Luke 2:1-14

“And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.” vs. 7

When Luke wrote his beautiful account of Jesus’ birth, his graphic details emphasize the humble setting. Jesus wasn’t born in a royal palace but in a stable, and his first visitors were shepherds, not kings. There was intention in Luke’s description. Jesus was of humble origin, and not a child of privilege. There were no servants or nurses to assist Mary and Joseph–they made do with what they had, and Jesus grew up with a heart for the poor and the needy that was later reflected in his ministry. It made a difference. Those born to wealth and privilege don’t have a clue about the essentials of life, and they often behave like the rich people Jesus featured in his parables. These are the kinds of folks who grow up with an appetite for power, and they devote their lives to amassing fortunes for themselves and their cronies. It’s hard for such folks to be followers of Jesus. As he said several times, it’s impossible to serve both wealth and God! Tonight, as we celebrate the birth of Jesus we can’t help but remember his birth in a manger and his life-long love of the poor. If we aspire to be his followers we would be advised to consider the stumbling block of riches and instead devote our lives to standing with those he called, “the least of these.”

Thought for the Day: Who are the least of these?

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

In these final days of Advent it’s hard to go anywhere without being greeted by the words “Merry Christmas,” or at least, “Happy Holidays.” The Birth of Jesus is not sneaking up on anyone! We’ve been aware that it’s on the way ever since Halloween. There are some who take offense at this ubiquitous celebration, particularly when it’s well known that many of the celebrants have no apparent relationship to Jesus. But in reality it’s perfectly appropriate for everyone to participate in the sharing of gifts and the exchange of greetings! Because, as Titus puts it so well, the birth of Jesus has by God’s grace, brought salvation to all. Everyone is included! Therefore a universal celebration is most certainly appropriate. Now it is also true that Titus adds a verse or two! He writes that with the gift comes an expectation that recipients will renounce impiety and live lives that are self-controlled, upright, and godly. That’s the other side of Christmas, the part that even the faithful folks are reluctant to take to heart. That’s just not the way that most of us live! But this isn’t the time of the year to focus on our brokenness. These next days are a time to simply celebrate the gift of life! It really is for all! Joy to the world, the Lord is come!

Thought for the Day: When is a good time to think about our brokenness?

Isaiah 9:2-7

“For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” vs. 6

When Hezekiah ascended to the throne of Judah in the late 8th century BC, Isaiah took note of the hopes and dreams that accompanied the beginning of his reign. Hezekiah knew that the rising power of Assyria was a threat to the nation, and took steps to reform Temple practices and abolish idolatry, while at the same time strengthening the walls of Jerusalem. He was regarded as a good and righteous king, fully deserving of the accolades recorded here. Jerusalem survived the attack of the Assyrians, and they retreated to Nineveh, their capital. 

But that moment of glory didn’t last. Hezekiah died and was followed by a succession of lesser kings from the line of David. But early Christians took note of this verse and saw in it a reference to the birth of Jesus. Soon all the names initially attached to Hezekiah were connected to the child of Bethlehem, and have become familiar to many through the words of Handel’s Messiah. In fact these verses are probably some of the most recognizable of the entire oratorio.. The words are a reminder to us that the saving acts of God are not confined to any particular generation, but have been continually repeated through all of recorded history. We’re always looking for a new messianic leader, and some are even now yearning for the rebirth of the Christ.

Thought for the Day: What would the rebirth of Christ be like?

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?