Theme: Becoming Like Jesus

What is your favorite song? Is it an old song, or a new one? These verses form what may be one of the first (if not the very first) hymns sung by the early Christians. Of course, it is a song about Jesus and a reminder that we need to be like him. Like him how? We need to humble ourselves to love and serve others. Do you ever have a hard time putting the needs of others before your own? Are there people you would rather not have to love or put up with? Aren’t you glad Jesus isn’t like that? He loves sinners and came to seek and to save people who are lost. Ask God to help you follow Jesus and be a servant just like he is.

Theme: Do Not Be Afraid

The angel speaks to Joseph and quotes the words of Isaiah to King Ahaz, words which we read during week 2 (Isaiah 7). Now we see that God keeps his promises even if it takes a long time! Remember how God offered Ahaz a miracle, and the king was afraid of trusting God and said “no”? Well Joseph chooses to not be afraid of what God wants to do in his life. We don’t know much about the life or death of Joseph. The bible gives us precious little information. But what we do know is enough: he wasn’t afraid to entrust himself to the miracle of Jesus and his life was changed forever because of it. As you pray, ask God to help you to never be afraid of what he wants to do in your life through Jesus.

Excellent 2 minute video by Tom Wright that shows how Exodus & Passover connects with and shapes the Lord’s Supper.  Link

N.T. Wright from Sydneyanglicans.net on Vimeo.

Theme:  What’s in a name? Everything.

One of the great privileges of parenting begins before the child is born, as they (often) agonize for months on what to name their child. If they find out the gender, they can narrow down their choices, but still the burden can feel overwhelming. But as the time draws near, a preferable name is chosen, and from then on, all references to the baby will now have a name attached.  A time honored Jewish tradition was to give children special names that pointed well beyond personal preference, to hopes, dreams, or even memories of others. Mary never had to agonize over naming her baby, as she is told here what the baby must be named: Jesus. More than a popular boys name at the time, which it was, the name “Jesus” in Hebrew is Joshua, who brought the Israelites into the promised land after the death of Moses. Matthew sees Jesus as the one who will now complete what the law of Moses pointed to but could not of itself produce. He will rescue His people, not from slavery in Egypt, but from the slavery of sin.

This Advent season, thank God for His saving grace, and for a name that always reminds us that Jesus came to save us, not to teach us how to save ourselves.