Introduction
Hello church and welcome to our last week of Advent! May this time you’ve set aside to spend in God’s Word bear fruit in your day today!
Let’s begin with a brief pause to settle our thoughts and still our hearts.
Let’s begin with a brief pause to settle our thoughts and still our hearts.
Opening Prayer
Gentle and Patient God, thank you for inviting us to know You. Please grant us power to grasp how much you love us. May Your Spirit give us confidence in 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
The idea of baby Jesus gripping His mama’s finger with His tiny little hands – is flabbergasting! His are the hands that formed the universe. His are the hands that hold every single thing together. He has told the ocean its limits. He calls forth the starry host by name. He is the One who brings rulers to naught, by His word and His breath the earth came into being and humankind took on life.
It is not so hard to understand why Jesus’ birth and His deity was confusing to the religious leaders and people of His day. Who can comprehend God Himself becoming human, being born as a helpless babe? We really can’t comprehend it. but we don’t need to comprehend it in order to believe it is true and be moved in worship. Is there anything God cannot do? No!
And yet, as we look around us and within us, it is not so hard to despair. Things are not as they should be. We are not as we ought to be. Our trust is shaky at best much of the time. Not because God is not fully capable of keeping both this entire planet and our own lives together – but because He keeps it together in His way, in His time, for His glory alone. Things do fall apart, shakable things get shaken. The best news we have is found in the gospel – our God came down, He conquered death, He never lets go – His grip is strong and His strength sustaining.
It is not so hard to understand why Jesus’ birth and His deity was confusing to the religious leaders and people of His day. Who can comprehend God Himself becoming human, being born as a helpless babe? We really can’t comprehend it. but we don’t need to comprehend it in order to believe it is true and be moved in worship. Is there anything God cannot do? No!
And yet, as we look around us and within us, it is not so hard to despair. Things are not as they should be. We are not as we ought to be. Our trust is shaky at best much of the time. Not because God is not fully capable of keeping both this entire planet and our own lives together – but because He keeps it together in His way, in His time, for His glory alone. Things do fall apart, shakable things get shaken. The best news we have is found in the gospel – our God came down, He conquered death, He never lets go – His grip is strong and His strength sustaining.
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, You hold all things together.
In my struggle to trust, help my heart to remember that You are here.
In my struggle to trust, help my heart to remember that You are here.
Take a few moments now to pray to God, Who was pleased to reconcile all things to Himself.
Thank you for joining us today. On Wednesday we will reflect together on the wonder of Jesus’ love! Until then, may the God of Hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
