Christian Reflection and Prayer

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that
all the world should be registered (Luke 2:1).
Read Luke 2:1-5.

 

Every year I take my family across three states to spend
Christmas with my brothers and their families in Ohio. It's a
long trip, but we thoroughly enjoy it, reaching our
destination the same day. My father once told me of a
Christmas he spent traveling by train from California to
Ohio on leave from the Navy.

 

As we remember the birth of God's Son, we recall another
long and difficult Christmas journey. That journey was set
in motion by a command from the Roman emperor. But
standing behind the mightiest man in the world -- Caesar
Augustus -- stood God, the ultimate Ruler, moving His
Son's chosen mother to the exact place were long ago He
had announced His Son would be born. In Micah 5:2 we
read, "But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little
to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth
for Me One who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth
is from of old, from ancient days."

 

In another 30 years a Roman military governor will pass a
judgment of his own, commanding this same Jesus to
carry His cross on a journey to Mt. Calvary to be crucified.
God stood behind that decision too, laying our guilt and
sins on His own Son, who made that most difficult of
journeys so that we could be forgiven and live with Him
forever.

 

THE PRAYER:

 

Lord Jesus, thank You for taking up Your cross and
making that long journey to Mt. Calvary, where You set
me free from sin, guilt, death and hell. Fill me with joy
and patience no matter where I may travel this
Christmastime. Amen.

(Advent Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries)

And the child grew and became strong in spirit
(Luke 1:80a).

 

It's fun to look through our family photo albums.
Christmas after Christmas each of us grows taller.
Before too long girlfriends start showing up, and
then wives, and children of our own. Now the father
of a teenager myself, it's fun to sit down and watch
videos of past Christmases and see my son
growing into a young man-strong in body, mind and
spirit.

 

Luke concludes the account of John's birth with
an interesting footnote and a reminder: John "grew
and became strong in spirit, and he was in the
wilderness until the day of his public appearance to
Israel." Since Zechariah and Elizabeth were both a
dvanced in years before John was conceived, it is
quite possible neither of them lived long enough to
see him grow to adulthood. When John was grown
he lived in the wilderness, awaiting the moment the
Spirit of God would stir him to begin his work,
preparing the people of Israel for their Savior.

John wasn't born to remain a little baby and neither
was Jesus. As Christmas Day draws near we take
a moment to look back into the photo album of our
human family. When we do we see our Brother Jesus
on the day of His birth. But Jesus didn't stay that little
Baby in the manger; He grew to be a remarkable man
whose story will unfold more clearly and completely in
the accounts of His adult life. This we will see in the
upcoming Lenten devotions, especially His death and
resurrection that set us free.

 

In the meantime, as our Christmas devotions continue,
we rejoin Mary and remember the birth of her special
Baby Jesus

 

THE PRAYER:

 

Heavenly Father, thank You for sending Your Son to
save us. Open my mind to watch Jesus grow from that
tiny Baby to be my powerful Savior and Lord. In Jesus'
Name. Amen.

Verse

For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat,
I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I
was a stranger and you did not invite me in ... I
was sick and in prison and you did not look after
me.      - Matthew 25:42-43

 

Voice

 

you have to understand,
no one puts their children in a boat
unless the water is safer than the land.
- Warsan Shire

 

Prayer

 

Lord, be with the citizens of Aleppo as they
mourn, seek shelter, and pray for peace.
Teach us how to share their burden of sorrow
and address their pain.

 

(Sojourners,   sojo.net)