Monday, November 27. The Baby Leaped in Her Womb. Read: Luke 1:39-55

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2 Read: Luke 1:39-55 Monday, November 27 The Baby Leaped in Her Womb Mary headed out to visit her cousin Elizabeth after discovering that they both were pregnant. When Mary entered, she greeted her close relative and friend, and before Elizabeth was able to even reply to the greeting of Mary, Elizabeth s baby John leaped in her womb! What an amazing beginning to this passage! Think about the babies who are first meeting each other, with their mothers. Young Mary was carrying the baby Jesus, the Son of God, the messenger of the New Covenant. Elizabeth, Mary s older cousin, was bearing John the Baptist, the great prophet and forerunner of the Messiah. It was told of John, that he would be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother s womb (Luke 1:15). Elizabeth had every reason to believe that her baby was leaping for joy because the Son of God had entered the room! He rejoiced that his relative, the Savior of the world, had entered this world and that room! As we begin this advent time, preparing our hearts for the celebration of Jesus birth, join with baby John and rejoice that Jesus the Messiah came into this world as a baby boy, to complete our joy! (John 3:29) Consider: What is your level of joy when you are with Jesus? Pray about and consider how you can delight in the Lord over the next four weeks. 2

3 Read: Luke 1:11-20, 26-38, Tuesday, November 28 Blessed Is She Who Believed Elizabeth s words to Mary are filled with meaning and significance for us even today. In verses 26-38, the angel told Mary that she, probably no more than twelve years old and a virgin, was going to bear the Son of the Most High! And Mary, even in her astonishment at the message, believed these amazing words from the angel! Mary reacted in total contrast to Elizabeth s husband Zechariah, who had a similar visit from the same angel, but he did not believe the angel (Luke 1:20). He doubted God, even though he should have been the one more likely to believe. The contrast is stark: Zechariah was an elderly priest serving in the temple who should have known better and not doubted the angel. Whereas this young girl had every reason to doubt the angel, but she didn t. She took God at his Word and believed him. Whether Elizabeth knew it in advance or not, she proclaimed the blessing that was Mary s. Mary believed the words of the angel, as difficult as it must have been. Consider: What about you? In what area are you struggling to believe God s promises that he has given in his Word? Think about the example of Mary. Who can you encourage today, like Elizabeth did for Mary, to continue to trust that what God has said is true? 3

4 Read: Luke 1:46-49 Wednesday, November 29 My Soul Magnifies the Lord! I love this phrase! My soul magnifies the Lord! Her soul enlarged God, it made him bigger and bigger, because God was becoming larger and greater in her own mind. Let me explain by using an analogy that I have heard others use. Sometimes we think of magnification like a microscope. A microscope takes little things and makes them bigger so that they can be seen. Very small things begin to look bigger. But there is another way of thinking about magnifying an object. We need to think of magnifying the Lord like a telescope magnifies a star. Even though they are huge, stars seem small to the naked eye because they are so far away. A telescope makes them appear bigger to us, so that we can see them more clearly. So it is with God. God is awesome and huge already. For Mary, God had become bigger in her soul as she participated in God using her to fulfill his great purpose of salvation. This leads her to break forth in praise to him. This is exactly what we should be doing. God s works demand to be praised because they are so amazing! Consider: Look around and think back over this week, month, or year. What are a couple of great things that God has done in or through you? Write them down to remember them. Magnify God for them today! 4

5 Read: Luke 1:46-49 Thursday, November 30 Weakness and Might Mary is a beautiful picture of God reversing what is normal, using the small, weak, and insignificant instead of the mighty and strong. Mary was a young, unmarried woman, unconnected in terms of social status, from a small insignificant place. There was no merit in her person, her place, or her upbringing that caused God to choose her. She acknowledged her own insignificance and the insignificance of her people in her song. Kent Hughes points out this reversal in three different ways. First, there is moral reversal. Those who think they are good and superior are actually those who will be shown their inferiority. Second, in Christ, those who are at the bottom socially will be raised up and seated with Christ, while those on thrones will be brought down. Finally, in the material and spiritual world, those that recognize their poverty are more likely to recognize their need for God. God acts not on behalf of the great, rather on behalf of those who wait for him. Consider: In what areas do you need to acknowledge your weakness and depend on the might of Him who can do great things for you? Write them down and commit them to prayer, allowing the mighty God to help you, as you are humble before him. 5

6 Read: Luke 1:46-50 Friday, December 1 His Mercy Is for Those Who Fear Him Mary and Elizabeth were living in a time of waiting. God had made promises to his people, but they seemed to be far from fulfillment. It had been a long period of time since the prophets had spoken, which made the Jews wonder when God was going to act. Into that waiting period came the visit of the angel to Zechariah and Mary. As Mary meditated on the words of the angel and what was going to happen through her in the birth of her son, she was brought back to texts in the Old Testament that speak of God s covenant promises and loyalty to his chosen people. She realized that through this baby, those promises would be fulfilled. God was about to do a new thing to complete and fulfill his Word. This was all a result of his mercy and love, expressed in his commitment to his promises and his people. How could she help but rejoice! The wonder of it all is that all Christians are included, from generation to generation. If you know and fear God, then you are one of Abraham s offspring. You can have the same wonder and joy as Mary because the fulfillment of all those promises means salvation and grace for you. Consider: Meditate on the name of God, as it was revealed to Moses in Ex. 34:5-7. Thank and praise God for his grace to you, if you are one of his children. If not, trust him today. 6

7 Read: Luke 1:51-56 Saturday, December 2 Proud vs. Humble Humility runs throughout this passage and through each person in this passage. Mary humbly declared herself a slave of God in response to the angel. Elizabeth humbly received Mary, even though she was in many ways a superior to Mary. Mary humbly exalted God in her song. John the Baptist, Elizabeth s son, carried on the family trait of humility. Although he was in a position of which people followed him, he allowed that to slip away. He was not called to be the man, but rather the forerunner to the Messiah. John himself said about Jesus, He must increase, but I must decrease (John 3:30). Each one viewed themselves with humility because they looked at themselves from God s perspective. This stands to reason. As another has said, How can anyone be arrogant when he stands beside the cross? The cross is where our sinful pride melts away. God exalts and blesses those who, in humility, come to him, as Mary sang. Consider: Think about the cross on which Jesus had to suffer the humiliation of this world and die because of your sin. Allow God to work on your pride in your areas of struggle. Note those areas and pray about them today. Make time tomorrow to gather with other believers to worship God together. 7

8 Read: Luke 1:56-80 Monday, December 4 He Shall Be Called John The sound of silence was deafening for Zechariah and Elizabeth. Zechariah had not talked for nine months, although he did communicate through writing. That was how Elizabeth found out the name of the child given by the angel. In Zechariah s lack of speech, he had been able to tell Elizabeth what had happened to him in the temple. The discipline he received from God for his unbelief had taught him to trust God and take God at his word. We can know that through his acceptance of his child s name. Think about the names of each of the main characters, and how those names testify to God. Zechariah means God remembers. He remembered Zechariah s doubt and his promise to Zechariah. Elizabeth means God is faithful. Through her, God was faithful to his people. John means God is merciful. What mercy he did show! Zechariah s silence through those nine months testified to God s power and grace and mercy to you and me! Consider: How have you experienced God s discipline as grace and mercy? How did that experience help you to worship God even more fully? 8

9 Read: Luke 1:8-20, Tuesday, December 5 Immediately His Mouth Was Opened Nine months of not speaking can lead to a lot of thinking and growth in a person. The angel said he would receive back his speech when the promise was fulfilled. Did you notice, though, that Zechariah s speech was not given until a week after the baby was born? One would have thought, from Luke 1:20, that John s birth would be the time when Zechariah was allowed to speak again, but he wasn t able to speak until he acted on faith. He may have communicated the words of the angel to his wife, but he did not actually act on that faith until he wrote John on the tablet of paper. Faith was exhibited by his actions. God blessed Zechariah when he proved his trust in God s promises and wrote out the name John. Zechariah s response to receiving his voice back was to immediately praise God with that very same voice. God s grace was great to cynical Zechariah! Consider: In what areas are you doubting God and his promises? How can this Christmas be a reminder to live in trust? Write down one or two areas you need to trust him by faith. 9

10 Read: Luke 1:64-68 Wednesday, December 6 Blessed Be the Lord Notice Zechariah s first words when he is able to speak again, what he does and does not say. He did not immediately praise God that he had received his voice back. He first praised God for his plan of redemption. Zechariah s first words are worship of God s plan, expressing belief in God s statement through the angel. Once he believed, he had to worship, because whenever we know what God has done for our salvation, we are compelled to praise him for it (Philip Ryken). His worship wasn t focused on worshipping God for giving him back his voice, rather Zechariah worshipped God for something bigger. God planned to enter the world, and Zechariah s son John was going to prepare the way for God s Son. That is amazing news! God intervened in a broken world to bring hope and show mercy to fallen people. God chose to do this through Zechariah, cynical and unbelieving at first, but eventually brought to worship and praise. Consider: In what ways are you stuck in your personal difficulties, and are missing God s greater grace and mercy? Take some time alone to think how God has blessed you through his Son. 10

11 Read: Luke 1:69-71 Thursday, December 7 Saved from Our Enemies Enemies. That word took on a different tone for Jewish people in the first century. Their enemies, the Romans, lived in their towns and cities, ruling over them and oppressing them. Other nations and peoples hated Israel and often fought against them. War was common for most of their existence. Into this time came the horn of salvation. The horn symbolized the animal s strength, like a bull, to be victorious. The role of the horn of salvation was to save and deliver the people from their enemies, both physical and spiritual, by the strength of the promised Messiah. At that time, the people were hoping for deliverance from the Romans. God will, at times, deliver us from political enemies and relational enemies, but even more so, he will deliver us from our ultimate enemy, the devil. The horn of salvation, Jesus Christ, is powerful enough to defeat the toughest enemies, sin and death and hell and Satan. He showed that power by rising from the dead. Praise God for his mighty power! Consider: The gospel is the power of God for all who believe (Rom. 1:16). Jesus exhibited God s power in this world. Think about and praise God for his power on your behalf. 11

12 Friday, December 8 Serve Him Without Fear Read: Luke 1:72-75 The deliverance from their enemies was a deliverance from cruel and harsh taskmasters that were served in fear, especially the spiritual bondage we all serve without Christ. God s service is different. We worship, follow, and serve a loving God with reverence and awe. We can serve the Lord with gladness (Ps. 100:2), as a patient serves his doctor by following his instructions in order to get well. The punishment has been paid and we are completely free. Not free, though, to do whatever we want. Our freedom brings with it a new desire to follow a new master. Our lives should be lived through right actions in the obedience of faith, before the face of God. All of this, according to verse 73, has been granted or given to us. We didn t earn or deserve this new freedom and new service. God gave it to us through the coming of his Son, Jesus. The gift of serving God is part of the gift of salvation, granted to us by our wise and loving King. Consider: Pray that the enemy of our souls will not to win in the lives of those who need to know God. Think about the areas you need to trust and walk in the obedience of faith. 12

13 Read: Luke 1:76-79 Saturday, December 9 To Prepare His Way Have you ever traveled on a road that was so rough that it made it really hard to travel? What needed to be done to make the road better? Zechariah finished his song by pronouncing a blessing on his son and prophesying about the ministry of his son to prepare the way for Jesus. How was the way unprepared? When you think about it in relation to traveling on a road, preparing the way would be to make the road smooth, getting rid of all obstructions that might make travel difficult or impossible. We can think of John s role in a similar way. John s preparation is summarized in 1:77. The people had a wrong understanding of the work of the Messiah. They thought he would rid them of their enemies, the Romans. God was saying that their obstruction was not political, but spiritual. It is sin that stands in the way of salvation. We must be made aware of our sin and the forgiveness that God offers before we understand our need for salvation and the peace that God provides. John s role was to prepare hearts for the Gospel that Jesus would preach and still preaches. Consider: Have you understood the depth of your sin and your need for forgiveness from God? I invite you to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved. If you do trust Christ as Lord and Savior, how can God use you like John to prepare the way in others lives? 13

14 Monday, December 11 God of History Read: Luke 2:1-5 Our passage this week, Luke 2:1-20, is very familiar, but does not cease to amaze. Consider today how Luke shows us God s control over history. In that time period, there was no taxation without registration. This meant families had to return to the birthplace of the father s family. When Caesar called for all the world to be taxed, this meant that Joseph and his family had to travel. Their family s birthplace was in Bethlehem. Joseph and Mary had to travel to Bethlehem, but that didn t occur before they were married or after the birth of the baby, but precisely when Mary was great with child. They traveled to the city of David, since Joseph himself was related to David. This all came together to fulfill all God had planned, at precisely the right time, as Micah had prophesied hundreds of years earlier in Micah 5:2. God worked throughout the course of history to prepare this precise time in history to enter into our world. He did it at just the right time (Gal. 4:4-5; Rom. 5:6). God planned it all, right down to the details. The same God still controls our time and our history. Consider: As it did then, so now it seems like history is out of our control. The events surrounding Jesus birth shows us the opposite. How can you praise God today for his control of history? 14

15 Read: Luke 2:4-7; John 1:14-18 Tuesday, December 12 The Real Humanity of Jesus God became a man. Jesus was a baby boy. Take some time to consider how amazing and unfathomable is this truth! God entered this world as a man, fully God and fully man. Jesus cried, he slept, he had to be fed and changed and burped. He experienced humanity just as each of us. We call this the Incarnation. The glorious Word became flesh and dwelled among us (John 1:14). Think about the depths to which Jesus stooped to be God with us. He left the right hand of the throne of God to be wrapped in a dirty cloth and be placed in a feed trough, amongst animals and manure and nasty smells and hay. He subjected himself to the creation that he made. He became needy to help those in great need. Unspeakably wise, He is wisely speechless. (Augustine) Fragile finger sent to heal us, Tender brow prepared for thorn, Tiny heart whose blood will save us, Unto us is born, Unto us is born. (Chris Rice) Great is the mystery of godliness! (1 Tim. 3:16) Consider: Heb. 2: He had to be made like us to help us. Praise God for the humanity of his son, and think about how important that truth is to you today. 15

16 Read: Luke 2:8-15 Wednesday, December 13 The Lowly Shepherds Why did God choose to reveal his Son to shepherds? Some think that because David was a shepherd, God wanted to reveal himself to the same kind of people. Others point to a prophecy in Jer. 33:13-16 that speaks of God sending his Messiah to shepherds watching their flocks. Still others say that the shepherds were special because they were watching sheep designated for sacrifice in the temple. Most likely it seems that the shepherds were chosen because they were lowly outcasts. Shepherds were not well respected. They were not much higher than lepers in social rank. They were unclean and their testimony wasn t even permitted in court, because they could not be trusted. Just as God chose lowly Mary to bear his Son, so he chose lowly shepherds to worship his Son. As Mary sang in Luke 1:52, God desires to exalt the lowly and humble, like you and me! Consider: The humanity of Jesus, the humility of Mary, and the lowly nature of the shepherds all testify to the great grace and mercy God has shown in Jesus. Take some time to worship God and note how he has shown mercy to you. 16

17 Read: Luke 2:10-12 Thursday, December 14 Good News of Great Joy! The statement of the angel in Luke 2:10-11 is the gospel according to the angels, writes Philip Ryken. Let s think about this gospel as we approach Christmas. This is God s gospel. The appearance of his angels brings fear and awe, because of their amazing nature and their amazing message. The shepherds were scared! The news from God, though, was not frightening. Their news was good and joyful! It was good news the gospel means good news. It was joyful news as well. It is good and joyful news because the news tells of a Savior for all people. The news is not limited to the high, rich, mighty or valuable in this world. The good news is for all types and kinds of people, beginning with lowly shepherds. It is good news because it heralds forgiveness for the sinner and final payment and sacrifice for our sins. Just as the news began, so it ends with reference to God. As God sent this gospel, so the gospel came as God became man. He is Christ (Messiah) the Lord! Consider: Have you responded to this good news? If you haven t, do so today. If you have, continue to think about how you can continue to live by the good news the angels brought. 17

18 Friday, December 15 Glory to God in the Highest! Read: Luke 2:13-14 The chorus of angels could not help but sing praise to God at the news they had just delivered. One angel brought it, but a whole host of angels praised God for it. This is only right, because the news proclaimed is about the greatest act that God has ever performed. Now is come the highest degree of glory to God, by the appearing of His Son Jesus Christ in the world. He, by His life and death on the cross, will glorify God s attributes - justice, holiness, mercy, and wisdom - as they were never glorified before (J. C. Ryle). God, in this act, has gone public with his infinite worth. He has shown, through his Son, his greatness and power and splendor, just how wonderful he is. His wonder is even more apparent in that he has chosen to show his greatness to the weak and insignificant and lowly. God should be praised! Consider: Give God credit today for what he has done in and through his Son. Spend some time doing that now and throughout the day. 18

19 Read: Luke 2:15-20 Saturday, December 16 And All Who Heard It Wondered These events were amazing, but only the shepherds experienced every part of the events that took place in Luke 2:8-20. The shepherds felt compelled, after they saw the baby, to tell what they had been told about the child. Their story brought different responses from different people. Verse 18 states that, all who heard it wondered. Some wondered and didn t know what to think. Others heard it and may have had trouble believing the shepherds. Still others may have thought the shepherds crazy. A few may have even believed the shepherds and believed in Jesus as a result. Mary heard it, and she treasured and pondered. She preserved what was said in her mind. She believed the good news by faith and held onto the words of the shepherds. Mary still did not understand it all, though. She continued to ponder it all, plumbing the depths of all that had happened, its meaning and significance, probably throughout her life. She allowed the Holy Spirit to continue to teach her. Consider: What are you doing with the words of the shepherds? How can you follow their example this Christmas? 19

20 Read: Luke 2:21-38 Monday, December 18 Simeon and Anna We don t often spend time on the events immediately following the birth of Jesus, but Luke includes them as an important part of the birth of Jesus. As we approach Christmas morning this year, let s think about the response of two obscure people to the birth of Jesus, and how their response impacts us. Luke often works in pairs Zechariah and Mary received a visit from Gabriel; Mary and Elizabeth were pregnant together; the birth of John and Jesus paralleled were by Luke; and finally these two prophets, Simeon and Anna, in the temple. Why these two people? It s hard to say, because nothing much is told about them. The only details mentioned that Simeon and Anna had in common were that they worshipped God devoutly and they were both waiting (2:25, 38). Simeon and Anna were insignificant people. They spent their time in the temple, with God, worshipping him and waiting for God s promises to be fulfilled. They were confident in God, not because it gave them fame or credit, merely because that is what faithful followers of Christ did. Simple people with a simple faith. That s precisely why Luke mentions Simeon and Anna. Consider: The Christian life is a long obedience moving in the same direction. How are Simeon and Anna an encouragement to you to live simply, quietly and faithfully following God? 20

21 Read: Luke 2:25-29 Tuesday, December 19 Simeon What do we learn about Simeon? First, I believe he was a man of character. He is called righteous and devout. He was righteous towards people and devout in religious duties. Luke noticed these character qualities. Second, he was a man with a calling. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel. Israel had suffered great discouragement. They were exiled to a foreign land, brought back to a land that was in shambles, with God silent for four hundred years. They needed God s encouragement or consolation, that their sins were forgiven and their weakness would again be made strong. God sent this consolation through his Messiah (Isa. 40:1-2) to Simeon. Third, Simeon was a man of God s choice the Holy Spirit was upon him. God told Simeon that he would see this Messiah before he died, so he waited. Finally, his waiting was fulfilled. The Spirit led him directly to Mary and Joseph, and he rejoiced in this answer to prayer. Consider: Jesus is the answer the one who each person is waiting for. How has Jesus fulfilled your hope? What do you need to continue to wait on Him? 21

22 Read: Luke 2:28-32 Wednesday, December 20 Light and Glory Simeon concludes his song with this phrase, stating that God s salvation is a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel (Luke 2:32). Simeon s joy was in seeing the gospel promises fulfilled. Through this passage we can find at least three insights into prayer that God would want us to learn today: prayer depends on the gospel for its foundation, its focus, and its fulfillment. What do I mean by the gospel? The gospel is the good news of God s saving power in and through the person of Jesus Christ, and the ramifications of that for the entire life of the believer. It is God s will for his kingdom to come and his will to be done on earth, and the prayers of Simeon and Anna, as well as our prayers, should be dependent on the gospel. Simeon s prayers were based upon the gospel as their foundation. He wanted to see the glory of God spread to all nations. He focused his prayers on the gospel, and on the fulfillment of these gospel promises, that through the children of Abraham all nations would be blessed. The gospel shaped his prayers and his waiting. Consider: Think about how you are praying this Christmas? Intentionally focus your prayers on the spread of the gospel, and pray that God will use you. 22

23 Read: Luke 2:33-35 Thursday, December 21 Difficult Words The coming of Jesus didn t end at the manger, but that s where it often stops at Christmas time. Jesus was born to die on the cross, and Simeon finished his words to Mary with words that pointed towards Jesus death. Jesus coming brought division as well as joy. Those who were humbled would be raised up, but the proud would fall, opposing Jesus and his teaching. These are the difficult words that were part of his joyful birth. Angels and shepherds rejoiced, while religious leaders and teachers would later plot to have him put to death. Not more than two years after he was born, Herod annihilated all the children two years and younger in the area in order to try to kill the toddler Jesus. Their hearts were revealed they did not believe in God s Son. Simeon also had specific words for Mary. Her son s death on the cross would be as great a sorrow as his birth in the manger was a joy. Mary pondered these words as well, only later to fully learn their ramifications. But even through the sorrow of his death, joy came in the morning. Consider: Christmas may be difficult for you, as it was for Mary years later. How is your heart today? Think about the cross, both the sorrow and the victory, as you approach Christmas. 23

24 Friday, December 22 Anna Read: Luke 2:36-37 What is it like to lose someone you love, and then spend the next six to eight decades alone, praying? What is it like to wait for something promised, but seemingly not fulfilled? As one author describes, between hope and reality there is a desert of waiting and wondering, a dry and parched land where there is no water. We know a little more about Anna than Simeon, but not much. She was a female prophet. Her name means grace or favor, and the tribe that she was from, Asher, could be translated as good fortune, but her life didn t seem to be favored. After only being married seven years, her husband died, leaving her a widow for more than 60 years,, possibly even 84 years. For all those years she was in the temple for the evening and morning sacrifices alone, worshipping God with prayer and fasting. Who knows what kind of pain she experienced at her loss and through the years of being by herself. Hope in God s redemption alone sustained her. That hope did not disappoint. She recognized her Redeemer, and she became one of the first evangelists. Through her difficulty she saw what really mattered. Consider: What really matters to you? How can your renewed hope in God s redemption change your focus this Christmas? 24

25 Read: Luke 2:1-11; Ps. 98:4, 8-9 Saturday, December 23 Joy to the World! What God has done in Christ demands to be praised. It is not enough simply to say what God has done to save us what he has done needs to be celebrated in song (Leland Ryken). The past four weeks we have been considering Songs for the Savior as found in Scripture. These last two days before Christmas we are going to use two familiar songs to praise Jesus. Isaac Watts was born in He was a very intelligent person who also cared a great deal about spiritual truth and saw the importance of singing and worship. He was not happy with the awful Psalmsinging of his time. When he was challenged to write something better than what was currently sung, he rose to the occasion and started writing hymns. He wrote more than 750 by the end of his life. Watts wanted people to know the joy of the King and Savior, Jesus, who has come to free us from the curse of sin and judge the world in a right way. Joy to the World! is composed from Psalm 98:4 as a way to teach people this truth through song. As we sing that the Lord has come and the Savior reigns, we also sing that he comes to make His blessings flow as far as the curse is found. Watts leads us in rejoicing that Jesus rules the world with truth and grace, and makes the nations prove the glories of His righteousness, and wonders of His love. Consider: Meditate on the words of Joy to the World! that Watts composed (on page 27) in order to help you remember the truth of the Savior s work this Christmas. Jot down what is most important to you in this Christmas carol. 25

26 Sunday, December 24 Hark! The Herald Angels Sing! Read: Luke 2:10-14; Isa. 9:6-7; Mal. 4:1-4 Charles Wesley writes that he composed hymns so that men and women might sing their way, not only into experience, but also into knowledge; that the cultured might have their culture baptized and the ignorant might be led into truth by the gentle hand of melody and rhyme. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing is one of the four most popular hymns in the English language, and it teaches us about God through poetry. The first verse teaches us that Jesus was born so that we could have a relationship with God again or be reconciled even though we sinned against Him. Verse 2 teaches that Jesus is God with us Emmanuel. He is God in human flesh and bones. In verse 3, ee also sing about the titles of Jesus Prince of Peace from Isaiah, Son of Righteousness from Malachi. Jesus came to earth to heal us from our sins. He laid aside his glory to be born a man so that men would not die anymore. Wesley encouraged people to sing this hymn heartily with good courage and see that the heart is offered to God continually. Consider: What Christmas carol expresses your Song for the Savior? How has God shown you his greatness and his glory this Christmas? Rejoice in him today as you prepare to celebrate his birth. 26

27 Joy to the World! The Lord is come Let earth receive her King Let every heart Prepare Him room And heaven and nature sing Joy to the World! He rules the World! With truth and grace And makes the nations prove The glories of His righteousness And wonders of His love Joy to the World! The Savior reigns Let men their songs employ While fields and floods Rocks, hills, and plains Repeat the sounding joy Hark! The Herald Angels Sing! Hark! The herald angels sing, Glory to the newborn King; Peace on earth, and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled! Joyful, all ye nations rise, Join the triumphs of the skies; With angelic host proclaim, Christ is born in Bethlehem! Hark! The herald angels sing, Glory to the newborn King. Christ by highest heaven adored; Christ the everlasting Lord! Late in time behold Him come, Off-spring of the virgin s womb: Veiled in flesh the God-head see; Hail the incarnate Deity, Pleased as man with men to dwell, Jesus, our Emmanuel. Hark! The herald angels sing, Glory to the newborn King. Hail the heaven born Prince of Peace! Hail the Son of Righteousness! Light and life to all he brings, Risen with healing in His wings. Mild He lays His glory by, Born that men no more may die, Born to raise the sons of earth, born to give them second birth. Hark! The herald angels sing, Glory to the newborn King. Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. 27

28 The Christmas season often catches us unprepared and overwhelmed with all the things we have to do. So much so, that we don t prepare our hearts to worship at Christmas. I often start preparing my heart by listening to Christmas music. In the same way, God has given us songs in the gospel of Luke to accomplish this heart preparation. This devotional will cover four of these songs in the four weeks leading up to Christmas Day. Week one, we will consider the song of Mary, as she visits Elizabeth. Week two looks at the song of Zechariah, after the birth of his son John. In week three, we will hear the angels sing as they visit the shepherds in the field. And in week four, we will hear Simeon sing of the Savior, and we will meditate on two familiar Christmas carols. You will find enclosed, devotionals for Monday-Saturday of each week, along with a devotional for Christmas Eve. Through these brief, daily Scripture meditations, I hope that you will be encouraged towards a greater focus on our Savior this Christmas, so that you are able to sing along with Mary and the angels, My soul magnifies the Lord! Glory to the newborn King! Christmas blessings, Pastor Craig Johnson 28