December 22, 2010: Redemption
Scripture: Matthew 20:28 (KJV)
Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
Devotion:
I am old enough to remember S&H Green Stamps. Mom and Dad, like so many others, saved those little green postage-type stamps that they got at the grocery store and other places, filling booklets to be traded in for some really neat stuff. Do you know where you took these filled booklets? To the Redemption Center! You took these little seemingly worthless bits of paper and got something of value. I guess the only thing similar today is gift cards – we take them to a store and get something of value and someone else has paid the cost.
Jesus came to redeem us. The King James Version says to give His life as a ransom. Like it or not, we are enslaved and Jesus came to set us free. We can be redeemed and our life, though filled with pain and sorrow, can be traded in for something of much more value – without stamps or cards. We can't do anything to earn this gift – we just have to accept it.
Pain, sorrow, loss, rejection – all of this and more – can be traded in. Jesus paid the cost and He is the Redemption Center. What do you have to trade today?
Father, I know that at the moment of the fall, You already had the nativity and the cross on Your mind. Thank You that Jesus came to redeem us and to free us. In the Name of Jesus, my Redeemer, I pray for all of us who need redemption today. Amen.
December 21, 2010: Peace and Comfort
Scripture: Matthew 1:20, Luke 1:30, Luke 2:10, 14 (KJV)
Fear not…
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men
Devotion:
On this first day of winter, it is wet and dreary. A day to be inside but one of those days that doesn't seem to instill much joy. It's the type of day that one's thoughts may go to all the worries that plague us – money (lack thereof), purpose and direction, relationships, world issues, etc. But the words of the angels to Mary, Joseph and the shepherds is "Fear not". I believe that word is for us today as well.
Now I don't know about you but if an angel appeared before me, I might just be a little bit afraid (okay, a whole lot afraid – especially if the angel is as awe-inspiring as my imagination makes them out to be; no soft, frilly angels for me, thank you, I want my angels to be ready for battle!). And the first thing the angels say is "Fear not". God's first word to us is "don't be afraid". I've heard that fear is really an acronym for "false evidence appearing real". This may be so but when you are afraid the evidence seems to weigh heavily in favor of running and hiding or finding some other way not to deal with the situation. Fear is strong but the angels' words tell us that God is stronger: Fear not. The angels' song praises God and proclaims his peace and good will – comfort – toward men.
Jesus came to bring us real peace, replacing our fear. He said that after He left, another would come – The Comforter or Holy Spirit. God has provided peace and comfort through the coming of a Child and through His Spirit. And the angels still stay, "Fear not".
Speak the words again to us, Lord. Remind us not to fear, for You bring peace and comfort for we have found favor in Your eyes.
Help us to trust You and to release the things that cause us to fear. You are bigger than all of our troubles and we trust Your Comforter today. In the Name of the Prince of Peace, Jesus, Amen!
December 20, 2010: Names
Scripture: Luke 1:31
And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.
Devotion:
In this final week before Christmas, I want to look at some gifts that God gives us through Jesus. Today I'll look at names, later I'll look at peace and comfort, redemption, joy, fulfillment, and finally new beginnings.
In Biblical times, names meant much more than they seem to do now. God gives the first man and woman their names and names define the nature and character of the individual. The Old Testament gives us many names for God – Jehovah, Lord Almighty, The Lord Our Banner, and many more. It seems that no one name can capture the essence of God.
Through Jesus, we are restored in our relationship with God. Through Jesus, we are given a new name that defines our nature and character, at least as God sees us. That name is "Beloved". No matter what our name was, or what it meant, whether we live up to it or not, God calls us "Beloved" when He looks at us because of Jesus.
And it is nice to know that Jesus calls us "Friend".
Have you ever looked at what your name means? Do you realize that you ARE God's beloved? How does that feel?
God, you allowed Adam to name the animals and plants. You have set the stage for names that mean something and you have
called us "Beloved" when you see us through Your Son. Thank you for this gift and in Jesus' Name, I pray. Amen!
