King David rose to his feet and said: “Listen to me, my fellow Israelites, my people. I had it in my heart to build a house as a place of rest for the ark of the covenant of the Lord, for the footstool of our God, and I made plans to build it. But God said to me, ‘You are not to build a house for my Name, because you are a warrior and have shed blood.’
TO PONDER
Everybody has a role to play but sometimes it may not be the role we hoped for…
King David was anointed king while he was still a teenager looking after his families flocks and it would be many, many years before he actually sat on the throne but he did rule as king for 40 years.
The life of David is quite literally a thing of legend and God himself even called David “a man after my own heart”, yet he still wasn’t able to accomplish everything he had wanted to accomplish.
Today’s verses are from King David’s final speech as king as he hands over the throne to his son Solomon, as he laments not being able to finish the advent-ure that was conceived in his heart many years before, to build the temple.
While these verses contain some regret the rest of speech celebrates that God’s plan conceived in his heart would be completed by the new generation. David celebrates that he was able to have the plans drawn up ready for someone else to fulfil their role in the advent-ure that was conceived in his heart.
PRAYER: Mighty God, I thank you that we all have a role to play in your impossible advent-ure, as your word says some will sow and others will reap but we all get to participate in achieving your plan. Amen.
Today's devotion written by Danny Brock, LifeWay Westside
The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”
TO PONDER
Has life ever surprised you, when your life plans have changed unexpectedly leaving you unsure of the future? Sure, we know from Romans 8:28 that “That’s why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good.” (MSG), that everything whether good times or bad times God works them for good.
But that doesn’t mean it’s easy…
In today’s verses we read about one of these experiences, a life changing, invitation into an impossible advent-ure with God.
Abram (who becomes Abraham), we are told, is 72 years old when he joins an impossible advent-ure conceived by God, the promise to be made “into a great nation”, even though he was childless and, ummm, oldish, even though he didn’t understand it, Abram answered the call to “go” and he went...
This past Sunday at LifeWay churches we looked at the “Conceived Advent-ure” of Mary, when the angel invited her into another impossible advent-ure, to play a role in the fulfillment of the promise made to Abram in today’s verses, were fulfilled.
Because Abram trusted God and went on the advent-ure into the unknown, God’s promise of his descendants being a blessing to the world was fulfilled through Mary’s conceived adventure, Jesus.
When you say yes to God’s impossible advent-ure, and trust Him the impossible becomes possible.
PRAYER: Mighty God, I repent for the times I haven’t trusted you, when life hasn’t taken me to where I expected and I thank you that with you the impossible becomes possible when I join you in your advent-ure. Amen.
Today's devotion written by Danny Brock, LifeWay Westside.
But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favour with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”
TO PONDER
Probably the most significant event in your life growing up would be leaving the family home and making your way in the world outside of those familiar surroundings. What was the reason you moved out of home for the first time? Was it to go to University? Was it because you got a flash new job in the city? Did you simply want to ‘spread your wings’ and make your own way in the world and explore everything the world had to offer? Was it for not so ‘fun’ reasons that you’d rather not talk about? Were you able to have all the plans in place, or did it just seem to all happen at once? While I was trepidatious at first, and all this had happened for me quite quickly in the last weeks of the 2020 school year, I saw it as a good opportunity to ‘spread my wings’ and dive into my adult adventure on my own, away from the house, the town, and the people I knew. As it turned out, on the day I chose to tell everyone at my home congregation that I was moving away, the Bishop was there, and he said to me “We have a church plant out there at Penrith that’s just started, so you should go along when you settle in to your new home and school”. From there, the rest, as they say, was history.
‘She was thoroughly shaken, wondering what was behind her… But the angel assured her “Mary, you have nothing to fear. You have found favour with God.”
It is estimated that Mary was 12-14 years old when the angel brought her the “good news” that she had “found favour with God” and was pregnant. Mary’s life was thoroughly shaken, her former hopes and dreams were hijacked by her God, she was shaken.
Mary’s response was “I am the Lord’s servant, May your word to me be fulfilled.” (Verse 38), Mary committed to the shaking plans of her God joining Him in the adventure that would change the world.
PRAYER: Mighty God, So, I thank you that in those big life shaking events that you, my God are always behind everything to assure me that you have a plans for me, and that I should not be afraid. Amen.
Today's devotion written by John Robertson, LifeWay Westside
For if, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.
TO PONDER:
There's a great little book that our kids used to love growing up,"Guess how much I love you" It is the story of Little Nutbrown Hare, who was going to bed who had something to say to Big Nutbrown Hare.
“Guess how much I love you,” he said.
“Oh, I don’t think I could guess that,” said Big Nutbrown Hare.
“This much,” said Little Nutbrown Hare, stretching out his arms as wide as they could go.
Big Nutbrown Hare had even longer arms. “But I love YOU this much,” he said.
The book finishes with Little Nutbrown Hare saying, "I love you right up to the moon" before falling asleep to which Big Nutbrown Hare responds, " I love you right up to the moon AND BACK!"
Paul in this passage from Romans is doing a similar thing to the story. It's found in the word 'much more'! This is the fifth time he has told us the Christ does "much more". Christ doesn't just counteract sin and death, he does "much more." He goes far beyond it. What is that much more? Well death once reigned, but now...you expect Paul to say life reigns...but the much more is that we reign in life. Those who receive grace are no longer separated from God. Those who receive the free gift of righteousness, who bask in that, reign in life.
So today, think about what does that mean...that you reign in life? In the midst of whatever is happening in your life, whatever you have to face today, that you reign because of Jesus!
PRAYER:
Jesus, thank you that you have done so much more, that you give me so much more. Amen.
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
TO PONDER:
Do you remember the Cadbury Chocolate Ads that used the Beach Boys ‘Wouldn’t it be nice’ song with reworked lyrics?
Wouldn’t it be nice if the world were Cadbury?You could surf inside a chocolate tubeRide your board across the wave foreverGet wiped out and never get a bruiseAnd if a shark came up and tried to bite youYou could say ‘I’m chocolate – I invite you’Wouldn’t it be nice?
Wouldn't it be nice...for a little peace in the world. For peace in the Gaza Strip. In Sudan. In Myanmar. Wouldn't it be nice if there was peace in our community...where gang violence was a thing of the past. Where we could let our kids roam the streets again without fear. Wouldn't it be nice for a little peace in our homes...where conflict in marriage was gone, where siblings stopped fighting. Wouldn't it be nice for a bit of silent night, where all is calm and all is bright? Researchers have found that in the 3400 years of recorded history that they can determine, that only 234 years have been lived in peace. That's less that 7% of the time. Wouldn't it be nice...but let's get real...it seems it is not going to happen.
We live in a world that is not the way it is supposed to be. But Isaiah tells us that the hope of the world lies in a child who will be born, a Son, Jesus Christ, who is peace, who will make peace, who will bring peace Into this world, by fighting everything that threatens the world's shalom. The Prince of Peace comes to bring about the restoration of relationships, a world in which every person and every creature is connected in a vast network of mutually edifying relationships in which each contributes to the flourishing of all. Now wouldn't that be nice.
How can you help someone today to flourish by celebrating what God is doing in their lives?
PRAYER:
Prince of Peace, come and bring your peace to our lives and this world as we reveal and celebrate that your Kingdom is here and among us. Amen.
“Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the LORD of hosts.
TO PONDER:
I sat across from this dishevelled man who had reached out through the media ads we played on the radio. The single bulb light in the lounge room her the coffee table was the only light in the room. All the curtains were drawn...it was the middle of the day. He pulled one used cigarette butt after another from a flower pot of butts that he had obviously collected from various places and he pulled out the remaining tobacco to roll his own, which he lit in front of me. He proceeded to tell me his story...a story that was told in a minor key. It was dark. It was sad. It was devoid of hope. But it was his question at the end that surprised me...'The radio program said that God is loving and just and always for the forgotten...but you tell me, where is the God of justice now?'
'Where is the God of justice?' That is the very question that lies behind the response given in the reading today. Israel had been asking the question a lot. Everywhere they looked, it seemed that God favoured the wicked while the righteous suffered. It had caused God's people to become disheartened and to lose hope. The God who would restore Israel seemed to be missing in action. So where is the God of justice. God speaks through the prophet Malachi and answers that recurring question. When you least expect it, when you have all but given up hope, the God of justice will come. The invisible God who seems to be missing in action, who seems to pay no attention to the evil and wickedness in this world will come to clean things up, to wipe away the guilt of sin and restore us to a relationship where we can confidently bask in his presence. That's a promise you can depend on. This cleansing, this purifying won't always be comfortable but the God of justice is faithful to all his promises and loving to all he as made. That's the hope that the first candle of Advent prepares us to receive.
What has you feeling disheartened today? What promise of God do you need to hold on to so you can live with hope?
PRAYER
God of justice, when I feel disheartened by the events of the world and my own life, fill me with the hope of your coming. Cleanse my heart, forgive my sin and lift up my head to watch and wait for your coming again to bring true justice to this world. Amen.
A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.
The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him— the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord—
TO PONDER
Again we see that God had a plan in place well before the birth of Jesus. God knew how it would come about, who would be involved and had the whole thing planned right from the very beginning.
What is confronting in this particular prophetic word from Isaiah concerning the Messiah is how the Spirit of the Lord will rest on him. This is confronting because the apostle Paul in Romans 8 says, "the Spirit of Him who raised Christ from the dead is now living in you." Just think about that for a moment. Not only does the Holy Spirit, who raised Jesus from the dead, the same Holy Spirit that conceived the physical human form of Jesus in Mary's womb, now live in you and bring you new life, he also brings wisdom and understanding, counsel and power, knowledge and the fear of the Lord. Because Jesus came and restored our relationship with God, we too are able to have the Spirit of God rest on us, guide us and lead us, just as God always intended. That's the life that was lost to sin but has been restored because of God's pre-planned adventure to restore what had been lost.
So think about that this week. How is your new life in Christ marked by the wisdom, understanding, counsel, power, knowledge, and faith, which the Holy Spirit brings to those who are in Christ Jesus?
PRAYER: Holy Spirit, come and rest on me today. Help me and guide me in your ways. Renew and transform my life so that I may be an effective part of God's plan to bring His restoration to all things, in Jesus name, Amen.
Today's devotion written by Mathew von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle
to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.
TO PONDER
The last bit of this verse is the best; ‘to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ’. Unity. All things. On earth. Including wars. Because there are some terrible wars at the moment. The war in the Ukraine continues, but we don’t hear much about it, because the war in the Gaza strip is taking the headlines.
No one wins a war.
Apart from praying, what can do about it?
Here’s something one of the LifeWay members did recently. He attended a Jewish synagogue with a Jewish friend. They were amazed. They were astounded, that a Christian would come and share their space, and pray for peace with them – because that’s what they did.
We start the season we call Advent tomorrow. This is the season to prepare for the birth of the Prince of Peace. As the silly season encroaches on us, stop and remember the reason we celebrate this time of year. Slow down and think about the baby born into a violent world 2000 years ago. Find the time to recall that wonderful story that marks the beginning of the rest of our lives.
We too are called to bring unity to the world. Give it your best shot.
PRAYER: As we begin the rush to Christmas Lord, give us the peace that only you can give, to help us cope with the craziness at this time of year. Keep us focussed on you and your message and help us to try and not let other stuff get in the way. Amen
Today's devotion written by Mark Simpfendorfer, LifeWay Epping
For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
TO PONDER
Do you recall the hymn, All things bright and beautiful? A lovely hymn that lists a bunch of stuff God created. Here’s a couple of verses:
(chorus) All things bright and beautiful, all creatures great and small
All things wise and wonderful, the Lord God made them all
Each little flower that opens, each little bird that sings
He made their glowing colours, He made their tiny wings (chorus)
The purple headed mountains, the rivers running by
The sunset and the morning, that brightens up the sky (chorus)
And our verse mentions that in God, all things hold together. God is the glue. God is the adhesive that holds all things together…but only if you’re ‘in’ him. Someone re-wrote the above hymn, mentioning all the harsh things in life, and telling us that God made them as well! But that writer was not ‘in’ God. They did not know the unconditional love God provides, the sacrifice God made, and the promise that He will be with us always.
PRAYER: Maker of all, thank you for keeping our world together. Thank you for blessings us with all the amazing things you’ve created for us to enjoy. Give us wisdom to discern that which is not from you. Amen
Today's devotion written by Mark Simpfendorfer, LifeWay Epping