Matthew 1:22-25

“All this took place to fulfil what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet:

‘Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel’, which means, “God is with us.”’” vss. 22-23

During the lifetime of Jesus there is no indication that any of his disciples knew anything about his virgin birth. Paul, the writer of a large portion of the New Testament, doesn’t mention anything about it. But when Matthew and Luke wrote their accounts of Jesus’ life and decided to write about his birth, they both refer to Mary as a virgin. They wanted their readers to know that Jesus’ birth was a fulfillment of Hebrew scripture. As a result the story of the virgin birth has been embedded in our tradition, even though it has nothing to do with the life and ministry of Jesus. In recent years it has become a huge issue for some Christians, and they include it as one of the Five Fundamentals, one of the things that a person has to believe in order to be saved. As a result it is often used as an opener in any conversation about faith. People are asked, “Do you believe in the Virgin Birth?,” and there’s no wiggle room. A “yes” or a “no” is expected. The problem is that there are many people who either don’t believe in the Virgin Birth or don’t care, and they are fiercely committed and faithful followers of Jesus. Thank God that they are part of our family of faith!

Thought for the Day: What does the Virgin Birth mean to me?

Matthew 1:18-21

“But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.” vs. 20

Like Luke, when Matthew put together his account of Jesus’ life and ministry, he decided to include the story of Jesus’ birth, but his description doesn’t have the flair and drama that Luke includes. There’s no mention of an annunciation or a census or a harrowing birth in a stable. Joseph and Mary already live in Bethlehem, and Jesus was born in Joseph’s home. And Joseph is the star of the show! His dilemma is whether to actually take the already pregnant Mary as his wife. When he decides to find a way to dismiss her privately and not expose her to public shame, he has a dream in which a messenger from God advises him to just marry her. The child she carried was from the Holy Spirit! So Matthew’s emphasis is on Joseph’s faith, not Mary’s, and he is portrayed as an exceedingly righteous man. It’s good to have male models for faithfulness! There are many more women than men in our congregations and there are some who fear the feminization of the church. A few are even upset by the presence of female pastors and bishops. So it’s good to have “Josephs” among us, male spiritual leaders who are also filled with the power of the Holy Spirit.

Thought for the Day: Why are men sometimes reluctant to share their faith?

Romans 1:5-7

“To all God’s beloved in Rome, who are called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” vs. 7

Just imagine the joy that Paul felt as he proclaimed the good news of Jesus to the Romans. For the first time in recorded history the walls so carefully constructed by the Jews to protect the gift of the law had been broken down. In Christ the gates had been opened wide and all people were now being welcomed into the Peaceable Kingdom. And Paul had been called by Jesus himself to be an apostle. He had been given a message of love and forgiveness, and he’d been sent to proclaim that good news to people who had always considered themselves to be excluded. Not only were they God’s beloved, they had been called to be saints. Paul must have been ecstatic! What’s more, we have that same calling! For one reason or another there are countless people among our acquaintances who don’t consider themselves included in the family of God. They know nothing of God’s grace and peace. They may not even know that God loves them. And now we have the God-given privilege to let them know that they are indeed loved, and that it is God’s desire that they live grace-filled and peaceful lives. It’s a powerful message, and when we can pull together the courage to say the words, it’s a gift to see the response.

Thought for the Day: When I share the message of God’s love, what happens?

Romans 1:1-4

“Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy scriptures…” vss. 1-2 

Paul says two important things about himself as he begins his letter to the Romans. He is first of all a slave of Jesus Christ and he has dedicated his life to complete service and obedience. But he has been called to be an apostle, and believes that his credentials are as valid as any of the original Twelve. Jesus had appeared to him personally on the road to Damascus and had set him aside to proclaim the gospel of God primarily to the Gentiles, which is why he was now writing to the Romans. As his ministry continued Paul showed himself to be the perfect blend of humility and boldness. Yes, he was a slave, but nothing would ever deter him from preaching Christ wherever the Spirit directed him. He knew that his message had its origins in the prophets of old, and he was fully convinced that one day it would reach all nations. Tradition tells us that Peter was the first pope and scripture teaches that he was the rock on which the Church was built. But there’s no doubt that Paul was the driving force behind the growth of the first century, and he is rightfully known as the greatest missionary the Church has ever known.

Thought for the Day: What motivates missionaries?

Psalm 80:1-7

“O Lord God of hosts, how long will you be angry with your people’s prayers? You have fed them with the bread of tears, and given them tears to drink in full measure.” vss. 7-8 

In general the brutal honesty of the various psalmists is refreshing. This one has a complaint against the Lord God, the One who had led Israel out of Egypt and into the Promised Land. Things are not going well: armies have been defeated, and enemies are threatening on every side. The psalmist can’t understand how a loving God could stand by and let them be ravaged by their foes. His conclusion is that God has become angry with them. That’s not an uncommon feeling among God’s chosen ones. And it’s not only Israel that has a bone to pick. Often we’ll see followers of Jesus who are flummoxed when things don’t go their way. It could be that some loved one has died unexpectedly and when it appears that the death has been arbitrary and unfair, God often gets the blame. For some it’s the first thing that comes to mind! And it’s not only death that triggers our displeasure with God. Anytime things aren’t going our way we’re likely to explode in a tirade of complaints and laments. Our childlike faith convinces us that since we worship regularly, tithe generously, and feed the hungry, we deserve to be taken care of by God. Of course as our faith matures we come to realize that stuff just happens, and God is the One who brings relief.

Thought for the Day: What’s mature faith?

Isaiah 7:13-16

“Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a young woman shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” vs. 14

Isaiah answers the refusal of Ahaz to ask for help by giving him what turns out to be a reassuring sign. A young woman will conceive and bear a son and call his name Immanuel, which means “God is with us.” This was good news for Ahaz. God would not abandon Jerusalem and would in fact deliver her from her enemies by the time the child would be fully weaned. Over 700 years later, early Christians saw in this verse a reference to the birth of Jesus and believed that the name “Immanuel” could be applied to him. And those early believers were exactly right. It isn’t that Isaiah foresaw the birth of Jesus centuries before it happened, but Jesus was what Isaiah described. As the gospel writer John put it, Jesus was the Word made flesh, the incarnation of the invisible God. He truly was Immanuel! And so it is that out of all the holiday songs we’re currently hearing,  the one best reflecting the season of Advent is, “O Come, O Come Immanuel.” So whether we’re facing a crisis like that of Ahaz, or one peculiar to our own situation, remembering the name Immanuel can be a source of comfort and assurance. We are not alone. God is with us!

Thought for the Day: What’s my consolation in a time of crisis?

Isaiah 7:10-12

“Ask thee a sign of the Lord thy God; ask it either in the depth, or in the height above. But Ahaz said, ‘I will not ask, neither will I tempt the Lord.’” vss. 11-12

Ahaz, the king of Judah, was a headstrong man. Even as his kingdom trembled at the news of imminent attacks by the combined forces of Israel and Aram, he refused to ask a sign of the Lord. Evidently he felt that Judah didn’t need any divine intervention, that their armies were capable of fending off enemies on their own. That kind of stubborn refusal is not unknown among us.. How many people, caught up in one addiction or another, will say that they don’t need God, that they can deal with the problem without any assistance at all? They reject even the loving care of their families with their assertion that they can handle things alone. And we certainly don’t have to be addicted to have this sad attraction to self-reliance. Many are by nature inclined to trust in their own abilities and strengths in dealing with any problem–and they certainly wouldn’t be inclined to seek out the help of God! We don’t know why some have such elevated confidence in their own abilities–it could simply be that our old enemy pride has gotten the better of them. How much better it is to daily take our concerns to God in prayer and trust the Spirit to be our guide and strength in every circumstance!

Thought for the Day: When am I most inclined to shut God out?

Matthew 11:7-11

“Truly I tell you, among those born of women no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.” vs. 11

Jesus gives a glowing endorsement of John the Baptist, naming him as the greatest of the prophets, but then he knocks him off his pedestal by saying that the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. At first those words seem puzzling, but when we realize that Jesus isn’t attacking John personally, we can begin to understand. Like the prophets of old John was skilled at pointing out humanity’s brokenness, but his primary message for those who were broken was judgment. As the old aphorism puts it, John had come “to comfort the afflicted and to afflict the comfortable.” Now Jesus could do that too, and we can hear that stinging rebuke in his voice as he chastises the rich and the powerful. But Jesus had a vision of the Peaceable Kingdom that has its roots in Isaiah and Jeremiah, but that became a reality in his message of forgiveness and love. Brokenness in his Kingdom is addressed not by words of judgment but reconciliation and restoration. In him we experience unconditional love and the power of life-changing grace. Cleansed by the fire of the Spirit we are set free to blossom and bring forth the fruit that’s changing the world, one person at a time.

Thought for the Day: What has been the most fruitful period of my life?

Matthew 11:2-8

“When John heard in prison what the Messiah was doing, he sent word by his disciples and said to him, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?’” vss. 2-3

Since John had begun his ministry some time before Jesus, he was already a celebrity when Jesus came into Galilee to preach and teach. Some thought he might be the Messiah. But when John was arrested by Herod and imprisoned at the desert fortress of Machereus, attention shifted to Jesus. Matthew indicates that even John began to think that he might be the one! But John needed proof, and sent disciples to ask Jesus directly. We have the sense that as his death appeared imminent he wanted to know if God’s promise was being kept. He’s not the only one to have wondered these things as their ending drew near. There are many even now who wonder the same thing. Was Jesus the One? Or is there some other way? We love to have assurance about such things! Jesus told the disciples who came asking that question to go and tell John what they’d seen and heard. And there’s no better advice, even for us. Was Jesus the One? Well, just look at what he said and did! He was the embodiment of divine sacrificial love, and in him we have what is known as “blessed assurance.” In Jesus we know the full extent of God’s mercy and forgiveness, and as near our endings we can be confident that he is the One!

Thought for the Day: What part does wondering play in my life?

James 5:9-10

“Beloved, do not grumble against one another, so that you may not be judged. See, the Judge is standing at the doors!” vs. 9

When James was concerned about the behavior of his community he was not above using threats to get them back in line. Evidently he had become aware of bickering and grumbling within his flock, and warned them that if they continued, they could expect to be judged when the Lord returned. His method is familiar, and has been used by countless pastors through the centuries. It’s commonly believed that the quickest way to get people to change their behavior is to threaten them with impending judgment if they don’t shape up. Many times, as most parents have learned, threats do work! The problem is that when they become a pattern we can easily get caught up in a legalistic system where the gospel of grace is obscured. That’s why some people who have grown up hearing threats and warnings in church are surprised to discover that God actually loves them unconditionally. Even though John the Baptist had success with his threats, Jesus changed the world with his message of grace and forgiveness. While both these methods are still widely used, there is no doubt which is most effective with broken people! Even grumbling folks can be transformed when their environment is infused with words of affirmation and unconditional love.