Gifts

S. "The Lord said to Moses, “Tell the Israelites to bring me an offering. You are to receive the offering for me from each man whose heart prompts him to give." Exodus 25: 1-2

O. Exodus 25 is a very detail account of how the Israelites were to build the ark of the covenant and other fixtures in the temple. The process of making the articles began with an offering. The Israelites were instructed to bring an offering of the elements that were needed to make the ark and table for the temple. This was a free will offering. It would be given by each man and family as God prompted their hearts. So when God would call them to give, man would have to choose to make the sacrifice for the Lord. I think this is much like today. We are called to give sacrificially to the work of the Lord. Our giving allows God's work to continue in this community and around the world. We are prompted by the spirit of God to give and we must respond. God set an example before us in the giving of his only son to free us from our sin. Such a gift should compel us to give of our very lives!

A. Christmas is a time for giving gifts. I have been overwhelmed with the response of our congregation to give Christmas to others. We have offered gifts for five family and will be distributing about 55 food baskets in a couple of weeks. But the giving needs to be personally. What will I give to someone in need today?

P. Lord, thank you for your great gift in Jesus Christ. I accept that give and offer my life as a gift to further the gospel of Jesus Christ. Amen

The Greatest Gift

S. "This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins." 1 John 4: 10

O. This is the season of giving gifts. If you are like me, you are constantly trying to think of the best gift that you could give...something a person would want, or need or maybe just something that would WOW them! Some people are easy to buy for and other are difficult. So we spend our time looking for gifts and our money buying them so that we can experience the joy of giving gifts.

I also like to watch people open the gifts that have been given. I love the to see the anticipation of what the gift is and then to see the joy on their faces. It fills my heart! And isn't that what God fills as we receive the gift of his son. He wanted to give the greatest gift...and he did that in sending His one and only son into the world (see John 3; 16). And I have a feeling that he watches with joy and anticipation as people receive the gift of salvation which comes through His son Jesus Christ. He gave in love and continues to give His love to us daily. He gives his love freely and unconditionally to those who come with a repentant, humbly heart. Have you received his love today?

A. I have received the love of God and will continue to receive this gracious gift daily. I will do all within my power to give this same love to others.

P. Lord, thank you for giving the greatest gift of all! Amen

Jesus and Light and So Am I

S. "The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned." Isaiah 9:2

Jesus said, "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden." Matthew 5: 14

O. I have never put these two scriptures today. That is way it is good to keep reading the Bible over and over...we never tire of finding new ideas and insights into God's word. I needed to hear this message today in my life. I have been reminded that I once walked in darkness and because of the birth of Jesus Christ, I have been brought into the light of God presence and forgiveness. When one asked Jesus Christ into their lives...when they surrender their lives to Him, he pours the light of God into our lives, exposing sin and other filth in our lives and replacing it with love and the goodness of God. And at that point what Jesus said was truth...we become the light of the world...we will be the illumination of Jesus to others around us. They will no longer had to walk in the darkness of sin...they can see Jesus in us and ultimately receive Him into their lives.

A. I need to realize that I am a light at all times. With Christ in my life, I am filled with the Light of Jesus Christ and must let that light shine in the darkness around me. I want to be that light.

P. Lord Jesus, you are the light of life in me and I thank you for exposing the darkness of sin in my life. I receive the light of life in me and give my life so others will see it in my life today and everyday. Amen

Welcome the Children

S. “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me." (Mark 9: 37)

O. Who doesn't want to welcome a little child? I love to see all the children at church, especially at this time of year when they are excited about Christmas, the decorations, etc. Jesus says that the one who welcomes a children into his life, will also welcome him. It is that simple and that powerful. I see one of the main messages that Jesus is offering here is the simplicity to believing in him and also in God the father. Jesus came as a child, and some did not welcome him and understand him. When we welcome the gift of the Christ child into our lives, we welcome the very one who sent him...our loving God.

A. I want to live today and one who has welcomed the Christ child into my life. I want to live a servant of Almighty God today and everyday.

P. Lord, thank you for coming as a child. You could have some in many different ways, but you chose to come as a baby to this world...to love us and serve us. Thanks for giving all of yourself to me and all people. Amen.

Such Great Excitement!

S. "So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger." Luke 2: 16

O. So much excitement...I don't know if I have ever been in a situation like the shepherds experienced that night when the angel chorus sang to them announcing Jesus' birth. There hearts must have been racing, adrenaline must been flowing, their minds overloaded with all they were experiencing in just a few moments. No wonder that hurried off to see Jesus...they had to see what they had just been told. So off they went and their excitement did not wane once at the manger. They ran around telling others about what had happened.

A. The excitement about Jesus coming into the world should be no different than the excitement of Jesus coming into our individual lives today. And his coming is a daily event in our lives. He is present with us always and will continue to pure his love and mercy into our lives. Today, I need to live in such excitement and joy in my heart...so full of God's good news in my life that I can't stop telling others about it.

P. Lord, today I receive your give to me and ask for the a joy that will lead others to you. Amen.

Doing What Gods Asks

S. When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus. (Matthew 1: 24-25)

O. Today's reading was the first chapter of Matthew. In this chapter we have the genealogy of Jesus. I find it very interesting that it includes kings and priests and slaves and ordinary people. People who found life in following their God and walking with him through ups and downs of life. And then there is Joseph. A simple carpenter who was learning his father's trade, carrying on the family business and looking forward to a quite normal and average life in Israel. And then comes the angel...telling Joseph exactly what to do and how things would happen. This was quite a diversion from his planned life, but he had enough trust and faith in God that he followed in obedience to "did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him...".

A. I have been reflecting this morning on how I react to things that God calls me to do. Am I quick to follow in obedience when God calls, or am I prone to put it off and hope that it is not really what will happen? I want to say the I am obedient, but I also know that there are times in which I fail to follow the Lord. The reality is that God has planned our days and we just need to trust in him and follow obediently through this life. I know that we will be blessed as we do.

P. Lord, today is a new day to follow your call for my life. I completely surrender my will and my life to you today. Use me to bring your love and life to those around me. I am yours Lord!
Amen

Anticipating the Presence of Christ

S. On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise him, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he had been conceived. When the time of their purification according Law of Moses had been completed, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord”) Luke 2: 21-23

O. Have you ever waited for something to happen? I remember as a child waiting for Christmas to come...waiting on a ballgame to start...waiting for school to be finished...and more. This was great anticipation and a sense of long for the moment to arrive.

While this scripture seems to be a very normal scene...Joseph and Mary taking Jesus to the temple on the eighth day for his circumcision and the blessing of the priest for his life...there is much more behind the scenes.

Simeon is the priest who is on duty and he has been "waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him" (vs. 25). He had faithfully served the Lord, knowing that one day he would see the Messiah. Can you imagine his joy when Jesus was brought to the temple? He must have been so filled with joy and hope in the truth of all that God had promised. Another person, a prophetess name Anna. The scripture says "Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem" (vs. 38). She worshiped and fasted daily in the temple and she sees in Jesus the completion of God plan...the fulfillment of prophecy which had been spoken for many years. Both Simeon and Anna must have been overwhelmed with the work of God in their lives.

A. I guess the truth and application I found this the stories of Simeon and Anna is that the God who was at work in their lives to bring before them the salvation of Israel in the person of Jesus Christ is the same God who is at work in my life today. I asked myself the question today, "I am waiting in anticipation of when Jesus could come into my life and do a work of faithfulness in me?" During this season of advent, I really want to open my life to receive the Christ child anew in my life.

P. Lord, I am so glad to celebrate the first advent of your son Jesus Christ. I love this time of year and it is my prayer that because of Jesus' first advent, I might live complete in your love, forgiveness and strength every day. I open my life to the transforming power of the Spirit of Christ in my life. Amen