Devotion
The Start of Something New
Chipo Biti
On this day, a day that may have seemed like a regular day to other people, Christ was born. He was born in a manger, a birthplace that would not be fitting for a King. But this was the start of something great - something new. The Savior had finally come to the earth and all the heavens were celebrating. An angel appeared to shepherds who were minding their flocks in the field, carrying on with their daily lives. The angel came to announce the great thing which had happened - the Savior had been born. The angel described where they would find the child and they left immediately.
When they reached the stable, in Bethlehem, and they shared what they had experienced. The shepherds were filled with joy to see that the word of the Lord that they had been given was true. They saw this moment as a momentous occasion; they did not take it lightly. When they finished their visit, the shepherds left, glorifying and praising God for all they had seen and heard.
This day was a major day for the world, even if they did not know it, because God's redemption plan was finally in motion. His redemption plan being Jesus Christ, who had come to fulfill the law, die for our sins, and raise from the dead. He completed all His tasks, setting us free from the power of sin and the bondage of the enemy. All of this started from this small birth in a manger, that may have appeared to be an insignificant event but it was not.
Prayer
We still celebrate this day today because of what it signified. The birth of a new era. Salvation surely did come to the earth and we, God's children, are all recipients of this precious gift. Now, it is our responsibility to pass on this good news to all who will hear, hoping that they will give their lives to Christ as well.
Night Prayer
And Samson called unto the Lord, and said, O Lord God, remember me, I pray thee, and strengthen me, I pray thee, only this once, O God, that I may be at once avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes.
Inspiration
Samson's power came from God, not from his beautiful locks of hair! He knew the origin of his strength and called out to the Lord to help him abolish his enemies. We have the power to overcome obstacles and hardships in our earthly life. We must remember that our strength comes from the Lord and contribute our tenacity to Him. We are grateful for His gracious character as He gifts us with skills to battle our enemies.
Prayer
Dear Father, We are grateful for the strength You have instilled in us. We could not stand against sin alone and we praise You for gifting us the power to conquer our sin. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Devotion
Allowing The Scriptures
To bring Joy To My Life
Frances Taylor
The beginning of Luke's Gospel has always been one of my favorite readings. It makes me feel confident that I can believe what I have been taught. It also gives me peace because I know that God's promise has been fulfilled. We have been set free from fear. Of course, we will know fear of the unknown in this unpredictable world, but not fear of death because we can be sure that death is not the end, only the beginning of a new life. Otherwise, how could we continue to experience happiness and joy in the face of suffering? This freedom of fear, this belief in the good news – this Gospel message – is what made the early Christians so willing to face suffering in the name of Jesus. It is what motivated them to spread the good news to anyone who would listen. Is our world any less in need of the Gospel than theirs? I doubt it. Considering how we work so hard to be happy! How hard we work to avoid pain or suffering! So ...
