Tuesday (Day 3)

VERSES:  1 Samuel 16:1-13, John 10:10-14

Yesterday we saw that through Boaz, Ruth was redeemed and had children.  One of her children was a man named Obed.  In due time, Obed married and had a son named Jesse.  And, years later, Jesse married and had several sons, one of whom was named David.  That’s right, King David was born in Bethlehem, and was Boaz and Ruth’s great grandson.

But, when David was born, he was not born in a palace.  Certainly God had plans for David, as it was God’s idea to anoint David as King (David did not apply for the job!), yet David did not begin in royalty, he began on a farm.  There, tending sheep, David learned how to shepherd, and God would use that experience to guide and care for Israel after David ultimately (through God-ordained events) ascends to the throne.

David was not the tallest or oldest of Jesse’s sons, but God saw in the heart of the one tending the sheep in their stables a King.

One thousand years after the time of King David, another King was born in Bethlehem.  This King was more than simply the King of Israel, He was the King of Kings, Jesus Christ.  As David’s descendent, Jesus had a rightful claim to the throne, and as the Son of God, He would have a Kingdom that would know no end.

Jesus would be called the “Good Shepherd” who cares for His sheep.  As King, He reigns on high, and as the Good Shepherd, He guides and cares for us, His sheep. 

Bethlehem is the town of the Shepherd Kings.  What an amazing combination!  Jesus is mighty and He is gentle.  He reigns over all and cares for the least of these.  Will you find your home in Him this holiday season?

You can find the full devotional in pdf here.

You can find more information about our church and Christmas programs by visiting wildwoodchurch.org

Monday (Day 2)

VERSES:  Ruth 1:1-5; 4:11, John 6:35

What if there was no money in the bank, no food in the silo, and no children in the nursery?  Well, if those things happened, you would have situations of intense difficulty, but also you would have an amazing start to a top 10 country and western song!

In the book of Ruth, we see another verse to our country tune … there was no bread in the house of bread (“Bethlehem” in Hebrew means “house of bread.”)  Since there was no bread in the house of bread, a man named Elimelech and his wife Naomi headed over the hills into Moab (modern day Jordan) to find something to eat.  Not only did they find food, they also found wives for their sons!  One of their sons married a woman named Ruth.  Some time after their marriage, though, the men in Elimelech’s family died, leaving Elimelech’s wife Naomi and his daughter-in-law Ruth widows.

In due time, the famine was over in Bethlehem, so Naomi and Ruth head back to the “house of bread.”  In that culture, a kinsman could “redeem” a widow by marrying her and providing offspring to honor the legacy of the man who had died.  Elimelech’s kin, Boaz, meets Ruth and “redeems her,” marrying her and giving her children.  All these events happen in the little town of Bethlehem.

How fitting that Jesus Christ would be born in this town. One of Jesus’ nicknames He gave Himself in John’s Gospel is “bread of life.”  Jesus came to provide for our deepest spiritual needs.  He came to sustain and fill our souls.  He redeems us from a barrenness of spirit and provides for us an abundance of life. 

Is there a famine in your land spiritually speaking?  Are you living in the shame of your sin, feeling distant from God, or hungering for more in life?  Do not simply sing the blues.  Instead, turn to Jesus Christ, the Bread of Life, who can provide for you no matter the circumstances.

You can find the full devotional in pdf here.

You can find more information about our church and Christmas programs by visiting wildwoodchurch.org

WEEK 1:  All roads lead through Bethlehem

Sunday (Day 1)

VERSES:  Genesis 35:19, Mark 10:45, Romans 3:23, Romans 6:23

Certain towns are so connected to iconic images or moments that the mere mention of the one reminds all of the other.  One can hardly imagine Green Bay, Wisconsin, without thinking of the Green Bay Packers, their NFL team.  Say Paris, France, and people see the Eiffel Tower.  Mention Las Vegas, Nevada, and people see a roadway dotted with neon and casinos. 

Another location that evokes an immediate reaction is Bethlehem in Israel.  Oh, when we mention this little town, we think of the birth of Jesus Christ 2,000 years ago.  To be clear, Jesus’ birth is THE BIGGEST THING that has ever happened anywhere, much less the biggest thing to occur in the town of Bethlehem!  Yet, Bethlehem had  history before Jesus’ birth … a history that goes all the way back to the book of Genesis.

The first reference to Bethlehem is in Genesis 35:19 when Jacob’s wife Rachel dies giving birth to their child Benjamin.  Rachel was buried on the road to Bethlehem by her husband.  Rachel wanted to name her son Ben-oni which meant “son of my sorrow.”  Instead, Jacob renamed the boy Benjamin, meaning “son of my right hand.”  This is a powerful foretaste of another who would one day be born on the outskirts of Bethlehem, Jesus Christ.

Jesus was born to die for the sins of the world – His death paying the ransom price our sins deserve.  The sorrow of His death, however, would lead to the redemption of all who trust in Him, who are declared righteous in Him and made children of God.  From sorrow to sons (and daughters) … Bethlehem’s history is important to note.

All of us have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.  If we reject Jesus, sorrow for all eternity is our ultimate future.  BUT, if we trust in Jesus, we are made a son or daughter who experiences fellowship with God forever.  From sorrow to sonship … Bethlehem has quite a history indeed.

You can find the full devotional in pdf here.

You can find more information about our church and Christmas programs by visiting wildwoodchurch.org