The season of Advent, which kicks off the new church year, centers around Jesus as God-in-the-flesh coming from heaven to earth. This upcoming year will focus on us coming to Jesus in response to his calling us to come follow him (Matthew 4:19) and come learn from me (Matthew 5:1-2, 11:28-29). As we revisit past, present, and future comings of Jesus, we view them through the plain words of our Lord in John 14:6:

John 14:6

I am the way and the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me.

This week particularly we view Jesus (and ourselves) through the lens of his teaching “I am the way” to the Father. To get started, meditate on Psalm 100. It will be with us in devotions all week.

Psalm of Meditation for the Week:

Psalm 100:1-5

A psalm for giving grateful praise.

• Read: verses 1-5 twice.
  

• Mark: the words or phrases that catch your attention.
  

• Meditate: talk (better yet write) with God about those words. Ask him to impress things upon your heart and mind; expect a response.

Prayer for the Week

Father God, I thank you that I am able to come before you confidently in Jesus’ name. He is my way to You, my way to life and my way of life. Let your Holy Spirit guide me that I may follow Jesus well and learn well from Jesus, my Lord, in whose name I pray, Amen.

Matthew 3:1-12

John the Baptist Prepares the Way

As we read Matthew 3:1-12 (do it!), we find that God’s mission through John the Baptist was using him as a voice calling to people:

‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’”

The way the mission is furthered in John’s ministry is repentance and baptism by him in the Jordan River. But John already knew that his way of baptizing was only preparatory; the real Way, Jesus, was already in their midst. So John proclaimed, “I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”

Scripture Meditation for the Day:

Psalms 100:1-2

Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.

Teaching or Command of God:

John 4:23

Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.

The Promise:

Psalm 28:7

The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him.

Prayer Prompt

Thank God for the gift of the Holy Spirit in your life, particularly as the primary discipler in your life, reminding you of what Jesus taught. Ask for guidance about needing to repent of current actions, attitudes, or thoughts… and if you have the guts, finish with a shout for joy to the Lord.

Act 4:8-12

Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: “Rulers and elders of the people! If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a man who was lame and are being asked how he was healed, then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. Jesus is ‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.’ Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.’’
~ Apostle Peter

Without Jesus, there’s no salvation But in Christ, there’s full salvation. In Christ, we experience the kindness of God our Father, who provides the way into His gracious and glorious presence. In Christ, who was crucified and raised from the dead, we are saved.

Scripture Meditation for the Day:

Psalm 100:3

Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his;

Teaching or Command of God:

John 17:3

Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.

The Promise:

John 10:14-15

I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— just as the Father know me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep.

Prayer Prompt

Pray and meditate around the theme of you as sheep (and others) and Jesus as shepherd. Consider picturing these scriptures in your mind’s eye as you do so: John 10:1-18, Psalm 23, Ezekiel 34, Isaiah 53:4-6, Luke 15:1-7.

Acts 4:1-13

They had been with Jesus

The priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to Peter and John while they were speaking to the people. They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people, proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead.

They seized Peter and John and, because it was evening, they put them in jail until the next day.

But many who heard the message believed; so the number of men who believed grew to about five thousand.

The next day the rulers, the elders and the teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and others of the high priest’s family.

They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: “By what power or what name did you do this?”

Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: “Rulers and elders of the people! If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a man who was lame and are being asked how he was healed, then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. Jesus is “‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.’ Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”

When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.

Start by reading Acts 4:1-12 leading into this powerful point: When they (the rulers, the elders and the teachers of the law) saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. 

Moses’ face radiated from time he spent before God; the disciples’ lifestyles and courage evidenced that they had been with Jesus. Ask yourself: How has my time with God changed the way I look, the way I act? Can others tell that I’ve been with Jesus?

Discipleship Point:

Any time with God in His Word and/or prayer lets the Spirit disciple/teach us directly, but time intentionally “devoted” to God heightens the impact. Schedule time alone for prayer and reflection to hear from and yield to the Holy Spirit. Also devote time to be with God and others in His Word (worship, small group), ways to be discipled directly and indirectly by the Spirit.

Scripture Meditation for the Day:

Psalms 100:4

Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise;

Teaching or Command of God:

Revelations 22:13-14

I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city.

The Promise:

John 10:9

[Jesus said] I am the gate;  whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture.

Prayer Prompt:

Ask yourself thoughtfully and Father God prayerfully: How is my time with God changing me? If not, then why? Can others tell that I’ve been with Jesus? Who could you ask (spouse, friend) to share their insight?

Isaiah 35:1-10

Joy of the Redeemed

The desert and the parched land will be glad;  the wilderness will rejoice and blossom.

Like the crocus, it will burst into bloom; it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy.

The glory of Lebanon will be given to it, the splendor of Carmel and Sharon; they will see the glory of the Lord, the splendor of our God.

Strengthen the feeble hands, steady the knees that give way; say to those with fearful hearts, “Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, he will come with vengeance; with divine retribution he will come to save you.”

Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped.

Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy. Water will gush forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert.

The burning sand will become a pool, the thirsty ground bubbling springs. In the haunts where jackals once lay, grass and reeds and papyrus will grow.

And a highway will be there; it will be called the Way of Holiness; it will be for those who walk on that Way.

The unclean will not journey on it; wicked fools will not go about on it.

No lion will be there, nor any ravenous beast; they will not be found there. But only the redeemed will walk there, and those the Lord has rescued will return.

They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.

Isaiah prophesied about the Messiah as much as anyone in the bible. Here is one description of the impact Jesus would have as Messiah (see the Gospel for this week: Matthew 11:2-15):

The desert and the parched land will be glad; the wilderness will rejoice and blossom...

And a highway will be there; it will be called the Way of Holiness; it will be for those who walk on that Way. The unclean will not journey on it;
wicked fools will not go about on it.

No lion will be there, nor any ravenous beast; they will not be found there. But only the redeemed will walk there…

Scripture Meditation for the Day:

Psalms 100:5

For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.

Teaching or Command of God:

Psalms 34:8

Taste and see that the Lord is good;  blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.

The Promise:

Psalm 86:5-6

You, Lord, are forgiving and good, abounding in love to all who call to you.  Hear my prayer, Lord; listen to my cry for mercy.

Discipleship Prayer:

Spirit of God, You are my primary teacher of God’s Word; I yield my heart and mind, my soul and spirit, my will and imagination to You as I immerse myself in the Word during these dedicated moments. I pray also that you use this time of devotion today to shape and influence my thoughts and emotions, actions and attitudes throughout the day. May all who encounter me also encounter You in me. Teach me in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Matthew 3:1-12

Reread Matthew 3:1-12 (John the Baptist's Ministry) from our Tuesday devotion this week.

Tuesday's scripture reading...

A note about Stories: Telling Bible stories (storying) is one of the simplest ways to share God's Word -- and we can all tell stories. Most people remember stories better than mere details, both in terms of speaking and listening. AND storying does not require one to remember all of the particulars to be effective. The Holy Spirit is quite capable of using us and his Word without direct quotes or perfect reciting of all details.

Try to learn the story each week, committing it to memory for later use. Consider sharing the story with others. This cements that story in your mind – even better in your heart. As Psalm 119:11 says: I have hidden your word in my heart that I may not sin against you.

Prayer Prompt:

Ask God that his Word will take root in your heart and mind, being ready to be used by the Holy Spirit to disciple you and, when asked, be a voice to others.

Thoughts on Jesus’ coming: Jesus came as the Way to God. Keep that in mind as you ponder these two statements He made:

Matthew 5:17

Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.

Matthew 11:27

All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.

Prayer Prompt:

Ask God to deepen your commitment to Him in the WAY your week is laid out, letting time with Him in Jesus become a WAY of life for you and your family.

Amen.