Readings and Devotions for Advent, the Twelve Days of Christmas, and Epiphany The Wise Men ...

53 Pages·2011·3.65 MB·English

Readings and Devotions for Advent,
the Twelve Days of Christmas, and Epiphany
The Wise Men Guided by the Star
Whenthey heardtheking,they departed;andbehold,the starwhichtheyhadseeninthe
Eastwentbeforethem,tillitcameandstoodoverwheretheyoungChildwas.
—Matthew2:9
1
Introduction to Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany
OURCHRISTIANHERITAGE
AdventandChristmasseasonsarewithusagain.Liketheseasonsoftheyearinnature,theseasonofthe
ecclesiasticalcalendarandthenationalcalendarcomefullcircle.Thisisonlyappropriatesince: “ForbyHimallthings
werecreatedthatareinheavenandthatareonearth,visibleandinvisible,whetherthronesordominionsor
principalitiesorpowers.AllthingswerecreatedthroughHimandforHim.17AndHeisbeforeallthings,andinHim
allthingsconsist.18AndHeistheheadofthebody,thechurch,whoisthebeginning,thefirstbornfromthedead,
thatinallthingsHemayhavethepreeminence”(Col.1:16-18).
Theseareseasonsofannualfocusandremembrance.Butasistrueofallliturgyorform,itcanpointtoatrueora
falsedeclaration.ThereismuchinthenationalliturgythatpointsawayfromtheadventofChrist.Ourpurpose,in
thesenextfewweeks,willbetodrawattentiontothetruemessageofAdvent,ChristmasandEpiphany.Theseare
centraleventsinthelifeofChristandareprofoundlysignificantforallofhumanhistory.Godbecameaman.He
cametorescueHispeople.Thisisworthyofallourcelebratoryefforts.
ADVENT
Adventisthatperiodofgreatanticipatoryjoy—itisatimeofpreparationforthecelebrationofJesus’arrivalin
Bethlehemasahelplessinfant.IntheWesternliturgy,AdventbeginsfourSundayspriortoDecember25th—the
SundayclosesttoNovember30.TheannualcommemorationofJesus’birthbeginstheChristmascycleofthe
liturgicalyear—acyclethatrunsfromChristmasEvetotheSundayafterthefeastoftheEpiphany.
ThefourweeksofAdventareoftenthoughtofassymbolizingthefourdifferentwaysthatJesuscomesintothe
world:(1)athisbirthasahelplessinfantatBethlehem,(2)athisarrivalintheheartsofbelievers,(3)athisdeath,and
(4)athisarrivalonJudgmentDay.BecauseChristmasfallsonadifferentdayoftheweekeachyear,thefourthweek
ofAdventisneverreallyfinished;itisabruptly,joyously,andsolemnlyabrogatedbytheannualcomingagainofJesus
atChristmas.
CHRISTMAS:ALLTWELVEDAYS
AswecelebrateChristmas,fewofusthinkofChristmasDayasabeginning.FormostfamiliesChristmasisthe
culminationofweeksofplanning,shopping,andanticipation.ManyarenotawarethatChristmasisbutthefirstday
ofthetwelve-daysofChristmas.
EversincetheCouncilofToursmetin567andproclaimedthetwelvedaysfromChristmastoEpiphanyasa
sacredandfestivetime,theChurchofficiallyhasobservedbothanAdventseasoninpreparationfor,andaChristmas
seasonforthecelebrationofourLord’snativity.RecognizinghowtheChurchyeardramatizesthebiblicalstoryof
whatChristhasdoneforthesalvationofallpeople,wehavebeentryingtorecoversomeoftherichnessofthese
celebrations.Thechurchyearformsanannualcurriculumthattellsthestoryofourfaith:thosewhounderstandit
understandthebasicsofthegospel.
TheChristiancalendar,therefore,isagreatwayforfamiliestofocustheirworshipandtradition.Repeated
traditions(withinbiblicalboundaries)helpallofusknowandrememberwhoweare,developingouridentityasGod’s
covenantpeople.AndcelebrationofthethemesandseasonsofthelifeandworkofChristhelpsfamiliesexpresstheir
faith.
Epiphany
ThetwelvedaysofChristmastraditionallyendwiththecelebrationoftheeveofEpiphanyonTwelfthNight,
Januaryfifth.Broadlyspeaking,theword“epiphany”meansasuddenmanifestationoftheessenceormeaningof
something;acomprehensionorperceptionofrealitybymeansofasuddenintuitiverealization.Inthecontextofthe
ChristianChurch,Epiphanyhasamorespecificreference:itcelebratesthemanifestationofthedivinenatureofJesus
totheGentilesasrepresentedbytheMagi.ThefeastofEpiphanyisobservedonJanuarysixth,twelvedaysafter
Christmas.
NOTE:ScripturequotationsbelowarefromtheNewKingJamesVersionoftheBible.
2
NOVEMBER27—FirstDayofAdvent
JOHN1:1-5
1InthebeginningwastheWord,andtheWordwaswithGod,andtheWordwasGod.2Hewasinthebeginningwith
God.3AllthingsweremadethroughHim,andwithoutHimnothingwasmadethatwasmade.4InHimwaslife,and
thelifewasthelightofmen.5Andthelightshinesinthedarkness,andthedarknessdidnotcomprehendit.
DEVOTIONALTHOUGHT
OurAdventmeditationsbeginwiththerecognitionthatintheancientpaganworld,thisgospelproclamationbegins
withastatementthattheGreeksmightmisunderstandandthereforeacceptinthewrongway.Thephilosopher
HeraclitushadusedthetermLogosinhisspeculativephilosophy,andsowhenJohnstartsoutbysayingsomething
apparentlyinscrutable—theLogoswaswithGod,andtheLogoswasGod—thesentimentmighthaveseemed
suitablyopaquetothem.ButJohnisdoingsomethingquitedifferent.Heisengagedinoverthrowingtheancient
wisdom,notcompromisingwithit.
Inv.14,wewilldiscoverthattheLogosbecamefleshanddweltamongus.Fortheapostles,andforallfaithful
Christianssince,theIncarnationmeansthatultimateTruthhasabirthday,andamom,andtenfingers,andaliver.
Thiskindofthingwasabsolutelyappallingtotheancientphilosophicalmind—foolishnesstotheGreeks,asPaul
noted.
ThereareindicationsthatthisiswhereJohnisdeliberatelytakingus,rightfromthestart.Hebeginswiththesame
languagethatstartsthebookofGenesis(v.1).Wearetalkingaboutanewcreationhere,notanotheretherealworld
elsewhere.TheWordwaswithGodinthebeginning,andtheWordwasGod.Lesttherebeamistake,Johnrepeatsit.
HewasinthebeginningwithGod(v.2).AndthenthephilosophicalGreekencountershisfirstgreatdifficulty.The
earthinessofGod’sWordisseeninthefactthatHemadeeverysinglething,andnotonecreatedthingwasmade
apartfromHim(v.3).Ultimaterealityisnotcontaminatedbymatter,butratherrejoicesoveritsorigin,callingallofit
good.NotonlywasthisWordcreative,butHewasfilledwithlife.Heisnoimpersonalprinciple,andHislifeisthe
lightofmen(v.4).HeisthelivingGod.
WhenthisSpokenGod,thisWord,comesintotheworld,Heshinesinthedarknessofthisworld.AndasHedoesso,
thedarknesscannotcomprehendwhatisgoingon.Butfortunately,thedarknessisnottheretobepersuaded,but
rathertobebanishedbythearrivaloftheLight.
AndsothisiswhatweanticipateeveryAdvent,andthisiswhatweareprivilegedtoseecelebratedyetagain.The
WordwaswithGod;theWordwasGod.TheWordiswithman;theWordisman.
—PastorDouglasWilson,ChristChurch,Moscow,Idaho
PRAYER
OurgreatFather,werejoicebeforeYouastheGodwhofulfillsallYourpromises.Wegloryinthemysteryofthe
Incarnation,knowingthatweworshipYouthroughtheonewhoisfullyGod,andfullyman.WerememberthatHeis
Yourapostle,representingGodtoman.AndwecalluponYoutorememberthatHeisourhighpriest,representing
ustoYou.WereceiveHimbyfaith,astheCreator,astheSpokenGod,asthelifeofmen,asthelightoftheworld,
andastheconquerorofallthedarknessintheworld.WepraytoYouinHisstrongname,thenameofJesusChrist,
andAMEN.
ADVENTAPPLICATION
PreparethemembersofyourfamilytothinkofAdventandChristmasinverymaterialterms.Thisisnotaseasonthat
celebratesvaguespiritualities,butrathertheseasonthatcelebratesGodtakingonflesh.Theinstincttogivegifts,to
eatchocolate,tocutdownatreeinthewoodstobringithome,isthereforeallveryhealthyandinlinewiththe
holiday.Matterenablesustogive,andnotjusttograb.
3
NOVEMBER28—SecondDayofAdvent
JOHN1:14
AndtheWordbecamefleshanddweltamongus,andwebeheldHisglory,thegloryasoftheonlybegottenofthe
Father,fullofgraceandtruth.
DEVOTIONALTHOUGHT
Afteralong,tiringdayofshopping,JimandSuecameuponthegifttheyhadbeenlookingfor.Therewasone
particularbicyclethattheirson,Bobby,hadwanted.Now,atlast,theyfoundwhatmusthavebeentheonlyonestill
available.ItwasaRangerRacer,completewithallkindsofshinygadgetsandsparklingfeatures.Quickly,theylatched
ontothebikeandstartedpushingthroughthestoretothecheckoutarea.Unexpectedly,Jimstopped,lookedatSue,
andsaid,“WhatareweteachingoursonabouttherealmeaningofChristmas?”
Acoupleofweekslater,BobbywokeupextraearlyonChristmasmorning,randownstairs,andwokethewhole
householdwithshoutsofjoyoverhisdiscoveryofsomethingspecialneartheChristmastree.Bobbywasgraspingnot
justthehandlebarsofanewbicycle,butsomethinggreater—themeaningofChristmas.TheAdventofJesusChristis
themostmaterialistic,themostphysical,themostworldlymessageoftheBible.TheWord,whoweknowisJesus
Christ,becameflesh.Hebecamehuman,aperson,ababy,fleshandblood;yes,areal,live,crying,eating,sleeping
babyboy.Foraperiodofsomethirtyplusyears,GodtheSonlivedhereonplanetearth.Johnsaysthatheandhis
friendsbeheldJesus’glory.LikeBobbysquealingwithdelightoveranewbicycle,thedisciplesexperiencedthe
excitementofstandingnexttoJesus,eatinglunchwithJesus,sittingatalessonlisteningtoJesus,andwatchingJesus
teach,preach,andperformmiracles.
JesusistheultimateChristmasgift.ButthegiftofChristisnotsomethingthatwecanputintoaholyboxlabeled
“Spiritual.”Rather,afleshandbloodChristcameintothisphysicalworldtosaveusinthehereandnow,aswellasin
eternity.Hiscominghereonearthinthefleshgivesusthegreatestofreasonstotrulyenjoyallthephysicalgiftsof
God,includingbicycles.
—PastorBenHouse,GraceCovenantChurch,Texarkana,Arkansas
PRAYER
GodandFatherofourLordJesusChrist,inourearthlycondition,wethankYouforsendingJesustous,formaking
Himahuman,justlikeus,forshowingHimtous.WebeholdHisgloryandrejoice.WethankYouforallthephysical
giftsofthisseason,forthefeastsandthepresents,thedecorationsandthecelebrations.ThankyouthatinChrist,we
canenjoyallthings.AMEN.
ADVENTAPPLICATION
DiscusswithyourfamilyhowChristianscantrulyenjoymaterialgiftsinwaysthatnon-Christianscannotenjoythem.
DiscusswhatthedisciplesmusthavefeltandthoughtwhentheywerespendingtheirdayswithJesus.
4
NOVEMBER29—ThirdDayofAdvent
JOHN1:18
NoonehasseenGodatanytime.TheonlybegottenSon,whoisinthebosomoftheFather,HehasdeclaredHim
DEVOTIONALTHOUGHT
Justaswesawfromverse14,thattheWord,whoisGod,tookonhumanflesh,andlivedamongmenandwasseen
bymen,asthegloriousonewhoisfromtheFatherinheaven,sothisverseteachesusthattheministryofJesusupon
theearthwasaministryofrevelation.Whatkindofrevelation?ArevelationofGodhimself,particularlytheFather.
TheincarnationofJesuswasnotsomethingoutsideofGod’scharacter.ItwasnotsomethingdonebyHimthatwas
foreigntoHisnature.Notatall. Infact,Jesus,inHisincarnation,wasexpressingandrevealingtheverycharacterof
God. Bytakingonourhumanflesh,andlivinginitforthirty-threeyears,Jesuswasrevealingtous,wastellingus,
aboutourFatherinheaven.EventhoughnomanhasseentheFather,asHeisaSpiritanddoesnothaveabodylike
men,nevertheless,throughthelifeofJesuswedoseeandcometoknowtheFather.JesuscoulddothisbecauseHeis
theSonofGod,thesecondpersonoftheTrinity,whohasbeenincommunionwiththeFatherforeternity.Andso
throughHislifeonearth,theloveandcommunitythatHeenjoyedwiththeFatherisdisplayedforus,evenasweare
invitedintothatcommunityourselves!ThroughJesus,wecometoknowtheFatherinheavenasourownFather.
—PastorBurkeShade,CornerstoneReformedChurch,Carbondale,Illinois
PRAYER
OheavenlyFather,wethankyouthatyouhavenotleftusalonetowonderinignoranceaboutyourloveand
character.WethankyouthatyouhaverevealedyourselftousthroughthesendingofyourSoninourflesh,thatwe
mayknowyou,loveyou,andobeyyou.Teachustobelieveandtorememberatalltimesthatnomancomestoyou
butthroughyourSonJesus.AMEN.
ADVENTAPPLICATION
DiscusswithfamilymembershowknowingJesusrevealsthecharacterofGodtheFatherinheaven.Pointoutthatin
knowingandtrustinginJesusasourKingandSavior,God’speoplearealsoplacedintorelationshipwithGodthe
FatherastheirownFather.PointouthowMuslimsdon’tandcan’tknowtheFatherandHislovebecausetheydon’t
believethatJesusistheeternalSonofGod.
5
NOVEMBER30—FourthDayofAdvent
PHILIPPIANS2:5-8
5LetthismindbeinyouwhichwasalsoinChristJesus,6who,beingintheformofGod,didnotconsideritrobbery
tobeequalwithGod,7butmadeHimselfofnoreputation,takingtheformofabondservant,andcominginthe
likenessofmen.8Andbeingfoundinappearanceasaman,HehumbledHimselfandbecameobedienttothepointof
death,eventhedeathofthecross.
DEVOTIONALTHOUGHT
ThisAdventtextlooksbackonthecomingoftheSon,thesecondpersonoftheTrinity.The“cominginthelikeness
ofmen”referstotheIncarnation;theSon’stakinguponHimselfahumanbodyandnatureatHisAdvent.The
statementsabouttheAdventareintroducedwithacommandto“letthismind[emphasisadded]beinyouwhichwas
alsoinChristJesus.” WhatwearetoldabouttheAdventistoresultinanattitudeinusthatreflectstheattitudeofthe
Son.Soweareforcedtothinkabitaboutwhatverses6-8tellusaboutJesus’attitude.Itisimportantthatwegetthis
right.Wecertainlywanttoimitatetherightattitude,notthewrongone.
Sadly,therehasbeenageneralconfusioninevangelicalismatjustthispoint.Alltoooften,wearetoldthatthe
Incarnationwasanexception,somethingoutoftheordinaryforGod’scharacter.Thetextismisreadtosay
somethinglike“inspiteofHimbeingGod,HeemptiedHimselfofHisgodlynatureandinsteadcametodieforus.”
ThisleavesuswithadistortedviewofGod,implyingthatJesusacteddifferentfromHisbasicDivineNature.Weend
upthinkingthatGodisusuallynotofamindtoserveothers,butdidthisonetimebecausesinhadmessedupthings
sobadly.Godwill,inreallytoughtimes,haveamindtoserveothers,butweareledtobelievethisisnotHisnormal
mindset.
Thismistakenviewofthetexthasadirectresultonoursanctification.WearetoldinPsalm135:16-18thatmentake
onthecharacteristicsofthegodstheyworshipandtrust.IfwethinkthatGodonlyoccasionallyandexceptionallyacts
insacrificialservicetoothers,thenwewillbelikethatsortofGod.Wewillthinkofservingothersasanexceptionto
ournormallives.Isn’tthat,afterall,theDivineNature?
No.ThefactsoftheAdventareprefacedwithasimpledeclarativestatementthatJesusisGod’sImage-bearer.He
possessestheDivineNature,andthisexplainswhatfollows.ThefirstthingthetexttellsusabouttheIncarnationand
AdventofJesusisthatitisaresultofHimbeingGod.BecauseHeexistedasGod,becauseHehasthemindofthe
triuneGod,HeisbythisDivineNaturemovedtonottoseekHisownglory,butrather,toseekthewell-beingof
others.BecauseHeisGod,thetexttellsus,Hebecamehuman,andthenhumbledHimselftodieforsinfulmen.
TheIncarnateSon’smindofself-sacrificialservicewasnotanexceptiontotheDivineNature.John1tellsusthat
Jesuscameto“declare”theFather.TheGreekwordtranslated“declare”istheoriginforourword“exegete.”The
SonhascometoexegetetheFather,toshowusthesortofGoditisthatweworshipandwhomwearetoimitate.
John’sGospelclimaxeswiththedeathofJesus,thegreatrevelationthatweserveaGodwhosemindandnatureisto
self-sacrificiallyserveothers.ThisisthemindofChristJesusthatwearetohaveaswell.Wearetoseeallofourlives
asonesofservicetoothers.ThisisthegreatmessageofAdvent,accordingtoPhilippians2:5-9.Godhascome,Heis
indeedlove,andwearetobelikeHim.
—PastorDennisTuuri,ReformationCovenantChurch,OregonCity,Oregon
PRAYER
GraciousFather,pleaseforgiveusforbelievingSatan’sliethatyouareselfish,andnotlovingtowardsusinallthings.
ThankyouforthewonderfulmessageofAdvent.MayourAdventcelebrationsinformourminds,attitudesand
actionsnotjustinthisjoyousseason,butinthebalanceofourlives.Maywebeself-sacrificialimage-bearersofour
blessedSavior,inwhoseNamewepray,AMEN.
ADVENTAPPLICATION
HelptheindividualmembersofthefamilythinkofpracticalactsofservicetoothersthisSeason,andtocommit
themselvestotheseactionsinprayer.Additionally,selectoneprojectthisweekfortheentirefamilytoperformin
self-sacrificialservicetoothers.
6
DECEMBER1—TheFifthDayofAdvent
COLOSSIANS1:15-20
15HeistheimageoftheinvisibleGod,thefirstbornoverallcreation.16ForbyHimallthingswerecreatedthatarein
heavenandthatareonearth,visibleandinvisible,whetherthronesordominionsorprincipalitiesorpowers.All
thingswerecreatedthroughHimandforHim.17AndHeisbeforeallthings,andinHimallthingsconsist.18AndHe
istheheadofthebody,thechurch,whoisthebeginning,thefirstbornfromthedead,thatinallthingsHemayhave
thepreeminence.19ForitpleasedtheFatherthatinHimallthefullnessshoulddwell,20andbyHimtoreconcileall
thingstoHimself,byHim,whetherthingsonearthorthingsinheaven,havingmadepeacethroughthebloodofHis
cross.
DEVOTIONALTHOUGHT
HaveyoueverwonderedwhatGodislike?DoyouthinkofHimasakindlygrandfatherorasasternKingwitha
fearsomecountenance?TheBibleanswersthisquestionbypointingustoJesus.PaulmakesplainthatJesusisthe
exactimageoftheinvisibleGod.WhenweseeJesus,weareseeingwhatGodislike.Heisnotindifferentor
unfeeling.Rather,Heisgrievedoveroursufferingandsin.Heisnotfilledwithfrustrationorbitternesstowardus.
Rather,Heisonewhosympathizeswithourweaknessandoursorrowsandcallsustorepentanceandobedience.In
JesusweactuallyseetheinvisibleGodinallthegloryofHissacrificiallove,humility,andmercy–aswellasinHis
savingpower.InHimthefullnessofGoddwells.GodnotonlyrevealsHisnatureinHisSonbutthroughHim
accomplishesHislovingpurposesfortheworld.TheworldwascreatedthroughHimandforHimandHeconstantly
upholdsitbyHispower.ByHisdeath,HereconciledtheworldtoGodmaking“peace”throughthebloodofthe
cross.ByHisresurrection,Hehasbeenmadethe“head”oftheChurchandgiventhepreeminenceoverallthings.
Aboveeverythingelse,PaulwantsustoseethesupremacyandcentralityofJesusChristinallthings.Themorewesee
HimandknowHim,themoreweunderstandwhoGodisandwhatHehasdone–and,themoreclearlyweseethis,
themoreclearlyweunderstandwhoweareandwhatitmeansforustoliveforthegloryofGod.Jesusshowsuswhat
itmeanstobetrulyandfullyhuman.We,therefore,aretoimitateHim.AsHewasthefullimageofHisFather,sowe
mustbeconformedtoHisimage.WemustliveinthewayHelivedamongmen.AsHelaiddownHislifeforthe
world,sowemustlivelivesofsacrificiallovefortheworld.AsHehasbeenexaltedoverallthings,sowemustseek
toglorifyHimineverythingwesayanddo.
—PastorSteveWilkins,AuburnAvenuePresbyterianChurch,Monroe,Louisiana
PRAYER
OurgraciousheavenlyFather,inYourinfiniteloveandmercy,YousentYourSonintotheworldsothatwemight
knowYouandberestoredtoourtruecallingsasYourchildrenthroughHislife,death,resurrection,andascension.
EnableustoknowHimandtoincreaseinourloveforHim,sothatwemightbeconformedtoHimandliveforHis
glorythroughoutallourdays.AllforthegloryandhonorofYourSonwhoistheKingofkingsandLordoflordsand
wholivesandreignswithYouandtheHolySpirit,oneGod,worldwithoutend,AMEN.
ADVENTAPPLICATION
DiscusswithyourfamilywhatJesuswaslikeduringHislifeandhowthatrevealsGod’snature.Howcanwegrowin
likenesstoHim?Wheredowefallshort?HowmayweloveoneanotherasHehaslovedus?Howcanweloveour
neighborsandshowtheloveofGodtothem?
7
DECEMBER2—SixthDayofAdvent
HEBREWS1:1-2
1God,whoatvarioustimesandinvariouswaysspokeintimepasttothefathersbytheprophets,2hasintheselast
daysspokentousbyHisSon,whomHehasappointedheirofallthings,throughwhomalsoHemadetheworlds.
DEVOTIONALTHOUGHT
Godisnotsilent.HespeakstoHispeople.IntheGardenHewalkedwithAdamandEve.AftertheFall,Godspoke
throughsigns,wonders,stories,andprophets.Fromaburningbushtoamanrobedincamel’shair,Godcontinuedto
speak.Fromadonkeytoeducatedmentoashepherdandafruit-picker,welearnthatGoddoesnotleaveHispeople
alone.
Thesesigns,wonders,andprophetsspeakthewordofGod,thegospelofthecomingChrist.EachrepeatstheProto-
Evangelion,themessageheardfromthebeginningthatavictorwouldarisetocrushtheserpent.WithMosesthis
repetitiontooktheformof,“TheLORDGodofyourfathers...willbringyouupoutoftheafflictionofEgypt...
untoalandflowingwithmilkandhoney...and,youshallnotgoempty.”Isaiahdeclaredthat“untousaChildis
born,untousaSonisgiven:andthegovernmentshallbeuponHisshoulder:andHisnameshallbecalled
Wonderful,Counselor,themightyGod,theeverlastingFather,thePrinceofPeace.OftheincreaseofHis
governmentandpeacethereshallbenoend.”
Standingontheshouldersofthesemen,JohntheBaptistlinkedtheirwordstoJesus.Hepreparedthewayofthe
LordbycallingIsraelto“Repent,forthekingdomofHeavenisnear.”Jesus,hedeclared,wasthemightyvictor—one
somightythatJohnfeltunworthytoevenuntieHisshoes.
NowthewriterofHebrewstellsusthatGodstillspeaks.TothatoftheprophetsGodaddsthevoiceofhisSon.Jesus
repeatsandthenfulfillstheirwords—amessengerbetterbyfar.LetusrejoiceintheAdventpropheciesfortheystand
fulfilled.AndasJesusgoesforthvictoriously,letusheedtheFather’scommand,“ThisismybelovedSon,inwhomI
amwellpleased;hearHim.”
—PastorToddDavis,ChristChurch,Searcy,Arkansas
PRAYER
AlmightyGod,youarenotsilent;therefore,giveusearstohearthatwhichtheSpiritsaysuntotheChurchthatall
yourwordsmightbefulfilledasweworshipYou,whotogetherwithJesusandtheHolySpiritrulesinakingdom
withoutend,AMEN.
ADVENTAPPLICATION
DiscusswithyourfamilyhowtheLivingWordismadeknownthroughthewrittenandspokenword.Discusshow
sermons,studies,andreadingsstrengthenourfaith.DiscussJesus’authorityastheLivingWordofGodandthesurety
ofHisword’sfulfillment.
8
DECEMBER3—SeventhDayofAdvent
ISAIAH9:6
ForuntousaChildisborn,
UntousaSonisgiven;
AndthegovernmentwillbeuponHisshoulder.
AndHisnamewillbecalled
Wonderful,Counselor,MightyGod,
EverlastingFather,PrinceofPeace.
DEVOTIONALTHOUGHT
IntheversewehavejustreadweheardoneofthegreatestpropheciesconcerningthebirthofourSavior,Jesus
Christ.ThroughoutthisprophecywehaveawonderfuldisplayofthePersonofourLordJesus,whosebirthwe
celebrateatthistimeoftheyear.First,IsaiahdeclaresthatHewillbeachildborn.Jesusenteredintohumanfleshjust
asyouandIdo,throughbirth.AsweheardinourfirstreadingthisweektheWordwasmadefleshanddweltamongus.
Jesusisfullyman.
ButthenIsaiahdeclaresthatHeisalsoason...given.JesusChristismorethanameremanlikeyouandme;rather,Heis
theeternalSonofGodwhohasbeengiven.Jesusismorethanjustachild,HeisGodofGod,veryGodofveryGod,asour
NiceneCreeddeclaresandwhichweconfessinourworshipeachSunday.JesusisfullyGod,foronlyGodcould
accomplishwhatJesusaccomplished.
AndwhatdidJesuscometoaccomplish?Lookcloselyattheimportantphraseaddedtoeachofthetwostatements:
Hewasbornandgiventous.JesusChristwasbornandgiventous;HecametosaveHispeople(seeverses3&4),us,
thosewhomtheFathergavetoHisSonfromalleternity;thosewhomtheFathergavetheSonasHisinheritanceso
thattheymightbebroughtintotheeternalcovenantofsalvationthroughthesavingworkJesusaccomplishedontheir
behalf.Again,weconfessthisverytrutheverySundayinourworshipserviceusingtheNiceneCreed,whenwesay,
whoforusmenandforoursalvationcamedownfromheaven.JesusisourSavior.
Inthisseason,setasidebytheChurch,wecelebratethebirthofJesusandtherealitythatGodgaveJesustousand
foroursalvation.AsSt.Matthewwillwrite,andwhichwewillreadinacoupledays,JesuscametosaveHispeople
fromtheirsins.Hewasgiventoustodowhatwecouldnotandcannotdoforourselves—saveourselvesfromour
sinandGod’sjudgmentagainstoursins.LetusalsocelebratetherealitythatGodhasgivenus,youandme,eachof
us,toHisSonforoursalvation,andthatHeismightytosave.
—PastorGalenSorey,ChristPresbyterianChurch,BatonRouge,Louisiana
PRAYER
OureternalandmostblessedGodandFather,wethankYouforthegiftofJesus,givenbyYou,andforour
salvation.WethankYouthatinYoureternalandunchangingloveYouhavegivenustoYourSon,tosaveandto
keepthroughallourlives.ThankYouforthegiftofYourSonandthankYouforthegiftofoursalvation;through
JesusChristourLord,AMEN.
ADVENTAPPLICATION
DiscusswithyourfamilyhoweachofuscanknowwithassurancethatJesusChristcameforusandtosaveus.
Discussthemagnitudeofourownsinfulnessandourtotalinabilitytosaveourselves.Discusstheunchangingloveof
GoddisplayedtousinthepersonofJesusChristandHisbeinggiventousandforusandforoursalvation.
9
DECEMBER4—TheEighthDayofAdvent
MATTHEW1
1ThebookofthegenealogyofJesusChrist,theSonofDavid,theSonofAbraham:2AbrahambegotIsaac,Isaac
begotJacob,andJacobbegotJudahandhisbrothers.3JudahbegotPerezandZerahbyTamar,PerezbegotHezron,
andHezronbegotRam.4RambegotAmminadab,AmminadabbegotNahshon,andNahshonbegotSalmon.5Salmon
begotBoazbyRahab,BoazbegotObedbyRuth,ObedbegotJesse,6andJessebegotDavidtheking.
DavidthekingbegotSolomonbyherwhohadbeenthewifeofUriah.7SolomonbegotRehoboam,Rehoboam
begotAbijah,andAbijahbegotAsa.8AsabegotJehoshaphat,JehoshaphatbegotJoram,andJorambegotUzziah.
9UzziahbegotJotham,JothambegotAhaz,andAhazbegotHezekiah.10HezekiahbegotManasseh,Manassehbegot
Amon,andAmonbegotJosiah.11JosiahbegotJeconiahandhisbrothersaboutthetimetheywerecarriedawayto
Babylon.
12AndaftertheywerebroughttoBabylon,JeconiahbegotShealtiel,andShealtielbegotZerubbabel.13Zerubbabel
begotAbiud,AbiudbegotEliakim,andEliakimbegotAzor.14AzorbegotZadok,ZadokbegotAchim,andAchim
begotEliud.15EliudbegotEleazar,EleazarbegotMatthan,andMatthanbegotJacob.16AndJacobbegotJosephthe
husbandofMary,ofwhomwasbornJesuswhoiscalledChrist.17SoallthegenerationsfromAbrahamtoDavidare
fourteengenerations,fromDaviduntilthecaptivityinBabylonarefourteengenerations,andfromthecaptivityin
BabylonuntiltheChristarefourteengenerations.
DEVOTIONALTHOUGHT
WehavejustreadJesus’familytreefromtheBible.Ourfamilytreetellsussomethingaboutus;ittellsuswherewe
camefromandwhoourpeopleare.Inthesameway,Jesus’familytreetellsussomethingaboutwhereJesuscame
fromandwhoHispeopleare.ItshowsGod’sloveforHispeoplethroughoutthecenturies.ItshowsthatGodis
continuallyatworkinourworld.And,itshowsthatHisfaithfulnesscontinuestoreachtoallgenerationsasHis
covenantlovegoesfromparentstochildren.ThegenealogyofJesusteachesusthattheonlywaywecangetfrom
AbrahamtoDavidtoJesusisbecauseofGod’sprovidence.JesusChrist,thesonofDavid,thesonofAbraham,is
evidenceofGod’splanning.ThatthepromisesmadecenturiesearliertoAbrahamandDavidarefulfilledinJesusis
proofthatitisGodwhoisatworkhere.ThegenealogyofJesusreflectstheworkingoutofGod’splanofsalvationin
history.
—PastorRandyBooth,GraceCovenantChurch,Nacogdoches,Texas
PRAYER
OurgraciousheavenlyFather,Yourkindprovidencehasdirectedallthedetailsofhistory,includingthebirthof
Christ,ourSavior,aswellasourownbirthandlife.WearethankfulthatYouuseevensinfulmentoaccomplishall
Yourholypurposes.TeachustorememberYourfaithfulnessinthepastsothatwemightrestinYouforourfuture.
InJesus’name,AMEN.
ADVENTAPPLICATION
DiscusswithyourfamilyhowGodhasusedyourfamilytree(thegoodandthebad)toprovidentiallybringthegospel
toyourhousehold.DiscusshowouradoptionbyGod,throughChrist,makesallthegenealogyofJesusourown.
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