Lillie Ammann's Blog, page 92

Devotion for Thursday after Advent 2

Isaiah 13:6-9 (NASB)

6 Wail, for the day of the Lord is near!

It will come as destruction from the Almighty.

7 Therefore all hands will fall limp,

And every man’s heart will melt.

8 They will be terrified,

Pains and anguish will take hold of them;

They will writhe like a woman in labor,

They will look at one another in astonishment,

Their faces aflame.

9 Behold, the day of the Lord is coming,

Cruel, with fury and burning anger,

To make the land a desolation;

And He will exterminate its sinners from it.

 

As Christians, we look for the Coming of the Lord with joy and anticipation. However, Isaiah has warned us that the day of the Lord will not be welcomed by those who reject the Lord, for the Coming of the Lord will be a time of pain, anguish, fury, burning anger, and desolation for those who have chosen their sins and the lusts of the flesh over God. In this time of preparation, we must examine our own hearts and ask the Lord to cleanse and purify them so that we will be among those who greet the Second Coming of Jesus with joy.

 

Lord, we know Your judgment is devastating for those who reject You, but Your mercy is great for those who love You. Examine our hearts and cleanse away all unrighteousness; fill our hearts with Your love, and prepare us to welcome the coming day of the Lord. In the name of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior. Amen.

 

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Devotion for Wednesday after Advent 2

Matthew 3:1-12 (NASB)

3 Now in those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying, 2 “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” 3 For this is the one referred to by Isaiah the prophet when he said,

“The voice of one crying in the wilderness,

‘Make ready the way of the Lord,

Make His paths straight!’”

4 Now John himself had a garment of camel’s hair and a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey. 5 Then Jerusalem was going out to him, and all Judea and all the district around the Jordan; 6 and they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River, as they confessed their sins. 7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Therefore bear fruit in keeping with repentance; 9 and do not suppose that you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham for our father’; for I say to you that from these stones God is able to raise up children to Abraham. 10 The axe is already laid at the root of the trees; therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 11 “As for me, I baptize you with water for repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, and I am not fit to remove His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His winnowing fork is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clear His threshing floor; and He will gather His wheat into the barn, but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”

 

John the Baptist came before Jesus to prepare the way for Him. He called on the people to repent of their sins, and he baptized those who confessed their sins. He warned the Pharisees and Sadducees that trees that didn’t bear fruit would be cut down. During this Advent as we prepare for Christmas, let us confess our sins and repent. Let us ask God to guide us by the Holy Spirit so that we produce good fruit so we will remain standing until the day of Christ’s return.

 

Heavenly Father, we acknowledge and regret our many sins. Forgive us and cleanse us from unrighteousness. Use us to produce good fruit for the coming Kingdom of God. In Jesus’s name. Amen.

Devotion for Tuesday after Advent 2

Isaiah 11:1-10 (NASB)

1 Then a shoot will spring from the stem of Jesse,

And a branch from his roots will bear fruit.

2 The Spirit of the Lord will rest on Him,

The spirit of wisdom and understanding,

The spirit of counsel and strength,

The spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.

3 And He will delight in the fear of the Lord,

And He will not judge by what His eyes see,

Nor make a decision by what His ears hear;

4 But with righteousness He will judge the poor,

And decide with fairness for the afflicted of the earth;

And He will strike the earth with the rod of His mouth,

And with the breath of His lips He will slay the wicked.

5 Also righteousness will be the belt about His loins,

And faithfulness the belt about His waist.

6 And the wolf will dwell with the lamb,

And the leopard will lie down with the young goat,

And the calf and the young lion and the fatling together;

And a little boy will lead them.

7 Also the cow and the bear will graze,

Their young will lie down together,

And the lion will eat straw like the ox.

8 The nursing child will play by the hole of the cobra,

And the weaned child will put his hand on the viper’s den.

9 They will not hurt or destroy in all My holy mountain,

For the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord

As the waters cover the sea.

10 Then in that day

The nations will resort to the root of Jesse,

Who will stand as a signal for the peoples;

And His resting place will be glorious.

What a beautiful picture these words create! Can you just see in your mind’s eye the wolf and the lamb, the leopard and the goat, even a child and a snake lying peacefully or playing companionably? All led by a righteous Ruler belted with faithfulness? That is the day after the Second Coming of our Lord. That is the day we wait and prepare for during Advent.

Lord, we love the vision of Your Kingdom, ruled with righteousness and faithfulness Who judges not by what He sees or hears but by what is the heart. In Jesus’s name we pray. Amen.

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Devotion for Monday after Advent 2

Luke 1:26-38 (NASB)

26 Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee called Nazareth, 27 to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the descendants of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And coming in, he said to her, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” 29 But she was very perplexed at this statement, and kept pondering what kind of salutation this was. 30 The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus. 32 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; 33 and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end.” 34 Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” 35 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. 36 And behold, even your relative Elizabeth has also conceived a son in her old age; and she who was called barren is now in her sixth month. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God.” 38 And Mary said, “Behold, the bondslave of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

 

It’s hard for us to realize how devastating it would be for Mary to become pregnant out of wedlock. Today nearly half of births are to unmarried women, and there are many more who become pregnant and abort the baby, as well as those who marry during their pregnancy. But in Biblical times, a young woman who become pregnant before marriage was condemned and shunned. Mary risked being abandoned by her fiancé Joseph, who would have thought she had been unfaithful. But Mary was not only faithful to Joseph, she was faithful to God. She told the angel that she was the Lord’s bondservant, willing to go through whatever He planned for her. So often, we look at the circumstances in our lives and, instead of surrendering to God’s will and trusting Him, we see only the negatives, the difficulties, the hardships. During this time of Advent, let us prepare ourselves to accept whatever challenges God gives or allows in our lives and to trust Him in His perfect will.

 

Lord, let us say as Mary did, we are your bondservants; let Your will be done. In the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, who lives with You and the Holy Ghost forever and forever. Amen.

 

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Devotion for Monday after Advent 1

Luke 1:26-38 (NASB)

26 Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee called Nazareth, 27 to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the descendants of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And coming in, he said to her, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” 29 But she was very perplexed at this statement, and kept pondering what kind of salutation this was. 30 The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus. 32 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; 33 and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end.” 34 Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” 35 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. 36 And behold, even your relative Elizabeth has also conceived a son in her old age; and she who was called barren is now in her sixth month. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God.” 38 And Mary said, “Behold, the bondslave of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

 

It’s hard for us to realize how devastating it would be for Mary to become pregnant out of wedlock. Today nearly half of births are to unmarried women, and there are many more who become pregnant and abort the baby, as well as those who marry during their pregnancy. But in Biblical times, a young woman who become pregnant before marriage was condemned and shunned. Mary risked being abandoned by her fiancé Joseph, who would have thought she had been unfaithful. But Mary was not only faithful to Joseph, she was faithful to God. She told the angel that she was the Lord’s bondservant, willing to go through whatever He planned for her. So often, we look at the circumstances in our lives and, instead of surrendering to God’s will and trusting Him, we see only the negatives, the difficulties, the hardships. During this time of Advent, let us prepare ourselves to accept whatever challenges God gives or allows in our lives and to trust Him in His perfect will.

 

Lord, let us say as Mary did, we are your bondservants; let Your will be done. In the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, who lives with You and the Holy Ghost forever and forever. Amen.

 

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Devotion for the Second Sunday in Advent

Romans 15:4-13 (NASB)

4 For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. 5 Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus, 6 so that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 7 Therefore, accept one another, just as Christ also accepted us to the glory of God. 8 For I say that Christ has become a servant to the circumcision on behalf of the truth of God to confirm the promises given to the fathers, 9 and for the Gentiles to glorify God for His mercy; as it is written,

“Therefore I will give praise to You among the Gentiles,

And I will sing to Your name.”

10 Again he says,

“Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people.”

11 And again,

“Praise the Lord all you Gentiles,

And let all the peoples praise Him.”

12 Again Isaiah says,

“There shall come the root of Jesse,

And He who arises to rule over the Gentiles,

In Him shall the Gentiles hope.”

13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

 

Paul reminds us that the Scripture has been written for our instruction. He was talking about the Jewish Law and the Prophets—the Old Testament—as the New Testament had not yet been written. Yet in the Old Testament, God told His people that He is the Lord of the Gentiles as well as the Jews. Jesus was sent to the whole world, not just God’s Chosen People. We Gentiles (non-Jews) have hope because God’s promises apply to us as well as to the Jews. When Jesus comes again in glory, He will judge all the nations and all the peoples. We have that great hope because of His promises to us. We don’t have question our place in God’s Kingdom. If we have accepted Him as our Lord and Savior, we are part of His Kingdom.

Thank You, Lord, for including us in Your Kingdom. You didn’t send Jesus just for the Jews, and when He comes again, He won’t be just for Jews. Everyone who makes Him Lord of their life will spend eternity in Heaven with You, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost. As we wait for Jesus’s return, help us prepare our hearts and minds to be ready. In His name we pray. Amen.

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Devotion for Saturday after Advent 1

Micah 5:2 (NASB)

2 “But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,

Too little to be among the clans of Judah,

From you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago,

From the days of eternity.”

 

We tend to think bigger is better. A little village so obscure that it was too small to be considered among the Israelite clans isn’t very impressive in our modern value system. Yet God chose that little obscure village as the birthplace of the Savior, just as a chose a young virgin from a humble background to give birth to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. God measures differently than we do—He humbles the mighty and exalts the poor and weak. In this holy season, let us look at others from God’s perspective instead of our own.

Lord God, thank You for seeing Bethlehem, Mary, and us from a different perspective. Thank You for seeing value where others see little or none. Help us to be the person You created us to be and to look at others the way You do. In the name of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Ghost, now and evermore. Amen.

Devotion for Friday after Advent 1

Luke 6:38 (NASB)

38 “Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure—pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return.”

 

Often at Christmas, gift-giving becomes a chore rather than a choice. We fight crowds and frustration and spend more than we can afford to give gifts from a sense of obligation. Perhaps we buy an expensive boxed set of body lotions and powders for our elderly relative to add to the collection she has of those she’s never used in previous years. Maybe we give our children the latest electronic gadget or toy so they have everything their friends have. The elderly relative would be so much happier with a handwritten note promising a weekly or monthly visit. The children would learn to value material things less and spiritual things more if we give them gifts from our hearts rather than for impressing friends and neighbors.

And in today’s Scripture, Jesus promises that if we give generously, we will be rewarded even more bounteously. Visits to a loved one in the nursing home will reward us with the joy of making someone else happy as well as precious time and memories that will be treasured for a lifetime. The gift to a family activity—whether it’s a trip to an amusement park or a game party at home—will bring the family closer together and demonstrate to us and the children the importance of godly values. Giving a small tool to a loved one who is passionate about a hobby will show them that you pay attention to their interests and notice even small things. That not only makes your loved one happy, it gives you a deeper bond.

We can give to those in need, not because we feel that we have to, but because we want to show the love to Jesus to those who are hurting. Even a small financial donation can make a big difference in the lives of people who are suffering. And volunteering to help with a party for women and children in a battered women’s shelter or to collect food/clothing/gifts for a Christmas drive at church can bless us more than any material gift in the world.

This year when choosing gifts, give from your heart and not from obligation. You will be rewarded bounteously for your generosity.

 

Lord God, Who gave us the perfect gift—His Son to forgive our sins and give us eternal life—fill us with the joy of giving. You want us to give from our hearts—and when we give joyously and generously, You reward us. Show us how to give good gifts to those we love. In Jesus’s name. Amen.

 

image credit: Image: © Depositphotos.com/hasmonkel

 

Devotion for Thursday after Advent 1

Romans 13:11-14 (NASB)

11 Do this, knowing the time, that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for now salvation is nearer to us than when we believed. 12 The night is almost gone, and the day is near. Therefore let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13 Let us behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts.

 

Darkness covers all kinds of evil deeds. Many people who behave properly in public act very differently behind closed doors. But as Jesus’s return is nearer than ever before, we must come out from behind closed doors, come out of the darkness, into the light. We must examine ourselves and ask God to point out hidden sins, to show where we are putting something ahead of Him in our lives. Our flesh lusts, tempting us to seek after earthly pleasures and values. During Advent, we ask God to shine His light on our hearts and minds, to show us whatever in our lives pulls us away from serving God as the Lord of our lives. Then we ask Him to cleanse us of this sins and purify us so we are ready at any moment for the Second Coming of Jesus.

Lord God, Holy Father, wake us from our sleep. Take us out of the darkness and into the light of Jesus Christ, whose Second Coming we prepare for. In His name. Amen.

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Devotion for Wednesday after Advent 1

Matthew 24:36-44 (NASB)

36 “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone. 37 For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah. 38 For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, 39 and they did not understand until the flood came and took them all away; so will the coming of the Son of Man be. 40 Then there will be two men in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. 41 Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one will be left. 42 “Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming. 43 But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what time of the night the thief was coming, he would have been on the alert and would not have allowed his house to be broken into. 44 For this reason you also must be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will.

We guard against the thief coming in the night. Perhaps we have burglar bars or an alarm system; maybe we have a big dog or even a weapon. We protect ourselves against a thief in the night, but are we preparing ourselves for the Coming of Jesus, which will be as a thief in the night. He will come at a time we don’t know or expect, so we must be ready all the time—just as we are ready for a thief. A thief may steal our worldly goods, but Jesus will take us to Heaven for eternity IF we are ready for Him. If we aren’t ready for him—if we haven’t repented of our sins and given our lives to Him—we will lose something far more valuable than any material things. We will lose our lives. Instead of being in Heaven with the Lord, we will be burning in Hell with the devil. With those possible consequences, we must be ready for Jesus’s return.

Lord, we know that Jesus will come as a thief in the night, but, oh, with what joy we will greet Him! Help us to always be on the alert, ready to join Him in Your Kingdom forever and ever. Keep our eyes open and our hearts ready for that joyous day. In His holy Name we pray. Amen.

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