He Continually Delivers Us! – Devotion

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“The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold!” Psalm 18:2

Each Sunday, I try to post a devotional thought for you to meditate on. Sometimes it will be something out of my own studies and prayers. Other times – like today – it will be from another source.

Today, I am posting about how Christ continually delivers us daily by an unknown author, courtesy of Grace Gems:

Psalm 119.117

“Hold me up–and I shall be safe!” Psalm 119:117

“For you, O LORD, have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling!” Psalm 116:8

Christ has completely and perfectly delivered all His people from the condemnation of sin, as He suffered the wrath of God for us on the cross, having our sins charged to His account. But His deliverance of us does not end there. He is still delivering us and keeping us from all that would harm or destroy us. He continually delivers us . . .
from the power of sin which still plagues, corrupts, and contaminates us;
from the influence of the world;
from the force of temptation;
from the deceitfulness of our own hearts;
and from the designs of all our foes!

“The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold!” Psalm 18:2

The Christmas Story: Rejoice, Our Savior Has Come!

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Yesterday, we posted the first half of the true Christmas story. We left off with John the Baptist being born, and Mary being 6 months pregnant. Now we see what God’s word reveals about the birth of Christ, our savior, and all the events that surrounded that miraculous time!

Joseph and Mary go to Bethlehem and Jesus Christ is Born

Luke 2:1-7

1And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed.

2(And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)

3And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.

4And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)

5To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

6And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.

7And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

Some Shepherds are Told of His Birth and They Go to Worship Him

Luke 2:8-20

8And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

9And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

10And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

11For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

12And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

13And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

14Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

15And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.

16And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

17And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.

18And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

19But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.

20And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

Jesus is Circumcised and Dedicated in the Temple – A Prophesy is Given

Luke 2:21-38

21And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

22And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord;

23(As it is written in the law of the LORD, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;)

24And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.

25And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him.

26And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.

27And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law,

28Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said,

29Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word:

30For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,

31Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people;

32A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.

33And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him.

34And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against;

35(Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.

36And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity;

37And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.

38And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.

The Magi Go to Visit Jesus

Matthew 2:1-11

1Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,

2Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.

3When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.

4And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.

5And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet,

6And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.

7Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared.

8And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.

9When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.

10When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.

11And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense and myrrh.

King Herod Plots to Kill Jesus

Matthew 2:12-18

12And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.

13And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.

14When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt:

15And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son.

16Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men. Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying,

18In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.

Joseph Takes Jesus and Mary Back to Israel

Matthew 2:19-23

19But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt,

20Saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead which sought the young child’s life.

21And he arose, and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel.

22But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judaea in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither: notwithstanding, being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee:

23And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene.

 

photo by babasteve

The Christmas Story: Preparation for The King

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Today and tomorrow I will post the true Christmas story on this site. Today we will look at the immediate events leading up to the birth of Jesus Christ, God’s only begotten Son – The Messiah! Tomorrow, we will look at His birth and all the events that surrounded that amazing day.

An Angel Speaks to Zacharias and Tells Him God’s Plan Concerning Him and Elisabeth

Luke 1:5-25

5There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.

6And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.

7And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years.

8And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest’s office before God in the order of his course,

9According to the custom of the priest’s office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord.

10And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense.

11And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense.

12And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.

13But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.

14And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth.

15For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother’s womb.

16And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God.

17And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.

18And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years.

19And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings.

20And, behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season.

21And the people waited for Zacharias, and marvelled that he tarried so long in the temple.

22And when he came out, he could not speak unto them: and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple: for he beckoned unto them, and remained speechless.

23And it came to pass, that, as soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished, he departed to his own house.

24And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five months, saying,

25Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he looked on me, to take away my reproach among men.

The Angel Gabriel Speaks to Mary and Tells Her of God’s Plan for Her

Luke 1:26-38

26And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,

27To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.

28And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.

29And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.

30And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.

31And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.

32He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:

33And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.

34Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?

35And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

36And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.

37For with God nothing shall be impossible.

38And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.

An Angel Speaks to Joseph and Tells Him of God’s Plan Him and Mary

Matthew 1:18-24a

18Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.

19Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily.

20But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.

21And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

22Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,

23Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

24Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him…

Mary Visits Her Cousin, Elisabeth

Luke 1:39-56

39And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda;

40And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth.

41And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost:

42And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.

43And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

44For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.

45And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.

46And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,

47And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.

48For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.

49For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name.

50And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation.

51He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.

52He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree.

53He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.

54He hath helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy;

55As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever.

56And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her own house.

Elisabeth Gives Birth to John the Baptist

Luke 1:57-80

57Now Elisabeth’s full time came that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son.

58And her neighbours and her cousins heard how the Lord had shewed great mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her.

59And it came to pass, that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; and they called him Zacharias, after the name of his father.

60And his mother answered and said, Not so; but he shall be called John.

61And they said unto her, There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name.

62And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called.

63And he asked for a writing table, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they marvelled all.

64And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spake, and praised God.

65And fear came on all that dwelt round about them: and all these sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill country of Judaea.

66And all they that heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, What manner of child shall this be! And the hand of the Lord was with him.

67And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying,

68Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people,

69And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David;

70As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began:

71That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us;

72To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant;

73The oath which he sware to our father Abraham,

74That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear,

75In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life.

76And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways;

77To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins,

78Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us,

79To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.

80And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel.

 

Be sure to come back tomorrow (at 12:01 am EST), to read about Christ’s birth, the shepherds and magi (wise men) who come to worship Him, and the earthly king who tries to murder Him.

photo by babasteve

Making Christmas Both Richer AND Less Expensive

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Yes, that reads like a contradiction – how can Christmas be both richer and less expensive at the same time. It’s simply a matter of changing priorities. And the way Christmas is going these days, that’s something that a lot of us need to do.

The whole purpose of Christmas is to celebrate the birth of our risen Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. But in the past few decades, that purpose has become obscured by the perceived need to buy more and better gifts for everyone on the list, and to work tirelessly at creating the mythical “perfect Christmas.”

The end result of all that extra effort isn’t always producing a better Christmas. In fact, many times it takes on the appearance of an exhausting project at work that leaves you tired and drained by the time it’s over. Do you ever feel that way during or after Christmas?

If you do, it’s time to make a change. This Christmas season is an excellent time to start.

Christmas Family

Lower The Emphasis On Gift Giving

From where I sit, gift giving is at the epicenter of what often turns into the Christmas nightmare. Not only does rampant gift giving turn Christmas into a major financial outlay, but there is also a major investment of time and effort. It’s all spent in an attempt to make everyone happy – to create the perfect Christmas, based on the gifts given.

There’s nothing wrong with giving gifts, but that should never take center stage.

In order to cut down on the emphasis on gift giving, try some of the following:

  • If you have a large family, get together with everyone and set a dollar limit on the amount spent for gifts per-person.
  • Cut back on the number of people you buy gifts for. For example, restrict it to giving gifts to children only, rather than adults as well.
  • Set up a Christmas grab bag. That might mean that each family contributes one or more relatively small gifts to the grab bag, and the exchanges are mostly anonymous.
  • Do a one-on-one gift exchange – everyone in the extended family pulls another person’s name out of a hat, and buys a single gift for that person.
  • Within your own family, cut down the number of gifts to just two or three important ones for each person. You can make up for the “quantity factor” by buying a number of relatively inexpensive stocking stuffers.
  • Rather than giving a gift, set aside time for some friends and family members – your time is often more important to loved ones than any gift you might give.

Using some or all of these methods will not only cut down the amount of money you’ll spend for gifts, but it will also save you time and trips to the shopping centers. By de-emphasizing the importance of gift giving, you’ll have a fighting chance at making your Christmas holiday richer in other ways.

Pot Luck Gatherings

Next to gift giving, having get-togethers is generally the most expensive and time-consuming Christmas activity. If you are holding a holiday gathering at your house, it can cost a lot of money, take a lot of time, and result in a lot of stress. But you can get around this by arranging potluck dinners.

Ask everyone you are inviting to bring a side dish and a dessert, while you supply the main course, drinks, and of course the house. This will not only save you money, but it will also reduce preparation time and stress. Since most people these days are dealing with their own financial struggles, you shouldn’t be embarrassed about asking others to help with preparations.

By reducing gift giving and replacing full-on Christmas gatherings with potluck dinners, you’ll be clearing the decks to create a richer Christmas.

Put Christ Back In Christmas

If you are Christian, putting Christ back in Christmas should be obvious. But as Christians we’re often disproportionately influenced by the culture around us, and we can easily lose sight of this. We can get caught up chasing all of the typical holiday “bells and whistles” that everyone else does.

This isn’t just about going to church more often. Set aside some extra time to reflect on who Jesus was, and what He has meant to you in your life. Dive even deeper into the Bible than you do at other times of the year. Take a shot at singing in the church choir during the holiday season, even if you can’t sing. Singing is a form of group worship that can have a profound effect on your life.

The deeper you get into the real meaning of Christmas, the easier it will be for you to avoid all the other excesses that have become so common – and so draining – during the holiday season.

And as a Christian, the Christmas season can be a time of reflection and reconnection, that will help set the tone of your faith for the coming new year.

Look For Opportunities To Volunteer

Volunteering is a form of putting your faith into action. During the Christmas season, churches and other charities are working overtime. There are more needs at this time of the year than any other. It‘s not just the holiday – winter is also setting in, causing problems for the less fortunate. As it says in the Bible, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few…” – Matthew 9:37. Christmas is an outstanding time to join in and become one of those workers.

Christmas is the season of giving, and there’s no better way to give than by volunteering your time. And there are no better people to give that time to than to those in need. Despite the widespread holiday celebrations, there are many households that can’t afford a special Christmas dinner, or gifts for their children. There are so many ways you can help make Christmas the season it’s supposed to be for people who can’t otherwise afford it.

What many people don’t realize is that when you give to other people, the feeling that you get as a result is the greatest gift of all. Most of us don’t feel as if we can make a difference, but you can – especially at Christmas.

Will you dare to be different this Christmas, and try to have a richer holiday in the process?

He Sees Countless Evils In Each One Of Us! – Devotion

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Each Sunday, I try to post a devotional thought for you to meditate on. Sometimes it will be something out of my own studies and prayers. Other times – like today – it will be from another source.

Today, I am posting about the evil that is in our hearts, and why the gospel is truly “good news” by J.C. Ryle, courtesy of Grace Gems:

(J.C. Ryle, “The Gospel of Mark” 1857)

Breaking Chain

See what a black catalogue of evils the human heart contains

“For from within, out of a person’s heart, come . . .
evil thoughts,
sexual immorality,
theft,
murder,
adultery,
greed,
wickedness,
deceit,
eagerness for lustful pleasure,
envy,
slander,
pride, and
foolishness.
All these vile things come from within; they are what defile you and make you unacceptable to God.” Mark 7:21-23

Let us distinctly understand, when we read these words, that our Lord is speaking of the human heart universally. He is not speaking only of the notorious profligate, or the prisoner in the jail. He is speaking of all mankind. All of us, whether . . .
high or low,
rich or poor,
masters or servants,
old or young,
learned or unlearned
–all of us have by nature such a heart as Jesus here describes! The seeds of all the evils here mentioned, lie hidden within us all. They may lie dormant all our lives. They may be kept down by . . .
the fear of consequences;
the restraint of public opinion;
the dread of discovery; or
the desire to be thought respectable.

But every person has within him, the root of every sin!

How humble we ought to be, when we read these verses! “We are all as an unclean thing” in God’s sight. He sees countless evils in each one of us, which the world never sees at all, for He reads our hearts. Surely of all sins to which we are liable, self-righteousness is the most unreasonable.

How thankful we ought to be for the Gospel, when we read these verses! That Gospel contains a complete provision for all the needs of our poor defiled natures. The blood of Christ can “cleanse us from all sin.” The Holy Spirit can change even our sinful hearts, and keep them clean, when changed. The man that does not glory in the Gospel, can surely know little of the plague that is within him.

How watchful we ought to be, when we remember these verses! What a careful guard we ought to keep over our imaginations, our tongues, and our daily behavior! At the head of the black list of our heart’s contents, stand “evil thoughts.” Let us never forget that. Thoughts are the parents of words and deeds! Let us pray daily for grace to keep our thoughts in order, and let us cry earnestly and fervently, “lead us not into temptation!”