Introduction
Hello church and welcome! We are entering our last week of Advent before Christmas! We pray the brief pause in your day for the advent readings will, especially this week, provide a moment’s reprieve from any stress or worry that you have.
Today’s devotion is designed so you can prepare for Sunday’s worship and message. Monday and Wednesday’s devotions we hope will help maintain your center in the Joy of Christ’s coming. If you find time gets away from you, you can always return and listen even in the days following Christmas. Let us endeavor to carry the hope, peace, joy, and love we have in Christ into these final days of preparation and on into the new year. We are so glad you are here!
And now we’ll begin with a brief pause to settle our thoughts and prepare our hearts so we can be refreshed with God’s word.
Today’s devotion is designed so you can prepare for Sunday’s worship and message. Monday and Wednesday’s devotions we hope will help maintain your center in the Joy of Christ’s coming. If you find time gets away from you, you can always return and listen even in the days following Christmas. Let us endeavor to carry the hope, peace, joy, and love we have in Christ into these final days of preparation and on into the new year. We are so glad you are here!
And now we’ll begin with a brief pause to settle our thoughts and prepare our hearts so we can be refreshed with God’s word.
Opening Prayer
God of the universe who controls all things, thank you for orchestrating this time to hear from You through the words of scripture. Please open our hearts to the love You have for us today. Refresh us with Your presence oh Lord.
Today's Scripture - Luke 2:1-7 with Colossians 1:15-23 and Hebrews 1:3
In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world.(This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their own town to register.
So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in Him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. And He is the head of the body, the Church; He is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything He might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all His fullness dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through His blood, shed on the cross.
Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now He has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in His sight, without blemish and free from accusation— if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven….The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His being, sustaining all things by His powerful word. After He had provided purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.
So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in Him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. And He is the head of the body, the Church; He is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything He might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all His fullness dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through His blood, shed on the cross.
Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now He has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in His sight, without blemish and free from accusation— if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven….The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His being, sustaining all things by His powerful word. After He had provided purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.
God's word to us, a lamp for our feet, a light on our path. Thanks be to God.
Reflection
Although the idea of a king being born in a stable is ludicrous (not to mention the actual God of the Universe), Luke gives us details to help us understand this is not a fairy tale – a ‘once upon a time’ story, legend or a myth. When Jesus is born, real people in real places in actual history participate in real events.
Back in 2016, on the eve of March 1st, while the news ran the ticker tape of the results of a primary election here in the United States, Scott Kelly returned to earth after 340 consecutive days in space. Not only was this the longest anyone had ever stayed in space, but Scott is an identical twin – providing a unique opportunity to study, alongside his twin brother who remained earthbound, the impact living in space has on a body. As Kelly made his return to Earth in a Russian Soyuz capsule, which by the way was one of the most dangerous moments of that year in space since Earth’s atmosphere naturally resists objects entering from space, There was no fanfare, no entertaining commentary on space travel or fun sciency facts being reported on prime time news. Just Nasa people doing their Nasa jobs. Only those who had been following along would have known to tune into the Nasa channel to see the spacecraft carry Kelly and 2 other astronauts safely home. This remarkable event took place while most were distracted by other things.
Do you sense it? While the Roman empire; a geographically vast empire marked by war, brutality, political upheaval fluctuating between chaos and order, went about its day to day: The king of the universe slipped in, born as a babe to 2 Jewish kids from Nazareth. Only those who had been following along would know to look. Angels, Shepherds, Mary, Joseph, and a handful of animals bore witness to this birth. The trip into Bethlehem was a significant undertaking for this young couple. It was costly and long and crowded. The details surrounding Christ’s birth, while recorded so simply by Luke, are remarkable – in a real time of history, in the very place prophesied (that is, Bethlehem), by descendants of King David, Jesus is born.
Back in 2016, on the eve of March 1st, while the news ran the ticker tape of the results of a primary election here in the United States, Scott Kelly returned to earth after 340 consecutive days in space. Not only was this the longest anyone had ever stayed in space, but Scott is an identical twin – providing a unique opportunity to study, alongside his twin brother who remained earthbound, the impact living in space has on a body. As Kelly made his return to Earth in a Russian Soyuz capsule, which by the way was one of the most dangerous moments of that year in space since Earth’s atmosphere naturally resists objects entering from space, There was no fanfare, no entertaining commentary on space travel or fun sciency facts being reported on prime time news. Just Nasa people doing their Nasa jobs. Only those who had been following along would have known to tune into the Nasa channel to see the spacecraft carry Kelly and 2 other astronauts safely home. This remarkable event took place while most were distracted by other things.
Do you sense it? While the Roman empire; a geographically vast empire marked by war, brutality, political upheaval fluctuating between chaos and order, went about its day to day: The king of the universe slipped in, born as a babe to 2 Jewish kids from Nazareth. Only those who had been following along would know to look. Angels, Shepherds, Mary, Joseph, and a handful of animals bore witness to this birth. The trip into Bethlehem was a significant undertaking for this young couple. It was costly and long and crowded. The details surrounding Christ’s birth, while recorded so simply by Luke, are remarkable – in a real time of history, in the very place prophesied (that is, Bethlehem), by descendants of King David, Jesus is born.
He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove
The glories of his righteousness,
And wonders of his love.
And makes the nations prove
The glories of his righteousness,
And wonders of his love.
Closing Prayer
As you go about your day, carry this short prayer with you:
Lord Jesus, how inconspicuously You came!
In my distractions, help my heart to remember that You are here.
In my distractions, help my heart to remember that You are here.
Now take a few moments to pray to God who providentially oversees all things.
Thank you for joining us for our Advent reading of Jesus’ birth. For your further growth, and to prepare your heart for Sunday’s message, take time with the preparation questions found in this week’s Sermon Notes.
We will be back again on Monday to ponder the glory of Jesus’ righteousness. Until then, may the Lord keep you, shine His face upon you, and give you His peace.
We will be back again on Monday to ponder the glory of Jesus’ righteousness. Until then, may the Lord keep you, shine His face upon you, and give you His peace.
