Advent and Christmas Devotions for Young and Old. Lyle Luchterhand. NORTHWESTERN PUBLISHING HOUSE Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Transcription

1 Advent and Christmas Devotions for Young and Old Lyle Luchterhand NORTHWESTERN PUBLISHING HOUSE Milwaukee, Wisconsin

2 Art Director: Karen Knutson Designer: Pamela Dunn Scripture is taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved. All rights reserved. This publication may not be copied, photocopied, reproduced, translated, or converted to any electronic or machinereadable form in whole or in part, except for brief quotations, without prior written approval from the publisher. Northwestern Publishing House 1250 N. 113th St., Milwaukee, WI by Northwestern Publishing House Published 2009 Printed in the United States of America ISBN

3 To my sons, who followed me into the ministry to the Savior s joy and mine.

4 CONTENTS INTRODUCTION 1 EDITOR S NOTE 3 A Prophet Like Moses (Deuteronomy 18:15) 4 Shhh, Just Listen! (Matthew 17:5) 6 Only One Way (John 6:68) 8 Beautiful Feet (Romans 10:15) 10 While You re Waiting,... (1 Timothy 4:13) 12 Someone Special (John 5:39) 14 Light Vs. Darkness (Psalm 119:105) 16 God s Word Is Truth (John 17:17) 18 Doubts Overcome (Luke 1:76,77) 20 Light to Everyone (John 1:6-9) 22 God s Ultimate Revelation (John 1:14) 24 Hand Selected (Matthew 28:18-20) 26 Use His Words (Exodus 4:12) 28 Fix Your Thoughts on Jesus (Hebrews 3:1) 30 Our Mediator (Hebrews 5:1) 32 Never Without Blood (Hebrews 9:7) 34 Dressed in Flesh and Blood (Exodus 40:13) 36

5 The World s Lamb (John 1:29) 38 Our Atoning Sacrifice (1 John 2:2) 40 Perfect in Every Way (Hebrews 7:26,27) 42 A Limit to Self-Sufficiency (Isaiah 53:5) 44 The Big Day Is Coming! (Romans 8:34) 46 In Your Shoes (Hebrews 4:15) 48 Like Father, Like Son (Ephesians 5:1,2) 50 Me, a Priest? (1 Peter 2:5) 52 A Perfect King (Isaiah 9:6,7) 54 God With Us (Matthew 1:20-23) 56 A Child Sent to Do a Man s Job (Galatians 4:4) 58 Christmas in a Barn (Luke 2:15-18,20) 60 The King of Truth (John 18:36,37) 62 A Humble King (Philippians 2:6-8) 64 A Shepherd King (John 10:11) 66 Good News or Bad? (Matthew 2:1-6) 68 What Wise Men Do (Matthew 2:11) 70 King Jesus (Psalm 45:1-6) 72 The Lord Our Righteousness (Jeremiah 23:5,6) 74 A King Most Worthy of Praise (1 Chronicles 29:11) 76 King Over All (Philippians 2:9-11) 78 His Kingdom of Power (Acts 10:38) 80 His Kingdom of Grace (1 Corinthians 15:9,10) 82 His Kingdom of Glory (Revelation 5:12,13) 84

6 INTRODUCTION Have you ever wondered how we chose December 25 as the day for celebrating Christmas? We actually do not know the month and day of Christ s birth. A man named Hippo lytus, who lived about A.D. 200, is thought to be the first person to settle on December 25 as the birthday of Christ. He believed that the time of Christ s life from his conception to his crucifixion was exactly 33 years. Having determined to his own satisfaction that both these events took place on March 25, he simply added nine months to get the day of Jesus birth, December 25. After the Roman Emperor Constantine was converted to faith in Christ, Christianity became the state religion. Since the heathen Romans had been accustomed to marking the birth of the sun on December 25, it seemed appropriate to replace that holiday with the birth of Jesus, the sun of right eousness (Malachi 4:2). Most of Christianity has celebrated Christmas on December 25 ever since. In about A.D. 525 a monk named Dionysius Exiguus developed our system of historical dating. To reflect the importance of Christ Jesus, Dionysius attempted to relate all of history to Jesus birth. Events before the birth of Christ were dated B.C. or Before Christ. Events after the birth of Christ were dated A.D. or Anno Domini, which is Latin for in the year of the Lord. In spite of his good intentions, it is now apparent that Dionysius made an error in his calculations and that Christ Jesus was born several years earlier than he had supposed. We know from historical documents that Herod died in 4 B.C. Since Christ was born before Herod s death, his birth must have occurred earlier than 4 B.C. Herod s command to kill all the babies in Bethlehem two years old and under suggests that the birth of Christ may have occurred in 5 or 6 B.C. In the last analysis, it is not important to know the exact date of Christ s birth. However, it is important that we cele brate his coming. Jesus Christ is the most important person who ever lived! He is unique. He is the person of the Trinity who took human flesh upon himself to become the God-man. 1

7 As the God-man, he redeemed us from sin, con quered death, and defeated Satan. He did this marvelous work in his office as the Anointed One. The term Anointed One has its origin in the Old Testament. Great leaders of the Old Testament were anointed into office. Elisha was anointed to be a prophet. Aaron was anointed to serve as high priest in Israel. David was anointed to be Israel s king. God also promised to send the great Anointed One 1 to be the world s Savior. Jesus was that promised Anointed One. The angels confirmed his identity as the Christ to the shepherds in Luke 2:11. And the miracles he did during his lifetime provided ample evidence for supporting his claim (Matthew 11:2-6; Isaiah 35:5,6; 61:1). As the great Anointed One, Jesus performed works similar to but far greater than those of the Old Testament prophets, priests, and kings. As our Prophet, Jesus came to preach the gospel of salvation, proclaiming that the time of God s deliverance had come. He still serves as our Prophet today by sending pastors and teachers to proclaim the good news of God s love and forgiveness. As our Priest, he offered himself as the onetime sacrifice for the sins of all people. Today he still serves as our Priest by interceding for us before the throne of his heavenly Father. As our King, he fought for us against our enemies, defeating sin, death, and the devil. Even now, as our King, he not only rules in our hearts but also rules over this world in the interest of his church. It is fitting for us to set aside the seasons of Advent and Christmas to thank God for sending his great Anointed One. This is also a good time to consider what Christ has done for us as our Prophet, Priest, and King. There can be no better way to ponder what God s great Anointed One has done than to conduct regular family devotions during the holiday season. We pray that the following devotions will strengthen your faith and give you an even greater appreciation for what Jesus, the Lord s Anointed, has done for you. 1 The Old Testament Hebrew word is translated as Messiah. In the Greek New Testament, the word is translated as Christ. 2

8 EDITOR S NOTE Suggested dates have been added to the devotions for those who wish to be in sync with the church year calendar. Use the following schedule to determine the beginning of Advent in subsequent years November November December December November November November December December December November 29 3

9 November 27 A PROPHET LIKE MOSES THE LORD YOUR GOD WILL RAISE UP FOR YOU A PROPHET LIKE ME FROM AMONG YOUR OWN BROTHERS. YOU MUST LISTEN TO HIM (DEUTERONOMY 18:15). We seem to spend half our lives waiting. Waiting in line at the checkout counter, waiting at a stoplight, waiting to get into the bathroom, waiting for people who are late for an appointment. We hate waiting. We love , microwave ovens, and fast-food restaurants. We love people who are always on time. Let s face it we re addicted to instant gratification. The Israelites waited four hundred years for Moses to come and deliver them from their slavery in Egypt. They knew they would someday possess the Promised Land. God himself had issued the covenant-prophecy to Abraham, assuming his decendants wouldn t remain in Egypt forever. But four hundred years was a long time to wait. Many generations died in poverty, misery, and slavery in Egypt before their deliverer finally came. Moses was not only the Israelites deliverer; he was also their prophet. As their prophet, he spoke God s Word to them and relayed God s messages to them. The Israelites were happy to have Moses stand between them and God, deliv ering God s messages. They remembered the thunder, lightning, and smoke of Mount Sinai. They were terrified when God met with them on the mountain. They said to Moses, Speak to us yourself and we will listen. But do not have God speak to us or we will die (Exodus 20:19). 4

10 Imagine the Israelites reaction when they learned that God would raise up another prophet like Moses from among them. Who would that prophet be? And what would he tell them? God s people waited for that promised Prophet for 1,500 years. But when Jesus came, they were not disappointed. Jesus was far superior to Moses. Though Moses talked with God face to face, as a man talks to his friend, Jesus had an even closer relationship with God. He was God s Son. Moses was a sinner and, because of his sins, was not allowed to enter the Promised Land. Jesus was the spotless Lamb of God, welcomed into heaven itself and invited to sit at the right hand of God. Other factors point to Jesus superiority. Moses, by God s power, rescued tiny Israel. But Jesus, by his own divine power, rescued the whole world. Moses brought liberty to slaves in Egypt; Jesus brought liberty to slaves of sin. Moses presented God s condemning law on two tables of stone; Jesus revealed the full measure of God s grace and mercy in the gospel. His message about God s love and forgiveness gives us hope. Today we wait for Jesus to come again. We not only wait to celebrate his birth at Christmas, but we also wait for his Second Coming. Unlike the Israelites, we know exactly who is coming and why he is coming. He is our loving Savior and Redeemer, and he comes to rescue us from everything that brings misery to our lives. He comes to take us to heaven. However long we wait for him, we will not be disappointed. Blessed Jesus, thank you for coming as the Lord s Anointed and our great Prophet. Thank you for revealing to us the wonderful grace and mercy of God. Amen. 5

11 November 28 SHHH, JUST LISTEN! WHILE HE WAS STILL SPEAKING, A BRIGHT CLOUD ENVELOPED THEM, AND A VOICE FROM THE CLOUD SAID, THIS IS MY SON, WHOM I LOVE; WITH HIM I AM WELL PLEASED. LISTEN TO HIM! (MATTHEW 17:5). It pays to listen. When a mother patiently explains to her toddler that it isn t good to leave her side and run out into traffic, it pays to listen. When tour guides at the Grand Canyon warn people not to climb over the railings, it pays to listen. When the lucky number for the prize of a lifetime is about to be announced, it pays to listen. We re not always good at listening. There are too many voices competing for our attention. Too much cheap, unso licited advice. A multitude of shaky opinions. A steady stream of contradictory judgments batters our ears and clouds our minds until we say, Enough, already! Don t you think I know what I m doing? But we don t always know what we re doing. It s important to listen to people who love you and people more experienced than you are. It s especially important that you listen to Jesus. At Jesus transfiguration the Father placed his stamp of approval on Jesus teachings. He proclaimed that in Jesus he is well pleased. Jesus is his Son. Jesus is that special Prophet, the Lord s Anointed, whom God sent to show you that the Father s heart is bursting with love for you. 6

12 But are you listening to Jesus? He reminds you of the importance of your soul. If you were to gain the whole world but lose your own soul, you would profit nothing. Does the way you live show that the eternal welfare of your soul is your highest priority? Or, are you too often distracted by things that sinners like us can get caught up in? When Jesus encourages, Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom (Luke 12:32), do you still allow fears to intrude in your life? Are you still working to earn the kingdom, or have you received it as a free gift through the sufferings and death of Jesus? Whether you have good health or chronic illness, whether friends are faithful or fickle, whether life is a bowl of cherries or a plate of rotten eggs, do you believe Jesus promise that he will always be with you? When the bottom drops out of your life, when the wheels come off and the roof falls in, do you still believe Jesus promise that in all things God works for the good of those who love him (Romans 8:28)? Listen to Jesus when he reveals the Father s heart of love. Listen to Jesus and believe! Many are led astray by voices that urge them to save themselves. Many follow the crowds and chase after the fool s gold of worldly riches. Many listen to their sinful nature and climb the ladder of earthly success, all the while neglecting the needs of their souls. Don t make those mistakes. Listen to Jesus. Follow his loving advice. Follow his voice all the way to heaven. Lord Jesus, give me ears to listen to you and a heart that trusts in your gracious promises. Amen. 7