Seek First – Kingdom Focused Devotionals

“And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth” (Jn. 1:14).

                Do you remember our devotional on the song of the angels?  Their song—“Glory to God in the highest” (Lk. 2:14a).  “Glory” is the manifest presence of the Lord.  In the Old Testament, it was often associated with spectacular manifestations such as the pillar of fire and the burning bush.  But now the glory of God has come in flesh. 

                The Word which is eternally God (1:1) “became” flesh.  The word became is in the aorist and indicates a specific action at a point in time.  The incarnation is an historic and specific event.  The word “flesh” is somewhat a crude way of referring to God becoming man.  Jesus was fully and completely man.  His flesh was one with our flesh.  He was tempted in every way any man is tempted and yet He lived without sin. 

                The expression “dwelt among us” means “to pitch one’s tent.”  This word would have certainly reminded the early Jewish listeners of God’s presence in the tabernacle in the wilderness.  There their forefathers beheld the glory of God (see Ex. 40:34f).  The temporary and transitory glimpses of God’s glory in the Old Testament have been superseded by the Word becoming flesh and dwelling among us.  “Only begotten” means “unique” or “only.”  In God’s only Son we see God’s glory, the perfect combination of grace and truth.  God is gracious and righteous.  It is for that reason that He can permit only those who have responded to His complete revelation of Himself in His Son to enter into His presence. 

                I trust that you have experienced God’s glory by receiving His Son.  If not, why not now.

Prayer:  Father, help us not to miss Your glory made manifest in Your only Son.  Amen.

(I have relied on Leon Morris’ commentary on John in The New International Commentary for these devotionals.  If you want to understand more completely I would suggest you read my book entitled “I Am:  Way, Truth, and Life.”

“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name” (Jn. 1:12).

                In verse 9 John repeats the theme of “light,” this time affirming that the true Light came to enlighten every man.  The coming of the true Light into the world is once again a reference to the incarnation.  We should never forget that Christmas is the celebration of an event beyond our comprehension.  Holy God took upon Himself flesh and came to earth as man.  There was nothing limited in His coming—it was sufficient to enlighten every man.  John uses a singular expression which may be intended to indicate every man individually rather than all men.  While the light is available and sufficient for all men it gives light only to those who believe.  Those who reject the light remain in darkness (3:19).

                John turns his attention to the tragedy of rejection.  Verses 10 and 11 are sad beyond expression.  “He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him.  He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him.”  In a sense the whole world is God’s home and all the peoples of the world are His children because He made them.  Thus the created rejected the Creator.  But verse 11 goes beyond this to speak of the Jewish people who had the advantages of God’s blessing, covenant, and prophecy.  They should have known and responded.  Notice, that John switches to the word “receive.”  The tragedy is that they knew and they rejected Him.  I think of the many people who will listen to and sing the carols of Christmas and yet reject Him. 

                I certainly do not want to leave this devotional thought with you thinking that all rejected Him.  Just look at our key verse again.  I love “as many as.”  It means there is still room for many more.  The end of the story is not the tragedy of rejection but the rich grace available to those who respond.  We receive the status of children of God.

Prayer:  Thank You for coming and for giving so that I might be Your child.  Amen

“He came as a witness, to testify about the light, so that all may believe through Him” (Jn. 1:7).

                John now turns his attention to the role of John the Baptist, the prophet who was to prepare the way of the Lord.  We know that John the Baptist had ardent followers.  From the beginning of his ministry some wondered whether he might be the Christ (Luke 3:15).  John wants us to understand that the Baptist was not the light, but he came to testify to the true Light. 

                Let’s pause to look at John the Baptist’s testimony to the light.  When the priests and Levites from Jerusalem questioned John about his identity he made it abundantly clear that He was not the Messiah.  Rather, he identifies his role with the promise of Isaiah that there would be a voice crying in the wilderness, “Make straight the way of the Lord” (Jn. 1:23).  His questioners probe further, wanting to know why he is baptizing people.  Once again he affirms that his baptism is one of preparation for one much mightier than himself.

                The next day, John saw Jesus coming and he declares, “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. This is He on behalf of whom I said, ‘After me comes a Man who has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me” (1:29-30).  Do you remember the angel’s instruction to Mary that she should call His name Jesus since He would save His people from their sin?  Jesus is the Lamb of God who alone can deal with man’s sin. 

                We sometimes forget that Christmas is about the forgiveness of sin.  Can you agree with John—“This is the Son of God” (1:34).

Prayer:  Father, thank You for sending Your one and only Son to forgive sin and grant life.  Amen

“In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men.  The Light shine in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it” (Jn. 1:4-5).

                John moves immediately from the affirmation that the Word is God to the doctrine of creation.  In is in and through creation that God reveals Himself.  The Father creates but He does so through the agency of the Word.  Thus John can say that everything owes its existence to Him. 

                John now moves from creation in general to the gift of life.  “Life” is an important theme in John’s gospel; he uses the term 36 times.  “Life” in John’s gospel most often refers to eternal life (3:15) which is the gift of God made available to man through His Son.  It is only because there is life in the Logos that there is life in anything on earth and it is the source of life that will transcend earthly existence.  The fundamental source of life is the Father who has life in Himself (5:26) but the Father gave life to the Son and to all who believe through Him. 

                Not only does John link “life” with Christ, he also links “light.”  The Old Testament regularly refers to God as light.  For example the Psalmist declares—“For with You is the fountain of life; in Your light we see light” (Ps. 36:9).  John will tell us that Jesus is light of the world (8:12, 9:5) and those who follow Him shall not walk in darkness but will have the light of life (8:12). 

                This light shown in the darkness but the darkness did not “comprehend” or “overcome” it.  The Greek word used here can be understood in either way.  If we take it as “comprehend” it means that man blinded by their own sinful darkness, did not embrace the light.  What a tragedy!  If we take it as “overcome” we are looking at the struggle between light and darkness with the firm assurance that the Light is the ultimate victor.  Amen!

Prayer:  Father, we celebrate You the giver of life and light.  May we show others that light.  Amen.

Mark, the gospel of activity, does not add any detail to our consideration of the birth of Christ; rather, he begins with the ministry of John the Baptist and his baptism of Jesus.  At first glance, you might think that John’s gospel omits the birth narrative.  But we must look more closely for John to take us back into eternity past before he announces that the Word has become flesh. 

                Listen to verse 1.  “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”  The opening words “in the beginning” are likely intended to take us back to the first words of the Bible (Gen. 1:1).  John is writing about a new creation, a new beginning and thus it is appropriate for him to recall the beginning of all things.  He will use other words such as “life,” “light,” and “darkness” which will further remind us of the Genesis narrative. 

                When John states that the Word (logos) was “in the beginning” he is stating that He was before all else, before all created things.  Thus He was not created but Creator.  There never was a time when the Word did not exist and there is nothing that does not depend upon Him for its existence.  The use of the verb “was” suggests an eternal unchanging being. 

                The use of “word” (logos) tells us that it was the nature of God to make Himself known.  Today, we understand that a man’s word reveals what he is thinking and desiring to communicate.  The Word was both with God and was fully God.  Here we are challenged by the mystery of the triune God who is one, but reveals Himself in three persons. 

                Thus John begins His Christmas story in the majesty of eternity past, assuring us that the King born in a manger existed before the world was ever formed. 

Prayer.  Father, help me to comprehend both the majesty and mystery of Christmas.

“For my eyes have seen Your salvation, which You have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light of revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of Your people Israel” (2:31-32). 

                We are nearly finished Luke’s telling of the Christmas story but we still have one more caroler named Simeon and a prophetess named Anna who had been anxiously awaiting this day of the consolation of Israel and the redemption of Jerusalem. 

                Simeon is described as follows—“this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel; and the Holy Spirit was upon him” (2:26).  The Holy Spirit had revealed to him that he would see the Lord’s Christ before he died.  When he saw Mary and Joseph bring Jesus into the Temple to carry out the custom of the Law, he knew that God’s promise had been fulfilled.  He takes Jesus into his arms and pours for praise unto the Lord. 

                He glorifies God for providing salvation for all the peoples.  The redemption made available in the sending of His Son is not for a select few, not even for the Jews alone, but for all peoples.  People who have lived in the darkness of sin will enjoy “light of revelation.”  The birth of Christ as a member of the Jewish people will be to their glory as the nations understand what wonderful privileges God has granted to Israel over the centuries. 

                Simeon is joined on stage by Anna the prophetess who was now 84.  She had been widowed after only seven years of marriage and had devoted the remainder of her life to serving in the temple with fastings and prayers.  It is noteworthy that Luke ends his Christmas story with “seemingly insignificant” people.  Aren’t we glad that Christ came for all mankind?  This Christmas pray for the nations to come to Him.  Pray for those who serve as missionaries.  Tell your neighbor that Jesus came for him/her. 

Prayer:  Thank you for coming as a light to the nations.  Help me to have the courage to tell others of the Great Light.  Amen

“When they had performed everything according to the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own city of Nazareth” (Lk. 2:39)

                 Luke alone gives us any further details of Jesus birth and early childhood.  We are most familiar with the story of the visit to Jerusalem when Jesus was twelve, but today I want to look back to an earlier visit to the Temple. 

                The circumcision and purification customs after a birth were specified by the Law and had reference to the state of sin in which human being is born.  Jesus, the sinless One, undergoes these customs not for His sin but as a sign that He was voluntarily under the Law, taking upon Himself the obligation of His people, that He might provide their redemption.  The actual giving of the name Jesus (Jehovah the Savior) at circumcision underlines this truth (2:21). 

                Verse 22 refers to the purification provisions recorded in Leviticus 12.  A woman was ceremonially impure for 40 days after the birth of a son.  Notice the child is involved in the impurity and thus the verse reads “their” purification.  Here again we see the sinless Son of God taking upon Himself the impurity of His people that He might provide their redemption.  According to the Law, a lamb had to be sacrificed as a burnt-offering and a pigeon as a sin-offering.  Provisions were made to allow the poor to sacrifice a pigeon in the place of the lamb. 

                Apart from the sacrifices, Joseph and Mary brought Jesus to the Temple “to present Him to the Lord” (1:22).  The consecration of the first born was often little more than a ritual for many Jews, but for this young couple it was a sacred commitment.  As I read this part of the Christmas story, I am reminded that God chose to send His only Son to an earthly couple that was devout.  When you read this section, notice how many times it refers to their obedience to do all that was written in the Law.  The verse that follows (2:40) tells us that Jesus grew and developed in every dimension of life through the ministry of these earthly parents.  We who are parents are reminded to see our children as a sacred gift from God.

Prayer:  Thank you for exalting the family by sending Your Son to Mary and Joseph.  Teach me daily how to give my children back to You.  Amen.

“In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over the flock by night” (Lk. 2:8).

                When I was a child, I regularly paid the shepherd in our children’s Christmas play.  Our plays were of a different quality and nature to those of today.  My shepherd’s costume was one of mom’s discarded robes and our staffs were pretty basic.  I loved the part because there were no lines to learn.  All you had to do was act “terribly frightened” which came naturally for a young lad with stage fright.  Once again, we have romanticized the shepherds.  These were simple men who were often looked down upon by others in the first century.

                It appears that several shepherds had driven their separate flocks together in the open pasture to make it easier to watch over them at night.  It is possible that these particular shepherds were pious men who had been waiting for the coming of the Messiah.  To these lowly men, God made His majesty known as He did to Moses at the burning bush.  Overcome by the awesome reality of the moment, the shepherds were frightened. 

                The angel stills their fear by announcing good news which will be for all people, even lowly shepherds.  The Savior Christ the Lord was to be born this day in the city of David.  I love the immediate and passionate response of the shepherds—“Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us” (2:15). 

                This Christmas will you join the shepherds and go straight to Jesus—no distractions and no delays?

Prayer:  Thank you for coming to simple people like me.  I join the shepherds in coming straight to You.  Amen

  “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased” (Lk. 2:14).

                We have already noticed that Luke records many of the wonderful songs of Christmas.  Perhaps none is more beloved than the song of the angels.  We will consider the audience for this heavenly choir in our devotional thought tomorrow.  For today let’s look at the content of the message declared by the angels. 

                The song has two major chords—glory and peace.  It is the work and ministry of the angelic hosts to glorify God continually.  Now they are allowed to praise Him in the presence of a group of angels selected by God to see this celestial glory and hear the great promise of peace on earth.  The coming of Christ is the high point of God’s self-revelation and thus it is the revelation of God’s glory.  It is unimaginable that God’s glory would manifest itself in human flesh, born in a stable.  But such is God.

                The birth of Christ also makes possible authentic peace.  Only Christ can give peace in the inner being.  Only Christ can reconcile sinful man to holy God.  Only Christ can enable a man to be at peace with himself and with others. 

                The final phrase of the song should be render—“among men who are the recipients of God’s pleasure.”  The good will or peace originates with God and is now available to man through Christ.  Remember, Jesus later indicated that His coming also brought a sword (Matt. 10:34).  How do we reconcile these two statements?  The advent of God’s only begotten Son mandates that man  is fully accountable to approach God through the means He provided—His Son who would declare that He is the way, the truth, and the life (Jn. 14:6).  Yes, peace is available but only for those who have made room for Him in the “inn” of their heart. 

Prayer:  Thank you for sending Your Son to reveal Your glory and provide the means to know Your peace.  Amen

“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” (Luke 2:7). 

                We have so romanticized the stable as the birthplace of Jesus that we have forgotten the unsanitary and unsavory conditions it would have presented to a young mother giving birth to her first child.  This was not a romantic place for anyone to spend the night much less give birth to the King of kings. 

                The census had caused a large number of people to travel to Bethlehem and thus the lack of space in the inn.  It would have been apparent to any observer that Mary’s condition was critical, no one was willing to give up their accommodation to Mary and Joseph.  The result was that the audience for the birth of the King was barnyard animals.  Justin Martyr (c. A.D. 150) states that the stable was in a cave. 

                Without any pomp or circumstance the greatest event of all of the history of mankind had taken place.  God in human flesh had entered into His creation to bring redemption to fallen Man.  The Son had left the glory of heaven and humbled Himself to be born as a human child in the lowliest circumstances imaginable. 

                When I read the simple phrase—“no room in the inn”—it occurs to me that what many of the inhabitants and visitors to Bethlehem had done in their ignorance is done today out of simple indifference.  They had no place for Christ in the inn and we make no place for Him in our life and in our plans.  Don’t neglect the Christ of Christmas.  

Prayer:  Father, I am sometimes guilty of crowding you out of my everyday affairs.  Forgive me.  Amen