devotionals

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Simeon’s Prayer

12th – 13th December

Weekend Edition

““I have seen your salvation, which you have prepared for all people. He is a light to reveal God to the nations and He is the glory of Your people Israel.”Jesus’ parents were amazed at what was being said about Him.”

Luke 2: 30-33

Simeon’s prayer is another amazingly relevant and significant moment in both Jesus’ life and in our reading and understanding of Jesus’ early days on this earth. Simeon, like many other God fearing Jews, were waiting for the Messiah to come and bring salvation from sins and liberty from political oppression. The Holy Spirit revealed to Simeon that he would not die until he had seen the Messiah.

On the day of Jesus’ dedication at the temple in Jerusalem, Simeon, led again by the Holy Spirit, greeted Mary and Joseph and took the baby Jesus into his arms. He knew the moment he saw Jesus, that his wait was over. He had seen the Messiah, the Saviour of the world and the Redeemer of the Jews. As he lifted his hands to God, he prayed a prayer of thanks but also a prayer of prophecy. He thanked God for the promise of seeing the Messiah and prophesied that Jesus was ‘Salvation’…’for ALL PEOPLE’…’a light to reveal God to THE NATIONS’.

This is an incredible statement as most Jews were waiting for a Messiah to lead them out of political captivity. Yet, through the Holy Spirit’s revelation, Simeon prophesied that not only would Jesus be a light to to the people of Israel but also to all the nations. Not only would He be a light to people but also set them free from spiritual bondage and into God’s glorious plan for their lives.

This was a wonderful moment in history for both all who were there listening and for all who read the same words today. God’s salvation includes us all. We are all part of Kingdom plan. Jesus’ salvation is not reserved for one people group but for all people. He came so we might live. Praise God that we are all included in His salvation.

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The Path Of Peace

11th December

“You will tell His people how to find salvation through forgiveness of their sins. Because of God’s tender mercy, the morning light from Heaven is about to break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, and to guide us to the path of peace.”

Luke 1:71-79

Zechariah’s prophecy over John the Baptist remains, even to this day, a wonderful reminder of John’s role in preparing the way for the Christ, but also stands as a declaration of who Jesus was and what He came to do.

Through John the Baptist’s declaration many people did believe in Jesus as the Messiah. He boldly declared that Jesus had come to take away their sins and that through His life, may people would be saved. John the Baptist’s role in preparing the way for Jesus, was even prophesied before he was born when the angel Gabriel came to John’s father, Zechariah, whilst he was in the temple fulfilling his duties as a priest. Gabriel declared to Zechariah that John would “turn many Israelites to the Lord their God…..He will prepare the people for the coming of the Lord.”

As John grew older he did just that. He declared that Jesus was truly the Lamb of God, able to take the sins of the world and in so doing, lead people to the path of peace and out of the shadows of death and darkness.

That same message is still preached across the world today and is the hope and joy that we hold on to. Jesus did come to save us from our sins and to lead us out of darkness, into the path of peace and light. His word lives on forever. May we accept His generous love and kindness and hold on to the hope of His salvation.

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The Special One

10th December

“Though His ministry follows mine, I’m not even worthy to be His slave and untie the straps of His sandal.”

John 1:27

Many people in this world have branded themselves as the “special ones”. From football managers to famous singers, it is a term that is quickly used but is never lived up to. There is only man who ever lived that has the right to call Himself “the Special One” and that is Jesus Christ. Even so, it is a term that He never used to refer to Himself with. It was John the Baptist that first described Jesus’ special characteristics when He was answering a Pharisee’s trouble making questions. John the Baptist made a declaration about Jesus that indicated that Jesus was no ordinary man describing Jesus as ‘The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” John knew that Jesus was the ‘Special One’. He knew the prophecies of old and He knew that Jesus was the fulfillment of those prophecies. His response…. Humility.

John, knowing who Jesus was, declared that He was not even worthy enough to untie the straps of Jesus’ sandals, (a role reserved for slaves/servants). Later on, in Matthew’s account of Jesus’ baptism, John the Baptist is found saying to Jesus “I am the one who needs to be baptised by You!” Moreover, back in the gospel of John, John the Baptist exclaims that it is Jesus who should be exalted and elevated, no himself…. “He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less”. All this leads to the very real facts, that John knew that Jesus was Someone special. It was this knowledge that led to Johns complete humility.

What is your response to Jesus this day? Do you acknowledge Him as the Lamb of God, sent from Heaven to take away our sins?

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The Light Of The World

9th December

“The Word gave life to everything that was created, and His life brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.”

John 1:4-5

Often, Jesus’ life has a reputation of someone that came to give more rules and regulations as to how people should live. However nothing could be further from the truth. Jesus came to this world to show us what love truly is, how to re-align our attitudes and lifestyles to live as loved children of God and how to love others with the same love we are loved with. Jesus even went against the common teaching of His day to prove that point. In summary, Jesus came not to bring more religion but freedom from religion and a pathway to a relationship with God.

Moreover, it is the light that shone through Jesus’ words, deeds and character that broke the chains of darkness, shattered peoples pre-conceptions of what God looks like and demonstrated a greater power than had ever been seen through His wondrous miracles and teachings. Jesus did not come to sit back and have a nice life, but rather He came to show us God on Earth! He came truly to bring a light that can never be extinguished. So much so that even today, it the midst of what may seem like a darker world than that of Jesus’ time, even still, that light shines so much more brightly. Why? Because that light is in all believers who have accepted the love of Christ and are willing to be changed by His grace.

Let us remember that the light of the world came to bring life, and that life and light now lives in our hearts. Let us shine brightly before Him to bring glory to His Name and share His love and light with others. After all, His light can never be extinguished!!

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The Word Became Flesh

8th December

“He came into the very world He created but the world did not recognise Him. He came to His own people, and even they rejected Him. But to all who believed Him and accepted Him, He gave the right to become children of God. They are reborn – not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God..”

John 1:10-13

John’s gospel may not be the most read passage at Christmas due to his omission of the nativity, yet it contains such an incredible depth of theology and truth about Jesus’ birth and the reason Jesus came to the earth.

John begins to tell his readers that Jesus (The Word) was there at the very beginning of time. He was with God and was God (The Holy Trinity). John even explains that it was through The Word, that the world was created and through Him, life and light were birthed.

John then comes to the climax of his narrative and tells us that Jesus came into the very world He created. Why? So that all who believe may have everlasting life and become adopted into God’s own family, as sons and daughters of the Most High. Those who believe are spiritually reborn into God’s family – the past is gone and the new has come.

Sadly many rejected Jesus, even His own people, the Jews. They were awaiting a Saviour of a different kind. A more ‘political’ leader. Yet what they didn’t realise is that Jesus’ Kingdom and government have no end.. It’s peace will never end as He reigns with justice and fairness (Isaiah 9:7).

We are also presented with the same choice as the Jews of Jesus’ time and all those who have rejected Him since. Do we believe that Jesus was really God, that He really did come into the world He created and really does want to have a relationship with you? Do we believe that God wants us to be part of His family, so much so that He gave His own Son for us? Or do we just believe that the nativity story is nice for children and that is where it ends? The choice is yours.

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Jesus Came For You

7th December

“For this is how God loved the world: He gave His One and Only Son, so everyone who believe in Him will not perish but have eternal life.”

John 3:16

Why did God send His only Son to this earth? He did so, so that we might be saved from our sins, the sins that separate us from God. He came to show us what love is, that we might too love with that same love. He came to save us from perishing as a consequence of our sin and instead showed us how we can have eternal life with Him, giving us a glimpse of what it may be like to live eternally with God.

God did all this out of the love He has for His creation. He didn’t have to. He could have made a way that we have to earn salvation and pay off our sinful debt through works… BUT that is just not who God is. He loved us too much. So instead He sent Jesus – The Lord Saves. It is through the sacrifice that Jesus paid on the cross that we are saved, that our debt is paid and that our lives can be transformed. He made a way to Him by simply accepting what Jesus did for us, repenting and accepting His forgiveness.

This December as we celebrate giving gifts to each other, let us take time to remember the greatest gift that has ever been given; God, sending His only Son, to be sacrificed at the very hands of those He made. FOR YOU AND FOR ME! Amen.

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The Name Above All Names

5th -6th December

Weekend Edition

“You can ask for anything in My Name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. Yes, ask Me for anything in My Name, and I will do it!”

John 14:14

Jesus Saves – it’s in His Name. There in no coincidence why there is power in the Name of Jesus. It was a divine name given to Joseph by an angel when Mary fell pregnant by the power of the Holy Spirit. The angel appeared to Joseph in a dream bringing comfort to him, as his fiancé, Mary, had become pregnant. He knew that the child was not from him, so as an honourable man, he decided to separate with Mary quietly. The angel reassured Joseph that this baby was God’s plan to save the world from their sins and that Mary had fallen pregnant by the power of God. He appropriately pronounced that the baby should be called Jesus – which means ‘the Lord saves’!

Fast forward a few years and we find Peter and John standing on trial before the council, after praying in the Name of Jesus for a crippled man to walk again and being arrested by the religious leaders for their actions. Peter’s defence of his actions continue to stand as a testimony to the greatness of Jesus’ Name throughout the generations…

“Let me clearly state to all of you and to all the people of Israel that he was healed by the powerful Name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, the man you crucified but whom God raised from the dead… There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:10 – 12)

Let us also be reminded that that same Name is as powerful and real today as it was when the angel first gave Jesus His Name in Joseph’s dream. Let us boldly call on the Name of Jesus, for it is at His Name every knee shall bow and tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. Jesus saves, He heals, He delivers, He comforts and He rules! Let us boldly proclaim His Name! Jesus Saves!

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Walk With The Wise

4th December

“Walk with the wise and become wise; associate with fools and get in trouble.”

Proverbs 13:20

Bad company can truly corrupt good character…. Yet what makes a good character? Of course a desire to be Christ-like is a first on the list. How about surrounding yourself with like minded people? People who also desire to live lives that are willing to be held accountable by God’s Holy standards found in His word. People who know who they are in Christ, who live for Christ in all they do and live to make Christ known to others… One would suggest that these characteristics are found in a wise person.

Sadly the opposite is true as well. The writer of the proverbs tells us that walking with the wise helps us become wise but walking with fools, not only gets us in trouble, but assures us that we will start acting like fools too. This is not to say that we shouldn’t befriend people who are foolish or even never associate with them. Jesus Himself spent most of His time with people who would be deemed as ‘fools’. Rather, to not associate with them, means to not partake in their foolish behaviour, to not agree/follow their foolish lifestyles and to not heed their foolish advice. As the writer of Psalm 1 says, “Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with the mockers… they are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season.”

That being said, our lives should not be lived with a ‘superiority‘ attitude, but rather let us come humbly before all our Lord, asking for wisdom as to how we can reach the un-reachable and how we can also share the love of Christ with ‘fools’ who don’t want to know Him. Let us discern who we are spending our time with, who we are allowing to influence our lifestyles and who needs a wise friend to journey with them in life.

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Immanuel – God With Us

3rd December

“Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a Son and they will call Him Immanuel, which means “God is with us.””

Matthew 1:23

Today’s verse is probably one of the most famous ‘Christmas’ verses quoted throughout the world at many carol services. It provides us with a living truth that Mary truly was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit, gave birth to a child, who was called ‘God with us’ or ‘Immanuel’.

It is interesting to note however, that this verse was spoken by Isaiah as a prophetic word to King Ahaz hundreds of years before Christ’s birth actually took place. King Ahaz was filled with fear after finding out that Israel and Syria had formed an alliance and were about to attack Judah, of which King Ahab ruled over. Isaiah 7 verse 2 tells us that ‘The hearts of the king and his people trembled with fear, like trees shaking in a storm.” Rather than trusting in God, King Ahaz disobediently formed an alliance with Assyria to protect himself from Israel and Syria’s attack. God warned King Ahaz to not form an alliance with Assyria and sent Isaiah the prophet to proclaim this prophecy (today’s verse) as a confirmation that God Himself would be with them. Sadly King Ahaz did not listen and Assyria broke their alliance with Judah and did much damage to them.

In summary, the context of the verse that we read every year, is God, even in the Old Testament, promising to be with humanity in their time of need. He is God with us. He is Immanuel. Christ eventually was born, lived a human life and really did live as ‘God with us’. The question we must challenge ourself with is this: Will you accept that God became flesh and is still with us even today, or will join King Ahaz and reject the comfort, love and protection that ‘Immanuel’ gives? The choice is yours.

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Be Thankful

2nd December

“Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.”

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

A new day has started and with it brings hundreds of reasons to be thankful to God. Even from the small things we take advantage of everyday, such as having warm food to eat or hot water to shower, there are always reasons to be thankful. None more so than the gift of Jesus Christ.

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son”

That is a reason to be thankful this morning. Moreover, there was nothing you did to deserve that gift. It is and was a free gift. Salvation is found in no other nam; And yes, that also was and is a free gift. His Healing: Free. His forgiveness: Free. His comfort: Free. This free gift we have received gives us reason to worship Him in thanksgiving despite our circumstances, fears and worries. David Jeremiah wisely shares his thoughts on this verse..

Note that the verse doesn’t say for everything give thanks, but in everything give thanks. In every situation in life there are reasons to give thanks, not the least of which is the truth that God uses all things for good in the lives of those who belong to Him (Romans 8:28).1

God is good and loves us. God is love. May we today be at peace in knowing He is for us and not against us. May we be thankful in and for everything in our lives. May be know how to be thankful even in hard times, because even there, God’s goodness can be found.

 

1 David Jeremiah: Daily Devotionals, Turning Point