Luke 2:19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.

THIS works out to be a good New Year meditation as we look back and look ahead.
     I’ve often pictured Mary looking at her baby while considering all the events that have led her to that moment. Or would she have been thinking about his future and about hers and Joseph’s future as ones to oversee this Messiah-child? Would she be thinking about her family’s future and her people’s future?
     As Luke used the word “treasure” it indicates to us that Mary was putting great value on what God was doing. God came to her, a virgin. To assure Mary of the miraculous promise, he then guided her to the miracle of Elizabeth’s pregnancy. Next, the Lord led Joseph to accept a pregnant wife. God protected this couple from their culture’s stigmas and moved them to the manger this night. With these steps completed, the Father celebrated his Son Jesus’ entrance into the world! The light of his glory burst forth in the night sky over the sheep pastures.
     Putting these events together, Mary most assuredly knew there would be more wonders to behold. She, of faith, would treasure God’s choosing her to live amid these events. She would treasure, too, his plan for her future and Israel’s future. I believe she was emotionally and spiritually preparing herself for a life that would witness the Savior of the world grow into manhood. She knew that in each moment as she gazed upon this child, she would celebrate what God had done and anticipate what he would do next.
     Here is the good news of the Savior born. On this new day in a new year, open afresh your eyes, heart, mind and soul to ponder and treasure the miracles of the Savior come. Keep your eyes on Jesus each moment of your life. Rejoice in whom God has given you in his Son, the Savior. Anticipate the wonders of his love now and forever.  

Prayer: Thank you, Father, for your amazing gift. Put my mind upon the Savior to treasure the wonders of your favor upon me. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.

Luke 2:16 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.

CAN you imagine the conversations the shepherds had with people after they had left the Christ child? “Hey everyone, we have some great news! We were watching our sheep. Then suddenly an angel appeared in the sky. He told us the Savior was in a manger here in Bethlehem. Then the sky was filled with angels praising God! We went then went to that stable just up the street. It was so amazing – just as the angel said. We saw the baby Savior of the world!”
     “Yeah, right guys. What are you drinking out there in the pasture? The Messiah is born in a stable? Guys, you have to do better than that.”
     “Hey everyone, here’s some great news. God’s Word says that Jesus loves you. The message of all the Prophets and the Apostles is that you can trust Jesus, the Savior, to guide you into a loving relationship with the holy God. He offers to you a faith to free you from doubts, fears and sin. His ways will bring into a true relationship of joy and peace with God! What’s more, he is the way to eternal life!”
     “Yeah, right. You have to do better than that.”
     Too many times the truth isn’t enough for people, is it? Perhaps God’s truth is too easy or too simple to believe. Perhaps it is too loving to understand. But as we see the Messiah come to Bethlehem, we see a demonstration God’s desire to enter into all mankind, from the lowest in status to the highest.
     Luke and all of Scripture tells us a Savior is God’s ultimate possibility for all who believe. Open your heart to believe in the Savior come. He changes attitudes. He changes minds. He changes hearts. He changes your life forever.

Prayer: Open my heart, mind and soul, Holy Spirit, so I will clearly believe in Jesus’ gospel. In Jess’ name I pray, amen.

Luke 2:15 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.”

IN 2000 I had the opportunity to travel to Baltimore on business. The night I arrived was the night the Baltimore Ravens won Super Bowl XXXV. Two days later, the city had a parade for the Ravens to celebrate their victory. The parade route was on street in front of the building where I was working. I was a football fan to some extent. This was a great opportunity to experience a moment of football history - pretty cool, huh? Actually I didn’t see it. I was too busy working, and didn’t even stick my head out the door. I have no idea what happened.

     Suppose the angels had “gone into heaven” (By the way, don’t you just love that phrase? Think about it. You will find it powerful.) and the shepherds kept working? What if they did not “go to Bethlehem and see”? Of course, they would have missed the turning point of history. They would have missed Jesus. God didn’t need the shepherds to go see his Son. He invited them to go to experience the Savior come down to earth. He invited the shepherds into his presence.
     That’s Scripture’s purpose, isn’t it? God invites. You respond. Go or not go? Go in faith or stay with the sheep? Focus on Jesus or focus on yourself? What will you do? God’s messenger today is the Holy Spirit. He seldom comes to literally shine into our dark nights, but he always comes to spiritually shine onto us Jesus, “the light of the world” (John 8:12) on us.
     Thank God for his light, too we know as the Holy Bible. Thank God for his light in friends who invite you to a Bible study. Thank God for his light from people who pray for you. Turn to the light. Trust the light. Experience the light. Stop what you think is important. Go see how God will bless you.

Prayer: Thank you for your light, Jesus. Thank you for your victory over sin. Thank you for calling me to the parade of life everlasting. Teach me to go and see how much you love me. In your name I pray, amen.

Luke 2:10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.”

THINK of this: “Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.” Certainly it ranks among the top of the Bible’s life-giving messages. Assuredly, this is one of the greatest messages in history.

     The Christ, who is no ordinary Prophet but is the Son of God, has come to earth! And note: “a Savior has been born to you”. How do you respond to the message? What do we do with our lives when we understand this wondrous, immortal truth? This is the truth that gives our lives meaning. It is the truth that is another step forward in God’s fulfillment of ancient promise to his people: “I will take you as my own people, and I will be your God” (Exodus 6:7). Yes, the Father has sent the Son to become your Savior.

     Receive and feel the pleasure of that truth in your life today. As you work, deal with the kids, struggle with circumstances, get the estimate for the car repair, and calculate your budget, know this: The Savior “has been born to you”.

     That means he is available to you night and day. He offers his comfort and peace when you are in distress. He offers his truth when you need to know what to say and do. He gives you his strength when you feel weak. He watches over you when others seek to harm you. He is your God is so many, many ways.

     Yes, Christ the Lord, the One who saves, has come to you to be very, very personal with you. Celebrate the joy of Jesus. Pray for faith to fill your heart. Savor the wonder, and let it surround you. The God of Heaven and earth has come to you.

    

Prayer: Thank you, Father, that a Savior has been born to me. I receive him. I celebrate him. I live in joy, knowing he is Christ the Lord for my soul forevermore. Amen.

Luke 2: 6-7 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

“THERE was no room for them in the inn.” That’s always bugged me. How could anyone turn a very pregnant woman from an inn and show her a stable to spend the night? What kind of culture was this to keep a pregnant girl out of a nice bed? Somebody should have said, “Here. You can have my room. I’ll gladly remove my things for you. Come on in.” But no one did.
     How about you? Are you too often inclined to shut Jesus out, to turn him away into the darkness? We too often find it convenient to cast him away with our casual hearts, don’t’ we? He has so much to give to us. He offers his ears to listen to our deep sorrows, his hands to heal our broken bodies, his mouth to speak eternal forgiveness and grace, his feet to walk among the physical and spiritually poor, his eyes to penetrate your soul as he commands, “Come, follow me.”
     But then we hesitate. We love the truths of Jesus giving these wondrous blessings to our lives. We sing hymns to praise him. We attend his church and give our offerings. We go to the Bible study and join with others in prayer. But…when it comes to the point of a very personal, one-on-one response to Jesus, suddenly our hearts too full of clutter to let him in, “No room for you here, Jesus. It’s not the right time. Check down the street.” And then we wonder, “Where is he?” when our faith wavers and when those tough times come.
     On that night in Bethlehem Jesus came to enter into the hearts of his creation. What will it take for us to say, “Here, Lord, I have plenty of room in my heart for you. I’ll gladly remove the clutter. Come on in.”

Prayer: Thank you, Jesus, for coming to earth. Come into my heart and move me to a deeper love for you. Cleanse my heart of my “self” clutter. Give me a full faith to follow you on this Christmas Day and each day. Amen.

Luke 2:4-5 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. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.

JOSEPH and Mary are on an 80-mile walk from Nazareth in Galilee to Bethlehem in Judea. The journey would take about 5-8 days, depending on how everyone was feeling. After John’s birth about 6 months prior, this is the next step of God’s magnificent plan to save the world. 
     Consider here the centuries of promises and prophecies from Abraham to Isaac to Joseph to Moses to Samuel to David to Isaiah to Daniel to Joseph and Mary. Wait, “Joseph and Mary”? Can we say their names in the same breath with the mighty, godly heroes of Israel’s history? They are impoverished misfits, scared misfits just following the crowd, aren’t they?
     Or are they misfits? No, they’re not. Joseph and Mary are surely as big a part of God’s plan of salvation as the mighty and famous. God chooses people of all shapes, sizes and backgrounds to put them on a journey with him to bring salvation to the world. God takes “misfits” and fits them perfectly into his plan.
     That’s why he’s called you. Yes, you. If you feel God calling you to something new and difficult, you may say as an excuse, “But I’m a misfit, Lord!” But you’re not. The Lord God Almighty is calling you. When you say, “Yes, Lord. I will go to see how I fit into your plan to save your people.” you will enter into a journey that goes step by step to the places he needs you to go – to a crowded town, a stinky stable, a sheep pasture, a rocky road, a mountain top, a fertile plain, a neighbor in need, a friend who needs prayer, a gospel explanation to one who has questions, or, yes, even to a cross. Yes, God’s salvation makes you his. I pray you enjoy the wonder of your journey with him all the way to Heaven.

Prayer: Thank you, Father, for the ways you fit me into your plan of salvation. In the Spirit’s holy power, amen.

Luke 2:1-3 In 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.) 3 And everyone went to his own town to register.

THIS seems fairly simple, doesn’t it? Orders are given; it’s time to go pay the tax. But when you read these words, do you see the bondage? It’s not simply the bondage of the tax. It is bondage over Judea by a foreign government. Caesar Augustus and Quirinius are Romans. Rome controls Judah. Israel’s people are subject to an outside force intent on taking as much wealth out of the country as it can to build the riches of Rome.

     The other critical aspect of these words is how they represent a point in history. Luke wants to give evidence of the timeframe, day and month (actually October) when Jesus was born. The more deliberate he can be of the circumstances and time, the more we can trust the reality of Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem.

     This joyful reality is that God sent his Son into the midst of Judea’s oppression to release the Jews and mankind from sin’s oppression. Then amazingly, God would actually use the oppressor Rome as a means to spread the gospel into the world and to begin his church. Rome’s structures of roads, schools and unifying language among many people allowed for the gospel to spread and new churches to begin. The Roman government was at first more lenient toward Christianity than were the Jews. It is interesting to note, the Roman government would be a refuge to the early apostles as they escaped from the hatred of the Jews, who were the first persecutors of Christ’s church. Tragically, Rome was later led by demonic rulers such as Nero, who violently persecuted the church. But God used even this to strengthen his church. And in the 4th Century, Rome would become one of the first governments to approve of and support the church.

     God works in mysterious ways to free his people. Where has he come into your life to break the things that hold you in bondage?

Prayer: Father in Heaven, I release to you the things that bind me and keep me from an intimate relationship with you. Free me in Jesus. Amen.

Kuke 1:59-61 On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to name him after his father Zechariah, 60 but his mother spoke up and said, “No! He is to be called John.” 61 They said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who has that name.”

WHAT’S in a name? What does it matter which name this little boy has? Yes, God through his messenger Gabriel told dad Zechariah to name him John. And obviously Zechariah had written it down for his Elizabeth to know. But what does it matter?

     The matter of the right name indicates something about God. This is something we need to know: God has it all planned - even the “small” details. Names in the Hebrew culture meant a great deal. To us, “John” doesn’t seem that special. To Zechariah, Elizabeth, the Hebrew nation and to God “John” meant a great deal.

     “John” in Hebrew is written Jehochanan or Yªhowchanan. The name means the grace or mercy of Yahweh. John is so named because he was to go before and proclaim the God of all grace was about to step into the world to demonstrate his mercy to a lost world.

     Powerful, isn’t it? Each time his parents, relatives and friends would say “John”, they would be reminded that God had a very special plan for his life. John is the great Announcer, the final Old Testament prophet. He is the one who would actually see and baptize the Son of God, the one awaited since the ancient times of Abraham. John would literally point to the one who would save the world from the death of sin.

     Yes, God loves you so much he worked out all the details of your salvation. All Scripture testifies to God’s enormous love for you.

Prayer: Thank you, Father, that you have planned and fulfilled the details of eternal life in Jesus. Amen.

Luke 1:57-58 When it was time for Elizabeth to have her baby, she gave birth to a son. 58 Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they shared her joy.

JOY. It’s a little word with big meaning. Joy is spending time with our grandchildren, especially one-on-one. Joy is hugging them, listening to them talk of their favorite things and doing chores around the house with them. Joy is in our hearts when we are with them because we love them very, very much.

     But there is another aspect of joy we have toward our grandchildren. That joy is expressed toward God in a feeling of thankfulness God has given to us such treasures. Even at times when we don’t get to see them much, the joy remains in our heart because of our deep love for them and our love for God, who in his great kindness, has given them to us.

     As Elizabeth gave birth to a son she had lost hope of ever having, she and her friends expressed great joy. They were in awe and delighted in God’s gift of this baby boy. What a miracle! Their joy was an expression of a grateful heart and great love toward God’s tender mercy.

     True joy comes to our lives when we understand the Great Miracle God has given us in the gift of his Son. Jesus brings release from pain and sorrow forever. He frees us from sin’s captivity and destruction for all eternity. Yes, troubles and sorrows are plenty. We struggle with many things. But this is only a very temporary thing. Oh, how our God shows his tender mercy to do this miracle of sending his Son for us!

     When we understand this in our hearts, life’s trials seem smaller. Irritations diminish, aggravations go away, patience grows, and love prospers. A smile grows on our hearts knowing God’s great gift of salvation through Jesus lasts forever. As you think of how God is merciful to you, I pray you feel this joy in your heart this Christmas and forever.

Prayer: Oh my heart is glad, Father, that you have called me to yourself. Joy! Joy! Joy! In Jesus’ name, amen.

Luke 1:51 He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. 52 He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. 53 He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty. 54 He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful 55 to Abraham and his descendants forever, even as he said to our fathers.

MARY says, “He has performed mighty deeds with his arm.” This is a wonderful picture of our merciful Father in Heaven, isn’t it? God has a big arm, doesn’t he? I checked through the Old Testament and found a number of references to “outstretched arm”. Each time the phrase demonstrated God’s power to deliver his people from harm.

     This reminds me of a loving parent who reaches out to protect a child from a car coming down the street, from falling off a bicycle or from the pain of someone’s hurtful words. God’s “outstretched arm” protected his people and delivered them into the Promised Land of safety and abundance.

     If you are feeling weak or not very important, please know that God’s outstretched arm is ready to embrace you, protect you and fill you with his goodness. God’s mighty power is at the ready to care for you when you humbly go to him and tell him, “Forgive my pride, Father God. I am weak in my ways, and I know you are my strength. Embrace me with your outstretched arm, Father. Fill me with your strength that I may rest and rejoice in you.”

     As we leave Mary’s praise to the Father, I encourage you to take some time to speak or write your own praise to God. Speak to him of your needs. Proclaim to him your love for him. Celebrate the ways he has cared for you in your life. Praise him for the ways he will care for you tomorrow. 

    

Prayer: Thank you for your big, outstretched arm, Father. I feel safe and secure with you. I pray this in the power of Jesus’ outstretched arms on the cross, amen.