TODAY IN THE WORD

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 2 Kings 2:1-11
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TODAY IN THE WORD
C.S. Lewis, one of the most popular and influential Christian writers of this century, said: ""[I regard George MacDonald] as my master. Indeed I fancy I have never written a book in which I did not quote from him.""

In his lifetime, MacDonald wrote more than fifty books of fiction, poetry, sermons, essays and commentaries. Yet Lewis called his fiction ""undistinguished, at times fumbling."" Why would Lewis call such a man his ""master""? One reason: ""I know hardly any other writer who seems to be closer, or more continually close, to the Spirit of Christ Himself.""

The mentor-disciple relationship can be a powerful, life-shaping influence; Lewis acknowledged that. Similarly, Elisha and the ""school of the prophets"" acknowledged the prophet Elijah as their spiritual teacher and role model.

A quick check of a Bible concordance will show you the influence Elijah's name still carried in the days of Jesus, for it appears often in the Gospels. He had become the prototype of the biblical prophet, the epitome of the prophetic office.

Through his obedience and boldness, Elijah turned the hearts of the Israelites back to the Lord. This powerful spokesman for God emerged from his wilderness hideaway to confront Ahab and Jezebel and to win a great victory of faith on Mount Carmel (1 Kings 18).

That victory was followed by a period of discouragement and fear, much like that experienced by John the Baptist (compared to Elijah by Jesus Himself in Matthew 11:14). But the overall record of Elijah shows a fearless man of God who blazed across the pages of the Bible.

The last day of Elijah's life was a fitting one for this towering figure. God had revealed His intention to take Elijah home that day. The ""company of the prophets"" (2 Kings 2:3), who were apprentice prophets or ""prophets-in-training,"" knew of his departure.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Elijah's story reminds us that a spiritual or an emotional high can be followed by a letdown.

This Christmas for you may be less dramatic than Elijah's victory on Mount Carmel, but the same principle applies. For many people, the celebration of Christmas is followed by a letdown. But that doesn't change the wonderful reality of Jesus' coming to be our Savior.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Judges 4:1-16
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TODAY IN THE WORD
What sort of bravery makes a person a hero or a heroine? The Carnegie Hero Fund Commission in Pittsburgh has the charge of making that decision and presenting awards for extraordinary courage. The prizes include a medal, a $2귔 grant, and in some cases, a scholarship or a pension. The Commission reviews 800 to 1ꯠ heroic acts each year to select individuals it wants to honor.

There weren't many heroic figures in Israel in the days of the judges. This dark period bears the infamous motto: ""Everyone did as he saw fit"" (Judges 21:25).

But at least it's easy to see a shining light when it's dark. That's the case with the prophetess and judge Deborah, whom God used to liberate His people from the oppression of Jabin, a Canaanite king (v. 2). She was a wise and capable woman who shines even brighter when compared with judges such as Samson, whom we will study tomorrow.

Deborah initiated the plan to defeat Jabin's army, led by his commander, Sisera. In addition, she had to ""hold the hand,"" as it were, of Barak, the man she designated to lead the Israelite army into battle. Verses 6, 9 and 14 show that Deborah had no doubt that the Lord would give His people victory, but Barak himself was reluctant. The exchange between Deborah and Barak in verses 8-9 sounds like a conversation between two siblings in which the younger says something like, ""I'm not going into that dark room unless you go with me.""

Deborah appears to have all the courage and godly confidence in the world, and Barak apparently senses that. Whatever emotions he was feeling, they did not include an excess of either courage or confidence!
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Maybe you know a Barak, a person who needs someone to go with him or her for support or encouragement before trying anything new or taking a step of faith.

Such people can try our patience, especially if we see what needs to be done and can't understand why the other person would hesitate or draw back.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Judges 16:1-31
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TODAY IN THE WORD
In his book, From the Shadows, former CIA director Robert Gates relates a near-catastrophe that took place during the Presidency of Jimmy Carter.

Carter's national security advisor, Zbigniew Brzezinski, was once awakened and informed that the Soviet Union had launched an all-out nuclear attack. One minute before he was to have called the President, word arrived that the first information had been in error. Someone had accidentally inserted military exercise tapes into the missile-defense computer system.

Thankfully, Brzezinski's wake-up call was a false alarm. He remained calm and in control in a situation in which he might have fallen prey to fear or panic. He knew that if we fail to control our passions, our passions control us.

That's what happened to Samson. Unable to control himself, in the end he fell victim to an ""enemy attack.""

After toying with the Philistine temptress Delilah, Samson finally succumbed to her charms and revealed the secret of his great strength (v. 17). His enemies pounced on him as he slept and made him their slave (vv. 20-21).

The entire saga of Samson seems bigger than life, the kind of story people make movies about. John Milton, one of the greatest of English authors, wrote a dramatic poem about him: ""Samson Agonistes."" Although Samson's story is a powerful one, his spiritual character left much to be desired.

It's not hard to find the root of Samson's downfall. Delilah was not his first illicit love. Samson the strongman was as weak as a kitten when it came to women, and he paid dearly for his lack of self-control.

Samson's ending was as tragic as his life. His final exploit of strength in destroying the Philistines may have signaled some sort of spiritual renewal in his life. After all, his strength symbolized God's presence in his life (note v. 20b). But he still paid with his life.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Samson had allowed himself to be influenced by the world for so long that he couldn't tell when he had gone too far.

Are you and your family being influenced by the world? That can happen in many hidden or indirect ways. Our homes are under bombardment by the world, and there are plenty of ways for the enemy to make sure his message is seen and heard.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: John 21:1-19
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TODAY IN THE WORD
In 1986, as a drought dropped the Sea of Galilee to record-low levels, two Israeli men spied a plank from an old boat. Archaeologists soon unearthed a fishing boat dating from the time of Jesus. The 2ꯠ-year-old vessel was immediately immersed in a preservative fluid to keep its timbers from disintegrating. Last summer the boat was removed from the preservative and is now on display at the Yigal Allon Centre near the Israeli town of Migdal.

In a fishing boat such as this, Peter and six other apostles (vv. 2-3) were fishing on the morning described in today's text. Peter, the disgraced disciple, was going back to the occupation he knew best. But Jesus, who had something infinitely better in mind for His strong-willed follower, chose this morning to restore Peter.

Jesus' invitation to Peter and his friends, ""Come and have breakfast"" (v. 12), signified the restoration to fellowship. Why? Meal fellowship was very important and personal in the culture of the day. The meal also established in these apostles' minds the reality of Jesus' bodily resurrection--a fact Peter would witness to on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:24) and beyond.

The exchange between Jesus and Peter is familiar to many Bible students. Peter needed to declare his love for Jesus three times to balance his three denials during the Crucifixion.

Jesus' initial question set the tone for Peter's future: ""Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?"" (John 21:15). The Lord was probably referring to the other disciples, in light of Peter's proud boast that he would not fail Jesus even if all the others did (Matt. 26:33, 35).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
This great apostle is an encouraging reminder of the truth that with God, it's never too late for a new beginning.

We're talking about finishing well, but new beginnings are also on our minds as we wrap up another year. Since we all fail from time to time, we all need a new start occasionally. Is there an area of your life that was a struggle for you this past year? How about a new step of spiritual growth you'd like to take in 1997?

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Matthew 26:47-50; 27:1-5; Acts 1:15-20
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TODAY IN THE WORD
In December, 1995, the Reader's Digest reported the results of an ""honesty experiment"" conducted by its editors. Wallets containing a name, local address and phone number, family pictures and other common items, as well as $50 in cash were dropped at various locations all across America. Ten wallets were ""lost"" in each location, including large and medium-sized cities, suburbs and small towns. Would the finders make an effort to locate the owners and return the wallets intact? Overall, two of every three wallets were returned.

It would be pleasant to go through our study this month without considering the man Judas, whom John says flatly was a thief; he actually took money from the disciples' money bag (John 12:6). No wallet would have been safe in Judas' hands. Indeed, the very mention of his name seems out of place in this season of bright lights and festivities. Judas would be an unwelcome guest at any Christmas party.

But our commitment to teach ""all the counsel of God"" (Acts 20:27, KJV) means we must deal with everything recorded in Scripture, including ugliness and wickedness. Judas certainly fits into those categories. Jesus Himself called Judas ""a devil"" and ""the one doomed to destruction"" (John 6:70; 17:12).

But there was no mistake made in the selection of Judas to be one of the Twelve. Jesus' reference to the fulfillment of Scripture (John 17:12) and Peter's word in the upper room (Acts 1:20) point to something greater in Judas' case than his own evil.

In the unfolding of God's sovereign will, Judas' terrible end was the fulfillment of biblical prophecy. There is much we don't understand here, but let's not miss what we do know: Judas was a greedy person who allowed his love of silver to blind and corrupt him.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Who really wants to be compared to Judas? Nonethe-less, we can learn from his life. Perhaps the most important lesson is one that emerges from the interplay of divine sovereignty and human responsibility in Judas' life. The outworking of God's plan did not relieve Judas of responsibility for his actions. His decisions had consequences.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Deuteronomy 34:1-12; Hebrews 11:23-29
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TODAY IN THE WORD
Since World War II the remote Russian island of Sakhalin has been ""home"" to tens of thousands of Koreans. Now the surviving members of this sad story want to go home.

During the war, when both Korea and Sakhalin were in Japanese hands, the Japanese brought some 60ꯠ Koreans to the island to work in its factories and coal mines. The Koreans were left behind after the war, and Russia prohibited them from leaving until 1988. But permission to go home means little to the elderly Koreans. Because they spent their youth in slave labor, they have no money for the trip home.

Moses would certainly identify with these people taken from their homeland and forced to perform slave labor for a despised enemy. Although he spent his early years in Egypt as the adopted son of Pharaoh's daughter, Moses eventually identified with his own people and their sufferings and made his choice accordingly (Heb. 11:25-26).

To say that Moses finished well is like saying the Pacific Ocean holds a lot of water. We could spend the entire month reviewing Moses' life and accomplishments as the great miracle-worker, liberator, lawgiver, patriarch and prophet of Israel.

Besides Moses' measurable achievements, we are reminded that the Lord knew Moses and spoke to him ""face to face"" (Deut. 34:10). No wonder God took personal charge of Moses' funeral arrangements and felt no obligation to reveal where He had buried His faithful servant.

But even in Moses' case, Scripture does not ignore the other side of the story. Deuteronomy 34:4 reminds us that Moses was prohibited from entering the Promised Land because of his disobedience at Meribah (Num. 20:1-13). He died gazing into Canaan, with God's promise in his ears.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Maybe you feel a little like Moses today, standing on the pinnacle of 1996 and looking over into the new year, wondering what lies ahead.

Since none of us can see into the future, we need to cling to Him whom we cannot see, our never-failing God whose love and abiding care is more real than anything we can see, taste or touch.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Samuel 25:1-42
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TODAY IN THE WORD
According to reporter Stefan Fatsis of the Wall Street Journal, our nation is experiencing an increase in the kind of ""neighborly"" complaints that can ruin relationships and create community friction. ""Good fences may make good neighbors,"" Fatsis writes, alluding to a poem by Robert Frost, ""but there's nothing like a lawsuit to iron out a dispute with the folks next door."" One example: TV hostess Martha Stewart, sued by her neighbor in New York state court in a battle over a disputed piece of boundary property.

Abigail, as related in the Scriptures, had no legal recourse available to her in the dispute in which she found herself embroiled. Even if she had, she would have lost the case. Her household, specifically her husband, Nabal, was in the wrong. If harmony were to be restored, she would have to be the peacemaker.

This unusual story isn't difficult to understand. It happened during the long period when David was running and hiding from Saul. He had hundreds of men with him, which made him a military force. David was responsible to lead and care for his soldiers. So in return for his earlier protection of Nabal's shepherds, he sent this wealthy businessman a friendly ""invoice"" at shearing time, when Nabal would be collecting money for his sheep (vv. 4-9).

Nabal threw David's kindness back in his face. This was both an insult and a serious crisis to David. He wasn't asking for sheep ""babysitting money"" or a little extra cash. David needed those provisions for himself and his men. In effect, Nabal was telling David, ""I don't care if you starve."" David took offense at this snub and in response assembled his own armed ""collection agency"" (v. 13).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Clearly, Abigail had the admirable quality of being able to discern a tense situation and then respond quickly with grace and wisdom to defuse it.

Maybe you already see the connection to this holiday season. For most of us, Christmas means plenty of family, friends and get-togethers, which means plenty of opportunities for misunderstandings and ruffled feelings.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Luke 8:1-3; John 20:1-18
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TODAY IN THE WORD
The image of America's favorite kitchen companion has changed again. This year, the eighth version of ""Betty Crocker"" was unveiled. Many people may not realize that seven versions of drawings of this famous cook preceded the current one, but this is true.

The first Betty appeared in 1936 and lasted until 1955. Not surprisingly, each drawing of this familiar face has reflected the style of the times--from the warmth and openness of the 1955 Betty to the definitely 1990s look of the current kitchen queen.

""Betty"" is the creation of a marketing department, and making a new Betty is quite easy. When God makes new creations out of real human beings, however, His work of grace is a miracle! Consider, from the Galilean town of Magdala, the Mary whom we know as Mary Magdalene.

Mary's past (Luke 8:2) is tragic and dramatic enough, without also identifying her with the prostitute of Luke 7:36-50.

Although some do, the Bible gives no indication that Mary and this woman are the same person. (Nonetheless, Mary is often portrayed in biblical media productions as a prostitute.)

There's no doubt, in any case, that Mary had been a deeply troubled woman. Since the Bible does not go into detail about Mary's life before she met Christ, we can only imagine the havoc seven demons had wrought in her life. Her story as we encounter it in the Gospels reveals her to be a redeemed, devoted follower of Jesus.

Luke 8 gives the only time Mary appears outside of the Crucifixion and the Resurrection narratives. She was one of a company of women who had been ministered to by Jesus and who regularly supported Him.

Jesus' affection for Mary is evident in the tender way He treated her at the tomb (John 20:14-18). Mary was the recipient of double honor at the Resurrection. She was the first person to see Jesus alive and the first one to whom He entrusted the glad news.

Mary was also in the upper room with the other disciples waiting for the outpouring of Pentecost. ""The women"" (Acts 1:14) is Scripture's term for the group of Luke 8 (see also Luke 23:49, 55).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
The material support that Mary Magdalene gave to Jesus was simply the overflow of a grateful heart.

That should be the motive behind our giving as well. Biblical giving was never meant to be a mathematical equation, a duty grudgingly performed. On the contrary, we're to be ""hilarious givers"" (paraphrasing 2 Cor. 9:7).

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: John 21:20-24; Revelation 1:9-11
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TODAY IN THE WORD
In 1928, a Harvard dropout named Norman Vaughan volunteered to handle the dog sleds on Admiral Richard Byrd's Arctic expedition, which became the first to journey over the South Pole. Byrd greatly admired Vaughan and his two fellow sled drivers, and he named mountain peaks near the Ross Ice Shelf after each man.

Recently Vaughan returned to the 10괎-foot Antarctic mountain peak named after him and climbed it. What made his achievement so impressive was that he completed the ascent three days before his eighty-ninth birthday!

We have to admire people who look for a mountain to climb in their old age. Caleb was one such person (see December 2). Although he did not choose the location or the assignment, the apostle John accomplished his greatest work for Christ in his old age.

We know that John was an elderly exile when he received and recorded ""the revelation of Jesus Christ"" (Rev. 1:1) while he was living on a lonely rock pile of an island called Patmos. He himself had recorded the rumor started about his longevity, based on Peter's question to Christ (John 21:21-23).

Church tradition relates that John was taken to Rome during the persecution under the Roman emperor Domitian and lowered into a pot of boiling oil. According to the story, however, the oil failed to harm him.

Another tradition has the aged apostle, too weak to walk, being carried into the assembly at Ephesus. There he would exhort the believers in a feeble voice, ""Little children, love one another."" That fits what we know of John as the ""apostle of love,"" especially in his later years. He was more ardent in his youth, but his love for Jesus never waned.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Regardless of which birthday you will celebrate in 1997, God can make it special if you are walking with Him.

With that in mind, take time today to pray for your 1997 birthday. Ask God to help you reach it--whether it's January 1 or December 31--with your trust in Him and love for Him intact, ready for any challenge He has for you.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Genesis 22:1-14; 35:27-29; Hebrews 11:1
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TODAY IN THE WORD
Believe it or not, engineers are spending hundreds of hours attempting to improve the design of a humble tool that has been around for ages--the hammer. These revisionists have tweaked the handle and experimented with shock-damping systems.

Why all the fuss? The boom in home renovation has tool manufacturers tinkering with this tried-and-true product, and marketers report that some of the new designs are catching on with consumers.

Leave it to the folks in marketing to fix what isn't broken! The hammer is unspectacular, to be sure. But it gets the job done, even while surrounded by fancier, costlier and more potent tools such as power saws.

If the patriarchs of Israel were likened to tools, Isaac would probably be the hammer. Sandwiched between a dad who was the ""father of the faithful, the friend of God,"" and a son who bore the namesakes of the twelve tribes of Israel, Isaac tends to disappear in our memories. Ask the average believer to name three events from Isaac's life, and the result may be prolonged silence.

Despite this fact, Isaac is important because he was important to God. In today's verses as well as in many other places in Scripture, God identified Himself with Abraham's son of promise.

Isaac got off to an excellent start. As in the case of Samson, John the Baptist and Jesus Himself, Isaac's birth was announced ahead of time by heaven (Gen. 17:19-22; 18:10). In Isaac's case, God even came in bodily form to make the announcement Himself!

Isaac is also justly famous for being the willing sacrifice in God's monumental test of Abraham's faith. If Isaac was as old as some Bible teachers believe, he likely could have overpowered his aged father when Abraham began tying him up.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Most of us would find it easier to identify with Isaac than with Abraham or Jacob.

There's nothing wrong with being an everyday sort of ""Isaac."" God calls very few of His people to bring nations to birth! Besides, as we were reminded earlier this month, the size or scope of our calling is God's business. Obedience to Him is our proper response.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Kings 2:1-12
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TODAY IN THE WORD
Toward the end of 1950, some 18ꯠ Allied soldiers and Marines endured a week of sub-zero cold on the windblown mountains above North Korea's Chosin Reservoir. Now, more than four decades later, many of those Korean War veterans are experiencing painful delayed effects from frostbite and other injuries. The symptoms include infections, extreme sensitivity to cold, skin cancer and joint deterioration. In some cases, amputation has been necessary.

The hidden, long-term effects of these veterans' injuries are an accurate picture of the way David's life unfolded after his adultery with Bathsheba and the murder of Uriah (2 Sam. 11).

At the height of his power, with his kingdom solidified, David sinned and brought God's judgment on his house. God said to David through the prophet Nathan, ""The sword will never depart from your house"" (2 Sam. 12:10).

David's sin was secret and undetected. Much like the delayed effects of exposure to sub-zero weather, the effects of sin may take years to appear. Because of the secrecy of David's sin, God said that David's judgment would be carried out in front of the entire nation.

God was true to His word. First, David and Bathsheba's baby died (2 Sam. 12:18). Then David's son Amnon raped his half-sister Tamar and was murdered at the command of Absalom, another of David's sons (13:1-29). David then suffered the heartbreak of Absalom's rebellion and the humiliation of being forced to flee from him. Finally, David's troops killed Absalom (18:14-15). But a fourth son of David was yet to die: Adonijah, killed at Solomon's command (1 Kings 2:23-25).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Sin has ongoing consequences, which can be devastating. But there's a difference between the consequences of sin and the ongoing guilt of sin. Even David's sin was forgiven (2 Sam. 12:13). Although our enemy loves to saddle us with a burden of guilt, God removes our sins ""as far as the east is from the west"" (Psalm 103:12).

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Luke 1:26-38, 46-56
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TODAY IN THE WORD
Elizabeth Prentiss was the faithful wife of a Presbyterian minister in 19th-century Maine. Despite the fact that she lived in almost constant pain, Elizabeth was a woman of strong spirit, a cheerful, loving wife and mother. Even the death of two children in a short time did not crush her beyond hope. Out of her pain and grief, she turned to God's Word for comfort. After God met His servant in her time of need, Elizabeth responded by writing the great hymn of devotion, ""More Love to Thee, O Christ.""

The hardships she endured cause us to admire the love and devotion of Elizabeth Prentiss, a Mary-like example of humility and godliness. That's saying a great deal, because the mother of our Lord remains a standard by which humility and obedience to God can be measured.

Centuries of tradition have obscured Mary in many ways, but her character shines brightly from the pages of Scripture. She may have been from humble circumstances in a little-known village, but God knew exactly whom He wanted for the honor of bearing His one and only Son.

We can imagine how startled Mary must have been when the angel Gabriel appeared to her. Understandably, she was greatly troubled by the angel's greeting (v. 29). Nonetheless, her deep faith quickly became evident.

Gabriel's announcement that God was ready to send the long-promised Messiah to His people did not cause Mary any hesitation. Her only question was related to herself.

Mary's declaration of her virginity was answered by the wonder of the Incarnation. Jesus would be born of a virgin through the miraculous power of the Holy Spirit. To this Mary responded with complete obedience and humility (v. 38).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
When God interrupted Mary's daily routine in a miraculous way to reveal His will to her, she was ready to listen and obey.

If God wanted to interrupt your daily routine for a special reason, would He have trouble getting your attention? Perhaps He wants to speak to you or to another family member this Christmas season.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Luke 1:5-25, 39-45, 57-66
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TODAY IN THE WORD
A survey of 158 distinguished missionary doctors revealed a number of influences that led them to commit their lives to God's service. Items on the list included contact with missionaries, the influence of pastors and college professors, books on missions, and a sense of calling to help others. But the single greatest influence in these dedicated doctors' lives was that of their parents.

The impact of godly parents on their children is incalculable. John the Baptist had such parents in Zechariah and Elizabeth. While most of Israel slept through the birth of Jesus because they were not looking for Messiah to come, John's parents were two of the exceptions.

Luke tells us that this elderly couple were upright people who obeyed God's commandments blamelessly (v. 6). The story of Zechariah and Elizabeth reveals them to be well-versed in the Old Testament prophecies concerning the Messiah and preoccupied with God's kingdom. In other words, they were in a position to be mightily used by God. The fact that they had been physically unable to bear a child was no barrier to Him.

When the angel appeared to him in the temple, Zechariah was even more startled than Mary (v. 12). He and his wife were actually going to participate in God's great plan for the salvation of His people! Even Zechariah's doubt did not disqualify him for this honor.

Notice the commentary on the story of Zechariah and Elizabeth found in the verses we read yesterday. During Gabriel's announcement to Mary, he told her that Elizabeth was going to have a child in her old age (v. 36).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
God is still looking for people who are in right standing with Him and preoccupied with His kingdom and glory (Matt. 6:33).

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Matthew 1:18-25
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TODAY IN THE WORD
Of the many artists who have depicted the birth of Jesus over the centuries, among the best is the great Dutch artist Rembrandt. His Nativity scene focuses entirely on the Child in the manger. Rembrandt achieved this focus by painting a shaft of light so that it falls on the infant Jesus in the picture. The artist included other figures, but he put them in the shadows so that Jesus alone would be the center of the attention and adoration of the viewers.

This was God the Father's desire as well. The people who surrounded Jesus at His birth were gazing into the face of an infant who was ""God with us.""

In a humble setting, Mary gave birth to God in the flesh, part of the ""mystery of godliness"" (1 Tim. 3:16) that sets our faith apart. Although Immanuel was not Jesus' name, it was His rightful title.

Matthew is the only Gospel writer who gives us much detail about Joseph and his crucial role in the story of Christmas. Mary's godly character is clearly mirrored in her husband, whom Matthew calls a ""righteous man"" (Matt. 1:19). His chief concern, like that of Mary, was the honor and glory of God.

Because of this, God led Joseph every step of the way through the incredible events he was about to experience. Not only did Joseph receive a heavenly visit before Jesus was born (v. 20), but he was also guided by heavenly messengers three times after the birth (2:13, 19, 22).

We might overlook Joseph, since he basically dropped out of the biblical narrative after the events of Christmas and the flight to Egypt. But we know that Joseph was a ""son of David"" (1:20), a member of the Messiah's royal line. His immediate obedience to the angel's command was key to the unfolding of the Christmas story.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
As you and your family prepare to celebrate the birth of ""God with us,"" choose activities to help make your Christmas Eve memorable.

First, plan to attend any special services your church may hold. Second, fill your house with God-honoring Christmas music today. Third, don't let the day end without reading the Christmas story as a couple or a family and thanking God for His ""indescribable gift.""

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Luke 2:1-20
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TODAY IN THE WORD
Danish author Hans Christian Andersen begins his famous Christmas story, ""The Little Match Girl,"" with these words: ""How cold it was! It had been snowing all day--and was still snowing as a little girl made her way along the dark narrow street. Already her hands and her bare feet were blue with cold.""

Andersen tells the story of a girl who tried to sell boxes of matches on a freezing Christmas Eve. In the dark night, surrounded by white snow, she struck her matches one by one. Each match gave her a brief vision of things that make life wonderful. But as each match died, so did the vision.

How grateful we can be that the wonderful ""vision"" of Christmas never dies! God's Word is as fresh and exciting this Christmas Day as it has been for generations of His people. Because of Jesus, the wonder of Christmas will never fade.

Consider the scenes in Luke 2 that are so familiar and so blessed to us. We see Mary and Joseph beside a humble manger, watching their newborn son. Poverty and the many visitors to Bethlehem forced them to take a night's lodging in a stable. Nonetheless, the light of God illuminated the dark stall.

Then the scene shifts to an open field outside Bethlehem, where an angelic choir startled a group of shepherds with the news that Israel had been waiting hundreds of years to hear: the long-awaited Savior had come!

Once the shepherds recovered from their fear, that good news sent them to Bethlehem in joyful anticipation. This is the third scene in today's text. The shepherds bowed before the newborn King, then went out to tell abroad what they had seen and heard.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Christmas is a day for giving and receiving gifts and for saying ""thank you"" to loved ones. God showed His love to us in the great gift of His Son, and for that we could spend the entire Christmas season expressing our praise.