Luke 2:1-14

“But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord.’” vss. 10-11

Tonight people of all races and nations will gather to celebrate the birth of Jesus over 2000 years ago in an obscure village not far from Jerusalem. In their worship they will hear in their own languages this most remarkable little story from the gospel writer Luke. Hymns and carols will be sung–in many places candles will be lit. It really is a spectacular celebration. Most of those who gather for worship do not take Luke’s words literally–singing angels are beyond their belief systems. Yet we love the story, not because it’s factually true, but because it touches our hearts. It gives voice to our hopes and dreams better than any other story we have. We truly do want peace and joy for all people–we deeply desire good news instead of the petty partisan bickering we see and hear from our leaders. And we know in our heart of hearts that any hope we have for the future is wrapped up in the swaddling clothes of the child Jesus. In him we see the Christ, the beginning and the end! In him we see clearly the light that shines in the darkness of our souls. No wonder tears fill our eyes as we sing Silent Night. In the Child of Bethlehem love came down and the world has been changed forever.

Thought for the Day: What do I feel in my heart on Christmas Eve?

Titus 2:11-14

“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all, training us to renounce impiety and worldly passions, and in the present age to live lives that are self-controlled, upright, and godly…” vss. 11-12

There are some who don’t like the idea of universal salvation. They prefer a theological system that distinguishes between the lost and the saved, and that promises a fiery end for those who are unbelievers. Without such warnings, they say, there would be no incentives for people to repent and turn from their sinful ways. The writer to Titus presents a slightly different perspective. Here it is clearly stated that the grace of God which comes through Christ Jesus brings salvation to all–no exceptions are mentioned. But that doesn’t mean a lack of behavioral expectations! There’s power in this Christly grace, a power that leads people to renounce the impiety and passions of the present age, and that trains them to live godly and upright lives. Repentance and change come, not because of threats or bullying, but through immersion in the unconditional love of God. What a blessing this knowledge is at Christmas! In Christ all people are made whole by grace, and in Christ we learn how to live in this conflicted and complex world. Bathed in the love of Christ made manifest in the Child of Bethlehem, we are moved to walk and love in his way. Do all people live this way? Obviously not! But that’s no reason to turn our backs on the power of grace. Someday, Christ’s light will shine in all!

Thought for the Day: Where have I seen the power of grace at work?

Matthew 1:22-25

“All this took place to fulfill 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.”’” vs. 22-23

Matthew’s use of Isaiah 7:14 in his story of Jesus’ birth has had enormous significance in the elevation of Mary to almost divine status in the development of Christian thought. Some see her as the Queen of Heaven and know her as the Mother of God. Nearly all call her the Virgin Mary and some regularly pray for her to intercede with Jesus on their behalf. Belief in the virgin birth has been regarded as a requirement for salvation and those expressing doubts can be labelled as infidels. Sadly, such debates and arguments about Mary’s virginity have been an enormous distraction for the Church through the years. For many they’ve actually been a stumbling block for faith. For Matthew the most important word in the verse is not “virgin,” but “Immanuel.” He wants his readers to know that in Jesus they can know God, that in him God becomes present to all of humanity. Instead of fighting about whether or not Mary was a virgin, it’s far more productive to simply honor her as the mother of the one in whom God has become known. She and Joseph were faithful in their obedience to God and in their household Jesus became the Messiah of God–and really, that’s all we need to know!

Thought for the Day: Why was a virgin birth considered more holy?

Matthew 1:18-21

“Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit.” vs. 18

When Matthew set about to write his account of Jesus’ life he found material from a variety of sources. Others had written about Jesus and they provided Matthew with the basic framework of Jesus’ short ministry, with particular emphasis on the stories connected to his death. There were some miracle stories, a few parables and other teachings, and some accounts of the Galilean months of ministry. But people were curious about his early years–if Jesus was really the messiah he didn’t seem to have the proper credentials. So Matthew decided to piece together a few fragments he’d come across that would explain Jesus’ birth and how it was that his family had ended up in Nazareth. The story he puts together is different from the one used by Luke and emphasizes that Jesus was indeed from the family of David and that he also had divine origins. He backs it up with notations from scripture and countless Christians have accepted it as authoritative. We can quibble about details and interpretations but there’s no doubt that early followers of Jesus did indeed believe that he had been sent from God as Savior and Lord, and that he had been born of a woman like every other human before or since. Like us he bears God’s image, and from him we learn how to live!

Thought for the Day: How is Jesus different from us?

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

Pastors love Paul’s greeting to the Romans and many begin their sermons echoing his words, “Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” What more could we possibly want for one another than grace and peace! Those two words are the content of the good news that is for all people on the planet. This is what the story of Christmas is all about. Oh, we argue about a lot of things as the saints of God. We have our doctrines, theologies and creeds and we’ve grown comfortable with their definitions and dogmas–and many of us love to debate! But all of those things are beside the point–the whole of the gospel is grace and peace and nothing more! God’s gifts of wholeness and forgiveness have been showered upon us in abundance and they are ours without price and without cost. Those who take those gifts to heart are blessed with peace that defies and surpasses human understanding. Theoretically then, a pastor’s sermon could begin and end with the apostolic greeting. There really is no need for anything more! Of course that will never happen! They have a need to preach and we have a need to hear. Their wisdom is a lamp and a guide to our feet as we gracefully and peacefully make our way through life! 

Thought for the Day: What motivates pastors to preach?

Romans 1:1-4

“Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God,” vs. 1

In Greek the word used by Paul to describe his relationship to Jesus was “slave,” a somewhat harsher term than the “servant” many translators have chosen. He wanted his readers to know that he was completely bound to Jesus, and that he had no choice but to follow in his Way. Like the translators we too are made uncomfortable by slavery language–too many people continue to live as slaves in our world even today. It’s repugnant to think that humans would have the right to own another person. Yet Paul’s choice of words is amazingly apt in describing the relationship many of us have come to have with our Lord. Of course it’s true that in Christ we are set free to live in the image of God–but it’s also true that we are bound to live as Christ’s presence in the world. In Christ we are both slave and free! That doesn’t mean that we can’t go off and live as we please. Many do choose that path and follow their passions and desires to a multitude of ends. But the blessings that come with bondage to Christ are priceless. Not only are we set free from all the chains of guilt and pain that have imprisoned us, we are actually empowered to live in the image of Jesus and bring good news to all we encounter. It really is the best possible life!

Thought for the Day: What have I been set apart to do?

Psalm 80:17-19

“Then we will never turn back from you; give us life, and we will call on your name.” vs. 18

With the kingdom in shambles, the psalmist knows that Israel needs the help of the Lord and asked that the king be empowered to lead his army to victory. He promises that if the Lord will act to restore the people, they will never again turn away from faith. Many of us are familiar with the psalmist’s tactics. We too have gone the bargaining route with God. If only God will answer our prayers we will be faithful and live as God desires. Our words and actions will be pure and we will serve Jesus with gladness for the rest of our lives. The people of Israel made such promises regularly in moments of stress, and, as soon as things had turned for the better, went right back to living in their old ways. Sad to say, that’s likely the way it is for us too. No matter how heartfelt our promises to change and live differently, we will usually revert to our previous patterns as soon as the pressure is off. This doesn’t mean that change is impossible–humans are capable of repentance and it actually happens quite frequently. But true repentance is rooted in a recognition of our need to change and a sincere desire to lead a new life. It can never be a part of a bargaining process. It didn’t work for Israel and it won’t work for us either.

Thought for the Day: What kinds of bargains have I made with God?

Psalm 80:1-7

“O Lord God of hosts, how long will you be angry with your people’s prayers?” vs. 4

Horrible things had been happening in Israel. External enemies had attacked and overrun the country. People had been praying that the Lord would appear and lead their armies to victory, but nothing had happened. There had been no rescuer or savior…so the psalmist assumes that the Lord is angry with the prayers. He probably wasn’t the first to think such a thing and he certainly wasn’t the last. People of all times and places have assumed that the reason things weren’t going well for them was because God was angry. Religious leaders have generally affirmed such feelings and told believers that God needed to be appeased before prosperity would return. Increased offerings and more generous sacrifices would probably be necessary to get back in God’s favor. The truth is that God is not angry! Jesus said that God doesn’t reward some and not others because God loves all. Rain falls on the just and the unjust! God’s love is for the whole world. Too many people have spent their entire lives convinced that God was angry and they were being punished, and it’s about time that we stop thinking that way. There is suffering in the world…that’s obvious…and it remains a great mystery. But God is the one who brings healing and restoration…and God regularly smiles on us all, and never gets angry with our prayers!

Thought for the Day: Why do people sometimes think that God is angry?

Isaiah 7:10-16

“Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel.” vs. 14

Isaiah was so frustrated with King Ahaz of Judah. Two armies were on the march to besiege Jerusalem and Isaiah had received a word from the Lord that Judah had nothing to fear. But Ahaz refused to ask for a sign of confirmation–evidently he didn’t think he needed any help from the Lord. Isaiah tells the king the Lord will give a sign anyhow–a young woman will bear a son and name the child Immanuel, which means “God is with us.” When Matthew was writing his gospel, he remembered this verse from Isaiah and uses it as a confirmation that the birth of Jesus was a sign of God’s continuing strength and presence. God does not leave us bereft of support in this world of threats and violence. How do we know that? Well, a child has been born and we’ve come to know him as Immanuel. We aren’t alone, no matter how dismal our circumstances, no matter how uncertain our futures may appear. And that’s the good news of Christmas! Right now there’s probably a lot of hoopla going on in our lives, that’s the nature of the season. But underneath the tree, hidden by packages carefully wrapped, there rests the child Jesus, and in him God has come and will come to us–even if we don’t ask! Such is the nature of grace!

Thought for the Day: Why are we reluctant to ask for God’s help?

Matthew 11:6-11

“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

In Matthew’s estimation there is a great divide between John and Jesus. John was the best and the greatest of the prophets; he was articulate and spoke the truth to those in power. He announced that the kingdom of heaven had come and told people to repent so that they could be included. At its best John’s message lacked grace and was full of law. Forgiveness came as the result of repentance and change…and people liked what they heard and flocked to be baptized. Jesus also announced that the kingdom of heaven had come near but he didn’t baptize anyone. Instead he fed people, healed them of their infirmities, and made them whole. He brought good news to the lowly and the poor and showered their lives with mercy and forgiveness. We still struggle with those two approaches to kingdom living. John’s message resonates with our default position…from birth we’re programmed to believe that being good is a product of hard work and resolve. But often that system leaves us guilt-ridden and spiritually empty. But Jesus is still hanging around…he comes to us as the Christ and showers us with unconditional love and unlimited forgiveness. He fills up our hungry hearts and restores us to holiness. In him we become the wonderful people we’ve been made to be…in him we’re even greater than John the Baptist.

Thought for the Day: How is my hungry heart filled?