12/23 Matthew 2:1-12
1 Jesus was born in the town of Bethlehem in Judea, during the reign of King Herod. About that time some wise men from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking, 2 “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We have seen his star as it arose, and we have come to worship him.” 3 Herod was deeply disturbed by their question, as was all of Jerusalem. 4 He called a meeting of the leading priests and teachers of religious law. “Where did the prophets say the Messiah would be born?” he asked them. 5 “In Bethlehem,” they said, “for this is what the prophet wrote: 6 ‘O Bethlehem of Judah, you are not just a lowly village in Judah, for a ruler will come from you who will be the shepherd for my people Israel.’ ” 7 Then Herod sent a private message to the wise men, asking them to come see him. At this meeting he learned the exact time when they first saw the star. 8 Then he told them, “Go to Bethlehem and search carefully for the child. And when you find him, come back and tell me so that I can go and worship him, too!” 9 After this interview the wise men went their way. Once again the star appeared to them, guiding them to Bethlehem. It went ahead of them and stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were filled with joy! 11 They entered the house where the child and his mother, Mary, were, and they fell down before him and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 12 But when it was time to leave, they went home another way, because God had warned them in a dream not to return to Herod.
DEVOTION
Our devotion should be to Jesus. Don’t let your job or your wants or even your needs sidetrack you from your devotion to Jesus. Jesus is Lord and He is calling us into a relationship with Him and thru Him with the Father. Pray for peace in the Middle East today especially peace in Jerusalem that city that the Lord loves.
Author - Clay Corvin
12/22 Luke 2:15-20
When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Come on, let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this wonderful thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” 16 They ran to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. 17 Then the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. 18 All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished, 19 but Mary quietly treasured these things in her heart and thought about them often. 20 The shepherds went back to their fields and flocks, glorifying and praising God for what the angels had told them, and because they had seen the child, just as the angel had said.
ASTONISHED
Mankind is astonished at God’s plans. His ways are not our ways. Let go and let the Lord plan your life. He already knows what you need and how you will accomplish what His plans are for your life. Jesus loves you. That really astonishes folks.
12/21 Luke 2:1-14
At that time the Roman emperor, Augustus, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the Roman Empire. 2 (This was the first census taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 All returned to their own towns to register for this census. 4 And because Joseph was a descendant of King David, he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, David’s ancient home. He traveled there from the village of Nazareth in Galilee. 5 He took with him Mary, his fianc’e, who was obviously pregnant by this time. 6 And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. 7 She gave birth to her first child, a son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the village inn. 8 That night some shepherds were in the fields outside the village, guarding their flocks of sheep. 9 Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terribly frightened, 10 but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news of great joy for everyone! 11 The Savior — yes, the Messiah, the Lord — has been born tonight in Bethlehem, the city of David! 12 And this is how you will recognize him: You will find a baby lying in a manger, wrapped snugly in strips of cloth!” 13 Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others — the armies of heaven — praising God: 14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to all whom God favors. ”
KNOWS
God knows all things. The birth, life and death of Jesus Christ happened according to His plan. He has a plan for your life. Love Jesus and let Him guide you in the Lord’s path.
12/20 Matthew 1:18-25
Now this is how Jesus the Messiah was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant by the Holy Spirit. 19 Joseph, her fiance, being a just man, decided to break the engagement quietly, so as not to disgrace her publicly. 20 As he considered this, he fell asleep, and an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. “Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “do not be afraid to go ahead with your marriage to Mary. For the child within her has been conceived by the Holy Spirit. 21 And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All of this happened to fulfill the Lord’s message through his prophet: 23 “Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and he will be called Immanuel (meaning, God is with us).” 24 When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord commanded. He brought Mary home to be his wife, 25 but she remained a virgin until her son was born. And Joseph named him Jesus.
PRAISE
Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Praise Him all creatures here below. Thank you Lord Jesus. Wonderful.
12/19 Psalm 135:19-21
O Israel, praise the LORD! O priests of Aaron, praise the LORD! 20 O Levites, praise the LORD! All you who fear the LORD, praise the LORD! 21 The LORD be praised from Zion, for he lives here in Jerusalem. Praise the LORD!
PRAISE
Praise the Lord. Praise Him in your failure and in your victory. Jesus is Lord and we are a part of what He is doing in this world. Praise the Lord.
12/18 Psalm 135:13-18
Your name, O LORD, endures forever; your fame, O LORD, is known to every generation. 14 For the LORD will vindicate his people and have compassion on his servants. 15 Their idols are merely things of silver and gold, shaped by human hands. 16 They cannot talk, though they have mouths, or see, though they have eyes! 17 They cannot hear with their ears or smell with their noses. 18 And those who make them are just like them, as are all who trust in them.
DEAD
Idols simply things and they have no life. They are like those who do not name the name of Jesus as Lord and Savior. They have no relationship with the Lord High God and are not children of God and as such they are dead in their sins and trespasses and are in fact slaves to sin. Trust in Jesus. He alone gives us life.
12/17 Psalm 135:6-12
The LORD does whatever pleases him throughout all heaven and earth, and on the seas and in their depths. 7 He causes the clouds to rise over the earth. He sends the lightning with the rain and releases the wind from his storehouses. 8 He destroyed the firstborn in each Egyptian home, both people and animals. 9 He performed miraculous signs and wonders in Egypt; Pharaoh and all his people watched. 10 He struck down great nations and slaughtered mighty kings — 11 Sihon king of the Amorites, Og king of Bashan, and all the kings of Canaan. 12 He gave their land as an inheritance, a special possession to his people Israel.
GIFTS
The Lord is a great giver of gifts. He offers to each one of us the gift of life. Seize it, take this gift to heart for it is the greatest gift you will ever get. Praise the Lord Jesus for His Salvation.
12/16 Psalm 135:3-5
Praise the LORD, for the LORD is good; celebrate his wonderful name with music. 4 For the LORD has chosen Jacob for himself, Israel for his own special treasure. 5 I know the greatness of the LORD — that our Lord is greater than any other god.
GOOD
The Lord is good in every way and in every thing. Jesus knew you before you when you were born and He loved you. Jesus knew you as you grew in word and deed and He loved you. Jesus knows you now and He loves you. Know the Lord for He deeply loves you.
12/15 Psalm 135:1-2
Praise the LORD! Praise the name of the LORD! Praise him, you who serve the LORD, 2 you who serve in the house of the LORD, in the courts of the house of our God.
PRAISE
Praise the Lord and His Holy Name. He is our God and He loves us. Serve the Lord and Praise Him. Jesus is Lord.
12/14 John 8:57-59
The people said, “You aren’t even fifty years old. How can you say you have seen Abraham? ” 58 Jesus answered, “The truth is, I existed before Abraham was even born!” 59 At that point they picked up stones to kill him. But Jesus hid himself from them and left the Temple.
JESUS
Jesus is God, He was with the Father and He has always existed. Jesus is part of the triune Godhead. He is very God and very Man. Jesus is Lord.