‘As with gladness men of old, did the guiding star behold…’
As we enter this season of Epiphany, may the Lord be our guiding star in the year ahead.
‘Then let us all with one accord sing praises to our heavenly Lord…’
These words from the final verse of The First Nowell encourage us to lift our voices in praise to the Lord and what better time to do so than at the beginning of a new year. So as we stand on the threshold of 2021, looking to the year ahead, let’s lift our voices and our hearts to the Lord, not just today but every day of the year ahead.
‘God of God, Light of light…’
As 2021 begins pray that the Lord might be the light by whom we are all guided this year, particularly those in positions of leadership and authority.
‘What can I give Him, poor as I am…
Yet what I can I give Him, give my heart…’
These closing words of In The Bleak Midwinter say quite simply and succinctly what the Lord requires of us – our heart! As another year comes to an end, a year where there has been so much pain and anguish for so many, lets resolve now to give our hearts to the Lord and let’s pray that all people everywhere would do the same.
‘O Holy Child of Bethlehem, descend to us we pray….
O come to us, abide with us, our Lord Immanuel.’
Just simply pray these words over and over again – asking not only for the Lord to be with you, but also with all His children.
‘Joy to the world, the Lord is come…’
We all face times in our life when it seems as if there is nothing to be happy or joyful about and maybe in these last nine months we have felt like this more often than we have in recent times. Yet we can still rejoice for as this Carol reminds us, the Lord is come and He does reign in our lives. Yes, we may still face trials and tribulations, but knowing that the Lord is with us in all of these can make all the difference. So as you come to the Lord today pray that we might allow His peace, joy and love to reign in our hearts and to know that there is always hope for the future.
‘Love came down at Christmas, Love all lovely, Love Divine,
Love was born at Christmas, star and angels gave the sign…’
In only a few words this well known Christmas Carol says it all. In His one and only Son, God revealed His love for us. The Babe in the Manger was God’s way of letting us know just how much He loved us, by reconciling Himself to us and many years later, in giving His very life for us, that love was offered up sacrificially that we may have life everlasting with our Lord. What love indeed! Come to the Lord today and ask Him afresh to pour His love upon you.
‘Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom His favour rests…’(Luke 2:14)
Again, just spend a few minutes reading these words over and over again – and allow them to reach into your heart and soul. Then rejoice and give thanks to God for this wonderful gift He has given us in His Son.
Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David, a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord…. ’(Luke 2:10-11)
Praise the Lord for His love to us…
Read Matthew 1:18-25
What do these initial few verses say to us about Joseph?
- Joseph was faced with a difficult choice on discovering Mary was expecting a baby.
- In acting in the way he did, Joseph revealed a number of admirable qualities.
- A sense of righteousness
- Great sensitivity and discretion
- Admirable self-discipline
- Great faith in responding to God in the way he did.
- Initially Joseph may have believed he only had to options – to divorce Mary quietly without a fuss, or make everything public and risk Mary being stoned to death.
- But God revealed to Joseph that there was another way – His way.
What do the remaining verses say to us about the birth of Jesus?
- The mystery surrounding the birth of Jesus reveals an important truth to us – Jesus was both fully human and fully divine.
- His name, Jesus, means The Lord Saves and Immanuel, God With Us.
- Through His Son, God would reconcile Himself to us once and for all.
- All of this was pre-ordained and prophesied by Isaiah and others centuries earlier.
- Finally, we get further confirmation of Joseph’s faith.
- Although he must have been somewhat bewildered by all of this, still he obeyed God .
How often have we been in a position when faced with difficult choices or decisions to make, we too believe there are only one or two options – but then God reveals another to us. The question is, like Joseph, did we listen to God and choose His other option? Are we as obedient and faithful as he was?
This completes our Advent Bible Study and indeed our Bible Studies for this year. There will still be Daily Prayers here each day but we will wait until the New Year before beginning a new Bible Study.
God Bless