Acts 16:13-15 On the Sabbath we went outside the city gate to the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and began to speak to the women who had gathered there. 14 One of those listening was a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul's message. 15 When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her home. “If you consider me a believer in the Lord,” she said, “come and stay at my house.” And she persuaded us.
 
PAUL, Silas, Timothy and now Luke were in Philippi at the Lord’s command. It is likely they expected the Spirit would have a group of men waiting, as usual, at a synagogue to hear the gospel. But the circumstances were very different. There was no synagogue. No one welcomed them and invited them to speak. How would they begin the gospel preaching?
   The Lord showed them how. He brought to them Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, who was a worshiper of God. This means she was a Gentile who followed the Jews’ teachings of God. With grace and joy, the men began to speak to the women who had gathered there. This was not a casual conversation. They spoke the gospel message. Lydia and her household confessed Jesus.
   The simple act of the men speaking to the women is a significant mark of Jesus’ transforming love. Paul would have completely ignored them if he were still a Pharisee! Orthodox Jewish rabbis would look at Lydia and say, “It is better that the words of the Law be burned than be delivered to a woman!” The gospel transforms hearts into a unity of love for one another.
   Lydia had come from Thyatira in Asia Minor to sell her purple cloth. The evangelists had come from ministry in Thyatira and other towns. The Spirit had prepared Lydia’s heart to hear and the evangelists’ mouths to speak. Consider this: These two groups from Asia Minor began the first church in Europe. As all true churches, this church would be built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. (Ephesians 2:20)
   No formal building nor special order of worship was needed. The missionaries’ obedient call to go to Philippi, their true gospel preaching and a group of prepared women led to the baptism of new believers. This is the church fulfilling Jesus’ command: Matthew 28:19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey all I have commanded. And surely I am with you always to the very end of the age.
   Yes, Jesus’ Spirit was with them because they obeyed Jesus. Much more is yet to happen in Philippi. 

Acts 16:6-7 Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. 7 When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to.
 
THE Bible’s accounts of the various patriarchs, prophets and apostles are generally very, very brief glimpses into their lives. These two verses are a good example. Other passages in Scripture tell us that two significant events in Paul’s life happened when he was in Galatia.
   Galatia is in central Asia Minor. During the team’s work there, Paul became very ill.  He needed time to rest and heal. But in God’s purpose, the Holy Spirit used Paul’s “down time” to be a good time to advance the gospel. Even in his illness, Paul and his coworkers founded several churches in Galatia. We know this because Paul wrote in Galatians 4:13 As you know, it was because of an illness that I first preached the gospel to you. How fascinating to consider Paul did not plan to do much preaching in Galatia. But his illness became a catalyst to change his plans and give him time for a new purpose.
   The Holy Spirit directed the evangelists to preach. Then the Spirit affected the Galatians’ hearts to receive salvation. Paul also wrote in Galatians 4:14 Even though my illness was a trial to you, you did not treat me with contempt or scorn. Instead, you welcomed me as if I were an angel of God, as if I were Christ Jesus himself. Paul’s sickness became the Spirit’s balm to heal many souls into eternal life.
   As a Christian we must always survey our circumstances, whether they are times of trial or times of comfort and peace. Our response to God is to discern the ways God wants to use us in each situation.
   The second event in Paul’s life in these two verses is that the team was kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. Their plan was to go from the Roman province of Asia Minor east into the Asia, another Roman province. We don’t know how, but the LORED redirected this missionary team away from Asia. He was about to move them into Macedonia to plant the first church in Europe.
   A few words, sentence or several verses in the Bible often informs us of great change in God’s kingdom. Behind those words are God’s people diligently working to respond to his commands. Working with Jesus’ Spirit requires listening, going, stopping and sometimes changing direction. Working with Jesus always requires patience and perseverance.   

Acts 16:8-12 So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas. 9 During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” 10 After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them. 11 From Troas we put out to sea and sailed straight for Samothrace, and the next day on to Neapolis. 12 From there we traveled to Philippi, a Roman colony and the leading city of that district of Macedonia. And we stayed there several days.
 
ACTS is more completely titled The Acts of the Apostles. Indeed, it is a very brief account of the apostles’ active faith to proclaim the gospel into a hostile world. And perhaps we can also title this history The Acts of the Holy Spirit. He is certainly the action-activator, isn’t he? Nothing would have happened if the Spirit had remained in heaven and the Holy Trinity had waited for the 12 apostles to take action for Jesus. Paul would have remained a Jesus-hating Pharisee. And the apostles may have remained close to their upper room retreat.
   God’s salvation plan is centered on Spirit-activated service to his purpose. The Spirit-powered apostles began to minister with his universe creating authority. God’s direct approach to these men’s ministry is something many of us envy. How good it would be to have such direct vision and verbal message from God!  
   Paul received Gods very clear invitation – command – to Macedonia. As plainly as a man standing in front of him, Paul saw and heard the vision at night, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.”
   They sailed from Asia Minor to Philippi. There, Luke wrote, “We stayed there several days.” This brief sentence says much. Luke has begun writing, “We” as he relates the mission group’s shift from Asia Minor to Macedonia. This means Luke has joined the group to become an first-hand eyewitness to God’s work. And we will learn that during those few days in Philippi, God began a new church to expand the gospel to Rome and to all of Europe.
   This is God’s kingdom expansion pattern. He will give “negative” directions to his evangelists, “Don’t go there.” He will give positive instructions, “Come here.” Then he will use his obedient servants make new disciples, to plant new churches and to extend the church’s influence.
   How do you fit into God’s growth plan? Do you hear in your heart, “Come over here. Help us.” as you look to ministry opportunities? If you are listening, God does give you a direct message. He uses people around you to help you know your gifts. God gives you certain skills that will help his church. He instills a passion in your heart for certain people or activities. As you read the Bible, the Spirit grants you an understanding to know what God is specifically saying to you.
          There are many places for a Christian to go – on your knees, to a far-away country or to any point in between. Be alert and be faithful to your Lord’s call. Who knows, he may want you to expand his gospel to a friend, your family, your neighbors or the world.  

Acts 16:4-5 As Paul, Silas and Timothy traveled from town to town, they delivered the decisions reached by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem for the people to obey. 5 So the churches were strengthened in the faith and grew daily in numbers.
 
MANY methods and ideas for church growth have been discussed and tried. It is a significant challenge to call people to live within a particular moral code. Our human nature wants to retort, “Don’t tell me how to live. I’ll do what I please.” What is a church to do to form and grow?
   The Bible is very sure about the pathway to a strong church: our purpose is to tell whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things. (Philippians 4:8)
   The church should not ask the world, “What do you want?” Our task – and joy – is to proclaim, “This is the truth the world must know.” God has given the church to command to confront the opposition with God’s inerrant truth. To believe in God is to believe the Spirit will use God’s Word to turn many self-centered hearts to center on Christ.
   That’s what happened in Lystra and the other towns where Paul, Silas and Timothy ministered. They faithfully delivered the decisions reached by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem for the people to obey. Remember, those decisions were to tell the people to abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals and from blood. (Acts 15:20). Essential to receiving the truth, “Jesus saves.” in our heart is to faithfully live the truth the Savior teaches.
   Truth strengthens us when we reject the self pleasures God forbids. Strong Christians unite to create a strong church. A strong church will grow when it welcomes the Spirit’s nourishing power.
   In Acts 2, 6, 9, 12 we learn of strong churches growing quickly. The Spirit blessed the obedient. This is God’s way. Your Father in heaven wants you to strengthen you with his blessings as you obey his commands. Acts 3:26 “When God raised up his servant, he sent him first to you to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways.”  It’s very simple. Receive God’s love and love Jesus. Strong, growing Christians form a strong church. This is God’s church growth plan.
 
Note: This closes the time of Paul’s and his mission team’s ministry in Asia Minor. God is about to reveal his plan to expand his church Europe.
 

Luke 2:33-35 The child's father and mother marveled at what was said about him. 34 Then 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, 35 so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”
 
IN the midst of this joyous moment for Simeon, he prophesies to Mary a summary of Jesus’ purpose. Jesus will cause change. People will oppose Jesus. People will rise, and people will fall because of Jesus’ life. How challenging these words would have been for the mother who is highly favored. Simenon’s prophecies would be further evidence that God had created the baby in her arms for the LORD’s covenant purpose.
   Mary would encounter many different emotions and thoughts as a result of God’s call. How true this is to all whom God has chosen to love Jesus. As Jesus says, “Come.” the invitation is about going to Jesus, so he will prepare us to enter into the disciple’s life. A true relationship with Jesus will re-form our purpose, emotions, relationships and thoughts to draw us near to God.   
   This is the gospel. It is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes. (Romans 1:16a). Salvation is about becoming new. And we must learn to faithfully encounter this new life God’s favor has delivered to us. The Bible records each person Jesus personally touched experienced dramatic change. We’ve read this past month of Zechariah, Elizabeth, John, Mary, Joseph, the shepherds and now Simeon experiencing God’s profound love effectually say to each person, to Israel and to  the world, “Come to me, and I will show you the way to my glory.” The entire Bible is a record of our Savior’s magnificent impact on mankind to bring us back into God’s image.
   You can see this in the changes Israel knew during Jesus’ ministry. We often focus on how people rejected him. But let’s remember more his salvation. At the conclusion of his gospel, the apostle John summarized the breadth of Jesus’ impact on Israel: John 21:25 Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.
   How do you respond to God’s eternal invitation, “Come.”? Go first to the Holy God to hear him in the Bible’s words. Read it daily as an opportunity to listen to God’s love for you. Read with open ears and a humble heart to discover understanding for things you don’t comprehend. Find and listen to people who know Jesus. Believe the words of a pastor who offers you the truth. Be aware of Jesus’ voice speaking in both the quiet and the disturbing moments. Remember, God the Father, Son and Spirit is your Comforter, your Helper. He will save your soul from harm, deliver you from evil, offer you hope and show you his peace.  
 
And how good it is to know Psalms 27:1 The Lord is my light and my salvation – whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life – of whom shall I be afraid?

Luke 2:25-32 Now 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 upon him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. 27 Moved 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, 28 Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: 29 “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace. 30 For my eyes have seen your salvation, 31 which you have prepared in the sight of all people, 32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.”
 
SIMEON is God’s very faithful servant. God had given to him a wonderful promise. In his lifetime Simeon would see the Savior. And then it happened.
   On that day to begin as any other, the Spirit moved Simeon to be where Jesus would enter the temple. Simeon experienced God’s great love come to earth and to his city. The baby Jesus’ presence was God’s favor upon the righteous man. Simeon would know the comfort of the Comforter, the provision of the Mighty God and the tender care of the Everlasting Father. In his heart, Simeon, too, would know the peace of the Prince of Peace.  
   You, too, can know this right now. The baby Jesus came to become the Christ Jesus, your Savior. He is your Comforter, Mighty God, Everlasting Father and Prince of Peace. God fulfilled his promise to Simeon, and as you are a Christian, he has fulfilled his promise to you to see the Savior before your physical body dies.
   That’s how God works, isn’t it? When the Spirit directs you to meet Jesus, your spiritual eyes see the Savior. You receive him with gladness to experience God’s promises come true. Seeing Jesus, the Son, you can then see the Father and the Spirit. You live in God’s comfort because you know his favor rests on you.
   Center your life on this good news. Consider that everything – that is each thing in the world – will fade and disappear. But God’s promised Savior is with you always. His light opens your eyes to faithfully let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. (Colossians 3:15-16)
         
Prayer: Thank you, Father, that you are so grieved over our sin you sent the Great Consolation to bring peace to our souls. Amen. 

Luke 2:21-24 On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise him, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he had been conceived. 22 When the time of their purification according to the Law of Moses had been completed, 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.”), 24 and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: “a pair of doves or two young pigeons.” 
 
WHY take pigeons to the temple? It was because God’s law commanded this. It was a part of the circumcision ceremony for the child and purification rites for the new mother. Leviticus 12:3-5 And on the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised. 4 Then she shall continue for thirty-three days in the blood of her purifying… And when the days of her purifying are completed, whether for a son or for a daughter, she shall bring to the priest at the entrance of the tent of meeting (now the temple) a lamb a year old for a burnt offering, and a pigeon or a turtledove for a sin offering…8 And if she cannot afford a lamb, then she shall take two turtledoves or two pigeons, one for a burnt offering and the other for a sin offering. And the priest shall make atonement for her, and she shall be clean.  
   This is God’s law that is founded on God’s covenant to Abraham to raise up a nation that would bless the world. Circumcision for the male was a mark of his parent’s commitment to raise him in God’s law. Mary and Joseph took the pigeons to the temple because their lives were based on this core value: Obey God’s commands. Live into his promise for the world.
    This obedient couple lived this most basic life value. There were no angels with trumpets announcing the Savior coming into town. No heavenly music chorused the sky; the shepherds and their friends were not parading joyfully through town. 
   The One who would make this sacrifice law obsolete came to Jerusalem that day in the arms of his earthly parents. Joseph and Mary persistently obeyed God’s commands. This is worship. This is righteousness. Matthew says, “And her husband Joseph was a righteous man.” (1:19)
   Perhaps Joseph is the most forgotten man in the Christmas story. Yet we know his role is essential in God’s plan. His righteousness – obedience to God’s commands – was a vital element in Jesus’ birth to a virgin. Just as God’s favor was on Mary to choose her, God’s favor was on Joseph to choose him for this incomparable role. In each step of his relationship with a pregnant, betrothed woman, Joseph obeyed the Lord’s commands. And he would do so after Jesus’ birth to protect the Savior.
   Joseph is a man of God. He is a wonderful example of how to be such a man to your wife, children and church. Joseph and Mary also present to us a true discipleship example on how live together under God’s laws.
   Be righteous. Be willing to receive God’s words and live them to his glory. Be a testimony of faith for the generations of your family.            
Prayer: May my offerings, Father, be offerings of worship to you. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Luke 2:20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
 
THE angels had described Jesus’ birth scene to the shepherds in some detail. Then they told the shepherds to go and see the child who is Christ the Lord. The shepherds obeyed to see with their own eyes just as they had been told. These highly favored shepherds then spontaneously spread the good news praising God throughout Bethlehem before returning to the fields. Glorifying God is praising him and acknowledging him for the wonders he had done in Bethlehem and on earth that night. Joyfully, the shepherds had put God’s commands into action. In response, their words and emotions elevated God to the highest place in their hearts and minds. Their testimony also elevated God within the hearts and minds of Bethlehem’s people that night.
   This is a display of God’s love as an active, life-changing power. Love became flesh in the manger. Love also became flesh through the shepherds’ joyful response.
   That’s what happens when God breaks into the darkness, when he bids his people to come see him. Just as we have been told through the Bible, his love takes on flesh through countless people he has chosen to bear testimony to his work. We also see God’s love become flesh though people he has transformed from deep darkness into his eternal light.
   This is certainly true for a man I know. God has rescued him from drugs, alcohol and other addictions. It began years ago when he was near death in an emergency room with a drug overdose. God stepped into his dark life that night to say, “I love you.” And my friend began to see God’s love lighten his heart. For a time he sought God, glorifying his name, as he told what God had done. But then the darkness returned.
   But God’s love is stronger than sin. One cold night my  addicted, homeless friend was without hope. Then he saw a light through a doorway to a church. He walked into the room. Once more through the church, God held out his hand. “Welcome back. I love you. I’ve been waiting for you. Come see how I love you.” The church’s love became flesh. They received him, cared for his physical needs and nurtured his mind toward God. Through a long process, Jesus’ church fed my friend the gospel with the Spirit’s fruit. They helped my friend to the place he needed to be to heal, rest and begin anew. Joyfully, his love for Jesus has grown now to bear much fruit through his testimony. He has lived God’s love story, telling everyone he meets of Jesus’ power to transform lives. He will tell you and anyone he meets, “I love Jesus.” And it is evident he does because his life glorifies the God whose favor rescued him. Years have passed. The evidence is clear. My friend is certainly born again, a new creation in Jesus Christ.
   We all need to be such a church and that kind of loving child of the Father. We all have been separated from God. Some of us have desperately asked, “Where do I go? What must I do?” Then God has come to us to say, “I love you. I’ve been waiting for you. Come in and see my love for you.” Through his favor of faith on you, God has received you into the Light. The Holy Spirit has taken you to the doorway, so you can enter anew into God’s love. God wants you to know that his Word is just as you have been told.
   The church who received my friend glorified God. They put flesh on God’s love to be a difference in his life. What possible ways might you and your church be God’s love in the flesh to someone?
 
Prayer: Thank you, God, for revealing your love to me through your church. I pray that in return I love those you send to me, so more people will know your remarkable love. Amen.
 

Luke 2:19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.
 
​LUKE tells us that on the night of Jesus’ birth, Mary paused for some time to look back and look ahead as we might do at significant moments in our lives. Mary certainly had much to treasure the eternal gift  God had bestowed upon her. When we experience God’s miraculous grace, it is good and right to ponder how good God is. And what will he do in the future? How do we anticipate his continuing work in our lives?
   We can picture Mary’s eyes gazing at her baby while considering all the events that had brought her to that historic moment. What was she thinking about Jesus’ future? Certainly she would have pondered hers and Joseph’s future, too, as ones to oversee this Messiah-child. What is her family’s future. What is Israel’s future?
   As Luke used the word “treasure” it indicates to us Mary highly valued what God had done in the past and what he would do in the future. Imagine, the Messiah! Would this manger-born baby rule in Jerusalem where the evil Herod sat? Would her son remove the Romans from the land? What kind of savior would he be?
   God had certainly surprised and shown her he would do very unexpected, humanly impossible things. After all, she became pregnant while she was a virgin! Then to assure Mary of the miraculous promise, God guided her to the miracle of the aged, barren Elizabeth’s pregnancy. Next, the Lord led her betrothed husband Joseph to accept a pregnant wife and to treat her with love and restraint. God protected this couple from their culture’s stigmas. Surely it was God’s hand that had moved them to Bethlehem and to the manger that night.  
   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 world-changing, kingdom-building events.
   On this night, the Spirit was guiding Mary to prepare for a life that would witness the Savior of the world grow into manhood. Mary would come to know that in each moment as she gazed upon this child, she would celebrate what God had done.
   As you close this year and begin to look ahead, open afresh your eyes, heart, mind and soul to ponder and treasure the miracles of the Savior come. Ponder and treasure your place in God’s kingdom. Be in awe he chooses you to live amid his world-changing, kingdom-building work. Keep your eyes on Jesus each moment of your life. Rejoice in the sure hope you have in Jesus, the Savior. Anticipate he will guide you through difficult times and challenges to your faith. Know he will draw you more closely to him as you ponder and treasure God’s Word.
 
Ponder & Treasure: James 4:7-8 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 
 
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.