Isaiah 9.2-7

² The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness,
on them has light shined.
³ You have multiplied the nation;
you have increased its joy;
they rejoice before you
as with joy at the harvest,
as they are glad when they divide the spoil.
⁴ For the yoke of his burden,
and the staff for his shoulder,
the rod of his oppressor,
you have broken as on the day of Midian.
⁵ For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult
and every garment rolled in blood
will be burned as fuel for the fire.
⁶ For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
⁷Of the increase of his government and of peace
there will be no end,
on the throne of David and over his kingdom,
to establish it and to uphold it
with justice and with righteousness
from this time forth and forevermore.
The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.

Luke 1.26-38

26In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. 28And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” 29But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. 30And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 32He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, 33and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”

34And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”

35And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy— the Son of God. 36And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. 37For nothing will be impossible with God.” 38And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

Luke 2.1-16

1In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3And all went to be registered, each to his own town. 4And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. 6And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

8And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. 10And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 13And suddenly there was 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 those with whom he is pleased!”

15When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger.

John 1.1-14

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

6There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.

9 The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. 10He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

14And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Were the whole realm of nature mine,

That were and offering far to small;

Love so amazing, so divine,

Demands my soul, my life,

My all.

Yesterday we completed a several month look at the Heidelberg Catechism. Today, the last posting of a devotional until they resume in the New Year, is a video excerpt from Simon Guillebaud’s new video series, “More Than Conquerors.” In his Simonesque way he challenges us – not simply for the sake of challenge and provocation – but challenges us with the Gospel, and the call to live a fully Gospel orientated life. I can’t wait ’till he, Lizzie and the kids are with us at St. Andrew’s (please pray for the immigration process).

See what you think:

Question 129. What does the word “Amen” signify?

Answer: “Amen” signifies, it shall truly and certainly be: for my prayer is more assuredly heard of God, than I feel in my heart that I desire these things of him (a).

(a) 2 Corinthians 1:20: For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory.
2 Timothy 2:13: if we are faithless, he remains faithful— for he cannot deny himself.

For your personal reflection:
“Amen” expresses the willing agreement of your mind and heart with the revealed mind and heart of your heavenly Father.  The better we know the character of God and the story of God’s saving interaction with His people the more confidently we add our “Amen”to this prayer.  Lastly, please note, as mentioned previously, that Jesus intended this to be pattern for your prayer (Matthew 6.9 – “in this manner, therefore, pray).  The temptation is to take the pattern and make it the prayer.  His goal was to teach us to pray – not simply give us proscribed prayers.
What do we need to do so that we may properly say, “Amen?”
What is the negative consequence of turning a pattern of prayer into the actual prayer?
What is at the heart of all prayer?

End of the Heidelberg Catechism

Question 128. How do you conclude your prayer?

Answer: “For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever”; that is, all these we ask of thee, because thou, being our King and almighty, art willing and able to give us all good (a); and all this we pray for, that thereby not we, but thy holy name, may be glorified for ever (b).

continue reading "Devotional #128"

Question 127. Which is the sixth petition?

Answer: “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil”; that is, since we are so weak in ourselves, that we cannot stand a moment (a); and besides this, since our mortal enemies, the devil (b), the world (c), and our own flesh (d), cease not to assault us, do thou therefore preserve and strengthen us by the power of thy Holy Spirit, that we may not be overcome in this spiritual warfare (e), but constantly and strenuously may resist our foes, till at last we obtain a complete victory (f).

continue reading "Devotional #127"

Question 126. Which is the fifth petition?

Answer: “And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors”; that is, be pleased for the sake of Christ’s blood, not to impute to us poor sinners, our transgressions, nor that depravity, which always cleaves to us (a); even as we feel this evidence of thy grace in us, that it is our firm resolution from the heart to forgive our neighbour (b).

continue reading "Devotional #126"

Question 125. Which is the fourth petition?

Answer: “Give us this day our daily bread”; that is, be pleased to provide us with all things necessary for the body (a), that we may thereby acknowledge thee to be the only fountain of all good (b), and that neither our care nor industry, nor even thy gifts, can profit us without thy blessing (c); and therefore that we may withdraw our trust from all creatures, and place it alone in thee (d).

continue reading "Devotional #125"

Question 124. Which is the third petition?

Answer: “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven”; that is, grant that we and all men may renounce our own will (a), and without murmuring obey thy will, which is only good (b); that every one may attend to, and perform the duties of his station and calling (c), as willingly and faithfully as the angels do in heaven (d).

continue reading "Devotional #124"