and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
TO PONDER
This verse from Luke's gospel I think reflects something of the same reality expressed in the opening chapter of Johns gospel where in verse eleven we read, 'He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.
It's not a long devotion today because I know people are busy, waking up early to open Christmas presents and start preparing Christmas lunches, or travelling to distant family to celebrate together. I just wanted to give you the chance to take a moment to reflect on where you make room for Jesus in your life today? All those other things are nice, friends, family, good food, and generous gift giving, but they are all meaningless without the promise of eternal life with God which we only receive through Jesus.
So whatever your Christmas Day looks like, don't let Jesus be crowded out. Don't be one of the ones he comes for but who does not receive him because of how busy or stressful your day is. Receive Jesus, the saviour born for you. Amen
PRAYER: Thank you Heavenly Father for sending Jesus into the world, for me. Please help me to receive him with open arms today and every day as your greatest gift of love. Amen
Today's devotion written by Mathew von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle.
But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.
TO PONDER
Often at this time of year we begin to get nostalgic. We look back at the year that was and begin reflecting on all the up's and down's.
Maybe as you do that for yourself you see a year with more up's than down's and in the grand scheme of things you are looking back on a year where it is easy to see God's blessings and fingerprints on the things that have been the 'big' moments of the year. Maybe for you, the year of 2025 is something that has brought you great joy and lots of good news.
However, whatever our personal situations might have been, a quick look back at the major news headlines from the year tell a bit of a different story. Wars, conflicts, political unrest, dissolving social cohesion, global inflation and economic uncertainty, natural disasters, global warming... it doesn't seem like there has been much good news around does it?
And yet, the birth of Jesus is a turning point in the story of humanity's relationship with its creator. The Word of God which spoke creation into being has come to make all things new. This is good news. It is both a present reality and also an ongoing work. For those whose trust is in Jesus, we are a new creation - the old is gone and the new is come. For those who do not yet recognise or know Jesus as Lord and Saviour, the work is still ongoing.
The birth of Jesus is good news to all humanity. It's good because God has come into our mess, into all of those things that we mentioned earlier and comes to restore and redeem them. He can use even the seemingly worst circumstances to draw people to himself, and that is the greatest gift anyone can have - an encounter with Jesus who has come to seek and save the lost.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I thank you that the good news of the birth of Jesus has become a reason fr joy and celebration in my life. As I celebrate Jesus' birth this Christmas with friends and family, help us to receive again the joy that come from your salvation and give us a willing spirit to share the good news with all who have ears to hear. Amen
Today's devotion written by Mathew von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle
So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.
TO PONDER:
The phrase 'expecting a child' has always felt a bit odd to me. I mean when you are pregnant, what else would you be expecting?
Now I know not every pregnancy has a happy ending but it is largely our expectations that determine our emotional response to a situation.
The relatively modern Christmas carol 'Mary did you know?' ponders what Mary might have expected or known about this child which she was expecting. She had been told that he would save his people from their sins, but did she knew that would mean his crucifixion? She had been told that this child would be called the 'Son of God', but did she have any idea of the miraculous things he would do, or the uproar that title would cause among the temple leaders?
As we prepare to celebrate Christmas, I think it is a good question for us to ask ourselves, "What are you expecting from Jesus?" or "What are you expecting Jesus to be?"
Maybe you have grown accustom to a distant Jesus, one to whom you can pray but keep at arms length so that you can ask whatever you need of him but don't have to worry to much about responding to him at all? Maybe you expect only a baby Jesus that you can dust off from your Christmas decoration box and display as part of your nativity scene for a few weeks in December; a baby who makes us feel all warm and fuzzy, full of kindness and love but who in the long run, like most babies, doesn't do much?
If those are your expectations then you are bound to be disappointed. The Jesus who coms to us in physical form, born as a baby is the Word of God made flesh; the creator of all things come to us to save and redeem us. He does this as a free gift to those who would trust and follow him. That 'following' him is not always easy but it is always fruitful. Being saved and redeemed doesn't mean never encountering trouble in life, it simply means you have assurance of final victory.
So, let me ask you directly, what Christ child are you expecting and preparing for this Christmas?
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank you for the birth of Jesus who is always more that I could expect or deserve. Please help me to be prepared to see more and know more of your love for me and to expect you to show up in my life in interesting and unexpected ways. Amen
Today's devotion written by Mathew von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle
In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their own town to register.
TO PONDER
I don't know what you know about Luke, the gospel writer. Other parts of the Bible refer to him as a physician, but Luke himself describes his attempts at recording the life and times of Jesus of Nazareth as something of an attempt at an orderly historical account.
That's why his version of the account of Jesus' birth begins with all this stuff about Caesar Augustus and Governor Quirinius, placing events within the context of the ruling emperor and local government officials was a standard way to mark the general time during which the events took place.
This is one of the 'miracles' of Christmas and the Christian faith. Christianity makes claims based on events that are actually well recorded and attested to by various independent sources. Almost every other major world religion (except perhaps Judaism) bases its truth claims on some 'divine revelation' or profound earthly wisdom or insight gained by a prophet or a guru. Some obscure teaching that is impossible to prove or disprove.
In Jesus, God entered human history and made himeself observable, recordable and testable. We cannot test history the way we test science - with repeatable experimentation - but we do test and revise historical knowledge based on evidence; evidence of witnesses, evidence of artefacts, evidence of written documents, all of which there is plenty of to support the claims that Jesus was real, he was born in Bethlehem and raised in Nazareth and claimed to be the Son of God.
So the question Luke's introduction to the story invites us to answer is not, "Was Jesus real?" Luke is providing the historical record which clearly suggests that he was. The question we are invited to ask is, "Was Jesus really the Son of God and what does that mean for me today?"
PRAYER: Lord Jesus, Thank you for coming into the world and entering human history in a way that we can investigate and question and discover was a real part of the human story of the world. Greater still, I thank you that in doing so you have drawn me into the continuing story of what God the Father is doing in this world. Please help me to play my part in that story faithfully so that others might also come to know the truth of your present with us. Amen
Today's devotion written by Mathew von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle.
This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.
TO PONDER
It's been a sad week in Australia this week as so many people ave come together across the county to mourn with the Jewish community in Bondi and the greater Sydney area over the horrific shooting there last weekend.
What I have found interesting is the different responses from different parts of the community. What I have noticed is that both Christian and Jewish leaders have called for the community to come together in love towards one another, even our enemies as this, will be the ultimate way to prevent situations like this happening in the future.
On the other hand there are politicians of every political persuasion drafting laws and calling for parliament to be recalled so that laws can be passed to prevent these things from happening again.
In a very real and tangible way, we are seeing the principle of Law and Gospel being played out in our Australian community at the moment and it is the same dilema that Joseph faced when he found our Mary was pregnant. He had two options, follow the law to protect himself and his reputation or listen to God who told him via an angel to take Mary as his wife because the child she carried was God's gift of grace and forgiveness to his people.
The path of following the law, even if he did it quietly, would have only brought more suspicion and ridicule to Mary from others in the community. Tightening laws and imposing greater punishments might deter some people from doing the wrong thing but it doesn't change their underlying hatred and suspicion. Only the love of God, expressed through Jesus does that. Only the love of Jesus, the word made flesh, now dwelling among us has the capacity to change hearts, cast out fear, and embrace its enemies.
It probably won't surprise you to hear me say this, the religious leaders are right. Law reform might provide some added protection but it won't fix the underlying problem. That's why Jesus comes to us with his love so that we can be made new and through his love alive in us, we can partner with him in making all things new.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, Thank you for stable government and dedicated public servants who work to keep us and our communities safe. Please help us as your people, to support their efforts by loving freely all those we interact with in our community. Help us to embody and display the self sacrificing love of Christ even to those the world finds unlovable so that like us, they too might be made new through your son Jesus Christ. Amen
Today's devotion written by Mathew von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle.
I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! (NLT)
TO PONDER:
Today is the last post of seven for me, which means its difficult to find something new to say in line with the theme of the week. In case my posts have been a bit obtuse and the theme has been lost in my ramblings; the theme this week was “Joy”.
If you were to ask Pastor Mat (and he was honest) he would tell you how much I struggle with writing them and some of that is due to the “suggested” boundaries set by the theme and my proclivity to push against parameters and imposed limits.
Today’s verse, read on it’s own, out of the context of what was said before and what was said after, needs some explanation because I think we all would appreciate overflowing joy, especially during Christmas.
So, what were the “things” Jesus told that will fill us with his joy?
The thing was simply to obey! Doing what he told us to do will lead to overflowing joy.
This is the kind of thing “people” dislike about religion; rules, regulations, “thou shalt not” imposed limitations. But that is not what Jesus said, he didn’t leave us with a list of don’ts, he didn’t leave us with a religion of rules and regulations.
This is the command he left us with to obey in verse 12; “This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you.”
Jesus tells us to obey him in love; love God and love others more than you love yourself.
A command to lay down your life for the sake of others, a limit to choose relationships over religion, a regulation of grace, a rule of love, a demand to love even your enemy, a parameter to forgive quickly and completely. If we do this we will be filled with His joy!
PRAYER: God of love and grace, it all begins and ends with you, you first loved me even when I was your enemy you chose to reach out with your love and grace when you offered me your forgiveness and life, help me share your overflowing joy with everyone around me. Amen
Today's devotion written by Danny Brock, LifeWay Westside.
and those the Lord has rescued will return. They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.
TO PONDER:
I have a vivid memory of when I first glimpsed my beautiful wife walking down the aisle in her white dress at our formal wedding. We had been married, living together and seeing each other daily for over four months at this stage as we actually got married at a surprise wedding on the 26th April. It was now the 1st of September when I saw her in the white dress and I was overcome with joy as I stared with amazement at the beauty walking towards me.
Today’s verse is part of another Messianic prophecy, the coming Kingdom of God and eternity with Him where sorrow and mourning will disappear but it is also a promise for us here and now, we don’t have to wait until we are dead to be overtaken with gladness and joy.
John talks about this gladness and joy in his biography of Jesus, which we now call the Gospel of John, when he repeats the words of Jesus: “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10), that’s an overflowing life, a joyful life.
Now, I’m hoping that as you read the above and find yourself not overtaken with joy, you might ask "where’s my overflowing joy?" Well, Wednesday’s verse perhaps gave an answer to that question when Paul says in Philippians 4:4 to always be full of joy in the Lord and then he repeats it and says it again when he says to rejoice and he is talking about in all circumstances.
On the other-side of the baby in the manger, on the other-side of the cross, on the other-side of grace, on the other-side of today’s verse we should be overtaken with gladness and joy when we think of what God has done for us, especially at Christmas, and glimpse at what it means for us and the world
PRAYER: Saviour Jesus, the thought of your aggressive forgiveness Paul talks about in Romans 5:20 fills me with awe, the beauty of your grace fills me with wonder as I catch a glimpse of your love for me, help me share that grace to others. Amen
Today's devotion written by Danny Brock, LifeWay Westside.
Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”
TO PONDER:
We all love a good party, a joyful celebration, right?
As an introvert myself, I get the dread associated with crowds, small talk, and forced smiles aimed towards people I hope don’t then want to respond with conversation, but I still enjoy the idea of a good party.
Today’s verse was written, almost aimed towards, people like myself and if I’m being honest, to quite a few Lutheran congregations. Nehemiah says to God’s people “Go and party and share the party with your neighbours”, this, right here, sounds like how church should be, a joyful celebration with joyful people who have a joyful reason to celebrate joyfully (too many joyfuls? Apparently not).
Nehemiah continues with a surprising statement “the joy of the Lord is your strength,” not “the happiness of the Lord” (go back and re-read yesterday’s post) joy based in God and who he is and what he has done, is our strength. The celebration Nehemiah was referencing in the verse is one specifically to remember who God is and what God had already done for his people, how he rescued them from slavery and provided for them on their long journey to the promised land.
Joy is, in effect, our super-natural power, the power which makes us bullet-proof to the shots fired at us in tough times, in a cost-of-living crisis, when a pipe explodes in the bathroom at 5:50am (happened to me yesterday).
Partying is our superpower.
PRAYER: Loving Father, You are not the patriarchal, judgemental, grumpy God with the big stick to be feared but rather you are loving, faithful, forgiving God who is worth celebrating daily. Amen.
Today's devotion written by Danny Brock, LifeWay WestSide
Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! (NLT)
TO PONDER:
"Well, I am not happy!" It is an excuse used to bail ourselves out of, a job, a church, a long term relationship. Once something no longer makes us happy like it did in the beginning, we bail and look for the feeling of happiness somewhere else.
Paul, in today’s verse, is wrapping up his letter to the church in Philippi as he encourages those in the church to “always be full of joy IN THE LORD”. Now he wasn’t encouraging them to always be happy, he was telling the church to always rejoice. This isn’t Paul closing the letter with the latest self-help, personal empowerment advice about finding happiness and turning your frown upside down.
Paul was writing his letter from prison/house arrest, he was in captivity, he couldn’t go down to the local falafel shop to grab something for dinner let alone embark on a journey to find his happiness.
And everyone reading the letter knew about Paul’s challenging habitation issues and were praying seriously for him as they feared of his life. So when Paul says to be full of joy it would have been shocking to the church, a group of people who were full of worry and concern for Paul’s situation and their future (if this could happen to Paul then...)
Paul wrote extensively about “joy” in his letters, at least 16 times in this letter alone and today’s verse is perhaps the most well known, where he, in effect, is commanding the Philippian church to “choose joy and again choose joy!”
Happiness is a fleeting emotion, a reaction to external stimulus, while joy is a state of internal contentment and satisfaction that can exist even in times of hardship, cultivated, in this instance, from within our connection with and trust in “the Lord”, Jesus.
PRAYER: Lord Jesus, I thank you for the joy I find in you, for a joy that is beyond understanding. Today I choose joy as I rejoice in who you are. Amen.
Today's devotion written by Danny Brock, LifeWay Westside.