THE MAGI

Please welcome Pastor Buff Delcamp to the Daily Bible Blast writing team. Merry Christmas.

Matthew 2:1-12

Every year, the mysterious Magi lumber into our manger scenes. In reality they weren’t there the night Christ was born. They may have arrived a year later. But here’s the rub. After hundreds and hundreds of miles in laborious travel, after months and years of searching, studying, contemplating, they made it. 

And their first reaction was “they were overjoyed” – they had JOY that was over the top. Other translations say “exceeding great joy” and another says “they could hardly contain themselves.” 

When they came in, they bowed down and they worshipped. True worship has this aspect of it. It’s not simply ascribing praise and adoration to God, it is being near to God so He is personally, overwhelmingly compelling. I see there a simple wonder in this great encounter. 

Wonder is that which takes over after everything has been explained. It’s something I think I’ve lost at times. Do we try to explain too much? Is there anything in life with God that simply leaves us amazed and speechless? I want to be more and more open to that. And it isn’t simply in worship gatherings, but also when we see the way our God works in our lives. 

The wonder that He can change a heart, that He can turn a life around 180°. The wonder of His ordering of time and circumstances to affect endings we can’t see from the beginning. The wonder of His mercy, His patience year after year. Don’t lose the capacity to see and then to be overjoyed at the wonder of our God with us – Emmanuel.

A Fight Fed by Hope

Please welcome Kelsey Bacon to Daily Bible Blast. Kelsey will be writing each Thursday's devotion. She brings a young adult perspective to these daily reflections on God's Word and His love for each of us. 

Nehemiah 4:6-23

We hear all the time that Advent is a season of hope. Christmas is exciting, joyful, a time to celebrate. At first glance, this Nehemiah passage might not seem joyful and exciting. The Jews were having a rough time of rebuilding their city. They had adversaries who came against them. They felt like they had to be on the defense constantly. I bet they feared for their lives and the lives of their loved ones. But reread this passage, and pay attention to the hope. Pay attention to verses like verse 9, “But we prayed to our God and posted a guard day and night to meet this threat,” and verse 15, “When our enemies heard that we were aware of their plot and that God had frustrated it, we all returned to the wall, each to our own work.” Nehemiah is telling the story of his people’s battle against their enemy, and how God was on their side.

In a season of hope and joy, the battle of the world still rages on. The enemy still tries to sneak in and attack. Sometimes it can feel, especially around this time of year, that everything is working against you. When we feel this way, we have to remember that God is on our side. And remember also that he equips us to fight back.

Nehemiah’s people worked with their tools in one hand and their weapons in the other. They were always ready to combat their enemy. God, through Christ, gives us the power to combat the enemy. Our weapons are prayer, Christian fellowship, his Word. Our weapons are quiet time with the Lord in a crazy busy season. Our weapons are kindness and generosity to those in need. This is a fight fed by hope—hope that God is doing his good and righteous work in our world, rebuilding brokenness.

“Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. Do everything in love.” 1 Corinthians 16:13-14.

Reflection:

What redeeming work is God doing in your life right now?

What lies might the enemy be telling you to try and disrupt God’s work in you and how is God equipping you to stand up and fight in hope?

Comment below or email here to add to the conversation!

Our Glorious Future

READ: Romans 8:18-25

Anticipation. How often something wonderful is preceded by a long wait!

It began with childhood Christmases and the month-long excitement over all the toys I wanted. I was certain I would get them. And I did. (Yes, I was a spoiled child.)

Then it was entertainment - WrestleMania was my favorite annual spectacular and each year I counted down its coming by watching the complete anthology of past events. The 34th edition is this Sunday, and it’s going to be awesome!

Then there’s the events we can’t countdown on a calendar - achieving our dreams, meeting our spouses, conceiving our children. We work and strive and seek and chase and try, the whole time trusting that our efforts will be rewarded, that someday God will bless us.

But sometimes he doesn’t. Some people never achieve their dreams. Some never get married. Some are never able to conceive. And we begin to doubt. The wait is so long and so uncertain, we begin to wonder: Will it ever happen?

How wonderful is hope and anticipation! How soul-crushing is doubt and despair!

Remember the doll at the end of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer? Disappointed yet again, she whimpers, “I haven’t any dreams left to dream.” (Not familiar? Picture a Cleveland Browns fan.)

Yes, my friends, sometimes the disappointments are so frequent and so many we cease to hope. We lose faith, become jaded, and go through life doubting that it will ever get any better. 

To this Jesus asks, “When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:8)

WHEN!!! Not if, WHEN!!!

Anticipation. How often something wonderful is preceded by a long wait!

Freely Giving What We Cannot Buy

The angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring good news that will cause great joy for all people. Today in the town of David, a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.” Luke 2:10, 11 (NIV)

What was it again that the angels brought to the shepherds that first Christmas Eve? New sandals? New staffs? New robes? No, they brought none of these, not even a t-shirt to commemorate the occasion. To the shepherds, the angels unveiled something of far greater value than anything money could buy—the Savior, Jesus Christ the Lord, the One promised through the ages and now with us for eternity.

Two thousand years later, we still celebrate Christmas by giving and receiving gifts. It can be a season of surprise and joy, and it can just as easily be a time of disappointment, such as when we can’t afford to buy what we want to give or when our gift goes unappreciated. But have you ever noticed that the best gifts we ever receive are the intangible ones that touch us inside? They show up as acts of kindness and expressions of goodness, and they often come when we most need them and least expect them. It’s the genuine smile igniting in our heart the warm glow that spreads, in turn, across our own face. It’s the beautiful tone of the encouraging word that sets our soul to song. It may be the unexpected deed of a stranger or the dependable help of a neighbor that restores our depleted supply of hope. Like the announcement of the angels, these acts of love cannot be bought, but only given; they are free, yet also priceless.

There is something curious, yet consistent, about these intangible gifts of the soul: we cannot contain them; they overflow from the inside out, and we eagerly give them away almost as quickly as we receive them. Isn’t it true, for instance, that we love others most freely when someone has done something loving for us? Don’t we give most generously after someone else has first selflessly given to us? Aren’t we most inclined to offer encouragement when we’ve been uplifted by the affirming words of another? And when are we ever more forgiving than when someone has forgiven us for our own mistakes?

This is the gift of Christmas. Jesus, the Son of God, came to take upon Himself the punishment for all our sins; He loves us that much. God calls us to draw near to Him and to live life in His presence with confidence and joy; He forgives us that much. When we trust in His forgiveness of us—and in His love for us—we are free to flourish in life, free of guilt, free of shame, free of fear; we are encouraged. And as we experience in ourselves the love, forgiveness, and confidence we receive from God, it is then that we freely give these same priceless gifts to others who journey this life with us and all around us. There is nothing people need more than these, and it costs us nothing to give them.

This Christmas, enjoy the meal, and enjoy the gifts, including the most valuable ones—the ones we cannot see, yet treasure the most.

Merry Christmas, everyone!

Christ in me is freedom.

God enters the temple

December 13

Scripture Reading

Read 1 Kings 8:6-13 and reflect on the passage.

Johnny could not believe it. “Wow! I actually got his autograph! He looked right at me when he signed my program. And he even smiled. It would have been enough just to see him play, but then he chose to make himself available for his fans. He walked right up to me. He didn’t need to do that. I’ll never be the same!”

We can understand the amazement in the heart of young boy who had a one-on-one encounter with his favorite sports superstar. How much more when the Lord of the universe chooses to make Himself available to us—mere mortals? Solomon was the wealthiest king to reign over Israel; he expanded the borders of the nation to its farthest reaches. Yet, when he built the temple, he counted it a high privilege that the Lord would be present among them.

Even more astounding—at Christmas we celebrate the awesome, amazing, audacious claim that God chose to take up residence in the body of a baby! It would be enough for us to see our God from afar. But He chooses to draw near, to look us in the eye and to place His name upon us. Wonder!

Questions

1.      When have you been awed or amazed that someone chose to notice you and include you in something?

2.      How amazing is it to you that God chooses to seek to establish or deepen a relationship with you?

  

Prayer

King of the universe, thank You for making Yourself available to me. In no way do I deserve Your attention, but I am eternally grateful for the wonder of Christmas. Amen.

—David Mann 

One Hundred Envelopes of Hope

Hebrews 11:1

The fabric of Christmas is hope.

When I was a little boy I was always the first one up on Christmas morning. One time I got up and opened not just my gifts, but everybody’s gifts. Being the youngest of four, as cute as Joey was, he was not very popular that year.

 My brother is 12 years older than I am. When he was in college and living on peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, he didn’t have much money for himself let alone for his little brother’s Christmas gift. But he was very creative.

One Christmas I was up first, as usual. When I came downstairs it was still dark. All I could see was a pile of gifts under and around the tree, but there was also something that caught my eye. It looked like there were stalactites hanging from our living room ceiling.

When I turned the lights on, I discovered they weren’t stalactites at all, but several links of envelopes taped together, end to end. Eventually, I discovered that there were one hundred envelopes. The reason I know this is that each envelope had a shiny new penny in it. My brother had given me one dollar for Christmas, but it was one of the most memorable gifts I ever got.

“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see”.             Hebrews 11:1

As a little boy that Christmas coming down the steps, I had no idea what I was going to see around the corner. But I hoped that there would be great gifts waiting for me; and there was.

Christmas is full of hope in what we cannot see. However, it’s not just wishful thinking like that of a little boy coming down the stairs. It is being “certain of what we do not see”. For God sent His one and only son to die for us so that we might live.

We couldn’t hope for a better gift than that.

God's Love for His Son - Israel (Hosea 11:1-11)

Even if you do not read the Blog entry below, please take 5 minutes to watch this video, and have a Very Merry and Blessed Christmas in the name of Immanuel.                  (GOD WITH US)

The Lord our God has patience far beyond our imagination! On this Christmas Day we are drenched in love for the Christ child and the beauty that accompanies the miraculous, healthy birth of a newborn baby; so innocent and dependent, yet strong and thriving with promise.

Jesus was sent to us however, as what I can’t help but see as a last resort. God’s grace love and forgiveness wasn’t enough for his people (Israel). He took extreme measures for the mercy of us all by sending Jesus to model how to live. How many more years will it take for us all to get it? What else could he possibly do?

In the Old Testament, Moses wrote Exodus as a lasting memorial of God’s goodness to the people of Israel. Verse 4:22; the Lord instructed Moses; then say to Pharaoh, “This is what the Lord says: Israel is my firstborn son…”

Hosea, one of “The Minor Prophets” of the Old Testament also wrote; “When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son. But the more I called Israel, the further away he went from me.” Hosea 11:1-2

This reading in Hosea is also a prophesy about the world being no different then than it is today. Though the Lord took care of and healed his Israel, they did not realize it. He led them with kindness and ties of love, but they did not respond. They refuse to repent.

Though God would be angered, he would not carry out that anger; “For I am God, and not man-The Holy One among you. I will not come in wrath.” Hosea 1:9

We are Israel, and we still depend on “Immanuel.” God is truly with us here on earth because of Jesus’ birth, life, death and resurrection. Alleluia!

Read/Listen to Hosea 11:1-11

Matthew 1: 18-25 and 2:13-23

The Birth of Jesus

I have the privilege of working with an honorable man of God facilitating a youth group on Friday afternoons in our public school. We are blessed to be working within a district that values faith and allows us to gather in the name of God. We are also cautious and prayerful regarding our ability to continue this valuable ministry for our youth. I am a teacher and he is a counselor. Our group is called FROGS (Fully Rely On God). Friday we visited the scripture we address today.
Matthew 1:18-25 “The Birth of Jesus.”

It was very encouraging to hear the comments and questions of our young people, with a heart for God, and a yearning to understand this complicated world through scripture. Some of the young teens had a great deal of biblical background and others very little. Questions were posed by young hearts eager to understand, and their classmates jumped in to respond with passion for scripture and wisdom beyond their years….so cool!

“So why did God send his son here? If God can do anything why didn't he just fix things instead of going through all that with Mary and Joseph and everything?” asked one newcomer. A confident 8^th grade young man couldn't hold back blurting out; “He came to save us all from our sins!” A great deal of conversation ensued from there, and we sat back with confidence, observing the teens go back and forth.

Every year it is different. We do not always have students so well versed and confident in scripture they can share with their peers in such a comfortable manner, but when they can, it is a beautiful thing because teens appeal to each other more effectively than we can as adults, and in turn make a difference out there in the hallways, lunch rooms, and classrooms.

We must continue to teach our youth the realities of then and now. Mary was a teen herself. It is never too early to share the truth of Jesus’ time here as being much, much more than simply a reason to celebrate Christmas. That baby in the manger has such significance it is impossible to put into words… but we must continue to try. The evening in the stable was merely the beginning of “The greatest story on earth” and it affects the heart and soul of each one of us.

Thank you Lord for Mary, and for youth everywhere. They are the future of this world and the world to come..... with YOU.

Read/Listen to Matthew 1:18-25 

                        Matthew 2:13-23

Christmas Party time

Paul's arrival in Jerusalem was cause for celebration and for getting together as family. These people were friends and brothers in faith. To get the party started, they went first to visit James, the brother of Jesus and leader of the Jerusalem church.

After greeting each other, sharing pertinent bits of their lives since last they met, they began to tell the story of what God was doing.

Acts 21:17-20 (MSG)
In Jerusalem, our friends, glad to see us, received us with open arms. The first thing next morning, we took Paul to see James. All the church leaders were there. After a time of greeting and small talk, Paul told the story, detail by detail, of what God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry. They listened with delight and gave God the glory. They had a story to tell, too: "And just look at what's been happening here—thousands upon thousands of God-fearing Jews have become believers in Jesus! But there's also a problem because they are more zealous than ever in observing the laws of Moses.

When we share our story, a testimony of faith and obedience, we are telling the world the Good News.  And pointing to Jesus, our Savior, as the reason for our changed lives and, we give all the glory to God. We know that only God, who loves us, could have orchestrated such a changed heart. Looking back at my story, it is clear that God was working. They listened with delight and gave God the glory.

What's your story?  Have you shared it with someone who needs to hear of a loving and forgiving God? This is called Intentional Discipleship. When we go out of our way, stepping outside our comfort zone, and encouraging someone who has not yet seen the Light of the World. Christmas time is a good time to do this.

The Christmas Story is a powerful testimony of God's faithfulness.






Acts 21:17-26

And ransom captive Israel

The Lord said to Moses ... “Then say to Pharaoh, 'This is what the Lord says: Israel is my firstborn son ... ‘”  Exodus 4:22

We have all struggled with God, haven't we? All mankind has struggled with God. That's what “Israel” means: “he struggles with God”! 

Yet God commanded Moses to refer to these struggling people – this Israel – as “my firstborn son,” a phrase that would echo throughout centuries, promises and proclamations to come. So then, who is Israel? Who is it that the God of all creation declares to be “my firstborn son”? Incrementally over time, God has shown us ...
 
As God began to reveal himself and his promises to the ancients, “Israel” referred to the people of a race, the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. And God called them, collectively, “my firstborn son.” Yet God would show us more.

For born of that lineage, was Jesus, the promised Messiah. This was the one of whom God had proclaimed in advance, “You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will display my splendor (Isaiah 49:3).” There through the prophet, Isaiah, God called the Messiah, “Israel.” He was God’s “one and only son (John 3:16)” and “the firstborn over all creation (Colossians 1:15).” Yet God would show us more.
 
For it was God’s will that all who believe in this promised Servant should live forever as one in him, with him and through him. And what do all who believe in him have in common? We are “the Israel of God (Galatians 6:16)” and included in “citizenship in Israel (Ephesians 2:12-13).” And we are “the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven (Hebrews 12:23).” And God will show us more.

For Jesus has gone to prepare a new place for us, where there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain.

And there we, the Israel of God, will struggle no more.

O come, Desire of nations, bind
In one the hearts of all mankind;
Bid Thou our sad divisions cease,
And be Thyself our King of Peace.

Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

From "O come, O come, Emmanuel"
Author Unknown

John's Birthday Song

Zechariah is no longer speechless and began vocalizing with Praise.  Luke 1:68 (NIV)  "Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come and has redeemed his people."  Zechariah prophesied the coming of Christ the Savior and he further predicted that his own son would pave the way.  What a proud and humbling moment that must have been.

During the Christmas season, so many of us struggle to teach our children the real meaning of Christmas. We have difficulty ourselves, remembering why God sent His Son.  We get caught up in the impossibility of Jesus work and forget His is God and nothing is impossible for Him. I heard a teaching at a Celebrate Recovery meeting that put this in such a great perspective for me.

It was pointed out that the holidays are not so 'merry' for many people.  The sins of the world weigh heavily during these days meant for merriment.  Many of us dread Christmas and just want it over with.There are too many unpleasant memories from times past and we replay those tapes every year.  The dark recollections may be of our behavior or someone else's, but either way they put a damper on the season.

Jesus came to change all that. The redemption He brought changes everything for us.  It is the Christmas gift and is meant to give peace [of mind], and comfort and joy. We who were listening to the recovery teaching were reminded Jesus didn't come to heal the healthy, but to bring wholeness to the sick. (Matthew 9:12-13) 

It was made clear that Christmas is for sinners, for the brokenhearted, for the sad and lonely; it is for you and for me. The point driven home was that Immanuel means God with us, and that he is with. No wonder Zechariah was prophesying with the words, "Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come and has redeemed his people."  He was aware of the difference this would make to us, as he was the proud father of the one who would prepare the people for this Christmas message.

Luke 1:67-80

It is Time to Sing

Not sure if anyone noticed, but last Monday I got ahead of myself and posted on Luke 1:5-17 which was meant for today.  Because of that I never got a chance to write on Psalm 95, so I am going to do that today.

Psalm 95:1 (NASB)  "O come, let us sing for joy to the LORD, Let us shout joyfully to the rock of our salvation."

I love to read from Psalms and study the words and then try to express how a particular Psalm is speaking to my heart that day. Often I will begin with my journal, reading through the words for the Psalm and as soon as a line or a word jumps from the page, I write that down and expound on it. I know that the Word of God is living and active. (Hebrews 4:12) I experience it daily.  Do you?

This week we are writing about Advent, the time when we prepare for the Birth of Christ.  The words from verse 6 help me to prepare for this holy time. "Come, let us worship and bow down, Let us kneel before the LORD our Maker." (Psalm 95:6 NASB)  Doesn't this line invoke a vision of the manger, the Holy Scene we see all around during this season of waiting and watching?

This week, as we begin to hear Christmas songs on the radio and in church, let's think of the words and embrace the meaning of Christmas like never before. Consider how this season is time to remember Christ's mission was to save us, to redeem us and give us New Life.  Now that is something to sing about!

Psalm 95

Luke 1: 26-38 The First Christmas Mother

"The Birth of Jesus Foretold" is the name of this section in my bible. Chills surged throughout my body as I read again, of this incredible moment in Mary's life when Angel Gabriel was sent to Nazareth with the most important message of all time! "Do not be afraid. Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High......." Can you imagine?!

As a mother, I have been on my knees many times thanking God for the undeserved blessings of my children. Words cannot express the incredible gift that dwells within that tiny being when born, or the deep, deep love that walks down the aisle with them, arm in arm on their wedding day. It is an intense love that only a mother can know. Thank you once again my God, for giving me the opportunity to serve you through motherhood. I am honored.

We experience joy, strife, happiness, uncertainty, great excitement and even greater pain when raising children. The intensity of those emotions while being a mother to the Son of God must have been overwhelming to say the least. I can see Mary overflowing with pride when Jesus healed, fed the masses, and gently carried out the Lord's plan to save the world. I can only imagine the anguish and total misery her heart ached with, as he carried that cross. Even when we know that in the long run things will be better because of an experience our children have, it still hurts us incredibly to see them suffer. Praise God for the gift of our sons and Daughters, and for the best Christmas present of all, Jesus, the son of Mary.
Jesus the Son of God!

The Virgin Shall Conceive - Isaiah 7:10-15

In a previous reading we learned that Judah's King Ahaz, an evil king, is about to be attacked by the kings of Israel and Syria. God sends Isaiah to King Ahaz to give him a message of comfort. King Ahaz doesn't expect God to intervene for him and his people, but God promises Ahaz He will protect and save Judah.

The Lord tells Ahaz to ask for a sign to verify God's promise. Ahaz refuses. So Isaiah, impatient with Ahaz, tells him of the sign he will receive from God Himself, “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel." (v 14). The virgin’s son is God who will come to earth in human form. He will be born as a descendant of David, the most famous king of Judah.

Through this promise God will be faithful to the line of David. Judah's future will be established through the birth of “Immanuel.” This was the sign, given to king Ahaz, that Judah would continue as a nation.

Today's reading shows God is faithful. He keeps his word. God's promise to King Ahaz wasn't realized during Ahaz's lifetime. It took many generations until Immanuel was born of a virgin and came in human form to be with us on earth.

This is the birth, the Son of God coming to earth, that we celebrate at Christmas. His gift of peace and hope comes to all who follow Him. He is Joy to all the world!

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