Devotions

As the shepherds gazed on the Babe in the manger, they saw a Savior who would redeem all of humankind. When the wise men beheld him, they saw a King who would conquer death. And when the prophets looked ahead, they saw an Emancipator who would open prison doors, unlock chains, and set captives free. They all had their vision of who Jesus was and why he came.

Christ was born into a world of unbelief, when God’s people lived under the terrifying grip of the Roman Empire. Israel’s religious leaders did not offer much hope. The Pharisees believed salvation was achievable through works, thereby convoluting God’s laws into a rigid system of impossible performance. And the Sadducees didn’t even believe in resurrection. In fact, very few people had any vision of an eternal existence. This was the darkness Jesus entered.

As we look into the manger, we see Christ as the bridge between earth and heaven, crossing over the abyss of death that separates temporal life and the eternal. One day we are going to cross that bridge and it will take place in the twinkling of an eye: “We shall all be changed — in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed” (1 Corinthians 15:51-52).

We could ponder such mysteries, but the truth is, our imaginations simply cannot fathom the glory and power of God. Our brains are too finite. But we can be sure of this one thing: because Jesus came to earth, there is a new world coming. A world without sin, poverty or disease. Our Savior was born to bring life — everlasting life — so this Christmas season, let us keep a resurrection frame of mind. A mind and heart filled with hope of the life that is available to us because of the Christ-child born in a manger.

“I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God” (Daniel 3:25).

We are all familiar with this story. Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, had summoned every leader from his far-flung empire for one purpose only and that was to bow down before a huge, golden image and honor the gods of his choice. And if anyone in the land refused to bow, it meant certain death! It was common practice in those days to punish violators of any sort by casting them into a burning oven. When three young men took a stand for righteousness and refused to obey the king’s decree, Nebuchadnezzar flew into a rage. He ordered his soldiers to stoke the furnace seven times hotter than usual and prepare to roast the dissenters (read this account in Daniel 3:1-19).

These three Hebrew men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, were bound and thrown into a furnace so hot that the soldiers assigned to throw them into the fire began to fall over dead. However, when the king looked in at the three, he was amazed at what he saw. “Didn’t we throw three men into the fire? I see four men walking about and one of them has the appearance of the Son of God!” (see Daniel 3:25).

Now, how could a heathen king recognize the Son of God? It was because Christ’s glory cannot be hidden! Whenever angels appear in Scripture, they are dressed in white and shine with a heavenly brightness. Yet this bright One was no seraphim, this was Jesus himself — and he was brighter than the flame from that seven-times-hot fire.

Beloved, this testimony of Christ’s presence came from heathen lips. And talk about a life-and-death situation. This was the crisis of a lifetime — but Christ walked right into the furnace with these men and delivered them.

What brings Christ into your crisis? It is having full confidence that He is able to rescue and deliver you no matter what you are facing. A confidence that no matter what happens, you are in his hands. Are you facing a crisis — spiritual, financial, mental, physical? In your marriage? Your job? Your business? When only a miracle can get you out of your hopeless situation, Jesus will come and walk through it with you. The Son of the Living God can solve your problem and rescue you out of your furnace of affliction.

“Foi o anjo Gabriel enviado, da parte de Deus, para uma cidade da Galileia, chamada Nazaré, a uma virgem desposada com certo homem da casa de Davi, cujo nome era José; a virgem chamava-se Maria. E, entrando o anjo aonde ela estava, disse: ‘Alegra-te, muito favorecida! O Senhor é contigo’” (Lucas 1:26-28).

O anjo, então, fez um anúncio incrível: “Maria, não temas; porque achaste graça diante de Deus. Eis que conceberás e darás à luz um filho, a quem chamarás pelo nome de Jesus. Este será grande e será chamado Filho do Altíssimo” (Lucas 1:30-32).

Maria era uma garota simples de um pequeno vilarejo. Vivendo numa cultura predominantemente machista, ela não esperava da vida nada além de se tornar uma boa esposa e mãe. Então, tente imaginar o quão estranho foi este encontro para ela. O anjo disse que ela tinha encontrado favor diante de Deus, porém, muito pouco em sua vida refletia qualquer favor. Isso, porém, estava prestes a mudar!

Muitos de nós somos como Maria. Gostaríamos de ver as nossas circunstâncias transformadas – um filho problemático encontrando propósito em Cristo, um casamento conflituoso sendo restaurado. Também gostaríamos de ver uma realidade espiritual diferente no mundo que nos cerca. Quando Maria começou a entender a magnitude da promessa de Deus para ela, cantou uma canção de gratidão e louvor: “A minha alma engrandece ao Senhor, e o meu espírito se alegrou em Deus, meu Salvador, porque contemplou na humildade da sua serva. Pois, desde agora, todas as gerações me considerarão bem-aventurada” (Lucas 1:46-48).

A visitação do anjo não foi um evento emocional isolado para Maria. Não! Foi uma conexão real e a sua vida mudou para sempre. Da mesma forma, quando você encontrar o favor de Deus, isso não resultará numa mudança emocional. Deus gera algo novo na sua vida, muda completamente o seu curso e inspira uma nova canção na sua alma.

Hoje, você pode pensar que Deus não pode ser encontrado, porém, o seu favor está sobre você! Está concebendo algo novo, transformando a sua tribulação em glória. Ele tem a sua mão sobre ti, portanto, confie nele com todo o seu coração, na sua família e na sua circunstância – e verá a sua glória.

“We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith … if it is encouraging, let him encourage” (Romans 12:6, 8).

Of all the gifts of the Holy Spirit, the ministry of encouraging is probably the least appreciated. We constantly hear about the need for solid teaching and proper leadership in a church, but when was the last time the “gift of encouraging” received its proper due? Our need for it is so acute that the Spirit has granted special grace for some of us to specialize in building people’s faith. Just as not all of us are gifted to teach or preach, not everyone has this special anointing to encourage others.

“That you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith” (Romans 1:12). Being strong in the Lord enables us to minister to others who are weak. This is particularly true for encouraging and strengthening someone else’s faith. Our own robust faith spills over to lift up those who are struggling. Faith-filled words and actions act as antidotes to the hopelessness people feel when they have lost their grip on God.

Most often encouragement is conveyed through the words we speak. Consider what Paul says to the Thessalonians: “Therefore encourage each other with these words” (1 Thessalonians 4:18). Like Paul, we can encourage others by sharing the teaching of the Scripture and speaking about salvation in Jesus. Remember, “Faith comes from hearing the message” (Romans 10:17). As we speak God’s Word, faith can be born in those who hear it.

When Paul was separated from the believers he cherished, he revealed another avenue for edifying their faith: “I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith” (Ephesians 3:16-17). When Paul could not speak encouragement to the church, he prayed that the Holy Spirit would carry on the same work within the believers.

In the same way, if we cannot personally encourage our fellow believers, we can lift them in prayer. What a privilege!

_{Jim Cymbala began the Brooklyn Tabernacle with less than twenty members in a small, rundown building in a difficult part of the city. A native of Brooklyn, he is a longtime friend of both David and Gary Wilkerson.}

“I acknowledged my sin to You, and my iniquity I have not hidden. I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,’ and You forgave the iniquity of my sin” (Psalm 32:5).

David was a man who knew how to repent. He constantly searched his heart before God and was quick to cry, “I’ve sinned, Lord. I stand in need of prayer.”

Being repentant does not mean you simply try to make things right with the person you have wronged. No, it’s about making things right with God! He is the One who has been sinned against. Yes, we are to apologize to our brothers and sisters whenever we have wronged them, but, more importantly, we are to repent of our sin before God. David said, “For I acknowledge my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Against You, You only, have I sinned” (Psalm 51:3-4).

David believed strongly in conducting heart-searchings — the hard discipline of digging out sin in his heart. “Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my anxieties; and see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting” (Psalm 139:23-24). He continually invited the Lord to examine every corner of his life.

Perhaps you search your heart on a regular basis, yet you come away from the Spirit’s dealing saying, “Thank goodness, I’m clean. I don’t have any more sin in me.”  If that is the case, beloved, you are deceived. Isaiah confessed, “For our transgressions are multiplied before You, and our sins testify against us; for our transgressions are with us, and as for our iniquities, we know them” (Isaiah 59:12). The prophet was saying, “We know all about our own sins.” Of course, God knows when we say or do wrong things but we know it, too.

A great benefit of repentance is receiving peace and strength. After Daniel had prayed and fasted in great agony, Jesus came to him, touched him and said, “O man greatly beloved, fear not! Peace be to you; be strong” (Daniel 10:19).

A truly repentant heart never has to hide from the Lord because there is no longer any fear of judgment. When you acknowledge your sins, evidence godly sorrow and make restitution, Jesus will look at you, just as he did at Daniel, and say, “I love you and I want to give you my peace. Now, stand up and be strong!”