7

He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child.  While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child.  And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

The King of Kings and Lord of Lords was born in a manger.  A manger is not beautiful.  It is not special.  A manger is where newborn sheep are placed so they do not hurt themselves.  It is also used to feed other livestock.  A manger is not a place you would choose to put your newborn child if any other choices were available.  Yet this is where Mary and Joseph find themselves.  This is the will of the Lord.

So why the manger?  Why not a nice room someplace?  We are given the information that there was “no room for them in the inn”.  This isn't like a “no vacancy” sign on a hotel window.  It meant that Mary and Joseph had no family or friends to go to in Joseph’s hometown.  It meant that even strangers who set themselves up to welcome guests would have nothing to do with them.  In the culture of the day refusing hospitality to a guest was a serious issue.  It didn't happen often.  Room was made.  In this case, the innkeeper extended only the bare minimum of hospitality to an expecting mother.  Mary and Joseph had been rejected at a time of high need in a place where welcome should have been found.  This was the will of the Lord.

In the birth of Jesus we see the state of the world.  It devalued the one who had come to save it.  It rejected those it could have helped.  It was ignorant of the amazing reality of God’s coming.  In many places and for many people the world is still this way.  But it doesn't have to be this way for us.  The King has come.  Because there is a manger, there is salvation. A new reality. A greater life.  This birth changed everything. It should change us. Will you allow it?

Devotional: The Path Week 4

The Path

November 25, 2012

Matthew 25:31-33

“But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit upon his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered in his presence, and he will separate the people as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will place the sheep at his right hand and the goats at his left.”

The Lord is the judge.  We are called to be sheep.  We are called to follow the shepherd.  We are given a path to walk that leads us to a meaningful and full life.  How we choose to walk that path matters.  Among the sheep are goats.  Goats do not follow.  Goats do not accept the guidance of the shepherd.  Goats got their own way.  The Lord will separate the sheep and the goats.  Let’s remember, sheep do not earn their status as sheep.  It is simply who they are.  Yet a sheep follows the shepherd.  A Christian does not earn salvation.  They are saved because of Christ’s work.  Simply being a Christian changes how we act.  We must live out what we believe.

Jesus goes on to describe the difference between the sheep and the goats.  The sheep are told; For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home.  I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.  The goats failed to do these things.  When did these things happen? ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’  

The judge of all humanity seems to place a high value on caring for others.  He rewards those who sacrifice.  He protects those who serve.  A Christian is known by the love they have and what they do with that love.  A loving heart cares for people simply because God’s heart cares for people.  It’s simple and clear.  If we want to walk the path of God we must love as God loves.  How’s your heart?  What do you see when you look at people?  Is that what God sees?  

The Path Week 3

The Path

November 18, 2012

Matthew 7:13-14

Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road is easy that leads to destruction, and there are many who take it.  For the gate is narrow and the road is hard that leads to life, and there are few who find it.

Our lives are moving us down a specific road to a specific gate that leads to a specific end.  The hard road to the narrow gate leads to life while the easy road to the wide gate leads to destruction.  Jesus doesn't give a lot of wiggle room in this statement.  It’s very clear which way is best and which way Jesus wants us to go.

So why the hard road to the narrow gate?  The image is dramatic isn't it.  Couldn't God make life easier?  I wonder, is greatness ever easy?  Make no mistake, the Lord’s desire is that we live amazing lives that impact this world for generations after us.  Greatness doesn't just happen.  It takes time, attention to detail, and a lot of effort.  It is a disciplined life.  Living the great life God has planned of us requires us to make choices and take action.  Often those choices will require us to go against the flow of our culture and society that tends to work against God and embrace sin.  Living God’s way isn't easy not because God made it hard as much as it puts us against the sinful, wrong things of this world.  Let’s consider…

Everything in this world has two aspects—how it looks at the moment, and how it will look in the time to come. The easy way may look very inviting at the moment, and the hard way may look very daunting. The only way to get our values right is to see, not the beginning, but the end of the way, to see things, not in the light of time, but in the light of eternity.^[1]

Let’s take the more challenging path.  Let’s work and strive for greatness in the Lord.  Let’s live for eternity and not for the moment.  Let’s make the choice to follow the path that leads to life.

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^[1] The Gospel of Matthew: Volume 1, ed. William Barclay, The Daily Study Bible Series (Philadelphia, PA: The Westminster John Knox Press, 1976), 280.

The Path Week 2

The Path

November 11, 2012

The LORD is my shepherd; I have all that I need.  He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams.  He renews my strength.  He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name.  Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.  You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies.  You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings.  Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the LORD forever.                                              Psalm 23

For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water.  And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.                                                                       Revelation 7:17

The Lord is our shepherd.  He gives us what is needed for us to live.  He will lead us through difficult places and into good places.  He is hope.  He is strength.  He blesses.  He provides a home.  Psalm 23 uses two images to help us understand the Lord’s guidance for our lives.  The first is the image of shepherd.  The shepherd cares for the sheep.  He leads them to places where they are safe and will thrive.  He protects them from danger.  Without the shepherd, the sheep become lost, vulnerable, and isolated.  The Lord is OUR shepherd and we are the sheep.  With him we have what we need.  Without him we are in danger.

The second image is that of a home.  The house of the Lord.  The guidance of God has a destination in mind.  It is not aimless wandering in the wilderness of life.  The guidance of the Lord is purposeful.  In the house of the Lord there is a throne.  On that throne sits the lamb that was slain (for us).  In that home, God wipes away every tear.  It is a good home.  It is the destiny that God has for us.  Will we follow the shepherd?  Will we allow ourselves to be led beside peaceful streams and through the dark valley of death?  Will we trust God to show us the way home?  Let’s follow him today. 

The Path - Week 1

The Path

November 4, 2012

Psalm 25:4-10

Show me the right path, O LORD; point out the road for me to follow.  Lead us by your truth and teach us, for you are the God who saves us.  All day long we put our hope in you.  Remember, O LORD, your compassion and unfailing love, which you have shown from long ages past.  Do not remember the rebellious sins of my youth.   Remember us in the light of your unfailing love, for you are merciful, O LORD.   The LORD is good and does what is right; he shows the proper path to those who go astray.   He leads the humble in doing right, teaching them his way.  The LORD leads with unfailing love and faithfulness all who keep his covenant and obey his demands.

There is a right path for us to follow.  God has prepared this path.  He calls us to it.  He will show us the way.  He is the only one who can show us this path.  He is the only one who can lead us the right way.  His guidance is not forceful.  He does not angrily herd us in the direction He wants us to go.  The Lord operates with compassion and unfailing love.  The one who knows the right path is the one who loves us most. 

The problem is that many don’t walk this path.  Many want to forge their own trail in life.  Many pride themselves on taking charge of their lives and going it alone.  Somewhere along the line the idea of being guided became somehow less than going it alone.  This is a false reality.  Living in it leads us astray and off the right path.  The goal of the church and the goal of all Christians is to follow God.  Following God requires us to walk the path He has prepared for us.  When we go astray He will lead us back, but we must first be willing to allow Him to guide us.

The Lord leads.  The Lord is good.  The Lord loves.  The Lord is faithful.  Our response to the Lord should always be humility and openness to His guidance.  The promise is sure.  If we follow the Lord, obey Him, and remain faithful He will show us the right path.