Great Plains Conference of the United Methodist Church Wichita, Kansas, United States - Daily Devotional for Wednesday, 31 December 2014
Hershey UMC
Paxton UMC
Sutherland UMC
Great West District
_____________________________1st Sunday after Christmas Day – White or Gold
Lectionary Scriptures:
Isaiah 61:10-62:3
Psalm 148
Galatians 4:4-7
Luke 2:22-40
Isaiah 61:10-11 I will sing for joy in God,
explode in praise from deep in my soul!
He dressed me up in a suit of salvation,
he outfitted me in a robe of righteousness,
As a bridegroom who puts on a tuxedo
and a bride a jeweled tiara.
For as the earth bursts with spring wildflowers,
and as a garden cascades with blossoms,
So the Master, God, brings righteousness into full bloom
and puts praise on display before the nations.
Look, Your Savior Comes!
62:1-5 Regarding Zion, I can’t keep my mouth shut,
regarding Jerusalem, I can’t hold my tongue,
Until her righteousness blazes down like the sun
and her salvation flames up like a torch.
Foreign countries will see your righteousness,
and world leaders your glory.
You’ll get a brand-new name
straight from the mouth of God.
You’ll be a stunning crown in the palm of God’s hand,
a jeweled gold cup held high in the hand of your God.
No more will anyone call you Rejected,
and your country will no more be called Ruined.
You’ll be called Hephzibah (My Delight),
and your land Beulah (Married),
Because God delights in you
and your land will be like a wedding celebration.
For as a young man marries his virgin bride,
so your builder marries you,
And as a bridegroom is happy in his bride,
so your God is happy with you.
Psalm 148:1-5 Hallelujah!
Praise God from heaven,
praise him from the mountaintops;
Praise him, all you his angels,
praise him, all you his warriors,
Praise him, sun and moon,
praise him, you morning stars;
Praise him, high heaven,
praise him, heavenly rain clouds;
Praise, oh let them praise the name of God—
he spoke the word, and there they were!
6 He set them in place
from all time to eternity;
He gave his orders,
and that’s it!
7-12 Praise God from earth,
you sea dragons, you fathomless ocean deeps;
Fire and hail, snow and ice,
hurricanes obeying his orders;
Mountains and all hills,
apple orchards and cedar forests;
Wild beasts and herds of cattle,
snakes, and birds in flight;
Earth’s kings and all races,
leaders and important people,
Robust men and women in their prime,
and yes, graybeards and little children.
13-14 Let them praise the name of God—
it’s the only Name worth praising.
His radiance exceeds anything in earth and sky;
he’s built a monument—his very own people!
Praise from all who love God!
Israel’s children, intimate friends of God.
Hallelujah!
Galatians 4:4-7 But when the time arrived that was set by God the Father, God sent his Son, born among us of a woman, born under the conditions of the law so that he might redeem those of us who have been kidnapped by the law. Thus we have been set free to experience our rightful heritage. You can tell for sure that you are now fully adopted as his own children because God sent the Spirit of his Son into our lives crying out, “Papa! Father!” Doesn’t that privilege of intimate conversation with God make it plain that you are not a slave, but a child? And if you are a child, you’re also an heir, with complete access to the inheritance.
Luke 2:22-24 Then when the days stipulated by Moses for purification were complete, they took him up to Jerusalem to offer him to God as commanded in God’s Law: “Every male who opens the womb shall be a holy offering to God,” and also to sacrifice the “pair of doves or two young pigeons” prescribed in God’s Law.
25-32 In Jerusalem at the time, there was a man, Simeon by name, a good man, a man who lived in the prayerful expectancy of help for Israel. And the Holy Spirit was on him. The Holy Spirit had shown him that he would see the Messiah of God before he died. Led by the Spirit, he entered the Temple. As the parents of the child Jesus brought him in to carry out the rituals of the Law, Simeon took him into his arms and blessed God:
God, you can now release your servant;
release me in peace as you promised.
With my own eyes I’ve seen your salvation;
it’s now out in the open for everyone to see:
A God-revealing light to the non-Jewish nations,
and of glory for your people Israel.
33-35 Jesus’ father and mother were speechless with surprise at these words. Simeon went on to bless them, and said to Mary his mother,
This child marks both the failure and
the recovery of many in Israel,
A figure misunderstood and contradicted—
the pain of a sword-thrust through you—
But the rejection will force honesty,
as God reveals who they really are.
36-38 Anna the prophetess was also there, a daughter of Phanuel from the tribe of Asher. She was by now a very old woman. She had been married seven years and a widow for eighty-four. She never left the Temple area, worshiping night and day with her fastings and prayers. At the very time Simeon was praying, she showed up, broke into an anthem of praise to God, and talked about the child to all who were waiting expectantly for the freeing of Jerusalem.
39-40 When they finished everything required by God in the Law, they returned to Galilee and their own town, Nazareth. There the child grew strong in body and wise in spirit. And the grace of God was on him.
John Wesley's Notes-Commentary:
Isaiah 61:10-62:3
Verse 10
[10] I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.
I will — This is spoken in the person of the church.
Garments, … — With salvation as with a garment, and with righteousness as with a robe.
Verse 11
[11] For as the earth bringeth forth her bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.
Righteousness — His great work of salvation shall break out and appear.
Praise — As the natural product, and fruit of it.
Verse 1
[1] For Zion's sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth.
Zion's sake — Zion and Jerusalem are both put for the church, Hebrews 12:22.
My peace — These seem to be the words of the prophet strongly resolving, notwithstanding all difficulties, to solicit God for the church's happiness, and constantly excite to the belief of it by his preaching, though it were long before it came, for Isaiah lived near two hundred years before this was accomplished.
Righteousness — With reference to the Babylonians, understand it of the righteousness of God, who hath promised his people deliverance, and he must be righteous, and so understand salvation before; or rather, the vindicating of his people's cause in the eyes of the nations by the ruin of the Babylonians; he will shew that his people have a righteous cause.
Lamp — And to that purpose is set up where it may be seen continually, to signify how eminently conspicuous this prosperous estate of the church should be among the nations, and as it may particularly relate to revealing of Christ unto the world.
Verse 2
[2] And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory: and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the LORD shall name.
A new name — The church shall be more renowned than ever, both in respect of her condition, and so called Hephzi-bah, and of her relation, and so called Beulah, and this new name the Lord gives them accordingly, verse 4.
Verse 3
[3] Thou shalt also be a crown of glory in the hand of the LORD, and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God.
Crown of glory — An expression to set forth the dignity of her state.
In the hand — Preserved and defended by God's hand.
Royal diadem — The same thing with the former for substance. Or, the royal priesthood, whereof the apostle speaks, 1 Peter 2:9.
Psalm 148
Verse 4
[4] Praise him, ye heavens of heavens, and ye waters that be above the heavens.
Heavens of heavens — Ye highest heavens, the place of God's throne.
Waters — Ye clouds which are above a part of the heavens.
Verse 6
[6] He hath also stablished them for ever and ever: he hath made a decree which shall not pass.
Established — He hath made them constant and incorruptible, not changeable, as the things of the lower world.
A decree — Concerning their continuance.
Verse 7
[7] Praise the LORD from the earth, ye dragons, and all deeps:
Dragons — Either serpents, which hide in the deep caverns of the earth; or whales, and other sea-monsters, which dwell in the depths of the sea.
Verse 8
[8] Fire, and hail; snow, and vapour; stormy wind fulfilling his word:
Fire — Lightnings and other fireworks of the air.
Vapour — Or, fumes: hot exhalations.
Fulfilling his word — Executing his commands, either for the comfort or punishment of the inhabitants of the earth.
Verse 13
[13] Let them praise the name of the LORD: for his name alone is excellent; his glory is above the earth and heaven.
Above — Above all the glories which are in earth and in heaven.
Verse 14
[14] He also exalteth the horn of his people, the praise of all his saints; even of the children of Israel, a people near unto him. Praise ye the LORD.
The horn — In scripture commonly denotes strength, victory, glory, and felicity.
Galatians 4:4-7
Verse 4
[4] But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
But when the fulness of the time — Appointed by the Father, Galatians 4:2.
Was come, God sent forth — From his own bosom. His Son, miraculously made of the substance of a woman - A virgin, without the concurrence of a man.
Made under the law — Both under the precept, and under the curse, of it.
Verse 5
[5] To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
To redeem those under the law — From the curse of it, and from that low, servile state.
That we — Jews who believe.
Might receive the adoption — All the privileges of adult sons.
Verse 6
[6] And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
And because ye — Gentiles who believe, are also thus made his adult sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts likewise, crying, Abba, Father - Enabling you to call upon God both with the confidence, and the tempers, of dutiful children. The Hebrew and Greek word are joined together, to express the joint cry of the Jews and gentiles.
Verse 7
[7] Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
Wherefore thou — Who believest in Christ.
Art no more a servant — Like those who are under the law.
But a son — Of mature age. And if a son, then an heir of all the promises, and of the all-sufficient God himself.
Luke 2:22-40
Verse 22
[22] And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord;
The days — The forty days prescribed, Leviticus 12:2,4.
Verse 23
[23] (As it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;)
Exodus 13:2.
Verse 24
[24] And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.
A pair of turtle doves, or two young pigeons — This offering sufficed for the poor. Leviticus 12:8.
Verse 25
[25] And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him.
The consolation of Israel — A common phrase for the Messiah, who was to be the everlasting consolation of the Israel of God.
The Holy Ghost was upon him — That is, he was a prophet.
Verse 27
[27] And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law,
By the Spirit — By a particular revelation or impulse from him.
Verse 30
[30] For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,
Thy salvation — Thy Christ, thy Saviour.
Verse 32
[32] A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.
And the glory of thy people Israel — For after the Gentiles are enlightened, all Israel shall be saved.
Verse 33
[33] And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him.
Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken — For they did not thoroughly understand them.
Verse 34
[34] And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against;
Simeon blessed them — Joseph and Mary.
This child is set for the fall and rising again of many — That is, he will be a savour of death to some, to unbelievers: a savour of life to others, to believers: and for a sign which shall be spoken against - A sign from God, yet rejected of men: but the time for declaring this at large was not yet come: that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed - The event will be, that by means of that contradiction, the inmost thoughts of many, whether good or bad, will be made manifest.
Verse 35
[35] (Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.
A sword shall pierce through thy own soul — So it did, when he suffered: particularly at his crucifixion.
Verse 37
[37] And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.
Fourscore and four years — These were the years of her life, not her widowhood only.
Who departed not from the temple — Who attended there at all the stated hours of prayer.
But served God with fastings and prayers — Even at that age.
Night and day — That is, spending therein a considerable part of the night, as well as of the day.
Verse 38
[38] And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.
To all that were waiting for redemption — The sceptre flow appeared to he departing from Judah, though it was not actually gone: Daniel's weeks were plainly near their period. And the revival of the spirit of prophecy, together with the memorable occurrences relating to the birth of John the Baptist, and of Jesus, could not but encourage and quicken the expectation of pious persons at this time. Let the example of these aged saints animate those, whose hoary heads, like theirs, are a crown of glory, being found in the way of righteousness. Let those venerable lips, so soon to be silent in the grave, be now employed in the praises of their Redeemer. Let them labour to leave those behind, to whom Christ will be as precious as he has been to them; and who will be waiting for God's salvation, when they are gone to enjoy it.
Verse 40
[40] And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him.
And the child grew — In bodily strength and stature; and waxed strong in spirit - The powers of his human mind daily improved; filled with wisdom - By the light of the indwelling Spirit, which gradually opened itself in his soul; and the grace of God was upon him - That is, the peculiar favour of God rested upon him, even as man.
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Today's Devotional:
The Upper Room Daily Devotional Nashville, Tennessee, United States “The Man Who Was Willing” for Wednesday, 31 December 2014 - Scripture: 2 Corinthians 9:6-7 Remember: A stingy planter gets a stingy crop; a lavish planter gets a lavish crop. I want each of you to take plenty of time to think it over, and make up your own mind what you will give. That will protect you against sob stories and arm-twisting. God loves it when the giver delights in the giving.8-11 God can pour on the blessings in astonishing ways so that you’re ready for anything and everything, more than just ready to do what needs to be done. As one psalmist puts it,
He throws caution to the winds,
giving to the needy in reckless abandon.
His right-living, right-giving ways
never run out, never wear out.
This most generous God who gives seed to the farmer that becomes bread for your meals is more than extravagant with you. He gives you something you can then give away, which grows into full-formed lives, robust in God, wealthy in every way, so that you can be generous in every way, producing with us great praise to God.
12-15 Carrying out this social relief work involves far more than helping meet the bare needs of poor Christians. It also produces abundant and bountiful thanksgivings to God. This relief offering is a prod to live at your very best, showing your gratitude to God by being openly obedient to the plain meaning of the Message of Christ. You show your gratitude through your generous offerings to your needy brothers and sisters, and really toward everyone. Meanwhile, moved by the extravagance of God in your lives, they’ll respond by praying for you in passionate intercession for whatever you need. Thank God for this gift, his gift. No language can praise it enough!
God loves a cheerful giver.[2 Corinthians 9:7 (NRSV)]
Excited to have a free hour to relax, I settled into my favorite chair with all my quilting supplies within reach. A few minutes later the doorbell rang. Grudgingly, I headed for the door, followed by my nine-year-old daughter, Emily. In the cold, soft rain stood a man with no coat or umbrella, holding a clipboard. After greeting us, he went on to explain that he was collecting money for a mission program. Preoccupied by my desire to return to my project, I responded with a polite but short, “I’m sorry, but I can’t help you today” and slowly closed the door.
Emily asked, “Why? Why did we give nothing? He came out in the cold and rain to collect money for the poor.” Instantly, my heart sank. The honest answer was that my self-centeredness had caused me to miss this opportunity to help someone, as well as the chance to teach my daughter about how God loves a cheerful giver.
A short time later, Emily handed me a drawing titled, “The Man Who Was Willing.” She had expressed on paper what was in her heart. On this day, my young daughter was the teacher. Her childhood artwork remains both a treasured keepsake and a valuable lesson. Fifteen years later, Emily still draws when her heart is profoundly touched, and I strive not to miss any opportunity God gives me to be a cheerful giver.
Read more from the author, here.
"Called to Write"
Thirty-five years ago my mother introduced me to The Upper Room. Mom was a quiet woman of faith whose actions spoke louder than her words. As a young adult, I would often see my mom sitting peacefully and thoughtfully reading from this small booklet. Her example of this daily discipline eventually stirred my curiosity and became appealing me. She took note of my growing interest and one day handed me some extra copies of The Upper Room to take home. I quickly began looking forward to reading about how God was touching the lives of people throughout the world. I started my own subscription and have been reading it ever since. My mom went home to the Lord in April 2006.
In January 2013, following my father’s death, I felt the Holy Spirit speaking to me about the many ways I have experienced God in my own life. The Spirit was prompting me to share these experiences with others, not only verbally but in writing. God was also using a 92-year-old Romanian friend to encourage me to write as well. God works in the funniest ways! I am an avid journal writer. I am not an author, nor a schooled writer. Nonetheless, I began to put pen to paper using The Upper Room format to guide me.
One of the first experiences God placed on my heart was from 16 years ago. The memory was still vivid and the lesson I learned was a powerful one. With my daughter’s childhood drawing of “The Man Who Was Willing” in front of me, I began to write. I was filled with comfort and peace. Sometime later, I felt led to submit this writing. It was a wonderful surprise to hear that it had been selected to print in this issue. I couldn’t help but think of my mom and that she would be tickled by this!
Looking back, I’ve realized that my mother’s example to me is the same example I have lived for my daughter. Throughout Emily’s entire life, she has seen me read The Upper Room. Every year at Christmas, I give copies of The Upper Room with a small gift to many of our friends and family. Our closest friends now expect to receive their traditional January-February issue each Christmas!
I am so grateful for God’s word and my personal relationship with the Lord. Experiencing God in my daily life is a beautiful blessing! God wants me to share these experiences with others, so I am continuing to write. I do not know where this may lead, but God does. If it can be used to bring glory to God or encourage a brother and sister in their walk with Christ or draw others to know our awesome God; then this is my prayer.
I hope you enjoyed reading “The Man Who Was Willing.”
God bless you![Kathleen Hoover]
The Author: Kathleen Hoover (California, USA)
Thought for the Day: In spite of our mistakes, God gives second chances.
Prayer: Dear God, help us to be generous and truly willing to help others in need. Amen.
Prayer focus: Those who serve the poor
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Great Plains Conference of the United Methodist Church
9440 E Boston, Suite 160
Wichita KS 67207
316-686-0600
800-745-2350
info@greatplainsumc.org
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