Have you ever wondered what it would have been like to be with the shepherds that Holy Night when Jesus was born?  To see the host of angels in all their glory proclaiming Jesus’ birth?  Why shepherds?  Why not the mayor of the city, the wealthy land owners instead?  Scripture gives us a picture of the scene played out on the hills near Bethlehem in Luke 2:8-14 “And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.  And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear.  And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.  And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”  And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,   “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

Jesus came to earth to be “God with us” as the angel explained to Joseph and He came to save us from our sins.  Proclaiming His birth to lowly shepherds helps us see that He came for the likes of you and me.  He did not come for the wealthy or powerful, worldly standards of importance,  but for those who would believe.  The chorus of angels proclaimed Him Lord and said He would bring peace.  Jesus describes His peace in John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”  His peace is not of this world and will bring freedom from fear, trouble and hope.  Paul describes Jesus’ peace in Romans 5:1 “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”   Jesus’ peace comes through faith in Him and declares us ‘not guilty’ before God.  That is eternal peace that brings hope and freedom.  Appearing to humble shepherds confirms the purpose for Christ’s mission on earth which was to save the everyday person.  Outside appearances or wealth are meaningless to Jesus as He deals with the heart and faith.  Hebrews 11:6 tells us “And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.”  

Are you like the shepherds that night, open and willing to behold God?  They were filled with fear at the appearance and voices of the angels.  What message does God want to send you this Christmas?  Be like the shepherds and have a willing spirit and open heart, and He will bring you His peace.

Have faith in Jesus and receive His peace today!

Linda

Bethlehem, the birthplace of our Lord.  I had the privilege of visiting the cave stable where Jesus was believed to be born several years ago.  I could visualized the animals and Mary and Joseph there with a manger.  Luke 1:6-7 describes the setting and action of this ancient scene.   “And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth.  And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.”    

This cave was attached to a larger area that is now a church.  Our guides told us that the holy family stayed in the rooms above for several years after Jesus’ birth.  This would line up with the account of the Magi arriving within 1-2 years of Jesus’ birth.

I continue to marvel at this young couple and how God provided for them each step of the way.  They were resourceful and undaunted by the ‘curves’ that life was constantly giving them.  They had to make a journey in Mary’s 9th month of pregnancy and they had no room with a bed to receive their child .  However, they were warm, sheltered and protected in this stable cave.  They had a make shift crib and adoring visitors that came along with the endearing animals.  Mary and Joseph showed themselves to be faithful and resilient.  Not once in scripture are we told that they complained or fretted over their circumstances.   There is a lesson for us in their acceptance and behavior.

What about you?  Do you complain when things you are trying to do for the Lord don’t go as planned?  Do you give up or do you call upon your reserve energy and comfort from the Holy Spirit?  Mary and Joseph showed us God’s way.  He expects us to be resilient, hopeful and faithful as we seek to follow Him.  He promises to never leave or forsake us and we need to take Him at His Word!

Striving work with resilience and faithfulness,

Linda

 

Mary and Joseph were living in Nazareth but their family home was considered Bethlehem as Joseph was a descendant of David and Bethlehem was David’s home town.  Mary was also a descendant of David but the male line was the one recognized by Jewish law.  Luke 2:1-5 records the circumstances leading up to Jesus’ birth and tells us why Mary and Joseph were in Bethlehem.  “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.

This would have been a significant journey for Joseph and Mary.  The physical distance is about 80 miles and would have taken about a week.  The journey was not without risks as they traveled through hostile Samaria so the comfort of inns would have been doubtful for this Jewish couple.  Joseph would have been walking and Mary riding a donkey.  Being heavy with child, this would have been a difficult and uncomfortable trip for both of them.

When have you done something for the Lord that caused you discomfort or pain?  Mary and Joseph did not cause this journey to happen, the government ordered it.  The Lord orchestrated it to fulfill prophesy that Messiah would be born in Bethlehem.  Micah 5:2  “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,  though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me    one who will be ruler over Israel,
whose origins are from of old  from ancient times.”   In all the discomfort of the journey God protected them from hazards along the way and prepared an out of the way place for Jesus to be brought into the world.  Paul described his suffering for Christ’s sake in 1 Corinthians 4:11-12 “To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, we are in rags, we are brutally treated, we are homeless.  We work hard with our own hands.When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it;”   

How is Christ calling you to suffer today?  Are you physically tired, emotionally drained or spiritually depleted?  Call on Him today and He will restore and provide for you physically, emotionally and spiritually in ways you may have never imagined.  Mary and Joseph trusted God to provide and give them the strength they needed to reach their destination and deliver a healthy baby.   They did not lose their resolve or complain about how hard it was.  Paul showed us the same endurance for the Lord in his ministry journeys all over Asian Minor.  Journey today in trust as Mary. Joseph and Paul did so many years ago.  Glorify God in doing His work, His way with faith, trust and assurance of victory.

Life is a journey depending upon God and trusting in His provision,

Linda

Mary and Joseph were told amazing things about their child.  They were told the sex, origin, heritage both heavenly and earthly, his name and his purpose.  Can you imagine being told you were having a boy, conceived by God’s Holy Spirit, He would be God’s Son and also descended from kings, royalty, his name would be Jesus which meant- God with us, and he would save his people from their sins?

She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”   All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet:  “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Emmanuel” (which means “God with us”).  Matthew 21-23

 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus.  He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David,  and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.  “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.   Luke 1:31-35

These two young people took God at His word and believed what was told to them.  Then they acted upon it with faith.  They knew who God was and relied upon His holy character to keep his promises.  Mary and Joseph were familiar with God’s promises to Abraham and knew “and all peoples on earth  will be blessed through you.” Genesis 12:3b.  They also knew of the promises of God to King David from whom they were both descended, “Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever.” 2 Samuel 7:16   They had grown up knowing there was to be a Messiah to come, one who would save them and be their king.  Can you imagine their hope, awe and wonder that God would choose them to provide an earthly place for His Son to begin and live his early life?

What do you know about God?  Do you know and trust Him to keep His promises like Mary and Joseph did?  Do you have faith in God’s power and might to perform such miracles?  Take a look at your faith today.  Does it match the description of faith given in Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see”?   If not, ask God to increase your faith and open your eyes and heart to see Him and His power around you.  God will answer your prayer and you will be blessed like Mary and Joseph with unending possibilities given by God.

Endeavoring to live with open eyes and heart for Jesus,

Linda

I have been thinking about Joseph all day and want to revisit the Matthew 1:18-25.  Joseph’s encounter with the angel of God was in a dream.  Since angels were heavenly beings the natural reaction would be fear.  Joseph was contemplating what he was going to do about Mary when he went to sleep.  “But after he had considered 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 home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.  She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” Matthew 1:20-21  The angel senses Joseph’s fear and confusion so he puts him at ease and tells him Do Not Fear.  Joseph took him at his word as “When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife”.   Joseph was a godly man that wanted to follow God.  He trusted in God enough to put his future in God’s hands.   

There are a couple of lessons and truths for us in this passage.  Joseph was aware of them as his actions showed that he knew them.  First, God knows the  society in which I live and realizes that I need his encouragement and reassurance to do His will when in opposition to worldly standards.   Joseph was considering what to do when he went to sleep and received both encouragement and reassurance from God of the right action to take.  Was it easy?  No, he would face ridicule, possibly shame and certainly misunderstanding for staying with Mary.  But, this second truth is very evident too. Blessings come when I stay in God’s will and do as He instructs.   Joseph knew the hard way with God was going to be worth it.  He was told that this child he would raise would be “Immanuel” or God with us.  He recognized the honor God was bestowing on them.  Joseph was a man of faith and trusted God.

Which of these truths do you need today?   Are you struggling against worldly standards?  Are you being pulled to do things that you know are not really right?   Stand with Joseph and trust in God.  We don’t always understand God’s ways but they are right, and we need to cling to them and follow Him.  Are you prepared to be blessed for choosing God’s way?  God keeps His promises and obedience always brings blessing.  You have to believe and trust- sometimes it is hard but stand with Joseph today.

Trying to stand in faith with Joseph,

Linda

We have spent the last 11 days looking at Mary and her relatives Elizabeth and Zechariah.  Today let’s look at Joseph and his attitudes and character. Matthew 1:18-25 gives the account of Joseph’s learning the news of his betrothed wife’s condition and what he thought and planned to do about it.

¹⁸ This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit.¹⁹ Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.  ²⁰ But after he had considered 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 home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. ²¹ She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”  ²² All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: ²³ “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).  ²⁴ When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. ²⁵ But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.  (NIV)

Scripture describes Joseph as a man who was faithful to the law, other translations use the word righteous or just.  Being a religious and faithful Jew, Joseph tried to follow the Law and he knew that a public announcement of Mary’s condition would bring upon her the penalty for infidelity which was death by stoning. Deuteronomy 22:23-24  He also knew he could quietly divorce her and save her shame and death.    He was compassionate, merciful or gracious towards Mary and decided to divorce her without announcing it publicly.  However, an angel of the Lord came to him in a dream and told him how Mary got pregnant and that her child would be the Messiah, the one who would save them from their sins.  Joseph knew the Old Testament prophecies about the coming Messiah and that he was to be born of a virgin.  Joseph believed the angel without question and awoke to follow his instructions with genuine obedience.

Like Mary, Joseph immediately set out to follow the Lord’s commands and took Mary as his wife.  By being obedient to the Lord, he opened himself to criticism and ridicule from friends and neighbors that he had caused her condition.  By being obedient to the Lord, he put himself in a position to receive abundant blessings from God.  He was to be the earthly father of Jesus, the one God was sending to save them.  He was to have the privilege to raise God’s Son in his house, live with him day to day, teach him how to work with wood as a carpenter, to guide and love him.  Just like Mary, Joseph considered following God and being obedient to the Lord of utmost importance.  Luke 11:28   Jesus said,  “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!”  Joseph heard from the angel what God desired and he immediately followed the Lord.

What about you?  Are you willing to risk your reputation for the Lord?  Will you speak out and proclaim Him as Lord even when it might be unpopular?  Examine your heart today and seek to follow Jesus with faith and obedience, trusting Him in all things.  You will find blessing just as Jesus promises.

Striving to be a faithful obedient follower of Jesus,

Linda

Zechariah’s Song has a second part.  Zechariah started in yesterday’s scripture, Luke 1:68-75, with praise to God for who He is and what He has done then continued in Luke 1:76-79 prophesying about his little son they had just circumcised.

 

And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High;    (prophet of God)
    for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him,   (be a preparer)
   to give his people the knowledge of salvation            (preach the need for repentance)
    through the forgiveness of their sins,
   because of the tender mercy of our God,           (why Jesus came- to show God’s mercy)
    by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven
   to shine on those living in darkness            (bring light into dark world)
    and in the shadow of death,                  (bring life not death)
  to guide our feet into the path of peace.”           (be our guide and bring peace)

Zechariah’s Song reveals the place his John would have in preparing the way for Messiah, Jesus.  Isaiah had also foretold the message of one to come who we know to be Zechariah’s John.  Isaiah 40:3-5 was written centuries before John’s birth.                              “A voice of one calling:             (a pro-claimer of coming Messiah)  
“In the wilderness prepare       (a wilderness dweller)
    the way for the Lord;
make straight in the desert          (preparing hearts with repentance)
    a highway for our God.
 Every valley shall be raised up,
    every mountain and hill made low;
the rough ground shall become level,
    the rugged places a plain.
And the glory of the Lord will be revealed,  (Jesus will reveal God’s glory)
    and all people will see it together.”            (everyone will see Jesus)

This prophesy was made famous as sung in Handel’s Messiah describing the one who was to come and prepare the way for the Lord Jesus’ ministry.  He was to proclaim that Jesus was coming and the need to prepare their hearts by repentance and openness towards God’s coming revelation.  The last line of Luke 1:80 tells us “And the child grew and became strong in spirit; and he lived in the wilderness until he appeared publicly to Israel.”    John was literally one from the wilderness calling the Jews to repent and be ready for Messiah to come.

What part of John’s character does Jesus want us to emulate?  John was a herald in the ancient world that proclaimed the arrival of a coming king.  Do you take opportunities to testify about Jesus and why He came?  Christmas season is a perfect time to proclaim His coming.  Our message to the world is the same as John’s -repent, turn to Jesus and see the glory of God revealed.  Jesus saves and we need to proclaim it.

Be a voice today.  Psalm 107:2 “Let the redeemed of the Lord say so,
    whom he has redeemed from trouble”    

Be bold and speak out about Jesus!

Linda

In today’s scripture we see and hear Zechariah being filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesying about Jesus.  This is often called ‘Zechariah’s Song’.  After being mute for 9+months, seeing and hearing from the angel Gabriel, realizing his own fears and doubts, seeing his Lord and God perform a great miracle in his life by giving him a child in his old age to raise and knowing he and Elizabeth were part of God’s merciful plan to bring redemption to mankind, Zechariah was overwhelmed by God.  The Lord used him to proclaim about His coming son and what He would accomplish.                                             “Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel,
    because he has come to his people and redeemed them.
 He has raised up a horn of salvation for us
    in the house of his servant David
 (as he said through his holy prophets of long ago),
 salvation from our enemies
    and from the hand of all who hate us—
 to show mercy to our ancestors
    and to remember his holy covenant,
  the oath he swore to our father Abraham:
to rescue us from the hand of our enemies,
    and to enable us to serve him without fear
   in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.  Luke 1:68-75

Jesus, this savior to come, would redeem His people.  He would be a strong king and save us from our enemies.  He would be merciful and keep the promises made by God the Father.  Jesus would rescue us and enable us to serve Him in holiness and righteousness.  What a wonderful Savior Zechariah was proclaiming.  Jesus fulfilled all these prophesies and more.  Today as you go about your day meditate on Jesus and what He means to you.  What would your own song look and sound like to Jesus?   1 Peter 3:15 ” But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,”   Jesus wants us prepared to tell about Him and the hope He gives.  May you find someone to share this Hope with today in a gentle and respectful way.   Just speak kindly from your heart and let the Holy Spirit do His work in their hearts.  Be a pro-claimer of HOPE  just like Zechariah.

Looking to share about Jesus,

Linda

If you had been unable to speak for 9+ months, what would be the first words you would utter?  Zechariah’s first words were praise to God.  His disbelief in God’s power to give him a son in his old age brought judgement from the angel Gabriel.  Luke 1:18-20.  Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.”   The angel said to him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news.  And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their appointed time.”

In today’s passage, Elizabeth’s baby boy is 8 days old and was ready to be circumcised.  This would begin his entrance into God’s family and the Old Testament Covenant with God.    On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to name him after his father Zechariah,  but his mother spoke up and said, “No! He is to be called John.”  They said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who has that name.”   Then they made signs to his father, to find out what he would like to name the child.  He asked for a writing tablet, and to everyone’s astonishment he wrote, “His name is John.”  Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue set free, and he began to speak, praising God.    Zechariah had learned his lesson and knew to follow exactly what the angel had told him to do.  They were to name the child John.   Immediately upon making this declaration, Zechariah was able to speak.  He had waited 9 long months to profess his faith and trust in God.  Scripture tells us Zechariah’s speaking got the whole neighborhood talking about Zechariah, Elizabeth and who this child will turn out to be!

What lesson has God taught you that brought you into and through a time of silence?   Did you emerge victorious and praising God like Zechariah?   We learned earlier from Mary and Elizabeth that obedience brings blessing.  Zechariah learned this too as he came out of his time of testing to blessings.  He had a new son to raise, knew that his son was favored by God and would accomplish great things for God.  His faith was renewed and confirmed as he knew who God was and what He could do in his life.  Ask God to show you His direction and step out in obedience.  You will be blessed.

Looking to Jesus for victory in my life,

Linda

 

Our focus today is one small verse, Luke 1:56  “Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.”  Since John and Jesus were cousins, Elizabeth and Zachariah must have been Mary’s Aunt and Uncle.  They were older and earlier in the chapter Luke described them,  “Elizabeth was not able to conceive, and they were both very old.”  Mary was a young virgin probably about the age of 16.  Zachariah had been struck mute for his disbelief at the news of their coming child so this was a quiet household.  We were told in verse 26  ^“In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy,” the angel came and gave the news to Mary that she was to be the mother of the long awaited Messiah.  A few days after receiving the news Mary went to see Elizabeth. 39 “At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, ⁴⁰ where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth.”  Mary would have stayed with Elizabeth until she was about ready to deliver and then returned home.

What does this tell us about these women?  Elizabeth was Mary’s confidant.  They shared the joy and expectations for their coming children as to what life would be like for them, their families and what the children would accomplish for God.  These were things that they could not share with anyone else.  They comforted one another as Mary helped Elizabeth in her last months of pregnancy and talked with her as Zachariah was mute.  They enjoyed a friendship and companionship as women.  Elizabeth was undoubtedly a mentor, a wise adviser, teacher and coach.  Mary had gone to Elizabeth for comfort and understanding and she gave support and love in return.

What about you?  Do you have friends that you confide in?  Do you seek their comfort and help in times of stress or confusion?  How do you support one another?  God calls us to be in relationships with others just as He desires we are in relationship with Him.  There are many places in scripture where we are commanded to love and support one another as friends.  In John 13:34-35 Jesus said, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.  By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”  Who do you have in your life that you call friend that you can share your hopes, dreams, problems, confusions and faith in God?  Mary had Elizabeth to turn to at this time in her life, what about you?

Friends are a true gift from God.  I have a dear friend, Joan, who God brought into my life when we were young married women.  We have worshiped, studied, prayed, played and enjoyed one another’s company over the years.  When hard times came, we supported one another, stood by each other’s side as we cried and shared a hope found only in Christ.  I know that no matter what,  I can call on her and seek her help, comfort and support.  I think this is the kind of love and support Elizabeth and Mary gave to each other as ‘sister’ in Christ.   If you have a supportive sister or brother in Christ, let them know how much they mean to you today.  Give them a call, send them a note or have a cup of coffee with them and share.  God has given them to you just as He gave Elizabeth and Mary each other.

Praising God for His provision of friends,

Linda