DAILY DEVOTION, 12/19/20, Christ in You

Paul was quite fond of the doctrine of the indwelling Christ. I have spoken on this theme before. We continue that theme today from a little different perspective. Paul is writing to his beloved Galatians, who gave him fits. They were so quick to turn away from Jesus. Paul says to them, “My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you...” (Galatians 4:19). In other words, the essence of Christianity is this remarkable truth: Christ came from heaven and died for us on the cross and rose again so that, in the person of the Holy Spirit, he might indwell our lives. The possibilities are boundless. We’re not talking about an annual event like Christmas. We’re talking about a perpetual indwelling. We’re not talking about something that is basically sentimental. What we’re talking about now is something utterly supernatural: God in Christ, through the Holy Spirit, born in men’s and women’s lives. The difference ought to be obvious. We are not thinking of human beings on an annual basis during the Christmas season being good and kind and trying hard, and then eventually giving up. Now we’re talking about God in Christ in the person of the Holy Spirit empowering people to be what they’re not and to do what they can’t. That which is born of you is born of the Holy Spirit: “The Holy Spirit will come upon you’ the angel said to Mary. He says the same to us. Paul thinks of himself as a mother in childbirth, hoping the Galatians will get the picture and open their hearts to Jesus that He might come and dwell in their hearts. How is it with your heart?

Thank You, Father, for dwelling in our hearts. We need to know that You are close to us. I pray that the Holy Spirit will guide me daily, In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Daily Devotion, 12/18/2020, Jesus birth

 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins (Matthew 1:21).

The angel announces to Mary the birth of a Son. She is told what she is to name Him. The name “Jesus” means “God saves.” Before He is born we are told the mission of the Messiah. “He will save His people from their sins.” He did not enter our world to free Israel from Rome. He did not come as a prophet to inform us more of God’s will (although He is the greatest of the prophets). He accomplished many things. His primary reason for coming was bring forgiveness to the world.

He accomplished this mission by going to the cross where He bore our sins. We are assured that all who believe in Him will be forgiven and receive eternal life. At Christmas we celebrate His birth, and we rejoice in knowing that He accomplished His mission. Our sins are forgiven. That is the reason we celebrate Christmas.

Father, how thankful we are to know that our sins are forgiven when we trust in Your Son. How great is Your love for us. May Your name be praised now and forever, In Jesus name, Amen. 

DAILY DEVOTION, 12/17/20: God sent His Son

 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him. (1 John 4:14-16).

Christmas is fast approaching. We all look forward to that special day. John gives us a grand summary concerning the meaning of Christmas in a few words. John saw Jesus in the flesh. Now he testifies concerning what he saw. The Father has sent the Son to be the world’s savior. After spending three years with Jesus and witnessing the resurrection, John knows without a doubt that Jesus is the Savior of the world. And how do we benefit from the coming of Jesus? If we confess that Jesus is the Son of God, we find ourselves abiding in God. Through faith in Jesus, we enter into a relationship with the Father. Faith also reveals to us something about the nature of God. We learn that God loves us. We also come to know that the reality of our faith is seen in the love we have for God and one another. Our relationship with God begins and ends with love.

Father, thank You for giving Jesus to us to be our Savior. Thank You that through faith in Jesus we enter into a relationship with You. May divine love shine out of our hearts to others, In Jesus name. Amen. 

DEVOTION 12/16/20, Unchanging Christ

Hebrews 13:8: Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and today and forever.

We live in a world where unexpected changes are the norm. We certainly have seen that with this lingering Covid virus. We are constantly bombarded by change. Relationships change, finances change, health changes, jobs change, government changes, children change — and on it goes. We want something to hold on to, something unchanging, something dependable. Those who trust in Jesus find that He is the unchanging One. He is forever dependable. We encounter Him in the New Testament, and what He was there He is today, and forever.

The salvation He offers in the New Testament He provides to us today. It is forever true that “he who believes in Him will not perish…” He is endlessly “the resurrection and the life.” It is always true that “He who has the Son has life.” In this changing world, hold on to Jesus. He will never change.

Father, I thank You that You and Your Son are dependable, that Your promises are forever true, that Jesus will always redeem the person who trusts in Him. I pray I will live and die, holding on to Jesus with true faith. In His holy name, I pray, Amen. 

^{DEVOTIONAL, 12/15/20}

Now in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth,to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!” (Luke 1:26-28 NKJV).

The virgin birth of Jesus used to be a significant stumbling block for me. I assumed the story of Jesus birth was a myth. Yes, Isaiah prophesied that a virgin would conceive and bear a Son, and the Gospel writers confirmed that it happened as prophesied. I did not believe what the Bible taught. Once I was converted to faith in Jesus, my entire worldview changed. Yes, to an unbeliever, many stories in the Bible seem mythical. Once faith was born in my heart, I came to believe that nothing is impossible for God. The God who created the universe with a word can surely figure out how to introduce His Son to the world through a miraculous virgin birth.

God wanted to identify with the human race fully, so He entered the world through a human mother. We, like Mary, are highly favored when we trust in Jesus. Christmas is undoubtedly the most wonderful time of the year. It is a time to celebrate what God has done for us.

Father, forgive me for those times when I doubted You. I thank You that my eyes have been opened, and I now see Jesus as the Savior of the world. By Your grace working through the Holy Spirit, keep me in true faith unto everlasting life. Amen.