Isaiah 11:1-3a A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. 2 The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him — the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of power, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord – 3a and he will delight in the fear of the Lord.
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Luke 2:40 And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him. 
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Luke 4:1 Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the desert.
 
WITH two sentences – three verses - Isaiah records God’s eternal plan for your salvation. Just as briefly, Luke summarizes God’s means to declare the gospel. The Branch, who is Jesus, will come from Jesse’s family. From Jesse’s son David and through the generations ascending to Joseph and Mary as (summarized in Matthew 1 and Luke 3),  to Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem, Isaiah’s prophecy comes true.
   Isaiah also described the Branch’s character. He will have wisdom, understanding, power, knowledge and fear (honor, awe, reverence, worship) of the Lord, and these traits will delight the LORD God.
   Luke then describes the fulfilled prophecy. The Spirit empowered Jesus’ birth. Luke 1:35 “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.”  Jesus then grew to became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him. When it was time to minister the gospel, the Spirit rested on Jesus to baptize and anoint him with God’s power, so he could advance God’s will on earth. Isaiah and Luke record how the Holy Trinity worked from eternity past to reveal God’s knowledge and understanding to the Jews first and then to us. This is God’s way, and this is to be the way of Jesus’ church. God gave us his Word, the Holy Bible, so we can grow in wisdom, understanding, power, knowledge and fear in our relationship with God. In this, we bear the image of God with the display of God’s character that he graciously empowers us know and to be.
   The way of knowledge is through the Spirit. In the same way Jesus needed the Spirit’s power to rest on him, we also need the Spirit to rest on our heart to empower our lives. The Christian life is one of communion with God and with his church. Jesus intimately connected with the Spirt and the Father to grow in stature and wisdom. We must do the same. Seek a personal fellowship with God and with other Christians. In God’s power and others’ strength, you will grow in spiritual wisdom and power.
   Are you a Christian? You are then the fruit of God’s eternal plan of salvation. Your purpose is to know God. How will you respond to your glorious life?
 
Prayer: Holy Trinity, you have given us the way of knowledge. Empower us, Spirit, to know God, to gain understanding and to delight in the fear of the Lord. Amen. 

Isaiah 9:7 Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this. 
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Luke 1:32-36 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.” 34 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” 35 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. 37 For nothing is impossible with God.”
 
DO you live with a purposeful plan to accomplish tasks daily? Do you want those you live and work with to share your zeal? Are you sometimes even so eager to get things done you interrupt, even intrude into others’ lives to say, “Let’s go!” If you answered, “Yes.” to these questions, you mirror the Lord God’s passion to accomplish his purpose – his will – on earth.
   These verses abundantly reveal God’s will. Five times, “will” is written to declare God is zealous for his purpose to be done on earth. Isaiah proclaims God’s rule will increase, and there will be no end to his peace. He continues, “He will reign on David’s throne with justice and righteousness You can be sure of this because the zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this..” He will reign forever. This is the King of kings establishing his eternal throne on earth.
    Gabriel then speaks the Lord’s zealous will to Mary. He tells her the One to be born will be great. He will be called the Son of the Most High. Gabriel continues: The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever. Further his kingdom will never end. Again, five times the word “will” displays God’s unstoppable plan to accomplish his purpose, his desire on the earth.
   There’s more. Mary asked, “How will this be?” Perhaps she was zealous to know the details. After all, Gabriel has just intruded into Mary’s simple life with God’s determined will for the world and for her life. Then Gabriel answers, “The Holy Spirit will come…The power of the Most High will overshadow you. The holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.” Three more times the angel details what will be. No one is changing God’s mind. This will happen.
   Still Gabriel further reveals God’s zealous plan: “Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age.” Then Gabriel summarizes God’s passion with, “nothing is impossible with God.” Both a virgin and an aged woman are very surprised God has chosen them to bear sons who will accomplish the LORD God’s passionate will to save the world.
   The Bible reveals God’s will is to appoint zealous prophets, humble mothers, teachable disciples, effective evangelists, powerful preachers and gifted writers. God interrupted many, many lives to say, “You will do my will on earth.” Each became zealous for the LORD, many unto death.
   In what way do you express God’s zeal for a broken world? When God commands, we must join with Mary to declare, “May it be to me as the Lord said.” Know God’s will is to be done in and through our lives.
 
Prayer: May it be as you say, Lord. I pray I am zealous for your kingdom to come, your will to be done on earth. Amen. 

Isaiah 9:6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 
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Luke 2:11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.
 
ARE you in awe and wonder to know that “to us a child is born, a son is given”? With overflowing joy do you consider, “a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.” After all, this is the gospel. It is the very, very joyful news about eternal life come personally to us, isn’t it? Praise God he has promised and delivered, free of any cost to us a Savior, who is Messiah, Son of God. Rejoice the Mighty God has delivered to you his Prince of Peace. Know the Everlasting Father defines your life as his own child, born of the Spirit. Savor the Wonderful Counselor transforms your mind to his truth and wisdom. Yes, to us is born a Savior – and he is Christ – Resurrection, Redeemer, Reconciler – of the world. He makes you free from sin, so he can welcome you into heaven.  
   Yes, are you awestruck as you gaze upon God? Or do life’s limitations hinder your view of God’s wondrous gift? Often on display in the church – individuals and corporate body – is a resigned, “That’s the way it is.” attitude. We seem to accept a minimal faith that wonders, “How can God help us here?” Does it matter that in the world today that unto us the Mighty God has come? God’s hopeful, joyful Word seems out of touch when we contrast it with daily life in a broken world. Very real afflictions easily rank above God’s seemingly elusive long-ago promises. Our minds seek not the Wonderful Counselor, who points to Peace. Worry, instead, manages our thoughts. Our personal salvation becomes a distant possibility while we observe the world’s active reality. We miss life’s joy because we neglect the Everlasting Father’s grand love sent the Savior to be born to us.
   If that’s your heart, then stop to look upward. Be in awe God so loved the world, he gave Jesus to you. Foremost in your mind you know God has fulfilled his promise, first to the Jews in Bethlehem and Galilee and then to us Gentiles throughout the world. Believe, live and know the Everlasting Father outlasts the trials and troubles, sicknesses and opposition. Faithfully know, “A Savior has been born to you. He is Christ the Lord.”
    
Prayer: Thank you, Everlasting Father, that to me a Savior has been born. He is my Prince of Peace to ease my mind. I faithfully rejoice that you are the Mighty God, who calls me unto himself. In Jesus’ name, amen. 

A Light from Galilee
 
Isaiah 9:1-3 Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the Gentiles, by the way of the sea, along the Jordan – 2 The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned. 3 You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy; they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest, as men rejoice when dividing the plunder.
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Luke 1:26-27 In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary.
 
THE word “nevertheless” to begin Isaiah 9 points to a new, restored life from the dark conditions at the end of Isaiah 8. There the prophet described the dark gloom over a land disobeying and negating God. “Nevertheless” is God’s promise he will one day act in spite of his people’s sin to reverse his judgment into salvation.
   Salvation will begin in the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali. These names are two of Israel’s 12 tribes who settled north of Jerusalem. Their disobedience toward God for centuries caused many Gentiles to inhabit, own and rule the land. But God had a plan for this dark, disobedient land. In the future he – the LORD – will honor Galilee of the Gentiles. How will God honor this lost land? He will bring the Light to lead them out of darkness. The Light of the World is born in Bethlehem, but he will live in Nazareth, in Galilee. His ministry will be primarily in Galilee. He will do most of his recorded miracles in Galilee. The Sermon on the Mount, the Transfiguration and thousands fed will occur in Galilee. And even at his resurrection, Jesus instructs Mary, “But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’” (Mark 16:7) Jesus restores Peter in Galilee. Light came into the darkness in Galilee. And we know now God’s Light has come into the world’s darkness to save sinners into life eternal.
 
Prayer: Thank you, Holy Father, that you sent your Light, so we are not lost in darkness. Amen. 

Isaiah 6:13 “And though a tenth remains in the land, it will again be laid waste. But as the terebinth and oak leave stumps when they are cut down, so the holy seed will be the stump in the land.”
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Isaiah 11:1 “A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.”
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Luke 2:30-32, 34-35 “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…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.”
 
THE terebinth and oak trees in Israel could be cut down to a stump, lifeless to the eye. But even from a stump, they would become alive with new shoots to again provide life-sustaining food and shelter.
   Isaiah is filled with such images of God’s judgment and salvation. The Spirit inspired the prophet to declare sin’s penalty and then mankind’s rise out of sin into God’s salvation. In their sin, Israel would look dead, apart from God. But then life would come from God’s holy seed, Jesus Christ, the shoot to rise from Jesse’s (David’s father) family.
   We see this prophecy of salvation also in Luke 2. At the ceremony of Jesus’ circumcision, Simeon prophesies Israel’s judgment and then salvation through the boy in Mary’s arms. Salvation, though, would cost the Savior and his mother. Hearts of sin would pierce Jesus, and Mary’s soul would be pierced with grief.
   To the world, Jesus would seem cut down, lifeless on a deadly tree. From the grave, though, Jesus, the shoot from Jesse, would rise to eternally shelter and comfort his own.
   How is your faith today? Does it feel cut down, perhaps lifeless because many things are against you? Might we in the church look at empty pews or into the culture around us to declare, “There is no life here.” Is it possible we are too willing to allow doubt and fear to pierce our minds and strip our faith?
   If so, we must stop and know this: The church is planted to be the Tree of Life. From Genesis to Revelation, a tree of life is the symbol of eternal union with God. God banished Adam and Eve from that tree (Genesis 3:24) He then prepared the world to know Jesus is the way to the tree of life: Revelation 2:7 To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.
   Unwrap and celebrate this Christmas gift of life for your eternal soul. Rejoice in God’s promise that roots and nourishes you in his life everlasting.
 
Prayer: Grow my roots deeply into you, Jesus. Empower my life to faithful fruit. Amen. 

Isaiah 6:1-3 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple. 2 Above him were seraphs, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. 3 And they were calling to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.”
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Luke 1:46-49 And Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord 47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, 48 for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, 49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me – holy is his name.”
 
Isaiah describes the Savior to come in many passages. We will view some of those in the coming days to connect with Luke. But first, let’s see Isaiah’s view of heavenly worship, also expressed in Mary’s praise to the Mighty One.
   To worship God is to magnify him in all he is. Worship is loving obedience and joyful submission. Isaiah saw heaven’s angels singing the three-part, “Holy, holy, holy” to continually worship God’s perfection. Revelation 4:8 records the same worship. God’s glory – his perfect power, beauty, righteousness, love – flows eternally throughout the heavens and earth. Seeing and hearing God’s perfection, Isaiah faithfully worships God through his prophetic ministry amid several kings’ reigns.
   In a different way of revelation, Mary also knew God’s holiness. As with Isaiah, God had chosen her to a remarkable work to reveal his glory to the world. In a sense, she becomes a prophet to proclaim God’s glory through the miraculous display of the virgin birth. From the day of the Spirit’s anointing, all generations have called Mary, “Blessed.” Why? This is not because of what Mary had done or will do. Mary is blessed among women and the human race because God chose her as one very intimate way to reveal his holiness to the world. Yes, Mary faithfully worshiped the Lord with her praise: “The Mighty One has done great things for me – holy is his name.”  Her pregnancy is unplanned, unexpected and even unwelcome in the world’s view. This will cause her many hardships during Jesus’ entire life on earth. But then in deep reverence she speaks as did Isaiah to affirm God’s call. Mary’s words express true, humble devotion. She knows God has chosen her to a most holy and remarkable task.
   Does “holy, holy, holy” now come from our lips, too? This does not refer to singing a hymn, but to heart praises spoken, sung and confessed to declare God is the Mighty One. He has called you to be his own. And in his extraordinary grace, the Holy One of Israel forms you to be holy in Jesus’ blood.
   Indeed, this is a most astonishing truth. Our response is to worship him day and night as we pursue his holiness and declare the magnificent things he has done for us.
 
Prayer: You are holy, holy, holy, Lord. Thank you for making us holy before your throne as we declare, “Jesus is Savior, King, Redeemer.” Amen.
 

Psalms 24:7-8 Lift up your heads, O you gates; be lifted up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in.  8 Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. 
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Luke 2:9-14 An angel of the Lord appeared to the shepherds, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 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. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”  
 
THE psalmist calls for the King of Glory, the Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle, to enter into the LORD’s domain. In essence, the psalmist calls, “Enter mighty God into your sanctuary. Display your power that we may live in victory with you.” This is an advent call, anticipating the Lord God will come. Known as a “psalm of ascents” it declares the righteous will worship the Almighty God as he enters through Jerusalem’s gates and into his sanctuary.
   Luke then records the King’s glorious arrival into his creation. His glory prophesied and promised, anticipated through the ages came to the shepherds that night. The Almighty God’s power and purity descends from heaven to enter through heaven’s gates  into his domain. Indeed, the earth is the Lord’s and everything in it (Psalm 24:1). The glory – the power, wonder and purity – of the LORD Almighty has come to earth.
   How do you respond to the King of glory? Confess the King and welcome him into your heart, into your life. Arise each day to confess and announce, “The King of Glory has come into my life.” Live in faithful assurance that the King’s glorious gospel reveals his Almighty power to raise your soul to life. Shine the King’s glory into others’ lives, so they know his glory, too. In wonder, you enter into his sanctuary each Sabbath day to know the King has come to his church. In joyful worship you will celebrate the King has prepared for you his glorious home for your eternal life.
 
Prayer: Thank you, King of Kings, LORD of Lords, that you have come into the world to glorify your name. I praise you and rejoice the King of Glory has entered into my heart. In faithful assurance, I await you, King of Glory, to come again, to see your glory fill the heavens and the earth. Amen. 

Luke 2:10-11 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.”
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John 20:16 Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned toward him and said in Hebrew, “Rabboni!”
 
ONE popular Christmas hymn is “Joy to the World.” The angels declare joy has come in Jesus’ birth. Mary Magdalene declares joy is alive before her in John’s report of Jesus’ resurrection. From the angel’s, “I bring you good news of great joy.” to Mary’s “Rabboni!” exclamation we receive a message: Joy to the world! The Lord has come.
   Indeed, Mary represents all of us who love Jesus. Jesus found her chained in despair, captured by seven demons. Jesus released Mary to the joy of salvation in Christ, so she could follow, serve and learn from the Son of God. But then came the cross.
   Mary and the other women who also cared for Jesus and Jesus’ disciples suffered an inexpressible anguish. What sorrow and despair they experienced when they witnessed their beloved Good Shepherd die on the excruciating, cursed cross.           But look! That’s all gone now. Despair is done! Now Mary knows joy has come.
   Yes, our risen Lord has come, and he has made himself fully known to Mary and her friends. Now, even more, the Spirit has revealed the Son to the world - to even you and me. The psalmist of old wrote of this in the advent – the anticipation – of the Messiah: Psalms 14:7 Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion! When the Lord restores the fortunes of his people, let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad!
   God’s promise is fulfilled. Jesus was born. Jesus has lived as a man. Jesus suffered the cross. Jesus died as a man. Jesus rose as the Son of God, Savior of the world. Salvation has come out of the tomb to restore the world. Satan is conquered. Death is done. 1 Corinthians 15:55 “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?”
   Against the culture, out of the norm, out of their past and out of the tomb’s despair, Mary and the others stepped into joy to become the first missionaries, the first ambassadors to represent the risen Christ. Yes, Mary, your despair was deep. But your joy is so much higher! No matter what anyone said to you, you know he lives in you because despair is gone.
   Joy to the world, the LORD is come! Be sure your joy prompts you tell, “Jesus is alive.”
 
Prayer: Thank you, Jesus, for being Joy to the World. Amen.

Deuteronomy 30:1-3 When all these blessings and curses I have set before you come upon you and you take them to heart wherever the Lord your God disperses you among the nations, 2 and when you and your children return to the Lord your God and obey him with all your heart and with all your soul according to everything I command you today, 3 then the Lord your God will restore your fortunes and have compassion on you and gather you again from all the nations where he scattered you.
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Romans 10:9 That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 
 
TODAY is the first day of the season in the church known as Advent. “Advent” means arrival, expectation and appearance. You could include “revelation” as God reveals himself through the personal arrival of his expected Son, Jesus Christ of Nazareth. Even though we are at the end of our calendar year, it is the beginning of the new year in the church. Appropriately Advent is about beginning.
   As Bible passages around Jesus’ birth from Isaiah, Luke and Matthew are most commonly read during this season, you likely wonder how Deuteronomy and Romans would be appropriate for Advent scriptures. In truth, the entire Bible is about Advent. God’s Word records the expectation of the Messiah. Now that he has come, we live each day with sure expectation Jesus is coming again to establish the new heaven and earth. The church’s purpose in the Advent season is to remember God has kept his promise to come, and know he will keep his promise to come again.
   These promises are the connection between Deuteronomy – a book of the law – and Romans – an epistle to declare grace has fulfilled the law. See Deuteronomy’s commands and promise in “take them (the law) to heart” and “when you and your children return to the Lord your God and obey him with all your heart and with all your soul … then the Lord your God will … gather you again from all the nations.” Then compare with Romans’ words, confess with your mouth and believe in your heart…you will be saved. In the law and the gospel, God reveals the faithful heart that loves God is the key to living with God. God’s promise in Deuteronomy to gather you is fulfilled in Romans’ way to gather us with a believing heart.
   In addition, Moses wrote seven times in Deuteronomy to “Love the Lord your God.” Then he added this promise in Deuteronomy 30:20 For the Lord is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.  A heart obeying and loving God was then the key to living with God. 
   Then Jesus graciously came to fulfill that promise. He preached the gospel to prepare the church for the time he will send his angels and gather his elect. (Mark 13:37a) God is Emmanuel. He has come through the law. He has come through the gospel. He is with us now in Spirit as we confess with our hearts we love and believe in him. Proclaim with your mouth and in your heart, “I am a sinner. Forgive me Lord. Jesus is risen from the grave and ascended to heaven. Jesus saves.” You can then faithfully expect Jesus’ second coming will be your great reward.
 
Prayer: As we await your Second Coming, Lord Jesus, we pray we do so with our hearts full of love, that we may joyfully live in your commands. Amen.
 

Acts 16:1-3 Paul came to Derbe and then to Lystra, where a disciple named Timothy lived, whose mother was a Jewess and a believer, but whose father was a Greek. 2 The brothers at Lystra and Iconium spoke well of him. 3 Paul wanted to take Timothy along on the journey, so he circumcised him because of the Jews who lived in that area, for they all knew that his father was a Greek.
 
PAUL and Silas are on the move to meet with people to whom Paul and Barnabas had ministered in Lystra, Derbe and other areas. They will then continue to evangelize the gospel into new areas. On his earlier visit to Lystra, Paul had spoken the Spirit’s healing to a lame man. (We wonder if he ran out to meet Paul!) People had also threatened harm to Paul and Barnabas.  
   It is likely that Timothy, Timothy’s mother, a Jewess and believer, and his grandmother had responded to the Spirit’s awakening on Paul’s first visit. Paul later wrote of their faith in 2 Timothy 1:5 I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also. Timothy’s mother and grandmother were Jews who had become Christians. But Timothy’s father was a Gentile. Because of his father’s influence, Timothy was not circumcised.
   Why then, did Paul recruit Timothy to be an evangelist for the gospel of grace and then circumcise him as the law demanded? The apostles had become resolute that salvation did not require circumcision. Did Paul reverse this doctrine?  
   Paul explains his reason and methods in 1 Corinthians 9:19 Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. 20 To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. Paul’s method was to enter a town to meet people in their culture, so he could open a conversation that would lead to teaching the gospel of salvation in Jesus. To speak of life-changing truth to people, we must be willing to find a way to develop a personal connection with them. People must trust who you are, so they are willing to hear you.
   Paul and the true gospel teachers remained steadfast that one was saved as Paul preached the true doctrine he later wrote in Ephesians 2:4-5: Because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions – it is by grace you have been saved.
   Timothy, a disciple, was willing to dramatically adjust his life to the Spirit’s call. Think of it. To agree to go with Paul, Timothy was willing to submit to the immediate circumcision and the probable physical persecution to come. This is a take up your cross faith. The Spirit had certainly anointed Timohty with faithful submission and determination.
   We can praise God, the Spirit joined these three men into a new, powerful partnership that would affect the world. All churches that exist in the Western World today have their roots in the gospel ministry of Timothy, Silas and Paul.