Deuteronomy 18:9-18 A prophet like Moses

Thoughts: As we think about the baby born in the manger it is helpful to remember that Jesus is not only a king like David; He is also a teacher like Moses. That’s why Moses told the Israelites that the Messiah would be “a prophet like me” (Deut. 18:15,18). Jesus is like Moses in many ways, even in the way they were born. Moses was born into danger because the Egyptian Pharaoh had issued an order that all newborn Hebrew boys were to be thrown into the Nile river. Moses’ mother hid him for his first three months, but when he became too big to keep hidden, she put him in a basket and let him float among the reeds. Technically she had obeyed the law by putting her son in the river. As you may remember, baby Moses was rescued by the Pharaoh’s daughter and raised in the Egyptian palace (Ex. 2:1-10). He was protected by God in the very centre of Egyptian power. Jesus was also born to danger. King Herod tried to take his life because he feared Jesus might take away his throne. Funny enough, following God’s guidance, Jesus’ parents took Him to Egypt to keep Him safe. In so doing they made it possible for God to fulfill yet one more prophecy: “Out of Egypt I called my son” (Hosea 11:1)

Prayer: Teach me your way, LORD, that I may rely on your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name. (Psalm 86:11 NIV). 

Action: Ask God for an opportunity today or tomorrow to share with someone else something the Teacher has revealed to you.

Written by Pastor Shafer Parker

Updated & Revised by Pastor Kent Blanton

Numbers 24:10-19 The Christmas Star

Thoughts: The Israelites were on the march from Egypt to the Promised Land. But to get there they had to march through Moab. As Israel approached, the king of Moab invited a popular seer (prophet) named Balaam to come and curse them. Balaam discovered he could only speak words given him by God, which led him to bless the Israelites, not curse them. Then a surprising thing happened. God enabled Balaam to see the world’s future. He saw the birth of King David, a birth that was yet 400 years in the future. He also saw the birth of King Jesus, some 1,500 years before the fact. It was Balaam who first connected a star with Jesus’ birth. This is God’s first reference to the heavenly light that would guide the Magi of Babylon all the way to Bethlehem. Like the “sceptre” in Gen. 49:10, this star refers to the Messiah’s kingship. This entire text in Numbers 24 is designed to say, “If you think David was a great king over Israel, you haven’t seen anything until Jesus reigns over the whole world!”

Prayer: King Jesus, I am your subject. Receive my adoration, praise, and worship. My food is to do your will. I am listening for your voice today. 

Action: Choose to serve someone in your family today in a practical way. As you do, remember that you are serving your King, and that he is smiling at you.

Written by Pastor Shafer Parker

Updated & Revised by Pastor Kent Blanton

Genesis 49:8-12 The Messiah is a Lion

Thoughts: Abraham begat Isaac. Then Isaac begat two sons, Esau and Jacob. Ordinarily the older son would receive a greater inheritance from his father, and for Abraham and his descendants no greater inheritance could be given than the privilege of being of Jesus’ ancestor, a blessing that would usually be given to the first born. But God showed Isaac that in this case the bloodline of the Messiah would flow through Jacob, the younger son. Then Jacob (who is also called Israel) had 12 sons, who fathered the 12 tribes of Israel. At the end of his life, Jacob gathered his sons to his bedside to give a blessing and pronounce a prophecy over each. In that moment Jacob revealed that his fourth son Judah would be next in the blood line of the Messiah. In Jacob’s blessing of Judah, we also learn that the baby born in Bethlehem was not only the lamb destined to die for the sins of the world. He was also a lion, King of Kings and Lord of Lords who would someday rule over the nations with great strength and swift justice. As it says in Genesis 49:9, “Who dares to rouse him?” This is what Jesus had in mind when He gave His followers the Great Commission in Matthew 28:19-20. We are privileged to work with Jesus to make disciples until the world is brought under His obedience (Rom. 1:5).

Prayer: God of all creation, I bow my knees and heart before Jesus Christ, the Lion of Judah, the one who will one day rule the nations with strength and justice.

Action: Ask God to bring to mind someone you who needs Jesus. Invite them to one of our Advent season services or to another Christian outreach event this month. Pray they would accept your invitation.

Written by Pastor Shafer Parker

Updated & Revised by Pastor Kent Blanton

Genesis 22:1-18 The Messiah is a Lamb

Thoughts: Men knew that the worship of God involved the sacrifice of an innocent animal long before God explained the close connection between sin and the shedding of blood for the purpose of atonement (Gen. 4:1-5). But what had not been made clear was the connection between the worshipper and the animal being offered. When  Abraham obeyed God and placed his son Isaac on an altar, he did not lack faith. In fact, according to Hebrews 11:19, Abraham was so confident in God’s promises regarding Isaac that he was certain his son would be raised from the dead, if necessary. This story shows us that God never intended for Isaac to die. Instead, He meant for Abraham to learn the lesson of the substitute. At the last moment a ram was given die as Isaac’s substitute. In the same way, Christ came that first Christmas to be “the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). Saving faith means to see and believe that Jesus died on the cross to pay for the sins of the world.

Prayer: Most Holy God, thank you that you provided a sacrificial Lamb to die for my sins. 

Action: Ask the Holy Spirit to shine his spotlight on any sins lurking in the shadows of your life. Confess these sins to God. Read 1 John 1:9. Receive God’s forgiveness and cleansing. Thank him for your sacrificial lamb, Jesus.

Written by Pastor Shafer Parker

Updated & Revised by Pastor Kent Blanton

Genesis 21:1-7 The miracle of Christmas

Thoughts: In yesterday’s reading God met with Abraham and promised that Sarah would give birth to a son “about this time next year” (Gen. 18:10). Sarah laughed at the very idea of it. But God never fails to keep His promises. So, just as promised, Sarah conceived and gave birth to a son. The text tells us that Abraham named his son Isaac (Hebrew for laughter), probably because the little boy laughed early and promised to be a happy child. But Sarah was laughing too. God had made this barren woman happy beyond words. Christmas is the most joyful celebration in the world because this is when we celebrate proof that we serve a God Who keeps all His promises.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you that you are a good father, who always keeps his word. 

Action: Think of a promise God has made to you in his Word. (If you can’t think of one utilize Phil 1:6). Write it down and place it somewhere visible at home or work. Each time you see it, thank God for his promise.

Written by Pastor Shafer Parker

Updated & Revised by Pastor Kent Blanton

Genesis 18:1-15 Is Anything Too Hard for the Lord?

Thoughts: The Bible teaches that long before Jesus was born to Mary, God began calling out special men and women to be a part of the Messiah’s blood line. Of course, some of Jesus’ ancestors were more important than others — and Abraham was perhaps the most important of all. Through Abraham God promised to bless “all the peoples of the earth” (Gen. 12:3). But here is a principle that should never be forgotten. Those who are greatly blessed of God are usually greatly tested by God. That was certainly true of Abraham. God had promised to make Abraham’s descendants so numerous they could only be compared to the “dust of the earth” (Gen. 13:16) and the stars in the sky (Gen. 15:5), but Abraham was now approaching 100 years of age, and his wife Sarah was past 90. They had every  reason to believe that God had waited too long and that His promises could no longer be fulfilled. That’s when God Himself asked, “Is anything too hard for the Lord?” This is similar to the question unmarried Mary asked when the angel told her she would give birth to a son. Not surprisingly, the answer, though stated as fact, is surprisingly similar. “Nothing is impossible with God” (Luke 1:37).

Prayer: Thank you, Almighty God, that nothing is too difficult for you. Thank you that you are still a God of miracles!

Action: Think of someone you feel is highly unlikely to submit their life to God’s control. Thank God that this person is not beyond his reach. Ask God to draw that individual to his Son, Jesus.

Written by Pastor Shafer Parker

Updated & Revised by Pastor Kent Blanton

Genesis 3:1-15 The reason for Christmas

Thoughts: The story of Christmas is one of the oldest stories in the Bible, since it actually begins in Genesis three when only two people lived on the earth. By disobeying God and eating the forbidden fruit Adam and his wife Eve ceased to be holy and happy, and instead became sinful and miserable. Moreover, because they did not believe God, every one of their descendants has been born into a state of sin and misery. This explains why children disobey their parents, and why so many hurtful things happen to all of us. This passage also contains the first nugget of hope found in the Bible. In verse 15 God hints that in the future someone will be born of a woman (and even in this text there is a hint that he will be born only of a woman) who will crush the devil and thereby reverse the ruin of mankind. There’s a song that says, “The reason for Christmas is Jesus,” and that is true. But the deeper reason for Christmas is that we as human beings needed someone to rescue us from the misery of sin.

Prayer: God of all hope, thank you that even in the face of human rebellion, you provided, and still provide hope for a way out of our sin and misery.

Action: Pray for someone today you know who needs hope. Ask God to reveal Himself as the God of all Hope to them. If you have time, write them a note of encouragement or prepare a simple gift like some Christmas cookies as a tangible expression of God’s love and faithfulness.

Written by Pastor Shafer Parker

Updated & Revised by Pastor Kent Blanton