reading for: 23 december

Luke 2:22-40

Jesus Brings Joyful Light to Our Darkness!

• READ

Simeon and Anna are introduced to us as examples in the Christian faith. Simeon was righteous and devout and even had the Holy Spirit resting on him (v. 25)! While Anna, a prophet, had spent all of her widowed life in the temple, fasting and praying (v. 37). Besides being fully devoted to God, they also had one thing in common – they were waiting for God to rescue and redeem Israel (v. 25 and 38).

Their reactions to baby Jesus, shows us that their wait had ended and their joy had come! Simeon, taking Jesus into his arms, praises God, saying, “Sovereign Lord, now let your servant die in peace, as you have promised. I have seen your salvation, which you have prepared for all people.”(v. 29-31) Anna, taking her first step into the temple like she has done for the past 50 over years, suddenly jumps into praise and proclaims about this baby Jesus. 

The reason for their joyful reactions can be seen in Simeon’s words, 

“He is a light to reveal God to the nations, and he is the glory of your people Israel! This child is destined to cause many in Israel to fall, and many others to rise. He has been sent as a sign from God, but many will oppose him. As a result, the deepest thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your very soul.” (v. 32, 34-35)

They are joyful because God is finally redeeming Israel, the centuries of darkness would be gone and God’s glory would come once again on His people Israel. Everyone’s hearts would be revealed and no one can hide from this light!

• REFLECT

  As we celebrate Christmas with lots of food and gifts, let’s not forget the true joy of Christmas. In Jesus, the joy of His light has come, all darkness is exposed and must flee. Our deepest thoughts in our hearts will be revealed. 

  Take time this week to pray for the people you’re inviting for the Christmas service. Do not lose heart if they are not yet open. Continue to intercede for your family and friends that they will discover the true joy of Christmas and come to embrace the light of Jesus.

reading for: 24 december

Isaiah 61:10-62:3

The Joyous Life of Righteousness is Here!

• READ

  One way to better appreciate these few verses is to imagine a beautiful bride on her wedding day! Standing at the altar and holding the hands of her groom and declaring her vows to him. There is a joyful delight in her eyes, this spring in her step and now, words that will articulate what she is feeling and why. 

  Isaiah here is proclaiming his joy of being clothed with a robe of righteousness, these garments of salvation - like a bride covered in jewels. (61:10) (Imagine the delight of any bride knowing the she is dressed in the most expensive gown and most precious diamonds)

  Then as a bride imagines the wonderful life after marriage, Isaiah too, foresees what will happen after. Righteousness, justice and praise will finally be seen so clearly in all the world, just as plants will spring up in spring. (61:11)

  This life is so wonderful that he desires this not just for himself, but for others. In this case, his fellow Israelites:

  He will not keep silent, nor will he keep still, until this also happens for Jerusalem! Until she too shines like a burning torch and the nations see her righteousness (62:1-2). Where even other kings and leaders will give glory as they see Jerusalem, being the crowning beauty in the hand of God (62:3). 

• REFLECT

  Do you remember “the day of your salvation”? The day you gave your life to Jesus? Where was it? Who was there? And how did you feel? 

  It’s very likely that you were also filled with immense joy of the life that would come with Jesus. Take time this Christmas, to remember and meditate on that. 

reading for: 25 december

Galatians 4:4-7

We’re Adopted by God because of Jesus!

• READ

  “But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son…”

  That is a profound statement. God had appointed a specific time to send forth his Son and when that time came, He did not hesitate to do so. That “time” changed the entire course of history and left an indelible mark in the world. Today, that “time” has been given a name. We call it Advent or in more popular terms, Christmas. 

  In order to better appreciate what Paul is saying here, we must go back a couple of verses. Galatians 4:4 sits within a larger argument that Paul is making regarding the law (3:19-4:7). Essentially, Paul is arguing that while the law was necessary, it was not sufficient. (3:21).  Until the promised Son comes, we are slaves to the law, which acts as a guardian (3:23-24) but now that the Son has come, we are no longer slaves but sons of God (3:25-26).

  By faith, we now belong to Christ and has become a part of God’s family (3:27-4:3). All of this is possible because when the fullness of time had come, at a precise moment in human history, God sent forth his Son to redeem us who were under the law so that we may be adopted as His children (4:4-5). And we are assured that we are His children because we have the Spirit of the Son who lives in us that enables us to call God our Father (4:6). We are no longer slaves. We are no longer orphans. We are sons and daughters. We are the heirs of God and there is an inheritance waiting for us (4:7).

• REFLECT

  Jesus was born during the “Pax Romana”, a period of unprecedented peace and in the time of the Roman Empire when “All Roads Leads To Rome”. That was the time that God had chose to send his Son into the world. Up till that moment in history, the world had not experienced such an extended period of peace and no one had such easy access to one another. It was the perfect time for Christ to be born.

  God is the God of time. He is the God of the past, the present and the future. He is always on time and will never be late. That is the God we worship. He has an appointed time and season for all things. In 2020, God allowed COVID-19 to happen in order to accomplish His purposes that we may or may not grasp. Nonetheless, 2020 will forever be a year marked by COVID-19. COVID-19 will be the name for this time in history.

  As we come to the end of 2020 and celebrate Christmas, let us end the year strong by remembering what He has done for us both as an individual and as a church through COVID-19, and what He has done for the world through Jesus. All of time is held in His hands. Our days are numbered and lived before Him. So let us press on to 2021 and may He have His way in us!

reading for: 26 december

Psalm 148

Our Messiah, the One we Praise Has Come

• READ

  The book of Psalms was the songbook of Israel that served to guide their corporate worship. It gave them the necessary language to express themselves in worship and encouraged them to be steadfast; trusting that God will deliver on his promise of a Messiah that will come to bring light to the gentiles and usher in a Kingdom that knows no end. 

  In Psalm 148, we see the Psalmist calling all of God’s creation to praise the name of the Lord! From the heavens to the heavenly hosts to the earth and to all who dwell in it (v. 1-12), the name of the Lord is to be exalted (v. 13) because he alone is worthy to be praised (v. 14). This psalm leaves no room for doubt that the name of the Lord is to be praised.

  And if the people of God who had yet to see the promises of God fulfilled were called to praise Him then, what more of us today? Today, we know that God has delivered on his promise. The Messiah, the Savior-King, who will save and deliver Israel has come. We gentiles have seen the light and have entered the Kingdom of God. What grace is this! The only appropriate response is to praise the Lord!

• REFLECT

  We sing praises about the countries we visited, the food we ate, the drinks we had, the games we played, the movies we watched, the times we spent and the list goes on. Singing praises is actually an action that we are very familiar with. We do it all the time. Think about when was the last time and what was the last thing you sang praises about.

  When our hearts are full of joy, we cannot help but praise. Christmas is a season of joy and a time of praise. Joy because unto us a child was born. Praise because that child saved us all. That child’s name is Jesus. He is alive and He is with us. As we celebrate the good news of Christmas, let us come and adore Him. Let us sing praises to His Name. 

  In your Christmas gathering this week, consider how you and your LGs can praise and worship God together. May His Name be exalted among us!