Author: kezha1

As we wind down the last few days of 2021, I know for many this has not been an easy year. But hopefully we can look at this Psalm and gain comfort and hope. Our God is the only true and supreme God, and He should be greatly exalted as such…regardless of what kind of situation we find ourselves in. We are to desire and delight in doing what is right and not choose evil simply because it’s the most attractive option…for God watches over and preserves the upright and rescues them from harm and the oppression of the ungodly. For with obedience to God comes life and salvation, wisdom and understanding. So give thanks and rejoice in the Lord today for what he has done, is doing, and will be doing in your life ahead.

Yesterday we looked at Simeon in the Temple as the baby Jesus was being dedicated by His parents, Mary and Joseph. Today we look at Anna. Now Anna had been married only 7 years before her husband died, leaving her a widow for 84 years. It doesn’t say if she had any children to care for her in her old age, but it doesn’t appear there was anyone by the text. It tells us she spent all her time in the Temple, worshipping, fasting and praying…relying and dependent on the Church to meet her meager needs…utterly trusting in God to provide for her as Isaiah 54:5 says, “Your Maker is your husband – the Lord Almighty is His Name….” Her simple life one of service to God and others as she waited for her Redeemer…and here He was before her…her heart overflowing with thanksgiving to God as Anna stared into the baby’s face.

Simeon was an elderly Jew, one of “the pious”, a minority of Jews who refused acts of violence and instead waited humbly for God’s deliverance from the oppressive Roman rule. He had faithfully waited a lifetime to catch a glimpse of God’s Chosen One, having been assured by the Holy Spirit he would not die until he had set eyes on the Messiah. That day, led by the Holy Spirit, Simeon entered the Temple and there encountered Mary, Joseph, and the baby Jesus coming towards him. As they approached, the Holy Spirit whispered to Simeon, “Behold, your Savior comes.” Taking the baby up in his arms, all Simeon could muster was to praise God for this opportunity of a lifetime…to be able to look into the face of the long awaited promise…Jesus Christ.

On this Christmas Day this is possibly one of the greatest Scriptures of hope we can find in the Bible. This Prophecy of Isaiah shows us plainly both the humanity and Divinity of Jesus Christ…giving us the real assurance that He is indeed – Immanuel – God with us. Also that Jesus is the promised Messiah born as a baby in humble surroundings in Bethlehem. But Jesus is also fully God as told to us in John 3:16,”For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son…” This was the only way that we could ever be reconciled to God…For God is perfect, but cannot die, and we humans aren’t perfect, but can die…so to be that perfect sacrifice, once for all, Jesus -fully man and fully God- came to died for our sins… born to die that we may live.

These Wise Men came searching for a King. They themselves weren’t kings but rather priests or court advisors, skilled in ancient astrology and interpreting astronomical phenomena. When this magnificent star appeared in the East they consulted all they could to determine what it meant. They found a reference in Numbers 24:17, part of the Jewish Pentateuch, where it said, “I see Him, but not now; I behold Him, but not near. A star will come out of Jacob; a scepter will rise out of Israel.” Looking farther, they found Genesis 49:10 which read, “The scepter will not depart from Judea…” Knowing then they were looking for royalty, they set out to find this King of the Jews. Have you been on your own quest…searching for something, but not really knowing what? Have you been filling that void inside with all kinds of things that still leave you feeling empty? The answer is you too are searching for a King…a King to rule over your heart, mind, and soul…and His Name is Jesus.

Shepherds were a despised class of people…their work caring for the flocks often times rendering them unclean and thus unable to enter the Temple. Their social status was so low, that their testimony wasn’t even considered valid or reliable in court. But here they were, witnesses to the greatest light show ever as the angels proclaimed the Messiah’s birth to them. But why them? We can first look at their fellow shepherd, David, when God anointed and bestowed dignity on the title Shepherd in II Samuel 7:8, “Now then, tell My servant David, ‘This is what the Lord Almighty says: I took you from the pasture and from following the flock to be ruler over My people Israel.” We then see the Lord taking on the actual title of Shepherd Himself in the very familiar Psalm 23, where it starts out, “The Lord is my Shepherd…” But despite being considered second-class citizens, the shepherds did one thing right that fateful night…their personal encounter with the splendor of God caused them to believe and trust that it was all true…to the point they left their flocks to go and see. This week before Christmas, you may have several opportunities to encounter Jesus personally…don’t allow disbelief, hesitancy, or doubt to stop you from seeking that baby in the manger.

In those days a census was a huge undertaking, so to make it the most efficient, people went to their ancestral homes for registration so entire families could be listed. So think of it as everyone who had ever lived in your home town coming back…and not only just them, but with all their kids, grandkids, pets, and livestock, Think of all the hustle and bustle and noise! What lodging places there were in this tiny town were bursting at the seams with family, friends and travelers returning to Bethlehem…and this is where we meet the harried innkeeper. He had to of been stressed to the max, trying to accommodate everyone clamoring for his attention. Soon he became short-tempered and irritated as more people came to his door inquiring about a room in a already overflowing inn. So when Joseph showed up with a very pregnant Mary it might of been the last straw for this man. In his impatience he could of flippantly offered the stable, which was off from the inn, especially so that the cries of a new-born might not disturb the rest of his customers. In his short-sighted stressful condition the innkeeper lost out on the opportunity to meet the King of Kings…and in his impatience, he also missed the chance to know the true meaning of Christmas. So during this busy week before Christmas, don’t be like the innkeeper…don’t allow stress and pressure to take away the joy of the coming birth of Jesus.

On this Christmas week, we again look at another person within the birth of Jesus and the very personal struggles he went through. Have you ever been betrayed and humiliated by another person you loved and trusted? Then you know how Joseph felt when he discovered his soon-to-be wife was pregnant…and not by him. Joseph was this kindly, simple carpenter from Nazareth…a very conscientious Jew who adhered faithfully to the Law, where an engagement between two people was nearly as binding as marriage itself. But even though he was completely and utterly crushed by her pregnancy, he still loved Mary and wanted to spare her the indignities required by the Law, even though he had every right…for no self-respecting Jewish man would allow such a disgrace befall him. So he had in mind to quietly divorce Mary in attempt to lessen the gossip of her infidelity. We can only imagine what Joseph went through…all the emotions churning within him, from disbelief, anger, sadness, and depression, that someone he truly loved and cherished could do something like this to him. But it wasn’t until he learned in a dream the truly Divine origin of this unborn child did Joseph immediately trust God’s promise and take Mary as his wife.

This week coming up to Christmas I want to look at the familiar faces of the Christmas story in the Bible but in a more personal way. None of the cast of characters were super Christians, rather they were struggling Believers just like you and me. Today we’ll look at Zechariah and Mary. Both were visited by God’s angelic messenger, Gabriel, both were promised a son in what most of us would consider impossible situations. But we see here where Zechariah was skeptical and full of doubt and disbelief. Whereas when Mary was told the same thing, she was confused, but not unbelieving. (Luke 1:34) Also, as a Priest, Zechariah should of remembered the prophecy of Malachi that foretold of the coming “Elijah” – a clear reference to this promised son, John the Baptist, coming in the spirit and power of Elijah. (Luke 1:17) Contrast this to a young, uneducated peasant girl who took Gabriel at his word and accepted the impossible as possible. Everyday we have the same choices to make…”Do I trust God or not?” We can be like Zechariah and walk in doubt, or be like Mary and walk in assurance that whatever God is wanting for us is His very best.

Maybe you’ve seen them, maybe you’ve even wore one at some time…it was those wrist bands popular back in the early 90’s with W.W.J.D. printed on them. The acronym stood for “What Would Jesus Do?” and they were to be a reminder to act in a way that personified Jesus Christ. But I would challenge you today to take it a step farther and ask yourself this question…Am I glorifying God? Where the wrist bands were meant to make us think before we spoke in situations…the deeper question of “Am I glorifying God?” goes to the very core of our relationship with Him. In other words, in everything I do, say, and react, am I bringing honor to His Name? The gist of this summed up for us in the Scripture here where the word glorify is used five times, showing us the revelation of God’s glory through Christ, and in the process, Jesus being glorified by His obedience to the Cross.