Introduction:
Dear brothers and sisters, as we step into December we are in the month of Jesus’ birthday – Christmas! What do you notice around yourself in this special season? Sales and shopping? Vacation and trips? Is your schedule packed with parties and celebrations? Quality time with family?
All these are great, but unfortunately they have nothing to do with the true meaning of CHRIST-mas. Jesus is the reason for the season!
Traditionally, churches observe the period that starts 4 Sundays before the Christmas day as “Advent season” with various religious ceremonies. Ceremonies aside, the true meaning of Advent is we prepare our hearts, quiet ourselves before God in this special season, and focus on 1. the darkness of the world, 2. the true light of Jesus, and 3. The glory of Jesus when He returns again.
This year, at PGC we will put the regular 260 Devotion on hold, and take the rest of December to approach, meditate and walk through some scriptures together leading to Christmas day!
Did you know that Jesus was there in the very beginning of this world? Did you know that Jesus has made his marks throughout the Old Testament? Did you know that God has given us many pictures of Jesus way before he was born? Do you want to meet Jesus again in His words for the first time this Christmas in 12 different devotions?
Are you ready? Let’s start today!
Background:
Israel needs a new king, and God has asked Samuel the prophet to appoint the new king for Him. Guess where God led Samuel to to find the new king – Bethlehem! This is what happens in Bethlehem when Samuel finally arrived …
Verses: 1 Samuel 16:5-7, 11-12
5Samuel answered, “Yes, I come in peace. I have come to make a sacrifice to the Lord. Set yourselves apart to the Lord and come to the sacrifice with me.” Then he set Jesse and his sons apart to the Lord, and he invited them to come to the sacrifice.
6 When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab, and he thought, “Surely the Lord has appointed this person standing here before him.” 7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Don’t look at how handsome Eliab is or how tall he is, because I have not chosen him. God does not see the same way people see. People look at the outside of a person, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
11 Then he asked Jesse, “Are these all the sons you have?” Jesse answered, “I still have the youngest son. He is out taking care of the sheep.” Samuel said, “Send for him. We will not sit down to eat until he arrives.”
12 So Jesse sent and had his youngest son brought in. He was a fine boy, tanned, and handsome. The Lord said to Samuel, “Go, appoint him, because he is the one.” 13 So Samuel took the container of olive oil and poured it on Jesse’s youngest son to appoint him in front of his brothers. From that day on, the Lord’s Spirit worked in David. Samuel then went back to Ramah.
- This is how the Lord selected the great King David! David goes down as one of the greatest kings in Jewish history, and guess where he was from? A little town in Bethlehem. It sure is not a coincidence. God was trying to fore-shadow where the King of all kings – Jesus Christ, would eventually be born.
- When he was appointed, David did not stand out in any way, he was just a lowly shepherd boy, and even his father didn’t think much of him. However in the eyes of God, David was precious and deeply loved. The same goes to every one of us. How do we feel about ourselves? We may not stand out among our peers, in our class, among our friends, at our company … but to God every one of us is his precious son / daughter. And for that very reason He gives us Jesus Christ in this season so that we can be re-united with him as an eternal family in heaven!
- Eliab was tall and handsome and he was the eldest son, but God says “God does not see the same way people see. People look at the outside of a person, but the Lord looks at the heart.” In an artificial world where appearance is everything, God looks at our heart! Thank you God, for knowing me for who I am, and looking at my heart!
- God looks at our heart and he wants us to look at the inner beauty of other people too! How do we perceive people around us? Do we also look at their hearts? Or do we ‘judge the book by its cover’ and perceive people by exterior factors like physical appearance, wealth, cars they drive, clothes they wear, etc.? Let’s be more like God and start to see people for who they are inside, not outside!