DEC 22-ADVENT DAY TWENTY-TWO: READ Luke 2: 3-4

Luke 2:3-4 (MsgB) Everyone had to travel to his own ancestral hometown to be accounted for. So Joseph went from the Galilean town of Nazareth up to Bethlehem in Judah, David’s town, for the census. As a descendant of David, he had to go there.

We don’t know a lot about Jesus’ earthly father, Joseph. We do know that his father’s name was Jacob (Matt 1: 16) and that apparently Joseph was a carpenter, by trade. Unfortunately, Luke’s Christmas story doesn’t give us a great amount of detail about Joseph and his life, and the gospels of Mark and John don’t even include the Christmas accounts. That leaves Matthew to fill in a few of the gaps for us. In his account, we don’t find many practical details about Joseph either, but we are enlightened somewhat on what kind of character was inside this man. When faced with the shame and uncertainty of reputation that arose when his fiancé was found pregnant, Joseph wanted to do the right thing, protecting Mary from the disgrace and possible death that could result from this type of occurrence. Joseph, like his name sake of the Old Testament, was apparently a dreamer, as well. In three different occasions, Matthew records that Joseph was given specific direction for his life and family through the gift of dreams. Now it’s one thing to get dreams from God, but it takes a man of strong character to get up from those dreams and obey them. In each case, God’s revelation took Joseph one step closer to fulfilling the destiny and purpose for not only his life, but his family’s life and well-being, as well. It’s because of this one man’s faithful obedience; we now are able to celebrate the birth, life, death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. Let’s hear it for this one brave man who chose to live His life God’s way, and not his own!

For our complete ADVENT09 devotional study go to http://crvineyard.org/advent.kt

DEC 21-ADVENT DAY TWENTY-ONE: READ Luke 2: 1-2

Luke 2:1-2 (MsgB)   About that time Caesar Augustus ordered a census to be taken throughout the Empire. This was the first census when Quirinius was governor of Syria.

As the good doctor Luke continues his writings, he places the Advent of Jesus within a historical context for his readers. The Gospel of Matthew attempts to do the same thing for his readers as well. While scholars still debate over the historical accuracy of the exact date, we find yet another 1^st century writer, a Jewish historian named Josephus, pointing to this same time frame (between 4 BC and 6 AD) as being the beginnings of a very tumultuous time in Israel. Regardless of the exact date of His birth, one thing is certain…Jesus of Nazareth was born into a time and place where social unrest and political uprising were of growing concern. The Roman government, which ruled most of the world’s civilized nations at the time, was pressing down hard on the people of Israel. Taxes were high and life conditions were trying at best. God’s Prince of Peace came into this world at a time when there was little peace. Paul, interestingly enough, when writing his letter to the Galatian church, defines this time frame from God’s perspective. He calls it “the fullness of time” (see Gal 4: 4). Aren’t you glad that despite the outer appearances of our everyday world (sometimes looking pretty dark and hopeless), God sees it as a time of great opportunity to perform His best works?

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DEC 20-ADVENT DAY TWENTY: READ Luke 1: 54-56

Luke 1:54-56 (MsgB)  He (God) embraced His chosen child, Israel; He remembered and piled on the mercies, piled them high. It’s exactly what He promised, beginning with Abraham and right up to now. Mary stayed with Elizabeth for three months and then went back to her own home.

Sometimes we forget that the Christmas story we are so familiar with is only one small chapter in the massive volume God has written throughout the annals of time. And yes, while this single chapter that details the Advent of Jesus is a major part of the story’s plot line, it would be unwise to focus so much on this chapter that we loose track of the “bigger story” God is composing before us. When viewed through the lense of Kingdom theology, we see that Jesus’ birth is actually an event that was etched in the mind of our Creator King long before the first chapter of Genesis was ever written. By the time we get to Genesis 12 (our introduction to Abraham), God’s plot of redemption is already well under way. As Mary concludes her Christmas-time oratory (verses 46-55) she sums up her thoughts by reminding us that God’s promises are eternal in nature. The promise of God spoken to Abraham (see Genesis 26:4) to bless all the nations of the earth took a huge step forward in the birth of Jesus of Nazareth. Now, 2,000 years later, God’s novel is still being written as He fulfills His ancient promises to our generation. Isn’t it exciting to know that those who are grafted into these Messianic promises through the blood of Jesus can today be like Mary, fully participating with God as He acts out His will in and through us?

For our complete ADVENT09 devotional study go to http://crvineyard.org/advent.kt

DEC 19-ADVENT DAY NINETEEN: READ Luke 1: 52-53

Luke 1:52-53 (MsgB) He (God) knocked tyrants off their high horses, pulled victims out of the mud. The starving poor sat down to a banquet; the callous rich were left out in the cold.

Eugene Peterson (author of The Message Bible) in his devotional commentary eludes to the fact that Mary’s short Christmas-time oratory (verses 46-55) could easily be entitled “The Three Great Reversals”. Patterned amazingly after the prayer of Hannah (see 1^st Samuel 2: 1-10) we find in verse 51 (yesterday’s study) Mary speaking out about how our God is one who establishes His strength while disestablishing the proud. In verse 52, we see Him pulling down cruel leaders at the top while lifting up their victims at the bottom. And finally, in verse 53, Mary speaks about our God filling the hungry while sending the hard-hearted wealthy ones away empty-handed.  As Peterson states, “Mary’s prayer takes us into an expansive world of God’s promises that are in the process of being fulfilled.” In a world where injustice still seems to rule and reign, we can take hope that the Advent of Jesus, God’s Messiah, is still in process, still advancing His righteousness in a world of unrighteous living. May His Kingdom come today, ushering in more and more of His goodness, reversing the trends of darkness, bringing His redemption to those who have little hope for justice in this world.

For our complete ADVENT09 devotional study go to http://crvineyard.org/advent.kt

DEC 18-ADVENT DAY EIGHTEEN: READ Luke 1: 50-51

Luke 1:50-51 (MsgB)  His mercy flows in wave after wave on those who are in awe before Him. He bared His arm and showed His strength, scattered the bluffing braggarts.

Luke’s Christmas story is so intriguing because it presents our God in such a way that we’re caused to marvel at this Supreme Being of great contrast. First, we see Him as an omnipotent King, ushering in a whole new age through the advent of His Messiah, yet doing it in an amazingly quiet and hidden way. Rather than birthing His Son through the blood lines of the important people of society, He brings His Deliverer into the world by touching a humble hidden teenager from the remote village of Nazareth. Next we see the announcement of Jesus’ birth being sent by an angelic host to the lowliest segment of society (shepherds) instead of ringing out the news to the rich and famous in Jerusalem. In today’s text, we again see the amazing contrast in God’s nature. On one hand, He is a God of justice, scattering those whose pride and arrogance rule supreme, yet sending wave after wave of His mercy, or unmerited favor, toward those who know their own need. Isn’t it wonderful to know that the Ruler of the Universe is not only strong and mighty, as we would expect, but that His heart and nature inside Him is one of mercy and grace toward His creation? Ponder on that contrast today, as you draw near to Him in awe.    

For our complete ADVENT09 devotional study go to http://crvineyard.org/advent.kt

DEC 17-ADVENT DAY SEVENTEEN: READ Luke 1: 48-49

Luke 1:48-49 (MsgB) God took one good look at me, and look what happened— I’m the most fortunate woman on earth! What God has done for me will never be forgotten, the God whose very name is holy, set apart from all others.

“Cause and effect”  As one author explains: a “cause” is something that makes something else happen. An “effect” is what happens as a result of that cause.” For example, during the Christmas season, if I eat too many holiday goodies and do not exercise, I gain weight. In this case, eating goodies without exercising is the “cause”; weight gain is the “effect.” In today’s advent scriptures, we find an amazing example of Christmas-time “cause and effect” as it influences the life of one young maiden living a normal life in first century Israel. In Mary’s case, the “cause” is the Holy God of the Universe taking one good look at her. The “effect” is the blessing and honor in immeasurable ways that comes to not only Mary, but to our entire world. God, you see, is so big that it’s impossible for Him to do something small or insignificant.  For Him, massive “cause and effect” is just another day at the office. So consider what great blessings (effect) might occur in your life as you would position yourself, like Mary, allowing God to take one good look at you (cause)? My guess is that as we allow God to bring more of His power and presence into our lives, you and I will never regret the wonderful by-products of all God does.

For our complete ADVENT09 devotional study go to http://crvineyard.org/advent.kt

DEC 16-ADVENT DAY SIXTEEN: READ Luke 1: 46-47

Luke 1:46-47 (MsgB)   And Mary said, I’m bursting with God-news; I’m dancing the song of my Savior God.

Emotional outbursts. Here in America, we’ve been taught that there are “correct & proper” settings for them…and yes, “incorrect & improper” settings, as well. At any typical Hawkeye football game on any given autumn Saturday afternoon in Iowa City, for example, we Iowans have all been conditioned to “go bananas” (to use a theological term) when IOWA scores a touchdown. But heaven forbid, if I would do that same little two-step at church the next morning! Isn’t it interesting that it’s OK to show great emotion when it comes to many secular things, but a cardinal sin if we get a bit rowdy when it comes to the spiritual side of life? Now don’t get me wrong, our pursuit of God must include times of quietness and prayer, but, for heaven’s sake, if Mary, the mother of our Lord, is allowed to “burst with God-news” and dance to the song of the Lord, then why can’t our generation join in on the fun? Wouldn’t it be nice this Sunday morning to go to church and see a few smiling faces for once, and join in with a few folks who are so excited about their eternal salvation that they just can’t help themselves from doing a little shoutin’ and dancin’ for Jesus?  Maybe the “good news” of Jesus’ advent needs to stir our emotions a bit more, like it did Mary, today? What do you say? Gimme a J-E-S-U-S! What’s that spell?

For our complete ADVENT09 devotional study go to http://crvineyard.org/advent.kt

DEC 15-ADVENT DAY FIFTEEN: READ Luke 1: 45

Luke 1:45 (MsgB)  Blessed woman, who believed what God said, believed every word would come true!

The author of Hebrews states that FAITH “is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living. It’s our handle on what we can’t see”. Vineyard pastor John Wimber used to say that FAITH is spelled R-I-S-K. However you choose to define or describe FAITH, it’s obvious that Mary, the mother of Jesus, was gifted by God to be a woman of great faith. Some have decided that Mary was special when compared to the rest of us humans, containing a degree of holiness and faith that only a very few people have. The church calls it “sainthood”. My question is this. Was Mary a “saint” thus she was able to hold onto her unshakeable faith in God? Or was it Mary’s unshakeable faith in God that brought her to her position of great blessing? It seems to me that neither Joseph nor Mary are represented by the good doctor Luke in his gospel as being “super saints”, but simply God-fearing, everyday common folk who simply allowed their lives to be caught up into God’s bigger story. Oh yes, Mary’s belief system or level of faith seems to be strong, yet isn’t this passage telling us that true FAITH is simply believing what God says and believing that every word that God says will come true? With the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives, don’t you think you and I can live our lives in such a similar manner? May God’s blessing be on us today as we look to walk in FAITH in the midst of our journeys with Him.

For our complete ADVENT09 devotional study go to http://crvineyard.org/advent.kt

DEC 14-ADVENT DAY FOURTEEN: READ Luke 1: 44

Luke 1:44 (MsgB)   The moment the sound of your greeting entered my ears, the babe in my womb skipped like a lamb for sheer joy.

Sometimes we can become so familiar with the biblical story of the birth of Christ, we will overlook the amazing prophetic details that are contained in every aspect of Jesus’ advent. Here, for example, in the middle of the world’s first Christmas carol (as I like to call it) Elizabeth sings out about the way her baby (John, the Baptist) “skipped like a lamb” inside her womb as she hears the voice of Mary greeting her with amazing news. Now some might say, well, of course, we all know that after about 20 weeks in the womb, it’s customary for babies to occasionally jostle or jump in the mother’s stomach. But could it be that Luke, in this verse, is passing on to his readers yet another prophetic promise from the Old Testament that was being fulfilled that day? I find it interesting that David, the shepherd king of the Old Testament, in one of his songs (Psalm 22:30-31) sings out… “Our children and their children will get in on this, as the word is passed along from parent to child. Babies not yet conceived will hear the good news—that God does what He says.”  Isn’t it interesting that Luke’s writings (as well as the writings of Matthew, Mark, and John) are called “gospels”? A word for word translation for the word “gospel” is “good news”. May it be true today that at the “hearing” of the “good news” (the gospel) of Jesus’ advent, all of us and our children (born and yet to be born) will “skip like lambs with sheer joy” knowing that God always “does what He says”.

For our complete ADVENT09 devotional study go to http://crvineyard.org/advent.kt

DEC 13-ADVENT DAY THIRTEEN: READ Luke 1: 43

Luke 1:43 (MsgB)  And why am I so blessed that the mother of my Lord visits me?

The proper theological word for it is “election”, and the debate over the doctrine of “election” can be rather intense at times amongst scholars. For those who’ve been fortunate enough to avoid all the doctrinal hub-bub, the question is this? Does God really choose in advance who He will “redeem” or does our “free will” ultimately dictate who will be brought into salvation and who won’t? As I said, the question can make for pretty intense discussions in theological circles, but I find it interesting that Elizabeth is asking, in many ways, this same “theological” question here, but I find her doing it in a much more humble way. Rather than arguing from a position of power, like we see so many do, here Elizabeth is honestly surveying her “election” question by asking, “Why would a majestic and powerful God want to go out of Hs way to bless a poor humble servant like me?”  For Elizabeth, she didn’t feel the need to get a theological handle on WHY or HOW she was being included into God’s bigger story, but she simply knew that however it happened, she was one blessed woman. Wouldn’t it be nice if we could take such a simpler approach to our encounters with God? Rather than focusing on HOW it happened, or arguing over the theological context of our experiences, let’s rejoice in the rich blessing of being included in God’s wonderful world-wide plans of salvation. Sound good to you?

For our complete ADVENT09 devotional study go to http://crvineyard.org/advent.kt