Read Luke 2:8-12

One of the great ironies surrounding the narrative of Christ’s birth is the manner in which God announces the birth of His Son and the people to whom He announces it.  We have already considered Mary and Joseph, though in the bloodline of David, neither are royalty by human standards.  Mary, in particular, is visited by Gabriel, one of the Archangels that stands in the throne room of Heaven.  By all worldly standards, the truly appropriate people would be royalty, and the place a palace.

 

Instead, however, God has chosen to work through some of the “least of these” to bring about His plan of Salvation.  Following suit, God’s announcement on the night of Jesus’ birth comes to those we would least expect.  Shepherds were the lowest of the so-called “totem pole.”  These truly were the least of all people by human standards.  Dirty, cheating and untrustworthy were their titles.  Even this is ironic seeing as the people of Israel were settled away from the Egyptians, in the land of Goshen, because they were indeed Shepherds.

 

Despite their outcast status, God sends a host of heavenly angels to announce the birth of His Son specifically to them.  Though their appearance is certainly startling, their message of peace and the birth of the Messiah have impacted the world for generations.

 

Interestingly, God’s message to the shepherds is somewhat of a microcosm of His plan of Salvation.  We who are outcasts because of sin, hear the message of Salvation through the Gospel message.  When we hear this message, we encounter God in a very real way.  Though it may not be the light of angels piercing the darkness of night, our encounter is no less divine.  The question we all face, though, is: what are we going to do about it?

God of Love and Mercy,

You reach down into this world, into our lives,

pursuing us when we are far from You.

Even when we were Your enemies, You showed us Your love

by sending Your Son into this world as our Messiah.

We thank You for Gospel truth and for calling us to Yourself.

Help us, each day, to continually respond to Your love,

and to tell others about Jesus so that they may encounter Your love too.

Amen.

Read Luke 2:6-7

I’ve often wondered in the narrative of Jesus’ birth, did Mary carry to full term?  We know that she was “great with child” as the old Scriptural language suggests, but what does that mean?  Was she late in her delivery or was she early?  We probably don’t get this much thought as we default to the “Silent Night” and “Away in a Manger” songs of how perfect things were.

 

While this question seems relatively minor in the grand scheme of things, at its core, the question really has to do with how God actually brought about the birth of Jesus.  As we said yesterday, God’s timing is perfect.  So when the time comes for things to happen in our lives, God will make them happen.  Of this, we can be certain.  But I do have to wonder what would have happened if Mary and Joseph left a day or two later?

 

Granted, it probably wouldn’t have changed the date of our Christmas celebrations.  December 25 is widely considered not to be the date of Jesus’ birth.  Rather, it was a pagan holiday taken over by early Christians and turned into a celebration of the Incarnation of Jesus Christ.

 

That said, when we boil this down to its roots, we are left to trust in God’s sovereignty over every situation.  Similar questions for the timing of Saul’s conversion, Peter’s vision of unclean animals, or even the call to preach the Gospel to the Gentiles in Acts are all valid.  They all address the same theme and have the same answer: God’s timing brings about God’s purposes according to God’s will.

 

Though we may think we know the right timing in the growing seasons of our lives, God knows better.  He has a purpose to bring about His will for us.  And let’s be honest, God’s good and perfect will is better than anything we could come up with.

Faithful God,

You cause the sun to rise and set and the seasons to change in their times.

All of creation is perfectly ordered by You and exists for You.

You grant us seasons of growth and seasons of rest as well.

As we journey through our lives, seeking to follow You,

help us to trust Your will for us.

Whether the road of our life is smooth or rocky,

may we know that You are faithfully there with us.

You never leave us or forsake us, You are our refuge and strength.

Thank You for your faithfulness.

In Jesus’ name, we pray, Amen.

Read Luke 2:1-5

There are a lot of factoids that surround the Christmas story.  The Messiah was prophesied to be born in Bethlehem, the city of David, yet Joseph and Mary were natives of Nazareth.  Realistically, there was no reason at all for them to travel and certainly not during pregnancy.  It was even less likely that they would have chosen to travel so close to her birth.  So the timing of this decree by Caesar August was perfect timing as far as prophetic fulfillment is concerned.

 

Perfect timing; would we expect anything else from God though?

 

Bethlehem is a 33-hour walk from Nazareth, using today’s roadways.  Given Mary’s imminent birth, the hazardous travel conditions, and the renowned stubbornness of donkeys, it is not at all a stretch to imagine that this trip took three to five days.  If you are a woman reading this, can you imagine going through that pregnant?  It almost seems unfair to Mary to make her go through this just to fulfill a more than 500-year-old prophecy.

 

Sometimes the things that we go through in life don’t seem fair at the time.  Indeed, life is full of long and difficult journies as we see God working through our situations to mold, shape, and build us.  The proverbial roads of life that we travel are sometimes rough and we can be pretty stubborn when things don’t go our way.

 

Yet, in the midst of these difficult times, and especially on the other side of them, we see God’s work and promise fulfilled in our lives.  We may not have wanted to go; we might not have had any reason that we could see to endure.  God, however, can see the bigger picture and has a plan for each of us.

 

Had Joseph and Mary not gone to Bethlehem, a small part of the prophecy would not have been fulfilled.  It would have brought into question the whole person and purpose of Jesus.  Perhaps, in our long and difficult seasons of life, God is up to some important thing that He knows we just can’t live without either.  I’m sure Mary and Joseph’s journey required a lot of trust on their part.  We, too, need to trust the One who knows each second of our lives before they ever came to be.  His timing is always perfect.

Sanctifying Lord,

We stand in awe of how You bring about each and every moment of the universe,

You know us and the plans You have for us.

In Scripture, You tell us those plans are to prosper us and give us hope and a future.

We confess that, more often than not, we are unwilling to trust You.

Instead, we hold onto control, thinking that we know better than You.

Help us to see where You are at work in our lives,

and to let go of our control, trusting You and Your plans for us.

Thank You for Jesus, and for the Holy Spirit that guides us.

May we listen for Your voice and follow Your leading,

Amen.

Read Luke 1:68-79

Remember Zechariah?  He was visited by an angel and left mute due to his unbelief at the angel’s message.  His wife, Elizabeth became pregnant and gave birth to the one we know as John the Baptist.  It wasn’t until Zechariah indicated what the boy’s name would be that his tongue was released.  At that moment, Zechariah is filled with the Holy Spirit and prophecies about the boy and God’s work in Him.

 

Though you probably know the whole of this story, there is something here that challenges us in our faith walk as well.  Many times we experience what God is doing in our lives and, as it comes to fruition, we keep quiet about it.  God is always working out His will in our lives and in the world.  How often do you see it and yet say nothing about it?  More than that, how often are you a part of God’s work and yet don’t even glorify or thank Him for what He has done?

 

For Zechariah, it is probably a bit more acute.  He wasn’t able to speak, experiencing a sort of “punishment” for his unbelief.  Yet, when his voice is returned, the first words are that of praise, thanksgiving, and prophecy.  Though you may not have lost your voice, the experience of God’s work is no less profound.  Why should we keep quiet?

 

Those of us who are in Christ have the Holy Spirit in us.  Scripture tells us to “not quench the Spirit…” and yet we do just that when we don’t speak of God’s work in our lives.  Especially in this season of Advent, as we anticipate the coming of Jesus, we should be shouting out praise to God for His loving action, sending His Son, on our behalf!

Almighty and merciful God,

You are continually at work in the world and in our lives.

We praise You for the amazing things You have done in us.

Most of all, we worship You in thankfulness for Your Son, Jesus Christ.

Give us eyes to see and recognize Your work in and around us,

and help us to be open in our acknowledgment of Your mighty acts,

so that those around us may see and glorify Your Name as well.

We pray this through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior,

Amen.

 

Read Luke 1:46-56

The song that Mary sings here is one of four that are recorded in the first two chapters of the book of Luke.  Mary’s song is commonly referred to as the “Magnificat” which is Latin for “glorifies.”  It is clear why this name is appropriate.

 

More than the appropriateness of the name, though, is the source of Mary’s content.  As she sings this hymn of praise, she pulls from the book of Psalm.  There are at least nine unique references to the Psalms in these verses.  Additionally, Mary references the books of Isaiah, Jeremiah, Habbakuk, and several other Old Testament sources.

 

When we read this, even at face value, it is a beautiful song of praise and thanksgiving.  Looking deeper at the content, I am always amazed at how the young woman that society would have seen as an outcast, would know such beautiful Biblical content.  Certainly, this could have been a Holy Spirit inspired moment; we shouldn’t discount that.  However, we also should not discount Mary’s Biblical understanding here either.

 

Drawing from this, we can and should be challenged in our own Biblical studies.  We live in an age where the Bible is more accessible than it ever has been.  Yet for many Christians, particularly in North America, Biblical literacy is at it’s lowest point in since things like this were recorded.  We often find ourselves unsure of what to say, how to pray, and even what to sing.  Worship songs have become repetitive and shallow.

 

Mary’s prayer is rich and full, informed and directed by Scripture.  While God invites us to “come as we are,” the invitation of Scripture is also to a much fuller and richer life.  One way this happens is through time spent reading and meditating on God’s Word.  As you consider your journey through the season of Advent, and the potential of the coming New Year, what would it look like for you to intentionally increase the time you spend in God’s Word?

Loving God,

You call us to Yourself, even when we are still Your enemies.

You welcome us into your presence, inviting us to come as we are.

Yet, in Your acceptance of us, You also love us enough

to call us to deeper and more dynamic transformation.

You came that we may have abundant life

and You have given us Your Word to grow us and reveal Yourself to us.

Help us to prioritize Scripture in our lives.

Make us restless until we find our rest in You.

In Jesus Name we pray, Amen.

Read Luke 1:39-45

We often say that the holiday season, and particularly holiday celebrations are “all about family.”  What we look forward to more than most things on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and even New Year’s day is spending it with our loved ones.  For some, this is blood relatives.  For others, we are talking about those that we have forged relationships with over time.  Whatever your definition, though, there seems to be certain safety and familiarity that comes with being around those we are closest to.

 

This was also true for Mary.  After her encounter with the angel Gabriel, her time explaining it to Joseph, and Joseph’s subsequent angelic encounter, Mary takes some time to get away with family.  Though we don’t know the specific relationship these women have, they certainly have some things in common.  Both are experiencing something miraculous in their lives in the form of their pregnancies.  Both have experienced divine activity in their lives and in the lives of their spouses as well.

 

We also don’t know why Mary went to see Zechariah and Elizabeth.  It is possible that she was encouraged to get away from her village for a while, being that she was pregnant out of wedlock.  Perhaps Mary had heard of Zechariah’s encounter with an angel during his Temple duties.  Regardless of the reason, Mary’s visit is confirmation for both women of the great things God is doing through their lives.

 

There is something beautiful about sharing in joyous moments with those we love.  Maybe this is what gives us such great memories of our loved ones during the holidays.  Particularly around Christmas, we share the “good news of great joy” as a common point of celebration.

 

Does your family take time to reflect on this?  Do you spend time celebrating the great things that are going on in each other’s lives?  How would your family gathering be different this year if you spent time rejoicing together over what God is doing in each person’s life?

Father God,

We can feel the excitement of Mary and Elizabeth as we read this passage today.

As we continue in our Advent journey, our hearts also fill with anticipation,

as we await the coming of our Lord once again.

Sometimes, however, we find our minds cluttered and clouded,

consumed by the things of the season and the worries of life.

Help us, as we gather together this holiday, to look at the great work that you are doing.

May our focus be shifted off of ourselves so that we may celebrate the joys and victories that others are experiencing,

and glorify you for all that you have done.

We pray this in the name of Jesus, through whom you have worked salvation for us, Amen.

Read Isaiah 7:14

God sends Isaiah to give King Ahaz a sign in the midst of difficult times and struggles that he and the people of God are facing.  Ahaz had already gone looking for help in other world powers at the time, particularly the kingdom of Assyria.  In fact, at this moment, king Ahaz actually rejects seeking a sign from God.

 

Simply put, though, anyone’s rejection of God does not imply that God will reject them.  In fact, God gives Ahaz a double sign, one that will be fulfilled in the present context and one that finds its ultimate fulfillment in the birth of Jesus Christ.  God addresses Ahaz’s present needs and concerns.  Ultimately, though, God is pointing Ahaz to the more important work of Salvation that He is working toward.

 

Ultimately, the truest sense of this can be seen in the name given this baby boy, “Immanuel.”  While names these days have relatively little meaning, the Hebrew people were very particular about the names they chose.  In this case, God already indicates that the name will be Immanuel.

 

If you have been around church for any length of time, you have probably heard that “Immanuel” means “God with us.”  This name is a reference to the reality of God’s purposes of restoration of humanity’s relationship with Him.  In Genesis, we see God dwelling with Adam and Eve; in Exodus with His people in the Tabernacle.  Later, God’s dwelling is in the Temple.  However, after the Fall of Genesis 3, there is always a barrier, a divider that separates God from humanity.  The coming of this baby boy, foretold by Isaiah and born of Mary, heralds the removal of that barrier and the ultimate redemption of God’s people.

Restoring God,

We confess that, far too often, we look for help for ourselves in places and things other than you.

More than we care to admit, we try to control our own destinies,

thinking that our plans for ourselves are better than Your plans for us.

Thank you for never turning Your back on us,

even when we have turned our back on You.

Humble us Lord and gently lead us to reverent surrender of our lives,

that we may turn to you and know true peace and hope.

We ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Read Matthew 1:22-25

Life often seems random.  Events happening this way and that seeming meaningless, sometimes even unjust in the grand scheme of things.  We ask questions like “why do bad things happen to good people?”  Through it all, however, Scripture assures us time and time again that God is not only in control, but He is also actively working.

 

Mary’s visit from the angel Gabriel along with her subsequent pregnancy was not a random act of God either.  This had long since been planned, foretold many times by many people throughout Israel’s history.  Isaiah spoke of the coming Messiah many times, most particularly in chapters seven and nine.   “The virgin shall be with child…” Isaiah says, prophesying about the coming of the Messiah some 600 or more years prior to Jesus’ arrival here on earth.

 

Not only is God at work at this moment, making sure that Mary is not left to fend for herself, but God is also actively working to bring to fulfillment everything that He has said He would do.  As we see throughout Scripture, God’s promises are sure, spoken as if they have already been fulfilled.

 

We look at this story in the midst of the greater narrative taking place at this time.  Knowing the end helps us see the purpose of the actions as they happen.  Yet, in our lives from day to day, this is not necessarily the case.  When we lose our job, fight with our spouse, or lose a friend, we cannot see the “why” behind the situation.  What we do know, however, is that God promises His faithfulness to us.  “I will never leave you or forsake you,” God says.  The psalmist echoes this in the beautiful words of Psalm 121.

 

As we consider the words we read here, let us also consider the actions that Joseph takes.  Sure, we may not be receiving angelic visits during the night that illuminate our understanding of the situations we are in.  We do, however, have God’s Holy Word close at hand, and we can find peace, comfort, and hope in the assurances of God there for any season of light.

Almighty God,

You sit enthroned in heaven holding the whole universe in the palm of your hand.

From Your throne, you rule over all things,

providing and sustaining them at all times.

You work out your will and purposes for the salvation of those who love you.

Help us to remember Your promises and trust in Your unfailing love.

Guide us to seek you in all circumstances, help us to follow in obedience.

May we always be listening to the voice of Your Holy Spirit,

even when we don’t understand the happenings of our lives.

Through Jesus Christ our Lord we pray, Amen.

Read Matthew 1:18-21

Yesterday, we saw that the actions of God to bring about the birth of Jesus through Mary left her in a vulnerable position socially and culturally.  As one who was betrothed, or engaged, her being found to be pregnant would have ruined their relationship.  The social implications wouldn’t have stopped with Mary either.  Both her family and potentially Joseph and his family would have been seen as suspicious through all of this.

 

While we do not get, from this story, all of the juicy details of gossip that probably went around town, what we do see very clearly here is God’s faithfulness in providing for Mary.  Joseph indeed discovered his wife to be was pregnant.  I’m sure Mary passionately tried to convince him of the story of her visitation by the angel Gabriel.  One has to admit though that, for even the strongest relationship, angelic visitation resulting in pregnancy is a bit of a stretch.

 

God, however, is not content to leave Mary to sort this out on her own.  He sends an angel to visit Joseph in a dream.  The angel relays the message and, as we’ll read tomorrow, convinces Joseph not to leave Mary.

 

Sometimes the Lord may sometimes call us to seemingly extreme things that may not be the most socially acceptable.  Even then, as we read here in Matthew, God makes a way for these things to happen.  As God said to Abraham, and reiterated to Mary, “Nothing is impossible with God.”

 

As the saying goes, “where there is a will, there is a way.”  How much more true is this when it is God’s will that is to be accomplished, both in Mary’s life and in ours?

Faithful God,

In you there is nothing that is impossible.

From nothing, You created everything,

out of death, You create life.

We confess that, far too often, we doubt your faithfulness.

We find ourselves worrying more about worldly image than committed obedience.

Help us to see and hear the places you are moving in our lives,

and the “impossible” things that you are calling us to.

Give us courage and strength to follow you into the unknown,

and bring the message of the Gospel with us as we go.

We pray this in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ, Amen.

Read Luke 1:26-38

Speaking of angelic encounters, as if Zechariah’s encounter with God’s Archangel wasn’t enough, Gabriel shows up again a few months later to Mary.  Now, Mary is very different from Zechariah.  She’s a poor, unwed, nobody from a small town in the proverbial armpit of the Roman Empire.  From a worldly perspective, she couldn’t be less important.  Beggars in town would have had more say than Mary in the goings-on of village life, simply because they were male.

 

Yet, despite the reality of her situation, Gabriel, the Archangel of God, shows up and proclaims to her the reality of who she is in God’s sight.  “Greetings, you who are highly favored…” he says.  I can imagine that Mary was indeed a bit confused by this greeting.  No doubt she knew her place in society, getting married was most likely her best hope for being provided for and having a decent life.

 

Into that “hope,” God introduces a plan that might not only ruin her chances of getting married but would certainly ostracize her from the community that she lives in.  The worldly logistics of this are, to say the least, a bit much, but what is impossible for man, however, is absolutely possible with God.  In fact, Gabriel’s response to Mary, particularly in verse 37, is strangely reminiscent of God’s words to Abraham  and Sarah in Genesis 18, “Is anything too hard for the Lord?”

 

Imagine getting a message like this in your own life.  God essentially blows up any chance that Mary has to be normal by the world’s standards.  Isn’t this similar, though, to the call of God in Romans 12?  Paul doesn’t offer the opportunity for a “normal” life by the world’s standards.  Cultural norms and worldly success, at any time and in any age, aren’t what the believer is called to.  Rather, Christ-followers are called to a life surrendered to Him, “living sacrifices” that are transformed by the mercies of God and the renewing of the Holy Spirit.  Mary, like us, is invited into a life that is wholly different and fully surrendered.

 

Transforming God,

As You called Mary on a road and a journey that you had prepared for her,

You also call us to a transformed life, one that is different from the world around us.

We see Mary’s willingness to follow and desire to follow you with the same courage and boldness.

Help us, in this season of Advent, to listen to the Spirit’s prompting,

 and show us the places where complacency and comfort are inhibiting the mission you have for us.

Remind us that you have given us Your Holy Spirit to live as salt and light in the world.

Embolden us to live into the identity we have in Your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.

We pray this in His name,

Amen.