Journey to Bethlehem Day 26
Thursday, December 24 Luke 1:26-38 26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin's name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” 29 But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. 30 And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” 34 And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” 35 And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy...
Journey to Bethlehem Day 25
Wednesday, December 23 Romans 16:25-27 25 Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages 26 but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith...
Journey to Bethlehem Day 24
Tuesday, December 22 Psalm 132: 1-7 1 Remember, O Lord, in David's favor, all the hardships he endured, 2 how he swore to the Lord and vowed to the Mighty One of Jacob, 3 “I will not enter my house or get into my bed, 4 I will not give sleep to my eyes or slumber to my eyelids, 5 until I find a place for the Lord, a dwelling place for the Mighty One of Jacob.” 6 Behold, we heard of it in Ephrathah; we found it in the fields of Jaar. 7 “Let us go to his dwelling place; let us worship at his footstool!” David sets an example for us to dedicate ourselves to the Lord and his purposes. David built and lived in a palace in Jerusalem while the ark of the covenant, which represented the presence of God, resided in a tent. This really bothered David. How could he, though king, live in a beautiful palace while the ark of the covenant remained in a tent? His desire was to build a house for the Lord. He was so passionate about this that he vowed not to sleep until he found a dwelling place for the Lord, one that was worthy of his majesty, stating, “the house that is to be built for the Lord must be exceedingly magnificent, of fame and glory throughout all the lands” (1 Chronicles 22:5b). While God is honored by the buildings we construct in his name, it is not our church buildings that God wants to be exceedingly magnificent, and of fame and glory throughout the lands. Rather, God wants the people that make up his Church to be what shines forth his glory into the world. So, how might you use these next few days to prepare a place for Jesus in your heart for Christmas? How might you sacrifice of yourself, like David, so that the Lord might dwell within you like never before? Let that be your act of worship. Heavenly Father, ignite within me zeal for your house and your purposes. Spur me into action that I may be utterly dedicated to you. Use me as your instrument of mercy, grace, and love that others would know you and your Son Jesus. Stir within me a restlessness for your kingdom and have your way with me. All to the honor and glory of your magnificent name. Amen. ...
Journey to Bethlehem Day 23
Monday, December 21 2 Samuel 11b-17 Moreover, the Lord declares to you that the Lord will make you a house. 12 When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 14 I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. When he commits iniquity, I will discipline him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the sons of men, 15 but my steadfast love will not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away from before you. 16 And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever.’” 17 In accordance with all these words, and in accordance with all this vision, Nathan spoke to David. “Moreover,” in addition to the promises made in yesterday’s passage, God is now promising that David’s dynasty will last forever! This is God’s covenant with David. Solomon will get to build the temple for God that David wanted to build; but God will give David much, much more. God told David that he will have an even greater descendant! And God does not mean Solomon here, because Solomon became King before David died. Now these descendants of David will have to be corrected and disciplined for many years to come. But God promises David he will not remove David’s lineage from the throne of Judah. And God kept that promise because Jesus came from David’s line. Mary in Luke 1:32-33 was told by the angel Gabriel that the child she was bearing “will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and his kingdom will have no end.” Hallelujah! What a promise! What a gift! Jesus will reign forever, and we will be part of his kingdom! Thank you, Heavenly Father, for promising David that your Son, our Savior, and Redeemer will come from his lineage. David was declared a man after your own heart. May our hearts be like David’s and constantly meditate on your Word until we are gathered up in your eternal kingdom. In Jesus’s wonderful name we pray. Amen ...
Journey to Bethlehem Day 21
Saturday, December 19 John 3:23-30 23 John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because water was plentiful there, and people were coming and being baptized 24 (for John had not yet been put in prison). 25 Now a discussion arose between some of John's disciples and a Jew over purification. 26 And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, he who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you bore witness...
Journey to Bethlehem Day 22
Sunday, December 20 2 Samuel 7:1-11a 1 Now when the king lived in his house and the Lord had given him rest from all his surrounding enemies, 2 the king said to Nathan the prophet, “See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells in a tent.” 3 And Nathan said to the king, “Go, do all that is in your heart, for the Lord is with you.” 4 But that same night the word of the Lord came to Nathan, 5 “Go and tell my servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord: Would you build me a house to dwell in? 6 I have not lived in a house since the day I brought up the people of Israel from Egypt to this day, but I have been moving about in a tent for my dwelling. 7 In all places where I have moved with all the people of Israel, did I speak a word with any of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, saying, “Why have you not built me a house of cedar?”’ 8 Now, therefore, thus you shall say to my servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, that you should be prince over my people Israel. 9 And I have been with you wherever you went and have cut off all your enemies from before you. And I will make for you a great name, like the name of the great ones of the earth. 10 And I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them, so that they may dwell in their own place and be disturbed no more. And violent men shall afflict them no more, as formerly, 11 from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel. And I will give you rest from all your enemies. It is always risky to act without consulting God, even if our goals seem consistent with what we know about God’s will. Just ask Rebekah, Isaac’s wife, who reasoned that God needed help moving Abraham’s blessing from Isaac to their son Jacob. All she had to do was to get Jacob to help her deceive her husband, and all would be well. It seemed clear enough to her. As we might say today, the ends justify the means...
Journey to Bethlehem Day 20
Friday, December 18 1 Thessalonians 5:12-28 12 We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, 13 and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. 14 And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. 15 See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not despise prophecies, 21 but test everything; hold fast what is good. 22 Abstain from every form of evil. 23 Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it. 25 Brothers, pray for us. 26 Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss. 27 I put you under oath before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers. 28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. My brothers and my sisters, hold fast to what is good. Many of us enter into this Advent weary. In this season of waiting, let your days be marked with anticipation rather than anxiety. Remember, the Tempter comes to steal (our peace), kill (our rejoicing), and destroy (our unceasing prayer). I ask you to rejoice in the face of suffering. There are many who are working alongside you for the Kingdom and many more seeking the perfect love of our Father for the first time. I urge you to pray without ceasing, for through it, in the Father, in the power of the Spirit, you will find your strength to face the days ahead. Through this vital connection with our Creator we tend, and even fan, the flames of the Spirit dwelling in us. I encourage you to give thanks at all times and in all places. Gratitude equips us with holy lenses to view a hurting world, one desperately in need of our Savior Christ Jesus. These are the vital tools for the waiting Church. These are the vital tools for you who wait to come out of isolation and social distancing, for you who are waiting for an end to social unrest and discrimination, and for you who are waiting for political reforms. Be careful of the vices that lurk in the shadows of this interlude. Take courage that the work is not yours alone: God is faithful, and he will heal the hurting world. Father in heaven, give us the strength we need today. Help us remember that our daily bread comes from You, and it is good. Fan the flame of the Spirit in us to overcome the desires of our flesh and to overcome the sorrows of this world. Come, Lord Jesus, come. Amen. ...
Journey to Bethlehem Day 19
Thursday, December 17 Psalm 126:4-6 4 Restore our fortunes, O Lord, like streams in the Negeb! 5 Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy! 6 He who goes out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves with him. The Songs of Ascent, Pss. 120-134, are sometimes called the Pilgrim Psalms. They were sung by Hebrew worshipers trekking to Jerusalem to the temple each year. Their cry of remembrance to “restore our fortunes” in Ps. 126 was likely a reference to those who had been taken captive during the siege of King Nebuchadnezzar II. This was a time filled with anguish for God’s chosen people. Their own sinfulness and idolatry had gotten them into this mess as they had repeatedly disobeyed God. The Lord’s judgement came, and they were taken from their own land. Forced into a life of captivity, they learned to obey God. How many of us would have chosen the season God has placed our country in right now? It may or may not be the result of our nation turning away from God; or it may just be a part of His bigger plan to show us our desperate need of Him. For the Hebrews, their cry for help was answered by God when He did indeed restore the fortunes of Zion and bring them back to their land. The people were full of joy! In their thankfulness they praised Him, singing as they walked. Since their return to the land they have never again succumbed to the idolatry that is rampant in the nations surrounding them. This is a good reminder for us that many difficult days may be ahead; but the fruit of faithfully obeying and depending on God will not go unnoticed by Him. He is always faithful and good in His dealings with His people. Father help us during this Advent season to joyfully remember that you are a God who redeems. ...
Journey to Bethlehem Day 18
Wednesday, December 16 Psalm 126:1-3 1 When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream. 2 Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy; then they said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them.” 3 The Lord has done great things for us; we are glad. David prays in the psalm for the restoration of Israel to God, the return of wayward children to their Heavenly Father. He recalls that the laughter and joy of Israel in previous times were as unexpected as the great things raised up in them through a divine power beyond them. As with many patristic exegetes of this passage, St. Augustine turns to the Genesis account of the confusion of tongues associated with Babel, the name for Babylon in the Hebrew Bible. He specifically points to the Babylonian Captivity of the Jewish elite following the Chaldean conquest of Judea, and discerns a typological meaning here: (T)his whole life of human affairs is confusion, which belongs not unto God. In this confusion, in this Babylonish land, Sion is held captive. But the Lord has turned back the captivity of Sion. And we became, he says, as those that are comforted. That is, we rejoiced as receiving consolation. Thus, in eschatological terms, Augustine finds a proclamation of the joy promised in the heavenly homecoming at the consummation of the age. The promise is made to the just, whether alive in the flesh or resurrected from the dead, to be realized in the Second Coming: He… shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves with him (v. 6) The lesson for us all to take? Again, from the great fifth-century Bishop of Hippo: Walk therefore in Christ, and sing rejoicing, sing as one that is comforted; because He went before you who has commanded you to follow Him. Let us, with a gladsome mind, praise the Lord for he is kind: for his mercies aye endure, ever faithful, ever sure. --John Milton (1623) ...
Journey to Bethlehem Day 17
Tuesday, December 15 Isaiah 65:23-25 23 They shall not labor in vain or bear children for calamity, for they shall be the offspring of the blessed of the Lord, and their descendants with them. 24 Before they call I will answer; while they are yet speaking I will hear. 25 The wolf and the lamb shall graze together; the lion shall eat straw like the ox, and dust shall be the serpent's food. They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain,” says the Lord. We can likely all imagine things that would make our lives easier or better or more enjoyable. I remember growing up that my dad would always buy my mom the latest kitchen gadget in order to make cooking and baking easier and more enjoyable for her. My dad did this for my mom because he loved her. God is doing the same for us, only on a much grander scale. No, he’s not remodeling your kitchen, but he does have plans to create new heavens and a new earth. This is not a home improvement project; it is not simply a makeover. He is going to make all things new, as they were designed to be, so that all things work together in perfect harmony: the wolf and the lamb shall graze together; the lion shall eat straw like an ox. Revelation 21 describes the new creation as “a bride adorned for her husband…the dwelling place of God…he will dwell with them and they will be his people and God himself will be with them as their God. God is doing this because he loves us and wants us to be with him forever. He is drawing us near to him into a relationship that we can only experience in part now. We will be so intimately related to God that before we call, he will answer; while we are yet speaking, he will hear. Perfect relationship. Perfect peace. Perfect rest. Perfect love. For God is perfect. Until then, we wait in hope for the coming of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ and the promise of God’s new creation. I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope; my soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning, more than watchmen for the morning. (Psalm 130:5-6) ...
Journey to Bethlehem Day 16
Monday, December 14 Isaiah 65:19-22 19 I will rejoice in Jerusalem and be glad in my people; no more shall be heard in it the sound of weeping and the cry of distress. 20 No more shall there be in it an infant who lives but a few days, or an old man who does not fill out his days, for the young man shall die a hundred years old, and the sinner a hundred years old shall be accursed. 21 They shall build houses and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit. 22 They shall not build and another inhabit; they shall not plant and another eat; for like the days of a tree shall the days of my people be, and my chosen shall long enjoy the work of their hands. Isaiah is seeing a vision of a future Jerusalem in which there is shalom, which means peace. Pray for this peace to come. It should be our prayer all the time...
Journey to Bethlehem Day 15
Sunday, December 13 Isaiah 65:17-18 17 “For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind. 18 But be glad and rejoice forever in that which I create; for behold, I create Jerusalem to be a joy, and her people to be a gladness. It is Christmas Eve. The lights are dimmed. Hearts are stirred by the carol, O Holy Night. The thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices, For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn. Fall on your knees, Oh, hear the angel voices O night divine, O night when Christ was born O night divine, O night, O night divine. It is a beautiful, deeply emotional moment. Yes, Christ was born. But here we are two thousand years later, and it is still a “weary world”. COVID, racial strife, political division, economic disruption, refugees. Each of these is serious. Together, they make life exhausting. Yes, Jesus came. But the world is still weary. Where is the “thrill of hope” today? Consider these words from Isaiah 65:17: For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind. Even in more “normal times,” we know that things are not right, not the way they should be. So, the birth of Jesus did not fix a broken world, not completely. But it did fix the most pressing problem of life, namely death. Jesus’s birth, saving death on a cross, and resurrection means eternal life is available to those who believe in him. And now, according to Isaiah, a day is coming when all that is broken, old, and weary will be made new, fresh, and alive. Indeed, so thorough will be the remaking of the creation that there will be no memory of the way things were before. Theologians call this the Christian “hope.” A better term would be Christian certainty. At the end of time, when Jesus returns, “the former things” such as pain, suffering, sorrow, and death will be replaced by eternal joy. Pretty thrilling, don’t you think? Come quickly, Lord Jesus. Amen. ...
Journey to Bethlehem Day 14
Saturday, December 12 Mark 1:1-8 1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. 2 As it is written in Isaiah the prophet, “Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way, 3 the voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight,’” 4 John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 And all the country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 6 Now John was clothed with camel's hair and wore a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts and wild honey. 7 And he preached, saying, “After me comes he who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. 8 I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” As the forerunner to the Messiah, John’s job was to cry out for everyone to get ready because God’s Messiah, the Christ, was coming. He did this through two primary means. First, John called everyone to a “baptism of repentance,” which was a symbolic enactment of the Exodus from Egypt, where God delivered his people from slavery. Second, John helped his hearers prepare their hearts for the coming of Christ by distancing himself from the Lord by emphasizing Christ’s greater work of baptizing “with the Holy Spirit” (v. 8). Exodus imagery is packed with meaning for Israel (and for us!). It’s all about God coming to the rescue; defeating the gods of Egypt and giving this delivered people new life through “baptism”...
Journey to Bethlehem Day 13
Friday, December 11 2 Peter 3:14-18 14 Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace. 15 And count the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him, 16 as he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters. There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures. 17 You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability. 18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen. Life is full of waiting. We are constantly waiting for something: summer vacation or graduation, a promotion or a better job, a wedding or the birth of a child. The list goes on and on, and the life of a Christian is no different. But our expectant hope is something far more significant than anything that the world awaits. We await the return of our Lord Jesus Christ, when he will bring to completion his victory over sin, death, and the powers of evil. We look forward to his triumphant return when all things will be made new. As we contemplate the meaning of Advent, Peter’s words in today’s reading remind us that we are not awaiting Jesus’ birth; we are watching for his return, and we must not wait idly. We must take care to be prepared for that day. We cannot allow ourselves to fall into sinful patterns of living or to be deceived by false teachers. We must not allow bitterness or unforgiveness any place in our hearts, but we must do everything we can to reconcile and be at peace with others. In our waiting we are called to live in such a way that we are growing daily in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ. This does not mean merely to learn more about Him, but to truly know Him and to experience His grace. It means that we are to take our place in the gospel story alongside the lepers and the prostitutes, the tax collectors and Pharisees. By living with Him now we will be prepared for his return. Lord Jesus, we eagerly await your returning in glory. Strengthen us and preserve us, and turn our hearts to you now, that we might experience more of your grace, know you more intimately, and daily grow in your likeness. Amen. ...
Journey to Bethlehem Day 12
Thursday, December 10 2 Peter 3:8-18 8 But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed. 11 Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, 12 waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! 13 But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. The season of Advent should be a time of expectant waiting for the celebration of Jesus’ birth and the hope of His return. This year however, the pandemic has left many struggling with anxiety and restlessness. The repeated question has been, when is life going to get back to “normal”? God is the creator of time and He sovereignly rules outside of it with divine intent. He has revealed a plan where at the perfect moment, all in our troubled world will meet Him face to face. Then we will fully understand and rest in perfect peace. Our calling as disciples of Jesus is to remember that the things in this world are not as they seem. We must be alert and careful to avoid getting sucked into the world’s ideologies and affections. Our goal is to follow in the footsteps of Christ, being patient and steadfast in our faith as we wait for our sure rescue from this fallen world. In this waiting, you can rejoice because He is coming for you, believer! This single truth should set our hearts ablaze with hope and thankfulness. He will set right the destruction caused by sin and deliver us out of this broken world. The universe as we know it is going to be replaced with a new heaven and new earth where all the schemes of Satan will cease, and our new “normal” will be abundant life in the presence of our Lord forever! Be encouraged as you wait dear Christian for God’s promises never fail. Father, thank you that you have a perfect plan. Help us remember that You are always faithful, and our waiting is not in vain. May we grow stronger in our faith and the knowledge of you as we expectantly wait for your return. Amen. ...
Journey to Bethlehem Day 11
Wednesday, December 9 Psalm 85:8-13 8 Let me hear what God the Lord will speak, for he will speak peace to his people, to his saints; but let them not turn back to folly. 9 Surely his salvation is near to those who fear him, that glory may dwell in our land. 10 Steadfast love and faithfulness meet; righteousness and peace kiss each other. 11 Faithfulness springs up from the ground, and righteousness looks down from the sky. 12 Yes, the Lord will give what is good, and our land will yield its increase. 13 Righteousness will go before him and make his footsteps a way. The background to this Psalm is Exodus 34:6-7. God created a covenant with Israel to be their God and Israel was to be faithful to the commandments of God. Unfortunately, Israel was not faithful; they worshiped a golden calf. But did God quit on His people? Did He say, “well they broke their end of the bargain, I’m not going to keep my end of the deal?” No, right after Israel worshiped the golden calf, the LORD renewed His covenant. He came down to earth in a cloud, He passed before Moses, and He defined His character. The LORD defined Himself as merciful, gracious, slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, and forgiving iniquity. That same pattern repeated in the remaining Old Testament: God’s people promised to be faithful, they were not, but God was still faithful to them. It reminds me of the song “We Will Feast in the House of Zion” by Sandra McCracken: “Every vow we’ve broken and betrayed, You are the Faithful one. And from the garden to the grave, Bind us together, bring Shalom.” During this Advent season, remember that the LORD is the Faithful one. Your salvation and peace with God are not based on your faithfulness, but on His! Just as the LORD came down to Moses in the form of a cloud to renew His covenant with a wayward people, so Christ came down to earth to renew His covenant with us while we were yet sinners. He spoke peace, or Shalom, to His people. LORD thank You for Your steadfast love and faithfulness. Remind me of the good news of the gospel each day: You are the Faithful one. Help me to trust in the finished work of Christ. May this thankfulness of Your faithfulness, draw me to love You more, and by loving You more, may You be glorified more. Soli Deo Gloria! ...
Journey to Bethlehem Day 10
Tuesday, December 8 Psalm 85:1-7 1 Lord, you were favorable to your land; you restored the fortunes of Jacob. 2 You forgave the iniquity of your people; you covered all their sin. Selah 3 You withdrew all your wrath; you turned from your hot anger. 4 Restore us again, O God of our salvation, and put away your indignation toward us! 5 Will you be angry with us forever? Will you prolong your anger to all generations? 6 Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you? 7 Show us your steadfast love, O Lord, and grant us your salvation. Sometimes it can be difficult to relate to the thoughts expressed in a psalm. Perhaps a blessing of this COVID-19 pandemic is that we find ourselves in a position to better relate with some of them. The psalms provide us with an avenue to pray to God in our current situation when our own words fail us. Psalm 85, in particular, serves to remind us that our God is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin (Exodus 34:6b-7a). And he will revive us. God can use this unprecedented time of face masks, social distancing, and isolation to help us recognize our longing for Jesus to come and enter our lives in a new and deeper way, to revive us. He will do this individually for us as he sustains us and spiritually grows us during this pandemic as we lean into him. He will also do this collectively for his Church as he moves within the Body to pour out his steadfast love and faithfulness to the world that is hurting and living in fear. God will revive us again, just as he restored the fortunes of Jacob and forgave the iniquity of his people. We are thirsty; we are dry. He reaches out his hand to us and says, “Come.” Come, all who are thirsty. Come to the fountain of God’s mercy and grace, receive his steadfast love and forgiveness. O gracious Father, we are thirsty and we long for your goodness. Revive us again, that we may rejoice in you and praise your holy name. Show us your steadfast love, O Lord, and grant us your salvation. ...
Journey to Bethlehem Day 9
Monday, December 7 Isaiah 40:9-11 9 Go on up to a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good news; lift up your voice with strength, O Jerusalem, herald of good news; lift it up, fear not; say to the cities of Judah, “Behold your God!” 10 Behold, the Lord God comes with might, and his arm rules for him; behold, his reward is with him, and his recompense before him. 11 He will tend his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms; he will carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young. Isaiah 40 is written to the people of Judah for comfort. Why? Because they would soon become captives of the Babylonian empire. Here we see God’s promise of redemption for Israel from their captor and the promise that God would lead them home like a shepherd would lead his flock. Isaiah compares the might and strength of God to his gentleness of a shepherd. God carries his tender lambs, Israel, home holding them to his bosom. Charles Spurgeon said, “To carry is kindness, but to carry in the bosom is loving-kindness. The shoulders are for power, and the back for force, but the bosom is the seat of love.” That is both a safe place and tender place for Israel, so too for us! During this Advent season, look toward our good shepherd coming back into the world. Jesus will come with might and strength yet care for his flock with the kind hand of a shepherd. He gathers those who follow him when they wander, gathers them up when they fall, and gathers them home to himself at last. Isaiah 40 proclaims the “good news” of the Hebrew captives being freed from Babylon. The “Good News” for us is we who have been captive to sin are now set free. Our Good Shepherd has come! He has brought the promise of redemption and with the tenderness of a shepherd will carry us lovingly next to his heart until he returns to take his flock home. Father God, thank you for sending your son and our good shepherd to guide, comfort and lead us through our time here on earth until we are safely and lovingly carried home to you. Amen ...
Journey to Bethlehem Day 8
Sunday, December 6 Isaiah 40:1-8 1 Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. 2 Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned, that she has received from the Lord's hand double for all her sins. 3 A voice cries: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. 4 Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. 5 And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” 6 A voice says, “Cry!” And I said, “What shall I cry?” All flesh is grass, and all its beauty is like the flower of the field. 7 The grass withers, the flower fades when the breath of the Lord blows on it; surely the people are grass. 8 The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever. If, like many, you wonder just what is going on with our world today, Isaiah has an answer you might consider. Like all true prophets, he is telling us only what he has been told. Here, God tells him and all who prophesy in his name to comfort his people Israel, for their tribulation is ending and their sins have been atoned. It was a severe penance: “double” for all their sins. I am no prophet...
Journey to Bethlehem Day 7
Saturday, December 5 Mark 13:32-37 32 “But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33 Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come. 34 It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his servants in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to stay awake. 35 Therefore stay awake...
Journey to Bethlehem Day 6
Friday, December 4 Mark 13:24-31 24 “But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, 25 and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. 26 And then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. 27 And then he will send out the angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven. 28 “From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. 29 So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates. 30 Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. 31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. One long awaited arrival slipped silently into the world in the dark of night. What might has this king with no one in attendance? But wait! Creation, long silent, quivers with excitement. It is allowed one night to tear the celestial veil revealing an army of angels to welcome the Son of God. Creation marks the time in suspended reality. Not many years later this man preaches of his coming kingdom on a hill covered in trees. These trees are vibrant and heavy with their fruit, but not the fig tree. These massive trees appear dead. But, careful observers know to wait. The fig trees will burst to life, all at once, leaves and fruit, once the others decline, marking its own season. Creation marks the seasons of the year and the seasons of time. Millenia pass and the same king reenters the world. He was born to die to live again. He is coming, but this time in power, in glory, with his army of angels by his side. Creation has known the bondage and the suspension of its own fullness since the Fall. One day, all the cosmos will fall silent, cease to function in the predictable patterns set In the Beginning...
Journey to Bethlehem Day 5
Thursday, December 3 1 Corinthians 1:1-9 1 Paul, called by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and our brother Sosthenes, 2 To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours: 3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 4 I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, 5 that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge...
Journey to Bethlehem Day 4
Wednesday, December 2 Psalm 80:8-19 8You brought a vine out of Egypt; you drove out the nations and planted it. 9 You cleared the ground for it; it took deep root and filled the land. 10 The mountains were covered with its shade, the mighty cedars with its branches. 11 It sent out its branches to the sea and its shoots to the River. 12 Why then have you broken down its walls, so that all who pass along the way pluck its fruit? 13 The boar from the forest ravages it, and all that move in the field feed on it. 14 Turn again, O God of hosts! Look down from heaven, and see; have regard for this vine, 15 the stock that your right hand planted, and for the son whom you made strong for yourself. 16 They have burned it with fire; they have cut it down; may they perish at the rebuke of your face! 17 But let your hand be on the man of your right hand, the son of man whom you have made strong for yourself! 18 Then we shall not turn back from you; give us life, and we will call upon your name! 19 Restore us, O Lord God of hosts! Let your face shine, that we may be saved! Israel. The vine God delivered from subjection in Egypt. But will he yet defend the vital stump of this vine, blasted by a violent storm, and scatter all those who have tried to tear it or set fire to it? It is at this point the text opens to messianic hope. Then we shall not turn back from you...
Journey to Bethlehem Day 3
Tuesday, December 1 Psalm 80:1-7 1 Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph like a flock. You who are enthroned upon the cherubim, shine forth. 2 Before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh, stir up your might and come to save us! 3 Restore us, O God; let your face shine, that we may be saved! 4 O Lord God of hosts, how long will you be angry with your people's prayers? 5 You have fed them with the bread of tears and given them tears to drink in full measure. 6 You make us an object of contention for our neighbors, and our enemies laugh among themselves. 7 Restore us, O God of hosts; let your face shine, that we may be saved! The psalmist begins his plea by recalling how God guided his people when they wandered in the wilderness. He gave Moses instructions to build the Tabernacle, including the Holy of Holies where God himself would dwell, above the ark of the covenant on the mercy seat, enthroned upon the cherubim. When the Israelites would break camp and set out, they traveled by groups of three tribes, two sets of three tribes set out before the Tabernacle and two sets followed the Tabernacle. The group of three tribes that followed directly after the Tabernacle, close to the ark of the covenant and mercy seat, were the heirs of Jacob through his wife Rachel: Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh (Ephraim and Manasseh were sons of Rachel’s son Joseph). God was with his people in power and in might. His favor was upon them. But now it is evident that the people had turned away from the Lord, as the psalmist cries out to God to restore them and to save them, remembering the favor the people once had and, more importantly, the mercy and faithfulness of God enthroned upon the cherubim. I find myself in a similar situation in the middle of this pandemic, crying to God, “How long, O Lord?” And looking back to remember all that God has done for us, knowing that he is sovereign, and his mercy and his goodness will prevail. I look back to when things were “normal” in hopes that God will restore us. I pray for God to save us from this pandemic. And I look forward to the day when we can all gather together in person again to worship the Lord our God. So, I cry out: Restore us, O God of hosts; let your face shine, that we may be saved! ...
Journey to Bethlehem Day 2
Monday, November 30 Isaiah 64:6-9a 6 We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away. 7 There is no one who calls upon your name, who rouses himself to take hold of you; for you have hidden your face from us, and have made us melt in the hand of our iniquities. 8 But now, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand. 9 Be not so terribly angry, O Lord, and remember not iniquity forever...
Journey to Bethlehem Day 1
Isaiah 64:1-5 1 Oh that you would rend the heavens and come down, that the mountains might quake at your presence...