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Weekly Devotionals  |
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Good News DailyVolume VIII Sunday, December 21 God’s desire is that all people experience His glory. However, to know His glory, we must truly seek to know Him. His glory abides only in His presence. So, naturally it came with the arrival of Jesus. “Glory to God in the highest heaven and on earth peace among those whom he favors” (Luke 2:14). The shepherds who heard the “Gloria” witnessed and then reflected the glory of the Lord that shone around them. They not only spread the word with joy about what they had seen and heard, but they “glorified God” (Luke 2:20). Christians are to reflect His glory as well. Matthew 5:16 instructs us to “...let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.” We are to illuminate the way of God for others, manifest the joy of fellowship with God as a witness to the world, and be “transformed into His likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit” (2 Corinthians 3:18 NIV). Psalms 24, 29; Ephesians 6:10-20; John 3:16-21 Monday, December 22 Morton Kelsey in The Other Side of Silence says, “To become really silent one has to come to a halt outwardly and inwardly at the same time.” Outwardly, can we stop the frantic attempts to get everything done—the shopping, the entertaining, and the family interaction? Inwardly, can we relax our spirit and let the Holy Spirit calm our soul? It is in silence that we become most intimate with God. A wonderful advent hymn emphasizes the thoughts in our focus verse. “Come, Thou long expected Jesus, A time of rest, moments of silence, can truly prepare us for the coming of the Holy One, our Savior. Consider an evening walk gazing at the night stars, lingering before an open fire, perhaps even a day of retreat. Let us keep quiet vigil and enjoy the spaciousness and creativity of silence. Isaiah 11:1-9; Psalm 61; Revelation 20:1-10; John 5:30-47 Tuesday, December 23 In a tiny church in the North Carolina Mountains, there is a beautiful fresco of Mary, the expectant, pregnant Mary. I love to sit on those hard pews and ponder the life of that blessed woman. She was blessed to be the dwelling place of the Christ, the fulfillment of years of prophecy. She was blessed as she watched Jesus grow into a man, to be there at His first miracle. Although it couldn’t have seemed so at the time, she was blessed to be at His crucifixion, as she would soon realize that he was her Savior. Finally, we see an additional blessing as portrayed in Acts. “All there were constantly devoting themselves to prayer...including Mary the mother of Jesus....” (Acts 1:14). This event continues in Acts 2:4, “...all of them were filled with the Holy Spirit....” Like Mary, each of us can be visited by the divine Spirit who bears an invitation to become a dwelling place for Christ. Like Mary, we can believe in the incarnation, in Jesus as our Savior, and in the promise of being filled by the Holy Spirit. So we also can be most blessed. Isaiah 11:10-16; Psalms 66, 67; Revelation 20:11—21:8 Wednesday, December 24 “You, sweetness itself, stooped to join yourself with our bitterness. Catherine of Siena paints a beautiful picture of Jesus with these words. “Splendor,” she names Him. Zechariah, in his word picture calls Him “the dawn from on high.” Other versions of Luke use “dayspring from on high,” “light of dawn,” “heaven’s dawn,” and “God’s sunrise”; many ways of expressing the truth that Christ is the divine light that permeates creation. In Genesis 1:3, God said, “Let there be light.” In the incarnation, He says it again. Candle glow, twinkling lights, and luminaries—all reminding us that on a dark night long ago, the light shone. Isaiah 35:1-10; Psalms 45, 46; Revelation 22:12-17, 21 Thursday, December 25 As we travel the highway, about an hour from our house, there is a church with the name “Great Present.” The first time I saw it, it captured my imagination. Each time we pass the sign, I turn it over in my mind and play with the name. Zechariah prophesied that “Great Present” was going to come and dwell in the midst of his people. Before the time had even come, he was encouraging them to celebrate. The Gospels say “Great Present” is here! Jesus tells the people that while the bridegroom is with them, it is to be a festive time. In 1 John 4, John boldly declared, “the Father has sent his Son as the Saviour of the world.” “Great Present” had been in their midst, and John had been a witness to that life. He delivered the news with assurance and much excitement. Today, family and friends gather. We give and receive gifts, but all would be hollow and without real joy except for the “Great Present.” We remember the incarnation and experience the indwelling Spirit, the presence of our Great God. “Joy to the World, The Lord Is Come!” Psalms 2, 85; 1 John 4:7-16; John 3:31-36 Friday, December 26 Today is the day we remember the martyrdom of Stephen. As a disciple full of faith and the Holy Spirit, he was chosen to be a deacon, and he worked miracles among the people. But his crowning testimony was to speak up boldly about Jesus among those who had previously condemned Jesus to death. He faced these enemies and told them they had done wrong. The consequence was that he himself was killed (Acts 7:58). In other words, having recognized that Jesus had given himself for him, he gladly gave up himself for Jesus. And Stephen’s last words—“Lord, do not hold this sin against them” (Acts 7:60)— echoed Jesus’ words, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34). Today we are still basking in Jesus’ love for us. And Stephen’s death inspires us to ask, “What are we going to give up for Jesus? What sacrifice can we make to show him that we love him too?” Jeremiah 26:1-9, 12-15; Acts 6:8—7:60; Matthew 23:34-39 Saturday, December 27 My sister, born December 18, came home from the hospital on Christmas Eve. I was twelve. Soon we packed the tiny Jesus from the nativity scene in a cardboard box, wrapping him in tissue paper. But you don’t put a live baby sister away like that. That child had to be cared for after Christmas was over. She couldn’t be forgotten for even an hour, but required attention and vigilance. So, too, it was with the baby, Jesus. Maybe Jesus learned to tenderly bless children by his remembrance of Mary and Joseph’s care for him, their willingness to take a strange journey to save his life. I have a magnetized note on my refrigerator to remind me to pray for a child in our church family. Once a year, the names are passed out to the congregation and we have the opportunity to be a part of the rearing of a child by interceding for her or him. What an encouragement to a parent to realize that someone else is joining them in praying for their child. There are many ways we can join Jesus in the care of the children of the world. So many are suffering from the devastation of war, famine, and disease, all kinds of brokenness. They need our care, attention, and prayers. Just as Simeon prayed and thanked God for the child, Jesus, we can join his line. Isaiah 49:13-23; Psalm 26by Carolyn Byrd (all days except Friday) and Fr. John Pearce (Friday) Used with permission from the BIBLE READING FELLOWSHIP |
