Week Fifty-two – Verse by Verse Devotional Series – Christmas Prophesies Fulfilled – Luke 2: 29, 30

Note: In the previous lessons we saw “Old Testament Messianic Prophesies” that looked forward to the coming of the Christ child.  This week we pause to look at the fulfillment of a promise in a lifetime.  An old worshiper of God is promised to see the hope of Israel, and he does.

Adult PM Bible Study – D – O – V – E – S – Luke 2: 22 – 35

D – Dedication v. 22 Jesus was born in a law keeping family.  These simple acts of obedience are important to God and to God’s plan.  We should listen to God’s commands.

O – Offering vs. 23 – 24 The law says that after 33 days a woman giving birth to a male is to make an offering and a dedication at the temple.  Joseph and Mary were traveling to Jerusalem to obey the law.  We note they were offering doves and not a sheep.  Why?  They still lived in poverty.  Not until the arrival of the Magi would this change.

V – Virgin vs. 25 -27 Proud parents including joyful Mary went with the precious baby to the temple to dedicate him.  The faithfulness and obedience of Mary and Joseph were just beginning.  Christmas is time to begin a life of dedication and not a time to call it a done deal.

E – Encounter vs. 28-32 Simon encounters the parents and the parents encounter Simon and hear of his promise fulfilled.  Simon held the infant just as we hold infants in a gentle and loving embrace.  What he saw in the face of Jesus was the miracle, the fulfillment.  We need to look into that face and find the hope that God give.  Look deeply into Jesus’ face, into his eyes.

S – Sign and sword v. 33 – 35 Yes Jesus fulfilled a promise made to a godly man, Simon.  And Simon foretold that Jesus would be a sign, but he also foretold of the sword of painful sacrifice.  All who love God understand that the sacrifice of Jeus brought pain and sorrow when he was crucified.  Thank God that he lives again.

Exemplary story:  Once mourning doves built a nest in the crepe myrtle outside my door.  I was able to observe the devotion of the pair to one another and the young.  I was able to hear their gentle cooing and to see their care for the young.  The sacrifice of the poor Mary and Joseph was turtle doves in keeping the law.  They were the caring parents for Jesus.  We should care for the Christ in our hearts and homes.

Sunday

Luke 2: 22, 23 When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn make is to be consecrated to the Lord.”)

Prayer:  Almighty God, our Heavenly Father, we give thanks for a law and a Gospel to guide us in pleasing you.

Thought for the day:  Little acts of obedience are important in God’s great plan.

Monday

Luke 2: 24, 25 And to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is aid in the Law of the Lord: “a pair of doves or two young pigeons.”  Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout.  He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy spirit was on him.

Prayer:  Lord Jesus, Son of God, this day we wait for the consolation of the Gospel that would save the world.

Thought for the day:  We can turn our trivial waiting into godly waiting, when our hearts are focused on God.

Tuesday

Luke 2: 26, 27 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah.  Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts.  When the parents brought the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the law required.

Prayer:  Lord God, when we listen to you in earnest, your reveal your marvelous will to us.

Thought for the day:  Today take time to stop and listen to God.

Wednesday

Luke 2: 28, 29 Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace.

Prayer:  Almighty God, you are a promise keeper and in your time, you never fail to keep your word.

Thought for the day: When one worships God, one is in the right place at the right time.

Thursday

Luke 2: 30, 31 For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of the nations;

Prayer:  Lord Jesus, you always were and always will be the hope of all peoples of the world.

Thought for the day:  God’s salvation is never a selfish salvation.

Friday

Luke 2: 32, 33 A light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.   The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him.

Prayer:  Lord Jesus, we who have faith rejoice at the mysteries and wonders you reveal in faith.

Thought for the day:  The life of faith is a life of wonder and confirmation.

Saturday

Luke 2: 34, 35 Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother; “this child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed.  And a sword will pierce your own soul too.

Prayer:  Almighty God, you loved us in Christ Jesus with a love that gave all.

Thought for the day:  We find the true joy of Christmas, when we understand God’s love is a sacrificial love.

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Week Fifty-one – Verse by Verse Devotional Series – Old Testament Prophesies of the Messiah – Micah 5: 2, 3

Note:  Last week we focused upon the humanity of Jesus.  Many are the prophetic verses that refer to the divinity of the Messiah.  We study one today, when we look at the Bethlehem prophesy. Jesus was flesh, and Jesus was divine.  This prophesy speaks of his eternity that is evidence of his divinity.

Adult PM Bible Study – E – Q – U – A – L – Micah 5: 1-9

See: Job 11: 7; Psalm 90:2; Deuteronomy 33: 27; John 5: 17, 18; Philippians 2: 6, 7; Colossians 1: 15

E – Eternal in Ephrath v. 2 God would send the Eternal Son to Bethlehem in Ephrath.

Q – Qualification v. 3, 4 This was one of the house of David.  This was one whose strength superior.  This was the Christ.

U – Unmatched greatness – None could match the greatness of the one to come from Bethlehem. There is only one that fits that description.  Jesus.

A – Armament against Assyria – In Micah’s day the great power to be feared was Assyria.  In every generation there is some fearsome power that threatens society.  This was no match for the one who was to come.  As the prophet looks forward, he sees one who conquers all at the end of time.

L – Lionized leader v. 8, 9 The prophesied leader would be like the lion who was king of the jungle.  Those who challenged him would fall. This is the message of Revelation that Jesus shall at the end of times triumph as Lord of all.

Exemplary story:  King Herod and the Jewish leaders had a puzzle before them.  Where would the king be born?  The prophesies said Bethlehem.  They did not say he lived there.  Indeed, it was a census that brought the holy family to Bethlehem at the time Mary was to give birth.  All the pieces of the prophetic puzzle fit for those who were wise enough to believe as did the wise men from the East.  Are we wise enough to believe in the Christmas child who became the savior of humanity?

Sunday

Mican 5: 1, 2 Marshal your troops, O city of troops, for a siege is laid against us.  They will strike Israel’s ruler on the cheek with a rod. “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out f you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.”

Prayer:  Almighty God, our Heavenly Father, we give thanks that you chose a humble stable to be the place for Jesus’ birth.

Thought for the day:  Jesus was born and lived where the common folk were born and lived.

Monday

Micah 5: 3 Therefore Israel will be abandoned until the time when she who is in labor gives birth and the rest of his brothers return to join the Israelites.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, may we always be mindful of the fact that you have never abandoned us.

Thought for the day:  Finding our place in God’s plan is a great and spiritual undertaking.

 Tuesday

Micah 5:4 He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord His God.  And they will live securely, for then his greatness will reach to the ends of the earth.

Prayer:  Lord Jesus, you are our shepherd, and you lead us to green pastures and beside still waters.

Thought for the day:  The better the shepherd, the more the sheep can live at ease.

Wednesday

Micah 5:5 And he will be their peace.  When the Assyrians invades our land and marches through our fortresses, we will raise against him seven shepherds, even eight leaders of men.

Prayer:  Lord God, we give humble thanks that you offer a peace the world didn’t give and cannot take away.

Thought for the day:  A heavenly cease-fire is a permanent cease-fire.

Thursday

Micah 5: 6 they will rule the land of Assyria with the sword, the land of Nimrod with drawn sword.  He will deliver us from the Assyrian when he invades our land and marches into our borders.

Prayer: Lord God, your prophets foresaw a day when the powers of the world would cease to trouble God’s children.

Thought for the day:  There is only one kingdom that will last forever, God’s kingdom.

Friday

Micah 5: 7, 8 The remnant of Jacob will be in the midst of many peoples like dew from the Lord, like showers on the grass, which do not wait for man or linger for mankind.  The remnant of Jacob will be among the nations, in the midst of many peoples, like a lion among the beasts of the forest, like a young lion among flocks of sheep, which mauls and mangles as it goes, and no one can rescue.

Prayer:  Merciful God, even our imagination fails to see all the blessings you have prepared for our children.

Thought for the day:  The wise heed the warnings to respect high voltage lines.

Saturday

Micah 5: 9 Your had will be lifted up in triumph over your enemies and all your foes will be destroyed.

Prayer:  Almighty God, in worship of you all creatures find their identity.

Thought for the day:  As it was in the beginning, it shall ever be that God is Lord of all.

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Advent Attitude – A Communion Meditation – I Corinthians 11: 23 -26

Every Communion is an Advent celebration.

Advent is a promise — someone is coming. The guest is coming, the promise will be kept. To us falls the task of preparing for the coming guest.

There is an outward preparation for a coming guest and an inward preparation for a coming guest.

We all know that in tasks as simple as table setting or preparing a dish of food for a meal the attitude seasons the task. If we have a spirit of joy or of resentment it filters into the meal that will follow.

For all who share Communion during Advent season we have the task of preparing outwardly and inwardly. If we prepare for the coming of Christ Jesus with joy, the time of communion is sure to be a time of blessing for all.

I Corinthians 11: 23-26 says:

For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “this is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “this cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, Son of God, with humble thanksgiving and joy we come to a table of remembrance. We humbly remember that you gave yourself bodily to serve. With joy and sorrow we remember that you offered your blood on Calvary as the sacrifice to save the world. Thanks unto God. Amen.

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