Daily Devotion - December 20, 2024

He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me... For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Cor. 12:9-10)

Perhaps the first children’s song we learned was Jesus Loves Me. The song teaches us about Jesus and also about ourselves: “Little ones to him belong; they are weak but he is strong.” We may get too old for the song’s tune, but should not mature beyond its truth.

 Even the Apostle Paul did not outgrow the confession of his weaknesses. If that seems humiliating, then we have not fully grasped the blessings of Jesus’ love. 

Our Savior delights to show himself strong on behalf of those who confess their need of him. When we acknowledge that our sins and our trials are beyond our resources, then we are signaling for our Savior to rescue with his. 

Our grownup tendency is to trust our abilities. Childlike faith that trusts Jesus’ love and power, confesses, “Jesus, I need your help.” Then, the same Jesus that loves the little children responds, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

Prayer: Father, thank you for promising sufficient grace. Help me rely on my Savior’s strength more than mine by a willingness to boast of my weaknesses that require his rescue.

Daily Devotion - December 19, 2024

The shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. (Luke 2:15-16)

Many of us grew up singing the Christmas carol “Oh, little town of Bethlehem.” But we may have become so familiar with the lyrics that we’ve neglected to marvel at the message they carry.

At the time of Jesus’ birth, Bethlehem had become a town of little importance – fallen from it’s renown as David’s city. In fact, most people avoided it on their way to Jerusalem. 

Still, God’s graceful design was to use the dingy town to bring his Son into the world. On that day, Bethlehem shone so brightly that we would sing of her: “The hopes and fears of all the years were met in thee tonight.” 

The King of Glory came to a forgotten town, in an oppressed land, to be laid in a cattle trough, by a disgraced mother, of a transient family, and to be announced to the world by lowly shepherds. Where’s the grace in all of that? You know. 

God chose the weak and despised things of this world to display his glory, so that when we are forgotten, weak, disregarded, disgraced, displaced, poor, and lowly, we will remember that God does not despise coming to us. So do not fear to come to him.

Prayer: Father, just as you used the flawed features of the insignificant town of Bethlehem to display the glory of Jesus’ grace to persons like me, so also convince me that you can use me – even me – to bring his good news to others.

Daily Devotion - December 18, 2024

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (Isa. 9:6)

Isaiah writes this passage during a sorrowful and somber time in Israel's history. God’s people had turned their backs on him, and the light of hope seemed all but extinguished. 

That would be a sad story for sure — if that were the end. But it’s not! Isaiah prophesied that God had a plan for turning his people back to him! The prophet proclaims, “For unto us a child is born, to us a son is given.” This prophesied Son would be the Savior of the World, offering God’s counsel, might, love, and peace!  

At times such a Son may seem distant from us, lost in the sentiment of a Christmas song, or banished from our hearts by serious sin. Whatever the cause of his seeming distance, recognize Isaiah wrote to a people whose sentiments were idolatrous and whose sin was great. 

If you think you do not qualify for God’s counsel, might, love, and peace, then think again. If people like these were to receive help from Jesus, then people like you and me can expect it, too. 

If we didn’t need his help, then Jesus would not have come. Sin never needs to be the end of God’s story. Let him write Jesus’ ending for you.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you that my sins need not be the end of your story for me. Help me remember that my Savior came because I needed saving, and turn my heart to seek his counsel, might, love, and peace.

Daily Devotion - December 17, 2024

Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us). (Matt. 1:23)

Jesus could have remained remote in heaven’s realm, but he didn’t. As an infant in a manger, a child in Nazareth, and a Savior on a cross, he knelt down into the dirt of our earth and our shame to demonstrate a near and holy love. Even his name communicates this love: Immanuel, means God with us.

The announcement of our Savior’s name was not the first affirmation of our God’s presence. When God walked with our first parents in the Garden of Eden, sealed Noah’s family in the ark, spared Abraham’s son with a provision of sacrifice, delivered Israel from Pharaoh and through the Red Sea, dwelt among his people in the Wilderness, rescued them from enemies, spoke through prophets and apostles with his Word for us, and put his Spirit in us – in all these, our God was demonstrating the Immanuel principle: He is with us!

Why is the Immanuel principle displayed so often in Scripture? The answer is that we can face any trial, walk any path, deal with all the pains of a fallen world so long as we know God is with us. He is!

If you know that God is with you, then you can face anything. So, by his Word and Spirit, God is with you every moment of every day, so that you can face everything with him. God is with you! 

Prayer: Lord, thank you that you are with me. May the truths of your Word be the witness of your Spirit in my heart, assuring me that you will walk with me through anything. May I fear nothing because in everything my God is near!