Glory to God in the Highest: The Birth of Jesus
Weekly Devotional 12.23.2024

“Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Luke 2:11-12

The Château de Versailles is unlike any other palace and stands in stark contrast to the birthplace of King Jesus. Instead of an elaborate palace with curated gardens, Jesus was born in a humble stall. The true King’s birthplace wasn’t filled with marble floors and gold leaf furniture, but instead a feeding trough for animals where He was wrapped with strips of cloth. The promised Messiah came in the most mundane and humble way, and yet, heaven and earth marveled and exalted His birth, giving praise and glory to God for the arrival of the Lord of Lords and King of Kings. Everything about the arrival of the Savior was humble and meek.

Discover Joy - Luke 2:8-14 - Dr. Jeff Raines

We don't have to manufacture joy or hold onto joy but instead discover joy because it's not an emotion we have to figure out how to feel. Our impulse and our world says that joy is found in youth, in money, in getting things, in feeling good.

But joy comes more in the seeking and in the struggle. Joy is what happens when the Holy Spirit intersects the human heart.

In Luke 2, the announcement of good news comes to the shepherds- the outcasts, on the fringes of poverty.

Joy often comes in the unexpected. When we're serving or creating or building- sometimes when we're engrossed with something joy surprises us.

Joy often comes in the midst of a struggle. James 1:2-4 implores us to "consider it pure joy... when you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your fairy produces perseverance..." Growth and maturity can sometimes only comes through being broken.

Joy often comes in obedience to God. Going to see an infant wasn't convenient for the shepherds, but the errand brought great joy. God's work intersected them in a surprising way.

How's your joy today? Sometimes it takes opening our eyes to see it. Sometimes it takes closing our eyes and asking God to reveal it to us. Sometimes it takes letting go of our idols. Sometimes it takes taking the next step in obedience. God's joy is available to all of us. It's there for us to discover.

My Soul Magnifies the Lord: The Birth of Jesus Foretold
Weekly Devotional 12.16.2024

“And Mary said: My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant.” Luke 1:46-48

Announcements are important because they focus on a single event that will happen in the future and the importance of the event. One of the most significant announcements was from the angel Gabriel to Mary and that she would bear the promised Messiah, Jesus our Lord. The angel’s announcement to Mary, the sequence of the announcement in the gospel story, and her reaction are significant and help us better understand the Christmas story and God’s plan throughout redemptive history.