Lillie Ammann's Blog, page 90

Devotion for the Seventh Day of Christmas

Romans 12:6-8 (NASB)

6 Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith; 7 if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching; 8 or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

 

On day seven of Christmas, we are reminded of the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit. We cannot boast of any gifts that God has given us—they are all gifts from Him, and we have nothing to do with what gifts we have. However, whatever gift or gifts we have been given, we do need to exercise them. The gifts are of value only when we put them to use. Prophecy, service, teaching, exhortation, giving, leading, and mercy are all important in the Kingdom of God. Each of us needs to exercise our gift(s) so that working together as one body, we accomplish God’s purpose.

Thank You, Lord, for the gift(s) of the Spirit You have given each of us. Help us to exercise our individual gifts as individual members of Your body so that the entire body works together to accomplish Your will. In Jesus’s name. Amen.

 

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Devotion for the Sixth Day of Christmas

Genesis 1: 1, 31 (NASB)

1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. … 31 God saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.

 

On day six of Christmas, we are reminded of the six days of creation. In the beginning, there was nothing, just a dark void. God spoke into the void and created everything in existence over a period of six days. And God saw that everything He created was very good.

 

Thank You, Lord, for Your creation of the world, everything from the Heavens above to the earth below and the bodies of water throughout the earth. Thank You that everything You created, man included, was very good. In the name of Jesus. Amen.

Devotion for the Fifth Day of Christmas

Deuteronomy 6:4-5 (NASB)

4 “Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord is one! 5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.

 

On day five of Christmas, we are reminded of the first five books of the Bible, known as the Pentateuch or the Torah. These five books—Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy—written by Moses, tell the story of God’s creation of the universe as well as the creation of the nation of Israel, the people of God. These books describe the love God has for His people and the miracles He did on their behalf; they also describe God’s commandments for His people and the many times God punished His people for straying from His ways and the many times He gave them another chance.

Thank You, Lord, for the Torah, where we learn of Your creation and of Your love for Your people. Thank You that even though no one can live up to Your commandments, You are merciful and forgiving. In the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Amen.

 

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Devotion for the Fourth Day of Christmas

John 20:31 (NASB)

31 But these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.

On day four of Christmas, we are reminded of the four Gospels. The first four books of the New Testament—Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John—all tell the story of Jesus’s life, but each is told from a different perspective. The word “Gospel” means good news, and the Gospels all share the good news that Jesus is the Son of God, the Christ, and by believing in Him we may eternal life. Jesus described Himself as “the Way, the Truth, and the Life,” the only way to God. We can know Him through reading His story in the four Gospels.

Thank You, Lord, for letting us know about Jesus’s life and hear His own words in the Gospels. Let us come not only to know about Him but to know Him personally and intimately. We ask this in His holy name. Amen.

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Devotion for the Third Day of Christmas

1 Corinthians 13:13 (NASB)

13 But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.

 

On day three of Christmas, we are reminded of three great virtues: faith, hope, and love. Faith is “the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1) Hope is the expectation of the return of Jesus Christ. Love is putting the other person ahead of ourselves—Corinthians 13 describes love better than anything ever written, and the love that God has for us is the perfect example of true love.

 

Thank You, Lord, for loving us more than we can imagine. Let us follow Your example in showing faith, hope, and love to the world. In the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Amen.

 

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Devotion for the Second Day of Christmas

2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NASB)

16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; 17 so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.

 

On day two of Christmas, we are reminded of the two testaments of the Holy Bible. The entire Bible is about God’s covenants with His people. The Old Testament (old covenant) describes God’s promises to protect and prosper His Chosen People, the Jews; their part of the covenant was to follow God’s laws. But on their own, people cannot follow the law perfectly. The New Testament describes God’s new covenant with His people—He sent His Only Son to be born as a baby, live as a man who was fully man and fully God, die on the cross to pay the price for the sins of the whole world, and rise from the dead to give us eternal life with God. All we have to do is accept Jesus as our Savior and surrender our will to His. What an amazing gift! A treasure beyond words!

 

Thank You, Lord, for the Old and the New Covenants, and for the unsurpassable gift of eternal life. In Jesus’s name. Amen.

Devotion for Christmas Day

Luke 2:8-20 (NASB)

8 In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; 11 for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

14 “Glory to God in the highest,

And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.”

15 When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, “Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger. 17 When they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20 The shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them.

Not only was Jesus born into the worst of conditions, but His glorious birth was not announced to kings in palaces but to dirty, smelly shepherds out in the fields watching over their sheep. No one would expect to see angels appear in the heavens, praising God and announcing the birth of the Savior of the World. But these shepherds immediately believed and went to see the newborn king. They didn’t question; they didn’t hesitate. They simply opened their hearts and followed the angels. May we open our hearts as easily and follow that newborn baby to the cross and the tomb and onward to eternal life.

Thank You, Lord, for sending Jesus to save us from our sins. Open our hearts, Lord, to follow Jesus, even to the cross. Then we will follow Him to the open tomb and eternal life with You in Heaven. We thank You and praise You and sing with the angels, “Glory to God in the Highest.” In the name of Jesus. Amen.

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Devotion for Christmas Eve

Luke 2:1-8 (NASB)

1 Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth. 2 This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And everyone was on his way to register for the census, each to his own city. 4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, 5 in order to register along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child. 6 While they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

 

We see pretty Nativity sets with animals clustered around the manger, which is filled with clean, fresh hay where baby Jesus lies wrapped in white cloths. We think what a lovely, sweet scene, but that’s not the way it really was. The animals were dirty and noisy. The hay was likely filled with animal droppings that smelled worse than they looked. Those swaddling clothes weren’t soft, pure white, fluffy blankets, but rough and scratchy and ugly in color. God didn’t send Jesus to a luxury hotel with maids and room service. The almighty God sent His almighty Son to the lowliest conditions in a poor and lowly society. The King of the Universe was born with the farm animals in conditions that would be considered inhumane conditions for animals in today’s society. He would experience the worst that the poor of that primitive society could possibly experience, all for our sake.

Lord, it’s hard for us to imagine the conditions that Jesus was born into. He came into the world on the lowest rung of the ladder of success so that He could lift us to the highest rung of the ladder to Heaven. We can never be worthy; we can never thank You enough. All we can do is to say, Lord, we love You with all our hearts and all our souls and all our minds. Show us how to live for You. In the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. 

 

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Devotion for Tuesday after Advent 4

Revelation 21:1-4 (NASB)

 

1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, 4 and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.”

 

As Christmas nears, we prepare to celebrate the birth of Christ on earth two millennia ago, but we also look for Second Coming of Jesus. Then we will see the new heaven and the new earth. God will wipe away the tears of His people, and they will never again feel pain or sorrow. If we are to be part of eternity with the Lord, we need to prepare our hearts now, to choose Christ above the distractions of the world, and to store up our treasures in heaven rather than on earth.

 

Lord, we look forward to that great day when Jesus comes again in glory. Prepare our hearts and minds so that we spend eternity with You–Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

 

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Devotion for Monday after Advent 4

Psalm 80:1-7 (NASB)

1 Oh, give ear, Shepherd of Israel,

You who lead Joseph like a flock;

You who are enthroned above the cherubim, shine forth!

2 Before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh, stir up Your power

And come to save us!

3 O God, restore us

And cause Your face to shine upon us, and we will be saved.

4 O Lord God of hosts,

How long will You be angry with the prayer of Your people?

5 You have fed them with the bread of tears,

And You have made them to drink tears in large measure.

6 You make us an object of contention to our neighbors,

And our enemies laugh among themselves.

7 O God of hosts, restore us

And cause Your face to shine upon us, and we will be saved.

 

Many generations before the birth of Christ, the psalmist was calling on God to shine His face upon His people to restore and save them. God’s people were crying out, contending with their neighbors, made a laughing-stock of their enemies. They saw they could not save themselves; only God could rescue them from the results of their own actions. Even then God already had the plan in place; He was waiting for His perfect timing to put it into effect. When the time arrived, Jesus arrived as a tiny, helpless baby.

 

Thank You, Lord, that You planned for the salvation of Your people generations before the birth of Jesus. We don’t understand Your timing, but we understand that it is perfect. Jesus was born at just the right time, and He will come again at just the right time. Make us ready, Lord. In Jesus’s name. Amen.