The Christmas Story

Luke 2:1-20

New International Version

The Birth of Jesus

2 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while[a] Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register.

4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
    and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

 

The sweetest word my ears have ever heard

When I hear it my ears perk up like my dog when I say "treat."  My smile is brighter than the sun's reflection off of Charles Barkley's head. The sweetest word my ears have ever heard is "Daddy."

My oldest daughter is in for a visit.  As I lugged her luggage into our car (note to self - see doctor about possible hernia), she said, "Daddy, I am so glad to see you!"  Suddenly it was if I didn't have a care in the world.  Tuesday's vote was no longer a concern.  I stopped thinking about upcoming doctors appointments.  It was 7 pm and it was dark. But I felt as though the sun was shining brightly on me - no one else, just me.  That's the power of the word, "Daddy."

What word can cause your heart to soar higher than the International Space Station? What one word gives you the confidence that your life has been worth living.  "Daddy" works for me? 

Who Am I

What is my identity? How do people see me? How do I see myself?

These are questions people struggle with.  Not knowing who you are or being confused about your identity can leave a person feeling helpless and purposeless.

Believers find their identity in Christ Jesus.  See 1 Peter 2:9

You are a chosen people - yes, Jesus chose you and called you to be His own

A royal priesthood - you are adopted into God's family through baptism and become part of a royal priesthood which means you have free access to God

A holy nation - through faith in Jesus you are part of a great family of believers - one Lord, one faith, one baptism

A people belonging to God - through faith we are connected to God able to receive all the blessings the Father has to offer

What is my identity? I am God child.  He has saved me, called me into His family, given me access to Him and all His blessings.

How do I respond?

That you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light.

Because of who I am, I am moved to offer praise and thanksgiving to God.  I walk with the Light of the World (John 8:12).  Called out of the darkness of sin through the forgiveness of sin, won by Christ on the cross of Calvary, I am free to share this good news with others, especially those who struggle with their identity.  

I once asked the late Rich Mullins, author of songs like "Awesome God," and "Sing Your Praise to the Lord," for his autograph.  Above his name he wrote - Be God's. 

So be God's child.  See your identity in your Savior, Christ Jesus.

The Band Is Back Together

For many years at LICL I played in a little music group that sang tunes for our 9:30 service.  When I retired a year ago, my dear sweet wife and I worshiped at a different congregation.  I've also been doing pulpit supply for several churches.

Now, our year of exile is over and we've decided to rejoin our church family.  Our group was invited to play some music again, from time to time, and our first opportunity to play is November 13.

Connie, Ron and I practiced the songs we plan to play.  It was a good practice, just like we'd hadn't taken a year off.  We'll play "10,000 Years" and a great Matt Maher song, "Lord, I Need You."  We'll finished with "Hosanna (Praise Is Rising)," a favorite of mine.

The LICL praise service takes place at 9:30 every Sunday.  If you don't have a church, come and check out this service.

Regarding Jeremiah 31:34

 Yet how can the all-knowing God not only forgive your sins but also forget them? It is not because He is forgetful, but because He remember them all on His Son instead of you.  When Jesus was on the cross, He endured all of God's wrath for all the sins of all humanity.

From WELS App, Devotion for November 4, 2022

An act of compassion

An Act of Compassion

              A few years ago I read a neat story about a room service waiter who worked at a Marriott Hotel.  The waiter, a fellow named Charles, learned that the sister of a guest unexpectedly passed away.  Charles went to the gift shop, bought a sympathy card and had all the hotel staff members sign it.  Then he sent it to the room of the grieving guest along with a piece of hot apple pie.

              Some time later the guest wrote a letter to the president of the Marriott Hotels.  It said, in part, “Mr. Marriott, I’ll never meet you.  And I don’t need to meet you.  That’s because I met Charles.  I know what you stand for…I want to assure you that as long as I live, I will stay at your hotels.  And I will tell my friends to stay at your hotels.”

              Just think – because of the compassion of a lowly waiter, the Marriott Hotel chain now has a customer for life!

              Acts of compassion are not soon forgotten.  Sacrifices made on our behalf by others always touch our hearts and melt our souls.  People like you and me should know better than anyone the meaning of compassion.  Every cross we see reminds us of the compassion of our Lord Jesus Christ.

              One of the joys of reading the Gospels is to see the compassion of Jesus in action.  A man suffering from leprosy approaches Jesus.  He says, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.”  Jesus replied, “I am willing.  Be clean!”  And immediately the man was cured of leprosy.  A widow makes her way through the town gate to bury her only son.  Jesus sees her grief and sadness.  His heart went out to her and he told her, “Don’t cry.”  Walking up to the coffin, the Lord places His hands on it and says, “Young man, I say to you, get up!”  The dead man came back to life.  A mother and son are reunited.  

              These are wonderful examples of the love and compassion of our Lord.  Still, none of them compare with what Jesus did for you and me at the cross of Calvary.  Is it not compassion that Jesus offers in taking our sins upon Himself?  Is it not compassion that Jesus would become our substitute of sin and experience the pain and suffering we deserve for our disobedience?  Jesus saw our need for a Savior and He did something about it.  That’s compassion!

              The compassion of a room service waiter moved a woman to tell all her friends about the Marriott Hotels.  The compassion of Jesus moves us to tell all our friends about the forgiveness and new life that our Lord offers.  As we share the Gospel, Jesus makes friends for life, for eternity.  Sins are cleansed.  Peace is received.  And another person is a recipient of our Lord’s compassion.

              To whom can you show the compassion of Jesus Christ this week?  

Life wins!

The Fifth Commandment - God's gift of life

You shall not kill.  What does this mean? We should fear and love God that we do not hurt or harm our neighbor in his body, but help and support him in every physical need.

From the Explanation

The living but unborn are persons in the sight of God from the time of conception.  Since abortion takes a human life, it is not a moral option except to prevent the death of another person, the mother.

Jeremiah 1:5 - Before AI formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart.

Psalm 139:16 - Your eyes saw my unformed body.  All the days ordained for me were written in Your book before one of them came to be.

From Luther's Small Catechism, 1986 edition, Concordia Publishing House