December 25th Devotional (Day 93)

In these nine meditations, we will focus on the wonder of Christmas as revealed in Luke 2:1-20.

 

Passage to Ponder: Luke 2:1-20

“While they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.” -Luke 2:6-7 (NASB)

  Merry Christmas! I pray that you wakened to this glorious day filled with joy, hope, and peace—that your heart is merry in the love of Jesus. I have often found deep meaning in the Scriptures by meditating on some of the phrases surrounding the text’s main idea. Obviously, the chief point of Luke 2:6-7 is that Jesus was born. Yet, let’s not miss the phrase “the days were completed.” Take a moment and think about the full meaning of those few words. I’ll wait while you wonder…

Ready to continue? When I give attention to “the days were completed,” my mind starts doing some word associations…destiny, fulfillment, accomplished, achieved, and realized are the words that pop into my head. The birth of Jesus was not a happy accident in a series of random events. Mary wasn’t the only one who was giving birth that night in Bethlehem. From eternity past, all of history was pregnant with the promise of a Savior. The long-awaited moment had finally arrived. Eternity future would count the arrival of Immanuel, God with Us, as the most important event in the span of perpetuity. Long before the creation of the first atom and the first Adam, God had been planning this moment. The word “completed” is the Greek word pletho which is often translated as “fulfilled” elsewhere in the New Testament. Jesus is the “fulfillment” of the promised Messiah.

Earlier, the angel told Joseph to take Mary as his wife in Matthew 1:21, “She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” All our hopes for being saved from our sinful nature are completed, fullfilled in Jesus. Humanity no longer was waiting for that distant day…the tomorrow for which the world yearned had now become today! Like children awakening on Christmas morning with excitement to see the presents under the tree, humanity can rush to another tree—the cross of Christ—and find the greatest present ever given.

Joy to the world! The Lord has come! Let earth receive her King! Let every heart prepare Him room! Sing along with all of Heaven and nature to praise the Father for sending His only Son on this special day. Merry Christmas!

Love,
Pastor Larry

Click HERE to View Dec 24th Livestream

(This is from a series of devotionals written during our time of restricted meetings and activities due to the coronavirus.)

December 24 Devotional Day 92

It has been six months since I stopped writing these daily devotions during our journey through the 2020 pandemic. The last one was on June 14 and was number 91. Since we have continued to deal with COVID-19 through the summer and fall months, I feel my devotional writing is unfinished business nagging me for completion. So, let's close out the remainder of the year together and start 2021 with the 100th devotion. In these nine meditations, we will focus on the wonder of Christmas as revealed in Luke 2:1-20.

Passage to Ponder: Luke 2:1-20

Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth. This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. And everyone was on his way to register for the census, each to his own city. Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, in order to register along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child. -Luke 2:1-5 (NASB)

  So, you think you had a difficult year in 2020? As the old saying goes, “If you think you have it bad, remember there’s always someone who has it worse than you!” That adage would have been true in the days of the first Christmas. While many people were struggling, they could have looked at young Mary and Joseph and said, “Wow! I’m glad I’m not one of those two!” When you read the first five verses of Luke 2, words such as “hardship,” “challenging,” “difficulties,” and “trials” come to mind. Two poor people are facing an unexpected pregnancy, a crazy government command to travel in the ninth month of pregnancy just so they could get counted to pay a tax they could little afford.

And here they are…on the rocky road to Bethlehem because forces beyond their control require it. There was no logical argument that would change the bureaucratic conundrum. Life was blowing hard against them like a slow-moving hurricane. Yes, when I read these words from Luke’s Gospel, my heart breaks for Mary and Joseph as they head down the bumpy southern road. The Bible doesn’t tell us if Mary rode a donkey, rode in a wagon, or walked. But whatever the mode of travel, it was slow and torturous. But aren’t you glad Mary and Joseph had to go on the trek to Bethlehem?

The trip may have seemed like too much of an inconvenience. After all, didn’t this unplanned travel result in Jesus being born in an animal stall? However, we have the blessing of hindsight to see that God was fulfilling the prophecy: The Messiah would be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2-5). Do you see how this may apply to you? Is it possible that God is orchestrating the events of your life and those you love to bring about His purposes in this world? Could the current hardships you endure be designed to bring Him glory? God loves you just as much as He loves Mary and Joseph! If He can use Mary and Joseph to change the world, He can surely use you in mighty ways!

Love,
Pastor Larry

Click HERE to View Dec 20th Livestream Message

(This is from a series of devotionals written during our time of restricted meetings and activities due to the coronavirus.)