FBC Daily Devotions

The Darker Side of Christmas #3 – To Divorce Her Quietly

Even in the midst of these tremendous stories of God’s miraculous power in the birth of Jesus, we find that the humanity of the other characters remains transparent. Both Matthew and Luke want us to know that from the very beginning Jesus’ story is fraught with trials and sufferings. Even in the midst of Mary finding out she is pregnant with a child from the Holy Spirit, Matthew tells us that Joseph considered divorcing her silently, assuming that she has committed adultery, a sin punishable by death. Committed adultery-in the midst of their betrothal to be married! This is pretty scandalous stuff to be published in what we often see portrayed as the pristine birth of shiny baby Jesus.

Matthew 1:18-20
18Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. 19And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. 20But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.”

Shedding some light…

This scene reminds us of the stress, humanity, and conflict of our own lives. The holiday season is a time that emerges to us in both the blessings of family life, and the pain of family disfunction. Even as the Lord speaks to Joseph, we need the Lord to speak into our relationships so that they too can reflect his hope and power.

Children’s Prayer

Father God, help us to love our family well.

Adult’s Prayer

Dear Father, we are so thankful that you speak into not only our own lives, but into our families and spiritual communities. Forgive us for the ways we seek to arrogantly stay independent. Forgive us for the pride in our hearts that often shows itself through the ways we refuse to allow others to help and serve us. Forgive us for the anger we feel and conflicts that arise when people don’t give us what we want. Continue to speak into our relationships-bringing honesty, hope, humility, and healing. And continue to speak through our relationships, that as we see the ways your Spirit is working in others, we can understand you better and praise you for the ways you continue to make your children more and more like your son.

Advent Singing: O Come All Ye Faithful

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Source:  www.ctkraleigh.org

The Darker Side of Christmas #2 – The Disbelief of Zechariah

Men have never had much success winning a quarrel with the angels. It got Jacob a dislocated hip and Zechariah was struck dumb. In response to Gabriel’s incredible speech about a son that will be born to him, a son who will be great before the Lord, and will bring joy and gladness to many souls; Zechariah, a man that served God with his whole life, finds a quick word of disbelief falling easily from his lips.

Zechariah’s mind should have been cast back to the faithful women of the Old Testament who gave birth when they were “advanced in years” because of the goodness of the Lord. Instead he is struck dumb and exits the temple waving his arms like a fool. His wife Elizabeth(as we read a few verses later), has a godly response to the work of the Lord on her behalf.

Luke 1:8-23
8Now while he was serving as priest before God when his division was on duty, 9according to the custom of the priesthood, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense. 10And the whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense. 11And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense.
12And Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him. 13But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. 14And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, 15for he will be great before the Lord. And he must not drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. 16And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, 17and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.”
18And Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.” 19And the angel answered him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. 20And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time.” 21And the people were waiting for Zechariah, and they were wondering at his delay in the temple. 22And when he came out, he was unable to speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the temple. And he kept making signs to them and remained mute. 23And when his time of service was ended, he went to his home.

Shedding some light…

God wants us to know that even those in the inner circle of God’s miraculous work were confounded by their own sin and lack of faith from hearing the “good news.” God is a patient Father and a long-suffering Teacher in regard to his message sinking into our hearts and minds. Think about the places and reasons you find it difficult to believe God.

Children’s Prayer

God, help us know you better. And help us believe you better.

Adult’s Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father, the news that you bring to us in the story of Jesus is hard to hear; it is beyond our full understanding. Give us faith to grasp the will of heaven and joy to live in the work of the Spirit.

Advent Singing: Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silent

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Source:  www.ctkraleigh.org

The Darker Side of Christmas #1 – The Scandal of Jesus’ Genealogy

If you actually take the time to read through the list of names in Jesus genealogy you find four very unusual names present for a typical genealogy. Matthew lists four women whose own background was either Gentile (non-Jewish), scandalous, or both! You can read the texts yourself to get the full picture: Tamar (Genesis 38), Rahab (Joshua 6), Ruth (Ruth 4), and Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11), who isn’t even listed by name.

Matthew 1:1-17
1The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.
2Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, 3and Judah the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, and Perez the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Ram, 4and Ram the father of Amminadab, and Amminadab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon, 5and Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse, 6and Jesse the father of David the king.
And David was the father of Solomon by the wife of Uriah, 7and Solomon the father of Rehoboam, and Rehoboam the father of Abijah, and Abijah the father of Asaph, 8and Asaph the father of Jehoshaphat, and Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, and Joram the father of Uzziah, 9and Uzziah the father of Jotham, and Jotham the father of Ahaz, and Ahaz the father of Hezekiah, 10and Hezekiah the father of Manasseh, and Manasseh the father of Amos, and Amos the father of Josiah, 11and Josiah the father of Jechoniah and his brothers, at the time of the deportation to Babylon.
12And after the deportation to Babylon: Jechoniah was the father of Shealtiel, and Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel, 13and Zerubbabel the father of Abiud, and Abiud the father of Eliakim, and Eliakim the father of Azor, 14and Azor the father of Zadok, and Zadok the father of Achim, and Achim the father of Eliud, 15and Eliud the father of Eleazar, and Eleazar the father of Matthan, and Matthan the father of Jacob, 16and Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called Christ.
17So all the generations from Abraham to David were fourteen generations, and from David to the deportation to Babylon fourteen generations, and from the deportation to Babylon to the Christ fourteen generations

Shedding some light…

Matthew creates a historical snapshot of Jesus’ family line where each name is carefully chosen. It’s
hard to say for sure why he includes these women; they were both infamous characters and examples of people outside of the Jewish family on whom God lavished his grace. Overall, you should get the impression that Jesus is the fulfillment of both God’s promises to the patriarchs of the faith (Abraham and David), as well as fulfilling his promise to declare salvation to all kinds of people from all the nations!

Children’s Prayer

God, we pray that you would make your Church grow all around the world.

Adult’s Prayer

Dear God of History, you have known us since our birth, and you have known us since before time began. Help us to praise you as the God who proclaims peace to all kinds of people. Help us to praise you as the God that desires all kinds of people from all the nations to enter into your family and to call on the name of your son, Jesus. Make your name great, through your people in your Church, throughout the entire world. And use us to accomplish this great and glorious plan.

Advent Singing: O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

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Source: www.ctkraleigh.org

Singing the Story #4 – The Song of Simeon (Nunc Dimittis)

This song captures Simeon’s gratitude to God. It also captures Simeon’s readiness to die. Yet, it is sung in joy because Simeon has seen the promise fulfilled. It is a wonderful song that captures both God’s desire to extend redemption to the whole world, as well as a blessing with a caveat: this child will cause both the rise and fall of many in Israel.

Luke 2:22-35
22And when the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23(as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”) 24and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.” 25Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. 27And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, 28he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said,
29″Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace,
according to your word;
30for my eyes have seen your salvation
31that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
32a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and for glory to your people Israel.
33And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him. 34And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed 35(and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”

Shedding some light…

In the gospel message there is an intertwined narrative of judgment, as well as of salvation. Simeon illustrates that Jesus will be both a great light to the Gentiles, as a well as a sword that would pierce our hearts. We can never experience the joy of Jesus without first facing the sinful thoughts and actions of our own hearts. Part of the good news of the gospel is that it helps us understand the horror of our sin as we find ourselves in the arms of our loving Savior.
week ththree of advent

Children’s Prayer

Dear God, thank you for forgiving our sins and helping us become more like Jesus.

Adult’s Prayer

Dear Father, you sent us Jesus, the true light of the world. Yet we have often desired to hide in darkness rather than live in the revealing light of your Spirit. Give us eyes that see our sin and dwell on your salvation.

Advent Singing: The Gospel Brings Tidings

Singing the Story #3 – The Song of the Heavenly Host

In pictures and descriptions of Jesus’ birth, the angels attending are often portrayed as chubby cherubim, lightly plucking at harp and lyre. They hardly seem scary, or the type of characters that would frighten hardened shepherds. Yet this multitude broke through the heavenly curtain, and with regal precision proclaimed in swift accord the present situation.

Luke 2:9-14
9And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. 10And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 13And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
14″Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

Shedding some light…

The heavenly band of angels was an angelic “host,” or literally an army of angels. They came to announce peace, but also to signify that God’s enemies would be destroyed through this coming Savior, Christ the Lord. Give praise to God, who sits on the highest throne of heaven and brings peace on earth for those who bear his favor.

Children’s Prayer

Great and Powerful God, there is nothing you cannot do. No one can stop what you plan to do. Nothing can get in your way. Thank you for using that power to defeat your enemies.

Adult’s Prayer

Dear Majestic God, you spared no expense in securing peace for us. You took your son from a swaddling babe to a crucifixion and destroyed sin and death for us. May we carry on about Jesus as the angels did, filling our lives with songs of praise to him, our Savior and Lord.

Advent Singing: Hark the Herald Angels Sing

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Source: www.ctkraleigh.org