Gazing upon His Face

Read: Luke 2:21-35 (NIV)

²¹On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.

²²When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord ²³ (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord”), ²⁴and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: “a pair of doves or two young pigeons.”

²⁵Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. ²⁶It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. ²⁷Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, ²⁸Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:

²⁹“Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,

you may now dismiss your servant in peace.

³⁰For my eyes have seen your salvation,

³¹which you have prepared in the sight of all nations:

³²a light for revelation to the Gentiles,

and the glory of your people Israel.”

³³The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him.³⁴Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, ³⁵so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”

Reflect:

One of our favorite sitcoms is “Everybody Loves Raymond.” In a particularly funny and poignant episode, grandmother Marie was extremely disappointed to learn that she wouldn’t have the opportunity to be present when her young grandchildren woke up to Christmas morning, because they would be with the in-laws, and would have to wait until noon — hours after they woke up — to see them. “But I’ll miss their little faces!” she exclaims. Her daughter-in-law Debra casually replies, “They’ll still have faces at noon, Marie.” Debra, the exhausted mom of three little ones, missed Marie’s point. Debra’s mindset was to survive the holiday, or quite possibly just the next hour, by trying to keep both sides of the family happy. But Marie, older and wiser, knew there was nothing quite like seeing the wonder and awe on her grandchildren’s faces on Christmas morning.

Simeon, also older and wiser, likewise longed to see something very special. God had promised Simeon that he would not die before he saw the Messiah, and prompted Simeon to be in the temple courts on the day Mary and Joseph presented the newborn Jesus to God. Oh, what it must have been like to see Simeon’s face that special morning. To see the wonder and awe as he held the hope of all nations in his arms! To gaze upon the magnitude of what God had done — stepping down from His throne in Heaven to come to Earth, and, in the most vulnerable and beautiful way, to walk among us and save us. Emmanuel: God with us. “The Son of God became a man that man might become sons (and daughters) of God.” — C.S. Lewis.

In the midst of this unspeakable joy, Simeon also recognized the tremendous sacrifice that was yet to come. A costly and bitter sacrifice, where the shedding of blood would sanctify many. In obedience to God, Joseph and Mary prepared to present a sacrifice at the altar — two doves. At 8 days old, Jesus would shed his first blood through circumcision, again in obedience to the word of God. Simeon knew that ultimately, Jesus would give His life and that Mary’s heart would be pierced by her anguish as she looked on.

Today, in the midst of our culture of Christmas with its busy schedules, extravagant meals, gifts, and family, may we not miss it. May we take the time to gaze upon our Savior’s face in wonder and awe of what God has done. And, like His servant Simeon did, may we know the peace that Jesus brings.

Act:

What will your birthday gift to Jesus be today? Perhaps an act of service, a time of worship, a specific commitment you offer to Him.

Pray:

Lord Jesus, thank You for coming to save us. For leaving the glories of Heaven to enter our broken and dirty and hurting world. I will not forget the grace and love You have showered on me. I will not forget that it is Your blood alone that has redeemed me. May I honor You today in all that I do, and may my offering be a blessing to You. Amen.

Kathy and Scott Roberts

In Those Days

Read: Luke 2:1-20 (NIV)

¹In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. ²(This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) ³And everyone went to their own town to register.

⁴So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. ⁵He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. ⁶While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, ⁷and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

⁸And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. ⁹An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. ¹⁰But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. ¹¹Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. ¹²This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

¹³Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

¹⁴ “Glory to God in the highest heaven,

and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

¹⁵ When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

¹⁶ So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. ¹⁷ When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, ¹⁸ and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. ¹⁹ But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. ²⁰ The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

Reflect:

I find myself drawn to the way Luke chapter 2 begins. “In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken.” I’m sure those words meant something different for each of the individuals involved in this incredible event. For Caesar Augustus, in those days meant it was time to take a census. A time to be sure everyone was counted so taxes could be collected from all living in the Roman Empire.

Imagine for just a moment what those words meant to Joseph and Mary. I can see them looking at each other and thinking, “You have got to be kidding me!” Mary was expecting her first child and the thought of traveling to Bethlehem probably wasn’t something that excited her. And then, to top it off, while she is in Bethlehem the time comes for her child to be born. I wonder what went through her mind. Obviously, we are not told, but a quick look at some of the other scriptures surrounding the birth of Jesus shows us Mary’s confidence in what God was doing in her life. Mary’s response to the angel Gabriel when he told her she, a virgin, would bear a child was “I am the Lord’s servant … may it be to me as you have said.” After her visit to Elizabeth who exclaimed to her, “Blessed are you among women and blessed is the child you will bear!” Mary would proclaim, “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.” In those days, in the midst of an event she didn’t fully understand, in the midst of having to travel miles away while pregnant, Mary experienced peace because she knew who was in control of her life.

For the shepherds, in those days meant an ordinary, routine night of caring for sheep would become an unforgettable moment in time. They would be among the first to see the long awaited Savior of their people! Their initial fear would become rejoicing as “a great company of heavenly hosts” praised God saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.” Imagine the significance of those days on the rest of their days!

Act:

What about us? When we face those days — days when things don’t go the way we had hoped, days when the news from a doctor isn’t what we wanted, days when the phone rings and we realize a loved one won’t be there to celebrate Christmas with us any longer, days when we are just tired, frustrated, or angry — what then? Will we like Mary and the shepherds experience a deep, abiding peace, not because the circumstances will change, but because we are confident God is on His throne?

Pray:

Nothing that touches us is unknown to You, God. So, may we echo the words of one of the kings of Judah as he faced impending enemies: “We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon you” (2 Chronicles 20:12). Our eyes on you, Jesus. You are where true peace comes from!

Kathy Cosner

God is Love and Love is Peace

Read: Colossians 3:12-17 (NIV)

¹²Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. ¹³Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.¹⁴And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

¹⁵Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. ¹⁶Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. ¹⁷And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Reflect:

Peace. Google defines peace as freedom from disturbance; quiet and tranquility. How do you define peace? Is it sharing a memory with family, or an overdue vacation? What about a quiet house after the kids go to bed, or the moment when you are finally caught up on some of your bills? We can all define peace differently based on our particular perspective of the world. I challenge you as we come upon this Christmas season to look at peace from the perspective of the One who designed it, the creator             of peace Himself.

Imagine a world that has no war, no bills, and no sickness. How would someone living in a world like that define peace? True peace, the peace God intends for us to have, can only come from having a relationship with the One who created it. When life is viewed from a perspective of an eternal relationship with Jesus, versus living in the day-to-day stresses of this fallen world, the priorities in life change. Your focus is no longer on getting the best black Friday deal or worrying about whether or not the family will get along on Christmas Day. Your focus will be on God. God tells us that we are to clothe ourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. He asks of us to forgive each other as He forgave us. And above all, He tells us to love. Love binds all of these virtues. God is love. Love is peace. Therefore, if you are seeking peace, you need to love, and in order to love, you need God.

Act:

To have peace in this life you must focus on God. Take the time to connect with Jesus by praying consistently, as if you were talking with a friend (because you are). Get into the Bible daily. Surround yourself with people who will encourage you and hold you accountable, like a small group. Practice what God has asked us to do: have compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Forgive each other. Love, and be thankful.

Pray:

Heavenly Father, You are an amazing God. Thank You for Your grace and the blessings that You pour out on us daily. Help us to keep our focus on You, Lord. Soften our hearts and fill us with Your Holy Spirit. Help us to express compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, and love. Give us the strength to forgive others as You have forgiven us. Let us have peace — the peace You intended for us to have when You created us. Give us a peace that can only be experienced when You are with us. Jesus, You are our Savior and it is in Your Holy Name that we pray. Amen.

Joey and Michelle Shipman

Got Peace?

Read: Galatians 5:22-26 (NIV)

²²But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. ²⁴Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. ²⁵Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. ²⁶Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

Reflect:

We all want peace. We want peace in the world, our country, our families, and ourselves. There are people who spend their whole lives working for peace. However, the Bible tells us that the world will never know peace (Romans 3:17). True peace is not something that can be achieved, it can only be received from Jesus Christ (John 14:27), the Prince of Peace.

In today’s text, we see that peace is the third of nine attributes of the fruit of the Spirit. We also thankfully note that this fruit is not ours to produce. It is the Spirit working in us (verses 22 and 23) — the Holy Spirit who dwells in us when we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior.

But we can’t fight with God, resist His plans and purposes for our lives, and experience His supernatural peace. Many of us would like to think (and try) to live as we please. But today’s text tells us we must crucify our sinful desires and yield ourselves to the control of the Holy Spirit (verses 24 and 25) to see the fruit of the Spirit (specifically peace) develop in our lives. We do our part by studying God’s Word, letting it transform our hearts and minds (Romans 12:2); applying what we learn (James 1:23); and praying in all circumstances (Philippians 4:6-7).

As followers of Jesus, others should look to us when they need peace. Not because our surroundings or circumstances are peaceful, but because our hearts and minds are at peace with God through the death of Jesus Christ on the cross.

Act:

Do you have peace? If not, what needs to change?

Pray:

Father, you are our peace-giver. You sent Jesus, the Prince of Peace, to die for us so that we could have peace with You. Help us to yield to and stay in step with the Holy Spirit within us and to crucify those things in our lives that would destroy the peace you have given us. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Verse References:

•        Romans 3:17: “… and the way of peace they do not know.”
•         John 14:27: “… Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid …”
•         Romans 12:2: Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is — his good, pleasing and perfect will.
•          James 1:23: Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror …
•         Philippians 4:6-7: ⁶Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Debbie Diskin

A Light in the Darkness

Read: Isaiah 9:2-7 (NIV)

²The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone. ³You have multiplied the nation; you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as they are glad when they divide the spoil. ⁴For the yoke of his burden, and the staff for his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian. ⁵For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult and every garment rolled in blood will be burned as fuel for the fire. ⁶For 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. ⁷Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore.

Reflect: 

“The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them a light has shone.”

The people of Israel were stumbling in the dark. They were making wrong choices. Isaiah was giving them the good news that the light would come; a beautiful white light that would chase away the shadows. There was hope despite their wrong choices. The light would bring joy and freedom. Most of all, the light would bring peace. Now, the Israelites didn’t know that Isaiah was talking about Jesus; they just knew there would be a Promised One, a Messiah. And look at all He would be: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace.

I don’t like the dark. I use timers on my lamps so I don’t have to come home to a dark house. I even sleep with a string of Christmas lights in my room. I need the light or I will stumble. I need God’s light or my life will be a stumbling mess. I need someone to give me direction. I need someone to be the one in control. I need someone to love me without condition. I need someone to root my life in so that despite the circumstances, I have peace. I am thankful that Jesus came so that I could have all of that and more.

Act:

Are you stumbling in the dark a little this Christmas season? Turn on the light. Pick up God’s Word and look for Jesus, the Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace.

Pray:

Thank you, Jesus, for being all those things and more to me. As Christmas draws near, may I center my celebrations on who You are. May I not stumble in darkness, but walk in Your light. Be my Prince of Peace so that I may be a peace-bringer in the days to come.

Looking for the Need

Read: Isaiah 11:1-10 (NIV)

¹A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.
²The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him — the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord — ³and he will delight in the fear of the Lord. He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, or decide by what he hears with his ears; ⁴but with righteousness he will judge the needy, with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth; with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked. ⁵Righteousness will be his belt and faithfulness the sash around his waist. ⁶The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them. ⁷The cow will feed with the bear, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox. ⁸The infant will play near the cobra’s den, and the young child will put its hand into the viper’s nest. ⁹They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea. ¹⁰In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to him, and his resting place will be glorious.

Reflect:

This is one of Isaiah’s prophecies of the coming Messiah. The one who would rise from the root of Jesse, the family of David. Though Isaiah didn’t know his name would be Jesus, he knew what He would be like. Isaiah saw that He has the Spirit of wisdom, understanding, counsel, and might. He has knowledge and fear of the Lord. He wears righteousness and truth. He is the peace-bringer. Because of His wisdom and righteousness, peace will reign. There will be safety in even the most precarious places.

For me, one of the most precarious places is on social media. Yes, I know it’s a time-suck and not always the most edifying space; however, the draw of cat videos and pictures of my friends’ kids made it a little bit of a haven from the real world for me. Lately though, it’s been more stressful and less fun for me. Kindness, civility, and peace are hard to find out there.

Yes, I could (and maybe should) just shut it off. But I also think there’s a lesson here in Isaiah for our social media world. In verse 3, he says, “He will not judge what he sees with his eyes, or decide by what he hears with his ears.” Rather, He looks deeper than words or deeds, He looks to their need. I think that sometimes we are too quick to jump at what we hear and see and don’t take the time to look for the need. We react rather than dig to find out the need. We dismiss rather than ask why. I’m not saying that we can’t have or express opinions. What I am saying is, I think Jesus wants us to be measured in how we do it, thinking of the need of the other person first (Romans 12:10, Ephesians 4:29, James 1:19). This doesn’t just apply to the virtual world on my phone or tablet, but to my real-world interactions as well.

I know that Isaiah says it is the rod of His mouth and the breath of His lips that will slay the wicked, but this is a prophecy about Jesus, the one whose righteousness and justice is never self-seeking. His goal was to bring about righteousness and peace. I think many times our goal is to win, to be right, to be the smartest. What is more important: being right or being righteous? What will bring about peace?

Act:

So, in the coming days, it’s likely many of us will get together in the real world with some of the same people we disagree with in the virtual world. Through your words and your actions, will you allow Jesus, the Root of Jesse, to be the banner that draws all people to Him? Will you be the one who brings peace or the one who brings strife?

Pray:

Father, thank You that You always look to my deeper need and don’t just take me at face value. Help me in the coming days in my interactions with people to look to their needs first, to listen and see with my heart and not just my ears and eyes. May I be able to bear Your banner of peace this Christmas season.

Chris Cepulis

I See You Dressed in White

Read: Isaiah 52:7-9 (NIV)

⁷How beautiful on the mountains

are the feet of those who bring good news,

who proclaim peace,

who bring good tidings,

who proclaim salvation,

who say to Zion,

“Your God reigns!”

⁸Listen! Your watchmen lift up their voices;

together they shout for joy.

When the LORD returns to Zion,

they will see it with their own eyes.

⁹Burst into songs of joy together,

you ruins of Jerusalem,

for the LORD has comforted his people,

he has redeemed Jerusalem.

Reflect:

Isaiah 52:7-9 speaks of the release of the Jews from Babylon and their return home. Some Jews had early notice of the release and immediately went themselves, or sent messengers to all parts of the country to inform everyone their brothers would soon return home. It was published not merely as news, but as proof that Zion’s God reigns. Jesus came to Earth to bring the good news of salvation to us. In Romans 10:15, it again repeats, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” This communicates that the deliverance and redemption of mankind is by Jesus Christ. The application of Isaiah 52:7 is our mission of sharing the gospel. It is a great blessing that we should welcome with joy and thankfulness.

In the world today, some people see Jesus as just a good man. Some do not even know his name. Christmas has been accepted by many as a holiday of joy and sharing. Some people love to read the Christmas story, but to many people, it is just a story. Many people openly deny the truth of Christ. Yet there is nothing that can surpass the story of God’s love and there is no gift that can surpass the gift of God’s grace. Only the precious feet of Jesus that were nailed to the cross could have brought this good news.

Jesus came to us on a mission that only he could perform because of his purity. White is often associated with purity and peace in western cultures, and often a bride will wear white during a wedding as a sign of purity.

I recently attended a wedding, and it was clear the couple’s mission was to glorify the name of Christ during the ceremony. The couple even ended the ceremony by taking communion together. The bride wore a white dress, but we learned that earlier that day the bride’s sister had the iron too hot and burned a very large stain in the dress. After the initial shock, the bride went to the Lord in prayer. She then went to work and managed to repair the dress. Those who attended the wedding did not see any stains, only a beautiful woman dressed in white. We all carry stains in our lives, yet the love and grace of Jesus Christ washes us white as snow. When we go out into the world, we are dressed in white because we accepted the gift of grace given by Jesus.

Act:

One of the definitions of the word publish is “to make generally known or to make a public announcement.” Our mission must become sharing the good news as a daily part of our lives at home, in our church, and in the community. How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!

There are many ways that you can bring the good news. The first thing to do is pray, then seek the guidance and wisdom of the pastors and elders. Seek jobs or ministries within and outside of your church that use your gifts. Be open to the times when God asks you to step out of your comfort zone. Read and study the Bible and live your life as best you can. People will notice.

The bride had two flower girls: a 5 year old and a toddler who kept picking up the flowers the older girl placed on the rug. When you share the wisdom and beauty of Christ, others will hear and pick up these words.

Be ready to share your faith in Christ with the people around you. One of the best ways to share with a person is to listen to them. During your good and bad times let people know of your love and faith in Jesus Christ.

Pray:

Dear Lord, I pray that we publish daily our love and faith in Jesus Christ, for only His beautiful feet could bring the good news of Your grace and salvation.

Credits: Matthew Henry’s Commentary

William Mitchell