Faithful Christian Commitment and service
in the Middle East for almost 150 years The Nazareth Trust Healing in the Name of Jesus Since 1861
in the Middle East for almost 150 years The Nazareth Trust Healing in the Name of Jesus Since 1861
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Welcome
Welcome to you all on this second Sunday of Advent! We are pleased to be able to share with you all at this special time of year and join with you in celebrating this season.
As we approach Christmas the Chaplaincy service and the hospital are running a lot of different activities. We ask for your prayers for all these activities, that everything we do would glorify His name.
This devotion is a meditation on the Christmas story as a picture of the Christian life. Each stage shows different parts of the Christmas story which we all know and seeks to apply them in a personal way. We hope that this will bring the story to life in a different way and help each one of us apply it today.
Good News
In Luke 1: 8 – 25 and Luke 1: 26 – 38, we see the angel Gabriel bringing good news. This good news was given to Zechariah and to Mary, just six months apart. Their lives were to be changed forever.
We have also received good news – and our lives can also be changed by it. But as with Zechariah and Mary, we have a choice. We can accept Jesus, accept His coming into our lives, accept His Holy Spirit living in us, or we can decide not to.
We may have problems believing in the change – Zechariah did and he was made silent as he witnessed the outworking of God’s plan. This seems like a punishment, but we can also use silence, where we lack certainty.
Psalm 46: 10 says “Be still and know that I am God.” He is God. Nothing is impossible with Him. Much of Zechariah’s time in silence was probably spent in inner praise as he was able to stop, see and welcome what God was doing.
As we think about the good news He brings, be quiet and welcome Him into your life. Where there are issues which seem humanly impossible to resolve, remember the words of Gabriel to Mary – nothing is impossible with Him. Welcome Him – let it be to us as He has said. As He wishes to lead us, let us welcome Him with those words of Mary.
Journey
As we receive Christ and welcome Him in our lives, we begin a journey towards Him. In the Christmas story we see this journey in different forms.
Mary & Joseph travelled to meet with Jesus face to face, at the appointed place, though they carried Him with them (Luke 2: 1 - 5). The Shepherds received the news about Him and jumped up to go and see Him themselves (Luke 2: 8 – 16). The Magi had been watching and waiting for Him and travelled far to see the culmination of what they had long waited for (Matthew 2: 1 -12).
The journeys required obedience. Joseph and Mary were obedient to the declaration requiring them to go to Bethlehem. The shepherds were obedient in seeking the sign the angels told them about. The Magi were obedient in seeking and following the star.
Each of us journeys towards God in different ways and for different reasons. Maybe we already know Jesus and are journeying to come closer, to meet with Him face to face. Maybe we have been told about Him by others and want to see for ourselves. Maybe we have been waiting to discover Him in person.
Where are you on your journey? Are you seeking new revelation, new closeness, or a first meeting? Are you being obedient to His leading on your journey?
None of those who came on the journey were disappointed. Prayerfully seek Him in quietness and bring Him the desires of your heart for your relationship with Him.
Signs
As Jesus came we see so many signs of His coming and His Divine nature.
Creation testifies of Him through the star (Matthew 2: 1 -2).
The miracle of virgin birth testifies to Him, as planned from ages past (Isaiah 7:14).
The location of His birth confirms His identity as God, fulfilling prophecy (Micah 5: 2)
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The Magi testify in person, angels testify to all who will hear and Simeon recognizes Him as the fulfillment of the promise made to him personally (Luke 2: 25 – 32).
Today we receive these testimonies and the testimonies of others through the ages. God came and lived with us. Not only that, but He lives with us today. He lives in us today through His Holy Spirit.
He fulfills the prophecy, He is God, He is God with us.
As we see these signs, part of our journey is to testify to Him. We add our testimony to that of those through the ages. We receive Him in our lives and we become a sign for others, to encourage them on their journey, testifying to His goodness, His faithfulness, His Godhead.
Take time to consider your testimony, in thought, word and deed. You may want to write something which testifies of His presence and work in your life. How has God been seen in your life, how has He worked in your life? How can you show these signs to others or record them for His glory?
Adoration
The birth of Jesus brought forth praise, in every way in everyone. We see Mary (Luke 1: 46 – 49), the angels (Luke 2: 14), the Magi (Matthew 2: 11), the shepherds (Luke 2: 20) and the prophetess Anna (Luke 2: 36 – 38), all praising God.
It is the one constant in the story, each person encountered who welcomes Jesus praises Him. People praised Him as the Child of the promise, they praised Him as God with us and they worshipped. They worshipped in song, in words, in thanks, in offerings, in evangelism.
We are part of this story – part of it today and every day. As we welcome Him, we live lives of worship. Take some time to express your adoration for Him in whichever way you feel led.
“Receive our adoration, Jesus Lamb of God,
Receive our adoration, How wonderful You are”
Response
As we think of Christmas, of Jesus, of God, of His wonderful coming for each of us, to bring us the Good news, to accompany us on our journey, to guide us, to change us and to receive our praise, take time to respond. Christmas illustrates the Christian life and as we journey towards Him, let us give testimony and praise Him in all we do.
Prepared by: Christine Farah