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The Word Was Made Flesh
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Devotions written by the pastors of the Clinton Circuit of the
Iowa District East of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod for
the Advent and Christmas seasons 2013-2014.
Rev. Steven Anderson
Rev. John Preus
Rev. Anthony Dodgers
Rev. Daniel Pool
Rev. Jordan McKinley
Rev. C. Ronald Rafferty
Rev. Victor Young
Greetings in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ! Since Advent is
a time set aside by the Church to reflect upon the coming of our
Lord Jesus Christ, it is good, right, and salutary to use this time
to reflect on what Holy Scripture has to say about the
circumstances surrounding our Lord’s birth and what it means
for those who have been made His brothers by the waters of
Holy Baptism.
In this devotional booklet, you will find short reflections
written by the Clinton Circuit pastors. The readings follow the
lectionary readings. As such, following these devotions will
prepare your hearts and minds for the word preached by your
pastor on Sunday mornings, regardless of the lectionary your
congregation currently uses.
Also included in this booklet is a brief order to use during
your devotion. It is short enough to keep the attention span of
even the youngest in your family, and it should be familiar
enough to use with a small group.
In the closing pages of this booklet, you’ll find two more
brief orders. One is for the blessing of an advent wreath, if you
have one in your home. The second is for the blessing of a
nativity scene. Since these things are used to help focus our
minds on the things of God, it is only fitting that we dedicate
them to God with prayer and His Holy Word.
We hope you’ll find this a beneficial addition to your athome devotional life. If you’ve struggled with how to pray at
home, this booklet should help with that. As always, your
pastor would be pleased to answer any questions you might
have.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you always!
-Rev. Jordan McKinley
Week of Trinity XXVI 2013
Blessing of an Advent Wreath
This rite is for the annual blessing of an Advent wreath for a home.
L: In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy
Spirit.
R: Amen.
L: As we begin the season of Advent, let this wreath remind us
that Jesus Christ came to conquer the darkness of sin and to lead
us into the light of His glorious kingdom. As the prophet Isaiah
says, “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great
light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has
light shined.” (Isaiah 9:2)
L: Our help is in the name of the Lord,
R: who made heaven and earth.
L: Let us pray. O Lord Jesus Christ, the true light who comes
into the world to enlighten all people, bless us as we light the
candles of this wreath in preparation for Your coming, and
enkindle in our hearts the fire of Your love that we may receive
You with joy and gladness and evermore remain steadfast in the
faith; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
R: Amen.
L: May the Lord Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy
Spirit, bless this wreath for use in our home throughout this
holy season of Advent.
R: Amen.
Blessing of a Nativity Scene
This rite may be used for an annual blessing of a Nativity scene in a
home.
L = Leader
R = Response
A Brief Order for Family Devotion
L: In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy
Spirit.
R: Amen.
L: In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy
Spirit.
R: Amen.
L: We joyfully confess that for us men and for our salvation our
Lord Jesus Christ came down from heaven and was incarnate
by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary and was made man, thus
fulfilling the word of the prophet Isaiah, “a virgin shall conceive
and bear a son, and shall call His name Immanuel (which
means, God with us).” Let this Nativity scene remind us that the
Lord Jesus came into our flesh and is truly our Savior. (Isaiah
7:14)
Reading from Holy Scripture
L: Our help is in the name of the Lord,
R: who made heaven and earth.
L: Let us pray. Almighty and everlasting God, You caused Your
only-begotten Son to be born of the blessed virgin Mary for our
salvation. Bless this Nativity scene, which shows the wonders of
that sacred birth, that all who behold it may ponder and adore
the mystery of His holy incarnation and may joyfully partake in
His divine grace unto life eternal; through the same Jesus Christ,
Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and Holy
Spirit, one God, now and forever.
R: Amen.
L: May the Lord Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy
Spirit, bless this Nativity scene.
R: Amen.
Devotional Reading
Apostles’ Creed
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and
earth.
And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was
conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered
under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He
descended into hell. The third day He rose again from the dead.
He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the
Father Almighty. From thence He will come to judge the living
and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the
communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of
the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy
kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven; give
us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we
forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into
temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom
and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.
Devotional Prayer
Morning Prayer
I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your
dear Son, that You have kept me this night from all harm and
danger; and I pray that You would keep me this day also from
sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please You.
For into Your hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and
all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may
have no power over me. Amen.
Or
Evening Prayer
I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your
dear Son, that You have graciously kept me this day; and I pray
that You would forgive me all my sins where I have done
wrong, and graciously keep me this night. For into Your hands I
commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your
holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over
me. Amen.
Blessing
L: May the grace of our Lord + Jesus Christ and the love of God
and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with us all.
R: Amen.
Text: Matthew 2:1-12
January 6th (Epiphany)
God’s word and signs always go together. We cannot make sense of
the Sacraments apart from God’s word. Indeed, the Sacraments are
intended to drive us to God’s word. So God’s word likewise gives us
certain signs for our faith to hold onto. All this is for the sake of
guiding poor sinners to Christ their Savior.
The Jews overlooked the sign of the star in the East, because they
ignored the word of God. But the Gentile Magi heeded the sign of the
star. That is why they sought what the word of God said about it. So it
is in our day. If you ignore the word, you will ignore the sign; if you
heed the sign, you will hear His word. Let us follow the example of the
Magi and not the Jews who knew neither the power of God’s word nor
followed the wise men where it led them. The Scriptures appear dark
to those who do not follow the signs that God appoints. But for us who
seek God where His holy Sacraments identify His saving presence, the
word of God shines as a light in a dark place.
The worship of the wise men teaches us this. The star disappeared
by the time they reached Jerusalem. The sign itself could not bring
them to Jesus. They needed to learn from God’s word. The Jews knew
the Scriptures at least enough to get their facts straight. They directed
the wise men to Bethlehem. It was only then – when the word
confirmed the promised location – that the star reappeared and led
them straight to the house where the Christ Child lay.
Word and sign go together. So it is for us. We don’t make up our
own signs. We don’t invent the significance of our Baptism or the
Lord’s Supper on our own. No. We learn from the word of God what
these signs mean. We follow the signs that God institutes according to
His word. The word of Scripture is reliable. It alone creates saving
faith as St. Peter tells us, “We have the prophetic word confirmed,
which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until
the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.”
Prayer: O God, by the leading of a star You made known Your onlybegotten Son to the Gentiles. Lead us, who know You by faith, to enjoy
in heaven the fullness of Your divine presence; through the same Jesus
Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever. Amen.
JCP
January 5th
Text: Isaiah 60:1-6 (12th Day of Christmas)
Text: Matthew 21:1-9
December 1st
The Gospel is not my opinion. It is the truth. Its reliability resides
outside of me. The truth of the gospel depends on Christ alone, Who is
the express image of the Father. He bears witness to what He has seen
in the bosom of the Father from eternity. He bears witness to what He
has seen by doing what the Father sent Him to do. He comes to submit
Himself to the law that damns sinners in order to rescue them from the
curse and make them blessed. He comes not to shine His own light,
but so that His works of obedience might do all the shining. Jesus’
works bear witness to Him that He is the eternal Christ, the Savior of
sinful humanity. Jesus assures us that everyone who listens to His
voice is of the truth. This means that when we hear and believe the
gospel, we benefit from what Christ has accomplished for us. We
benefit from the truth, and catch a glimpse of heaven.
We are witnesses of the gospel. But what have we seen? We have
seen the apparent weakness of a message that is increasingly rejected
by the world around us. We have seen spiritual darkness envelope
everything – even the hearts of our dear loved-ones. And speaking of
hearts, what darkness is in our own? We see sin. We see the guilt of
old transgressions distressing us, and ever-new temptations seeking to
claim us. The gospel seems like a dull light in comparison with what
we see and feel much more sharply: namely, the reality of our sin,
death, and the looming judgment against unbelief.
But the gospel Light continues to shine. And what does it tell us? It
tells us to arise and shine. We ourselves are to shine. This is not to say
that we find some light within us glowing. Rather we are to arise and
see in the work of Christ, who came to live and die for sinners, the
Light that enlightens the Gentiles. Indeed, He is the Glory of His
nation, Israel. We arise and shine by bearing witness to the righteousness that is freely ours by faith in Him. He descended into the darkness
of our sin in order to take it away. He makes us radiant with His own
obedience, and so enlightens our hearts and minds. To know Christ is
to know what He has done, and that He has done it for us.
This Advent, we prepare ourselves for celebration. We go shopping;
we listen to holiday music; we decorate our homes and even the
church in Christmas themes even though it isn’t actually Christmas
yet. We want to celebrate the joy of the Christmas season, because that
is what we are waiting for. But in our eagerness to celebrate, we must
not forget what we celebrate. We observe Advent to remind ourselves
of what always comes before the joy of birth: labor pangs. And so
before we celebrate the birth of Him who came to give life to sinners,
we take some time to consider our sinfulness that necessitated His
advent in the first place. Before we sing, “glory to the newborn king,”
we consider how far short we ourselves have fallen from the glory of
God in the highest. That is what makes our reading from Matthew 21
so appropriate.
The crowds, like us, were eager to celebrate. “Hosanna to the Son
of David!” they shouted, “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the
LORD!” Their king had come to save them. But salvation did not come
in the pomp that they supposed. Instead Jesus came to usher in peace
by serving in apparent weakness. And so their celebration took a sad
and familiar turn. Before the crowds sang the words of triumph from
Psalm 118, they would have done well to look just a couple verses
before: “The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief
cornerstone. This was the Lord’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.”
Jesus came to be rejected by His people — in order to save them.
Every natural inclination we have to celebrate the season must be
informed and redirected by our need for Jesus to serve us in humility
all the way to the cross. We consider the advent of His lowly birth
always in light of His solemn advent into Jerusalem to become the
chief cornerstone of our faith. Here mercy was perfected, and our
salvation was made sure. Christmas is not here yet. It is Advent. We
prepare for a joyous celebration. We prepare in repentance so that
every morning we may wake up to face another day made good by
Jesus who was born to die and rise again.
Prayer: O Lord, our hearts awaken to know and love You more, in
faith to stand unshaken, in Spirit to adore, that we, through this world
moving, each glimpse of heaven proving, may reap its fullness there.
(LSB 402:3) Amen.
PRAYER: STIR UP YOUR POWER, O LORD, and come, that by Your
protection we may be rescued from the threatening perils of our sins
and saved by Your mighty deliverance; for You live and reign with the
Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
JCP
JCP
December 2nd
Text: Romans 13:11-14
Text: 1 Timothy 1:12-17
January 4th (11th Day of Christmas)
O Lord, how shall I meet You, how welcome You aright? Your people
long to greet You, my hope, my heart’s delight! O kindle, Lord most
holy, Your lamp within my breast to do in spirit lowly all that may
please You best. (LSB 334:1) Amen.
We desire to please God. How else can we meet Him as He comes
to serve us with the gifts of eternal life than by rendering ourselves
pure for His arrival? But how can we do this, since we are sinners?
How do sinners prepare for their savior?
St. Paul tells us to cast off the works of darkness and to put on the
armor of light. We are enabled to do this – to live this life of Christian
repentance – only by the power of the gospel. In Holy Baptism we
were rescued from the darkness of unbelief and cloaked with the robe
of Christ’s holy obedience, which continues to define us as children of
God. This is our armor. It is not the flashy outward appearance that
impresses the eye. It is the light of the gospel that by God’s grace
continues to glow in our hearts.
How can we receive Christ who comes to us? How do we honor
him? By casting off not only the love of sinning, from which our Lord
has set us free, but also by casting off all reliance on our own moral
victories that leaves the sinner striving in darkness. We receive Christ
and rightly welcome Him by embracing, in faith, what pleases our God
to give us. And what is that? It is the life that God was pleased to
require on the cross, and the life that He was pleased to return again
when He raised Jesus from the dead. This life is ours. We please our
God by claiming the righteousness of Jesus. We are enabled to make
no provision for the flesh, which is decaying, only by holding dear the
light of truth provided for us in the gospel. This light will never stop
shining, and will soon shine as brightly as the rising sun when our
risen Lord will return in glory to bring all His children home.
“The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that
Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” And this saying is
worth repeating at Christmastime. The pictures of a cute baby, cozy in
clean hay, surrounded by peaceful barn animals, and serenaded by
angels can make us forget why this baby was born and who this baby
is. These beautiful pictures are fine, but they can also make people
ignorant about the true meaning of Christmas.
The true meaning of Christmas is that Christ Jesus came into the
world to save sinners – sinners like Paul, and sinners like you. Before
Paul became one of the Lord’s apostles, he says he was one of the
worst sinners, chief of sinners. He was a blasphemer – he told lies
about God, because he refused to believe that Jesus was the Lord
incarnate. He was a persecutor – he arrested Christians and approved
of their executions. He was an insolent opponent – he was not a
believer, so that means that he was an enemy of God.
All that is what sinners are. These are the kinds of people Jesus
came into the world to save. This is why that baby was born, so that
He could live and die for liars, murderers, and enemies of God. There
is no sin too great for Jesus. There is no sinner too bad. If your sins are
great then Jesus is a great Savior. If you think you are the chief of
sinners, then Jesus is the Savior for you.
Only when we acknowledge our sin, and believe that Jesus has
died for it, can He be our Savior. Those who dismiss their sin and trust
in their good deeds really dismiss the work of Christ and do not trust in
His death and resurrection. Jesus was born in a dirty, cold stable, and
He died on a cruel, bloody cross, for you. He took the punishment you
deserve. Your sins are gone. You are a saint like Paul. And your Lord
has “perfect patience for those who believe in Him for eternal life.” He
loves you. Jesus died for sinners, and that’s why He receives sinners.
Prayer: Sin’s Debt, that fearful burden, cannot His love erase; your
guilt the Lord will pardon and cover by His grace. He comes, for you
procuring the peace of sin forgiv’n, His children thus securing eternal
life in heav’n. (LSB 334:5) Grant this Lord, unto us all, that we may
please You with what we do and say. Amen.
Prayer: Gracious Lord, Your Son became like us so that He could die
in our place and pay the price for our sins. Give us Your Spirit to
believe His Word and trust in His work, that we may be forgiven by
grace alone through faith alone; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
JCP
AD
January 3rd
Text: Luke 2:36-38 (10th Day of Christmas)
It’s just a bit awkward, isn’t it, the way the Bible talks about Anna,
who is clearly a woman, and just as clearly says that she was a
“prophetess.” Take a couple of breaths and relax; everything’s going
to be all right.
Making distinctions is an important part of theological thinking,
and for that matter, of any kind of thinking. Anna is called a
“prophetess,” but she is not called an apostle or a pastor, and she
wasn’t climbing into a pulpit and preaching a sermon.
She was doing what Christians, including Christian women, do;
she was in the Temple, where she is said to have been worshiping and
fasting and praying, and she was there “day and night” and never left
the Temple. Anna clearly took her religion seriously.
And she was there when Jesus was brought there for the Rite of
Purification, and it is very likely that she heard what Simeon said
about Him, because it says that she “gave thanks to God,” and talked
about Jesus to anybody who was “looking for the redemption of
Jerusalem.” No doubt, because of what Simeon had said, Anna spoke
of Jesus as the embodiment of that redemption.
The picture Luke paints of Anna is that of a person who has just
discovered something big, and she can’t help but express her feelings
about that discovery in words, like she does.
Think of the archeologist who has just uncovered the Holy Grail,
or the child who has just opened the gift that she didn’t expect, but she
really, really likes it, and she says so, or like the little girl who found
out she was going to Disney World, and could not wait to tell anybody
who would listen.
This very old, very pious woman has just found out that the
one for whom she has hoped and prayed for her whole life, the One
who would bring salvation to her and all people, the Gift of all gifts, is
right there in the same building, a stone’s throw away, and how do you
keep that under your hat?
Prayer: Heavenly Father, worthy of thanks and praise from all people,
grant us words so that, like Anna, we may bespeak of the wonderful
gift given in Your Son. Amen.
SA
Text: Jeremiah 23:5-8
December 3rd
God calls His people. There is nothing that we have done to merit
God’s gracious election. When we call ourselves Christians, we do
well to remember whose name we bear. Our identity is defined by
God’s gracious activity in Christ our Savior.
God promised to send this Savior many years ago. Hardly had the
crown of His creation fallen, that this promise took its first form in
God’s word that the woman’s Seed would crush the deceiver’s head.
And this Seed was soon further identified as the Seed of Abraham,
through whom all nations would be blessed. Throughout the
generations, God led His people by reminding them of the forgiveness
that Christ would win. This promise identified them. It always has.
They were God’s people. The kingdom that made them great was not
the earthly authority of David’s throne, but the promise attached to it:
that God would raise to David a Branch of righteousness, a King who
would reign and prosper, and execute judgment and righteousness in
the earth – in other words – a King who would rule his people through
the forgiveness of their sins.
But even as Adam chose to be a god in his own right, so also
God’s chosen people chose to define their privileged status according
to their own works instead of according to God’s promise. What pride!
So God dispersed them. Their kingdom fell, the throne destroyed, and
the Temple demolished. Was all lost? Certainly not! God’s call
remains gracious. Their identity as the people of God never depended
on their own work or any outward glory. Neither does ours. Often it
takes a thunderbolt of the law and heavy affliction for this point to get
through to us. But even in the midst of our sorrow and loss, God
repeats His promise. He who comes to save us gathers us together
from every corner of the earth, and from every depth of guilt and
shame. And He places the name on us that continues to define us: THE
LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. This is why we call ourselves Christians.
We dwell securely in Him, with His name, with His robe of perfect
obedience that covers our sin. This is the Gospel that continues to save
us today.
Prayer: May we in faith its tidings learn, nor thanklessly its blessings
spurn; may we in faith its truth confess, and praise the Lord, our
righteousness! (LSB 580:6) In Jesus’ name, Amen.
JCP
December 4th
Text: Psalm 24
“The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof.” And yet, where on
earth are we to find the help that we need? The earth is full of sin, and
it is our sin that fills it. Where can we flee? We flee to the only place
on earth where we are promised to find a gracious God. We flee to
where Jesus reveals God’s mercy toward sinners. Where Jesus is, we
find heaven on earth.
In the Old Testament, the place of mercy which God appointed on
earth was in the holy place of the temple which stood on Mt. Zion. In
the holy of holies, the blood of the sacrificial lamb was sprinkled on
the mercy seat to make atonement for the sins of God’s people. In that
place was access to heaven itself, because God was there, accepting
the sacrifices. Only the priest could enter. God set him apart for this
very task – to intercede for all the people – pleading the merit of the
coming Christ. The reference to the hill of the Lord and His holy place
in Psalm 24 is a reference to this access to heaven on earth. But this
Psalm is not a psalm about an Old Testament priest. It is a Psalm about
Jesus!
Who may ascend? Who may stand before God with blood to
sprinkle and make atonement? Jesus answers the Psalmist’s question,
“No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven,
that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven” (John 3:13). The Son of God
descended to earth and took on our very human nature, in order that
He might do as man what man was unable to do. He lived the pure life
that God’s law required. He spoke the truth, because He spoke and did
only what the Father gave Him to speak and do. The Son of Man came
down from heaven in order to ascend again. But before He did, He
first offered Himself as the pure and holy sacrifice to atone for the
whole world’s sin. And so, as our High Priest, Christ pleads with His
own blood before the judgment throne of God in the true Holy of
holies. He pleads for us, whose sins He bore. Who may ascend? Jesus.
And those whom Jesus makes clean. Thanks be to Him whose first
Advent was lowly that He might bring us to where He is in glory.
Text: Luke 2:22-35
January 2nd (9th Day of Christmas)
Her child was a male, so they waited until he was forty days old when
she and her husband, child on board, made their way to the Temple.
Since this was her first-born, she entered Temple, child in her arms,
through “The Gate of the First-Born.”
As she entered, her nostrils were filled with the smell of incense
struggling mightily and mostly unsuccessfully to overcome smells like
those of a butcher shop. She passed through the Court of Women and
climbed the steps to the Nicanor Gate, and there waited for a priest.
The Priest had been expecting her, for he had been told that he
would see her child before he died. The Rite of Purification began;
she gave him some money and a morning offering, he went away to
kill the sacrifice, and then he came back and sprinkled some of the
blood on the woman.
The priest then took the child in his arms to say the words that
should be said at the Rite, but instead of saying those words, these
words came out of his mouth;
“Lord, now let your servant depart in peace according to your
word; for my eyes have seen your salvation which you have prepared
in the presence of all people, a light to lighten the Gentiles, and for
glory to your people Israel.”
The Rite of Purification is described in the first few verses of the
twelfth chapter of the book of Leviticus. The Priest was named
Simeon, and we call his words Simeon’s Song or Nunc Dimittis.
We pray those words right after the Sacrament of the Altar
because, like Simeon, we likewise have just beheld with our eyes, and
held in our hand, the salvation of God in the person of Jesus Christ.
Prayer: O Gracious Father, who always gives good things to His
children, continue to nurture and sustain us on the body and blood of
Your Son, Who is our salvation. Amen.
Prayer: Redeemer, come! and open wide my heart to Thee; here, Lord,
abide! O enter with Thy grace divine; Thy face of mercy on me shine.
Thy Holy Spirit guide us on until our glorious goal is won. Eternal
praise and fame we offer to Thy name. (LSB 341:5) Amen.
JCP
SA
January 1st Text: Luke 2:21 (Circumcision and Name of Jesus)
Text: Matthew 24:36-44
In 30 words, St. Luke tells you a lot about Jesus and about you! Turn
your attention now away from yourself and the world and hear the
Word of the Lord. The Lord said to Moses, “Speak to the children of
Israel saying ‘And on the eighth day the flesh of the foreskin will be
circumcised.” (Lev. 12:3) This procedure gave the promises of God to
the boy. He became a member of God’s chosen nation, but more
importantly, he became numbered among the saints.
Enter Jesus. He is eight days old. His earthly father and beloved
mother bring Jesus to the Temple in order to keep the covenant
established between God and Abraham; Jesus is presented and is to
fulfill the Law at eight days old. Eight days old, and Jesus sheds HIS
BLOOD for you and for all mankind. The Blood of the Christ flows in
fulfillment of the Law; it is by HIS BLOOD that you are saved; it is by
HIS BLOOD you are blessed.
It is the Blood of this eight day old baby that covers your soul. His
Blood forgives your sins. This little Child named Jesus is the ONE
who has washed away all your iniquity in Holy Baptism. Jesus is the
One with whom you died and rose again in Holy Baptism. It is the
righteousness of Jesus that covers you like a cloak; you are holy
because Jesus is holy. It is by the blood of the Lamb you are saved
and given everlasting life!
Jesus is coming! We pray with the Church, “Come, Lord Jesus.” Not
just to the dinner table, but to our planet. Jesus will return even as He
ascended. Yet, false teachers, date-setters and proponents of a secret
rapture, have undermined this truth and prayer. Thankfully, Jesus is
clear. Let's listen to His voice instead of the false teachers.
In our reading Jesus says, “But concerning that day and hour no
one knows.” The day to which He refers is the last day. We are not
supposed to know the time of His return. If someone comes to you
with dates and times, you may say safely ignore their predictions.
They are not from God.
Our reading has been used to teach a secret rapture, or catching up,
of believers long before the last day, but the context won't allow this
idea. Going back just a few verses, Jesus reminds us that His return
will not be secret. It will be public and glorious, “Then will appear in
heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth
will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of
heaven with power and great glory.”
Jesus is coming. He comes to take us to Himself and to bring about
a new heaven and a new earth where the dwelling of God will be with
us. This is our blessed hope. Because we do not know the date, Jesus
calls us to be in the faith—ready, alert, and hopeful for His return. As
Jesus says, “Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day
your Lord is coming.”
Prayer: Thanks be to you Lord Jesus, for all that you took upon
yourself as our substitute and mediator. We know only too well that
without you we can do nothing! Amen.
CRR
December 5th
Prayer: Come, Lord Jesus. Amen.
DP
December 6th
Text: Isaiah 2:1-5
Isaiah has been called the fifth Gospel, and rightly so. The Prophet
sees and proclaims words of hope and promise. This is an Advent
book. It anticipates the coming of Christ—both comings. Our reading
today is no exception. If you haven't read this short passage, stop and
read it now. It's okay, we'll wait for you.
See? Isaiah's words are pure Gospel, and they are about Jesus. He
is the One who brings about the latter days. All the days between the
first and second comings of Christ are the latter days. During these
days, people from all nations flow to this Gospel. That's what Jesus
accomplishes. That's His mission. Mount Zion is the Church at work
proclaiming the pure Word of God. In the Church we learn God's
ways, and we walk in His paths. The Church is the highest of
mountains, as it proclaims the Word of Isaiah's coming Messiah.
This Word brings an end to human conflict. Wars cease. Weapons
are turned into farm tools. The Church experiences a bit of that peace
now, as we are reconciled with God in the Messiah. The work of the
first coming of Jesus makes the work of the second coming certain. On
that day, war will be no more. All nations shall flow to Him. And they
shall not lift up swords in conflict again. This is His promise. This is
our hope. And it will happen...when He returns.
Prayer: May the nations stream to your salvation, O Lord, and as we
await the return of our Savior Jesus Christ, we pray that you would
bring peace and unity on earth. Amen.
Text: Galatians 4:1-7
December 31st (7th Day of Christmas)
The manger scene captures one of the most pivotal moments in
history. But when we see the Nativity, we often forget the long road
that led there – not simply the wearying trip Joseph and Mary took to
be counted in the census, but also the trail blazed through history by
conquering rulers and displaced peoples. As countries erupted into
political turmoil or arose with new ideals, God was carving a path to
the Holy Land, the perfect cradle for the Messiah.
The route began in Eden, where blood was first spilled to atone for
sin. Then the temporary solution used throughout the Old Testament
would suffice; that being animal sacrifice! God enacted his permanent
plan in the “fullness of time”. Establishment of the nation and
delivery of the law marked Israel as God’s people. These, too were
steps toward the destination, as was the taking of the Promised Land,
where Christ would be born.
As the Israelites turned to false gods, the Lord’s patience waned.
They were conquered and taken captive to Babylonia, where in time
they developed local places to worship; (synagogues). The Medes and
Persians defeated the Babylonians 70 years later and let Israel return
home. The ones that did return home brought the adaptations of the
Judaism that they had been promising! Together, prophecy and
history reveal how God continued to pave the way from the manger to
our faith today. We continue to rejoice and celebrate the Messiah born
in Bethlehem.
Prayer: Reign in our heart and reign there supreme, O Lord, so that we
fully and completely believe your saving Gospel with all our heart,
that Christ's light may at all times lead and direct us in the way of your
choice. Amen.
DP
CRR
December 30th
Text: Titus 3:4-7 (6th Day of Christmas)
Text: Psalm 122
December 7th
The Apostle Paul states by inspiration; we stand to inherit the hope of
eternal life; it is called hope because we do not experience it fully, and
we look eagerly forward to the full possession and realization of the
hope; but it is ours, we are the heirs. Our names are on the will. Your
sins are forgiven. You have the promise of eternal life.
And that all began, at least as far as men and women could observe
it on earth; at a place called Bethlehem. There on Christmas the
impossible actually happened – robbing the word “impossible” of its
meaning. A virgin girl gave birth to a son – scientifically
impossible; she gave birth to a child that was fully human, and yet
fully divine, impossible by human logic. God was busy breaking the
rules – rules of human reason and understanding only!
So, Mary gave birth, and angels sang. She gave birth, and
shepherds gathered to worship. She gave birth to Jesus and changed
the world forever. Because when she gave birth, the kindness of God
our Savior, and His love for mankind appeared – and when it did, HE
saved us, not the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness,
but according to HIS mercy, by the washing of regeneration and
renewing by the Holy Spirit, who He poured out upon richly through
Jesus Christ our Savior, that being justified by His grace we might be
made heirs according the hope of eternal life. This is a trustworthy
statement!
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem. Okay, this sounds benevolent during
Advent, but why Jerusalem? Jesus said that Jerusalem was the city that
“kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it” (Mt. 23:37). It
is certainly a center of tension and violence today. Yes, the city needs
peace. Don't we all?
However, even a quick reading of this Psalm reveals a greater
identity for Jerusalem. It is a city “firmly bound together.” It is a place
where people go to “give thanks to the name of the LORD.” It is a
place of security and good. Jerusalem is more than a city. It must be.
Jerusalem, as the place of the temple, as the place where heaven
and earth meet, prefigures Jesus. And for us who are in Christ, we are
Jerusalem. Remember the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of
heaven in Revelation 21 with gates of pearl and streets of gold. As we
pay attention to John's description, he also calls this New Jerusalem a
bride and a people. Jerusalem is the body of Christ. It is the Church.
Do we need to pray for the modern city of Jerusalem? We may.
But don't forget New York and Chicago and Des Moines. Yet, that
really isn't the point of the Psalm. This Psalm calls us to pray for peace
of His Church, here and around the world. As we have been given the
peace of Jesus Christ, being brought into His body, the New
Jerusalem, we have the privilege of extending that peace to one
another. Peace be with you. Amen.
Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, shine into our hearts with the light of your
truth and the true light of our life, for your truth's sake. Amen.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, Your holy angels announced peace on earth
at the birth of Your beloved Son. Grant to your Church, your light and
your peace. Amen.
CRR
DP
December 8th
Text: Matthew 3:1-12
Like a raging ball of fire, John the Baptizer burst onto the scene “in the
wilderness,” preaching to all comers, “Repent, for the Kingdom of
Heaven is at hand.” He was speaking, of course, of Jesus, Who later
said of Himself that “the Kingdom of Heaven is among you.”
John, who was great, knew who he was, and he also knows of the
one Who is greater than him, Whose sandals he is unworthy to carry.
When That One comes, John said, “He will baptize with the Holy
Spirit and with fire,” and He did.
In the Bible, fire sometimes symbolizes judgment, and it
sometimes symbolizes purification. The Coming One comes judging
the unrepentant Pharisees and leaving them in their sins, but to the
repentant; those who trust in Him, He offers the purification that
comes with the forgiveness of sins.
John thought it odd that He should come to him to be baptized, but
Jesus tells him that He needs to be baptized “to fulfill all
righteousness.” He means that He is here allowing Himself to be put
into the place of sinners, so that He can save those sinners.
The Baptismal Liturgy (LSB 269) includes these words from
Luther’s Flood Prayer; “through the Baptism in the Jordan of your
beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, You sanctified and instituted all
waters to be a blessed flood and a lavish washing away of sin.”
Later on, He would again allow Himself to be put into the place of
sinners; on the cross, of which it is said “cursed is He who hangs on a
cross.” He rose again from the dead, and before He ascended back
from whence He came, He instituted Holy Baptism.
He comes with fire, and He comes bringing the life-giving Holy
Spirit, which comes in the life-giving waters of Holy Baptism, which
gives to each who receive it eternal life.
Prayer: O Heavenly Father, who created all life and also life-giving,
life-sustaining water, and who sanctified all water at the Baptism of
your beloved Son, I thank you that you have in the holy waters of
Baptism granted to me eternal life, and pray that you would sustain me
in that baptismal grace until the end. Amen.
Text: 2 Samuel 7
December 29th (King David)
King David was rich, successful in war, and lived in a palace. So it
seemed only fitting to him that he should build a temple for the Lord.
From Sinai, through the wilderness wandering, and even in the land of
Canaan, the Lord dwelt in the Tabernacle, the tent that could be moved
from place to place.
There the priests offered the sacrifices and burnt offerings to the
Lord, and His gracious presence with His people forgave them, blessed
them, and protected them. Now that they had a permanent kingdom,
David thought the Lord should have a permanent temple.
But the Lord had other plans for David and the kingdom of Israel.
It wasn’t to be so permanent as they supposed. Something greater was
yet to come. Of course, David had a son named Solomon and this son
of David did build the Lord a beautiful temple. But he is not the
offspring the Lord is talking about when He promises David that his
kingdom will be established forever. Israel would have to wait longer
for that Son of David.
But eventually, in the fullness of time, a descendant of David, the
Son of David, was born in the city of David – a Savior, Christ the
Lord. He is David’s son and also David’s Lord, because He is the Lord
God Himself. He is the Son of David and also the Son of God. The
Lord promised David that He would build a house for David and his
people. “The Lord declares to you, David, that the Lord will make you
a house… Your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever
before me. Your throne shall be established forever.”
And the Lord did precisely that. The Son of David, Jesus,
destroyed the earthly temple by dying as the one and final sacrifice for
the sins of the world, but He built a new temple in His resurrection.
This temple will never be destroyed because it is Christ’s Church,
where He dwells in the midst of His people, forgiving them, blessing
them, making them holy. And this temple and kingdom will never end,
and we will dwell in the glory of His presence in heaven.
Prayer: Lord of Hosts and King of Glory, You sent Your eternal Son
as the Son of David to save Your people and establish Your kingdom.
Rule now in our hearts and minds by Your Word, that we may come at
last to Your house that will never end; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
SA
AD
December 28th
Text: Matthew 2:13-18 (Holy Innocents)
This is probably the saddest story in the Bible. We do not know how
many young boys were killed by Herod’s soldiers on that night in
Bethlehem, but it was a tragedy for each of those parents. They lost
their little boys and they didn’t even know why. We know why. At
least, we know the good that came out of that night: the holy family
escaped to Egypt.
And for that reason we honor those baby boys by calling them
martyrs. They were the first to lose their lives for Mary’s son. They are
the little flowers, plucked too early by the tyrant Herod. Many of us
may join Rachel’s weeping, either for these children, or for our own.
Rachel was Jacob’s wife. She didn’t have as many children as her
sister, and she died in childbirth. We may weep with her, but we may
not refuse to be comforted. With the birth of Christ we have the birth
of the promised child. This baby boy is the one who was born in order
to die, not in Bethlehem, but on the cross for the sins of the whole
world.
Yes, the Holy Innocents died for Jesus, even though they didn’t
know that’s what was happening. But more importantly, Jesus died for
them. They soon found this out, when they reached their reward before
the throne in heaven. They soon found out what we know now; God
came to save us by suffering, by dying, by loving us – love that took
Him to a stinking stable and to a bloody cross.
He did all of that, so the little babies of Bethlehem could not be
destroyed. And neither can we. Nothing can separate us from the love
of God in Christ. We may have to suffer. Jesus did too. We may be put
to death. But through all this we know that the God who has joined
Himself to us in Bethlehem and died for us on Calvary will not forsake
us. We will see Him again with all the little flowers around the throne.
Prayer: Almighty God, the martyred innocents of Bethlehem showed
forth Your praise not by speaking but by dying. Put to death all sin in
us, so that we may bear witness to the faith we confess with our lips;
through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
AD
Text: Romans 15:4-13
December 9th
I listen to a lot of sports talk radio, and they often play the same
commercials so often, that after a time those ads become indelibly
etched in your mind, sort of like those rock songs from your teenage
years that simply can’t be scrubbed away.
The ad that has caught my attention lately is the one that talks
about a former pastor, now financier, who discovered a “money code”
in the Bible, and using that code, he turned $40,000 into almost
$400,000, and if you go to this web site, you too can…
I’m thinking that there probably isn’t any “money code” in the
Bible, and I’m thinking that the guy’s code probably has to do with
people giving that guy money for the code that’s not in the Bible. A
“money code” is not what the Bible is for. The Bible actually has
things that are much better and more important than a mere fortune.
Here we hear Paul speaking of the Old Testament, and saying that
“whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction,
that by steadfastness and by the encouragement of the Scriptures we
might have hope.”
He sees the Old Testament as offering “instruction,” and
“encouragement,” to the end that we might remain “steadfast” in the
Faith. Remaining in that state may or may not get us money or
material goods, but it will get you eternal life, which is more important
than money or goods.
In another place Paul calls the Old Testament a “teacher,” teaching
us that God’s People always struggle with sin, and that they often lost
in the struggle. If there’s one thing we learn from the Old Testament,
it’s that nobody’s perfect.
We also learn from the Old Testament, from the time of Adam and
Eve, that God will send to us a Savior from that Sin, and He does, and
His name is Jesus. He came the first time in humility, born in a stable.
During this Advent Season, we await His Second Coming, in glory, to
take us home.
Prayer: O Good and Gracious God and Father, who gives to us the
Law to show us our sin and need of a Savior, we thank and praise your
Holy Name that you have sent your Son Jesus to be our Savior, and
that you give to us your Holy Word to tell us of Him. Amen.
SA
December 10th
Text: Isaiah 11:1-10
A few years ago, I planted twenty young poplar trees on my property.
The trees have been growing nicely, and in a few more years I will
begin to cut them down, and throw them into the wood stove, and the
fire they produce will keep us warm in the winter.
I planted poplar because they grow fast, have a fair amount of
BTUs, and because when I cut down a poplar tree, shoots will come
out of the stump, and those shoots will grow into trees, and you
actually end up with more tree than you started with.
Isaiah writes to Judah, who had recently seen their neighbors to the
north conquered by the Assyrians, and the northern Kingdom of Israel
had ceased to be as a people, and were seemingly nevermore again to
be. Aided by an army of angels, Judah had dodged that Assyrian
bullet.
The Prophet speaks here of a tree stump, and of a shoot coming out
of that tree stump, which he identifies as Jesse, who was the father of
David the King. Like my poplar trees, like Israel to the north, Judah
will likewise be cut down, sent into what is known as the Babylonian
Captivity
But a shoot will come forth from that Judaic stump, and that shoot
will restore Judah, and restore the seemingly un-restorable “outcasts of
Israel,” and gather God’s People from all around the world. And the
shoot is Jesus, descendent of David.
And after He is cut down by death on Good Friday, His Father
raised Him from the dead on Easter Sunday, and in addition Him, who
Paul calls “the first fruits of many,” He will one day raise all who have
been cut down by death, and those who have believed will live forever.
Israel’s problem was that they could not see this coming Tree of
David because they were distracted by the forest of idols, often made
of wood or the trees themselves, which they worshipped, and Judah
has the same problem. God keep us from our own forest of
distractions, until He returns on the Last Day to claim His.
Text: 1 John 1:1-2:2
December 27th (St. John, Apostle)
St. John, the Apostle and Gospel writer, the author of three letters and
the book of Revelation, never gave an account of the Christmas story.
But He still had something to say about Christmas. He began his
Gospel with these memorable words: “In the beginning was the
Word… and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us,” (John 1:14)
and he picked up that theme in his first epistle. “That which was from
the beginning,” the true Son of God, the Word, God of God, Light of
Light, being of one substance with the Father – St. John saw that One
with his eyes, touched Him with his hands.
St. John heard His voice, the human voice of the Word of Life.
The Son of God, the eternal Word, took on human flesh and was made
man. St. John and the other New Testament witnesses saw the
incarnate Lord. They talked with God and ate with Him, and He
walked along the road with them.
And John saw the incarnate Lord beaten, nailed to a cross, and die.
He saw the Word of Life die. And He also saw the incarnate Word of
Life alive again – the Lord Jesus, still with a body, still with the nail
marks in His hands, alive. And so St. John testifies to you. He
preaches His Gospel and letters to you, “so that our joy may be
complete.”
He wrote these things to you, so that you may know why the Lord
Jesus, the incarnate God, did all these things. He lived and died and
rose so that “we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the
righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins.” He paid the price. He did
everything that the Law commanded. He made peace between God
and man. With Christ there is forgiveness for you, peace for you, and
God’s good will for you.
Prayer: Merciful Lord, cast the bright beams of Your Light upon us
that we, being instructed in the doctrine of Your blessed apostle John,
may come to the light of everlasting life; through Jesus Christ, our
Lord.
Prayer: Gracious God, who has in Jesus given to us life and salvation,
keep us in these last days from our own forest of distractions, looking
always to Jesus, until He returns on the last day to claim those who
are His. Amen.
SA
AD
December 26th
Text: Acts 6:8-7:2a, 51-60 (St. Stephen, Martyr)
If you go by society and the music on the radio, then Christmas is
over. The fun-filled flood of festivities is finished. But if you go by the
Church, then Christmas has just begun. It’s the second day of
Christmas, and we have ten more to go! But on the second day of
Christmas we don’t get two turtledoves. Instead we get the Feast of St.
Stephen, the Church’s first martyr (one who died for the faith).
Stephen was stoned to death by the Jews for preaching the Gospel
of Jesus. Maybe a bloody death by stoning doesn’t seem like the right
topic to bring up right after Christmas, but let’s be honest: Christmas
can be brutal. We call it the most wonderful time of the year, and yet it
can also be the saddest time of the year.
We love gathering with family, but we also miss those family
members who are not with us anymore. Fun is had and presents are
exchanged, but fights also break out and words are exchanged that fill
us with regret. Sometimes Christmas makes us wonder, where is real
peace and joy? It’s with the One who was born as a weak baby in a
manger and then later died, bloody, hanging on a cross.
Yes, brutal and bloody death is what Christmas is about too. That is
what Jesus came to save us from. That’s the reason why He was born.
Stephen knew peace and joy wasn’t from this life. It is from the Lord
who triumphed over sin and death, to forgive us, to bind us back
together, and to give us eternal life.
Stephen preached that Gospel, died for it, and was received into the
peace of heaven. So keep celebrating Christmas for these next ten
days. Because the Christ is for more than just the wonderful times. The
Christ is for the sad and painful times too. He takes away sin and
sadness and pain for you. The peace of the Lord be with you always.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, in the midst of our sufferings grant us grace
to look to Your Son who was born, suffered, and was crucified on our
behalf, that we may know His peace and joy; through Jesus Christ, our
Lord.
Text: Psalm 72:1-7
December 11th
You may recall that the kingship of Solomon started out well. God
told the new king that he could ask Him for anything, and He would
give it, and wisely Solomon asked for wisdom, and it was granted. We
all remember the story of two women and one baby.
But it turns out that Solomon is only too human, and the rest of his
kingship is a digression to the point where some actual Bible Scholars
question whether or not Solomon is in heaven. If anybody knew a bad
king from a good king, it was Solomon, who was both.
Here he describes the ideal king and the ideal kingdom. In the
ideal kingdom, the ideal king would see that justice is done, and that
the king’s judgments would be correct. This would be especially true
of the king’s dealings with the poor, who seem always to get the short
end of the stick.
This king would bring prosperity to all people, so that there would
be no poor to grab that end of that stick. To make that happen, this
king would crush the one who oppresses them. He would also
implement policies that would lead to longevity for the people.
If we only had a nickel for every king, president, and various and
sundry politician who has promised that. But of course, Solomon isn’t
talking about himself. The kingdom over which he ruled looked very
little like the one described here and in the rest of this Psalm. He’s
talking about Messiah.
You want justice for all people. Jesus the Messiah brings perfect
justice for all people in His Kingdom. This He does by satisfying the
justice of God on the cross, where He endured the punishment for our
sins. He paid our debt for us, and we no longer owe God for our sin.
He rose and ascended into heaven, where there will be no poor
people, nor suffering of any kind, nor will sin, death, and Satan
oppress us ever again. And how about this for longevity—forever.
Prayer: O Gracious God and Father, who looks after your people with
care and love, spare us from poverty and injustice in this life, until we
inherit the riches of heaven, for the sake of your righteous Son, whose
righteousness is accounted to us by faith. Amen.
SA
AD
December 12th
Text: Luke 21:25-28
If you get the blues from watching the evening news, then read Luke,
chapter 21. Listen to Jesus’ prophecies about the unusual natural
phenomena that will usher in the Last Day. Jesus’ foretells tough
times ahead for our universe and planet. He points us to the “signs”
that will identify that His final advent is about to take place, as God
withdraws His goodwill from the earth.
He points up to sun and moon and stars, to cosmic disturbances
that will terrify the common man. He points below to the catastrophic
changes on earth, like huge hurricanes and tidal waves. These will be
in addition to earthquakes, famines, plagues, and wars we now see
occurring.
When the world’s residents see creation coming unglued and
lapsing into chaos, the nations will be overcome with distress. They
will even faint from fear because they expect the destruction of the
earth. “For the powers of the nation will be shaken. And then, they
will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great
glory.” They, who do not have ears to hear God’s Word now, will cry
out in anguish, “We’re doomed!”
While unbelievers flinch in fear and hide their faces from Christ’s
appearance, Jesus calls His disciples to have no fright. The coming of
the Son of Man is Good News for us. His disciples are those who
continue to hear His Word and keep it. Instead of cowering in
confusion, He urges us to stand tall and look up. Why can we do this
with such confidence? Because the Son of Man is offering us comfort
and hope through His promises.
He’s coming again to liberate us. You see, He came the first time,
born of the Virgin Mary, to redeem us sinners. Now we will see the
completion of that redemption. He now prepares us for the Last Day
by telling us to listen to His Word and to look up for the crucified and
glorified Christ to appear from heaven. Our life in the presence of the
Eternal One is about to begin. And so, we cheer, “We’re saved!”
Text: John 1:1-14
December 25th (1st Day of Christmas)
Christmas Day. We have been waiting. We have been preparing. Now,
we rejoice with reverence and awe. Jesus Christ is born. God Himself
has stepped into our world.
Yet, it doesn't really look like it, does it? Jesus is born in an
insignificant little town, placed in a back-alley manger, with farm
animals and all the attendant smells. His parents are poor and
unmarried. Things look pretty ordinary. The Magi with their gifts and
worship won't arrive for months.
Plus, the world is still radically broken. No one made room for this
child in their home. Herod will soon try to murder Jesus. Sin
continues. Unfortunately, Christmas often reveals the tension and
conflict within our own families too.
How would anyone know the significance of this event? Nothing
has changed. Or has it?
St. John believes, teaches, and confesses, with most glorious
language, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we
have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of
grace and truth.”
God has taken on an additional nature, our nature, fully human,
and yet, He remains fully divine. This is the incarnation—all for us
and for our salvation. And the God-man comes to bring light to our
dark world.
This is the truth we celebrate today. And it is true. Regardless of
how things look. Even if it seems like just another ordinary day. Even
if our world is still broken. Our God has stepped into the world to save
us—to restore all things. The Word of God has taken on flesh. Light
and salvation have come. This is no ordinary day. Merry Christmas!
Prayer: Into flesh is made the Word, alleluia! He our refuge and our
Lord, alleluia! On this day God have us Christ, His Son, to save us;
Christ, His Son, to save us. Amen.
Prayer: Cleanse our conscience, dear Father, by the daily visitation of
Your grace, that, when Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, shall appear
in glory and power, He may find us ready to greet Him without spot or
blemish, through the same Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
VY
DP
December 24th
Text: Matthew 1:18-25 (Christmas Eve)
One day more. It is the night before Christmas. The anticipation
mounts, not with doubt, but with hope. Christmas Eve is pensive, as
we contemplate the mysteries of this most profound occasion. But we
aren't the first to anticipate this day. Mary and Joseph looked forward
to the birth of this promised Son. Even the Prophet Isaiah longed for
this day.
And the Son they awaited arrived with two names. The angel
brings his words to Joseph, saying that Mary “will bear a son, and you
shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”
Jesus. Joshua is the same name in Hebrew. It means “The LORD
saves.” Yahweh saves, and indeed, He does. The name of Jesus reveals
His identity.
And this is true for the other name the angel mentions. The angel
of the Lord quotes from Isaiah 7, “Behold the virgin shall conceive
and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel.” This is
Hebrew for “God with us.” We sing this in the hymn, “Veiled in flesh
the God-head see, Hail the incarnate Deity! Pleased as Man with man
to dwell, Jesus, our Immanuel.”
He is one Son with two names: Jesus, our Immanuel. And these
names aren't arbitrary. They reveal to us the very plan and purpose of
God. Jesus is the salvation of God, and He is God. He is the Divine
One who save His people from their sins. Truly worth pondering this
Christmas Eve. One day more.
Prayer: Hail the heav'n-born Prince of Peace! Hail the Sun of
Righteousness. Light and life to all He brings, Ris'n with healing in
His wings. Mild He lays His glory by, Born that man no more may die,
Born to raise the sons of earth, Born to give them second birth. Amen.
Text: Luke 21:29-36
December 13th
Every autumn we watch leaves fall from their trees, and we know that
winter is coming soon. In the spring those trees bud, promising that
summer is near. Everyone knows these signs. But not everyone grasps
the signs that Jesus has given as a warning that He is coming back in
glory to judge the world. (Read Luke, chapter 21.)
When we hear about these events, we are reminded that our King
is about to appear. All the earthly things will perish. The long line of
unbelievers, who reject Jesus, will continue to the end of time. But the
Word of Jesus will remain forever. Since God’s kingdom is coming as
sure as a fig tree buds, we are warned not to ignore either His Word or
the signs. They prepare us for Christ’s Advent.
Christ gives us three advent admonitions in our reading. The first
is to see the signs so that we know the end is near. When we hear or
see any of Jesus’ signals, we ought to think, “Christ is coming!”
Coupled with this is Jesus warning to hear and heed His Word.
Second, Jesus warns us to “beware” of everything that lowers our
awareness of His impending return. We’re easily distracted by the
business, pleasures, and worries of daily life. So, keep a clear head.
Third, Jesus cautions us to remain vigilant in every season and
watch always for His appearing. We are living in the last hour. Prayer
is a big part of this alertness, especially during days of hardship when
we need God’s help. We ask our Lord to help us resist temptation so
we will flee from it and persevere in our faith in Christ, who alone is
our Savior. He strengthens us through the Word, which will not pass
away. This includes the sacraments.
Those who pay attention to Jesus’ warnings are able to “stand in
the presence of the Son of Man,” and live and rejoice with Him
forevermore in His eternal kingdom. “Come, Lord Jesus!”
Prayer: Heavenly Father, make us diligent to hear Your Word and
enable us to live in faith and obedience, that with vigilance and prayer
we may look for the second coming of Your Son and enter with Him
into His kingdom; through the same Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
DP
VY
December 14th
Text: Malachi 4:1-6
Have you ever met someone who had to have the last word? Some
insist on it. Others, like dad, have a right to it. Some just get it.
Malachi is the last book of the Old Testament. Did he have the last
word? The end of his ministry began 400 years of silence. There was
no dream, vision, or oral words from God. All they had was the
written Word of God, those 39 books of the Old Testament.
The last word promises that a day is coming, the day the LORD
will judge the living and the dead. This day will be bad news for the
arrogant, who display their lack of faith and fear in the One who is
born of a Virgin by doing what is evil. God’s Law threatens that,
although they’re now living comfortably in their sin, they will be
burned up like stubble. Nothing will remain, but their death will be an
eternally painful existence. With such harsh words, God’s Law calls
us to grieve over our sins and desire to be different.
To those who have a proper fear of God’s Word, the kind of
respect a beloved child has for his dear father, God speaks a gospel
message. They will live under a different kind of heat, the warmth of
the Sun of Righteousness. He rises with healing in His wings. This is
the promised Messiah, who justifies the sinner, shields us from the
heart of God’s righteous wrath, and gives us security and the new,
eternal life. And so, we love the instruction of Moses. Like Malachi,
he spoke of the coming of Christ our Savior.
But before the Savior and Judge arrives, the LORD “will send you
Elijah the prophet.” This was fulfilled in John the Baptizer. Through
the preaching of Malachi, John, and all faithful pastors, God calls us
back to Himself and creates a wholesome relationship with us, like a
good relationship between dads and their children. By giving us faith
and fear in Christ, the Sun of Righteousness, the Holy Spirit prepares
us for the Day of the LORD. In Christ, the last word to the penitent
will not be “Go away!” but “Welcome home!”
Prayer: Dear Lord Jesus Christ, Sun of Righteousness, cause the light
of Your restoring kindness to shine on me, that I may fear, love, and
trust in You above all else. Amen.
VY
Text: Philippians 4:4-7
December 23rd
St. Paul urges me to “Rejoice always!” Always? Doesn’t Paul watch
the evening news? Doesn’t he see the evil threatening to invade my
home or the sin in my heart? Doesn’t he notice how quickly I doubt
and worry? I’m anxious about my bills, my hectic schedule, my
health, my family, and my lack of help. Happiness comes and goes as
fast as the tick tock of my clock. O Lord, forgive this sinner for my
lack of faith in You and Your promises!
Happiness fades as fast as the happenings of life. But joy remains
…always…forever! How can this be? Paul tells us. “Rejoice in the
Lord always!” That’s the key. It’s Christ Jesus. He’s the Lord and He
is near to help and give me His joy. In two days we will celebrate His
incarnation. Rejoice! But He will also come again to take me to
heaven. Rejoice! But He also promises to be with all who are
gathered in His name now. Being baptized, I carry His name. So,
He’s near me right now and always! So, rejoice always!
Christ Jesus is near to me as God in the flesh. He is the One who
absorbed all my sin of worry and doubt into His perfect, anxious-free,
faithful flesh. Mary’s Son ransomed me from all my worries, sorrow,
and death itself. He made peace with God on my behalf by dying in
my place. This peace with God exists even when I don’t feel it.
Christ’s resurrection says it’s so.
Now that Christ is risen, He has opened heaven to me. So, why
worry about a single thing. I can flood heaven with all my cares. I
don’t have to drip them out. I can let them gush out in prayer and
supplications with thanksgiving and make my requests to the Lord
who is by my side as a very present help in time of need. He promises
to put His peace within my heart. It works like a police force to
prevent any riot of fear or worry from breaking out, and I know that all
is well because the Lord is near. So, rejoice always!
Prayer: O Lord, we implore You mercifully to hear the prayers of Your
Church that we, being delivered from all adversities and serving You
with a quiet mind, may enjoy Your peace all the days of our life;
through Jesus Christ, Your Son, Our Lord. Amen.
VY
December 22nd
Text: John 1:19-28
For months, commercials have been appealing to my Old Adam. For
centuries, the American culture has been molding and shaping me to
think that the whole world revolves around “me,” and that everyone
else exists to make “me” happy. Even Christmas is prostituted for my
pleasure and to satisfy my cravings. St. Augustine exposed the root
cause of this dilemma when he wrote, “The beginning of all sin is the
love of one’s own self.”
Then along comes a man named John. When John began to preach
and to baptize, the Pharisees sent priests and Levites to interrogate this
man who was in the spotlight. But when they asked him, “Who are
you?” he confessed who he was not, and who he was.
John the Baptizer is not the Christ. He is sent to get me ready for
the appearance of the Messiah. John is simply a voice crying out in
the wilderness, “Make straight the way of the Lord.” He didn’t come
to talk about himself, but about the One coming after him. But no one
knew John was talking about Jesus of Nazareth. So John was sent as a
witness to the Coming One “that all might believe through him” (Jn.
1:7). Who’s this One about whom he is testifying? It’s not about me!
John’s message is about the One who is the LORD, truly God. He
existed before John did. But He also followed John in time as a real
man. This flesh and blood Lord also outranks John in every way. But
He stooped down to make Himself the lowliest and most despised
person of all. Who is He? The next day John pointed to Jesus of
Nazareth saying, “Behold the Lamb of God who is taking away the sin
of the world!” That’s the One born on Christmas! So, it’s about Christ
Jesus. There’s no one more important than Jesus. Christmas is about
God’s Son who descends from heaven to befriend and serve me! He’s
the One who baptized me.
Prayer: Lord God, heavenly Father, enlighten and govern us by Your
Holy Spirit that we may ever know and confess Christ to be our King
and Savior and, firmly trusting in Him alone, obtain eternal life;
through the same Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord. Amen.
VY
Text: Matthew 11:2-6
December 15th
How can we be sure that Jesus is the One promised by the prophets in
the Old Testament? After all, the Biblical scholars in Israel didn’t
recognize who Jesus was, even after His death and resurrection. In our
reading for today, even the last prophet, St. John the Baptizer, seems to
have his doubts about whether or not Jesus is the real thing. Doubt can
be a terrible thing. Doubt, when it comes down to it, is unbelief. After
all, Adam and Eve doubted the word God had spoken to Adam and
Eve in Genesis, “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but of
the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the
day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” Because Adam and Eve
doubted—did not believe—God’s command, they died when they ate
of the tree.
But the Father in Heaven did not want John or the crowds to doubt.
He wanted them to be certain of who Jesus is and what He came to do.
And so, what does Jesus say to the disciples of John? “Go and tell
John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight and the lame
walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up,
and the poor have good news preached to them.” Jesus confirms His
claims that He really is the Messiah to come by His miracles done in
Matthew 8-9.
And the Father in Heaven does the same thing for you, too. He
wants you to be sure that Jesus is the One who is to come to rescue
you from the brokenness of this world, from sin, death, and hell. So
He confirms that for you by the greatest miracle: Jesus’ resurrection
from the dead! Because Jesus is risen from the dead, you can be
certain His promises to are sure. You need not look for another!
Come quickly, Lord Jesus!
Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, we implore You to hear our prayers and to
lighten the darkness of our hearts by Your gracious visitation; for You
live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and
forever. Amen.
JM
December 16th
Text: 1 Corinthians 4:1-5
Yesterday, we established that Jesus is indeed the one to come, that we
need not look for another (Matthew 11). But with that in mind, Paul’s
words today rightly strike fear into our hearts. He confirms that the
Lord is coming, but He is also coming to “bring to light the things now
hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart.” As if
my outward actions aren’t enough to kindle God’s wrath over my sin,
Paul says that the purposes of my heart will be disclosed by the Lord’s
coming. Even worse, we won’t be acquitted even if we aren’t aware
that we have sinned! If you’re not sure that the way you are should
cause you to fear the wrath of God over your sin, hear and believe
what Jesus says about the purposes of the heart: “out of the heart
come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false
witness, slander (Matthew 15).” Christ have mercy upon us!
But this is the wonderful thing about having the Lord as a judge,
not a human court. Human courts sometimes get it wrong.
Sometimes, the punishment doesn’t really fit the crime. But with the
Lord, judgment is perfect. Someone must bear the punishment for
your sin, and that person, dear Christian, is that same coming Lord
Jesus. At the cross, all of your sins and the sins of the whole world
were laid upon Him, and God poured out all of His wrath over sin
upon His Son (Isaiah 53). This is the true mystery of God (v. 1) that
was hidden from the foundation of the world but now revealed through
the means of grace (Colossians 1). So now, when God the Father
looks at your heart, he no longer sees the darkness of your sin.
Instead, He sees the perfect life lived in Christ. Instead of the
condemnation you deserve for your sin, you now receive
commendation from the judge.
Text: John 20:24-29
December 21st (St.Thomas, Apostle)
In the verses preceding these, it is said that our Lord Jesus instituted
the Christian Church. But wait Thomas wasn’t there! Thomas was
crushed and devastated by the events of Good Friday. So much so that
he had withdrawn from the company of the other disciples…and by
doing so, he had isolated himself from Jesus. When Jesus appeared to
the disciples a week after Easter, He singled out Thomas for special
attention. Try to put yourself in Jesus’ position. What do you think
you might have said to Thomas?
We remember today that Thomas and the other disciples were not
great men in themselves; they had failed; they had abandoned their
Lord and denied Him. Yet, these men, including Thomas, were chosen
by Christ to give out HIS most precious gift; the forgiveness of sins.
This ministry remains ours today. As we remember Jesus’ words to
Thomas and HIS words to us as ministers of the Gospel; “Blessed are
those who have not seen and yet have believed.” We must trust HIS
authority and His promise!
Prayer: I the Lord will bless and keep you and give you peace; I the
Lord will smile upon you and give you peace; I the Lord will be your
Father, Savior, Comforter, and Brother. I will keep you and give you
peace. Amen.
Prayer: By the mystery of Your holy incarnation; by Your holy
nativity; by Your baptism, fasting, and temptation; by Your agony and
bloody sweat; by Your cross and passion; by Your precious death and
burial; by Your glorious resurrection and ascension; and by the
coming of the Holy Spirit, the Comforter: help us good Lord. In all
time of our tribulation; in all time of our prosperity; in the hour of
death; and in the Day of Judgment: help us, good Lord. Amen.
JM
CRR
December 20th
Text: Isaiah 35:1-10
One of the most difficult things about prophecy is that it is not
necessarily linear. We tend to think in straight lines, more or less. We
tend to read what we read in the same way. A story starts and
progresses to the end. Prophecy is not necessarily linear. It can be,
but often it is “less” like telling a story, and more like describing a
picture. These verses from Isaiah is like that – a description of a
picture – with details added here and there – sort of out of place, so it
seems. Especially when this picture is describing the coming salvation
of our God. The picture that is painted is the Holy Highway of Jesus!
But wait is it really a highway, an interstate? This road that leads
to life everlasting is narrow; those on the road will be persecuted and
realize that the road is a hard one to travel. Those that are NOT on the
road, don’t want you to be on it either. For they are certain that they
are going the right way, and you are not! Then there are those lions
and wolves alongside the roadway; Satan and his crew; he does not
want you on the road, where you are safe from him. He will seek to
lure you off. He will do anything he can to distract you. This road is
really for walking only, it is narrow and there are all sorts of pressures
to push you off; so many traps and temptations!
Walking this holy highway of Jesus requires determination and
concentration just to stay on it. But for those who stay on it; gladness
and joy will overtake them. And the final destination is life
everlasting. Stay the course with Christ!
Prayer: Prepare the royal highway; the King of kings is near! Let
every hill and valley a level road appear! Then greet the King of
Glory foretold in this sacred story. Amen.
Text: Isaiah 40:1-8
December 17th
We live in a world afflicted by so many problems: blindness, deafness,
paralysis, cancer, and on and on (Matthew 11:2-6). Oh, and don’t
forget all of the other struggles that come with living in these last days
of sore distress: wars, rumors of wars, earthquakes, famines, false
prophets, and false christs (Matthew 24:6-7; 24). How can an allpowerful God exist at the same time as such great suffering? Our
sinful nature always wants to blame God for these problems. It says,
“If God is really all-powerful and all-loving, why doesn’t he do
something about it?” Sin, both original sin that we’ve inherited and
the sin that we ourselves commit, has created a world that is dying,
and we’d be foolish to ignore the signs. Unfortunately, we don’t get
comfort from asking the question above. Ultimately, it might lead us
to a false god of our own design who promises immediate relief of
these hardships. On the other hand, it could lead us to despair, causing
us to reject God altogether.
But God comes to us to preach comfort that we so desperately need
in the face of the sins and struggles of this world with the words of
today’s text. Though our sin has put us in our desperate situation, our
God has heard our cries for mercy. Instead of looking upon our sins,
God looks upon us with mercy. Though our sin has put us at war with
God, our God declares that the warfare is over because of Jesus Christ,
who reconciles the world to God (2 Cor. 5:19), for God has laid the
sins of the world upon Christ in order to lay upon you His perfect
righteousness. This is how our God answers the problem of evil:
through the death of His Son, which has become the death of death.
And so now, even though the grass wither, the flower fades, and flesh
passes away, the promises of God will stand forever. Even in the
midst of the turmoil of the world, you stand forgiven for Christ’s sake
and have the hope of eternal life in Christ’s kingdom.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, hold before our eyes the Lamb, so long
expected, who came with pardon down from heaven. When next He
comes in glory, and the world is wrapped in fear, grant that the same
Lamb, Jesus Christ, would shield us with His mercy, and draw near to
us with words of forgiveness, life, and salvation. Amen.
CRR
JM
December 18th
Text: Psalm 85
We have these great promises of God for our eternal salvation. In fact,
we can read the Scriptures and see God working all things together for
the good of those who believe (Romans 8). God makes good on His
promises! We can read in the Old Testament and see how God
rescued Israel out of slavery in Egypt and Babylon. But all the
promises that we have are future hope and future glory. But what
about right now? The psalmist complains, “Will you be angry with us
forever? Will you prolong your anger to all generation? Will you not
revive us again that your people may rejoice in you?” You did these
things to us in the past, God. “Show us your steadfast love, O Lord,
and grant us your salvation.”
Yesterday, we saw how God comes to us in Christ Jesus to grant us
peace with Him and to forgive our sins. With Jesus’ death on the
cross, our greatest enemies were defeated: sin, death, and the devil.
Because of Christ, these things can no longer separate us from God.
God hasn’t ignored your cries for His mercy, but instead, He answers
them with His Son. But Christ has not abandoned you as you wait for
His second coming in glory to judge both the living and the dead.
Instead, Christ comes in a miniature advent every week as the Holy
Spirit gathers the Church around Christ’s Word and Sacraments. In
these things, the Lord gives what is good. Though the world threatens
us with unbelief and despair, through the means of grace, Christ offers
to us the strength to recall the goodness of the Lord’s favor in our good
years, all the while offer us every blessing of His coming Kingdom,
which was won for us at the cross. God’s steadfast love meets all
those who receive these promises and gifts. Cling to them, for in
Christ, you are given every good thing.
Text: Matthew 11:7-15
December 19th
When it comes to your faith, what seems to plague you the most? As
believers we all struggle with doubt. Even the most ardent believer
will wonder if Jesus is really the one – The ONE who can save them
from sin – The ONE who can give them an eternity free from doubt
and fear. This doubt comes from the nature of the ADVENT of
CHRIST. Living in Colorado for so many years, we could say that
Advent is like a trip to the mountains. When we first the mountains on
the horizon, they all appear to be about the same distance away. They
also appear to be a lot closer than they really are. When we get closer
to the mountains, we realize that those mountains that appeared to be
right next to each other are many miles apart. Biblical prophecy is like
that!
John’s disciples knew the prophecy but they had doubts. We all
have doubts from time to time. The resurrection of Christ Jesus is there
for us when we have those doubts. We can live in the certainty that
Jesus is our Savior. For that reason, today, we live between the First
Advent and the Last Advent; we stand with the encouragement,
comfort, and assurance that will, one day, overcome all our doubts!
Prayer: Arise, O Christian people! Prepare yourselves today! Prepare
to greet the Savior, who takes your sins away. Amen.
Prayer: Remember not, O God, our transgressions against us, and
record not our sins in Your book, but cast them into the depth of the
sea, and remember them no more forever. Cover us with the
obedience of Your Son, Jesus Christ, who fulfilled all righteousness for
us and gave Himself a sacrifice for our sins. Let us live for His sake,
and enable us to walk worthy of our calling. Amen.
JM
CRR