Lillie Ammann's Blog, page 47

Devotion for Friday after Advent 3

The people who walk in darkness

Will see a great light;

Those who live in a dark land,

The light will shine on them.

You shall multiply the nation,

You shall increase their gladness;

They will be glad in Your presence

As with the gladness of harvest,

As men rejoice when they divide the spoil.

For You shall break the yoke of their burden and the staff on their shoulders,

The rod of their oppressor, as at the battle of Midian.

For every boot of the booted warrior in the battle tumult,

And cloak rolled in blood, will be for burning, fuel for the fire.

For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us;

And the government will rest on His shoulders;

And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.

There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace,

On the throne of David and over his kingdom,

To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness

From then on and forevermore.

The zeal of the Lord of hosts will accomplish this. ~ Isaiah 9:2-7

This prophecy was made thousands of years before Jesus was born in a stable in Bethlehem, but God already had it all planned out. Jesus is a great light shining in the darkness. The Israelites thought the Messiah would be a powerful earthly conqueror who would break the yoke of their oppressor and divide the spoils. They couldn’t see beyond the immediate earthly realm—they couldn’t see the heavenly kingdom that will last forever with Jesus on the throne. When Jesus comes again, He will reign on earth as well as in Heaven, and we will be with Him forever. Maranatha, come quickly, Lord Jesus!

Lord God, sometimes I get so focused on the here and now that I don’t realize that this earthly existence is only a dot in my eternal lifetime. Open my eyes to see, my ears to hear, and my heart to receive the truth of the Second Coming of Jesus and then an eternal kingdom of peace and love. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

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Devotion for Thursday after Advent 3

Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the descendants of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. And coming in, he said to her, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” But she was very perplexed at this statement, and kept pondering what kind of salutation this was. The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end.” Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” The angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy Child shall be called the Son of God.” ~ Luke 1:26-35

When the angel appeared to Mary, she was confused. She knew the prophecies of the Messiah being born of a virgin, but she certainly didn’t expect that she would be the virgin to give birth to the Messiah. Yet she didn’t question except to ask how that could be. The Jews had been waiting for centuries for the Messiah to arrive, and no one had any reason to expect it at that particular time. Yet Mary didn’t doubt the word of the angel.

Lord, may I respond to Your call as Mary did—perhaps confirmation to ensure I heard You right but not questioning Your will. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

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Devotion for Wednesday after Advent 3

Then the Lord spoke again to Ahaz, saying, “Ask a sign for yourself from the Lord your God; make it deep as Sheol or high as heaven.” But Ahaz said, “I will not ask, nor will I test the Lord!” Then he said, “Listen now, O house of David! Is it too slight a thing for you to try the patience of men, that you will try the patience of my God as well? Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel.” ~ Isaiah 7:10-14

Just as the angel told Mary that she would bear a child even though she was a virgin, He had told His prophets centuries before. He even gave them the name: Immanuel, which means God with us. Jesus was Immanuel because He was God with us on earth as a human just like us. In the same way, God has told us what will happen in the future: Jesus will come again.

Lord, You tell Your people what will happen, and You have told us that Jesus is coming again. When He ascended into heaven, two angels told His disciples that He would come in the same way—in the clouds. You haven’t told us the day or the time—even Jesus doesn’t know, so we need to be ready all the time. Keep me from distractions that would keep me from being ready. Help me remember and understand that nothing is as important as being ready—whether You take me at the end of my own life or Jesus comes while I’m still on earth. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

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Devotion for Tuesday after Advent 3

And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying:

“Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,

For He has visited us and accomplished redemption for His people,

And has raised up a horn of salvation for us

In the house of David His servant—

As He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from of old—

Salvation from our enemies,

And from the hand of all who hate us;

To show mercy toward our fathers,

And to remember His holy covenant,

The oath which He swore to Abraham our father,

To grant us that we, being rescued from the hand of our enemies,

Might serve Him without fear,

In holiness and righteousness before Him all our days.

“And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High;

For you will go on before the Lord to prepare His ways;

To give to His people the knowledge of salvation

By the forgiveness of their sins,

Because of the tender mercy of our God,

With which the Sunrise from on high will visit us,

To shine upon those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death,

To guide our feet into the way of peace.”

And the child continued to grow and to become strong in spirit, and he lived in the deserts until the day of his public appearance to Israel. ~ Luke 1:67-80

Zacharias recognized that God was fulfilling His long-awaited promise of sending a Savior, and he understood that his own child would be a prophet of the Lord. When John was just a few days old, Zacharias thanked God and praised Him for what would happen when John reached adulthood. He was filled with praise and gratitude for what would happen. Too often, we don’t give thanks until after the promise is fulfilled, but if we have faith, we can thank God for what He has promised. 

Thank You, Lord, that Jesus is coming again. Just like the Israelites waiting for the Messiah, we don’t know when Jesus will return. I want to be like Zacharias, who gave thanks for the future fulfillment of God’s promises. I praise You and thank You that I will rule with Jesus in the New Jerusalem in Your perfect timing. May I be ready when Jesus comes again, no matter when it is. Maranatha, Lord Jesus! Amen.

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Devotion for Monday after Advent 3

Now the time had come for Elizabeth to give birth, and she gave birth to a son. Her neighbors and her relatives heard that the Lord had displayed His great mercy toward her; and they were rejoicing with her.

And it happened that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to call him Zacharias, after his father. But his mother answered and said, “No indeed; but he shall be called John.” And they said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who is called by that name.” And they made signs to his father, as to what he wanted him called. And he asked for a tablet and wrote as follows, “His name is John.” And they were all astonished. And at once his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he began to speak in praise of God. Fear came on all those living around them; and all these matters were being talked about in all the hill country of Judea. All who heard them kept them in mind, saying, “What then will this child turn out to be?” For the hand of the Lord was certainly with him. ~ Luke 1:57-66

God set aside John to proclaim repentance to God’s people and to prepare the way for Jesus’s earthly ministry. Even before he was born, God had John’s life laid out. We may not be proclaiming God’s Word to sinners in the wilderness, but God has His hand on each of us and on life that He creates. Every person is created for a purpose, but each has the choice of whether to follow God’s plan or to wander off on our own path. May we all be as faithful as John the Baptist grew up to be!

Lord God, I know that You created me for a purpose, and Your hand is on my life. Forgive me for all the times I wander off Your path and try to run my own life. Empower me by the Holy Spirit to live my life according to Your plan. In the name of Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit ever one God, world without end. Amen.

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Devotion for the Third Sunday in Advent

And Mary said:

“My soul exalts the Lord,

And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.

“For He has had regard for the humble state of His bondslave;

For behold, from this time on all generations will count me blessed.

“For the Mighty One has done great things for me;

And holy is His name.

“And His mercy is upon generation after generation

Toward those who fear Him.

“He has done mighty deeds with His arm;

He has scattered those who were proud in the thoughts of their heart.

“He has brought down rulers from their thrones,

And has exalted those who were humble.

“He has filled the hungry with good things;

And sent away the rich empty-handed.

“He has given help to Israel His servant,

In remembrance of His mercy,

As He spoke to our fathers,

To Abraham and his descendants forever.”

And Mary stayed with her about three months, and then returned to her home. ~ Luke 1:46-56

Mary praised God in this beautiful song even as she faced the stigma of pregnancy outside of wedlock. She believed the promises and the prophecies and looked beyond the immediate consequences to God’s plan. She thanked God that He had chosen her to be part of His wonderful plan. None of us will ever be called on to give birth to the Savior of the world, but all are called to be part of God’s unfolding plan. Will we be like Mary, rejoicing in the privilege rather than looking at the hardships? Or will we dread, complain, and look on the negatives rather than rejoicing in the great blessing that God is giving us?

Thank You, Father God, that You call on me to be part of Your great plan. Whether my part is small or large, whether it is easy or hard, I want to embrace the tasks You have called me to and rejoice in the honor of serving You. May it be so, Lord! In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Devotion for Saturday after Advent 2

Now at this time Mary arose and went in a hurry to the hill country, to a city of Judah, and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. And she cried out with a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And how has it happened to me, that the mother of my Lord would come to me? For behold, when the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby leaped in my womb for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what had been spoken to her by the Lord.” ~ Luke 1:39-45

What a great testimony about life in the womb! The baby, John the Baptist, leaped for joy at seeing Mary with Jesus in her womb. He was not a clump of cells or “the product of reproduction” or any of the other names people invent to pretend unborn babies aren’t humans. Perhaps not every baby leaps for joy in the womb—after all no baby today has seen the Lord. But every baby is a human being created by God the Father. Every baby is valued and loved by our Lord. Jesus Himself chose to spend time in the womb as an unborn baby because that is how God puts people—and even His Son, who was fully man and fully God—onto this earth.

Father God, as we remember baby Jesus during Advent and Christmas season and throughout the year, let us value Your precious children in the wombs of mothers everywhere. Protect them from those who would take their lives before they’ve had a chance to live and shower them with Your love. In the name of Jesus Christ, who was fully human in Mary’s womb. Amen

.

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Devotion for Friday after Advent 2

Zacharias said to the angel, “How will I know this for certain? For I am an old man and my wife is advanced in years.” The angel answered and said to him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. And behold, you shall be silent and unable to speak until the day when these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time.”

The people were waiting for Zacharias, and were wondering at his delay in the temple. But when he came out, he was unable to speak to them; and they realized that he had seen a vision in the temple; and he kept making signs to them, and remained mute. When the days of his priestly service were ended, he went back home.

After these days Elizabeth his wife became pregnant, and she kept herself in seclusion for five months, saying, “This is the way the Lord has dealt with me in the days when He looked with favor upon me, to take away my disgrace among men.” ~ Luke 1:18-29

Even though Zacharias was a priest who loved the Lord, he found it hard to believe what the angel told him. He questioned the possibility of having a child at this stage in his life, in effect, doubting God’s ability to do the impossible. How like us! We say we have faith and believe, but when we run into serious trouble, we see no way out. We depend on our own abilities to provide for our needs and we doubt God’s plan.

Father God, forgive me for depending on my own power when I am nothing without You. Forgive me for doubting that You can and will solve my problems. Even when the situation is hopeless, You are sovereign. You can work miracles. And if You decide to let me walk through tribulation, I know You are with me, and since Your plan for me is always good, I know You will bring me through my trials and lead me out on the other side. Thank You! In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

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Devotion for Thursday after Advent 2

In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah; and he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. They were both righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and requirements of the Lord. But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both advanced in years.

Now it happened that while he was performing his priestly service before God in the appointed order of his division, according to the custom of the priestly office, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense. And the whole multitude of the people were in prayer outside at the hour of the incense offering. And an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the altar of incense. Zacharias was troubled when he saw the angel, and fear gripped him. But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your petition has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will give him the name John. You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. For he will be great in the sight of the Lord; and he will drink no wine or liquor, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit while yet in his mother’s womb. And he will turn many of the sons of Israel back to the Lord their God. It is he who will go as a forerunner before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers back to the children, and the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous, so as to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” ~ Luke 1:5-17

Zacharias was a faithful priest who served the Lord blamelessly, yet he was frightened when he saw an angel. Just about everyone who encountered an angel in the Bible was afraid. Usually the first words an angel said when appearing to a prophet or Mary or Joseph were “Fear not.” The sight of an angel must be glorious, and wondering what message the angel is delivering is bound to cause more awe and anxiety. But whatever messages we get from God—through an angel, a voice in our head, a compulsion—will be good. We may be tasked with a difficult responsibility, but the Holy Spirit will empower us to do whatever God gives us to do. We do not fear, but we must be in awe whenever God tells or shows us anything.

Thank You, Lord God, that You speak to us through angels, dreams and visions, thoughts, leadings, and—above all—Your Holy Word. Open my eyes to see, my ears to hear, and my heart to believe and obey. I don’t always know or understand Your plan. In my human arrogance, sometimes I wonder why You do things the way You do, but I know that Your way is always best. Your plan is always perfect. Your love is always infinite. I thank You and praise You in the name of Jesus. Amen.

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Devotion for Wednesday after Advent 2

The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

As it is written in Isaiah the prophet:

“Behold, I send My messenger ahead of You,

Who will prepare Your way;

The voice of one crying in the wilderness,

‘Make ready the way of the Lord,

Make His paths straight.’” ~ Mark 1:1-3

Centuries before it happened, Isaiah prophesied that John the Baptist would be a messenger going before Jesus to prepare His way. Today we can be messengers preparing the way for Jesus to return in majesty and power and glory. We don’t have to wear rough skins and eat locusts, but we do need to proclaim the Gospel to those we come in contact with. We also need to make a pathway for the Lord in our own hearts and lives.

Lord, give me the wisdom to take advantage of every opportunity to share Jesus with those around me. Take away my fear of being ridiculed or rejected and give me courage. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

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