Christmas
This devotional is written by Bethany Johnson. Bethany is no longer working with us so this is her last EWM.
Jeremiah 23:3-6
3 "I myself will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the countries where I have driven them and will bring them back to their pasture, where they will be fruitful and increase in number. 4 I will place shepherds over them who will tend them, and they will no longer be afraid or terrified, nor will any be missing," declares the Lord.
5 "The days are coming," declares the Lord,
"when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch,
a King who will reign wisely
and do what is just and right in the land.
6 In his days Judah will be saved
and Israel will live in safety.
This is the name by which he will be called:
The Lord Our Righteous Savior.
5 "The days are coming," declares the Lord,
"when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch,
a King who will reign wisely
and do what is just and right in the land.
6 In his days Judah will be saved
and Israel will live in safety.
This is the name by which he will be called:
The Lord Our Righteous Savior.
Reflection
When I first read these verses, three themes jumped out to me – one of comfort, one of hope and one of justice.
Comfort
In verses 3 and 4 God is calling his people back to himself, no matter how far they have gone. It's comforting to know that he never leaves us behind and he will watch over us. I also find it extraordinary that he has been doing the same thing over and over again for hundreds of years.
Hope
Jesus! I love how the Bible is constantly pointing towards Jesus. Verse 5 and 6 do just that. Words used to describe the coming King are righteous, wise, just, right, saviour. That’s a king that I want to worship.
Justice
'He'll make sure of justice and keep people united'
This is the stand-out verse to me (taken from the Message version). I have a massive heart for social justice – and luckily we have a king with an even bigger heart for justice. I often find myself overwhelmed by the challenging situations that people are living in around the world and at home. Just the other night, I walked past a begging man on the street who was crying. I felt completely helpless in the moment – I arrived home and wept, crying out to God. I asked Jesus to draw close to the man and be his comforter.
I recently watched one of the cutely-romantic Christmas films which have come out in force on Netflix this year. Most of the films have blurred into one, but one has stood out to me. Within the film, there is a Christmas initiative called 'Christmas 365'. This initiative promotes kindness and generosity, but Sara (the leading lady) questions as to why this can’t be done all year round. Why do people step up around Christmas-time? As simple as it may seem, this really struck a chord with me.
The Christmas season is often described as the season of giving and generosity, but my challenge to you is that we extend this into a lifelong season of giving and generosity. Jesus was constantly seeking justice for the poor, the lost, the broken – shouldn't we be doing the same?
Everyone will do this differently. It could be serving at a homeless meal, spending time with women in a trafficking safe-house or financially supporting charities who work on the poverty frontline. There is a way for everyone to get involved.
So my prayer for us this Christmas season, is that we will all find our place in seeking justice. If you serve at a homeless meal this Christmas, why not serve every month for the next year?
Building relationships like this is building the kingdom of God. Let’s be a part of it, not just this Christmas season.
Comfort
In verses 3 and 4 God is calling his people back to himself, no matter how far they have gone. It's comforting to know that he never leaves us behind and he will watch over us. I also find it extraordinary that he has been doing the same thing over and over again for hundreds of years.
Hope
Jesus! I love how the Bible is constantly pointing towards Jesus. Verse 5 and 6 do just that. Words used to describe the coming King are righteous, wise, just, right, saviour. That’s a king that I want to worship.
Justice
'He'll make sure of justice and keep people united'
This is the stand-out verse to me (taken from the Message version). I have a massive heart for social justice – and luckily we have a king with an even bigger heart for justice. I often find myself overwhelmed by the challenging situations that people are living in around the world and at home. Just the other night, I walked past a begging man on the street who was crying. I felt completely helpless in the moment – I arrived home and wept, crying out to God. I asked Jesus to draw close to the man and be his comforter.
I recently watched one of the cutely-romantic Christmas films which have come out in force on Netflix this year. Most of the films have blurred into one, but one has stood out to me. Within the film, there is a Christmas initiative called 'Christmas 365'. This initiative promotes kindness and generosity, but Sara (the leading lady) questions as to why this can’t be done all year round. Why do people step up around Christmas-time? As simple as it may seem, this really struck a chord with me.
The Christmas season is often described as the season of giving and generosity, but my challenge to you is that we extend this into a lifelong season of giving and generosity. Jesus was constantly seeking justice for the poor, the lost, the broken – shouldn't we be doing the same?
Everyone will do this differently. It could be serving at a homeless meal, spending time with women in a trafficking safe-house or financially supporting charities who work on the poverty frontline. There is a way for everyone to get involved.
So my prayer for us this Christmas season, is that we will all find our place in seeking justice. If you serve at a homeless meal this Christmas, why not serve every month for the next year?
Building relationships like this is building the kingdom of God. Let’s be a part of it, not just this Christmas season.
Recent
Archive
2020
January
New YearNew YearNew YearThe Path to Spiritual GrowthEvery Night with MattThe Path to Spiritual GrowthThe Path to Spiritual GrowthThe Path to Spiritual GrowthThe Path to Spiritual GrowthThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of Luke
2019
January
John the Baptist prepares the wayJesus announces the good newsJesus heals manyJesus forgives and healsJesus heals on the SabbathParable of the sowerLamp on a standJesus restores a demon possessed manJesus raises a dead girl and heals a sick womanA prophet without honourJohn the Baptist beheadedJesus feeds the five thousandJesus walks on waterThat which defiles
February
Faith of the Syro-phonecian womanFeeding 4000Jesus heals a blind man at BethsaidaTransfigurationJesus heals a boy possessed by an impure spiritJesus predicts his death a second timeDivorceThe rich and the kingdom of GodJesus predicts his death a third timeBlind Bartimaeus receives his sightJesus comes to Jerusalem as kingJesus curses a fig tree and clear the templeThe authority of Jesus questionedPaying tax to CaesarThe greatest commandmentThe destruction of the temple
March
June
July
A Fellowship of DifferenceLove your neighbourLove your enemyNeither Jew nor GentilePray for PrideEphesians 6:10-13Ephesians 6:14Ephesians 6:15Ephesians 6:16Ephesians 6:17Ephesians 6:18-20LoveLove, for the day is nearLove is patientGod is loveCreationSabbathThe Lord does not grow wearyPsalm 23Come all you who are wearyBe stillJesus asleep in the boatQuiet you with love
August
Proverbs 1Proverbs 2Proverbs 3Proverbs 4Proverbs 5Proverbs 6Proverbs 7Proverbs 8Proverbs 9Proverbs 10Proverbs 11Proverbs 12Proverbs 13Proverbs 14Proverbs 15Proverbs 16Proverbs 17Proverbs 18Proverbs 19Proverbs 20Proverbs 21Proverbs 22Proverbs 23Proverbs 24Proverbs 25Proverbs 26Proverbs 27Proverbs 28Proverbs 29Proverbs 30Proverbs 31
September
October
A Brief Skim Through the BibleA Brief Skim Through the BibleA Brief Skim Through the BibleA Brief Skim Through the BibleA Brief Skim Through the BibleA Brief Skim Through the BibleBack very soonSermon on the MountSermon on the MountSermon on the MountSermon on the MountSermon on the MountSermon on the MountSermon on the MountSermon on the MountSermon on the MountSermon on the MountSermon on the MountSermon on the MountSermon on the MountSermon on the Mount
November
Sermon on the MountSermon on the MountOpen to the SpiritOpen to the SpiritOpen to the SpiritOpen to the SpiritLetters to the ThessaloniansLetters to the ThessaloniansLetters to the ThessaloniansLetters to the ThessaloniansLetters to the ThessaloniansLetters to the ThessaloniansLetters to the ThessaloniansLetters to the ThessaloniansLetters to the ThessaloniansLetters to the ThessaloniansLetters to the ThessaloniansLetters to the ThessaloniansLetters to the ThessaloniansLetters to the Thessalonians
No Comments