ADVENT DAY 8: Dec. 8 – Caesar Augustus, the Arrogant Ruler

Devotional

The prophet Micah prophesied 700 years before the birth of Christ that he would be born in Bethlehem. Have you ever thought about the fact that God caused a worldwide census to be taken by the emperor of Rome so that the two people He had foreordained as Jesus’ parents had to travel from Nazareth to Bethlehem? Lineage was an important part of God’s design for the family of His Son, and Scripture lists Joseph’s family tree in both Matthew and Luke. Jesus came from the royal line of King David.

Most of us read the words of the Christmas story in Luke without giving them a second thought … “In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world” (Luke 2:1).

Augustus was the greatest Roman emperor, greater even than his grand-uncle, Julius Caesar. When he came to Rome, it was a city of brick, but when he left, it was a city of marble. Rome almost doubled in size under Augustus. The empire spanned from Great Britain to India.

Caesar Augustus was a larger-than-life figure in Roman history. The Senate acclaimed him “Augustus” (most revered), and he ruled for 41 years as Rome’s first “emperor” from 27 BC to 14 AD. During that time he gave to the world the great Roman Peace, flourishing trade, and stability by the time of Jesus that spread across the Mediterranean world.

His greatest act – the one which would have the most lasting effect on world history – was to call for a census of the empire. This was a common custom, in keeping with the pattern of Roman control of conquered territories. Censuses were a favorite of Caesar Augustus. Taxes helped keep the Roman army healthy, build roads, and finance army campaigns to keep conquering the world. Plus, he was a very luxurious emperor. Romans taxed Jews and they followed Roman laws. Rome put in local authorities. So, when it came to the census, the Jews did what their Roman governors and local leaders told them.

Clearly, there was purpose behind Luke’s unique recounting of Jesus’ birth. He was locating Jesus in historical time and place. The birth of Jesus, the true God who took on human flesh, was not some sort of myth. The context was genuine. Additionally, Roman census methods required registration at the place of family origin. This meant that Joseph and his pregnant wife, Mary, would need to head 90 miles south from Galilee to Bethlehem – in fulfillment of a prophecy from Micah (5:2). God’s plans happened as He said they would.

The census was a thoroughly secular decree, the kind of thing governments have been doing since the beginning of time. Yet God used it to serve His purposes…

This much is certain. Caesar Augustus never met Joseph or Mary, and he never knew of a certain Jewish baby born in a village outside of Jerusalem. When Augustus died, they mourned as if a god had died. Little did they know, his call for a census had been used by God to bring His Son to the earth, the one true God.

That’s the history lesson. But consider the legacies. Caesar, a human, claimed divine status. Jesus, God from eternity, humbled himself to be born in time and die as a human to save humans from their sin. Augustus looks humanly impressive; Jesus appears humanly defeated. Appearances can be deceiving. Faith grasps the truth.

Look Up – Connect with God

Read: Luke 2:1-5

Key Verse: “At that time the Roman emperor, Augustus, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the Roman Empire.” (Luke 2:1)

Pray: Lord, you hold the mightiest rulers in your hand; nothing they do is beyond your command. Open our eyes to see your Invisible Hand moving through our world today. Help us to see the truth, as you show in your Word.

Look In – Family Memories

Discuss: Are there people serving in government offices that you do not support? Talk about how God calls us to pray for authorities, even those who do not follow God, and trust that whatever is happening, God will ultimately turn it for His good. Share your thoughts about the current political environment and discuss how you, as a Christian family, can help positively impact the culture we live in.

Look Out – Connect with Others

Is there currently a government initiative in your community that requires volunteer help? If so, step in and volunteer as a family. If not, check your local schools to see if they need any extra help this holiday season.

ADVENT DAY 7: Dec. 7 – Joseph, the Earthly Father of Jesus

Devotional

To understand Joseph’s perspective of the Christmas narrative, we need to understand the customs surrounding betrothals/marriages of the time. In biblical times, people were married in their early youth, and marriages were usually contracted within the narrow circle of the clan and the family. Interpreting their “betrothal” as a modern-day “engagement” would be wrong. The Jewish custom in that time period involved a two-stage marriage: first, a legal contract of marriage, followed later by a party with the husband taking his wife into his home. This is shown in the Gospels: Joseph learned that Mary was expecting before she came to live with him so he planned to divorce her, but an angel instructed him not to; instead, he should take Mary into his home. Therefore, Joseph was already Mary’s legal husband at the time Jesus was conceived.

We don’t know how Joseph discovered that Mary was pregnant. Luke doesn’t even reference that and Matthew simply says, “she was found to be pregnant.” Stop and think for a moment, she was found. “Hey Joseph, have you seen Mary since she got back from visiting Elizabeth?” She was found…I’ll bet she was. Kind of hard to hide that fact.

Joseph didn’t yet have the advantage of hearing from an angel, he just had Mary telling him what she believed. He didn’t know what to think. He probably didn’t really know Mary very well either; the custom at that time was that in the year between the betrothal and marriage the couple rarely saw each other. He no doubt felt betrayed, alone, even stuck. The breaking of a betrothal like this was worse than breaking a business contract. Yet that’s what Joseph considered doing. He trusted Mary to be faithful and devout; he had pledged his life to her. And yet, it seemed, she had betrayed him.

We don’t know how long Joseph was tormented with these thoughts; Scripture doesn’t tell us how long it was before the angel Gabriel appeared to Joseph to tell him the baby was God’s son. But we do know that once he did, Joseph obeyed.

Like Mary, Joseph signed up for a lot of pain and heartache when he said Yes to God. This was no easy assignment. In marrying Mary, he would be subject to endless scrutiny. In listening to the voice of God, Joseph was giving up his reputation. In his book, Hidden Christmas, the Surprising Truth Behind the Birth of Christ, Tim Keller describes it this way:

Everybody in that shame and honor society will know that this child was not born nine or ten months after they got married; they will know she was already pregnant. That would mean either Joseph and Mary had sex before marriage or she was unfaithful to him, and as a result, they are going to be shamed, socially excluded, and rejected. They are going to be second-class citizens.

It’s easy to glance over this and not give it another thought as you read this part of the Christmas story. But stop and consider how significant this decision was.

Mary and Joseph had to work together to move forward. They likely had several conversations about what had happened to them. They were no doubt anxious and uncertain about what the future would hold.

Joseph provided for his family as a carpenter and followed God’s instructions to care for them. He named and circumcised his son, presented Him at the Temple in Jerusalem (Luke 2:22), and took Him to the Temple on holy days when possible, all in line with Jewish law. Joseph also protected Jesus from Herod (Matthew 2:13-15), the King of Judea who wanted to kill the child, by taking Mary and Jesus to safety in Egypt and then Nazareth. He was true to his calling and to his family.

Although he’s not mentioned very often in Scripture, Joseph is an important role model of fatherhood and faith, truly an unsung hero of the Christmas story.

Look Up – Connect with God

Read: Matthew 1:18-24

Key Verse: “When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.” (Matthew 1:24-25)

Pray: Lord, thank you for Joseph and his integrity. Thank you for working through ordinary people who don’t look for fame or glory but look out for the best interests of those around them. Help me to be more like that, to be faithful to you and walk with integrity, always doing the right thing even when it means I’ll personally suffer.

Look In – Family Memories

Discuss: Mary and Joseph’s life, particularly in the early years, was rough and full of challenges. Give your kids a Rocky Road candy bar and talk about the difficulties Mary and Joseph may have encountered on their way to Bethlehem, their first few years, their trek to Egypt and back to avoid persecution and death. Talk about sacrifices you’ve made that were for the benefit of the family and how you feel about those choices.

Look Out – Connect with Others

Look through old toys or books or clothes that you could part with and donate them to a worthy cause in your community. Help your family learn the benefit of sacrificing personal desires to help others.

ADVENT DAY 6: Dec. 6 – Angel Gabriel Reassures Joseph

Devotional

Gabriel shows up a third time in the Christmas narrative, this time to reassure Joseph, Mary’s betrothed, that she was not unfaithful to him but was carrying the Son of God. It was the first of two times Gabriel would reassure Mary’s not-so-sure husband.

What’s an angel to do? Joseph was a godly man – he was faithful to the law. He could have publicly humiliated Mary for her infidelity, but he chose to do what was easier on Mary and “divorce her quietly.” How is Gabriel going to convince this very honorable man that Mary was a woman of honor too, even though things didn’t look that way?

Gabriel chose to appeal to Joseph’s godly character. He focused on two areas in speaking to Joseph:

1. He reminds Joseph of his royal ancestry – “son of David” – appealing to the pride of his legacy. “You are of royal ancestry”, he seems to be saying, “You are part of the people of God.”

2. He appeals to Joseph based on Scripture. This is, Gabriel reminds him, to fulfill Scripture: “The virgin will give birth…”

Joseph knew who he was and he was committed to Scripture, something vitally important to the man who would be the earthly guardian of Jesus. It’s something we all should follow – know who we are as Christians and know what the Bible says.

And Joseph’s response was what you’d expect from such a person – immediate obedience, even to such a difficult mission. He took Mary as his wife. But he took it a step further…he didn’t consummate that marriage until after Jesus was born so there could be no doubt that he was not the biological father.

Having met the man who would father the prophet who would prepare the way for Christ, then the woman who would give birth to the Son of God, and finally the man who would serve as his earthly father, Gabriel was no doubt in awe of God and His choices, certain His plans to save humanity and bring them back to Him would happen despite the spiritual battles still to come.

And Gabriel had another assignment in this narrative…to lead the chorus of angels declaring the birth of Christ!

Look Up – Connect with God

Read:  Matthew 1:18-24

Key Verse:  “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus because he will save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:20-21)

Pray:  Father God, I thank you for the angels who come and give us your message, protect us, teach us, advocate for us, guide us, and fight battles for us. Thank you for Gabriel and his ability to convince Mary and Joseph that the words he shared were from God himself. Thank you for Joseph’s obedience; may I be as quick to obey when God gives me an assignment.

Look In – Family Memories

Discuss:  Have you ever encountered an angel, or what you thought was an angel – in a dream, when reading Scripture, in real life? In Hebrews 13:2, God tells us, “Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.” Have you ever experienced that or known someone who did? Ask God to give you a heart for hospitality and help you be aware of what might be happening in the spiritual realm.

Look Out – Connect with Others

Is there someone in your neighborhood you could reach out to invite over for a holiday treat? Be open to being a host this Christmas season and see what God does in and through you.

ADVENT DAY 5: Dec. 5 – Elizabeth, the Mother of John the Baptist

Devotional

Imagine the delight and joy in the lives of Zechariah and Elizabeth! Not only would they become parents after decades of despair and disbelief, but they would parent the last of the Old Testament prophets and a forerunner of the Messiah. Can you imagine?

Elizabeth could have complained that God waited too long. She could have thought that it would be harder to raise a child. She could have decided that she no longer wanted a child. She could have even balked at the plans God had for her child’s life.

But she didn’t do any of those things. Rather, she turned and offered her praise back to God. She rejoiced over the blessing she was given and gave God the glory.

It’s interesting to note that the first thing Mary did after finding out she would be carrying God’s son was to go visit her cousin, Elizabeth. It's about a 100-mile journey from Nazareth to Elizabeth's house; Mary is not just scooting around the block to call on a relative. Luke tells us that she “hurried.” Why? She just heard that Elizabeth was pregnant too. Given the fact that she was so unlikely to be pregnant by human standards, Mary may have thought Elizabeth would be the most likely to believe her situation – pregnant while still a virgin.

Mary needed someone to believe her, to rejoice with her, and to help her navigate the negative repercussions that were sure to come. She needed someone to help her figure out how to tell her fiancé that she was faithful, but pregnant. Elizabeth provided spiritual, physical, and emotional support to Mary. She took Mary into her care at a time when both women felt vulnerable and lonely, and the two were strengthened together. They rejoiced together in the “impossibility” that had become their reality.

Elizabeth's baby “leaped in her womb” when Mary entered the house and called a greeting. And the words she spoke to Mary when they met show that Elizabeth knew that Mary had a very important baby growing inside her, and that her baby would also have something to do with Mary's baby. Something she could only know because she, too, had been “filled with the Holy Spirit.”

Elizabeth is known for being the mother of John the Baptist, the spirit-filled prophet like Elijah who will prepare the way for Jesus. But Elizabeth herself is described as being filled with the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:41).

In her book, Advent, Fleming Rutledge explains Elizabeth’s joy:

Elizabeth’s cry of supernatural joy has nothing to do with the ordinary human pleasure in contemplating the birth of a child. It is her response to that revelatory kick from John the Baptist, already vitalized by his destiny as “the prophet of the Most High” … no phony innocence here, no sentimental glorification of motherhood, but the announcement of the turning point of world history – the entrance of God himself on the human scene.

The story of Elizabeth and Zechariah shows us that God can be trusted. His timing may not be the same as ours, but God will never lead us into something that He won’t equip us for. He will not tell us to give away without supplying the means.

Look Up – Connect with God

Read: Luke 1:36-56

Key Verse: “Why am I so honored, that the mother of my Lord should visit me?” (Luke 1:43)

Pray: Lord, give me the faith of Elizabeth, to rejoice in your plans for me and my family and to faithfully walk in those plans no matter how difficult they may seem. Also, help me to see others around me who are in need of encouragement, mentoring, and support. May I reach out with your love in their time of need.

Look In – Family Memories

Discuss: Talk about these three important lessons to learn from the story of Elizabeth and Zechariah:

● Being barren is not a curse. The ultimate calling of a woman is not that of motherhood. There are many barren women in the Bible, and God always blesses them. Not always with a child, but He always blesses them. While children are a blessing, our ultimate calling is to bring glory and honor to God.

● God's timing is perfect. Elizabeth fully saw the hand of God in her life and rejoiced over His plan for her. Is there something in your life that makes you wonder what God is doing?

● You can trust God. This story builds our trust in God. When God proclaims something over our lives or we read something in the Bible, we need to trust Him.

Look Out – Connect with Others

Visit someone in a nursing home or a neighbor who could use some company. Bring a meal or treats to someone who’s not feeling well or recovering from surgery. Be a neighbor!

ADVENT DAY 4: Dec. 4 – Zechariah, the Father of John the Baptist

Devotional

The Old Testament ends with this verse from the book of Malachi:

See, I will send the prophet Elijah to you before that great and dreadful day of the LORD comes. He will turn the hearts of the parents to their children, and the hearts of the children to their parents. (Malachi 4:5-6)

Why is that important? Because after that, God goes silent…for 400 years! No prophets, no angels, no word at all. If you know the Christmas story well, it’s easy to shrug and just move on when you hear about an angel appearing – they’re synonymous with Christmas after all. However, angels didn’t appear in Zechariah’s day – and rarely appear even overall recorded history. They just happen to be all over the Christmas story.

So is it any wonder that Zechariah is skeptical when he is visited by an angel – the same angel who appeared to Daniel 500 years earlier? His response was stunned disbelief. Some reports say Zechariah was 99 and Elizabeth was 88 when John was born, but if that can’t be verified, you can be certain they were both well over 60 (that was considered beyond “child-bearing years” at the time). So long he had prayed, so many tears he had shed. And now it is happening?

Gabriel tells Zechariah that he and his wife will have a child, a child who will bring back many people to God, and in the Spirit and power of Elijah, he will prepare the way for the coming of the Lord. Not just any baby, but one empowered by the Holy Spirit even before he is born to point people to Jesus!

I don’t know about you, but I’d be right there with Zechariah in asking, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.”

I mean get real…a baby…at that age? A prophet like Elijah? Who’s going to make that happen? Turns out, God is.

Zechariah was not a very important priest in the temple – he was one of 300 priests in the family of Abijah (Luke 1:5) and one of 24 divisions of priests in Israel. An ordinary priest, but one God chose to have a pivotal role in the coming of Christ.

His eyes (and voice) were opened, and when John was born, Zechariah was ready, fully believing and trusting God would do exactly what He said He would. Zechariah goes on to prophesy over his son, “You, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him” (Luke 1:76).

Zechariah served God devoutly in the temple. He obeyed God as the angel had instructed him. As John the Baptist's father, he raised his son as a Nazarite, a holy man pledged to the Lord. Zechariah contributed, in his way, to God's plan to save the world from sin.

Look Up – Connect with God

Read:  Luke 1:1-23, Luke 1:57-80

Key Verse:  “But the angel said to him: ‘Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John…And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah…’” (Luke 1:13, 17(a))

Pray:  Father God, I thank you that you chose ordinary people like me to do your Kingdom work. I know that there are times when I just find it hard to believe, especially when it comes to something you’ve told me about myself. I pray right now that you would help me overcome that skepticism, help me hear your voice and be confident that you will do what you say you will do, even when it seems impossible with human eyes. Let me not doubt your ability to do anything, including what I cannot see or know. Help me be patient in my “seasons of silence” – and know that you are working even when I can’t see or feel your presence.

Look In – Family Memories

Discuss:  There are those prayers we send to God that seem doable and reachable – and there are those we send with a wrapping of cynicism and doubt. Don’t pray small, pray BIG and expect God to respond. Talk about times when you were faithful and earnestly believed – yet heard nothing from God. Those seasons of silence are devastating but often teach us much. If you are in a season of silence now when God doesn’t appear to be listening, be encouraged by this story of Zechariah – the same God who remembered his people in Egypt and remembered his people in Judea and remembered his people on the cross also remembers you. God is not intimidated by the things that worry you. He will work it out for your good and His glory….in His time. God can work in our lives in spite of any circumstance. Things may look hopeless, but God is always in control. "All things are possible with God" (Mark 10:27).  Faith is a quality God values highly. If we want our prayers to be answered, faith makes the difference. God does reward those who depend on him.

Look Out – Connect with Others

If you are not yet serving in your local church, take the step this Christmas season to fill a much needed role. If you already serve, go just a little deeper in that service. If there is someone in your circle of friends for family who are in a season of wanting children but are not able to conceive, share the story of Zechariah and Elizabeth with them, offer to pray for them and let them know you will stand with them through this season.

ADVENT DAY 3: Dec. 3 – Angel Gabriel Brings Joy to the Elderly

Devotional

The first time we hear about an angel called Gabriel is in the book of Daniel, an angel sent by God in answer to Daniel’s prayer that was delayed for three weeks due to fighting with the devil. It took the Archangel Michael to break him free. Then we don’t hear about him again until Luke Chapter 1 as he retells the original Christmas story.

Gabriel had a huge task that first Christmas, and it began six months before the birth of Christ when he was sent to visit a simple priest in Jerusalem. The task that day should have been simple – he was to tell Zechariah that his prayer for a child had been answered; he and his wife would have a son. That should have been great news, right? If you’ve been praying for something literally for decades, wouldn’t you be happy when it finally happened?

But Zechariah is scared at first, then very skeptical of the angel’s message. “How can that be?” he asks.

Gabriel is not too happy when Zechariah questions him. He gives Zechariah his credentials – “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news.” I imagine Gabriel rolling his eyes and thinking, “Good grief … Why isn’t he at least a little grateful? Maybe this wasn’t the best choice to father the one preparing Israel for her Messiah.”

He lets Zechariah know he’s going to have a consequence of his unbelief: “And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their appointed time.”

Ouch, that’s harsh. Or so it seems to human eyes.

In his book, The Characters of Christmas, Daniel Darling describes the scene this way:

God loves to hear our doubts, to field our questions, and to hear our anguished cries. But it is disbelief that is a sin, our unwillingness to trust God can do the impossible. And so Zechariah’s punishment was to be struck mute for the duration of Elizabeth’s pregnancy.

And in a way, this affliction was less of a punishment and more of a gift from God. To not speak would be to sit in silence before God, to quiet the chattering of the soul and the noise of his circumstances. In a way, this is the work God seeks to do in the heart of all of us. Christmas is a good time to practice silence, to sit and listen to the voice of God to put away the devices that so often keep us from faith. A priest, who often spoke words of blessing on God’s people would be silenced and would emerge with a renewed faith in the possibility of God’s promise.

Maybe that time spent in silence was just what Zechariah needed to prepare himself to raise John the Baptist. That’s a tall order; one that requires concentration, dedication, and determination. All characteristics Zechariah honed during his time of solitude. When John was born, he was ready for the task. He named him John, and “Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue set free, and he began to speak, praising God.”

Look Up – Connect with God

Read: Luke 1:11-22; 1:57-66

Key Verse: “The angel said to him, ‘I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their appointed time.’” (Luke 1:19-20)

Pray: Lord, I know it’s human nature to question the impossible, to be skeptical of things we do not know or cannot understand. Help us to learn to trust you, particularly in the unknown. Help us to embrace the callings you have on our lives and to joyfully obey even when it makes no sense. Help us to keep our eyes on you.

Look In – Family Memories

Discuss: The main message today is that even when we’re skeptical, when we can’t see how God can do what He says He will do, we can and should trust in Him. Talk about a time in your walk when God seemed to be asking the impossible yet came through and did exactly what He said He would do. Sharing these stories will both strengthen your faith and give your children seeds that will help their own faith grow.

Look Out – Connect with Others

Is there a church in your community that could use some help – either yours or another? Take a step forward to serve where there is a need. Doing this as a family will be both fun and rewarding.

ADVENT DAY 2: Dec. 2 – Mary, the Mother of Jesus

Devotional

As we celebrate this season looking through the eyes of all the characters of Christmas, there is none so unlikely to be at the center of this divine story as Mary. As a young, poor woman (guesstimates are she was around 14 or 15), she wasn’t looking for prominence. She was simply living out an ordinary life in an ordinary town with unassuming dreams. She was all set to marry humbly, give birth to many children, and never travel far from home. She could be described as a nobody in a nothing town in the middle of nowhere.

Then, out of nowhere, this angelic being appears and tells her she had been chosen to bear the Son of God. Her initial response recorded in Luke was one of fear and confusion, and a little human skepticism. Several thousand years later we may think how cool to have an angel appear, but when Gabriel came to Mary, God had not spoken to his people or through his prophets for 400 years. And there are precious few moments recorded in Scripture when angels show up in person at all. So it’s natural to think Mary was overcome with emotion – fear, doubt, confusion. She had never been with a man and the idea of becoming pregnant with the Son of God was overwhelming. I imagine her thinking, “Me, pregnant? With the Son of GOD? I’m just an ordinary girl, little more than a child myself.”

And then there was the task she was being asked to bear. When Mary says, “I am the servant of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your word,” she was saying Yes to bearing the shame of an unwed pregnancy at a time when this carried incredible social stigma. Would her friends and family believe her claim that the baby came from the Holy Spirit? Heck, she wasn’t sure she believed it. And what about Joseph? Would he stay with her or send her away? We know how the story ends, but she did not.

She was saying Yes to raising the Son of God. It’s hard enough to be a parent to a human child; can you imagine the burden of raising Jesus? Would every maternal fear be magnified because He was God’s son entrusted to her? When she fed Him and clothed Him and rocked Him to sleep, did she wonder what would become of this child sent to save the world? It would be staggering.

Mary was also saying Yes to a lifetime of roller-coaster emotions. She would see Jesus feed multitudes, raise people from the dead, and walk on water. But she’d also see Him mocked, taunted, and rejected even by His family and hometown friends. And being the good Jewish girl she was, she’d be aware of what would eventually come – her son unjustly put on trial by His own people, her people. Every parent’s nightmare is to see their children suffer, and Mary would live this in the most agonizing way possible.

And yet…she still said Yes. Will you?

Mary didn’t know everything. She didn’t understand everything Gabriel told her. Mary, like all of us, was prone to doubt and worry and fear. But Mary did cling to what she knew. The child inside her womb was no ordinary child. He would save His people, including her. He would reverse sin’s curse. This child would rule the nations.

Think you’re insignificant living in the middle of nowhere? God knows your name. No matter what you’ve done or who you are, you can be made new in Him. Mary’s story can be our story, if we just say Yes to Jesus.

Look Up – Connect with God

Read:  Luke 1:26-38; Luke 1:46-49

Key Verse:  “‘I am the Lord’s servant,’ Mary answered. ‘May your word to me be fulfilled.’ Then the angel left her.” (Luke 1:38)

Pray:  Father God, thank you for Mary’s example. Thank you for her unwavering faith, especially in the difficult circumstances she had with the pregnancy, birth, and early years of Jesus. Give us that same faith and obedience to do whatever you ask of us, no matter how difficult or unbelievable it may seem. Help us to hear your voice. And during this Christmas season especially, help us to see through the eyes of those who witnessed your birth here on earth firsthand. Give us new insights into this Bible story. In Jesus’ name.

Look In – Family Memories

Discuss:  Was there ever a time in your walk with Christ when He asked you to do something that seemed impossible or improbable, something that would cause you to be shunned by your family or community, something that just flat-out stunned you and left you asking, “What?” Share that with your children and help them see how God walked you through that difficulty and provided for you when it seemed undoable. Consider playing “Mary Did You Know?” by Mark Lowry and talk about how the lyrics give insight to Mary’s perspective.

Look Out – Connect with Others

Is there someone in your neighborhood, school, or family facing really tough times? Could you reach out just to encourage them, let them know you’re there for them, and offer to pray for them? Check into organizations in your community that minister to young, unwed mothers and offer to volunteer or meet some specific need they have. Be the hands and feet of Jesus in your community to those hurting and in need.

ADVENT DAY 1: Dec. 1 – Angel Gabriel, God’s Chosen Messenger

Devotional

Have you ever wondered what the angel who carried God’s message to the world thought about that task? Gabriel was the angel chosen by God to tell:

● Zechariah that he and his wife would have a son who would prepare the way for God

● Mary that she would mother Christ

● Joseph that he should not be offended by Mary’s pregnancy and marry her anyway

● The shepherds that their Savior was born and encourage them to tell the world

● Joseph again, to take his child, the son of God, to Egypt to avoid being slaughtered by a king

Those are challenging circumstances and very difficult messages! How can you convince someone well past their childbearing years that they will soon be a parent? What do you say to a young teenage girl who is cowering in your presence that she will become pregnant and bear a child even though she’s never been with a man? How do you convince a man that the woman who was promised to him was pregnant (not by him) and that he should accept her and the child as his own anyway?

Was the task difficult? Did he understand the weight of his message and the historical turning point that he ushered into the world of humans? Did he face battles along the way, spiritual warfare with the enemy who certainly did NOT want to see God’s son born to man?

In his book, An Angel’s Story, author Max Lucado assumes a fierce and ongoing battle in the spiritual realm. In the angel Gabriel’s view:

We knew we could not fail. But we had no idea that the battle would come so soon. Suddenly I was entangled in an invisible net. Row after row of angels tumbled in upon me. Even the final flank was moving too fast to avoid the trap. Within moments we were a ball of confusion: wings flapping against wings; angels bumping into angels.

According to the scenario Lucado envisions, that was the first of several spiritual battles between God’s army of angels and Satan's cadre of demons before Gabriel even makes it to earth.

On a wave of worship, I flew, this time alone. I circled through the clouds and over the ground. Below me was the city where Mary was born. The Father was right; I knew her in an instant. Her heart had no shadow. Her soul was as pure as any I’ve seen.

I made the final descent. “Mary.” I kept my voice low so as not to startle her.

She turned but saw nothing. Then I realized I was invisible to her. I waved my wings before my body and incarnated. She covered her face at the light and shrank into the protection of the doorway.

“Don’t be afraid,” I urged.

The minute I spoke, she looked up toward the sky. Again I was amazed. I praised my Father for His wisdom. Her heart is so flawless, so willing. “Greetings. God be with you.”

Her eyes widened, and she turned as if to run. “Mary, you have nothing to fear. You have found favor with God. You will become pregnant and give birth to a son and call His name Jesus. He will be great. He will be called the Son of the Highest. The Lord God will give him the throne of His father David; He will rule Jacob’s house forever – no end, ever, to His kingdom.”

If I were Gabriel, I would have been thinking, “Are you kidding me Lord? They’ll never believe those messages.” And then, after carrying out his mission, apologizing to God for ever doubting Him. Gabriel finishes his assignment with Mary, makes sure she is willing, and leaves her as the Holy Spirit comes upon her, pleased he was able to do what God had entrusted to him and ready for his next assignment.

Look Up – Connect with God

Read: Luke 1:26-38

Key Verse: “The angel answered, ‘The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.’” (Luke 1:35)

Pray: Father God, thank you for Gabriel and his commitment to you. Thank you for Mary and her faith in you. Give us the determination and strength of Gabriel to accomplish what you call us to do. And give us the heart of Mary to be ready to obey no matter what you ask. May we be prepared for spiritual battle, and always remember to look up to you for help in our times of need.

Look In – Family Memories

Discuss: Share with your family any spiritual battles you’ve faced in the past and how you were able to overcome them. Talk about things that seem too big to handle and ask God to help you attack them one small step at a time.

Look Out – Connect with Others

Look into ministries and nonprofit organizations in your town; check out those your church may have a partnership with – see if they have any Christmas wishes for those they serve and decide as a family to meet one or more of those needs this Advent season.

ALL IN Summer Devotional: Days 89 & 90

THE SET UP

As we wrap up our summer in the book of Luke, I want to encourage you to reflect on what you have learned about the life of Jesus and His church this summer. There are so many unlikely heroes in Luke’s gospel, and there are so many instances where Jesus blew people’s expectations out of the water by showing them how much God loved them and how the Gospel, which means “Good News” is for everyone. Jesus is still saying, “All in” to people today. And as the church we get to be a part of sharing that message and opening our lives to people in our community, no matter what neighborhood they live in, their race, their social class, or their history. We echo Luke in saying, “All in!”

PASSAGE TO READ

Luke 24:35-53 (Page 635 in our house bibles)

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

1. Jesus said that His message would be proclaimed to all the nations. What does that tell us about the inclusive message of the Gospel?

2. What is the biggest thought or idea you have gleaned from Luke this summer?

3. What has Luke taught you that you can put into practice in your own life moving forward?

PRAYER IDEA

Thank God for Luke’s Gospel and for the gift of the Scriptures that help us to know and live out the will of God.

ALL IN Summer Devotional: Day 88

THE SET UP

When Jesus’ disciples hear about His resurrection they don’t believe it. They thought it was a bunch of ladies spouting nonsense. Even though Jesus had told them again and again and again that He would rise in three days, they had given up hope. They were so convinced that Jesus was still dead and gone that two of them didn’t even recognize Him when they walked down the road with Him for hours. It never even dawned on them that it could be Jesus. Have you ever been sure that your dream was dead and gone? That what you had hoped for was no longer possible? That’s how they felt. But all of those feelings would change in a short period of time as Jesus revealed Himself to them.

PASSAGE TO READ

Luke 24:1-34 (Page 635 in our house bibles)

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

1. What do you think the mindset of the disciples was as the were hiding out after Jesus was crucified?

2. Why do you think the disciples on the road to Emmaus could not recognize Jesus?

3. Have you ever thought that a dream of yours was dead, only to have it come true? If so, what was that experience like?

PRAYER IDEA

Thank God for the resurrection and what it means for us today!

ALL IN Summer Devotional: Day 87

THE SET UP

Remember how we said that a big theme in Luke was all in - that the Gospel is for everyone? We get to see it here again in Jesus’ resurrection story. When Jesus breathes His last, the disciples are nowhere to be seen in the story. Who is? A Roman soldier acknowledging Jesus’ deity. A secret follower of Jesus named Joseph. And a group of women who stayed until the very end and watched Jesus being placed in the tomb. These women would also become the first witnesses to the resurrection, which is amazing because women were not allowed to testify as witnesses in court because they were thought to be too emotional and unreliable. I love how God puts so many unlikely heroes into His stories!

PASSAGE TO READ

Luke 23:44-56 (Page 634 in our house bibles)

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

1. Why do you think the Roman officer reacted the way he did to Jesus’ death?

2. Joseph was a secret follower of Jesus but he played a huge part in the resurrection story by providing the tomb. Is there anything significant we can learn from that in your opinion?

3. Why do you think Luke made sure to let us know about the role women played in Jesus’ story?

PRAYER IDEA Thank God that He chooses the unlikely to do the impossible!

ALL IN Summer Devotional: Day 86

THE SET UP

Today’s passage describes the crucifixion of Jesus. Take the time to read through it 2-3 times and really reflect on what Christ did for you. Pay attention also the conversation He had with the two criminals who were crucified with Him.

PASSAGE TO READ

Luke 23:26-43 (Page 634 in our house bibles)

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

1. When you read the crucifixion story, what sticks in your mind?

2. When Jesus promises paradise to the repentant criminal, what can we learn about Jesus’ heart for lost people?

3. Someone once said that we should live our lives in the shadow of the cross. What do you think that means? Do you agree?

PRAYER IDEA

Take time to reflect on Jesus’ sacrifice and what it means for you to live in the shadow of that sacrifice.

All In Summer Devotional: Day 85

THE SET UP

When I was a kid, my friends and I loved to trade baseball cards. We would pull out shoe boxes of cards and make deals all day long. We didn’t look up the value of each card in a book or worry about mint condition. In fact, sometimes we would write our initials on the back of our cards. I would trade a Hall of Fame level player to my friend for a couple of nobody Cubs players just so I could complete my team set. Sometimes you won the trade and sometimes you lost, but that’s ok, it was just baseball cards. In our text today there is a trade that is made that is one of the worst ever. Jesus, the Lamb that Was Slain to Take Away the Sins of the World is traded for Barabbas, an insurrectionist and murderer. What kind of people make a trade like that? People who are blinded by hate for someone and will do anything to destroy them. And by a spineless Roman governor who will do anything to win the favor of the people. Remember the majority opinion is not always the right opinion.

PASSAGE TO READ

Luke 23:1-25 (Page 634 in our house bibles)

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

1. Why do you think Pilate was so hesitant to arrest and condemn Jesus?

2. Have you ever thought about what happened to Barabbas? Did he change his life because he was spared? Did he put his faith in Christ?

PRAYER IDEA

Give thanks to Jesus for the indescribable gift that He gave to reconcile the world to God.

THE SET UP

I love the insight we get from Jesus’ prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane before He was arrested. He knows that his crucifixion is coming. And even though He knows it is part of God’s plan to redeem the world, He also knows the suffering and pain it will involve. Torture, abuse, and wickedness that seem unbearable. So he says to His heavenly Father, “If there’s another way to do this, let’s do that. But I want Your will to be done not mine.” What a picture of Jesus’ humanity! What a picture of Jesus’ sacrifice for you and me. He was willing to put all His desires aside so He could accomplish God’s plan. It wasn’t easy. He prayed so hard His sweat came out like big drops of blood. Have you ever prayed so hard it made you sweat? All of this, we know, was done for us. All the pain. All the suffering. All the rejection. While we were still sinners and enemies of God, Jesus did this for us. That is an indescribable gift.

PASSAGE TO READ

Luke 22:39-46 (Page 633 in our house bibles)

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

1. When is the last time you thought, “I really, really do not want to do this”? Did you follow through or did you back away?

2. What do you think was going through the minds of the disciples as the watched and listened to Jesus pray?

3. When is the last time you stopped and really thought about what Jesus did for you and for the world on the cross?

PRAYER IDEA

Take time to reflect on Jesus’ last moments. Give Him thanks for being willing to do the will of God and not what was easy for Him.

ALL IN Summer Devotional: Day 81

THE SET UP

Peter is my favorite disciple because he is an “all in” personality. Peter doesn’t do nuance. If he feels it, he says it, and he doesn’t hem and haw. Peter is 100% sure he would never betray or deny Jesus and he says so without hesitation. He can’t imagine a scenario where he would deny his savior and Lord. He’s so sure, he promises Jesus it will never happen (Foreshadowing: It did). There have been times in my life where I was sure I would never let God down. I’ll never say anything like that again! Then I do. I’ll never treat someone that way again! Then I treat someone that way again. What follows is guilt and shame. But just as Jesus forgave Peter and restored him, Jesus does that for me. I am glad He is the God of the second chance.

PASSAGE TO READ

Luke 22:31-38 (Page 633 in our house bibles)

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

1. If you were in Peter’s shoes, do you think you would have said the same things he did? Why or why not?

2. Have you ever felt like you let God down? That you were so sure you wouldn’t blow it but you did? What did you do?

PRAYER IDEA

Thank God for his forgiveness, His patience, and His love for you, even when you blow it big time. If there is something you need to confess and repent of, do it and clean the slate with God.

ALL IN Summer Devotional: Day 79

THE SET UP

Having people who don’t like you or don’t really know you give you a hard time is bad. But when someone you thought was your friend, someone you thought you could trust stabs you in the back, that is so much worse. We don’t expect good things from our enemies and we don’t expect evil from our friends. Even though Jesus knew that Judas would betray Him and that it was part of the plan, it had to hurt. He had spend three years discipling and befriending Judas, and now Judas was selling him out for thirty pieces of silver. What was Judas’ motive? Luke says Satan entered into Judas, so was he demon possessed? Was he just greedy for the silver? I have heard some people posit that he believed in Jesus and that he only betrayed Him to force Jesus’ hand and make Him rise up as the Messiah. Whatever the motive, Judas was wracked with guilt and took his own life in regret.

PASSAGE TO READ

Luke 22:1-6 (Page 633 in our house bibles)

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

1. What do you think motivated Judas to betray Jesus?

2. If you were Jesus what thoughts or feelings would you have had when Judas betrayed you?

3. Have you ever been betrayed by a close friend or family member? If so, how did you feel?

PRAYER IDEA

If there is someone close to you who has hurt you, ask God to help you to forgive and to work to restore that relationship.

ALL IN Summer Devotional: Day 78

THE SET UP

In Luke 21, Jesus talks to His followers about some of the signs in the last days. He talks about natural events in the atmosphere and galaxy. He talks about wars and persecution. He also talks about how people will try to mislead others about what is happening. If you have read the book of Revelation at the end of the bible, you know there is a lot of imagery that can be hard to understand, but you also know there will be some terrible and terrifying days to come. To all of this Jesus says, “Be alert and be ready.” He doesn’t say be afraid. He tells them not to be acting like teenagers whose parents are gone for the weekend and think they can throw a house party, only to have mom and dad come home early. Be ready, Jesus says, and pray for strength.

PASSAGE TO READ

Luke 21:5-38 (Page 632 in our house bibles)

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

1. Has there ever been an event or string of events in your lifetime that made you think, “This must be the last days”?

2. What do you think Jesus means when He says to keep alert at all times?

PRAYER IDEA

Ask God to give you discernment and wisdom about the last days and courage to remain alert and faithful.

ALL IN Summer Devotional: Day 77

THE SET UP

Every once in a while you will see a news story about a wealthy donor giving millions or even billions of dollars to a charity, a university, or some cause. It is hard to compute that some people have that kind of money to give away. But the reality is, for the most part, the people who give those millions usually have millions left. They gave a lot, but they didn’t give it all. Contrast that with people who have very little in the way of financial resources and give generously, even though it leaves them with very little. I have experienced that on the mission field when a family or group of families will go with little to no food for a few days so they can give you a meal when you visit their village. It is incredibly humbling. Jesus made special note of a situation like this when a poor widow gave a couple of pennies. It’s not the size of the gift that matters, it is the heart behind it and the sacrifice.

PASSAGE TO READ

Luke 21:1-4 (Page 632 in our house bibles)

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

1. What’s the most generous gift that you have ever received? How did it make you feel?

2. When you read this story, what makes the gift of the widow so great?

3. What do you think it means to be generous? Is it easier for you to be generous with your time or your money?

PRAYER IDEA

Ask God to give you the generous heart of the poor widow. If you have struggled with generosity because of fear of not having enough, pray for more faith to give.

ALL IN Summer Devotionals: Days 75 & 76

THE SET UP

Have you ever wondered if you will be married in heaven? Or if you were single in this life and you meet someone hanging around by the Pearly Gates could you have a heavenly wedding? What if your marriage wasn’t that great? When you get to heaven can you just pretend you don’t know each other? Jesus was asked about the marriage in situation in heaven, and He seems to indicate that things don’t work in heaven the way they work here. There is no marriage or giving in marriage in heaven, Jesus tells them. Why the Sadducees came up with this crazy hypothetical we may never know. But what we can learn from Jesus’ answer is that many of our suppositions about what Heaven will be like are probably wrong. Whatever we think Heaven will be like, it is better. Two things we do know: It will be awesome because God is there, and you don’t want to spend eternity in the other place, because He is not.

PASSAGE TO READ

Luke 20:27-47 (Page 631 in our house bibles)

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

1. When you think about the idea of heaven, what do you picture?

2. What do you think relationships will be like in heaven (you will not be graded on your answer)?

3. What are you looking forward to the most about heaven?

PRAYER IDEA

Thank Jesus that He is preparing a place for you right now and that one day you will spend eternity with Him.

ALL IN Summer Devotional: Day 74

THE SET UP

Jesus tells a powerful story in Luke 20. It is a parable, an earthly story to teach a heavenly truth. In the story, a group of wicked farmers constantly abuse and reject messengers from the land owner. They want to do things their own way. The story culminates in the farmers killing the land owners own son. This is a pretty obvious parallel to Israel rejecting messengers and prophets from God and ultimately killing Jesus. This seems like a terrible injustice to the audience who heard the story. They realize how unfair this is. And then, at some point it starts to sink in. That’s what we have been doing, rejecting God’s message to us. The Pharisees know they are the bad guys in the story and it makes them angry. Jesus told that story because He wanted to break up the hardness of heart many of them had developed toward God and His Word.

PASSAGE TO READ

Luke 20:9-26 (Page 631 in our house bibles)

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

1. Why do you think the evil farmers rejected the landowner and his messengers?

2. If you were the landowner, how would you have reacted to the evil farmers?

3. Do you think the Pharisees were angry that Jesus was talking about them or were they mad that someone was calling them on their behavior?

PRAYER IDEA

Ask God to help you keep an open mind and a soft heart to receive the messengers He may send into your life.