Month: December 2020

Christmas Devotional: 15th December 2020

How often do we feel like we’re waiting in vain on God to perform a miracle in our lives that would simply change everything? 

The first part of this passage is an amazing example of God’s people showing faithfulness and being rewarded accordingly. 

Elizabeth and Zechariah were an elderly couple who were faithful to God but didn’t expect the gift they received of a son (vv.57). Zechariah was struck mute earlier in this chapter (vv.20) due his unbelief of the angel of the Lord’s prophecy; namely that he and his elderly wife would bear a son. 

Maybe you’re like me when you first read this passage and thought that this seemed awfully harsh as God had promised the unlikely and unexpected. We as a generation have a tendency to try to rationalise and justify everything so I can’t help but think that I would have been like Zechariah and doubted the birth of John. 

However, through John’s birth, this story teaches us so much about God’s loving grace and kindness to His people when they put their trust in Him alone.

One of the beautiful things about serving our Lord is the effect that we can produce by witnessing to those around us. 

Elizabeth lived out her faith openly among her neighbours by going against their name suggestions and choosing to give her son the name told by the angel (vv.60). By the couple both individually following the word of the Lord and hence choosing the name John (from the Hebrew “Yohanan” meaning Yahweh is gracious), what may seem like a small act of obedience had such a greater meaning. Luke tells us that the people around them “were amazed” (vv.63).

How often is our faith so great that it amazes those around us?

Obedience and trust in societies made of selfish beings acting for selfish gain makes people notice. We are called to a higher purpose, we are a city on a hill, and our light cannot be put out. Live boldly for Jesus and people will notice!

Most astonishing in this passage is the miracle God that performs by restoring Zechariah’s speech. So often we feel like trials and pain are the be all and end all, but this passage like so many others in the Bible proves to us that our God is powerful enough and so loving to bring us out of hard times even stronger and more on fire for Him. 

The blessings of diligently following God include a refilling of the Holy Spirit. Are you longing to be “filled with the Holy Spirit” (vv.67) afresh this season?

The last part of this passage is a beautiful praise-and-prophecy in one from Zechariah, as he sings of God’s never-ending mercy (vv.72) and tells of how John will prepare the way for his cousin Jesus (vv.76). What I love most about this passage is the immediate change in Zechariah as he goes from not having the ability to speak to praising God for 12 verses straight! 

That is the sign of someone on fire for God. When God blesses you with a gift, like He did with Zechariah’s restored speech, how can you use it for His glory?

So often we spend too much time waiting for God to move, instead of thanking Him for and using what He’s already given us. 

I pray that we can learn from Elizabeth and Zechariah to be; patient and trusting in the waiting, faithful and bold in action, and grateful and humble in the blessing this Christmas season!

Christmas Devotional: 14th December 2020

Have you visited any friends or family recently? 

At the moment it’s certainly a lot harder to spend time with loved ones, and for some of us it may be impossible this Christmas. Whatever situation you happen to be in, I hope it’s the case that you have someone to talk to and support you – however crazy things may be! In this passage we read that Mary, having just received the amazing (and crazily good) news that she would give birth to Christ, travels to the house of Zechariah to visit Elizabeth: to talk to, and perhaps get some support from, her relative. 

As soon as Mary arrives and Elizabeth hears her greeting, John leaps for joy in his mother’s womb (v.41). What causes him to be so filled with joy at this moment? The importance and magnitude of the gift of God that Mary carries is so great that John, filled with the Holy Spirit (as promised in v.15), rejoices simply upon hearing the greeting of Mary. Just as John will prepare a way for the true light that is coming into the world, Mary’s greeting announces the arrival of this light; he will enter the world, born in the flesh, through Mary. Even before he is born, John rejoices in the coming of Jesus.

What does John’s rejoicing have to do with us? Jesus’ birth has as much significance today as it did to John and Elizabeth – shouldn’t our response be the same? The seed of God, the light of the world, has entered the world to redeem us. This truth is cause enough for rejoicing! There is such hope in this promise of Christ (that has been, and will be, fulfilled), that our response should be like Mary, Elizabeth, and John’s: loudest praise, utter awe, and sheer joy. How often we forget or diminish this amazing gift. But God calls us to rejoice in him, and this should give us ultimate joy.

As Mary worships and praises God for all he has done (v.46-55), we are once again reminded of his nature that has been revealed to humanity throughout history. It is God’s unchanging and eternal character that makes the gift of his Son even more awesome. God is just and holy, but we are under the curse of sin and justly deserve God’s wrath. God will, and does, execute judgement on those who oppose him (v.51-52), but is merciful to all those who recognise his authority and repent of their sin (v.50). God’s promises are faithful (v.54-55), and he blesses those who trust him (v.45,48). 

This is the living God, the God that we serve. Let’s, like Mary, rejoice and worship the Lord for not only all he has done for us, but who he is. May we be challenged to rejoice always in the undeniable light of the world, and his faithful love for us.

Christmas Devotional: 13th December 2020

What a shock to the system this year has been for all of us. The events of this year can certainly be described as unexpected or that word we hear all the time, ‘unprecedented’. 

We could say the same about Mary’s experience within this passage, when she is told by the Angel Gabriel that she will give birth to God’s son, the Messiah, even though she is still a virgin and not yet married. 

What a shock that would’ve been. 

In Luke 1:26-38, we read about ‘The Annunciation’ – the formal name marking the visit of the angel Gabriel to Mary, during which he told her that she would be the mother of Jesus. It’s a classic moment in the Nativity story that so many people know well, and it reminds me of my glamourous acting debut as the angel Gabriel when I was around 5 years old. 

Fond memories of drama aside, for me Mary’s experience really seems to resonate with the events of this year. We were all going about our usual (and often busy) lives until something major occurred that would change everything – for us it’s been the pandemic, for Mary it was the news of Jesus. 

We’ve all been stopped in our tracks this year by something greater than ourselves. 

God often does this – we see so frequently that he doesn’t show up in the ways we’re expecting and I certainly know that God has worked mysteriously in my life this year as well. 

How has God worked in your life this year? Can you think of ways he’s blessed you that you weren’t expecting? 

God’s choice of Mary as his servant is just one example of his unpredictable yet magnificent ways. He chooses a young, unmarried girl of little wealth or status to carry his son into the world – no wonder the Magi are confused when they cannot find the Messiah at Herod’s palace in Matthew’s Gospel. 

Mary is said to be ‘perplexed’ by the angel’s words (v29) and immediately shares her doubts about her divine appointment (v34). Her honest and very real reaction to the angel’s message is probably not the most unexpected part of the passage (I know I’d definitely feel slightly perplexed!) but her astounding faith in God’s plan is something that must be commended. 

As we come to the end of this year, let’s ask ourselves: are we able to put our faith in God’s goodness, in the midst of all this uncertainty? Are we, like Mary, able to follow God’s purposes for our lives and trust Him with our futures?

Let’s remember verse 37 of this passage, which is a great encouragement for the year ahead, whatever it might bring: ‘For nothing is impossible with God.’ 

Christmas Devotional: 11th December 2020

This Psalm brings to a close book two of the psalter and is one of two Psalms attributed to Solomon. It is a prayer for a king and for us points, ultimately, to the promised Davidic Messiah King, Jesus. 

I recently watched Nativity (the one with Martin Freeman) with my housemates. If you’ve seen the film you’ll know that, as a result of a long-drawn out rivalry between him and another teacher, one teacher decides to write a chilling and dramatic school nativity based on King Herod rather than the traditional one where the main character is Jesus – “nobody ever does Herod!” he exclaims. Whilst I’m sure there’s a far better King whose arrival we want to focus our attention on at Christmas (sorry Gordon Shakespeare!), the contrast of this king and the King described in Psalm 72 did get me thinking.

Now, perhaps our own experiences of those in power are not quite as extreme as King Herod, but no doubt we do feel continually disappointed by political leaders. There is an expectation that those who rule or execute authority are people of integrity and good character, those who seek the well-being of others and not their own gain. Again and again we see our leaders fall way short and, amongst the chaos of this pandemic, the injustices around us seem only to have been exposed more fully than ever, exacerbated by inequalities and broken systems. We can no longer sit in ignorance and apathy and are stirred to long for something – someone – else.

The light that is promised throughout the Old Testament is spoken of here again in Psalm 72 as the Psalmist paints for us a picture of what this promised Messiah will be like. Unlike the rulers of the earth, this King will rule with justice and righteousness (v.2), putting wrong things right and revealing and embodying fully God’s heart to restore right relationships in his creation. This King will execute God’s justice; defending the poor, delivering the needy, redeeming their lives from oppression and violence (v.12-14).

This promised King is one who does not desperately cling to power but willingly surrenders it for the sake of the oppressed, the marginalised, the needy. This King leaves his throne, chooses to dwell with us, not turning a blind eye to the injustice around us but entering into it fully; a light promised amidst the darkness. 

Earthly rulers will always disappoint. Our own efforts to achieve equality and rectify injustices will, ultimately, fall short. But our God is a god whose name endures forever and whose fame continues as long as the sun (v.17). He is a King who will have dominion from sea to sea (v.8) and before whom all kings will fall down (v.11). The light promised in Psalm 72 causes us to hope in this King who lived on this earth but is unlike any other earthly ruler. This is a chosen King, appointed by God; a King who rules with rectifying justice and perfect righteousness. This is a King who was promised, who was longed for, a King who came and who is coming back again. 

Christmas Devotional: 12th December 2020

Luke starts his account of his events in a precise methodical way, fitting for his profession of a doctor. He dates the events to the ‘days of King Herod of Judea’. Life under King Herod was an incredibly dark time, particularly for God’s people. He is characterised as a paranoid tyrant who passed a decree to kill all the boys under the age of 2 year in Bethlehem (Matt 2:16-18).

In those times, a priest and his wife, Zechariah and Elizabeth, lived righteous lives, following the Lord and endeavouring to live blamelessly (v6). Elizabeth was barren and now, as an older couple, children were off the table. When Zechariah’s turn to offer incense in the sanctuary of the Lord came, he is surprised by Gabriel who tells him that ‘his prayer has been heard’ and that Elizabeth will bear a son – John.

John the Baptist goes on to bring joy to God’s people, and most importantly to turn the people of Israel rightfully towards the Lord, their God! John is no ordinary child. He comes into this world already named by God, filled with the Spirit and ‘great in the sight of the Lord’ (v14-15), to prepare the way and call those who have gone astray back to Jesus! This is a monumental moment, a highly anticipated event in Israel’s history, that Zechariah and Elizabeth will experience even at this late stage in their lives.

Instead of rejoicing that his prayers had been answered, upon hearing Gabriel’s message Zechariah is bewildered. God had heard his prayer (v13) and answered it. I wonder if Zechariah had not just been praying for a child, but rather for something much more significant. Israel had been waiting for God to bring light and hope back into this dark time that the Jews had been living in – and John was part of the answer to these prayers! 

In response to Zechariah’s disbelief, Gabriel renders him mute (v20), unable to explain what happened to anyone until the events are fulfilled. This may have given him time to muse something along the lines of ‘Surely this is not God’s timing? It’s not possible – Elizabeth’s been barren all these years! If it is, how can I be sure? Spoiler: Elizabeth does give birth even in her old age. Gabriel is right – it does bring her joy, she realises the Lord has looked upon her favourably (v25).

God works in dark times, in unexpected ways, and in timelines that we do not understand. Though Christmas looks different this year, we are called like Zechariah and Elizabeth to continue living God’s way in our dark times. To keep waiting and never stop being expectant that God will use us.

Like Zechariah, God can respond to our prayers with unexpectant answers. In the face of surprise, confusion and chaos – we can respond in two ways.

Will it be a sceptical ‘How will I know…?’ or a faithful ‘Amen, I trust that you, God, are working to bring light into dark times’?

Christmas Devotional: 10th December 2020

Travel is a distant memory for many of us, but perhaps all of us can recall a time when we have been moving between places. Seated in plane, or train, car or boat, perhaps you remember that liminal, in-between feeling settling upon you as you found yourself somewhere between the memories of the past and the reality of the future. As the scenery drifted by, you may have been aware that you were physically moving through a lot of change, as buildings and landscape and people flew past, and that you were changing too. You had changed, you were changing, yet the final change, the destination, was still to come.

Isaiah is brimming with God’s promises to us, and reading them can render us with a similarly liminal feeling, aware of our treasured position as a people both saved by and waiting for Jesus Christ. 

Throughout Isaiah, and the whole Bible, seeds of light are sown. Each seed, including these beautiful verses, is special because it reveals to us not what, but who, the light is: Emmanuel, Jesus Christ. Here, the Lord promises us His Son, who will faithfully establish justice to a broken world (v.4), and lead His people in the righteousness to which they have been called (v.6). This is God’s servant, in whom His very soul delights (v.1), and this is God’s promise: that we will be made like that delightful servant. Jesus has come, and these promises are eternally yes in Him; Jesus is coming again, and we await the finished work. 

Perhaps now more than ever you understand that liminal feeling, as you long for restrictions to be lifted and await the return to ‘normal’ life. Do you feel discouraged by the delays of the world? Do you feel discouraged by the delays of your God too? In these days, our future hope can seem brighter and closer and more distant and unimaginable than ever before. 

Our Saviour is gentle; a bruised reed he will not break and a dimly burning wick he will not quench (v.3). Has the liminal, the waiting, left its bruises in your heart? How might the Lord be offering you His healing hand? 

Our Lord created the heavens and gave us the breath of life (v.5). How might the Lord be reminding you of His mighty power today? 

We live in the knowledge and revelation of Jesus Christ; Isaiah dreamed of it. And as he dreamt, he sung to the Lord a new song, His praise from the end of the earth (v.10). This is a song we are still singing as we await the final end. Has its newness grown old for you? How might the Lord be offering you His joy afresh today? Perhaps it’s time to sing that song again, to sing it though you are discouraged. You can, for Jesus Christ will never be discouraged until the work is done (v.4). These are the things He will do, and He will not forsake them (v.16). 

Christmas Devotional: 9th December 2020

Have you ever been to a desert? If you have then indulge my imagination, if not then maybe take a moment to picture it with me.

Endless dunes of lifeless sand. Harsh sun beating down with no shade to be found.

Maybe a handful of the hardiest plants and animals are scattered about.

But for the most part it just feels a bit dead.

This is the image at the start of Isaiah 35. But it is not an image that remains. Out of this lifeless, empty place comes life. The parched land will rejoice greatly and shout for joy for the burning sand will become a pool. It will burst into bloom! Life is going to explode onto the scene.

This is a powerful prophetic word from Isaiah. For those living through the exile this desert image will have been a pertinent one. They have seen everything about life as they knew it stripped away. They feel cut off, disconnected, lifeless. Yet here is a promise that this is not the end.

The people are exhorted to ‘Be strong, do not fear!’ (v4). Why is this? Because God will come! 

They are told to stand firm and strong because of the promise that God will come and he will bring transformation to this desert.

In verses 5 and 6 we read that when God comes the blind will see, the deaf will hear, the lame shall leap, the mute will sing for joy! In Matthew 11 Jesus effectively quotes this passage. He uses it to show that the healing miracles that he is performing are evidence that he really is the promised Messiah. I find it really easy to just clump together all of these miracles, they are just so common in the gospels; in fact there are so many that most of them aren’t even described in detail. 

So sometimes I need to just stop myself and recognise that every single healing that Jesus performed completely transformed someone’s life.

And those are just the stories of healing. Throughout Jesus’ life we see how in his every interaction he is transforming those around him. It’s easy to get skim through the Gospels and take for granted each of those interactions. But in each one someone looked directly at the face of God and the direction of their life changed.

Jesus came to transform deserts into gardens. To bring life to the lifeless. To bring light to the darkness. And he promises that to us today!

The passage culminates with a joyous return. It promises that the exiles will return, God will show them the way home. We have also been shown the way. His name is Jesus. As we follow him we walk the road to salvation. Just like the exiles we will enter Zion with singing and sorrow and sighing will flee away.

Do you feel like you are in a desert right now?

If so take courage as the prophet says “Be strong, do not fear; your God will come.”

You might want to spend some time reflecting on your own interactions with Jesus, how has he been transforming you?

I would recommend giving Revelation 21 read. This is the picture of the destination that we are travelling towards. Keeping it in mind can help encourage us to keep going as we follow Jesus day by day.

Christmas Devotional: 8th December 2020

Having grown up singing in various choirs, I can’t read today’s passage without Handel’s Messiah coming to mind.  Handel’s jubilant theme of ‘For Unto Us a Child Is Born’ is currently ringing round my head and Handel was right – this passage is indeed cause for jubilation. Written to a people who were living under the threat of Assyrian invasion, this passage comes as a seed of hope. It comes as a spark of light breaking through a deep darkness (v. 2). 

The promised coming of a Wonderful Counsellor, a Mighty God, an Everlasting Father and a Prince of Peace (v. 6) would have been a great source of hope for those in Isaiah’s days. They were waiting in darkness, there was little earthly source of hope and peace, but this prophecy points forwards to a coming Messiah who would bring justice, peace and rejoicing to His people. He would establish an everlasting Kingdom and there would be endless peace (v. 7). 

The beautiful words in this passage tell us firstly about who Jesus is for us now, in the present. Secondly, these verses point forwards to the future He will bring: 

1. Jesus brings hope for the present: Jesus can turn darkness into light (v. 2), he can turn mourning to joy (v. 3), he can take away burdens and bring rest (v. 4), he can destroy the oppressors and the objects of war (v. 4-5). He is a God who is with us in the here and now. He cares for us and is always with us. 

2. Jesus brings hope for the future: Ultimately, these verses point forwards to the future when Jesus will come again to rule and reign (v. 7). His Kingdom will know no end and it will be a glorious Kingdom of endless peace, justice and righteousness (v. 7). 

THIS is our hope. This is what sustains us through the waiting, through the dark times. But recently, I’ve noticed how easily I can put my hope in the tangible earthly things – things such as seeing my family over Christmas or a coming vaccine. In dark times, where it feels like the waiting is endless, it’s so easy to cling on to the immediate, visible things which bring temporary happiness, rather than looking forward to our God who brings endless peace. 

And so in the run up to Christmas this year, I’m praying that my hope will be in this wonderful, awe-inspiring miracle: that the one who spoke the heavens and the earth into existence was born as a tiny baby for us. He was given to us. Let’s keep our eyes fixed on our hope: Jesus Christ, the source of all light and life. Let’s praise God for the precious gift of Jesus, that he was born for us, given to us, for our salvation and for our joy.

Christmas Devotional: 7th December 2020

Advent is a time of waiting for God’s coming. This year we’ve spent much time waiting; often, it feels, waiting in darkness. As winter has drawn in, so has weariness and gloom. It was with this sense that I came to Psalm 97 recently, and verse 11 held my attention. ‘Light is sown for the righteous, and joy for the upright in heart.’ (97:11 ESV)

When the darkness insatiably consumes the daylight hours earlier and earlier each day; when the brokenness of the world assails us in news stories, friends’ stories and in first-hand hurts; when we feel weary and tired and like hopeful rejoicing in God requires effort we don’t possess, this remains true: Light is sown. 

The theme of light runs through the whole of Scripture’s redemptive story. On the first page, God speaks it into existence (Gen 1:1-5). On the last page there is a vision of the new creation: ‘And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light and its lamp is the Lamb.’ (Rev 21:23)

In between these two pages is the incredible story of God’s redemptive action in the world. In its climactic movement, God-in-flesh, the Creator of light itself, dies in darkness. Then three days later, when the first rays of the morning begin to pierce the night as the nails had his hands, the women hurry through the streets of Jerusalem and dawn breaks over a tomb that lies empty. The Son has risen; new creation is inaugurated. 

You have a place within this story. The mighty God of Ps 97:2-5 took on our human condition, our pain, our sin; he entered our darkness, our despair, our death. And then he rose! The one whom each page of the Old Testament rumbles with anticipation for had come. In a manger in Bethlehem, the light of the world is found in human form. He will be planted like a seed in death (Jn 12:24) and rise to bring salvation, setting in motion perfect restoration. Light is sown.

We locate ourselves in this story between the resurrection and the final consummation of new creation. Death has been defeated, but its end is yet to come. Darkness remains, but it will not overcome the light. All of creation rumbles with anticipation for the new creation, in which all things will be made new. We join with it in our eager waiting. (Rom 8:22-23)

Finding our place in this story, we can be certain of the end. Light is sown and when new creation dawns, ‘they will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. And night will be no more.’ (Rev 22:3-4)

As Isaac Watts knew, this means Joy to the World, because perfect restoration began with Jesus arrival and it will be completed with his return: 

‘He comes to makes his blessings flow,

 Far as the curse is found.’ 

‘Light is sown for the righteous, and joy for the upright in heart.’ Joy because the Lord reigns with righteousness, holiness, glory and justice (Ps 97) and one day his reign will come in full. It is a reign not established by violence and force but by suffering and obedience to death (Phil 2:6-8). Light and joy are sown for those who are in him. 

As we reflect through Advent, let this be a time in which, weary though we may be, we locate ourselves in this story, praise God for Jesus’ arrival and long for his return to make all things new. Even in darkness we may rejoice because light is sown and the darkness has not overcome it (Jn 1:5)