Christian Reflection and Prayer

10 Resolutions for 2015

1.     Love God.
2.     Extend who our neighbors are; whom we are also called to love.
3.     Love hardest those who are the closest.
4.     Build racial bridges
5.     Always Ask, “What does this mean for the poor and vulnerable
6.     Support and empower women and girls.
7.     Stand up for the reality of climate change
8.     Question every act of war..
9.     Practice presence
10.   Embrace hope and joy

Jim Wallis

"The First Shed Blood"

Advent

Read Luke 2:21.
And at the end of eight days ... He was circumcised.
Luke 2:21A

Today is the eighth day of Christmas. It's the day a Jewish
boy was circumcised. This marked him as a child of the
covenant God gave Abraham. As Jesus undertook
circumcision, He assumed His place as a child of Abraham.
Being placed under the Law He would live His life fulfilling the
Law perfectly for us.

That's all fine and good, but what does Jesus' circumcision
have to do with our New Year's Day celebration today?

Well, one of our New Year's Day customs is to make
resolutions: these are bad habits we will attempt to break, or
good habits we will attempt to put into place in the coming
year. Perhaps resolution-making is one of your New Year's
Day traditions.

Broken New Year's resolutions are pretty common for us.
They are a symbol of our brokenness as sinful creatures.
They also remind us how impossible it is to save ourselves
from our sins. That is why Jesus' circumcision resolution
meant everything. If He had broken this resolution the way
we break New Year's resolutions, we would all be doomed to
God's terrible and eternal wrath. The good news is that Jesus
did not break this resolution. Rather, He kept it perfectly all
 through His life, obeying God in our place.

Jesus even kept His resolution when it hurt. He resolved to
go up to Jerusalem when He knew the Jewish leaders were
seeking His life. He showed that resolve in the Garden of
Gethsemane when He prayed, "My Father, if it be possible,
let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless not as I will, but as
You will" (Matthew 26:39b). And He showed this same resolve
again when He stepped forward in the garden to meet those
who had come to arrest Him (John 18:4-11).

Because of Jesus' resolution and His perfect fulfillment of that
resolution through His suffering, death, and resurrection, our
2015 is truly new. We live under God's forgiveness and blessing
and will inherit eternal life when our earthly journey is finished.
This is true whether our Lord returns in the coming year or in
another sometime in the future.

THE PRAYER:

 Lord God, give me the resolve to honor Your Name, to study
Your Word, to gather in Your Church, and to share with others
Your amazing grace. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

(Lutheran Hour Ministries)

Advent Devotions

Read Matthew 1:18-25.
She will bear a Son, and you shall call His Name Jesus, for
He will save His people from their sins. Matthew 1:21

Today we jump back a few weeks before Mary and Joseph
brought Jesus to the temple for His presentation. We look at
Jesus' eighth day when He was circumcised and named. We
will speak of the significance of His circumcision in tomorrow's
devotion, but today we speak of the importance of His Name.
Does a name mean much to you? To the people of Israel and
to God a name was extremely important. Each name carried
its own meaning and became an integral part of that child's life,
often describing the character of that child. An Israelite boy's
name was very significant, and it was usually given on the
eighth day when he was circumcised.

So on the eighth day when the Christ Child was circumcised,
He was given the name Jesus, just as the angel had instructed
Joseph and Mary.

What a deep and profound Name! Jesus means "The LORD
saves." It describes the purpose for which He descended from
heaven and became human. As the angel told Joseph, Jesus
would save His people from their sins. His Name perfectly fits
who He was and that which He had come to do for us all. As
we close out the year 2014, it is fitting to look back on the last
365 days and take account of our lives. What great things has
God done for you or through you in this year? Give Him praise.

On the other hand, what regrets do you have? What problems
in your life are the still strong echoes of sinful and foolish
choices you have made? At the beginning of this coming New
Year we all want to wipe the slate clean and start 2015 with a
fresh start. But neither regret nor resolution can wipe our slate
clean. Only Jesus can do that.

This is why many churches open their doors this night to hold
New Year's Eve services -- often with Holy Communion. As we
receive the very same body and blood which Jesus took on
Himself at His conception, the same body which was laid in the
manger at His birth, the same blood which was poured out for us
on the cross, our sins are taken away, our slate is washed clean,
and we are at peace with God our Father. That peace is not only
for day one of 2015, but for every day that remains in this life and
for all eternity.

THE PRAYER:

 Lord God, thank You for a clean slate, washed clean by the
blood of Jesus Christ. Renew us this New Year's Eve so that we
may dedicate the coming year to living for Your glory and sharing
the Name of Jesus throughout the world. We pray in His holy
Name. Amen.

(Lutheran Hour Ministries)