Dedicated to the Lord

December 12

(Luke 2:22-24 NIV) ““When the time of their purification according to the Law of Moses had been completed, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord {23} (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, "Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord"), {24} and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: "a pair of doves or two young pigeons.””

(Exodus 13:2 NIV) “Consecrate to me every firstborn male. The first offspring of every womb among the Israelites belongs to me, whether man or animal.”

(Leviticus 12:1-6 NIV) ““The Lord said to Moses, {2} "Say to the Israelites: 'A woman who becomes pregnant and gives birth to a son will be ceremonially unclean for seven days, just as she is unclean during her monthly period. {3} On the eighth day the boy is to be circumcised. {4} Then the woman must wait thirty-three days to be purified from her bleeding. She must not touch anything sacred or go to the sanctuary until the days of her purification are over. {5} If she gives birth to a daughter, for two weeks the woman will be unclean, as during her period. Then she must wait sixty-six days to be purified from her bleeding. {6} "'When the days of her purification for a son or daughter are over, she is to bring to the priest at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting a year-old lamb for a burnt offering and a young pigeon or a dove for a sin offering.””

(Numbers 8:14-16 NIV) ““In this way you are to set the Levites apart from the other Israelites, and the Levites will be mine. {15} "After you have purified the Levites and presented them as a wave offering, they are to come to do their work at the Tent of Meeting. {16} They are the Israelites who are to be given wholly to me. I have taken them as my own in place of the firstborn, the first male offspring from every Israelite woman.””

After Christ’s birth, Joseph and Mary were obedient to the Law of Moses. Mary went through the forty day process of purification required by the Law. Then they took Jesus to the Temple for dedication. Firstborn sons were considered “first fruits” of the marriage, and like Samuel, were to be presented at the Temple as God’s property. After the Levites were instituted, firstborn could be redeemed by an offering brought by their parents. Joseph and Mary came to the Temple with an offering for her purification, and for Christ’s redemption. It’s ironic that God’s Son, sent to give His life to redeem mankind, would need to be redeemed and dedicated to the Lord. Today, let’s dedicate our children to the Lord who gave them to us. Let us pray that He will save them from sin and death, and redeem them for His holy purposes. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Jesus: The Lord is Salvation

December 11

(Luke 2:21 NIV) “On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise him, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he had been conceived.”

(Matthew 1:21 NIV) “She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

(Mark 1:15 NIV) ““The time has come," he said. "The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!””

(Acts 2:38 NIV) “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

When Jesus was eight days old, He was circumcised, in obedience to God’s command that was first given to Abraham, the father of faith. He was also named, and in obedience to the angel’s command, Joseph named Him Jesus. The name Jesus is a short form of the name, Joshua, a hero in the Jewish culture. The name Jesus has a meaning, as many Hebrew names do. It means, “the Lord is salvation”. The angel told Joseph that Jesus would “save His people from their sins”, and this is what He did. He preached repentance. He called people to believe the good news. He died on a cross for our sins. Jesus came to save sinners! The Lord is salvation. Have you acknowledged your sin and repented? Some call this outdated teaching, but how can something that is eternal be outdated? Call on His name. Jesus saves! -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day    

Pondering God’s Blessing

December 10

(Luke 2:19 NIV) “But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.”

(Psalm 111:1-3 NIV) “Praise the Lord. I will extol the Lord with all my heart in the council of the upright and in the assembly. {2} Great are the works of the Lord; they are pondered by all who delight in them. {3} Glorious and majestic are his deeds, and his righteousness endures forever.”

(Psalm 145:1-6 NIV) “I will exalt you, my God the King; I will praise your name forever and ever. {2} Every day I will praise you and extol your name forever and ever. {3} Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom. {4} One generation will commend your works to another; they will tell of your mighty acts. {5} They will speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty, and I will meditate on your wonderful works. {6} They will tell of the power of your awesome works, and I will proclaim your great deeds.”

The night of Christ’s birth was marvelous and divine, but Mary must have been physically and emotionally drained. The birth itself would have been sufficient, but then the shepherds came, loudly praising God and telling everyone that this new baby was Christ the Savior. It must have been overwhelming for Mary. Wisely, she took a spiritual time-out. She took time to ponder the event. There would be no photos or video to view in years to come -- only what she treasured up in her heart. This Christmas, put down the cameras and the cell phones and soak up what is happening. Take a time-out from the technology. Store up some memories in your heart. Soak for a while in the love of God and family. Remember those who have neither. Ponder what God has done, both for you and in you, and have a blessed Christmas. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day    

Spread the Word

December 9

(Luke 2:17-20 NIV) “When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, {18} and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. {19} But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. {20} The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.”

(Mark 5:18-20 NIV) ““As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him. {19} Jesus did not let him, but said, "Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you." {20} So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed.””

(Acts 1:8 NIV) “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

The shepherds were not only the first to see and believe that Christ had come -- they were also the first in a long line of historical witnesses who have felt compelled to share the good news of Jesus. Luke reports that they spread the word about the child and who they believed He was. They had believed the angels and had the faith to go to Bethlehem. They saw the baby in the manger and believed that He was the Christ, their Lord and Savior. But they didn’t simply believe it and then go back to their regular life. They told everyone who would listen. They gave glory to God in a public way. They praised God with their words and deeds. This Christmas, consider following in their footsteps. Don’t just put up the tree and the lights. Do more than simply set up the nativity scene -- live it! Spend some time glorifying and praising God. Share the good news! Share the joy! Spread the word! -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day