Devos 365

Prayer: Away in a manger, no crib for a bed,                    The little Lord Jesus laid down His sweet head.                    The stars in the sky looked down where He lay,                    The little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay. Read: Matthew 1:18–25 http://www.esvbible.org/Matthew+1%3A18-25/ Think about It:   In these few brief verses we learn much of Joseph’s character and faith. He is a kind and compassionate man who tries to act within the laws and requirement of the faith to which he belongs. We are not told how he felt about the betrayal by his fiancée, as it appears she has given her virginity to another man. The proof is in the pregnancy, right? But we can surmise by his ac...

Prayer:   O Little Town of Bethlehem               O little town of Bethlehem,               How still we see thee lie!         Above thy deep and dreamless sleep               The silent stars go by;         Yet in thy dark streets shineth               The everlasting light.         The hopes and fears of all the years               Are met in thee tonight.               For Christ is born of Mary,               And, gathe...

Prayer: Gentle Mary laid her child,              Lowly in a manger;        There He lay, the Undefiled,        To the world a stranger.        Such a babe in such a place,        Can He be the Savior?        Ask the saved of all the race,        Who have found His favor. Read: Psalm 46 http://www.esvbible.org/Psalm 46 Think about It: Christmas has a warm and fuzzy place in our hearts. It’s a birthday party after all. And, it’s the birth of our Savior. It’s the quiet and peaceful side of a story that ends with a grizzly death and victorious resurrection. What we have done to Christmas is not all good. For many, Christmas has become anything but peaceful. It quickly fills up with a great deal of busyness and can be...

Prayer: The advent of our King,              Our prayers must now employ,        And we must hymns of welcome sing,              In strains of holy joy.        The everlasting Son,        Incarnate deigns to be,        Himself a servant’s form puts on,        To set His servants free. Read: Hebrews 7:23–27 http://www.esvbible.org/Hebrews 7:23-27 Think about It: In the Old Testament, the Father sets up an elaborate system of sacrifices and rituals that are performed by the priests in the Temple. These sacrifices point to the need for payment to be made for the sins of the people. The sacrifices happened daily and were surrounded by a large number of rules, regulations, and requirement...

Prayer: Let the earth now praise the Lord,              Who has truly kept His word              And at last to us did send              Christ, the sinner’s help and friend.              What the fathers most desired,              What the prophets’ heart inspired,              What they longed for many a year,              Stands fulfilled in glory here. Read:   Ezekiel 36:22–29 http://www.esvbible.org/Ezekiel 36:22-29 Think about It: Despite our best efforts to stand in God’s way, His will is always accomplished...

Prayer: Fling wide the portals of your heart; Make it a temple set apart            From earthly use for heav’n’s employ,            Adorned with prayer and love and joy.            So shall your Sov’reign enter in And new and nobler life begin.            To God alone be praise For word and deed and grace! Read: Matthew 18:21–35 http://www.esvbible.org/Matthew 18:21-35 Think about It: As soon as we believe that we “aren’t so bad” we’re in trouble. In our reading for today, where Jesus is prompted to tell His    disciples a parable, we find Peter falling into a sin-filled trap. He decides to make some comparisons between himself and “his brother.” This is a trap that is filled with sticky black goo and you’ll never come out alive.      How man...

Prayer: Lift up your heads, ye mighty gates!                    Behold, the King of glory waits.          The King of kings is drawing near; The Savior of the world is here.          Life and salvation He doth bring; Therefore rejoice and gladly sing.          To God the Father raise Your joyful songs of praise. Read: 1 Peter 3:8–17 http://www.esvbible.org/1 Peter 3:8-17 Think about It: When we ponder God’s mercy in the face of our overwhelming need there are several wonderful outcomes not the least of which is that we become more merciful ourselves. Peter expounds upon this principle as he writes his letter to the persecuted church.      Peter writes to the Church over 30 years after Jesus has died and been resurrected....