The Daily Guide. grow. pray. study. from The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, Kansas, United States
"Born to be a king who shepherds God’s people" for Thursday, 29 December 2016
Matthew 2:1 After Yeshua was born in Beit-Lechem in the land of Y’hudah during the time when Herod was king, Magi from the east came to Yerushalayim 2 and asked, “Where is the newborn King of the Jews? For we saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.”
3 When King Herod heard of this he became very agitated, and so did everyone else in Yerushalayim. 4 He called together all the head cohanim and Torah-teachers of the people and asked them, “Where will the Messiah be born?” 5 “In Beit-Lechem of Y’hudah,” they replied, “because the prophet wrote,
6 ‘And you, Beit-Lechem in the land of Y’hudah,
are by no means the least among the rulers of Y’hudah;
for from you will come a Ruler
who will shepherd my people Isra’el.’”[Matthew 2:6 Micah 5:1(2)]
-------
The Greek word magoi, which Matthew used here, usually identified students of the stars. They most likely came from modern Iran, though “from the east” could mean a whole range of places. They arrived an unspecified amount of time “after Jesus was born in Bethlehem.” These notable visitors said, “We… have come to worship him.” Israel was just a minor Roman province. No one would expect non-Hebrew scholars to travel far to see, much less worship, even a “king of the Jews.”
• Roman historians Suetonius and Tacitus both wrote that at the time Jesus was born, an ancient prophecy led many to believe a world ruler would rise in Judea. Both historians said the prophecy must have meant Emperor Vespasian. Those Romans missed the true king, but so did the priests and legal experts who rattled off Micah’s prophecy about Bethlehem. The eastern wise men didn’t. In what ways can you keep your mind and heart open, so as not to miss where God is at work?
• In Ezekiel 34:1-16, as well as in Micah 5:2, God promised Israel that he would shepherd them. Jesus, grown up, claimed to be the promised “good shepherd,” offering those who follow him “life to the fullest” (John 10:1-15). In what ways do ads for everything from cars to computers, alcoholic beverages to hair-care products, hold out that promise? How easy or hard do you find it to trust, in your day-to-day life, that Jesus truly offers you the fullest, most satisfying life?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, keep my eyes and my heart open to signs that you are at work in and around my life. Thank you for being the shepherd who guides me to life to the fullest. Amen.
-------
King Herod wasn't exactly known for being a nice guy. When he heard that another king was threatening his territory, the Scriptures say he became concerned. That's putting it nicely. His ego was so fragile that knowing the king was a baby, he had every male child under the age of two killed. There was a mass murder of innocent children just because Herod couldn't share the power or glory. I can't imagine the terror that spread throughout the land as all those babies were stripped from their families and put to death.
I find it difficult to understand how someone could go to such an extreme, but I must admit that there is part of me that recognizes what it feels like to be threatened by Jesus. I'm prone to want power and control over my life, and I don't want anything or anyone getting in the way.
But then a baby was born, a baby who would grow up to be a king. Not only was he a king, but he was King of kings. He was mightier than any king of the time, and he is still mightier than any king or President today. When we choose to follow Christ, we must recognize that Jesus is our king—king of our personal kingdoms.
While I understand that Jesus has the best in mind for me, there are times when what he wants comes in conflict with my own desires, thus the threat. I want the power. I want to call the shots. But if calling the shots goes against Jesus' desires, this means I go against what is best for the kingdom and what is best for me.
As a king, Jesus did not storm in and take over—he came in peacefully, as a child. We must accept him peacefully, not clutching wildly to our own kingdoms as Herod did, but peacefully handing the reins of the entire kingdom over to the new king.
JANELLE GREGORY
Janelle Gregory serves on the Resurrection staff as a Human Resources Specialist. She helps support our staff through recruitment efforts, benefits, performance management, wellness, training and all other aspects of Human Resources.
To varying levels, she loves board games, Jesus, college basketball, traveling and her family. Janelle finds that her heart is constantly wrestling with the truth that she needs a Savior, and the times when she's at her very best are when she's just too tired to put up a fight.
-------
"Born to be God’s light in the darkness"
Friday, 30 December 2016
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word,
and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God.
2 He was with God in the beginning.
3 All things came to be through him,
and without him nothing made had being.
4 In him was life,
and the life was the light of mankind.
5 The light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness has not suppressed it.
6 There was a man sent from God whose name was Yochanan. 7 He came to be a testimony, to bear witness concerning the light; so that through him, everyone might put his trust in God and be faithful to him. 8 He himself was not that light; no, he came to bear witness concerning the light.
-------
The prologue to John’s gospel daringly linked the worlds of Greek and Hebrew thought. Numerous Greek philosophers had identified “the Word” (Greek logos) as the great Idea behind the world. The Hebrew Bible began (like John) with “in the beginning,” and said God spoke into being all that is. John’s poetic prologue said Jesus embodied all that power and wisdom.
• “In the beginning,” in any language, carries us back to areas of mystery of which, even today, science is just scratching the surface. John didn’t say the Word “began” in the beginning; he said the Word “was.” It was a way of saying Jesus has always been here,
and will always be here. He is eternal; he is God. In what ways does it matter to your faith that Jesus is more than just a good man?
• “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness doesn’t extinguish the light” wasn’t just poetry. As we see on Christmas Eve, even a large room full of darkness cannot hide or put out the light of the one small Christ candle when it comes into the room. When has it felt to you that darkness was trying to put out God’s light in your life? What spiritual practices have you found that help keep you close to God, so that God’s light keeps shining in you?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for shining the life-giving light of your love and grace into my life. Amen.
-------
-------
"Born to fully reveal God’s glory, truth and grace"
Saturday, 31 December 2016
John 1:9 This was the true light,
which gives light to everyone entering the world.
10 He was in the world — the world came to be through him —
yet the world did not know him.
11 He came to his own homeland,
yet his own people did not receive him.
12 But to as many as did receive him, to those who put their trust in his person and power, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 not because of bloodline, physical impulse or human intention, but because of God.
14 The Word became a human being and lived with us,
and we saw his Sh’khinah,
the Sh’khinah of the Father’s only Son,
full of grace and truth.
15 Yochanan witnessed concerning him when he cried out, “This is the man I was talking about when I said, ‘The one coming after me has come to rank ahead of me, because he existed before me.’”
16 We have all received from his fullness,
yes, grace upon grace.
17 For the Torah was given through Moshe;
grace and truth came through Yeshua the Messiah.
18 No one has ever seen God; but the only and unique Son, who is identical with God and is at the Father’s side — he has made him known.
-------
The gods the Greeks and Romans worshipped carried out their purposes far from the day-to-day concerns of human beings. If one of them visited earth, people had best try to placate him or her or get out of the way. But “the Word,” John said, was entirely different. He brought light for all people, and gave all who believed in him the right to become children of God. He capped it off with the astonishing assertion that “the Word became flesh and made his home among us.” Neither Greeks nor Jews believed even God could bridge a gap that wide. But by becoming flesh, “the Word” showed us what God is really like. The light wasn’t just about God—the light was God in person, in our midst.
• John, taking his cue from Jesus (John 3:3-8), said the life Jesus brought is so new it’s like being born anew as a child of God. When did your spiritual journey start? In what ways has walking with Jesus given you a whole new life? John’s prologue included a tragic note: “the light came to his own people, and his own people didn’t welcome him.” What blocked people’s ability to recognize their Creator? How can you avoid that kind of blockage? How does the person of Jesus shape your understanding of God? What difference does what you believe about God make in day-to-day life?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, on this last day of 2016, I thank you for being with me through the year. And I’m so grateful for your assurance that your life-giving presence goes with me into every day of 2017. Amen.
Family Activity: Mary and Joseph were full of joy at the birth of Jesus. Then the angel joyfully told the shepherds that Jesus had been born and the shepherds joyfully told others! How can you joyfully tell others about the birthday of Jesus? First, create a list of people with whom you want to share the good news of Jesus. Consider neighbors, community workers, store clerks, family, and friends. Next, discuss fun and creative ways you could share the exciting news of Jesus’ birth and his love. You might bake treats, design cards, create a simple craft or write a simple note. Deliver your items to people. Let each person know you are praying for him or her during this Christmas season and throughout the year. Share the joy of Jesus with everyone!
-------
-------
Prayer Requests – cor.org/prayer
-------
Matthew 2:1 After Yeshua was born in Beit-Lechem in the land of Y’hudah during the time when Herod was king, Magi from the east came to Yerushalayim 2 and asked, “Where is the newborn King of the Jews? For we saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.”
3 When King Herod heard of this he became very agitated, and so did everyone else in Yerushalayim. 4 He called together all the head cohanim and Torah-teachers of the people and asked them, “Where will the Messiah be born?” 5 “In Beit-Lechem of Y’hudah,” they replied, “because the prophet wrote,
6 ‘And you, Beit-Lechem in the land of Y’hudah,
are by no means the least among the rulers of Y’hudah;
for from you will come a Ruler
who will shepherd my people Isra’el.’”[Matthew 2:6 Micah 5:1(2)]
-------
The Greek word magoi, which Matthew used here, usually identified students of the stars. They most likely came from modern Iran, though “from the east” could mean a whole range of places. They arrived an unspecified amount of time “after Jesus was born in Bethlehem.” These notable visitors said, “We… have come to worship him.” Israel was just a minor Roman province. No one would expect non-Hebrew scholars to travel far to see, much less worship, even a “king of the Jews.”
• Roman historians Suetonius and Tacitus both wrote that at the time Jesus was born, an ancient prophecy led many to believe a world ruler would rise in Judea. Both historians said the prophecy must have meant Emperor Vespasian. Those Romans missed the true king, but so did the priests and legal experts who rattled off Micah’s prophecy about Bethlehem. The eastern wise men didn’t. In what ways can you keep your mind and heart open, so as not to miss where God is at work?
• In Ezekiel 34:1-16, as well as in Micah 5:2, God promised Israel that he would shepherd them. Jesus, grown up, claimed to be the promised “good shepherd,” offering those who follow him “life to the fullest” (John 10:1-15). In what ways do ads for everything from cars to computers, alcoholic beverages to hair-care products, hold out that promise? How easy or hard do you find it to trust, in your day-to-day life, that Jesus truly offers you the fullest, most satisfying life?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, keep my eyes and my heart open to signs that you are at work in and around my life. Thank you for being the shepherd who guides me to life to the fullest. Amen.
-------
King Herod wasn't exactly known for being a nice guy. When he heard that another king was threatening his territory, the Scriptures say he became concerned. That's putting it nicely. His ego was so fragile that knowing the king was a baby, he had every male child under the age of two killed. There was a mass murder of innocent children just because Herod couldn't share the power or glory. I can't imagine the terror that spread throughout the land as all those babies were stripped from their families and put to death.
I find it difficult to understand how someone could go to such an extreme, but I must admit that there is part of me that recognizes what it feels like to be threatened by Jesus. I'm prone to want power and control over my life, and I don't want anything or anyone getting in the way.
But then a baby was born, a baby who would grow up to be a king. Not only was he a king, but he was King of kings. He was mightier than any king of the time, and he is still mightier than any king or President today. When we choose to follow Christ, we must recognize that Jesus is our king—king of our personal kingdoms.
While I understand that Jesus has the best in mind for me, there are times when what he wants comes in conflict with my own desires, thus the threat. I want the power. I want to call the shots. But if calling the shots goes against Jesus' desires, this means I go against what is best for the kingdom and what is best for me.
As a king, Jesus did not storm in and take over—he came in peacefully, as a child. We must accept him peacefully, not clutching wildly to our own kingdoms as Herod did, but peacefully handing the reins of the entire kingdom over to the new king.
JANELLE GREGORYJanelle Gregory serves on the Resurrection staff as a Human Resources Specialist. She helps support our staff through recruitment efforts, benefits, performance management, wellness, training and all other aspects of Human Resources.
To varying levels, she loves board games, Jesus, college basketball, traveling and her family. Janelle finds that her heart is constantly wrestling with the truth that she needs a Savior, and the times when she's at her very best are when she's just too tired to put up a fight.
-------
"Born to be God’s light in the darkness"
Friday, 30 December 2016
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word,
and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God.
2 He was with God in the beginning.
3 All things came to be through him,
and without him nothing made had being.
4 In him was life,
and the life was the light of mankind.
5 The light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness has not suppressed it.
6 There was a man sent from God whose name was Yochanan. 7 He came to be a testimony, to bear witness concerning the light; so that through him, everyone might put his trust in God and be faithful to him. 8 He himself was not that light; no, he came to bear witness concerning the light.
-------
The prologue to John’s gospel daringly linked the worlds of Greek and Hebrew thought. Numerous Greek philosophers had identified “the Word” (Greek logos) as the great Idea behind the world. The Hebrew Bible began (like John) with “in the beginning,” and said God spoke into being all that is. John’s poetic prologue said Jesus embodied all that power and wisdom.
• “In the beginning,” in any language, carries us back to areas of mystery of which, even today, science is just scratching the surface. John didn’t say the Word “began” in the beginning; he said the Word “was.” It was a way of saying Jesus has always been here,
and will always be here. He is eternal; he is God. In what ways does it matter to your faith that Jesus is more than just a good man?
• “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness doesn’t extinguish the light” wasn’t just poetry. As we see on Christmas Eve, even a large room full of darkness cannot hide or put out the light of the one small Christ candle when it comes into the room. When has it felt to you that darkness was trying to put out God’s light in your life? What spiritual practices have you found that help keep you close to God, so that God’s light keeps shining in you?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for shining the life-giving light of your love and grace into my life. Amen.
-------
-------
"Born to fully reveal God’s glory, truth and grace"
Saturday, 31 December 2016
John 1:9 This was the true light,
which gives light to everyone entering the world.
10 He was in the world — the world came to be through him —
yet the world did not know him.
11 He came to his own homeland,
yet his own people did not receive him.
12 But to as many as did receive him, to those who put their trust in his person and power, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 not because of bloodline, physical impulse or human intention, but because of God.
14 The Word became a human being and lived with us,
and we saw his Sh’khinah,
the Sh’khinah of the Father’s only Son,
full of grace and truth.
15 Yochanan witnessed concerning him when he cried out, “This is the man I was talking about when I said, ‘The one coming after me has come to rank ahead of me, because he existed before me.’”
16 We have all received from his fullness,
yes, grace upon grace.
17 For the Torah was given through Moshe;
grace and truth came through Yeshua the Messiah.
18 No one has ever seen God; but the only and unique Son, who is identical with God and is at the Father’s side — he has made him known.
-------
The gods the Greeks and Romans worshipped carried out their purposes far from the day-to-day concerns of human beings. If one of them visited earth, people had best try to placate him or her or get out of the way. But “the Word,” John said, was entirely different. He brought light for all people, and gave all who believed in him the right to become children of God. He capped it off with the astonishing assertion that “the Word became flesh and made his home among us.” Neither Greeks nor Jews believed even God could bridge a gap that wide. But by becoming flesh, “the Word” showed us what God is really like. The light wasn’t just about God—the light was God in person, in our midst.
• John, taking his cue from Jesus (John 3:3-8), said the life Jesus brought is so new it’s like being born anew as a child of God. When did your spiritual journey start? In what ways has walking with Jesus given you a whole new life? John’s prologue included a tragic note: “the light came to his own people, and his own people didn’t welcome him.” What blocked people’s ability to recognize their Creator? How can you avoid that kind of blockage? How does the person of Jesus shape your understanding of God? What difference does what you believe about God make in day-to-day life?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, on this last day of 2016, I thank you for being with me through the year. And I’m so grateful for your assurance that your life-giving presence goes with me into every day of 2017. Amen.
Family Activity: Mary and Joseph were full of joy at the birth of Jesus. Then the angel joyfully told the shepherds that Jesus had been born and the shepherds joyfully told others! How can you joyfully tell others about the birthday of Jesus? First, create a list of people with whom you want to share the good news of Jesus. Consider neighbors, community workers, store clerks, family, and friends. Next, discuss fun and creative ways you could share the exciting news of Jesus’ birth and his love. You might bake treats, design cards, create a simple craft or write a simple note. Deliver your items to people. Let each person know you are praying for him or her during this Christmas season and throughout the year. Share the joy of Jesus with everyone!
-------
-------
Prayer Requests – cor.org/prayer
-------
Download the GPS App
The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection
13720 Roe Avenue
Leawood, Kansas 66224, United States
913.897.0120
-------
No comments:
Post a Comment