December 26, 2013

CHRISTmas: It’s All About Jesus

EVERYONE IS TALKING ABOUT JESUS!

I love Christmas! This season brings me the greatest joy because it’s the one time of year where the whole world is talking about Jesus! He is everywhere you go! It is so exciting that whether you are in the mall, a coffee shop, a grocery store, or school, Jesus’ name is being proclaimed. Even though I love gifts, good food, and hanging with family, above all, I love what Christmas stands for. It’s a holiday that celebrates the birth of Jesus the Messiah.

WHY IS JESUS SUCH A BIG DEAL?

The question we need to ask ourselves is, why is Jesus such a big deal? What makes Jesus so special that the whole world dedicates a season to him?

Christmas always reminds me of the fact that Jesus is the most popular person in world. I heard one pastor say that more songs have been sung to him, paintings painted of him, and books written about him than any other person in history. He is so significant in fact that we actually measure time by him. Our calendar is divided into the years before and after his birth. (B.C. meaning before Christ and A.D. meaning anno dommini or “in the year of our LORD.”) So why Jesus?

JESUS IS MORE THAN JUST A MAN!

Jesus isn’t just any old man. He is the God-man! Every other man who has ever lived pales in comparison because Jesus is God incarnate, God in the flesh. The Bible gives Jesus a very important title, Messiah (or Christ). Messiah means the anointed one of God. In the Bible, the Messiah is the hope of the world. The world needs a Savior: Jesus is the prefect Savior and King that the world needs.

That being said, it is important to understand that Jesus didn’t just magically appear one day. He didn’t parachute into Israel. Instead, there is a whole historical story that leads up to his miraculous birth. There is a story, rooted in history, that takes place over thousands of years, a story that is faithfully recorded in the pages of the Old Testament, a story that finds its climax in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.

What’s amazing is that the whole Bible is about Jesus the Messiah. He is the hero that everyone needs, which brings us to the true message of Christmas. The message of Christmas is, IT’S ALL ABOUT JESUS! He is not just the reason for the season; he is the reason for everything. I like Christmas because it helps direct us back to what really matters. There are a lot of great things in this world but without Jesus, you are missing the greatest thing that this world has to offer. What really matters is having a personal relationship with Creator God. This relationship was made available through the birth of a little boy in a small town called Bethlehem. I encourage you on this holiday to not forget that Christmas is about more than toys and good food. CHRISTmas is all about Jesus!

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6, ESV)

Merry Christmas!

December 26, 2013

Advent Devotional: Thursday, December 26

Romans 8:28-30

28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. 29 For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; 30 and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.

 

Things to Consider While You Read:

Scripture: Take time reading and allow God to speak to you. When you are done, look for a verse that particularly spoke to you, write it out.

Observation: What do you think God is saying to you in this scripture? Ask the Holy Spirit to teach you and reveal Jesus to you.

Application: Personalize what you have read by asking yourself how it applies to your life right now.

Prayer: Ask God to help you use this scripture. Pray for a greater insight on what He may be revealing to you.

Scripture quotations taken from the NASB © The Lockman Foundation (www.lockman.org)

December 25, 2013

Unbelievable Christ

strive4theprize's avatarOne Man's Quest

Advent 2013…Christ: Isaiah 9.2-7

Merry Christmas!

As I’ve reflected on our advent series, I’ve been overwhelmed by the gifts of hope, peace, joy and love that the people of God in Isaiah’s day could only look forward to with anticipation as they awaited the coming of their Messiah, but that is available to us in a much fuller sense because Jesus has come. It really is unbelievable.

I shared a tweet this past week, “You are infinitely valuable in God’s eyes. Not only are you His image-bearer, but He also entered time and space to rescue you. That’s love.” Isaiah pictures a time of good news for a group of people who desperately needed it. They were under oppression by the enemy. They were defeated. They were without hope. But God hadn’t forgotten them. Light was coming. God Himself would rend the veil of time and space and come down…

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December 25, 2013

Advent Devotional: Wednesday, December 25

Isaiah 9:6-7

6 For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. 7 There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, On the throne of David and over his kingdom, To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness From then on and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will accomplish this.

 

Things to Consider While You Read:

Scripture: Take time reading and allow God to speak to you. When you are done, look for a verse that particularly spoke to you, write it out.

Observation: What do you think God is saying to you in this scripture? Ask the Holy Spirit to teach you and reveal Jesus to you.

Application: Personalize what you have read by asking yourself how it applies to your life right now.

Prayer: Ask God to help you use this scripture. Pray for a greater insight on what He may be revealing to you.

Scripture quotations taken from the NASB © The Lockman Foundation (www.lockman.org)

December 24, 2013

Advent Devotional: Tuesday, December 24

Luke 2:1-20

Jesus’ Birth in Bethlehem

2 Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth. 2 This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And everyone was on his way to register for the census, each to his own city. 4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, 5 in order to register along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child. 6 While they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

8 In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; 11 for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

14 “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.”

15 When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, “Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger. 17 When they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20 The shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them.

Things to Consider While You Read:

Scripture: Take time reading and allow God to speak to you. When you are done, look for a verse that particularly spoke to you, write it out.

Observation: What do you think God is saying to you in this scripture? Ask the Holy Spirit to teach you and reveal Jesus to you.

Application: Personalize what you have read by asking yourself how it applies to your life right now.

Prayer: Ask God to help you use this scripture. Pray for a greater insight on what He may be revealing to you.

Scripture quotations taken from the NASB © The Lockman Foundation (www.lockman.org)

December 23, 2013

Unbelievable Love

God loves you.

strive4theprize's avatarOne Man's Quest

Advent 2013…Love: Psalm 89.1-4, 19-29

As I reflected on this passage, I was struck by the picture that the Bible paints of God’s amazing love…a love that truly does transcend both time and space, a love that is enduring. It is the perfect love of the Father. A love that pursues, a love that sacrifices, the Creator-of-the-Universe-enters-time-and-space-to-rescue-you kind of love.

I shared a tweet this past week, “My experience of God’s love is in direct proportion to my perception of my need for His love/mercy. He who has been forgiven much loves much.” Do you believe that God loves you? I think there are a few things that keep us from believing and/or experiencing the love that God has for us. The tweet hits on one of them. If I don’t recognize my desperate need to be rescued…to be brought from life to death, from captivity to sin to the…

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December 23, 2013

Advent Devotional: Monday, December 23

Exodus 34:4-10

4 So he cut out two stone tablets like the former ones, and Moses rose up early in the morning and went up to Mount Sinai, as the Lord had commanded him, and he took two stone tablets in his hand. 5 The Lord descended in the cloud and stood there with him as he called upon the name of the Lord. 6 Then the Lord passed by in front of him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth; 7 who keeps lovingkindness for thousands, who forgives iniquity, transgression and sin; yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished, visiting the iniquity of fathers on the children and on the grandchildren to the third and fourth generations.” 8 Moses made haste to bow low toward the earth and worship. 9 He said, “If now I have found favor in Your sight, O Lord, I pray, let the Lord go along in our midst, even though ]the people are so obstinate, and pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us as Your own possession.”

The Covenant Renewed

10 Then God said, “Behold, I am going to make a covenant. Before all your people I will perform miracles which have not been produced in all the earth nor among any of the nations; and all the people among whom you live will see the working of the Lord, for it is a fearful thing that I am going to perform with you.

Things to Consider While You Read:

Scripture: Take time reading and allow God to speak to you. When you are done, look for a verse that particularly spoke to you, write it out.

Observation: What do you think God is saying to you in this scripture? Ask the Holy Spirit to teach you and reveal Jesus to you.

Application: Personalize what you have read by asking yourself how it applies to your life right now.

Prayer: Ask God to help you use this scripture. Pray for a greater insight on what He may be revealing to you.

Scripture quotations taken from the NASB © The Lockman Foundation (www.lockman.org)

December 21, 2013

Advent Devotional: Saturday, December 21

Psalm 89:1-4

The Lord’s Covenant with David, and Israel’s Afflictions.

I will sing of the lovingkindness of the Lord forever; To all generations I will make known Your faithfulness with my mouth. 2 For I have said, “Lovingkindness will be built up forever; In the heavens You will establish Your faithfulness.” 3 “I have made a covenant with My chosen; I have sworn to David My servant, 4 I will establish your seed forever And build up your throne to all generations.” Selah.

Psalm 89:19-26

19 Once You spoke in vision to Your godly ones, And said, “I have given help to one who is mighty; I have exalted one chosen from the people. 20 “I have found David My servant; With My holy oil I have anointed him, 21 With whom My hand will be established; My arm also will strengthen him. 22 “The enemy will not deceive him, Nor the son of wickedness afflict him. 23 “But I shall crush his adversaries before him, And strike those who hate him. 24 “My faithfulness and My lovingkindness will be with him, And in My name his horn will be exalted. 25 “I shall also set his hand on the sea And his right hand on the rivers. 26 “He will cry to Me, ‘You are my Father, My God, and the rock of my salvation.’

Things to Consider While You Read:

Scripture: Take time reading and allow God to speak to you. When you are done, look for a verse that particularly spoke to you, write it out.

Observation: What do you think God is saying to you in this scripture? Ask the Holy Spirit to teach you and reveal Jesus to you.

Application: Personalize what you have read by asking yourself how it applies to your life right now.

Prayer: Ask God to help you use this scripture. Pray for a greater insight on what He may be revealing to you.

Scripture quotations taken from the NASB © The Lockman Foundation (www.lockman.org)

December 20, 2013

Advent Devotional: Friday, December 20

Galatians 5:22

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

Romans 15:13

13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

 

Things to Consider While You Read:

Scripture: Take time reading and allow God to speak to you. When you are done, look for a verse that particularly spoke to you, write it out.

Observation: What do you think God is saying to you in this scripture? Ask the Holy Spirit to teach you and reveal Jesus to you.

Application: Personalize what you have read by asking yourself how it applies to your life right now.

Prayer: Ask God to help you use this scripture. Pray for a greater insight on what He may be revealing to you.

Scripture quotations taken from the NASB © The Lockman Foundation (www.lockman.org)

December 19, 2013

Advent Devotional: Thursday, December 19

3 John 1:2-8

2 Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers. 3 For I was very glad when brethren came and testified to your truth, that is, how you are walking in truth. 4 I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth.

5 Beloved, you are acting faithfully in whatever you accomplish for the brethren, and especially when they are strangers; 6 and they have testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God. 7 For they went out for the sake of the Name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles. 8 Therefore we ought to support such men, so that we may be fellow workers with the truth.

Things to Consider While You Read:

Scripture: Take time reading and allow God to speak to you. When you are done, look for a verse that particularly spoke to you, write it out.

Observation: What do you think God is saying to you in this scripture? Ask the Holy Spirit to teach you and reveal Jesus to you.

Application: Personalize what you have read by asking yourself how it applies to your life right now.

Prayer: Ask God to help you use this scripture. Pray for a greater insight on what He may be revealing to you.

 

Scripture quotations taken from the NASB © The Lockman Foundation (www.lockman.org)