February 2 - An Obvious Place

Read: Luke 2:41-50

And he said to them, "Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?" (Luke 2:49 ESV)

Every year to celebrate the Passover Jesus travelled with his family to Jerusalem, a journey of roughly 140 miles over rough and rugged terrain. When he was twelve he went missing for a couple of days which of course upset Mary and Joseph quite a lot. Any good parent has a strong reaction to the news that their child is missing. They returned and were looking for him. Only to discover him listening and teaching in the Temple.

Have you ever lost something really important only to turn around and find it in the most obvious of places? In this story we begin to see the future of Jesus who is all about His Father's business. We also get to witness his understanding of his unique identity as both God and man. Jesus showed his divine nature in his actions at the Temple, but he also showed his human nature in his submission to Mary and Joseph.

Sometimes we spend a lot of time looking for things, whether answers or objects, and they are in the most obvious of places. Many people spend insane amounts of time, effort, and resources to achieve a peace that is offered in the most obvious of places, Jesus.

February 1 - Grow

Read: Luke 2:39-40

And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him. (Luke 2:40 ESV)

When Herod the Great died Joseph returned to Nazareth with his young family. It was in Nazareth that the young boy Jesus grew into the mighty God-man we read of in the Gospels. Jesus became strong as he grew. He was filled with wisdom. But it was a process as relates to his human nature.

Growing is an essential part of all life. We start small and young and progress in age, size, and capability, or at least we should. Growing up on a farm I got to be pretty familiar with growing things. Whether it was an animal or plant, the phrase if its not growing its dying held pretty true. We should have a desire to continually grow in our relationship with God.

When we begin our personal journey with God we are like children. We may have great passion, enthusiasm, and faith, but we often lack the kind of maturity that fills us with strength and wisdom. Spending time with the Father gives us both strength and wisdom. Not so we can better manage things on our own, but so that we will trust God even more.

Jesus enjoyed the favor of God because of his growth. Yes, he was the Son of God, but he was also a man. And as he grew from boy to man he followed the Law of God, sought after the heart of God, and it produced in his human nature the strength, wisdom, and favor of God.

January 27 - Waiting for Jesus

Read: Luke 2:25-38

"Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel." (Luke 2:29-32 ESV)

Simeon had been waiting a very long time to see Jesus. He had believed for years that he would live to see the days of the Messiah, and then one day out of the blue Mary and Joseph showed up with the baby Jesus. The old believer got so excited, he scooped his infant Lord up and under the power of the Holy Spirit began to worship him.

Can you imagine waiting for something for so long? Have you ever got impatient waiting for something that wasn't even that important? We all have. Simeon had waiting so long to see God's promise fulfilled in his lifetime. He kept waiting. He kept believing. And one day he got to experience Jesus.

How fast do we give up? How easy do we quit? In truth we often we give up too fast on the things that are the most important. Let's face it, we live in a microwaveable fast food world where convenience, amenities, and information are easily attained. Many of us are completely unfamiliar wi the kind of patient faithful waiting that Simeon demonstrated.

What if he had quit waiting? What if he had given up just a day too early? He would have missed Jesus. Don't stop believing for whatever it is God has put in your heart. Just wait. Be faithful. He is worth it.

January 26 - No More Temple

Read: Malachi 3:1-5, Luke 2:25-27

And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, (Luke 2:27 ESV)

In 400 B.C. Malachi prophesied that Jesus would enter the temple. Because the temple was destroyed in A.D. 70 and no longer exists it is a particularly important prophecy. In fact, this prophecy illuminates the historical window of time in which the Messiah must have came because it could not have been fulfilled after A.D. 70.

The Temple itself was the epicenter for Jewish worship for hundreds of years. Even today many modern Jews make a pilgrimage to a portion of ruins at the old Temple site known as the Wailing Wall. Among many who make the journey is the tragic misconception that being near the Wall allows them to be near to God.

In reality Jesus taught against this same idea in his day. Of course he realized, and promoted the importance of the Temple, even getting righteously angry over its frequent and flagrant misuse. But we he taught that it was just a place to meet with God. He even called it a house for prayer, and by his death and resurrection actually replaced the Temple itself.

Today, we don't need a temple Jesus is our temple. We don't go to a temple. We go to Jesus. We don't adorn a building in lavish luxuries, we seek the simplicity of a poor Jewish preacher. We don't focus our efforts and attention on a singular place, but on a singular divine person. Jesus is our way to God.

January 25 - The Given Name

Read: Luke 2:21-24

And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb. (Luke 2:21 ESV)

Eight days after he was born Joseph and Mary took the baby Jesus to be circumcised. It was during this event when he was named.

Imagine bringing a child into the world without any power over his or her destiny, or even something as simple as their name. Yet, that is exactly what the young Jewish couple did. The son which they would provide for, shelter, educate, and love was more important than even they could comprehend. So important that God sent a holy messenger to hand deliver the news of his birth and even a detail like his name.

Names are important things. They were even more important in the days of Jesus. In those days names were given based on meaning. Maybe you like your name. Maybe not. Perhaps your parents spent a great deal of time contemplating your name including its meaning. Or perhaps not.

I believe that, like Jesus, God intends for each of us to find purpose and mission in relationship with Him. I believe that God has chosen for you a given name. Maybe not literary in the sense that you should go and change your name or ask people to start calling you something different entirely, but I think you were made for a higher purpose than your parents, teachers, family, coworkers, friends, or yourself can truly grasp. Spend time today asking Jesus about your true given name.

January 24 - With Haste

Read: Luke 2:8-20

And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. (Luke 2:7, 16 ESV)

One night long ago some lowly shepherds were hanging out in the pasture doing whatever it is that shepherds do when an angel appeared. The angel shared the news of Jesus' birth, proclaiming the arrival of the Messiah, and a full blown angelic musical broke out. There is a great life principle to be found in how the shepherds responded. The bible says, "they went with haste."

Their response is something for us all to learn from. For hundreds of years the Jews had been waiting for the promised king. When the angel announced his arrival the shepherds believed it was true. They didn't dawdle or waste time. They went with haste. They responded to the Good News with an immediacy we should all aspire to.

How often do we feel like God has promised something to us only to react lethargically, with hesitation, or doubt when He delivers? The shepherds went with a haste born of their faith in the Father. They embraced God's plan and promise. They believed in Jesus, worshipped Jesus, and immediately began to share the Good News about the arrival of Jesus.

Believe God has a plan for your life. Share God's plan for your life. Run to God's plan for your life.

January 23 - A Place for Jesus

Read: Luke 2:1-19

And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. (Luke 2:7 ESV)

Jesus is often heralded as the King of Kings. In fact, it is among the titles listed for him in the Bible. The manner of his birth however, was anything but kingly. He was born to poor peasant parents from a rural village with a humble heritage. He was birthed in what probably amounted to a small cave because there was no room left for hospitality among the people of Bethlehem.

It was standard practice among the Jews to offer great hospitality to travelers. If someone came to your home needing a place to stay, eat, or rest, it was normal to provide those amenities. The problem in the birth story of Christ is that there were so many people traveling to Bethlehem to take part in a census declared by the government.

I wonder, if Jesus came to us today would we treat him this way? Would we be forced to hand him just the leftovers because we already divvied up the best parts for those we deemed more worthy, or important. Is there a place for Jesus in our lives?

January 22 - From of Old

Read: Micah 5 and Luke 2:1-7

But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days. (Micah 5:2 ESV)

The Old Testament prophet Micah prophesied that the Messiah would be born in the town of Bethlehem about 700 years before the birth of Jesus. Just one of many dozens of Old Testament prophecies concerning Jesus, Micah's words help to paint us a picture of an ancient plan put into motion by God.

Come forth for me. Jesus came to reestablish man's connection with God. He did it for God, by God, as God. Not because God needs us, but because He wants us. There is far more comfort in the reality of knowing that God actually wants us, rather than the idea that He might need us.

From of old. Jesus came from somewhere, somewhen, and someone. None of it was random, accidental, or incidental. It was purposed. It was purposeful. There was a plan. A plan that went into motion before its necessity ever became a reality.

From ancient days. Jesus is the Lamb slain before the foundation of the World. Before Adam fell, David committed adultery, or you did that thing you weren't supposed to, Jesus was set apart to be our way back to God. The Redemptive Plan was there and waiting for the time when it would be needed. We serve a savior that reaches across the ages and eons to fulfill the Father's heart for a wayward people.