Category: Daily Prayer

Our scripture this morning is Galatians 4:4-6 (RSV).

But when the time had fully come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!”

I must admit, this was not the scripture I was expecting from the Bible app this morning. We have read of the Annunciation to Mary and her visit to Elizabeth, Joseph’s visit from the angel, and we read the story of Jesus’ birth from Luke 2 at church last night, so I’m not sure what I expected.

Maybe that’s what God is trying to tell me. No one expected the Messiah to come in the way He did. If you asked anyone from that time what they expected they would likely respond “I don’t know, but it wasn’t this.” God worked in a marvelous way to send His son to us, first as one who needed love and care, who would grow into the One who would love and care for us in ways we never expected.

As we complete the time of expecting and live into the now of Christ with us, may we continue to learn from Him and grow into the children of God we are all blessed to be. This morning let us cry “Abba! Father!” with all of creation, greeting Christ our brother with joy, and going to share the love He brings with everyone.

Heavenly Father, in Your mercy You sent Jesus to save us from our sin. Forgive us and send us to share the joy of His coming to all Your children. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Luke 2:13-14 (RSV).

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom he is pleased!”

It must have been an amazing event. Can you imagine the shepherds surprise and awe as the usually dark and quiet evening bursts with light and song from the sky? They heard a phrase from scripture that the prophet Isaiah attributed to the Heavenly Host some six hundred years prior: “And one called to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory”” (Isaiah 6:3).

The angels sing of “peace among men”, a total well being, not simply an absence of hostilities, as the Filament Bible Commentary puts it. The people of that time lived under what is known as the Pax Romana – peace enforced by military might, the will of the Roman Empire administered through armed coercion.

God’s eternal gift is for us to accept, not pushed on us by superior force. Peace with Him is achieved through repentance for our sins and faith in His son who came to save us. We must choose to ask Him for forgiveness and willingly go in the name of Jesus Christ to share His love with the world. This is the way for us to please Him. Glory to God!

Heavenly Father, You love us so much that You were willing to do for us what the world can never do – forgive our sins and make us part of Your kingdom work. May we offer our praise and our energy that Your peace may come on earth. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Luke 2:9-11 (RSV).

And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. And the angel said to them, “Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all the people; for to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”

I don’t think I’m alone in pondering “how would I have reacted if I had been with the shepherds that night?” I ask this about many scripture lessons – Peter, John and James seeing Christ in all His glory (Matthew 17:1-6), the disciples seeing the risen Christ (Luke 24:36-53) or Paul’s encounter with Jesus on the Damascus Road (Acts 9:1-19).

We need to remember that the miracle here is not in the appearance but in the message, God continually reaching out for us. Peter, John and James heard God tell them Jesus was His Son. The gathered disciples heard Jesus say they were His witnesses. Paul heard Jesus ask “why are you persecuting me?” In each case, while the message was personal, it was intended for all persons everywhere.

In this passage the angel says “for to you”, individually and personally, but also says “to all the people” – everyone, everywhere, for all time. Jesus came for anyone who repents and accepts Him as their Savior, and no matter how we receive it, this message is the most important thing we will ever hear.

Loving Lord, we are amazed at what You have done for us and what You call us to do in Your kingdom. Bless us to bring the Good News to the world. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Luke 2:6-7 (RSV).

And while they were there, the time came for her to be delivered. And she gave birth to her first-born son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

Mary and Joseph were already overwhelmed with the news that they were to be the earthly parents of the Messiah. Throw in a government order that requires them to travel four days from Nazareth to Bethlehem. Of course the baby comes while all this is happening.

Part of me asks “really, Lord? Couldn’t it have waited until things were calmer, perhaps a little less travel and a little more comfort?” God’s answer and God’s timing are always perfect, although we may not see or understand. Like this young couple, our blessings may not always seem to be wonderful gifts at first.

God works in and through every situation we face. This passage shares the greatest testimony that God loves us and is with us, now in the form of a human baby. God nurtures us in faith just as Mary and Joseph nurtured the Christ Child. We are called to remember this and to continue to nurture one another, sharing the love and care He first showed us.

Heavenly Father, forgive our doubts and fears, and help us to see through our human circumstances to the promise You have for all Your children. Bless us to go in Your name to care for each other as Jesus taught us. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Matthew 1:20-21 (RSV).

But as he considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit; she will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”

I feel that Joseph sometimes gets a bad rap in the Gospels for thinking of divorcing Mary. We know the real story now, but at this point Joseph doesn’t. In all the previous history of the world, there has only been one way to have a child. Can you imagine how he feels? This is not only embarrassing but unbelievable.

A census has been ordered for tax purposes and since he and Mary are legally connected by betrothal, although not legally married, he must take her with him on the trip to Bethlehem. Wouldn’t it just be easier to end it now? How will this look in their community if he doesn’t?

Earlier in this chapter we read “and her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly” (Matthew 1:19). He wasn’t trying to hurt Mary but he was also hurt and confused. However, after he is notified by the angel as Mary was, he too says “yes” to God’s plan for us. God often works in ways we don’t understand, but if we listen with faithful hearts, we can know His will for us.

Gracious God, we are amazed by the things You do for us, even in our fallen state. Forgive us and bless us to be energetic disciples, sharing Your love with the world. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Luke 1:45-47 (RSV).

“And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfilment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.” And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,”

“The Magnificat”, Mary’s song which glorifies the Lord, is one of the most beautiful expressions of praise ever recorded. I encourage you to read all of Luke 1 in order to appreciate the magnitude of what happens in this chapter, but especially verses 46-55. God continues His plan of salvation by sending His Son to live as one of us and teach us His love.

Other examples of individual songs of praise in scripture are Hannah’s Song (1 Samuel 2:1-10), Zechariah’s Prophecy (Luke 1:68-79) and Simeon blessing the Christ Child (Luke 2:29-32). In each case people were filled with the Holy Spirit and offered God praise and thanks for His gifts to us. They saw how God was active in His creation and were moved to worship Him.

Sadly, our reactions to God’s blessings often seem nothing like these. We may not even recognize what we have been given through His love in everyday situations, but God continues to act in our lives, just as He has always done. May we be filled in the same way as we await the coming of our Lord.

Heavenly Father, we are sorry for our lack of awareness of what You do for us on a daily basis. Help us to see the joy of living as Jesus taught us and send us to share that blessing with all Your children. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Luke 1:35 (RSV).

And the angel said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God.”

There are several instances of angels appearing to people in scripture, but the interaction between Mary and Gabriel is especially poignant and a valuable lesson for us all. It would be more than most of us could handle, but Mary, even at her young age, is not only composed but asks an intelligent question: “How can this be?”

We need to learn from Mary’s example that it is alright to have reservations or concerns about what God asks of us. Sometimes God calls us to amazing tasks, like sharing the Good News of His kingdom with the world. He chose Mary for an especially difficult mission: to be the mother of Jesus.

What questions would we have had as the earthly parents of God’s own Son? Surely there would be concerns over the community response to this event, an unmarried couple with a child was not the normal sequence of events. However, Mary is the perfect example of discipleship, answering Gabriel “I am the Lord’s servant; let it be as you have said.” May we have the faith and courage to answer Him in the same way.

Loving Lord, we are sorry for the times we are afraid to say yes to Your call on our lives. Forgive us and send us to bring Your light and love to everyone. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Isaiah 9:6-7 (RSV).

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government will be upon his shoulder, and his name will be called “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David, and over his kingdom, to establish it, and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and for evermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

The prophet Isaiah gives an amazing description of the child who is born to save us. He shares the promise God has made for justice and righteousness. Later, he tells us the price to be paid for our salvation: “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that made us whole, and with his stripes we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5).

Jesus knew from the beginning what He was born to do, later confirmed by God Himself saying “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17). He was completely faithful in His mission to bring us the Good News, preaching “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 4:17).

The apostle Paul writes of Jesus “For in him all the fulness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross” (Colossians 1:19-20). Jesus gave Himself up for us, we have been bought with a price (1 Corinthians 6:20) and it is a debt we can never repay.

Loving Lord, we are ashamed of the times we have gone astray, ignoring Your word and not loving one another as You taught. Forgive us and send us in Your name that all the world may know the joy of salvation in You. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Micah 5:2 (RSV).

But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose origin is from of old, from ancient days.

This passage, repeated in Matthew 2:6, indicates how God’s plan for salvation is to be put into action. It is God’s promise to His people that though they have turned from Him they are not forgotten. He will act, in His time and in a way that no one expects.

Throughout history God has consistently chosen the underdog, the one overlooked by the world because of their status or origin. God doesn’t consider these things when He chooses someone as His representative. In 1 Samuel 16:7 we read “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for the Lord sees not as man sees; man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”

We need to see ourselves in this choosing of the unexpected. God has a plan for each one of us and calls us to be part of the work to accomplish it. We must realize that this work doesn’t earn us a place in eternity, but rather is our response to the greatest gift ever given – Jesus Christ, our Savior.

Heavenly Father, we don’t always see things the way You do. Help us to look at each other with Your love, recognizing our differences but knowing in Your eyes we are all Your beloved children. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Isaiah 7:14 (RSV).

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, a young woman shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanu-el.

The prophet Isaiah offered these words some 600 years before the birth of Jesus. In Isaiah we find many references pointing to Christ’s coming. Passages from Isaiah are quoted frequently in the New Testament, as this is in Matthew 1:23: “Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and his name shall be called Emmanu-el (which means, God with us).”

One reference that points to Jesus bringing us the Good News is found in Isaiah 61:1 “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good tidings to the afflicted; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives.” This is the scripture Jesus reads in the Temple in Luke 4:14-21, and He says to the people “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” 

God has told us of His plan for our salvation throughout history. The academic analysis is interesting, but more important is our faith in His promise to us. God wants us to know His love, shown by the gift and example of our Savior and spread the Good News everywhere.

Loving Lord, we are amazed at what You are willing to do to save us from our sin. Bless us to accept the love You send and share it with all our brothers and sisters. Amen.