Advent December 22, 2006

Third Friday: The Pet Lamb

The LORD sent Nathan to David. When he came to him, he said, "There were two men in a certain town, one rich and the other poor. The rich man had a very large number of sheep and cattle, but the poor man had nothing except one little ewe lamb he had bought. He raised it, and it grew up with him and his children. It shared his food, drank from his cup and even slept in his arms. It was like a daughter to him.

"Now a traveler came to the rich man, but the rich man refrained from taking one of his own sheep or cattle to prepare a meal for the traveler who had come to him. Instead, he took the ewe lamb that belonged to the poor man and prepared it for the one who had come to him.

"David burned with anger against the man and said to Nathan, "As surely as the LORD lives, the man who did this deserves to die! He must pay for that lamb four times over, because he did such a thing and had no pity.

"Then Nathan said to David, "You are the man! This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: 'I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul. I gave your master's house to you, and your master's wives into your arms. I gave you the house of Israel and Judah. And if all this had been too little, I would have given you even more. Why did you despise the word of the LORD by doing what is evil in his eyes? You struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword and took his wife to be your own. You killed him with the sword of the Ammonites. Now, therefore, the sword will never depart from your house, because you despised me and took the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your own.'

"This is what the LORD says: 'Out of your own household I am going to bring calamity upon you. Before your very eyes I will take your wives and give them to one who is close to you, and he will lie with your wives in broad daylight. You did it in secret, but I will do this thing in broad daylight before all Israel.'"

Then David said to Nathan, "I have sinned against the LORD."

Nathan replied, "The LORD has taken away your sin. You are not going to die."

2 Samuel 12:1-13

King David was known as "a man after God's own heart." But that is hard to believe when you read of this scene between the prophet Nathan and David. Nathan accused him of murder and adultery. Does that sound like a man who resembles God's character?

The story is a powerful allegory. A poor man had raised a pet lamb from infancy. He was very attached to the lamb. The rich man had herds of cattle and a load of sheep, kept by hired shepherds. They held no value to the rich man, except the price for which he could sell them.

When a houseguest came to visit, the rich man stole the poor man's precious pet lamb and proudly served it to the houseguest, all the while thinking about how shrewd he was to not have had to sacrifice one of his animals.

David did that very act. Out of hundreds of women to choose from he sought a married woman---Bathsheba. While her husband was away at war, David got Bathsheba pregnant. David was caught. Instead of acting with integrity, he had the husband killed at the front. He then married Bathsheba. As the child was born around the time Nathan came to David, we know David had lived with this sin for many months, probably over a year.

What is the point of this story? Perhaps it is to show us that we all sin---even those of us who have a heart after God. It is part of who we are; no one is immune. It is how we respond that matters.

David could have had the prophet Nathan killed for stating something he didn't want to hear. However, David instantly replied, "I have sinned against the Lord." He recognized his sin and he repented. This is what made David "a man after God's own heart."

Reflect and discuss: How do you respond when you are confronted? Do you listen and say you are sorry, or do you get defensive? When you sin, do you distance yourself from God, or do you run to Him for forgiveness? Ask God to give you a "heart like His own."

For younger children: Have your children each hold a favorite stuffed animal while you talk about the story. Suddenly, take each animal away. Ask your children how they felt after losing the animal. Talk about how important it is for them to share their many blessings and possessions willingly with others. Pray with them and ask God to give them generous hearts.

Advent December 21, 2006

Third Thursday: The New Way

This is what the LORD says---he who made a way through the sea,a path through the mighty waters,who drew out the chariots and horses,the army and reinforcements together,and they lay there, never to rise again,extinguished, snuffed out like a wick:

"Forget the former things;do not dwell on the past.See, I am doing a new thing!Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?I am making a way in the desertand streams in the wasteland.

"The wild animals honor me,the jackals and the owls,because I provide water in the desertand streams in the wasteland,to give drink to my people, my chosen,the people I formed for myselfthat they may proclaim my praise.

"Yet you have not called upon me, O Jacob,you have not wearied yourselves for me, O Israel.You have not brought me sheep for burnt offerings,nor honored me with your sacrifices.I have not burdened you with grain offeringsnor wearied you with demands for incense.

"You have not bought any fragrant calamus for me,or lavished on me the fat of your sacrifices.But you have burdened me with your sinsand wearied me with your offenses.

"I, even I, am he who blots outyour transgressions, for my own sake,and remembers your sins no more.Review the past for me,let us argue the matter together;state the case for your innocence.

Isaiah 43:16-26 (NIV)

God did many miraculous things in the Israelites' history. He released the captives from Egypt, and when they were pressed up against the Red Sea with no perceived way of escape, He provided a way to freedom. He drew back the water for the Israelites to pass through, and when they were safely across the sea and the Egyptian army was entering, the waters came crashing down and the enemy was drowned. God provided a way where there seemed to be no way.

Now He was telling the Israelites to forget that miracle---He was going to do something much bigger than protecting them from an army. He realized their need for a miracle went much deeper than physical safety. They needed to be forgiven for their sinful attitudes and actions. The Israelites had forsaken their sacrifices of animals and grain offerings and incense. They hadn't given God their best. When life got easier, they forgot God and His miracles.

But, amazingly, we serve a God who never gives up. He provides the miracle of Living Water---we will be refreshed, we will be forgiven, we will be vibrant forever as we live with Christ.

Reflect and discuss: Perhaps God is calling you to forget the past and see Him doing a new thing in your life. Is it possible there is an area in your life for which God has forgiven you, but you cannot forget or forgive yourself? Hebrews 9:14 says this:

How much more, then, will the blood of Christ,who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God,cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death,so that we may serve the living God!

Ask Jesus now to cleanse your conscience so that God may do a new thing in your life!

For younger children: Talk about how God forgives our sins and doesn't remember them anymore. Turn to Psalm 103:11-13 and read how God literally removes our sins from us. After reading the verses, have your children write down something they have been feeling guilty about (don't look, this is between them and God). Have them put it in a paper bag and take it out to the trash, never to be seen or thought of again!

Advent December 20, 2006

Third Wednesday: The Boundaries Expand

This is what the LORD says:

"Maintain justiceand do what is right,for my salvation is close at handand my righteousness will soon be revealed.

Blessed is the man who does this,the man who holds it fast,who keeps the Sabbath without desecrating it,and keeps his hand from doing any evil."

Let no foreigner who has bound himself to the LORD say,"The LORD will surely exclude me from his people."And let not any eunuch complain,"I am only a dry tree."

For this is what the LORD says:"To the eunuchs who keep my Sabbaths,who choose what pleases meand hold fast to my covenant---

to them I will give within my temple and its wallsa memorial and a namebetter than sons and daughters;I will give them an everlasting namethat will not be cut off.

And foreigners who bind themselves to the LORDto serve him,to love the name of the LORD,and to worship him,all who keep the Sabbath without desecrating itand who hold fast to my covenant---

these I will bring to my holy mountainand give them joy in my house of prayer.Their burnt offerings and sacrificeswill be accepted on my altar;for my house will be calleda house of prayer for all nations."

The Sovereign LORD declares---he who gathers the exiles of Israel:"I will gather still others to thembesides those already gathered."

Isaiah 56:1-8 (NIV)

We studied earlier how strict the rules for worship and sacrifice were for the Israelites in the beginning. Deuteronomy 23:1 states this: "No one who has been emasculated by crushing or cutting may enter the assembly of the LORD." The Israelites did not condone the making of eunuchs, but it was a common practice in other cultures. So those taken captive and made to be eunuchs also suffered exclusion from worship in the temple. They were considered "unclean" because they had been cut as a sign they were set apart to serve other rulers. Thus they could not enter the place of God's holiness.

Realizing how drastic the measures were to maintain purity can bring us a much greater appreciation of what the New Covenant means to us today. Not only did Christ's sacrifice open the door for eunuchs and anyone considered "unclean" to worship him freely (see Acts 8:26-39), but it opened the door for us too. We are the foreigners to whom this passage refers. We are the ones who, if we bind ourselves to the Lord---to serve Him, to love His name, and to worship Him---and who, if we keep the Sabbath without desecrating it, will be invited to God's holy mountain and given joy in our places of worship!

What does this mean to you? How can God accept us when He established such stringent rules? Because Jesus provided the perfect sacrifice. His blood makes it possible for us to stand before God and be looked on as sinless. His blood makes it possible for us to worship freely without restraint. His blood makes it possible to approach God in prayer---in our churches, living rooms, cars, laundry rooms, and workplaces. His blood sets us free!

Reflect and discuss: Think about what it means to have the boundaries of God's chosen people expanded from just clean Israelites to all people, everywhere! How can you be a part of expanding the boundaries of Jesus to others?

For younger children: Take the wrapped gift to the person you and your children picked out during the last reading. When you go, have your children express they came because they wanted to share the love of Jesus.

Please Remember that these are coming from Lifeway.

Advent December 19, 2006

Third Tuesday: The New Covenant

"The days are coming," declares the LORD, "when I will plant the house of Israel and the house of Judah with the offspring of men and of animals. Just as I watched over them to uproot and tear down, and to overthrow, destroy and bring disaster, so I will watch over them to build and to plant," declares the LORD.

"In those days people will no longer say,'The fathers have eaten sour grapes,and the children's teeth are set on edge.

'Instead, everyone will die for his own sin; whoever eats sour grapes---his own teeth will be set on edge.

"The time is coming," declares the LORD,"when I will make a new covenantwith the house of Israeland with the house of Judah.

It will not be like the covenantI made with their forefatherswhen I took them by the handto lead them out of Egypt,because they broke my covenant,though I was a husband to them,"declares the LORD.

"This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israelafter that time," declares the LORD."I will put my law in their mindsand write it on their hearts.I will be their God,and they will be my people.

No longer will a man teach his neighbor,or a man his brother, saying, 'Know the LORD,'because they will all know me,from the least of them to the greatest,"declares the LORD."For I will forgive their wickednessand will remember their sins no more."

Jeremiah 31:27-34

Last week we studied the passage in 1 Kings that describes the dedication and consecration of the temple. Now in the story, a few hundred years had passed, the temple had been destroyed, and the Jews were watching another destruction occur---this time, the destruction of all of Jerusalem. Most of the Jerusalem people were being transported to Babylon to become slaves.

The news coming from the prophet Jeremiah was, for the most part, not good news. However, in chapter 31 Jeremiah did have some good news. The Lord declared that just as He watched over the uprooting and the tearing down, the overthrowing, the destruction, and the disaster, so He would also watch over them to build and to plant. Building and planting were extremely important to the Jews, as buildings brought roofs over their heads, and planting brought them food to eat. But that wasn't even the best news; more good news followed.

God was establishing a New Covenant. The Israelites were enduring suffering due to their failure to live up to the covenant that God established with Moses---the Ten Commandments. The laws were external and the Israelites had failed to follow them. But now God was bringing a new way: the law would be planted internally---it would be put in their minds and written on their hearts. Everyone, not just the house of Israel and the house of Judah, would know the Lord. It would no longer be a hierarchy, because all, from the least to the greatest, would know the Lord.

Jesus fulfilled this prophecy by offering His blood in the perfect sacrifice, as demonstrated in 1 Corinthians 11:23-26, a passage on Communion. Jesus states in verse 25: "This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me." The blood Jesus shed offers a lost world a new way. It offers the chance to know the Lord by having Christ's law of love put in our minds and written on our hearts.

Reflect and discuss: What does the New Covenant mean to you? Consider when the prophecy was given---in the midst of destruction and disaster. Think about a time when you thought God had given you a promise, but it seemed too farfetched and the circumstances were too far from what the promise held. Ask God to give you faith to believe that He can accomplish His purposes in your life, just as He promised in Jeremiah 31:33-34.

For younger children: Have a gift available for your children to wrap. Speak with them about how God gives gifts to us as well. He gave us the gift of Jesus, who loves everyone---from the least of us to the greatest. Talk about how we can follow His example and give to those who may be forgotten. Think about someone to whom you could take the gift.

Advent December 18, 2006

Third Monday: The Suffering Servant

Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?He grew up before him like a tender shoot,and like a root out of dry ground.He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him,nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.

He was despised and rejected by men,a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering.Like one from whom men hide their faceshe was despised, and we esteemed him not.

Surely he took up our infirmitiesand carried our sorrows,yet we considered him stricken by God,smitten by him, and afflicted.

But he was pierced for our transgressions,he was crushed for our iniquities;the punishment that brought us peace was upon him,and by his wounds we are healed.

We all, like sheep, have gone astray,each of us has turned to his own way;and the LORD has laid on himthe iniquity of us all.

He was oppressed and afflicted,yet he did not open his mouth;he was led like a lamb to the slaughter,and as a sheep before her shearers is silent,so he did not open his mouth.

By oppression and judgment he was taken away.And who can speak of his descendants?For he was cut off from the land of the living;for the transgression of my people he was stricken.

He was assigned a grave with the wicked,and with the rich in his death,though he had done no violence,nor was any deceit in his mouth.

Yet it was the LORD's will to crush him and cause him to suffer,and though the LORD makes his life a guilt offering,he will see his offspring and prolong his days,and the will of the LORD will prosper in his hand.

After the suffering of his soul,he will see the light of life and be satisfied;by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many,and he will bear their iniquities.

Therefore I will give him a portion among the great,and he will divide the spoils with the strong,because he poured out his life unto death,and was numbered with the transgressors.
For he bore the sin of many,and made intercession for the transgressors.

Isaiah 53:1-12 (NIV)

Have you ever looked and looked for something that you lost, but couldn't find it? And then you eventually find out it was right in front of you the whole time? That must be what it was like for the Jews in Jesus' day. They were so sure of what they were looking for in the Messiah that when He didn't match their expectations, they couldn't see Him to save their lives!

The Israelites were looking for a triumphant ruler who would bring them to religious and political freedom. They envisioned a mighty king who would arrive on white horseback with hundreds following behind him and destroy the Romans who had been enslaving the Israelites. They couldn't imagine one who wouldn't seek to destroy their enslavers on earth, and do it with a great display of power.

This passage in Isaiah points to a different way: it is the way of a suffering servant.

Almost every verse in this chapter speaks of another way the Messiah will suffer. Perhaps that is why the passage begins with "Who has believed our message..." Who would believe that the God of the Universe would allow--no, ordain--His Son to set aside His godly status and become a servant who willingly suffers. For whom? Could it be for humanity? Could it be for the Israelites? Could it be for the Gentiles as well? Could it even be for you and for me?

Reflect and discuss: Take a moment to write down all the words that involve suffering. Read them aloud, pondering what each word involves. Consider that Jesus is the one who willingly gave Himself as the perfect sacrifice. Write or say a prayer of thanks for what it cost Him.

For younger children: Remember with your children some of their "owies" or injuries. Talk about how much they hurt. Then talk about how much Jesus physically suffered by being the perfect sacrifice for us.

Advent December 17, 2006

Third Sunday in Advent

Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?He grew up before him like a tender shoot,and like a root out of dry ground.He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him,nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.

He was despised and rejected by men,a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering.Like one from whom men hide their faceshe was despised, and we esteemed him not.
Surely he took up our infirmitiesand carried our sorrows,yet we considered him stricken by God,smitten by him, and afflicted.

But he was pierced for our transgressions,he was crushed for our iniquities;the punishment that brought us peace was upon him,and by his wounds we are healed.

We all, like sheep, have gone astray,each of us has turned to his own way;and the LORD has laid on himthe iniquity of us all.

He was oppressed and afflicted,yet he did not open his mouth;he was led like a lamb to the slaughter,and as a sheep before her shearers is silent,so he did not open his mouth.

By oppression and judgment he was taken away.And who can speak of his descendants?For he was cut off from the land of the living;for the transgression of my people he was stricken.

He was assigned a grave with the wicked,and with the rich in his death,though he had done no violence,nor was any deceit in his mouth.

Yet it was the LORD's will to crush him and cause him to suffer,and though the LORD makes his life a guilt offering,he will see his offspring and prolong his days,and the will of the LORD will prosper in his hand.

After the suffering of his soul,he will see the light of life and be satisfied;by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many,and he will bear their iniquities.

Therefore I will give him a portion among the great,and he will divide the spoils with the strong,because he poured out his life unto death,and was numbered with the transgressors.
For he bore the sin of many,and made intercession for the transgressors.

Isaiah 53:1-12 (NIV)

Light the third candle today. Catch up on any readings you may have missed last week. Come to a place of worship to celebrate with others who are also observing Advent.

Say a prayer of thanks to Jesus Christ, who is the Lamb sacrificed not only for you but also for the whole world, as explained in John 3:16: For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life (NKJV).

Advent December 16, 2006

Zechariah's Song of Prophecy and Praise

Light: "The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing." (Zephaniah 3:17)

Reflection: My speech therapist ordered me to go on vocal rest for a month from December 10 through January 7. "Impossible!" I told her. "I have to direct four Christmas pageants this week, and I'm going home for the holidays to catch up with friends and family!" She responded by writing me a list: no talking, no coughing, no laughing. She might as well have put me in a dark room with white noise. For me, the holidays were over.

That Christmas I held a sign in front of me: ZECHARIAH. It always got a laugh. But during that December, I began to understand his pain. Communication was slow and clunky with hand motions and hastily scribbled notes. And when I would talk with my hands or silently mouth my words, my friends would imitate me, forgetting they could talk.

My husband became the interpreter, and I became the listener, a frustrating identity change. I never realized how much I used my voice until I tried to direct a show, corral my kids, or greet friends at a Christmas gathering. Although my damaged vocal cords still worked, each day of silence meant healing and a day closer to being able to sing God's praises with a reliable voice.
Zechariah had it a lot worse. He couldn't talk for nine months, which must have reduced his capacity to serve as a priest. He must have been frustrated. I wonder what his silence taught him.

My husband considered my prescribed silence a gift. No, it is not because I talk too much! His reasons for thinking this way became clear to me as well. The inability to speak made me a better, more sensitive listener. Quiet people were suddenly comfortable around a less outgoing me. In addition to listening, I really heard what people said. Speaking through writing or motions, I discovered I had a curious and captive audience. In conversation, less was more!

This is a season to listen. We hear brass music and Christmas carols; we listen to bells ringing, and we cherish the sound of children's laughter. We also need to listen to God, friends, husband, and children. Try asking questions and waiting long enough for your loved ones to expand their answers. Don't join in every discussion or song. Instead meditate on what you hear. The sounds of the season are a gift, opened with your ears. Are you quiet enough to hear God singing over you? Listen and learn what the Lord of Love has to say to you today.

Response: Divine Composer, open my ears that I may hear Your music all around me. Thank You for singing and exulting over me with shouts of joy. Quiet my lips so I listen more than speak. Help me hear Your voice and understand Your words.

Advent December 15, 2006

A Powerful Answer to Prayer

Light: "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:6-7)

Reflection: Do you have a Zechariah prayer? Is there something you've longed for, prayed about, and then questioned God's timing? Do you believe God is hearing you? No doubt Zechariah, an old man, yet to be called into the holy temple, might have felt like that. But he was faithful, and he remained righteous.

Maybe you've been faithful, but your "nothing is impossible with God" prayer remains unanswered. But in one momentous encounter, God answered Zechariah's prayers of the past, present, plus the prayers of thousands of Jews for many centuries.
God's answers and ways are not always our ways (Romans 11:33-34). God's timing is not always our timing. Can you imagine how God might have longed to give Zechariah and Elizabeth the whole picture during the decades they prayed for a child?

"Zechariah, you will have a child, and he won't just be any child. He will prepare the way for the Messiah!" What glorious new that would have been for a younger Zechariah. What glorious news it should have been for an older Zechariah. Instead, Zechariah said he needed a sign.

Sometimes God says "Yes"; sometimes, "No"; and sometimes, "Wait." Why he finally answered Zechariah's prayers with a "Yes, I heard you," and does not answer all the prayers of the righteous with a "Yes," I do not know.

I have an aunt with treatable, but incurable lymphoma. Why God doesn't make it treatable and curable, I do not know. But she remains faithful in thanksgiving and praise, and she is an example to many of the benefits of being a prayer warrior.

We can look to Zechariah and have great hope. God has a plan. The Lord heard Zechariah. He hears you. Ask Him for what you need. Do not become discouraged. Stay near to Him. Be faithful in prayer. He loves you.

Response: Omniscient Father, You know what I've been bringing to you over and over and over. As I pray today, I understand You know what's best for me. You see the bigger picture, and you know the proper timing. Help me be faithful and righteous as I wait on Your plan and Your answer. Amen.

Remember these are from Lifeway

Advent December 14, 2006

Rejoice, Rejoice!

Light: "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!" (Philippians 4:4)

Reflection: Henrich Seuse (Suso), although a German born into wealth, became a Dominican monk who shared the gospel with common people. Unfortunately, he was condemned, exiled, and persecuted for his radical beliefs that the gospel was for all.

In a dream, he saw angels singing and dancing with joy and woke up to write, " In Dulci Jubilo!" in German and Latin. This mixed-language (macaronic) carol is most definitely not a solemn scriptural song in the high language of the 14th century, but instead an exuberant song for all classes celebrating the joy of believing.

Hundreds of years later, James Mason Neale, a man also persecuted and exiled for the radical belief that the joy of Christianity was for all people, translated this happy carol into English "Good Christian Men, Rejoice!" so many could rejoice.

Picture caroling in merry old England, with string and wind instruments--even a bass fiddle--encircling torch-bearing carolers. They're celebrating great news. Jesus Christ was born to save! Is that invitation enough to celebrate? Suso and Neale thought so. Rejoice today! Again, I say rejoice!

Song: "Good Christian Men, Rejoice!"

Good Christian men, rejoice with heart and soul and voice;Give ye heed to what we say: News! News! Jesus Christ is born today:Ox and ass before him bow and He is in the manger nowChrist is born today! Christ is born today!

Good Christian men, rejoice with heart and soul and voice;Now ye hear of endless bliss; Joy! Joy! Jesus Christ was born for this!He has open'd the heav'nly door and man is blessed evermoreChrist was born for this! Christ was born for this!

Good Christian men, rejoice with heart and soul and voice;Now ye need not fear the grave; Peace! Peace! Jesus Christ was born to save!Calls you one and calls you all to gain his everlasting hallChrist was born to save! Christ was born to save!

Symbol: Light

Christmas lights outline rooftops and windows, encircle evergreens and illuminate front yards in our town. I especially enjoy seeing single candle lights twinkling in windows to welcome me home. How appropriate that we celebrate with light on the birthday of the One who is the One true light.

In ancient times, unbelievers lit winter bonfires as a plea to the sun to remain during the darkness. They considered the lighting of candles to hold great power, yet remained in darkness to the One True Light, the real Son with whom resides all power.

When the candles flicker in your home, consider their symbolism. The people of old sat in darkness waiting for their Savior. Zechariah tells us God sent His Son "to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace" (Luke 1:79).

Let Him illuminate your path of peace this Advent season. Here are a few suggestions to keep remembering His light.

Suggestion: Jesus Is the Light

One year I received tin luminaries from a student and his parents. They drilled holes into tin cans, placed a candle inside and included the verse, "Jesus is the Light of the World!" Another year, my daughters painted a simple design on clear, glass votive candleholders and gave them as gifts. Perhaps this year, with candles and luminaries, you could bring the gift of light into the lives of your friends, and with an added scripture, the light of Christ.

Let the light of Christ shine through you like luminaries lining the porch steps to your home. Draw others to the One who calls Himself "The Door" of Salvation.
Response: Light of the World, shine Your light through me. May those who do not know You see the light of Your Son's face in me. As I go through my day, guide me by Your all-surpassing power.

Advent December 13, 2006

Step Right Up to God in Prayer

Light: "In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation." (Psalm 5:3)

"By day the LORD directs his love, at night his song is with me--a prayer to the God of my life." (Psalm 42:8)

Reflection: Do you see the theme in today's scriptures? They remind us that all day long we can boldly come before our God. And yet we take this privilege for granted. Before Christ's resurrection, when a priest approached God, it was nothing like what we now experience in coming before Him.

If you've ever tried to read through the Bible in a year, some of the details in the construction of the temple may have kept you from completing your goal. The tabernacle was a holy place, built exactly the way God commanded (see Exodus 40:1-8 and Hebrews 9:1-14). You may have wondered, "Why on earth do I need to read specifics about the dimensions, veils, colors, jewels on the breastplate, and the amount of flour in each loaf of bread?" There is a reason. Keep plugging on.

In the holy place rested an altar of incense, a lampstand, a table for the shewbread. Walled off by a thick veil, which horses could not pull apart, was the holiest of holies. This housed the Ark of covenant box containing the Ten Commandments, manna, and Aaron's Rod. But all that is history. When Christ rose, that four-inch thick veil split from the top to the bottom so that now, through faith in Him, we can come before God with bold confidence.

Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful (Hebrews 10:19-23).

Jesus Christ replaced the old with the new. In revealing the Old Testament details, we see how Christ is the New Testament fulfilled. Christ is our High Priest and He is the Sacrifice. He is the Bread of the Presence. He is Mercy. He is the Lampstand, the Altar of Incense, the Veil, and the Tabernacle.

Now we can come directly to God in prayer, anytime, anyplace. What a privilege! What if our lifestyle were one of constant communion with God? What if each day began and ended with talking to Jesus? What are we missing by not using our personal prayer hotline to God? Maybe this next year can be a year of talking to Him with a sincere heart and the full assurance of faith that He see, hears, and loves us.

Response: Dear God, I come before you with confidence through Jesus Christ. Thank you for Your forgiveness. I draw near to you with a sincere heart and the full assurance of your saving grace. Lord, jog my memory to pray all day so we're in constant fellowship

Advent December 12, 2006

The Obedience of Joseph

Light: "Your word is a lamp to my feet and light for my path." (Psalm 119:105)

"I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you." (Psalm 119:11)

Reflection: Recently I read a fabulous book on parenting. The only problem is that when my kids disobey, I always forget its great solutions. I really need to review that book more often. I need its practical wisdom fresh on my mind at the beginning of the day, and I need to reflect on it as I prepare to go to sleep.

The Bible is like that too, but even more so. I need it fresh on my mind for the immediacy of the day as well as to build a foundation for the future. And I need it as I go to bed so I can meditate on its wisdom.

Someone once pointed out that there are thirty-one chapters in Proverbs, one to read each day of the month. I wonder how I'd respond on a daily basis if wise proverbs were fresh on my mind? Would it help me be more obedient to God?

Joseph was obedient to God and followed directions without question. He was constantly told what to do, where to go, and when to leave. His obedience seemed so natural. We never hear him say, "But God, that instruction seems a little strange. Did you say Egypt? The people of our faith don't live there!" His obedience resulted in salvation instead of death at the hands of Herod's soldiers.

So often we're unsure what to do, yet we have a book full of instructions. Maybe we need to place it near our beds so we'll study God's wise advice in the morning, and reflect on His teaching before we sleep, always ready to learn with a willing heart. The Holy Spirit instructs us by day and by night. Imagine what we could learn if we let Him speak to us through His Word on a daily basis. The best Christmas book we have is the most authoritative book ever written about Christ--the Bible. Now is a great time to make a habit of reading it!

Response: O God, I will open Your Word today and tomorrow. May I find joy as I immerse myself in Your teaching. Prepare my heart to understand what I read. I need to spend time with You each day so Your words are fresh, treasured, stored, and filed for easy access. May these be a lamp and a light today as I walk with You.

Advent December 11, 2006

The Fragrance of Christ

Light: "But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing." (2 Corinthians 2:14-15)

Reflection: One of my favorite parts of Christmas is hearing music everywhere I go from Thanksgiving to New Year's. Each carol holds memories, making me reminisce about the past and focus my heart on Jesus. I hope this season you hear the music of Christmas in a new way, understanding how the scriptures reveal the prophecy of His coming, the revelation of His birth, His death, and His second coming.

"Lo How a Rose" reminds me of what we've learned in Isaiah. Remember the tender shoot? Jesus, the rose, bloomed in Bethlehem so long ago and continues to bloom in the hearts of those who receive Him. The carol reminds us that Jesus is a stem from Jesse's lineage.

Lo how a rose e'er blooming, From tender stem hath sprung,Of Jesse's lineage coming,As saints of old have sung.It came, a flower bright, amid the cold of winter,When half-spent was the night.Isaiah 'twas foretold it, The Rose I have in mind,With Mary we behold it,The virgin mother kind.To show God's love aright,She bore to us a Savior,When half spent was the night.

A subsequent verse tells about the fragrance and the light of Christ, and that Jesus is fully man and fully God. Like so many of our carols, this verse points toward our future with Christ. What a marvelous thought! Today, let's be the fragrance of Christ and a light wherever we go, carrying with us the thought that one day we'll convene in the bright courts of heaven for a day that will never end.

Response: Holy Father, Help me be Your fragrance and Your light to others. May the joy of experiencing Your presence radiate from me. Thank You for being the New Testament fulfillment of Old Testament promises. May I walk in the knowledge that I have an eternity to grow in You

Advent December 10, 2006

Forgiving Scrooge

Light: "Come now, let us reason together," says the LORD, "Though you sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool." (Isaiah 1:18)

"As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgression from us." (Psalm 103:12)

Reflection: While watching A Christmas Carol I was struck by Scrooge's ability to forgive himself and get on with life. He saw his past mistakes, his present mistakes, recognized where they were leading, and made a change.

Crazy old Ebenezer Scrooge encouraged me. He wasted not a minute of grief over his past. Instead of wallowing in guilt over his cruelty, regretting where his choices had taken him, and feeling depressed over age and circumstances, he chose joy. He determined to spend the rest of his days doing good, generously bestowing his love, finances, and attention upon all those he met.

In a funny way, Scrooge reminds me of David. David could have beaten himself up over his past sins, of which there were many. Instead, David worshiped the Lord and got on with his life, knowing he had been forgiven.

Can we allow ourselves to experience that kind of grace? We need to. God wants us to get on with our lives. Once we've asked for forgiveness and repented, God forgives us and describes us as white as snow. To God we look blindingly beautiful in our purity. We can pick ourselves up and praise God, like David, or run out and bring good cheer like Ebenezer.

When someone asks "Are you in the Christmas spirit?" remember that through God's gifts of grace and forgiveness, we can experience the joyous wonder of giving and loving others. Now that's Christmas spirit!

Response: Gracious Father, Sometimes I feel so guilty about the choices I've made. I confess and ask your forgiveness. Help me to accept your forgiveness, and to forgive myself so I can serve you with freedom and joy this Christmas.

Advent December 9, 2006

Your Daily Advent DevotionalDecember 9, 2006
Enjoy!
Enjoy the Christ of Christmas!
Enjoy the ones you love!For "every good and perfect giftCometh from above."

Have you heard what the angels are saying?
Several times in history, God has poked a hole through the sky and let His divine joy shine down on us.
When Solomon first dedicated God's temple, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offerings, and the priests couldn't go inside the temple because the glory of the Lord had filled it like a cloud.
And at the first Christmas, when God's Son arrived, He sent a vast array of angels singing thrilling songs, as well as a very special, shining, mystical star. God pulled out the stops!
The words of the angels' song recorded in Luke 2:14 were full of joy: "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to people He favors!"
Have you forgotten where you left your joy?
Jesus' first coming to earth can still result in glory to God and peace on earth. That's revival, renewal!
The two of us have seen it happen over and over, as God's people in missions groups or churches--dry, tired, bugged at each other--have experienced His Spirit's cleansing and refreshing. Invariably, their faces shine with a renewed sense of glory to God, and their hearts swell with a desire for restored peace among men. And then--oh, how they sing!
Could you use a little of that right now? Tell Him today. And don't forget the joy!
Joy!
Try to catch the scope of their song:
Those in the highest places in heaveneternally enjoy His glory.
Those on earth--through all ages of human history--can enjoy His peace.
All heaven and earth are deeply affected with joy by the birth of Christ.
For you and us another year has fled,And varied are the ways that God has led.But if the year brought stress to you or loss,Christ came to bear them all upon His crossSo Christmas joy is deepAnd goodAnd strong
Look up, our friend,And sing a Christmas song!

Excerpted from:

How Great Our Joy: Family Memories and Meditations for Christmas, by Ray and Anne Ortlund

Advent December 8, 2006

What joy the Christ of Christmas brings,And life and peace and all good things!Be full, our friends,Filled to the brim;Be full of joy,Be full of Him.

Could you use a fill-up in your joy compartment?
When Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist, "was filled with the Holy Spirit...she exclaimed with a loud cry: 'Blessed are you among women, and blessed is your offspring!'" (Luke 1:41,42).
When her husband Zechariah "was filled with the Holy Spirit," he prophesied, "Blessed is the Lord" (Luke 1:67,68).
Even their baby, John, was "filled with the Holy Spirit while still in his mother's womb" (Luke 1:15). And when he grew up, he went everywhere preaching as "a voice of one crying out in the wilderness" (Luke 3:4).
Be filled with the Holy Spirit!
Mary, after the most amazing of all fillings of the Holy Spirit, exclaimed, "My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord...Holy is His name" (Luke 1:46,49).
Pick up the Christmas tradition started by these early ones. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they opened their mouths in joyful praise.

Excerpted from:

How Great Our Joy: Family Memories and Meditations for Christmas, by Ray and Anne Ortlund

Used with the kind permission of our friends at Broadman and Holman

Advent December 7, 2006

Oh, ring Noel,Each loud Christmas bellGod's good news is great newsall over the earth!And Christians--all sing itAs bells ring and ring it;Applaud it and laud it,this wonderful birth!Yes, ring it out, fling it out,chiming and clanging:On this joyous mornOur Redeemer is born!

Can the world celebrate something it doesn't understand?
People of this world string their Christmas lights, not fully realizing that their decorations are saying to believers, "Arise, shine, for you light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you" (Isaiah 60:1, NIV). They punch in their CDs that sing, "Oh, come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord!"
Matthew 13:13,16 says, "Looking they do not see, and hearing they do not listen or understand....But your eyes are blessed because they do see, and your ears because they do hear!"
So this holiday season, don't be a Scrooge. Don't grumble over the commercialization of Christmas. Blessed are your eyes and ears that can comprehend what all this beauty really means.
Do the sights and sounds of Christmas draw your a little higher?
Drink in. Cherish it. Rejoice! And pray that some who have lived in the dark all year long will find the Light of the world in the lights of Christmas.
At this new Christmas season, worship Him. Between your ears, within your heart, where no one sees but God alone--worship Him!
Often confess your sins to Him. Often think on His characteristics. From moment to moment, as much as you're able, keep a running conversation going with your Father.
He will love it.Worship Him
As you move through the Christmas lightsand beauty, worship Him.As you write your cards, worship Him.As you trim your tree, worship Him.As you spend, be spent.As you serve others, serve Him.Let your heart keep welling up with"glory to God in the highest!"

Excerpted from:

How Great Our Joy: Family Memories and Meditations for Christmas, by Ray and Anne Ortlund

These posts are from Lifeways Advent season.

Advent December 6, 2006

"In the same region, shepherds were living out in the fields and keeping watch at night over their flock. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them…and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid, for you see, I announce to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: because in the city of David was born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.'"
--Luke 2:8-11

What will occupy you most this Christmas season: burdens or Joys?
The shepherds that first Christmas night were probably burdened…with all the usual culprits: straying lambs, wool ticks, cut hooves, nighttime cold.
Then suddenly they were exposed to angels, international news, and glory--brilliant, radiant, Shekinah Glory! They could never be the same again.
The shepherds returned ”glorifying and praising God for all they had seen and heard” (Luke 2:20). Sure. They returned to wool and ticks and cut hooves, but forever after they would see all their annoyances through new eyes.
Christians, are you burdened with the “usual”?
You, too, have been exposed to all the splendor, all the joy, all the majesty of God’s eternal plans, set in motion by the birth of Jesus.
Then don’t be absorbed by the burdens! Do your daily work this Christmas glorifying and praising God for all you have seen and heard.
"The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had seen and heard." Luke 2:20.

Excerpted from:

How Great Our Joy: Family Memories and Meditations for Christmas, by Ray and Anne Ortlund

Used with the kind permission of our friends at Broadman and Holman

Advent December 5, 2006

Read Luke 2:15, 20
"Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.” --Luke 2:15b

Like footprints, much of the information about "O Come, All Ye Faithful" comes in pairs. This hymn was first written in Latin and was known by its Latin name, Adeste Fidele, which means "be present or near, ye faithful," or "O Come, All Ye Faithful."

John Francis Wade is believed to be the person who wrote or found the words and the music to this much-loved hymn. He made his living by hand copying music for churches, since that was before the days of computer printers or duplicating machines. Although many church hymnals list the composer of this hymn as "Anonymous"--meaning that no one knows who wrote it--researchers feel confident that John Wade was the first person to share Adeste Fideles with other Christians in France. Many years later, Frederick Oakeley, impressed with the Latin words, decided to translate their meaning into English for his Anglican congregation to sing. The first translation he made began "Ye faithful, approach ye." Later, Oakeley studied the Latin more carefully and improved his translation to the words we sing today.
Not only were two men responsible for bringing the world this great hymn in two languages, but in the church today the "Portuguese Hymn" provides the music for two great church songs: "O Come, All Ye Faithful" and "How Firm a Foundation."
"O Come, All Ye Faithful" challenges Christians to come to Bethlehem; but it also gives us further instructions: we are to adore the Christ who was born there. To be faithful, we must do both. Our footprints symbolize our coming to stand before the Christ, but we come for a purpose--to offer our devotion and love to the King.
In Advent, as we wait to celebrate the Christ Child's birth, we must make sure our footsteps are leading us toward the manger, toward Bethlehem, toward the One whom we adore.
Prayer: King of Angels, guide our footsteps to the manger of Bethlehem and help us faithfully respond to the invitation to adore Christ, the Lord. Amen.

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Advent December 4, 2006

Read Isaiah 40:1-5
Comfort, O comfort my people, says your God. --Isaiah 40:1

How many ways can you think of to send a message? Before people had e-mail--even before telephones--telegrams were a good way to communicate information quickly and accurately. During Advent we have an important message to communicate: we're preparing the way for Christ to be born in our hearts this Christmas. How did God send that message the first time it was heard? Of course, God didn't send a telegram.
God's message was sent by special people called prophets. They proclaimed the message to everyone who would listen. During Advent we often reread those messages from the Bible--especially the words of the prophets Isaiah and John the Baptist. Isaiah shared God's message to "Comfort my people." That means to help others feel better by assuring them of God's love. John the Baptist told people to get ready for God's presence by repenting. That means asking God to cleanse us from sin and help us straighten out our lives. If we were going to send a telegram version of God's message, it might read:
Don't weep. Stop.
Don't sin. Stop.
God is sending help. Tell others. Don't ...
Stop.

The words of the hymn "Comfort, Comfort Ye My People" could almost be called a singing telegram. They are an Advent message for the people of God. The ancient words of the prophet Isaiah in the Bible were translated and made into verses of a song for Saint John the Baptist Day by a German minister named Johannes Olearius. Two hundred years later Catherine Winkworth, a British woman, translated the German text into English. Christians today sing the song during the Advent season as they prepare for Christ's coming. God has passed the message through many people and in many ways during the centuries. As we share the words of "Comfort, Comfort Ye My People" during Advent we become messengers for God, too, proclaiming the peace of God to a waiting world.
Prayer: Comforter, challenge us to send a message of hope to all who will receive it. Amen.

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Advent December 3, 2006

Read Isaiah 7:14 and Matthew 1:23
"They shall name him Emmanuel," which means, "God is with us." --Matthew 1:23

How good are you at waiting? Waiting is hard to do, isn't it? Do you think it has always been difficult for Christians to wait for Christmas? There is a song of waiting called "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel" that has been sung for over a thousand years! It was first used as a chant at evening services during Advent and was done as an antiphon, which means that two groups sang or spoke in response to each other. Each line of the chant began with "O Come," so the phrases became known as the "O" antiphons. Since each verse uses a different name for Jesus, the words can help us think about who Jesus is and what we are waiting for during Advent.

Originally there were seven"O" antiphons, but in the mid-1800s, a man named John Mason Neale rearranged the verses and translated them into English, creating the popular Advent hymn we sing today. The first verse says that Jesus is "Emmanuel," God with us, who is going to ransom or pay the price to set the captives free. As the Jewish nation was held captive in Babylon, we can be held captive by sin. But Jesus ransomed us, paid the price with his life, so that we can be children of God because Jesus is the very Son of God.

Another name for Jesus is Rod, or Branch, of Jesse since Jesus was a descendant of King David who was the son of Jesse. We read of the shoot, a branch with leaves, because Jesus gives us life--eternal life with God. A third name is Dayspring, or Sunrise. Jesus said he is the Light of the World, and our Advent carol reminds us that we are waiting for Jesus, just as we wait at night for the sunrise in the morning. An additional name is "Key of David." The Bible promises that Jesus will be given the keys to open wide the doors of heaven for us. "Lord of Might" reminds us of the Old Testament name for Jehovah, the lawgiver. Jesus came to fulfill the law of God, so that those who love him would have the laws of God written on their hearts.

On Christmas Day we will be finished waiting. Jesus will be reborn in our hearts. We sing the verses of "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel" during Advent and remember the many reasons for Jesus' birth, just as Christians have done for thousands of years.
Prayer: Emmanuel, help us wait with hope for your coming to our hearts. Amen.

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