[The following devotional is a part of our 2014 Advent Devotional Guide.  We will be posting a devotional each day on this blog between November 30 – December 31, 2014.]

 

A Sentimental Journey by Mark Robinson

Read:  Matthew 2:13-18

Are you sentimental about locations?  Do you have a special restaurant you go to with your spouse or sweetheart to celebrate anniversaries or key events?  Do you have a special location that embodies “family vacation” in your mind?  Most people do.

One such location for the Robinson family is Branson, Missouri.  Since I was a little boy my family has gone to the Ozarks for vacation.  I have so many memories playing mini golf, riding water slides, watching country shows, etc. in this hillbilly holiday.

Because of those memories, I am excited that recently my family has resumed gathering in Branson for long weekends together.  It has been great to introduce my son to Silver Dollar City and Branson shows while in the company of my extended family.

You probably have places of significance in your family as well.  You know what?  So does God.  That’s right, God has some special places that are full of memories with His people.  One such place is Egypt.  It seems God’s people visit there on occasion.

Of course, the most famous visit to Egypt from God’s people began in the time of Joseph (Genesis Joseph, not Jesus’ adoptive father) during a great famine in Palestine.  God protected His people from starvation in the shadow of the Sphinx, and allowed them to grow in great numbers in this foreign land.  After a number of years, however, Egypt began dealing harshly with the people of Israel, and God would raise up His servant Moses to lead God’s people out of bondage and into the promised land.

Because of that memory, God wanted to go back to that prominent place with His people in the time just after the birth of Christ.  While Jesus was just a young child, the wicked King Herod wanted to kill Jesus because he was afraid of what Jesus would do to his earthly influence.  In order to protect His Child from being starved out of life in Palestine, God sent Jesus to Egypt with Joseph and Mary to wait until it was safe to return (the story you read earlier today in Matthew 2:13-18).

After it was safe to return, God called forth the Redeemer, Jesus, out of Egypt and back to Palestine.  Like Moses before Him, Jesus would be God’s leader to usher His people to the promised land.  By going back to Egypt, God tied Jesus in as a type of Moses.  However, Jesus is much better than Moses.

▪Moses would be used by God to lead the people through the Red Sea, but his disobedience prevented him from ushering God’s people all the way to the Promised Land.  Jesus, however, lived a perfect life, and completed the task of saving His people!

▪Moses was the vessel chosen by God to deliver His Law to His people, but the Law only condemned, it could not save.  Jesus, however, was the Living Word providing a Living Way for God’s people to not just hear about holiness but experience it!

▪Moses would die in the wilderness still awaiting the promises.  Jesus rose from the dead, a full heir of heaven’s blessing.

By taking Jesus back to Egypt God was using a bit of historical sentiment to show us the amazing truth that Jesus is better than even Moses.  More than a religious figure, Jesus was the Savior of the world.

Questions

• Do you have a place that is sentimental for your family?

• Do you see any special significance in God taking Jesus back to Egypt in Matthew 2?

Advent Prayer

• Pray and thank God for how Jesus is superior to ALL others, even other famous people from the Bible.

 

[The following devotional is a part of our 2014 Advent Devotional Guide.  We will be posting a devotional each day on this blog between November 30 – December 31, 2014.]

 

Gifts by Mark Robinson

Read:  Matthew 2:1-12

No doubt, many of you have gone shopping this Christmas season.  As you shop, you are guided by a list of names of people you want to buy a gift for.  On this list are friends and family that you genuinely want to bless this holiday season.  The problem, however, is what kind of a gift do you give them?  We would like to think that the gifts we give are guided by our love and/or a principle of reciprocity.  However, there is a problem with each of these principles.

First of all, though we might like to think that our giving is guided by our love, our love is usually limited by our budget.  After all, we typically have more love in our heart than money in our bank accounts.  Therefore, even if we have a “million dollar” love for our family members, we will probably get them a $30 shirt from TJ Maxx.

Second, there is an issue with reciprocity.  By reciprocity, I mean that you try to give a gift back to someone of equal value to what they have given to you in the past.  This principle, however, is also flawed.  I can never pay back my parents (for instance) for all they have done for me.  No sweater (I don’t care which logo is on it) can ever equal sitting through little league games in 40 degree weather or caring for me when I was sick or providing love, food, and shelter for me throughout my growing up days.  I simply will never be able to pay back what has been given to me — I have just received so much.

I was thinking about all this and it reminded me of a deep spiritual truth that impacts my understanding of God’s love for me and my response to that love towards Him.

First of all, though our budget always constrains our ability to give, it never constrains God.  God is the only One anywhere who has no budget.  Even Bill Gates and Warren Buffett have their limits, but God does not.  He has everything at His disposal, so He never tires at ways to demonstrate His love for us.  The obvious “big gift” that God gives us each day (including Christmas) is the gift of salvation through His Son Jesus Christ.  As Romans 5:8 says, “God demonstrates His own love for us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”  The God who has everything gave His very life so that we might live and know that He loves us.  Even beyond that big gift, however, God continues to give to us without a budget.  The beauty of nature, the spiritual encouragement of the Body of Christ, tasty food to nourish our bodies, etc. are all evidences of God’s gifts to us.  He never tires or grows weary in giving to His children.  He has all the resources to match the scope of His love for us.

Second, I cannot practice the principle of reciprocity with God.  There is no “sacrifice” that I can make in this life that is of equal value to the gifts God has given to me.  No “I’ll go serve you in Africa” claim could ever be the same as all that God has given to me.  We cannot pay back to God what He has given us — for we simply have been given too much.

Given these truths, what are we to do?  Well, when it comes to understanding how much God loves us, we should stand in awe of the gifts He continues to send our way.  What great demonstrations of His budget-less love!  Stop right now and thank Him for His indescribable gifts.  Second, stop trying to pay God back for His gifts to us, for you can never give enough.  This does not mean that we do not serve Him or worship Him or love Him or give back to Him.  We absolutely do that.  Just as I still bought presents for family and friends yesterday as reminders of my love for them, we still give to the Lord out of our love for Him . . . we just don’t do it to settle a score.  This frees us up and purifies our motives in responding to His gifts!

As you shop every Christmas season, may the gifts you purchase remind you of the gifts we have received from Him that we can never repay.

Matthew 2:1-12, tell us of the wise men visiting Jesus and giving Him gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.  These three gifts were symbols of Jesus’s future as both king and martyr.  These men responded to the announcement of Jesus’s birth by worshipping Him and reorganizing their time (they took a trip), talent (they were expert star gazers) and treasure (the three gifts delivered).  We give back to God from the same three categories, not to pay Him back, but (like the wise men) to simply worship the King.

Questions

• What gift would you give to your friends/family members if you did not have a budget?

• The wise men worshipped Jesus through giving of their time, talent, and treasure.  What are some ways you can give something back to God this Christmas season?

Advent Prayers

• Spend time thanking God for the tremendous gift of eternal life given to us in Jesus Christ.

• Out of gratitude and love, pray and lay your life before God, asking what He wants you to do as you respond to His grace in your life.

[The following devotional was written by Wildwood Community Church Student Pastor Jonathan Holmes and is a part of our 2014 Advent Devotional Guide.  We will be posting a devotional each day on this blog between November 30 – December 31, 2014.]

 

Who Invited These Guys? by Jonathan Holmes

Read:  Micah 5:2 (prophecy) & Luke 2:8-20 (fulfillment)

As the census had drawn Mary and Joseph to the town of Bethlehem, the time came for the birth of Jesus. Wouldn’t you know that the angels showed up again, but this time, to some shepherds. They were told that something pretty special had just occurred and that they needed to go check it out; so they wasted no time and headed to see Jesus.

Out of all the people in the world, why on earth do you think the angels appeared to the shepherds? They were at the bottom of the social ladder. They spent all their time outside with a bunch of dirty sheep, and to be quite honest, it really makes no sense at all that these men would be invited to see the Savior of the world. Or does it? Jesus did not step onto this earth to cater only to the rich and prestigious, but also to the poor and neglected. In all actuality, the mere fact that they were just “filthy shepherds” is why their inclusion in the celebration of Jesus’ birth makes perfect sense. For rich and poor alike, God put on flesh for those who needed Him most … you, me, everyone.

When we begin to look past the outward appearance of others and into the hearts of people, we may finally stop overlooking those in need of Jesus.

Questions

• Who is someone you know who is far from Christ?  How does the story of the shepherds remind us that Jesus came for ALL, even those who seem far from Him?
• What can you do this week to help introduce Christ to someone currently far from God?

Advent Prayers

• Ask God to reveal to you a specific person you have overlooked because he/she is different.
• When was the last time you deeply thanked the Lord for coming into this world for us? Take this time to just go before the Lord and show your gratitude for His sacrifice.
• Pray that this Christmas would be different in the fact that all the presents or family drama would not distract you. Keep your focus on Him this season!

In our home we have many Christmas decorations.  Along the roof line is a set of lights designed to make Clark Griswold proud.  In the front window is the Christmas tree full of memories disguised as ornaments.  On the mantle is a Saint Nicholas statue given to us as a wedding gift 17 years ago.  And in three prominent locations, we have nativity scenes.  These nativity scenes are my favorite Christmas decorations . . . and I am not just saying that because I am a Pastor.

I truly love these nativity scenes.  I always have.  As a kid, we had one that set on top of our cabinet television set and I used to love to see those simple figures in a tiny barn surrounded by fake hay.  They were a real reminder of the reason for the Christmas season.  When Kimberly and I got married, Kimberly brought a very special nativity set forward with her into marriage . . . a gift her mom and dad got for her one piece at a time during her growing up years.  It is one of the greatest treasures we own.  Each nativity set has a back story of how we came to own it, but also points us to the ultimate reason for why we celebrate Christmas at all — the birth of Jesus.

Each set in our house is arranged similarly.  All the pieces are crowded together around the baby Jesus . . . as they should be.  After all, Jesus was at the center of it all that first Christmas night.  However, what is sometimes lost in nativity sets is how those pieces ARRIVED at the manger scene.  Unlike the pieces that adorn our mantles, the participants at the first Advent did not all come out of the same box.

Most nativity scenes include 3 “wise men” or “magi.”  Sometimes they are riding on camels and most every time they are carrying three neatly wrapped gifts.  They are often painted the same color as the other pieces in the set.  In our nativity scenes, they look like they totally belong.  However, those familiar with first century Jewish culture would have been quite surprised at their inclusion in the story.

By the first century, the Magi were considered to be more “wise guys” than truly wise.  The Magi were an ancient order of star-gazers from Babylon who made a living interpreting dreams and foretelling the future.  While there were certainly some honest men among them, their reputation had deteriorated toward “snake oil salesmen” – people who would tell you what you wanted to hear just as long as they could make a buck.  Most people did not view them as honorable, and certainly, no one viewed them as godly.  Metaphorically, these Gentile heathens were about as far away from the birth of the Jewish Savior as you could possibly be.  The songs we sing of them talked about them traveling far to see Jesus, but their distance was even further spiritually than physically.  For the wise men to look the part in our nativity sets, we should paint them contrasting colors and place them at the beginning of December in the garage while the rest of the pieces nestle together in the living room.

Yet in God’s mercy, those who were far off are brought near by the birth of Jesus.  Further, they were brought near INTENTIONALLY.  The Magi made it to the manger at the end of a very long and well thought out plan:

• 1400 years before the birth of Jesus, Balaam issued a prophecy about a star rising for the Messiah.  This led Jews to a belief that a real star would one day be a sign that Messiah had arrived.
• 700 years before the birth of Jesus, Micah prophesied that the Messiah would be born in the little town of Bethlehem.
• 600 years before the birth of Jesus, the Jews were taken captive by the Babylonians.  The Babylonian foreign policy of the time was to take the best and brightest people of the lands they conquered back to Babylon to work for the improvement of their culture.  One of the Jews exported to Babylon in this captivity was Daniel.  After demonstrating his ability to interpret dreams, Nebuchadnezzar promoted Daniel to become the overseer of (you guessed it) the Magi – see Daniel 2:48.  Daniel would have been in a position to influence this group with his understanding of Jewish prophecy, which would have included the idea that one day the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem and a star would mark his arrival.  This story was passed on from generation to generation of Magi until the birth of Jesus.
• At the time of Jesus’ birth, God sends a special star in the sky to guide the Magi from Babylon/Persia to Israel to see the newborn king (see Matthew 2:1-12).

For 1,400 years, God had prepared a plan to invite those who were far off to come near and into a relationship with Himself.  The night Jesus was born, the star rising in the sky made sense to the Magi because of years of divine planning.  The pieces that began in the garage were brought into the living room by God’s grace.

Contrast the response of the Gentile Magi with the response of the Jewish religious elite.  In Matthew 2:1-12, we see the chief priests and scribes correctly answer the question, “where will the Messiah be born?” BUT, they do not do anything with that knowledge.  Though the Savior of the world was right down the road from them, they were too busy or preoccupied to go check Him out!  The absurdity of the Jewish leaders’ actions might be best reconstructed in script form:

• HEROD:  Hey Jewish religious leaders . . . there are some Magi out here who have traveled hundreds of miles over hard terrain following a special brand new star that they believe is leading them to see where the Savior of the world was born.  Do you know where the Savior of the world is supposed to be born?
• RELIGIOUS LEADERS:  Yeah, the Savior will be born in Bethlehem.  The town directly underneath that brand new and bright shining star.
• HEROD:  Oh really?  Should we go check it out?
• RELIGIOUS LEADERS:  Nope. Can you pass the pretzels?  We are busy watching some paint dry.

The religious leaders of Israel WERE in the same box as Jesus.  They were painted with the same colors.  They did look like they belonged in the same room . . . however, the story of Matthew 2 shows us that sometimes those who look near are really VERY FAR away spiritually.

The contrast between the Magi and the Scribes and Priests is shocking.  Those who were far are brought near while those who looked near are revealed to be very far away.  The implications of this are extremely important to us at Christmas time.

Are you someone who is currently very far away from the Savior?  Someone who is painted a totally different color than most church people?  Maybe your life is marked by addiction, abuse, or sensuality.  Maybe you are known by your peers for your marginalized business ethics or immoral lifestyle.  Maybe you even follow another religion and do not own a Bible.  Because of the sin in your life, you appear to be in another zip code compared to Jesus, much less in the same room.  This Christmas, are you someone who is far from Him?

Or, are you someone who has grown up inside the church.  You were dedicated at First Baptist Church, confirmed in the Catholic Church, and attend a non-denominational church . . . you just want to make sure your bases are covered!  Do you have multiple bibles in your house, never miss a History channel documentary about the historical Jesus, and have a set of Jimmy Stewart “It’s a Wonderful Life” morals.  Do you realize that it is possible to have all these things . . . to look like you belong . . . yet to never really have begun a real relationship with God?

The beauty of the Christmas story is that there is hope . . . for people who are both far AND NEAR.  If you feel very far away from the Savior today, know that God has been working since the foundation of the world to get the message of salvation to you.  The combination of the life of Christ, the preservation of God’s Word, the sending of the Holy Spirit, and your network of friends, family, and opportunities have served as a “star” to invite you to the manger this Christmas.  The same set of signs have also been shared with those who are “near” the church.  The big question is: will you (like the Magi) follow the signs God has given and worship the Savior this year, or will you simply enjoy some pretzels and ignore the real reason for this season (like the Jewish religious leaders)?

To those who are far or near, Jesus is the “good news of great joy for all the people.”  He is our Savior, so come let us adore Him!

 

 

 

 

 

 

[The following devotional is a part of our 2014 Advent Devotional Guide.  We will be posting a devotional each day on this blog between November 30 – December 31, 2014.]

 

A Simple Painting by Mark Robinson

Read:  Luke 2:1-7

Several years ago I was in Paris, the city of lights.  I was blown away by the beauty of that city.  In Paris there are many incredible art museums that contain priceless works of art, but truth be told, Paris itself is a work of art.  From the towering steel of the Eiffel Tower to the elegant beauty of winding streets lined with sidewalk cafes and guarded by gargoyles, this is one amazing city.  In this city that showcases the arts, there is one portrait that gets all the press.  There is one painting that people always remember – one portrait people are lining up to see.  Deep in the center of the most famous art museum in the world, sits the small portrait of a half-smiling, plain-looking woman.  Above all the larger than life sculptures, all the Egyptian treasures and impressionist paintings, the Mona Lisa has captured the attention of all the world like no other work of art in a city of artists.  What is it about this painting that makes it so interesting?

What I believe makes the Mona Lisa special is not its famous subject, or its bright colors, or its grandiose size.  The brilliance of the Mona Lisa is in the small details.  The slight smile.  The inviting face.  The relatability of painting an ordinary person in a day when only saints, gods, and martyrs were painted.  These common elements are what make the Mona Lisa special.  This painting is a beautiful portrait painted in plain strokes by a master artist.

You know what?  When I think about the life we all live in relationship with God, I think of the Mona Lisa.  Many of us would love to see God work in our lives the same way He did in New Testament times.  We long to see the mighty work of God, point to it, and proclaim, “There He is!  I know God is real because I see Him at work in the raising of the dead man. . . in restoring  strength to the paralytic . . . in giving sight back to the blind.”  We long to see God work in the grandiose, and somewhere along the way, we have convinced ourselves that it is only in such circumstances that God is actually at work.  If that is your perspective, then you need to keep reading.  God is not just at work in the grandiose.  In fact, God has always been at work in the simple things of life.  God even worked through the commonplace in the New Testament.

Take the book of Luke for instance.  As you read the first two chapters of Luke which highlight the Christmas story, what do you see?  As I read the first two chapters of Luke, I see God mightily at work . . . through the common strokes of life.  I see God at work in the timing of Zechariah’s work schedule for entering the temple.  I see God at work in the birth of two children and the selection of those parents.  I see God at work in the declaring that a census be taken to get Joseph and Mary to Bethlehem.  I see God at work in the way a mother relates to her child.  I see God at work in the very common things of life like jobs and family and political decrees.  And in the process, God is painting a Mona Lisa style masterpiece of His grace for us to see.

Take a few minutes and reread the first two chapters of Luke, then ask yourself the question, “Where is God at work in my life?”  We may be looking for the majestic and miss God at work in the mundane.  Who do you think had you born to the parents that you have?  Who do you think was at work to bring you to the college you attended?  Who was it that had you grow up in the town you grew up in?  Who is it that has you working at the job you are at right now?  God did!  And God does!  He is at work in the details of our lives to sovereignly guide us to where He wants us to be.  Stop for a few moments and reflect on the fact that God has been, is currently, and always will be at work in our lives . . . not just in the “big things,” but through the details of our lives.  And know this . . . what God has led you to, He will see you through.  Begin to see your life as a beautiful portrait of His grace painted in plain strokes by the Master Artist.

Questions

• What are some of the things God did to make the first Christmas story happen?

• What is one instance your life (or in the life of someone you know) where you have seen God’s hand at work?

Advent Prayer

• If you have a personal relationship with Christ think of how God worked in the “small strokes” of the circumstances of your life to bring you into a relationship with Him.  Spend time praising God for how He has worked in your life.

• If you have not yet placed your faith in Christ, you can do so right now by expressing faith in Jesus work on the cross for the forgiveness of your sins.

 

[The following devotional is a part of our 2014 Advent Devotional Guide.  We will be posting a devotional each day on this blog between November 30 – December 31, 2014.]

 

The “B Side” by Mark Robinson

Read:  Luke 1:67-79

What is your favorite Christmas song?  Christmas is truly a musical holiday.  I love the “soundtrack” that plays in the background of December every year.  Whether you are in church, driving in the car, or even shopping at the local mall, songs of our Savior fill the air from Thanksgiving to New Year’s.

We should not be surprised that we sing a lot at Christmas time.  On the very first Christmas when Jesus was born, many songs were sung.  Mary sung her “Magnificat” and the Angels serenaded the shepherds.

As you look at the albums first recorded around the birth of Christ, however, you will notice that both famous AND more obscure songs were recorded around the time of the manger.  Right after Mary’s hit song, Zechariah records what some may see as the “B side” to her 45.  You may have skipped this track in the past, but today, I want you to “press play” and read its beautiful lyrics found in Luke 1:67-79.

After waiting a lifetime for the joy of fatherhood, it is so striking that Zechariah spends most of the time at his son’s birth singing about Jesus, not John (his son).  As we saw in yesterday’s post, this shows that Zechariah “got it” . . . he understood that the real joy in his AND John’s life would be their connection to Jesus.

At the end of the song, is one of the most poetic and beautiful statements about the work of Jesus in all of Scripture.  “Because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

I am so thankful that in Christ we have a hope that one day all death will be replaced with life eternal, and all darkness will be illuminated with His light.  This is the reason Zechariah sings . . . and the reason we sing as well.

Question

• What is your favorite Christmas song?  Why is it your favorite?

Advent Prayer

• We have a great hope in Jesus.  Thank God for the hope we have, even in the face of death and circumstantial uncertainty.

[The following devotional is a part of our 2014 Advent Devotional Guide.  We will be posting a devotional each day on this blog between November 30 – December 31, 2014.]

 

What Happens When the Answer is “Yes” by Mark Robinson

Read: Luke 1:57-66

Have you ever wanted something for a very long time, but never got it?  Maybe you wanted a new toy, a new car, a new house, or a new job.  Day after day you found your quiet moments spent thinking about the thing you did not have.  Perhaps you spent a fair amount of time praying for God to give you this new thing or working hard to save the money to be able to buy it.

Did you ever get the thing you wanted?  Sometimes we do, and sometimes we don’t.  Sometimes when we don’t get the thing we wanted, we get angry with God.  Many times, when we do get the thing we wanted,  we simply enjoy the new thing (and forget about the God who gave it to us!)

In the Christmas story in the Bible, there are two people who wanted something for a very long time.  Their names were Zechariah and Elisabeth.  What they wanted, though, was not a thing . . . it was a person.  Zechariah and Elisabeth had no children of their own, and for decades they had asked God to give them a child . . . but the answer was always “no.”  Finally after years and years of waiting, God finally gave Zechariah and Elisabeth a baby . . . Jesus’s cousin, John (who would grow up to be John the Baptist.)

Zechariah and Elisabeth finally had their baby in Luke 1:57-66.  After the baby was born, Zechariah gave all of us an example to follow when God finally gives us what we have always wanted.  Instead of forgetting about God when they finally got what they wanted, they praise God, making the birth of the child all about God and what He was doing instead of about them.  This perspective is life changing for anyone who embraces it.  Life is about giving God glory, not about what we have or what we can get.

Questions

• What is something that you have prayed for a long time?

• When something goes well for you, do you remember to thank God for His provision?

Advent Prayer

• Take a moment to praise God in prayer for what He has given you.

[The following devotional is a part of our 2014 Advent Devotional Guide.  We will be posting a devotional each day on this blog between November 30 – December 31, 2014.]

 

Best (Not Necessarily Easy) by Mark Robinson

Read:  Matthew 1:18-25

Sometimes God’s plan for our lives is not easy or comfortable.  God wants us to tell the truth, even if telling the truth could get us in trouble.  God wants us to talk to our friends and neighbors about Jesus, even if our friends and neighbors might make fun of us if we do.  God wants us to obey our parents, even if doing so will mean that we will not get something that we want.

Though God’s plan for our lives is not always EASY, it is always BEST.  God knows what is best for us at all times and we can trust and obey Him, even when doing so seems hard.  A great example of this is the story of Joseph in Matthew 1:18-25.  It would have been easy for Joseph to walk away from Mary when he found out she was pregnant.  His friends and family would have supported him if he had decided to leave Mary because of her scandalous pregnancy.  Yet God persuaded Joseph through an angel to not leave Mary and to remain with her.  Because Joseph obeyed, he ended up getting to be the earthly Father of Jesus Christ!  What an amazing blessing.  Though it was not easy, it was best.

Questions

• Is there any thing God wants you to do right now that is hard or uncomfortable?

• Is it difficult for you to remember that God’s plans are always best for us?  Why or why not?

Advent Prayer

• Pray and ask God for the strength and courage to trust Him even when it is hard to do so.