Christian Reflection and Prayer

(Day 19 of Advent)

Scripture:

Read John 1:19-34. There was a man sent from
God, whose name was John. He came as a witness,
to bear witness about the light, that all might believe
through him. He was not the light, but came to bear
witness about the light (John 1:6-8).

What is the most spectacular holiday display in your
area? How did you first find out about it? Unless it
happens to be your or your neighbor's house, or is
somewhere along the way to work, church or school,
somebody must have pointed it out to you. No matter
how bright this display is, we can pass within a block
or two of it without ever noticing it's there.

The same is true of the Child of Christmas. God's
mighty Son, the Light of the world, was lying in a
manger in Bethlehem, but none of the neighbors knew
a thing about it, that is, until some shepherds started
spreading the word that an angel had visited them and
announced His birth. The wise men never would have
started their long journey to Bethlehem to worship Him
unless the light of the Christmas star led them to Him.

That's why we need the witness of John the Baptist,
so we can know that the Baby of Christmas, the Child
in the manger, is God's promised Savior. John's voice
still cries out today, calling us to turn from our
destructive life of selfish preoccupation, so Jesus can
be born in our hearts. Now God sends us as witnesses
to tell our family, friends, neighbors and co-workers
about the most spectacular Light this world has ever
seen.

THE PRAYER:

Heavenly Father, thank You for sending witnesses like
John the Baptist to lead me to the brightness of Your
mighty Son. Empower me to be a witness, leading my
friends, family and neighbors to the wondrous Child of
Bethlehem. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

(Lutheran Hour Ministries)

(Day 18 of Advent)

Scripture:

Read Isaiah 9:1-7. For to us a Child is born, to us
a Son is given; and the government shall be upon His
shoulder, and His Name shall be called Wonderful
Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of
Peace (Isaiah 9:6).

At the very beginning of the Old Testament, the Word
of God was there with the Father and Holy Spirit,
creating all things. As we have seen, all through the
history of the Old Testament God's promise to send
His Son was repeated and revealed ever more clearly
from generation to generation. Today we pause at one
last Old Testament promise before returning to John's
account of the first Christmas.

King Ahaz did not trust God's promise to deliver Judah
from Israel and Syria, but God was faithful. He handed
those two nations over to the dreaded Assyrian Empire.
The northern kingdom of Israel was hauled off into
captivity and dispersed throughout the Assyrian Empire.
It was a time of great anguish for believers who lived in
Israel.

But God speaks to these believers through His prophet
Isaiah. He singles out two of the northernmost tribes of
Israel-Zebulun and Naphtali-and promises, "The people
who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those
who dwell in a land of deep darkness, on them has light
shined. ... For to us a Child is born" (see Isaiah 9:1-7).

As we return to the Gospel of John, we note a young
virgin living in the northern region of Galilee in a town
called Nazareth. This virgin will miraculously conceive a
child and travel south to the city of David in the land of
Judah. And on a very special night the Virgin Mary will
give birth to her firstborn Son and lay Him in a manger.

THE PRAYER: 

Holy Father, thank You for sending Jesus and fulfilling
Your many promises throughout the Old Testament.
Give me faith that You will keep all Your other promises
as well. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

(Lutheran Hour Ministries)

(Day 17 of Advent)

Scripture:

Read Isaiah 7:1-14.  The Lord Himself will give you
a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a
Son (see Isaiah 7:14).

By the Holy Spirit, King David was a strong man of
faith. Sadly, not all his descendants were. After David's
son Solomon turned from the Lord to worship the false
gods of his many wives, the Lord divided Israel into two
kingdoms. David's descendants ruled the smaller
kingdom called Judah. The other ten tribes formed the
northern kingdom called Israel.

More than a dozen generations after King David, a
descendant named Ahaz ruled Judah. But he found
himself threatened by an alliance of the kings of Israel
and Syria. Ahaz was terrified. God sent the prophet
Isaiah to calm the king and assure him the kings of
Israel and Syria would fail.

In order to strengthen his faith and confidence God
promised to perform any miracle Ahaz chose. But
unbelieving Ahaz dismissed God's offer, already
determined to seek help from another country. So
God Himself chose the sign. It was actually two signs:
the first would be the defeat of the two kings in the
time it took a woman to conceive, bear and wean a
child. Indeed, in that short time Ahaz watched the
kingdom of Assyria sweep through and conquer both
Israel and Syria.

But Ahaz did not live to see the second sign. It is
the one you and I celebrate every Christmas. By the
power of the Holy Spirit, the Virgin Mary conceived
and bore a son-God's own Son Jesus Christ. He
delivered us from a calamity far greater than enemy
nations. Jesus conquered Satan, sin, death and hell
to give us perfect peace and joy forever.

THE PRAYER:

Holy Father, thank You for foretelling the miraculous
conception of Your Son Jesus of the Virgin Mary.
Give me confidence that because Jesus Christ is
both God and Man, He is our Lord and Savior. In J
esus' Name. Amen.

(Lutheran Hour Ministries)