The Birth of Jesus

 Prayer Practice

Breath Prayer – Take 2-3 minutes today to pray a simple breath prayer. Get somewhere quiet and relaxing. Breathe in deeply, and then breathe out fully. As you breathe in, ask God to fill you with His presence, grace, love, peace, etc. Consider using the list of spiritual fruit in Galatians 5:22-23. As you breathe out, offer to God the things you need Him to take from you – sin, doubt, shame, anxiety, fear, etc. Pray this way for just a few minutes, trusting God to work, and then begin reading today’s Scripture.

DAILY READING

Luke 2

REFLECTION

Affected

 by Kelsey Bacon

This is now the third week in a row that I have written about the birth of Jesus. Go ahead, you can look back over the last two weeks of Daily Worship and find that for three Thursdays in a row, the title of our reading has been "The Birth of Jesus." Or you can just believe me. At first, when I got this assignment once again, I was annoyed. I was getting tired of this Christmas story, one that I'd already heard and read and heard spoken of several times over the Christmas season. And now, as we're diving into Luke as a church, here we are again, back at the birth of Jesus.

But isn't it funny how God takes things and makes them new? How God brings new light and life to old things? As I read and reread these verses, Jesus opened my eyes to see the passage in a way I hadn't before.

As I read this chapter, I began to make a list of all the people that Jesus affected before he was even a teenager. This one chapter highlights the first twelve years of his life, leaving out most of it, but still in those twelve years he affects so many people around him.

Jesus affects Mary and Joseph, his earthly parents. He affects the shepherds the night he was born, who are changed. He affects Simeon, who has waited his whole life to meet his savior. He affects Anna, who sees the truth of who he is. He affects the rabbis at the temple, whom he astounds with his knowledge and love of God. And he again affects Mary, his mother who treasures all these moments up in her heart, knowing that this son she loves is not truly hers.

Within the first twelve years of his life on earth, Jesus has already impacted so many people, and these are just the ones that we hear about. Imagine how many more people were astounded by him? How many more people were taken aback by him? How many more encounters did he have that made Mary treasure the precious little time she had with her son?

The way Jesus affects people, even as a child, is striking, and it affected me today as I read this passage, thinking that I would get nothing out of it because I had read it so many times. So I encourage you today to let Jesus affect you, to be open to what he as for you, because you never know how he will deliver his blessings.  

Advent is Over...But We're Still Longing

Luke 2:21-32

Today’s story is an interesting one—not one that you hear about very often. It is just a small piece of the arc of redemption, a hint of hope for the future, and foretelling of the salvation to come. In this passage we meet Simeon, a man who has been waiting for Israel’s savior. In fact, he has been told by God that he will meet the savior at some point in his life. So when Jesus is brought to the temple, Simeon is inspired by the Spirit to go and he meets Jesus. The praises that Simeon utters at this moment are so moving to me,

 “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.”

Simeon feels total and complete peace and joy, because there is hope for the world right there in his arms. The waiting is over, the longing is ended—the next chapter is beginning at last.

Advent is over. Christmas is over. We waited, we celebrated, so now what? This next month can sometimes feel so flat or motionless as we struggle to get going into next year. And the difficult part of it is this: the season of Advent is over, but we are still waiting. We are still longing. We are still anticipating Jesus to come and redeem a world that seems so lost and hopeless. We are in the already of Jesus’ saving grace, and the not yet of his returning promise. So as we move forward out of this time, ask yourself: how is God showing up for me right here, right now? There might be things you are waiting for, things you’ve asked God for and he’s said, “Not yet, dear one.” But how is God meeting you exactly where you are and cradling you, like Simeon cradled baby Jesus in the temple on that day two thousand years ago? Though we still have longing and waiting, Jesus is in our midst to guide us through.

Reflect:

How is God showing up for you, meeting you exactly where you are?

What are you waiting or longing for, and how is God answering that longing? Seek his true answers, not answers that you want or feel like you deserve. Ask God to show you his will.

Silent Night, Holy Night

December 24                                         Fourth Sunday of Advent         
          

Scripture Reading
Read Luke 2:1-20 and reflect on the passage.

"You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." Jesus comes in both surprising and meek circumstances, born to unwelcome travelers in the midst of squalor, and celebrated by shepherds who were not a great ceremonial court. An angel brings to the shepherds "good news of great joy for all the people." This hope that Christ brings is for all people, and even this tender Infant is already transforming the lives of others. The shepherds see the baby King and leave worshiping and rejoicing.

For those outside the church, this message of good news can feel burdensome or heavy. It flies in the face of what is strategic or logical. What images come to mind when you hear the word "king"? All the Medieval tales and real-life monarchies are very different from what we find in King Jesus. Unlike earthly rulers who want to use power for their own glory, our King came to give up everything He had for our good (Phil. 2). Our hope is tied to this baby – God's faithful delivery on a long-ago promise. Glory to the newborn King!

Question

The glory of Jesus’ birth is announced to shepherds. Can you imagine the thrill of hearing that the Savior of the world has been born? 

What emotions and thoughts might flood your mind? How is God leading you or your family to enjoy Christmas this year? How does this message of hope impact your worship, gift-giving, and gatherings?

Prayer

Dear God, thank you for this chance to celebrate Jesus' birthday. May the hope You have given us overflow to others. All glory to You!

                                                                                                Aaron Thompson and David White

Deuteronomy 18:18; Matthew 21:11

"I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their fellow Israelites, and I will put my words in his mouth. He will tell them everything I command him." (Deuteronomy 18:18)

God promises us so much, and we can count on every word.  His promise to send the ultimate prophet was fulfilled in Jesus.  Take note of the last sentence above, "He will tell them everything I command him." Jesus was referred to by His disciples as TEACHER, and rightfully so.  As new Christians or followers of Christ for many years, there is always much to learn.

God sent Jesus to teach us the way; the way to eternal life, the way to happiness, peace, hope and joy.  We are reminded of this every year during the Christmas season.  It seems even the grumpiest of us will grin a little, the saddest among us will sense a bit of happiness and the lost will get a glimmer of hope by hearing the greatest story ever told.

Just watch a child on Christmas morning, first as they open gifts and later in the day as they act out their role in a Christmas pageant or sing in the kids choir.  They are learning from the baby Jesus.  Perhaps this is another reason Jesus said, "you must become like little children..."  Christmas truly is for kids, and the kid in all of us.

This week you can listen to the Christmas Story here.