Christian Reflection and Prayer

By Rev. Wayne Palmer

TEXT: "And at the end of eight days...He was called
Jesus." (Luke 2:21)

New Year's Eve was exciting when I was a kid. We
say goodbye to the old and ring in the new. With each
New Year came all kinds of exciting opportunities,
hopes and dreams.

Jesus has now reached the age of eight days and
something new is about to happen. Every Israelite boy
who reached the age of eight days was required to be
circumcised and receive his name. As we saw earlier
in the naming of Zechariah and Elizabeth's son John,
names were important to the people of Israel.

Mary and Joseph have already been told the Name that
God has given for His Son. So in obedience they gave
Mary's Child the Name of Jesus. It was a common name
at the time. It means "The Lord is salvation" or "The Lord
saves." In the Old Testament the names Joshua and
Hosea are variants of the name Jesus. Every other
Israelite boy carrying this name in effect reminded people
to turn their attention to God, who is their salvation.

In the case of Mary's Son it was completely different,
however. In His case the Name pointed to Himself as
Lord-the One who is now present to save His people from
their sins. Many years from now His enemies will hurl His
Name back at Him in mockery, as He hangs on the cross:
"He saved others; He cannot save Himself. He trusts in
God, let God deliver Him now, if He desires Him. For He
said, 'I am the Son of God'" (Matthew 27:42-43).

But there on the cross Jesus was fulfilling His Name-the
Lord saving His people from death and hell by suffering for
their sins.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, You truly are the Lord who saves His people.
Receive our thanks for being the Savior Your name said
You would be. Amen.

(Lutheran Hour Ministries)

By Rev. Wayne Palmer

Read Luke 2:11-12

TEXT: "Unto you is born this day in the city
of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord."

I remember being devastated one year when
mom and dad took down our Christmas tree
early. They said it had gotten too dry, but I
never saw any danger. Years later our youth
group had a Christmas tree bonfire. In seconds
the tree exploded into flames, lighting up the
entire field. We all were forced to step back
from the intense heat. In that moment I realized
what great danger we had been in, and how
mom and dad had saved us.

If the shepherds were anything like most people,
they felt no danger sitting out in the fields that
Christmas night. Then in an instant the angel
appeared, and the glory of the Lord shone around
them. In that horrifying moment they saw the
darkness of their sinful lives in the holy light of
God, and they were gripped with terror of His wrath.

Each of us will experience that moment someday-
either at our death or at Christ's return. We will be
immersed in the bright light of God's glory, as we
stand before Him for judgment. God will not weigh
out your good deeds versus your bad deeds, or
compare you to other people. Instead, He will look
deep into your thoughts, desires and attitudes. If
you committed one sin, one single wrongdoing at
any time during your life, you will stand condemned.

But that is why Jesus came as our Savior. He took
every sin to the cross, where He suffered God's fiery
wrath in our place. When we trust Jesus as our Savior,
all our sins are taken away, and we can be confident
we will be able to stand spotless before His judgment
seat.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, thank You for taking my place and
suffering for my sins. Guide me to show others why
they need Your salvation too. Amen.

(Lutheran Hour Ministries)

By Rev. Wayne Palmer

Read Luke 2:10

TEXT: "And the angel said to them, 'Fear not,
for behold, I bring you good news of great joy.'"



The days before Christmas were anxious times
of worry for me. What if I ended up with a stocking
full of coal? And of course there was always the
dreaded children's Christmas program! But the
days after Christmas were simply glorious: playing
with our Christmas toys, listening to Christmas
music, eating Christmas cookies. Life was good!

When the shepherds first saw the brightness of the
angel, and the surpassing brightness of God's own
glory, they were gripped with fear. But as the angel
announced the birth of God's Son, their great fear
gave way to greater joy. Life was good!

Life was really good for our first parents Adam and
Eve. God created them perfect and good. They knew
God loved them, and they knew they could depend
on Him to faithfully provide all their needs. Fear didn't
enter the picture until they disobeyed His command
and ate the forbidden fruit. At that moment, their
perfect knowledge of God was replaced with fear and
dread of His wrath and punishment.

We still live under that fear too. It's a fear that comes
from not knowing God perfectly or trusting Him
completely. When times are bad, when troubles come
upon us we find it difficult to lean completely in His
hands. But that's why Jesus came, to take our guilt
upon Himself and pay the penalty for our sins, in His
suffering and death on the cross. With all sins removed
and death completely conquered in Jesus' death and
resurrection, there is nothing left to fear. Life is good
indeed!


Prayer:

Heavenly Father, we rejoice that You sent Your Son to
remove our fear by taking upon Himself the punishment
we deserve. Let the peace of Christ rule in our hearts
forever. In Jesus' name, Amen.

(Lutheran Hour Ministries)