LHM Advent Devotion - December 24, 2017 "THE RIGHT TIME"

Advent Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries

"THE RIGHT TIME"

December 24, 2017

And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth.

~ Luke 2:6 (ESV)

"The time came." Every pregnant woman knows the weight of this expression. From the beginning of the pregnancy, we are always waiting, counting-when will the baby be due? When will the morning sickness end? When will we see the baby on ultrasound? And most of all, right at the end, how many more days am I going to have to carry this heavy baby around!?

But the time did finally come for Mary to give birth. Humanly speaking, it was the worst time possible-far from home, away from family, sheltering among animals, reduced to using a feedbox for a cradle. No doubt Mary and Joseph would have preferred something better. But God the Father chose this particular time and place for His Son to enter the world. Looking back, we can see why-this is the Savior who came "not to be served but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many" (Matthew 20:28b).

The time came. But with that, a new time of waiting began. As an adult, Jesus said several times, "My time has not yet come" (John 7:6, 8:20; Matthew 26:18; John 2:4). And what time is this? The time He would suffer and die to redeem us all, so that we could be freed from sin and become children of God.

It was for this time that Jesus came into the world-to rescue us, to redeem us, to raise us to new and everlasting life through the power of His own resurrection. Paul tells us, "For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person-though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die-but God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:6-8).

That tiny baby has become our Redeemer and Savior. Today is the right time for us to trust in Him.

THE PRAYER: Lord Jesus, thank You for Your kindness to us, being born into our world and suffering and dying and rising, all at the right time for us. Keep us with You forever. Amen.

Use these devotions in your newsletter and bulletin! Used by permission; all rights reserved by the Int'l LLL (LHM).
"The time came." Every pregnant woman knows the weight of this expression.

Devociones de Adviento de 24 de Diciembre de 2017 "En el tiempo preciso"

ALIMENTO DIARIO

"En el tiempo preciso"

24 de Diciembre de 2017

Y mientras ellos se encontraban allí, se cumplió el tiempo de que ella diera a luz.

~ Lucas 2:6 (RVC)

"Se cumplió el tiempo." Toda mujer que ha tenido hijos sabe cuánto pesa esa expresión. Desde el comienzo del embarazo, las mujeres esperamos y contamos. ¿Cuándo va a nacer nuestro hijo? ¿Cuándo terminarán las náuseas? ¿Cuándo veré a mi bebé en el ultrasonido? Y, ya hacia el final del embarazo, ¿CUÁNTOS DÍAS MÁS TENDRÉ QUE SEGUIR ANDANDO CON ESTA SEMEJANTE PANZA?

Finalmente, a María le llegó el momento de dar a luz. Humanamente hablando, era el peor momento posible: lejos del hogar y de la familia, cobijada entre animales y teniendo que utilizar un pesebre como cuna. Sin lugar a dudas, María y José hubieran preferido algo mejor. Pero Dios el Padre eligió ese tiempo y lugar en particular para que su Hijo entrara en el mundo. Con lo que sabemos hoy, podemos ver por qué Jesús es el salvador que "no vino para ser servido, sino para servir y para dar su vida en rescate por muchos" (Mateo 20:28).

Había llegado el momento. Pero a la vez comenzó un nuevo tiempo de espera. Durante su ministerio terrenal, Jesús varias veces dijo: "Mi tiempo aún no ha llegado" (Juan 7, 8:20; Mateo 26:18; Juan 2:4). ¿Qué tiempo? El tiempo en que habría de sufrir y morir para redimirnos a todos, liberarnos del pecado y hacernos hijos de Dios.

Fue para ese momento que Jesús vino al mundo--para rescatarnos, redimirnos y resucitarnos a una vida nueva y eterna a través del poder de su propia resurrección. Pablo nos dice: "Porque a su debido tiempo, cuando aún éramos débiles, Cristo murió por los pecadores. Es difícil que alguien muera por un justo, aunque tal vez haya quien se atreva a morir por una persona buena. Pero Dios muestra su amor por nosotros en que, cuando aún éramos pecadores, Cristo murió por nosotros" (Romanos 5:6-8).

Ese pequeño Niño se ha convertido en nuestro redentor y salvador. Hoy es el tiempo preciso para confiar en él.

ORACIÓN: Señor Jesús, gracias por venir a este mundo a nacer, sufrir, morir y resucitar por nosotros en el tiempo preciso. Mantennos junto a ti hasta la eternidad. Amén.

© Copyright 2017 Cristo Para Todas Las Naciones. Que a través de estos devocionales, la Palabra de Dios te refresque en tu diario caminar.

The Daily Readings for SATURDAY, December 23, 2017 - Ember Saturday

The Judgment of the Nations
Matthew 25:31-46

Daily Readings

Zechariah 8:9-17

Thus says the LORD of hosts: Let your hands be strong-- you that have recently been hearing these words from the mouths of the prophets who were present when the foundation was laid for the rebuilding of the temple, the house of the LORD of hosts. For before those days there were no wages for people or for animals, nor was there any safety from the foe for those who went out or came in, and I set them all against one other. But now I will not deal with the remnant of this people as in the former days, says the LORD of hosts. For there shall be a sowing of peace; the vine shall yield its fruit, the ground shall give its produce, and the skies shall give their dew; and I will cause the remnant of this people to possess all these things. Just as you have been a cursing among the nations, O house of Judah and house of Israel, so I will save you and you shall be a blessing. Do not be afraid, but let your hands be strong. For thus says the LORD of hosts: Just as I purposed to bring disaster upon you, when your ancestors provoked me to wrath, and I did not relent, says the LORD of hosts, so again I have purposed in these days to do good to Jerusalem and to the house of Judah; do not be afraid. These are the things that you shall do: Speak the truth to one another, render in your gates judgments that are true and make for peace, do not devise evil in your hearts against one another, and love no false oath; for all these are things that I hate, says the LORD.

Revelation 6:1-17

Then I saw the Lamb open one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures call out, as with a voice of thunder, "Come!" I looked, and there was a white horse! Its rider had a bow; a crown was given to him, and he came out conquering and to conquer. When he opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature call out, "Come!" And out came another horse, bright red; its rider was permitted to take peace from the earth, so that people would slaughter one another; and he was given a great sword. When he opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature call out, "Come!" I looked, and there was a black horse! Its rider held a pair of scales in his hand, and I heard what seemed to be a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying, "A quart of wheat for a day's pay, and three quarts of barley for a day's pay, but do not damage the olive oil and the wine!" When he opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature call out, "Come!" I looked and there was a pale green horse! Its rider's name was Death, and Hades followed with him; they were given authority over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword, famine, and pestilence, and by the wild animals of the earth. When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slaughtered for the word of God and for the testimony they had given; they cried out with a loud voice, "Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long will it be before you judge and avenge our blood on the inhabitants of the earth?" They were each given a white robe and told to rest a little longer, until the number would be complete both of their fellow servants and of their brothers and sisters, who were soon to be killed as they themselves had been killed. When he opened the sixth seal, I looked, and there came a great earthquake; the sun became black as sackcloth, the full moon became like blood, and the stars of the sky fell to the earth as the fig tree drops its winter fruit when shaken by a gale. The sky vanished like a scroll rolling itself up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place. Then the kings of the earth and the magnates and the generals and the rich and the powerful, and everyone, slave and free, hid in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains, calling to the mountains and rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of the one seated on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb; for the great day of their wrath has come, and who is able to stand?"

Matthew 25:31-46

"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left. Then the king will say to those at his right hand, 'Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.' Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?' And the king will answer them, 'Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.' Then he will say to those at his left hand, 'You that are accursed, depart from me into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not give me clothing, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.' Then they also will answer, 'Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not take care of you?' Then he will answer them, 'Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.' And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."

New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. The New Revised Standard Version Bible may be quoted and/or reprinted up to and inclusive of five hundred (500) verses without express written permission of the publisher, provided the verses quoted do not amount to a complete book of the Bible or account for fifty percent (50%) of the total work in which they are quoted.

Prayer of the Day for SATURDAY, December 23, 2017

I pray for all who will be making journeys today and during the Christmas holiday: For those who travel to spend time with family and friends; For those who are going to a new job and for those who are going to work for the last time today; For the emergency services who will travel at high speed on land, water or in the air, to bring help to others; For those starting a new life as they move into a new home; For those traveling to or from prison; For people who will go into hospital today; For young people on their way to and from school, college and university; For those who are lost on the journey of life; For those who will die today and make their final journey. I remember all these people now, and ask your blessing upon them, Lord.

Amen

Verse of the Day for SATURDAY, December 23, 2017

Luke 2:11-14 (NIV) 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 favor rests.”

Read all of Luke 2

Listen to Luke 2

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Morning Devotions with Cap'n Kenny - ’Tis the Week Before Christmas

’Tis the Week Before Christmas

“The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel.”

~ Matthew 1:23 (NIV)

Tis the week before Christmas and all though my house

Everyone’s scurrying, including my mouse.

Clicking on gadgets, electronics and toys

Thinking these options might bring someone joy.

Hoping the presents, with shipping that’s free,

Would arrive just in time to stick under the tree.

People in vehicles drive with less care

To go to the store is not something I’d dare.

So onto my laptop I go with a plan

To check off my gift list, all that I can.

Now Billy and Bobby, Tommy and Dan

And Sarah, and Shelly, Rebecca and Jan

I look at my list that’s attached to the wall.

Check them off. Check them off. Check them off all!

And then in the background, I heard a sweet sound

Words of some music that left me spellbound.

The story it told of one silent night

Of angels and shepherds and a star that was bright.

It spoke of a virgin, Mary her name,

A child in her womb from the spirit He came.

The one who would bring salvation to all

Was born on that night in a stable; cow stall.

A meager beginning for one who was king

The reason for Christmas the gift that He brings.

Forgiveness of sin to a life that is new

Because of this message, I knew what to do.

I got off my laptop and went to the floor,

On knees before God, my heart opened its door.

I wanted this Jesus to live in my heart

Forgive all my sins, give me a fresh start.

Frozen heart that was hard, now melted like ice

A newness of spirit bought in me with the price,

By the blood that was shed by this baby boy

As a man, yet God, Good tidings, great joy!

Tis the week before Christmas, I’ll never forget

A decision I made, one I’ll never regret;

That Jesus would be my Savior and King.

So now I will spread this message He brings;

Of love and forgiveness, comfort and peace

Of life everlasting, sin shekels released.

So along with my presents I bought from online

My message of Jesus, a gift for all time.

Come to the one who brings life that is new,

A gift that is meant especially for you,

Healing, cleansing, the truth and the way,

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good day!

Lord Christ, may Your message of salvation be spread throughout all the world this Christmas. Amen.

In Jesus,
Cap'n Kenny


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Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Tis the week before Christmas and all though my house...

Un Dia a la Vez - Reciclamiento

Reciclamiento

No se contenten solo con escuchar la palabra, pues así se engañan ustedes mismos. Llévenla a la práctica.

~ Santiago 1:22 (NVI)

Así como el reciclamiento es importante para tener un planeta más saludable y una vida más sana, también lo es para nuestra vida diaria. Esto lo vemos cuando en verdad tenemos ese anhelo de cambiar, de desechar lo que no sirve, separar lo que puede ser tóxico y utilizar, como es debido, los talentos y dones que hemos desaprovechado.

¡Qué bueno sería que en las proyecciones que ya estamos haciendo para el nuevo año pongamos el deseo ferviente de reciclar siempre en nuestra vida!

Es decir, separarnos de las cosas y personas que nos contaminan y entregar en manos de Dios las partes más nocivas de cada uno para que las purifique con su amor. De esa manera lograremos comenzar de verdad un año nuevo y una vida nueva.

No sigamos utilizando los mismos recipientes. Pidámosle al Señor que nos dé nuevas vestiduras y que esos cambios se puedan ver en nosotros. Entonces, de seguro, muchos se interesarán por nuestro cambio y desearán imitarnos.

Un Día a la Vez Copyright © by Claudia Pinzón

Standing Strong Through the Storm - THE BEAUTIFUL BRIDE OF CHRIST

THE BEAUTIFUL BRIDE OF CHRIST

I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

~ Revelation 21:2-4 (NIV)

Iraq is probably the last place in the world you’d expect to find an illustration of the beautiful bride of Christ. Yet on top of a beautiful plateau in the mountains of Kurdistan (Northern Iraq) a group of Arab Christians organized a prayer conference. More than five hundred Christians from all over Iraq, from all kind of churches including twenty local church leaders, came to pray for unity and peace in the country. “Oh God, unite our country again, bring peace to the Christians and strengthen your people,” was the common prayer on everybody’s lips. “This was a unique and wonderful experience for the Iraqi church,” shares Joyce who was one of the participants.

Teachers and pastors gave lectures on humility and engaged the group in seeking the Lord Jesus Christ at first. “There was prayer for the country and prayer for the different pastors. And one of the highlights was the fact that local Iraqi pastors washed each other feet and that is a miracle in a country where there is so much division,” Joyce adds. And she continues, “We prayed for God to give hope and life for individual Christians again; we prayed for individual prayer requests which were written down on paper.”

Another pastor taught the group to love their country and to have a passion for the country. Joyce says, “Two young leaders from Baghdad were very much touched by this, since both of them had been victims of violence and kidnapping in Baghdad, because of their faith. They had problems in loving their country and the people in it.”

One pastor shared, “Every six months we lose twenty per cent of our believers to the free world, and our main problem is also that so many Christian leaders are leaving. You just finish training young leaders and they leave. It is a pity and we are losing so many potential leaders.”

Another Iraqi Christian shared with tears the experience of his kidnapping in Kirkuk. “God was with me and I felt that people around the world were praying for me, although I was amazed about that. God was with me and he brought me out.”

In conclusion a pastor said, “Like Christ, the church in Iraq feels afflicted, not comforted and lashed by stones. And yet does the son of the king ever feel powerless? I do not think so; the presence of the comforter is in our midst in Iraq, so be brave and continue. The Holy Spirit in us is not just a power; He is God himself, who is with us. To God the church in Iraq is beautiful also; so let us love her and work alongside her to make her more so.”

RESPONSE: I will never lose faith that Jesus is developing His beautiful bride around the entire world.

PRAYER: Pray that Iraqi Christians will continue to perceive themselves as Jesus’ beautiful bride.

NIV Devotionals for Couples - Who Influences Us?

Who Influences Us?

2 Chronicles 24:1–25

Joash did what was right in the eyes of the LORD all the years of Jehoiada the priest.

~ 2 Chronicles 24:2 (NIV)

Think about how other people have influenced your life. One couple I know, Brett and Kayla, were profoundly influenced by others. Brett had played multiple sports in high school and enjoyed a wonderful mentoring relationship with one of his coaches. But after he started playing sports in college, he found that it wasn’t the game he cared about as much as it was his former coach, and he ended up dropping out of athletics. Similarly, Kayla became active in her church’s women’s ministries because of the great lessons she had learned from the women’s leader in her previous church.

Influence is powerful. We often want to emulate good leaders and follow their examples. The high priest Jehoiada was a great influence on little King Joash, who was only seven years old when he became king. Joash needed some help ruling the kingdom, and Jehoiada stepped up as his helper and adviser. He chose two wives for Joash and helped Joash restore the temple in Jerusalem and resume worship of the Lord there.

Joash was heavily influenced by others—first by Jehoiada, who led him in the ways of God, and then, after Jehoiada died, by the officials of Judah, who abandoned God and worshiped other gods. When Jehoiada’s son Zechariah spoke out against idol worship, warning the king and his people that God would forsake them because they had forsaken God, Joash and his leaders had Zechariah stoned to death.

Like Joash, we have people who have had a major impact on our lives, and we feel lost when they are no longer with us. We may even think that we need others to step in to fill that gap. But like Joash, depending too much on others can prevent us from learning to make critical decisions in our lives.

The best role of a parent, mentor, teacher or pastor is that of helping others to learn how to think for themselves. If Jehoiada had taught Joash to think for himself, the story of this king might have had a different ending. Instead of being led by others, Joash might have been a strong, decisive king who set before the people a lifelong pattern of trusting God for guidance and direction.

My friends James and Elaine relied on the leadership and guidance of key people until they were in a couples’ group at church. The rule in that group was that everyone was expected to think about and discuss key issues and situations. The group then asked everyone to take one more step: Each couple was expected to reach their own conclusion on an issue, based on Scriptural guidelines, and explain to the group how they had come to that decision.

Learning and practicing that kind of decision making changed their marriage forever as James and Elaine learned how to think for themselves. Reaching their own conclusions on various issues became a lifelong pattern of learning God’s lessons without leaning on others to do it for them.

John R. Throop

Let’s Talk

• Who has greatly influenced our lives? Did they teach us mostly what to think or how to think? Describe their approaches.
• How are leaders or role models helpful for us? How can they be negative influences? How can we turn negative influences into positive results?
• What are some good ways for us to blend the positive influences of others into our lives? How can their lessons shape our faith and our values?