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 Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favour rests.”
TO PONDER
What is it about shepherds? God pulled Moses away from shepherding his father-in-law's sheep to shepherd his people out of Egypt and through the wilderness. God took David from shepherding his father Jesse's flocks to make him king over all of Israel. Now, years later and the Messiah, the Good shepherd is born in a manger in Bethlehem, and the first people to find out besides Mary and Joseph are a bunch of shepherds. Perhaps the wise men from the East got an idea on that night as they watched the night sky, but they had a long way to travel to actually encounter Jesus. The shepherds were there on the scene they were the first to meet Jesus.
Sometimes I think we forget how privileged we are to know what we know about Jesus. We are in many ways like those first shepherds who were told the news and then were the first to encounter Jesus. Now 2000 or so years later we can't say we were the first to encounter Jesus, and yet there are so many people in the world today who do not yet know Jesus, who have not hear or have maybe heard the news but not yet actually had a personal encounter with their Lord and Saviour Jesus.
Maybe that's the thing about shepherds, they know a good thing when they see it. They know where the watering holes are, they know how to lead their flocks to green pasture and safe waters. How will you shepherd the people God has given you towards an encounter with their saviour?
PRAYER: Jesus, the Good Shepherd. Please help me to be a faithful steward of the gospel and a good shepherd to the people in my life. Help me to lead people to an encounter with you so that they too may be another place where people might encounter you. 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
You may or may not be aware of this but Luke, the gospel writer, is believed to be a doctor and historian. And I love that this is how he begins the narrative of the birth of Jesus. I love it because it is very 'historian'.
Luke is careful to accurately place the birth of Jesus in its correct historical context. Important events were often recorded along with the names of the ruling monarch or emperors at the time, and an empire wide event such as a census would have well documented accounts of who was where during the time of the census.
This is the level of planning and detail that blows my mind when I think of God's plan to send Jesus to humanity. He planned to do it at a time when there would be good, reliable historical records to verify the accounts that his people would record and which would later become part of Scripture.
There are still some people who fail to recognise the historical evidence for the person Jesus. However, more and more people when actually supplied with the historical evidence for the existence of Jesus are finding they have to at least accept that he was a real historical figure. Which leads me to the main thought I want to leave you with today.
The people you know, the people you encounter regularly throughout your week, they may or may not believe Jesus ever existed. They may or may not believe that he was the Son of God. The evidence God is providing them is you. You are a real, physical presence in these people's lives and they cannot deny your existence, or the way you live or the choices you make. So how is your life leaving evidence that Jesus makes a difference?
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank you that you leave us so much evidence of your existence. Whether we see it in your creation or encounter it in your word or even in the accounts of history, your fingerprints are there for us to see. As I prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus again this year, may my celebrations, my relationships, and my presence among my friends, family, and neighbours also be evidence of your life transforming love and grace. Amen
Today's devotion written by Mathew von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle
Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Go south to the road—the desert road—that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of the Kandake (which means “queen of the Ethiopians”). This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship, and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the Book of Isaiah the prophet. The Spirit told Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it.”
TO PONDER
Our adventure with God can be very unpredictable and surprising. While that can make us hesitant to really give it our all, it is also what actually makes it an adventure! When I was a young teenager my family embarked on an adventure holiday. We called it a coin flip holiday. This was because each day we flipped a coin to decide which of 2 destinations we would travel to that day. We spent the mornings together in the car travelling to the new spot, and then the afternoon checking out what was on offer there. It is one of my most treasured memories and one of our most special family holidays. It was the unknown and the unpredictability that made it so special! It is the same with our adventure with Jesus. We can think we know why he is sending us somewhere or even why certain people are put in our lives, however, like Philip, God can surprise us with something unexpected. This is what makes it exciting and a true adventure. So, take the first step and trust that Jesus has exciting things in store for you, more than you can even imagine.
PRAYER: Jesus, I am in awe that you ask me to join you in this adventure of sharing your love, hope, peace and truth in the world. Give me courage to take the first step, and to go where you send me and speak to those you place in my life. In your name I pray, Amen.
Today's devotion written by Elise von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle
The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.
TO PONDER
Peter, one of Jesus closest disciples became the rock of the church, however his adventure with Jesus was not always a happy one. When Jesus was at his lowest, arrested with lies and false accusations being thrown around where was Peter? He was hiding and even more than that, he was denying that he even knew the man that he had left his life to follow. Peter is so adamant that he doesn’t know Jesus that he actually denies him 3 times! That is an important detail of the story, because notice what Jesus does when he has risen and appears to his disciples. He asks Peter 3 times if he loves him. This isn’t to upset Peter or make him feel bad, but rather to restore and make right all that had happened before. He then commands Peter to feed his sheep and indeed Peter does that! Jesus uses imperfect, broken and flawed people to do his work here on earth! But he doesn’t leave us in our broken state. In fact, he came to earth to restore us all and make right all that was turned upside-down and inside out. Praise God that he entered our experience and now calls us to join him in his amazing adventure!
PRAYER: Jesus, I am sorry for the times I have turned my back on you and denied all that you have done for me. Please forgive me and make me right with you. Thank you that you call me, a flawed person, into the adventure of a relationship with you. Amen.
Today's devotion written by Elise von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle
Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?”
And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”
TO PONDER
When I was a kid anytime one of the grownups was heading to the shops, any shop, I wanted to tag along! It was even better if it was just me and the grown up. The adventure, although actually quite a mundane task, like sitting in the carwash, somehow seemed exciting to me. I wonder now when I lost this sense of excitement and joy at the prospect of heading out to run errands. Today’s reading from Isaiah tells the story of someone hearing the voice of the Lord asking, “Who can I send, who will go?” Although it doesn’t specify in the text, I can picture someone with their hand waving in the air saying, “Pick me, pick me!” An adventure undertaken with and for the Lord is one of excitement and anticipation! My prayer for us all as we end this year is that our sense of joy and adventure would be renewed as we embark on a new adventure with the Lord!
PRAYER: Jesus, give me the spirit of a child who is excited and enthusiastic about the idea of heading through the adventure of like with you. When things get difficult or uncertain help me to remember that you are with me and I can be excited about that, Amen.
Today's devotion written by Elise von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle
The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.”
Saul said to David, “Go, and the Lord be with you.”
TO PONDER
Have you ever had to stare down something truly terrifying? Maybe it wasn’t a giant soldier like Goliath, but maybe it was a situation or predicament you found yourself in. It was unknown, scary and perhaps left you feeling paralysed. This is a natural reaction to something that can hurt us or ‘take us down’. Fight or flight as they say. You are either paralysed by fear, or it mobilises you to take action. David is not frozen in fear when he stares down Goliath, but he is also not rash or haphazard in his reaction. He is confident and sure that he is protected and not alone. How can someone have this reaction? It is only through his experience of God and all that he has done for him. God had saved David in the past from things that could kill him, lions and bears, and he trusts that If God had done it before, then he would do it again. David knew in a real way that he was never truly alone, he didn’t fight Goliath on his own, he had God and all his power with him. That’s true for you and I today too. We don’t walk through life alone, we have the Holy Spirit, Jesus gift to us, who helps us understand God and also trust in his power at work in our lives. So as when you encounter your next Goliath, stand firm in the knowledge that you don’t have to fight it alone!
PRAYER: Jesus, thank you that you entered the earthly experience. Thank you that because of that act I can be assured that you understand what I am going through, because you have experienced this life too. Help me to trust in your power at work in my life. Give me courage and faith, Amen.
Today's devotion written by Elise von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle
The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you...So Abram went, as the Lord had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he set out from Harran.
TO PONDER
I was nervous when Mathew told me he felt God was calling him into the pastoral ministry. It meant leaving everything I had known, with 2 small children, to embark on an adventure we had never even considered. The feelings of worry, uncertainty and fear came quickly. Where would we live? What would we do for money? Would we make friends? Would we be on our own? However, with a confidence that this was what God was asking of us, we went. And what blessings God gave to us! We were blessed with a community who understood what we were experiencing, because they were too! We never went without, in fact we were blessed beyond measure by people we had never even met. If we had only focused on our fear then we would have missed so many incredible blessings. So, step out in faith and into what God is calling to today! He wants to partner with you on an adventure bigger than your wildest dreams!
PRAYER:Lord Jesus, what an amazing gift that you ask me to partner with you on your amazing adventure. Give me courage to take the first steps with you, even if they are scary. Thank you that I don’t go on the journey alone, but you are always with me, Amen.
Today' s devotion written by Elise von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle
The Lord then said to Noah, “Go into the ark, you and your whole family, because I have found you righteous in this generation... and Noah did all that the Lord commanded him.
TO PONDER
Have you ever been asked to do something that sounded crazy or impossible? Thankfully, God has never asked me to do anything as crazy as building a giant ark, but I have faced many situations that I felt totally unprepared and ill-equipped for, and I am sure you have too. So, what do we do in those situations? Well, we have a choice. We can say, “No way man, you got the wrong guy!” or we can do as Noah did and trust that if God is asking us to do it, then He knows we can. This is where our confidence (and I am sure Noah’s confidence) to do all God commands comes from. It is not from within ourselves, but rather in trusting that we never do God’s work on our own, but in partnership with Him!
PRAYER:Lord God, thank you for the gifts and talents you have blessed me with. Help me to use them willingly for your glory. In the times when I feel overwhelmed or unqualified for the job you ate asking me to do, help me to remember that you are with me and you can do all things, Amen.
Today's devotion written by Elise von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle
When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.
TO PONDER
The faith of Jospeh is pretty incredible! First, he is told a story by the woman he is betrothed to that would make anyone raise their eyebrows. At first, he doesn’t believe her and then he has his own angelic encounter and his whole perspective on the situation changes. He goes from someone who is going to quietly divorce the woman he was to be married to, to someone who sticks by her, and forgoes his husbandly rights. He also follows the command of God and gives the baby the name Jesus.
I sometimes wish that God would intervene in my life in a similar way. That he would make his ways known to me with an angel announcement or clear direction. But it hasn’t been that way for me. Despite this, I do know that God is always speaking to me, through his word, through the Holy Spirit and through those around me that he is using to guide and direct me. I just need to open my eyes and ears to hear the words he is saying to me!
PRAYER:Heavenly Father, thank you that I am not wandering alone in this world. Instead, you have given me your word, your spirit and your church to help guide me and make your ways known and clear to me. Help me to hear and see clearly and to understand where you want me to be and what you want me to do, Amen.
Today's devotion written by Elise von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle