Category: Daily Prayer

Our scripture for Christmas is Luke 2:1-20.

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their own town to register. So 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. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and 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. And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” 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.” So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
Luke 2:1-20

Are you ready for Christmas? I’m not talking about gifts or cleaning or cooking. Yes, we do all those things to be ready to greet our friends and family when they arrive. But have you prepared yourself to greet the King of Kings?

We go to such effort to be ready in our earthly preparations, it should be even more important to be ready for the Lord of Lords to enter our lives. Don’t think you’re alone in this, we all have the same issues to some degree. We go to church on Sunday, maybe the weekly bible study and sit through the Christmas Eve service until the candles are extinguished and the strains of “Silent Night” echo into real silence. What then?

Do you feel a little guilty when you compare the time spent getting ready for Christmas to the time you spend getting ready for Christ? We all should. Take some time and reread the all too familiar scripture above. Jesus is coming and He’s not looking for a present under the tree with His name on it, He’s looking for your heart.

Loving Lord, our time is spent in the rush of the season, searching for things that fill the moment but often not seeking the gift You have to give which will fill eternity. Help us to slow our scurrying to be ready for the earthly celebration and make time for You to enter our hearts. Amen.

Our scripture for this week is Matthew 1:18-25.

This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”). 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 1:18-25

Matthew tells us of two people who were essential to the plan God has for our salvation. They weren’t special, rich or powerful – a couple from a small town, going about their daily lives but suddenly made aware of the task God had for them. Their acceptance of God’s call still has an affect on us today through the birth of Jesus to live among us and His lessons that teach us how to live for Him.

What can we learn from their experience? First, God wants all of us to be a part of what He does in our world, to represent His light and love in an often dark and troubled world. Our witness to our brothers and sisters shows that we have accepted the call He has for us, that we are followers of Christ.

Next, our behavior as Christians should stand as a model, a testimony to what we believe. If we only talk about it and don’t live it, we are not good representatives for Him in our world. Finally, as the old hymn says “they will know we are Christians by our love”. If our love isn’t given without reservation or judgement, we aren’t following the path Jesus set for us. As we prepare to celebrate His coming to be with us, may we share that joy and thankfulness those in a stable in Bethlehem knew all those years ago.

Loving Lord, we are ever grateful for the love You have sent to us in Christ. Help us to show the world that love, reaching out to all we encounter today with the peace only You can give. Amen.

Our scripture this week is Matthew 1:18-25.

A young couple starting out together has problems to deal with no matter what. Mary and Joseph had larger issues than any husband and wife before – being the earthly parents of the Messiah. The scriptures give us the details of their being told this, but not what happened in between, how they felt or how they changed.

Obviously they both said yes to God’s call and we know that is a huge change in itself. We also know they were like us, human and prone to misgivings and doubt. Whatever they experienced, we know they were faithful to the promise they had made to God and even in a difficult situation they persevered. Who can imagine the journey to Bethlehem in that time with her expecting a child and essentially camping out during the delivery!

Scripture often leaves out details we’d like to know, but God is telling us those are not the important part of the lesson. We can “fill in the blanks” knowing their experience was much like our own. The point being made is they were like us but even with everyday problems and their larger issues, they obeyed God.

So what’s our excuse? How do we avoid our call by being busy? I’m sure Mary and Joseph were busy too but they found a way to be faithful and do their part in God’s plan. They found their lives changed by saying “yes” and we can too! We may not be called to a task as awesome as theirs but God has something in mind for everyone of us.

Loving Lord, you call everyone to a relationship with You and a part to play in Your creation. When we waiver in fear or frustration, be with us to make us strong in Your love and ready to share it with everyone. Amen.

Our scripture for this week is Matthew 1:18-25.

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

Joseph and Mary each took a risk in saying “yes” to God’s plan for them. Mary was told by the angel “He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High” (Luke 1:32). In this passage Joseph is told “She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). This is a blessing and a burden to each of them.

Most of us have never experienced an angel visitation with an announcement from God, but He calls us just as He did Joseph and Mary. It is easy to think that if we were to receive such a direct message we would certainly obey, wouldn’t we? God reaches out to connect with us every day through a variety of means if we are only ready to hear and accept His call.

Remember that while God is almighty and powerful, He works in gentle ways through His creation, of which we are a part. Often God speaks to us as “a quiet whisper” (1 Kings 19:12) that asks for our attention, not demanding it. We must be prepared, not only in the season of Advent, but always, to hear His call to us to be part of what He is doing in the world.

Gracious God, we are humbled by the fact that You would want to use us as Your representatives in the world. Help us to better hear Your call and make us strong in faith to carry out the wonderful work You have for us. Amen.

Our scripture this week is Matthew 1:18-25

All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).
Matthew 1:22-23

God had been telling people all along what His plan was for them and how He would help them back on the path He intended. The angel in Joseph’s dream quoted the prophet Isaiah, saying “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel (Isaiah 7:14). Jesus came not only to fulfill prophecy but to help us see how those teachings were intended to guide us back to a relationship with God.

Joseph has been given a wonderful opportunity to make a difference to the world. His dream was the means God used to reach out to him. God reaches out to all of us but we often miss (or ignore) the sign He sends us. We are too busy to listen or we are simply not interested in the task God intends for us. What a difference it would make if we could hear Him clearly!

God’s response to that is that we can, through prayer and spending time in the Word. God wants us to be connected to Him, but we must make the effort to receive the signal He sends. He sent Jesus to be the best signal of His love ever given. Don’t miss it!

Patient God, we are not the people You want us to be and we scramble around thinking we can find answers ourselves. Help us to see that only Your love and Jesus’ sacrifice can give us what we seek, an eternal relationship with You. Amen.

Our scripture this week is Matthew 1:18-25.

But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
Matthew 1:20-21

The angel explains the situation to Joseph much as it was told to Mary earlier. There is an air of concern in this visitation. After telling him not to be afraid to take Mary as his wife, Joseph is told that this child “will save His people from their sins” (verse 21). That’s a pretty heavy message to receive. Not many couples begin their married life with a burden and a promise such as this.

Joseph is told, as Mary was, not to be afraid. God is doing something wonderful through them and while there may be implications, God tells them it will be worth whatever they encounter. It is not implied that they have no choice, God’s call to us always involves us making a decision – to accept the call He places on our lives or to go our own way. God could do whatever He wants, but He chooses to act in a way that allows human freedom.

How is God calling you to choose today? Our daily decisions may not carry the weight of the call to Mary and Joseph, but we are faced with choices all the time. May we be as steadfast in our faith as Joseph and Mary were, choosing to trust God even in the small things, as well as in times of stress and conflict.

Gracious God, we are thankful for the free will You have given us, to be able to choose for ourselves rather than living out a forced path. Help us to hear Your word and learn and grow in it, making wise decisions in accordance with Your will, Amen.

Our scripture this week is Matthew 1:18-25.

This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.
Matthew 1:18-19

Joseph seems to be a good and faithful man. He also seems kind in that he “did not want to expose her to public disgrace” (verse 19). God often chooses broken people to be His representatives, but in the case of Mary and Joseph we don’t hear about their flaws, only their love for God and each other.

In their society and time, having a child out of wedlock was a huge thing. It either pointed to infidelity or premarital relations, neither of which was acceptable under the Law. Mary knew the truth behind this, God’s miracle of the Holy Spirit coming upon her, but Joseph was yet unaware. However, rather than an angry and vengeful response, he plans “to divorce her quietly” (verse 19).

Can we choose to be like Joseph when we feel we have been wronged? Jesus would later teach this caring love, being kind even to those who have hurt you. We need to follow Jesus’ instruction and behave as Joseph did – seeking justice but not revenge, loving and obeying God’s Law, but not using it as a weapon against each other.

Loving Lord, we are often hateful toward one another when we are in conflict. Help us to see each other in the light of Your love that we may resolve our issues peacefully. Amen.

Our scripture this week is Matthew 1:18-25.

This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”). 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 1:18-25

In the four Gospels, only two contain a reference to the birth of Jesus. Mark and John begin with Jesus fully grown and beginning His ministry. Luke contains the beautiful birth and visitation story that is so familiar and played out through children’s programs and nativity scenes. Matthew contains only a sentence (verse 25) “…and she gave birth to a son. And he gave Him the name Jesus”, not a lot of detail regarding the circumstances.

However Matthew’s story is important to us because it tells us of an ordinary person – Joseph – saying yes to Jesus. We need to be aware of how essential this acceptance was to the birth and life of Jesus. Even in His wonderful plan to bring salvation to us, God took a chance on human free will. What if Mary or Joseph had said no?

In this week’s scripture we will learn of the dilemma Joseph faced in his time and culture. Being engaged to an unwed mother was no small thing in that society, but God had called Joseph to an incredible task – to be the earthly father and early role model for Jesus. Joseph’s decision is one we all have to make, to say yes to the presence of Jesus in our lives and accept the change that makes in our lives forever.

Loving Lord, we are grateful and humbled by Your gift of salvation through Jesus. Help us to see the part we are called to play in sharing the Good News with everyone. Amen.

Our scripture this week is Matthew 11:2-11.

When John, who was in prison, heard about the deeds of the Messiah, he sent his disciples to ask him, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?” Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor. Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.” As John’s disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swayed by the wind? If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear fine clothes are in kings’ palaces. Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is the one about whom it is written: “‘I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.’ Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
Matthew 11:2-11

John and the people of his time had an expectation of what the coming of the Messiah would be like. Many expected that He would restore the kingdom of Israel, overthrow the Roman occupiers and punish the enemies who had oppressed them. This had been their hope for many years.

When Jesus appeared, He taught them to love – both their neighbor and their enemy. This must have been difficult for them to accept and it was certainly not what they expected. It is hard for us to realize that what we want is often not what God wants for us.

In this time of preparation we must make ourselves ready for the celebration of the Messiah’s birth, to welcome Jesus as the expected One and to learn what that means in our lives and in our world. God has a plan for every single one of us that involves making Him the center of our lives. This is how we can be made whole and made useful to the coming of the kingdom.

Loving Lord, we are not sure of what is to come, but we know we can trust that You have blessings for us. While we face difficulties every day in this life, You are waiting for us to give them up to You, to follow Your path for us and to be part of Your work in all of creation. Amen.

Our scripture this week is Matthew 11:2-11.

We can empathize with John the Baptist for asking the question “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?”
(Matthew 11:3). God promised a Savior, a Son of David, one who would set us free. Yet John is in prison while Jesus teaches about love.

John had received special knowledge from God that Jesus was the One, but John didn’t see what he expected. Scripture doesn’t say what exactly John was looking for, but many thought the Messiah would come as a mighty warrior to destroy God’s enemies and restore His kingdom on earth by conquest.

Jesus replies to John’s question powerfully but simply “The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor” (Matthew 11:5). Jesus came to be our king, but not in the way anyone expected. We need to change our hearts and lives to be part of His conquest of love and peace.

Heavenly Father, we often fail to see how You answer prayer because our ways are not Your ways. May we feel Your saving grace during this time of preparation and make ourselves ready to receive the gift of the Messiah. Amen.