DAILY DEVOTIONALS: 12.24.22

The First Christmas Story - by Greg Laurie � www.harvest.org And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist �Colossians 1:17 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/the-first-christmas-story/- Listen The first Christmas story begins with a tree, but not our kind of Christmas tree. This was the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil in the Garden of Eden. God had placed Adam and Eve in a literal paradise. Best of all, the Lord Himself showed up every day to take a walk with His friend Adam. God had given Adam and Eve only onerestriction: Stay away from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. But by chapter 3 of Genesis, Adam and Eve are at the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. We know the rest of the story. Adam and Eve listened to the serpent and ate theforbidden fruit. And they lost their sweet fellowship with God. Then we come to the first Christmas verse in the Bible, where God said to the serpent, �And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed;He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel� (Genesis 3:15 NKJV). God was saying, �There is One coming to destroy you, Devil. He�s going to crush you.� Therefore, the Christmas story doesn�t start in Matthew or Luke. It starts in the Old Testament. Jesus has always been there. The Bible tells us, �In the beginning was theWord, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God� (John 1:1 NKJV). Before there was a world, before there were planets, before there was light and darkness, before there was matter, before there was anything but the Godhead, there was Jesus,coequal, coeternal, and coexistent with the Father and Holy Spirit. He was with God. He was God. And then He became an embryo. He did not become identical to us, but He became identified with us. In fact, He could not have identified withus more closely than He did. ---------------------------------- ASpring of Water “Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: But whosoever drinkethof the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.” (John4:13-14) Water is necessary for life, and no one can live for long without it. Jesus, when talking to the Samaritan woman at the well, used this simple and well-known fact to teach timeless truth, both to her and to us. The two occurrences of the word “drinketh” in today’s verse are actually in two different forms. The construction used in Greek implies a continual, habitual drinking in the first case but a one-time action in the second. Likewise, while the woman referred to a “well” (v. 12) (literally “a hole in the ground”), Christ referred to a “flowing well,” or “spring,” using a different word. Furthermore, when He said one who drinks from His spring shall “never thirst,” He said so in a very emphatic way. Not only is “thirst” emphasized by the sentence structure, but it is compiled of two negatives preceding the verb “thirst,” which is further strengthenedby the word “forever,” i.e., “shall not, shall not thirst, forever.” One who drinks from the wells of the world will thirst again, for sinful pleasures never satisfy. But just a single drink from the springs of “living water” (4:10; 7:38) of which Christ spoke eliminates spiritual thirst forever. That one drink is a drink of eternal life, and it becomes in the believer a veritable spring, inexhaustible in its quantity and unsurpassed in its quality. The water is a reference to the work of the indwelling Holy Spirit, sent by Jesus to minister to Hisfollowers in His absence. One day we’ll be with Him, and then, as well as now, He completely satisfies. JDM -------------------------- TheEternity of Christ “O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.” (John17:5) This passage is taken from Christ’s prayer to the Father shortly before His crucifixion. It’s one of the clearest biblical statements of the preexistence of the God-man Jesus. Here, Jesus declares that He existed before the world’s creation in Genesis 1, which is equivalent to saying that He is eternal. The great reformer John Calvin said, “This is a remarkable passage, which teaches us that Christ is not a God who has been newly contrived, or who has existed only for a time; for if his glory was eternal, he himself also has always been.” Jesus had previouslyclaimed eternity and unity with Yahweh, saying, “Before Abraham was, I am” (John8:58). In Psalm 90:2, Moses says, “Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.” The eternal Christ temporarily “took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men” and “humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross” (Philippians2:7-8). He was looking and praying toward a future glory: “Who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews12:2). Praise God, this future glory involves a redeemed race of rebels who will enjoy it with Him. As Jesus prayed, “That they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me beforethe foundation of the world” (John17:24). JPT ---------------------- TheDivine/Human Word “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hathin these last days spoken unto us by his Son.” (Hebrews1:1-2) The title of the Word of God is given both to Jesus Christ as the living Word (John1:1-3; Revelation 19:13) and to the Holy Scriptures as the written Word (Ephesians6:17; Hebrews 4:12; etc.). They are so perfectly synchronous that what is said of one can usually be applied also to the other. Both are human, yet without error; both are divine, yet can be comprehended by man. “God was manifest in the flesh” (1Timothy 3:16). “Holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost” (2Peter 1:21). “In him is no sin” (1John 3:5), “the Scripture cannot be broken,” and “all Scripture...is profitable” (John10:35; 2 Timothy 3:16). Furthermore, each is eternal. “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever” (Hebrews13:8). “For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven” (Psalm119:89). Each brings regeneration and everlasting life to all those who believe. “He saved us, by the washing of regeneration... through Jesus Christ our Saviour” (Titus3:5-6). “God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son” (1John 5:11). “Being born again...by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever” (1Peter 1:23). “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me” (John5:39). Finally, judgment comes by both Christ and the Scriptures. “The Father...hath committed all judgment unto the Son” (John5:22). “The dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books” (Revelation20:12). Both Christ and the Bible are vitally important to each Christian and must be studied, understood, known, loved, trusted, and relied upon in every human endeavor. HMM ------------------ YouCan Be Content “I have learned, in whatever state I am, therewith to be content” (Philippians4:11) What is contentment? The Greek word autarkes means “sufficient/strong.” Our Lord uses the related Greek verb arkeomai when He encourages Paul in 2 Corinthians 12:9 that “my grace is sufficient for thee.” Peter covers contentment’s sufficiency in 2 Peter 1:3 by reminding believers that we have been given “all things that pertain unto life and godliness,” with the words “all things” placed at the front of the verse for emphasis. So, why are we sometimes discontent even with all these spiritual andphysical resources at our disposal? Contentment is learned. Charles Spurgeon says of contentment, “It is not a power that may be exercised naturally, but a science to be acquired gradually.” In other words, besides salvation (which is an instantaneous event), precious qualities in the Christianexperience are cultivated. When Paul finally mastered the art of contentment, it was only after the refiner’s fire of hardship had conditioned him for the serious trial he was then experiencing as a forgotten prisoner in Nero’s dirty dungeon. “Therefore, I take pleasure in infirmities,in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then I am strong” (2Corinthians 12:10). As Spurgeon concludes, “Brother and sister, hush that complaint, as natural as it is, and continue as a diligent scholar in the College of Content.” Knowing the secret of contentment and proving the sufficiency of Christ against the demands of life are challengingtasks for the believer, but take heart! You can say with Paul, “I can do all things through Christ who strengtheneth me” (Philippians4:13). CM ------------------- OurInheritance “To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you.” (1Peter 1:4) Our heavenly inheritance, among other things, is an “eternal inheritance” (Hebrews9:15), held jointly with Christ (Romans8:17) and “all them which are sanctified” (Acts20:32). We who are born again “by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” and “kept by the power of God” (1Peter 1:3, 5) find such an inheritance described in today’s verse. First, we notice that our inheritance is incorruptible, or undecaying, immortal. Note how the same word is used in verse 23: “Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God.” Therefore, “lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt” (Matthew6:20). Second, it is undefiled, pure, uncontaminated by sin. Remember, Christ is “holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners” (Hebrews7:26), and so, evidently, is our inheritance. Third, it fadeth not away. “And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away” (1Peter 5:4). Lastly, our inheritance is reserved in heaven. Christ prayed, “Holy Father, keep [same word] through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are” (John17:11). Surely our inheritance is as secure as we are, guarded by none other than the all-powerful guard. So, we see that our inheritance cannot die, cannot be tainted by sin, will never fade, and cannot be lost. “I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day” (2Timothy 1:12). JDM --------------- GodIs Paying Attention - by Greg Laurie � www.harvest.org �Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,� which is translated, �God with us.� �Matthew 1:23 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/god-is-paying-attention/Listen I can�t think of a time of year when it�s easier to lose God than at Christmastime. In many of the Christmas specials we watch on television and the songs people perform, there�s no mention of Jesus. I honestly think many of us know the Dickens story �A ChristmasCarol� more than the story of Mary, Joseph, and the baby Jesus. It�s possible to lose God in this season. Of course, we can�t really lose God, but we can lose sight of Him. However, He never loses sight of us. He�s constantly thinkingabout us. We see this exemplified in the blessing God gave the priests to pronounce over the people of Israel: �The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and giveyou peace� (Numbers 6:24�26 NKJV). In the original language, the phrase �the Lord lift up His countenance upon you� means �to look, see, and pay full attention.� We don�t pay as much attention to each other as we used to. The reason for this is the existence of smartphones. People go out to dinner and spend most of the time staringat their devices. Or they�re out walking their dogs and looking at their phones. Researchers have found that we have a generation of people who prefer texting to talking. Thus, many of these people might not understand social cues, such as making eye contactor nodding in affirmation when someone�s speaking to them. That�s not true of God. When we�re talking, God�s listening. He�s taking in every word that we say. He�s very interested. The essential message of Christmas is Immanuel, Godwith us. We may lose sight of God, but He never loses sight of us. ----------------------- Too Busy for Jesus? - by Greg Laurie � www.harvest.org Seek the LORD while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near �Isaiah 55:6 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/too-busy-for-jesus/- Listen A number of years ago, I read a story about a man who set up a nativity scene on his front lawn, but some vandals came along and stole the baby Jesus. The man was quoted assaying, �They�ve taken my Jesus, and I don�t know where he is.� I thought, �Sir, those people did not take your Jesus. They took a plastic figure, probably with a light bulb inside, that�s a representation of Jesus. But that wasn�t Jesus.� We can�t lose Jesus, but sometimes people lose sight of the real Jesus, especially during the Christmas season. Of course, we have responsibilities, families, and things weneed to do, but let�s find ways to share the real message of Christmas. It�s easy to transition a conversation to what the Christmas season is really about: the birth of Jesus Christ. Let�s not allow the busyness of the season to crowd Jesus out of our lives. We need to slow down, listen to the Lord, and stay in close fellowship with Him. Even if you�vebeen so busy that you haven�t paid as much attention to Him as you should, He�s patiently waiting for you to return. Jesus walked in our shoes, breathed our air, died our death, and rose from the dead. Is Jesus Christ living inside you? If not, I hope you�ll soon believe in Him. He wantsto forgive all your sins. He wants to be the Lord of your life, not just at Christmastime but every day of the year. He�s an everyday Jesus, and He�s here for you right now. Jesus, who was born in Bethlehem, died on the cross, and rose from the dead, is standing at the door of your life and knocking. If you�re not sure that he�s living insideyou, will you open the door and ask Him to come in? ----------------------- DeathBefore Sin? �For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, evenso in Christ shall all be made alive.� (1Corinthians 15:21-22) Modern evangelicals have found it fashionable to accommodate Scripture to the concept of a very old earth. These views all do serious harm to Scripture, including the current compromise of choice, the �framework hypothesis,� which holds that the passages thatseem to deal with science and early history contain only �spiritual� truth but not factual content. Each such attempt to accept vast ages before the appearance of man has many flaws, but perhaps the most damaging to the Christian faith is the problem of deathbefore sin. The Bible plainly teaches that �the wages of sin is death� (Romans6:23). Before Adam and Eve rebelled, animals ate only plants (Genesis1:30). Death came as a result of sin and the curse: �For in the day that thou eatest thereof [the forbidden tree] thou shalt surely die� (Genesis2:17). The first death in all of creation occurred when God provided Adam and Eve animal skins for clothing. Sin always brings death. �By one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned� (Romans5:12). Indeed, �the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now� (Romans8:22). That this is not referring to spiritual death only is clear from today�s verse, which deals with physical resurrection from the dead. Just as Adam�s sin brought death on all creation, so Christ�s resurrection brings victory over death. But here is the problem. If death existed before Adam, then death is not the penalty for sin. How, then, did Christ�s death pay the penalty for our sin? If death is not tied to Adam�s sin, then life is not tied to Christ�s death and resurrection, and the Christianfaith is all in vain. JDM -------------------- When Nonessentials Displace Essentials - by Greg Laurie � www.harvest.org After the celebration was over, they started home to Nazareth, but Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents didn�t miss him at first, because they assumed he was amongthe other travelers. But when he didn�t show up that evening, they started looking for him among their relatives and friends. �Luke 2:43�44 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/when-nonessentials-displace-essentials/- Listen We know little about the childhood of Jesus. What we do know is that He was raised in Nazareth. We know that Joseph was a carpenter, so he most likely also trained Jesus tobe a carpenter. But Jesus was also schooled in the Scriptures, and He observed the Law. In fact, Luke�s gospel tells us that every year, Mary and Joseph went to Jerusalem to celebrate thePassover. But one year, when Jesus was twelve, Mary and Joseph somehow lost track of His whereabouts. If you�ve ever lost sight of a child somewhere, then you know that feeling of terror that grips you when you realize you�ve lost sight of the child. Now, we might think thatJesus would have been quite easy to find because whenever we see Him depicted in religious art, He has a halo. But Jesus didn�t have a halo. He looked like everyone else. The Bible says of Him, �He has no form or comeliness� (Isaiah 53:2 NKJV). In other words, he was an ordinary-lookingkind of guy. He didn�t stand out from the crowd in terms of His physical looks. After a frantic search, Mary and Joseph finally found Jesus in the Temple, where He was reasoning with the leaders. Mary and Joseph had traveled an entire day before they missed Him. They had breakfast, lunch, and dinner and never once saw His face through all those. They hadn�t lost theirlove for Him. Nor had they lost their faith. But they lost Him. Literally. The same thing can happen to us. We can go through a morning, afternoon, and evening without a single thought about God, without a single moment given to prayer or readingthe Bible. It just isn�t part of our day-to-day routine. And very easily, God�s only begotten Son can become God�s only forgotten Son. We lose Jesus when nonessentials displace essentials in our lives. ---------------------- WeCan Know That We Know Him �And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.� (1John 2:3) The apostle John�s vocabulary in his gospel, epistles, and Revelation is quite distinctive. The verb �know,� for example, occurs more in John than in any other gospel, and more in 1 John than in any other epistle. He emphasizes by this that the Christian lifeis based on knowledge. In the words of today�s verse, for example, we can test the genuineness of our knowledge of Christ as Savior by whether or not we keep His commandments. Note some of the other tests listed in John in his first epistle. �Ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him� (1John 2:29). �We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren� (3:14). �Hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us� (3:24). �But whoso keepeth [i.e., �guards�] his word, in him verily is thelove of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him� (2:5). �These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life� (5:13). There are other similar �tests of life,� but these make the point. A person who has been really born again through faith in Christ and His saving work can have assurance of his salvation if he truly believes in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ; if he guardsand honors God�s Word; if he manifests the presence of the guiding, purifying Holy Spirit in his life; if he keeps His commandments and lives righteously; and if he manifests real love for his Christian brethren. This is not to say that if he fails one or more of these tests he is necessarily unsaved. There are, however, no grounds for real assurance of salvation without them. Therefore, as Paul suggests, �examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your ownselves� (2Corinthians 13:5). HMM