Bethlehem Lutheran Church

DAY 9 December 9 READ: Luke 1:26-38 Thoughts to Help You Think About the Scripture... The Christmas carol, Joy to the World says, Joy to the world, The Lord is come, Let earth receive her king! Let every heart, prepare Him room, And heaven and nature sing, And heaven and nature sing, And heaven and heaven and nature sing. So why again is there to be JOY in our world? Because Jesus has come. Sure, but SO WHAT? When the angel Gabriel comes to Mary with the announcement that she will give birth to Jesus, he doesn’t just tell her the fact, he also announces the SO WHAT? Why is it joyous news that the Lord has come? The answer is in the words of the angel in vs. 31-33. What does the name Jesus mean? See Matthew 1:21. How joyous is that! Someone has come to give us RELEASE from our sins. What is your today list of failures and sinscoarse words, evil plans toward others, revenge, lust, living just for yourself, etc.? Jesus came to pay for our sins at the cross. What that means for you and me today is RELEASE! See what happens to these sins and all sins as we bring them to JesusJohn 8:36 no more living with shame or guilt. God does not count our sins against us2 Corinthians 5:19, because He put them on our Savior. As the angel comes to Mary, there is something else joyous that he announces. This Jesus is KING and will RULE. That brings me JOY because it reminds me of His KEEPING POWER for me as His child. Who keeps us and provides for our needs? Who keeps us and guides our lives? Who keeps us and protects us? When we’re afraid, what does Isaiah 26:3 say that the Lord’s keeping power will do? One other piece of JOYOUS news is found in v. 33there’s no expiration date on our Lord’s keeping power for us as our King! There is JOY TO THE WORLD because Jesus has come to SAVE US and KEEP US as His beloved children! WHAT WILL YOU ASK GOD FOR TODAY? WHO WILL YOU BRING TO GOD TODAY? WHAT CAN YOU THANK GOD FOR TODAY?

DAY 8 December 8 READ: Amos 5:21-24. Thoughts to Help You Think About the Scripture... Joy to the World. Silent Night. Hark the Herald Angels Sing. At this time of the year, you can hear Christmas music not just in churches, but also in store, in malls, on tv programs and in movies. Music is an incredible blessing from the Lord that assists us in our worship, especially at this time of the year? What is your favorite Christmas carol? Wouldn’t much be missing if we had no Christmas music to aid us in our worship? Some of the best worship times come during this Christmas season as well. In the church that I grew up in, one of the biggest worship services of the year was Christmas Eveit was filled with people and filled with all kinds of special music and pageantry. At our church, we yearly do a special Christmas play that takes hours and hours to prepare to make our Christmas worship meaningful. Yet, as inspiring as special worship times are, they are not a substitute for us living our lives as God’s people. Or to say it another way a GREAT SUNDAY WITH THE LORD is not a substitute for a MONDAY-SATURDAY of LIVING FOR OURSELVES. Think about that truth as you read Amos 5:21-24. What are the worship words that you see in vs. 21-23? Now what does the Lord say about our worship in vs. 21-23, as compared to v. 24? When have you made playing church to be a substitute for living Godly? Have there been weeks where your worship has no effect on evil livingunkind talk, an ungodly mind, a selfish attitude? It happens to all of us. Now here God’s Good Newsthe Savior who was sent to Bethlehem, went to a cross to pay for every one of those inconsistencies between our worship and our living. 2 Corinthians 5:15 gives us both Good News and a New Direction for our living. Now don’t stop your worship. See Psalm 98:1-6. And, whether it is virtual or in person be sure to worship before othersMatthew 5:16. WHAT WILL YOU ASK GOD FOR TODAY? WHO WILL YOU BRING TO GOD TODAY? WHAT CAN YOU THANK GOD FOR TODAY?

TAKE A DECEMBER JOURNEY, Week 2 DAY 7 December 7 SUNDAY was your DAY 6. READ: Proverbs 16:3... Thoughts to Help You Think About the Scripture Nobody could believe that Theresa didn’t take the jobit was more money and a promotion, and she needed it. Nobody could believe that Morris didn’t make the moveit seemed like relocating to Dallas would bring an easier life. Nobody could believe that Chiffon said no, not right now, to David’s marriage proposal. She had waited so long for someone to come and put a ring on her finger! In the case of Theresa, Morris, and Chiffon they all had put forth the matters of their life before the Lord in prayer and study of the Scripture. They had become convinced that it was God’s will not for them to go forward with what the rest of the world would have said was a no brainer. Proverbs 16:3 sets forth a process for us to make life decisions. Do you make use of this? Why is seeking God’s counsel before making a life decision so important? What is God’s knowledge of us according to Psalm 139:1-6? How wise is God, even about matters that seem dark and unknown to us? See Psalm 139:12. What confidence does Job 23:10 remind us of regarding our road of life? What comfort does Psalm 121:3-4 speak of when we have committed our ways to the Lord? It makes sense for us to literally roll our plans to the Lord and let Him evaluate, form, and change them, because our Father LOVES us. He sent His Son to die for us. His plans for us always are what is best for us. See Jeremiah 29:11. WHAT WILL YOU ASK GOD FOR TODAY? WHO WILL YOU BRING TO GOD TODAY? WHAT CAN YOU THANK GOD FOR TODAY?

DAY 5 December 5 READ: Isaiah 11:1 Thoughts to Help You Think About the Scripture... As we walk into the Advent/Christmas season, all around us will be a multiplicity of names for Jesus. In Christmas cards that we open, in Christmas songs that we sing, we’ll see names like Light, Immanuel, Branch of Jesse, Prince of Peace, and more. From this day through Christmas, let’s put each of those names under a microscope. Each name unveils more Good News to us about our Savior who has come. From today’s Scripture we might call Jesus The BOJ. As you read Isaiah 11:1, picture a family tree. Who is at the root of this family according to v. 1? Who else is in this family tree? See 1 Samuel 16:1, 4-13. Pause to notice 1 Samuel 16:7 God is not fooled by outside coverings but looks into one’s heart why is this truth about how God sees people so comforting? Now let’s see the most famous son (in the broad sense) of Jesse. Do some family tree work about Jesus’ family in Matthew 1:1, 4, 5. Do you see why it is appropriate to call Jesus the Branch of Jesse (the BOJ)? Here’s the point while He walks on water, raises the dead, stills the storm, makes the blind see, the BOJ is not like Superman, Wonder Woman, or Ironman, the BOJ is a real person, true God and true man, who came from a real human family. He is a real life Savior that cares about you and me. That’s why what Peter says is so accurate1 Peter 5:7. Also see the promise of the BOJ in Hebrews 2:18. When you think of how God promised a Savior through the prophet, Isaiah, 900 years BEFORE the BOJ was born, and KEPT that promise in the birth of the BOJ, what does that tell you for when the Lord makes promises to you and me like Isaiah 43:1-3? Are you in a situation where you need to know that God’s promises are sure? Remember, Jesus, the BOJ. WHAT WILL YOU ASK GOD FOR TODAY? WHO WILL YOU BRING TO GOD TODAY? WHAT CAN YOU THANK GOD FOR TODAY?

DAY 4 December 4 READ: Isaiah 30:15 Thoughts to Help You Think About the Scripture... When most people think of the abbreviation R & R they think of Rest and Relaxation? Yet, the Bible has an R and R, that is an abbreviation that is much more important. The R and R of Isaiah 30:15 is Repentance and Rest. Let’s think about the first oneRepentance. Check out Ezekiel 18:21-23 and Ezekiel 33:10-11. Is repentance just a partial change from sin and evil? What areas of your life do you need to repent in right now, ask God’s forgiveness for, and change the way in which you act and think? Are there some habitual sins that need your total attentionsins of behavior, temperament, lust, greed, coveting? Romans 6:11-14 gives us some powerful encouragement of our need to not play with sin but turn from it? Now the second RRest. How do we REST in the Lord? With His forgiveness and mercy! Psalm 116:5-8 point us to real rest. Real rest is found in knowing that when we do fall into sin, we can confess our sins to the Lord, and Jesus our Savior, has already paid for every one of our sins at the cross. See how Romans 5:1-2 puts it. The Bible’s R and R, Repentance and Rest, is something we need to experience every day. We can experience it (and not have to live with guilt and shame) as we continually bring our sins to Jesus. WHAT WILL YOU ASK GOD FOR TODAY? WHO WILL YOU BRING TO GOD TODAY? WHAT CAN YOU THANK GOD FOR TODAY?

DAY 13 November 13 READ: Psalm 86:11 Thoughts to Help You Think About the Scripture... As I write this Bible time study, my computer Bible program and the computer Bible program company that produces my computer Bible program are synchronizing. That is, through updates, the bible program on my computer is coming into line with what it is supposed to be from the computer Bible program company that produces it. Every time I sign-on to the Internet, this synchronizing occurs. I pray that God would do the same thing with my heart. Look at the last phrase in Psalm 86:11. It is so powerful. The NASB Bible says, unite my heart to fear Your name. The NRSV Bible translates it, give me an undivided heart to revere your name. Wouldn’t it be great to have God automatically reformat and synchronize our hearts to His Will every morning? In our hearts is where every action of our lives begins. Recall how sin and its mess beginsee Matthew 15:19. Does God automatically daily reformat our hearts and sort of force us to have His mind/heart? No. Check Genesis 2:15-17 and see the free will that the Lord God created us with. The downside of our free will is that often our heart is DIVIDEDwe love the Lord, but we also love and want to serve/partake of others things that are not of God. Note how Psalm 12:1-2 puts our problem. The Good News is that if you find yourself often with a divided heart between the Lord and things that are not of God, your heart and mind don’t need to stay that way. James 4:8 is a great verse of hope. Christ died at the cross to bring forgiveness for our messed up hearts and a new heart. Look what God promises to do in Ezekiel 36:25-27. Here are two Scriptures to pray as you go forward, led by God the Holy Spirit: Psalm 119:33-40 and Psalm 90:12. WHAT WILL YOU ASK GOD FOR TODAY? WHO WILL YOU BRING TO GOD TODAY? WHAT CAN YOU THANK GOD FOR TODAY?

DAY 12 November 12 READ: Jeremiah 31:31-34 Thoughts to Help You Think About the Scripture... Although the term BFF was used all the way back in 1997, in an episode of the hit tv series, Friends, BFF really gained popularity in the early days of Instant Messaging, and then now, texting. Having a BFF is really about intimacythat there is someone really close to you in your life that you can share your deepest thoughts and feelings with. How do you get a BFF? It usually happens between two people who share many common interests and feelings, and generally see the world in a similar fashion. Intimacy with the Lord, our God, is different. Being intimately close to and beloved by God is what these verses from Jeremiah 31:31-34 are really talking about. It’s called a New Covenant, a new relationship that people will now have with the Lord. How do vs. 33-34 speak about this new intimacy that we can have with our Lord? But here is the most important thing about being close to our Lord. Closeness to the Lord doesn’t come from trying to align our lives with Him. We can’t do that. We can’t come close to God by doing yoga or putting ourselves into some kind of spiritual trance. Closeness to the Lord is built on God’s amazing love and forgiveness to renew us from our sins again and again, because of the death and resurrection of Jesus. The forgiveness of our sins is God’s way to bring us to Himself. See what God has done to bring us to Himself according to 1 Peter 3:18. See how these very words from Jeremiah 31 are quoted in Hebrews 8:8-12 & 10:15-18. What’s the point? Just as our sin separates us from GodIsaiah 59:2, God’s forgiveness pays for our sins and draws us back close to Him! Closeness comes from knowing that we are right with God. This is God’s New Covenant. Close out your Bible time today asking the Lord to forgive you for every wrong of your life of word, of act, and of thought. Jesus has paid for them. Now you and I can stay close to the Lord! WHAT WILL YOU ASK GOD FOR TODAY? WHO WILL YOU BRING TO GOD TODAY? WHAT CAN YOU THANK GOD FOR TODAY?

DAY 11 November 11 READ: Philippians 2:14-15 Thoughts to Help You Think About the Scripture... Someone once wrote, Whenever you’re tempted to complain about your troubles, remember that half your listeners aren’t interested and the other half is glad that you’re finally getting what’s coming to you. Truly, HOW we do things is as important as WHAT we do. When Paul wrote the words of Philippians 2:14-15 where he encourages us to do things without complaining or grumbling, he was thinking about our witness to the outside world. As you are out with someone on a Saturday night, but then whine about having to get up Sunday morning for worship, what message are you sending the people that you’re with? What will they think when you then invite them to come to your church to worship? Think about when you go through some hard times in your life and you complain about how the Lord isn’t treating you fairly. What will unbelievers who hear you think about whether a life with God is worth it? Consider what kind of witness you give when you whine all the while that you are serving others in the name of the Lord? Sure, we all need to vent a little sometimes when we get frustrated. But when you are going through a hard time, have the attitude that James 1:2-3 speaks about. When you have an opportunity to serve God by serving others, let Psalm 100:2 and Colossians 3:23-24 rule over your mind and heart. What impact might working and serving with joy make on people around you? Think especially about having joy in your service in your work place. What lesson might your own family see in your as they see you serve others with joy and not grumbling? WHAT WILL YOU ASK GOD FOR TODAY? WHO WILL YOU BRING TO GOD TODAY? WHO CAN YOU THANK GOD FOR TODAY?

DAY 10 November 10 READ: Jeremiah 31:15-17 Thoughts to Help You Think About the Scripture... All eyes in the family were on Rosalita, Juan’s mother. How would she get through this? Juan had been hanging out with the wrong crowd for quite a while. In some ways, it wasn’t a surprise when an anonymous street assassin drove past and shot him dead. He had been living in a world of drugs and violence. Yet, even knowing that reality, this is was no easier for Rosalita to see her baby boy lying motionless in a casket. How does someone go on in the midst of deep present pain like that? Maybe you’ve been in Rosalita’s shoes or maybe your present pain has been of a different varietya disappointment with someone close to you, a personal crisis, a relationship brokenness; they all hurt. This is the real life situation that was described by Jeremiah in Jeremiah 31:15. The verse speaks of a place called Ramah, outside of Jerusalem. The verse speaks of a person named Rachel. According to Genesis 30:1-24, Rachel, along with her sister Leah, were the mothers of God’s people, Israel. That is, the nation of Israel came from their combined twelve sons. Here in Jeremiah, Rachel is weeping and wailing because her children are being taken the nation of Israel, is being carried away to live under a foreign government in a foreign land. It’s going to be a PAINFUL situation! So how do WE get through PRESENT painful situations? Has the Lord forgotten us? NO! Jer. 31:17 tells us what God says, to get us through. For God’s people Israel, there would be a day when they would come back home to JerusalemGod promised it and He did it! For Rosalita, she kept her eyes on two truths: Romans 10:9 and Isaiah 26:3. The same is true for you and me. Learn this truth from the Word of GodI can have FUTURE PEACE even in the midst of PRESENT PAIN when I know that God loves me. He sent Jesus to die for me. As I go through this present hard time which I don’t understand, Prov. 3:5-6 tells me exactly what I must do. WHAT WILL YOU ASK GOD FOR TODAY? WHO WILL YOU BRING TO GOD TODAY? WHAT CAN YOU THANK GOD FOR TODAY?

TAKE A NOVEMBER JOURNEY, Week 2 DAY 9 November 9 SUNDAY was your DAY 8. READ: Matthew 16:24-26... Thoughts to Help You Think About the Scripture I pledge allegiance How does the rest of this most famous of pledges go? We do pledge allegiance to our flag and country that we will be loyal to the USA. Yet, there are many other allegiances that we pledge to. The word allegiance means loyalty or commitment to another person or thing. Three times in the Bible, you will find the exact same verse that speaks about an allegiance change. The fact that God had it written in His Word in Genesis 2:24, Matthew 19:5, and Ephesians 5:31 indicates that this allegiance change is important! What is the allegiance change that is to occur in marriage? When this allegiance change doesn’t occur and a man hangs onto his parents with first loyalty, it can cause real mess with his wife. Just as I cannot have both my new spouse as my #1 allegiance and still keep my parents as my #1 allegiance, so also it is in our relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. In Matthew 16:24-26, what allegiance changes in us need to occur for us to be God’s people? What is one allegiance in v. 25 that needs to be subordinated to our following the Lord Jesus? In v. 26 what other allegiance needs to be subordinated to our following the Lord Jesus. How have you had trouble giving up what you want to do in living your life, in order to serve Jesus? Why is giving our first life allegiance to this world so hard to put away and give up in order to follow Jesus? Can we hang on to multiple first allegiances? See Matthew 6:24. If Christ has not been the first allegiance of your life, make a change immediately and ask God for His forgiveness. Christ died for this sin, so you are free to follow the Lord. Now live each day seeking to serve Jesus FIRST in every way.