“While they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth.  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 2:6-7).

The manger is a familiar thing for we who grew up celebrating Christmas.  In some ways it has lost the original message of deprivation and humbleness.  No room in any inn, so they were relegated to a cave where the animals were kept.  Jesus was laid in a feeding trough.  Jesus was born in as humble circumstances as any who have been born.  The King of all is in obscurity, born in poverty.

Lord, You did not come announcing Your presence with pomp but came in ordinary circumstances.  There was nothing of this birth which would draw any attention.  You came to lead the way for ordinary people, calling each of us to follow You into the way of everlasting life.  Lord, help me to receive Your humble message and follow You all the days of my life.  Let me see what You are showing me.

Lord Jesus, there is nothing about the time or place which would entice me to believe.  Yet, from these intentional beginnings, You call me to faith.  You call for me to understand that from ordinary circumstances You will transform all who come to You in faith to be extraordinary.  Guide me, Lord, so that I may become what You will make of me.  Lead me through the ordinary things in life to seek the extraordinary that You grant through grace.  Amen.

“And everyone was on his way to register for the census, each to his own city.  Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, in order to register along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child” (Luke 2:3-5).

A distance of ninety miles, but in those days, it was a great distance to travel on foot through sometimes dangerous territory.  A dutiful man takes his fiancée with him to his ancestral home.  Time, place, and specific details are given so that we may know that this is a real event.  Theophilus, to whom this was written initially, was a thinking and rational man.  The Lord also wants us to think and rationalize.

Lord, in a world that thinks that reasoning through the scientific method is the only valid way of thinking, help me to understand the truth You have revealed for the ages.  You have picked the time and place, and You are the One who guides history through its course.  Help me to look to You, the source of all things, and the God who has given me a mind to think, in order that I may think, reason, and understand all that You are revealing.

Lord Jesus, You have come to lead the way into a new creation of those who will become like You.  The world continues its rebellion, but You have come so that I may be conformed to Your image.  I am made in Your image, and I need to be conformed to Your image.  Help me on each step of the way so that I may become what the Father is making of me.  Help me to always follow Your lead. Amen.

“Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth.  This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria” (Luke 2:1-2).

The Lord gives us specificity.  Time and place are given so that we can know this is no fable, but something that has happened in history.  The world wants to deny what God has done, but we have a Lord who is very intentional about all things.  He is also very intentional about you.  He placed you where you are in time and place.  Our Lord has plans for each one of us.

Lord, I sometimes think that everything is random.  Here you show me how specific You are in choosing the time and place for the birth of Jesus.  Help me to understand that You are very intentional with the things You say and do.  Help me to realize that when You say You have a plan, that it is not some generic thing, but a specific plan for my life and for who I will be in the life to come.

Lord Jesus, Scripture gives a report of Your birth such that no matter how they may try, the skeptics cannot disprove the history.  You have prepared the way through this skeptical world.  Help me to follow You so that I may know that Your plans are eternal and good.  Lord, You have given me the words of eternal life.  Help me to hear Your words and learn as they transform me.  Amen.

“To shine upon those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”  And the child continued to grow and to become strong in spirit, and he lived in the deserts until the day of his public appearance to Israel” (Luke 1:79-80).

We have seen the light which shines in the darkness.  That this world is dark is evident.  The news, the stories, and the talk among many is about the wickedness that continues in this world.  The Lord has come that we may live in the light of His presence even though we are still in a land filled with darkness.  The world continues, but the day will come when the wickedness of this world shall be over and done.

Almighty God, throughout the ages, nations have come and gone.  They rise and fall within the darkness of this age.  You broke through the darkness with the Incarnation, the beacon of light which shines in the darkness.  That light beckons all who see to come and follow the hope You give through the wilderness of this dark age.  Though sin continues in this world, it need not reign over us.

Lord Jesus, Light of the world, You have come that all who follow You might have life and have it abundantly.  Guide my footsteps as a travel through this life to humbly be under Your governance.  Lead me according to the Father’s will.  Let me not ask so many questions but listen more to the answers You have already given.  Take me deep into Your word that I may gain wisdom and understanding.  Amen.

“To give to His people the knowledge of salvation by the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, with which the Sunrise from on high will visit us” (Luke 1:77-78)

As God set the sun to awaken the life in this physical world, so also, He has sent the Son to awaken us to the fulness of the revelation of God’s creation.  To move from the reality of the simply physical to the realm of the reality of eternity, God has given us the knowledge of the forgiveness of our sins in the tender mercies which He grants by grace through faith.  He speaks to us through His Son.

Lord, may the Son shine on me.  Grant me insight so that I may see how You have knit all things together in order that I may follow You from where I am to where You are taking me.  You have granted hope upon hope through Your tender mercy.  Help me to live in that hope knowing that in You I am able to live, breathe, and have my being.  Guide me now and always in the way of salvation.

Lord Jesus, God made flesh, who has come to lead the way, lead me in all of my endeavors while upon this earth and prepare me for what You know is coming.  Guide me so that I may live the life You intend and walk in the Father’s will.  Help me to see all obstacles for what they are and meet every challenge placed before me through the faith that You give.  Aid me to live by Your tender mercies and find joy.  Amen.

“In holiness and righteousness before Him all our days. “And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare His ways” (Luke 1:75-76)

The Lord’s prophets go before Him to prepare the way for those who will receive Him.  John was held in holiness and righteousness all of his days and prepared the way before Jesus in fulfilment of prophecy.  We are called to walk in the holiness and righteousness which the Lord gives.  We too are sent into the world to prepare the way for others to receive Him as we have received Him.

Lord, open my eyes to see and my ears to hear in order that I may walk in the Gospel way which You have set before me. Like the prophets of old, You have called me to humbly walk by Your leading, proclaiming with my life the truth of the Gospel in me.  Help me to not just go along to get along, but to live the intentional life for which You called me through the grace which even enables me to do all that You would have me do.

Lord Jesus, You have come in fulfilment of the prophecies of old to lead the way for those who would come to the Father through You.  Guide me now and all the days of this life so that I may humbly be guided the Your Holy Spirit to live the life You have set before me.  Help me through all of the obstacles which will arise so that I may live fully in the hope You have placed in my heart.  Amen.

“The oath which He swore to Abraham our father, to grant us that we, being rescued from the hand of our enemies, Might serve Him without fear” (Luke 1:73-74)

Who is our enemy?  Sin, death, and the devil are at the front of the list.  The Lord has come so that all who are in Him would live in the victory He has promised.  He has fulfilled the promise He made to Abraham, both in the number who have followed in his footsteps and through faith for those who live in the righteousness of Christ.  It is also in overcoming the adversity of this world.  The final obstacle which will be conquered is death.

Lord God, You keep Your word.  You have provided for us such that in turning to You we find mercy and grace.  Although the world is often a fearful place, coming through the beginning of wisdom and understanding that faith conquers fear, the faithful know that all things will happen according to Your will.  May we be comforted in the hope which You give.  Help us to understand that though the body may be killed, yet we know that we will stand before You forever.

Lord Jesus, Savior who paves the way, guide me in the fear of the Lord.  You grant wisdom which You have given over the ages so that I may become what You will make of me.  Guide me in the way of righteousness You came to bring for those who believe.  Be the One who leads me and help me to understand that only in and through the promises You have made will I find rest for my spirit.  Amen.

“Salvation from our enemies, And from the hand of all who hate us; to show mercy toward our fathers, And to remember His holy covenant” (Luke 1:71-72)

You do have enemies and there are those who hate you.  For those who appeal to Him, He gives mercy and remembers what He has promised to the faithful.  In Christ, this is, in part, what some call the new covenant.  Maybe it is better to say the unfolding covenant that tells us that He will walk with each of us and guide us in the way of everlasting life.  He has come to lead You into the way of eternity which He established in the beginning.

Lord, Your mercy abounds and You care even  for those not yet born.  Help me to understand that I am a part of Your plan.  You will guide those who look to You and lead all who come through faith to You.  You will uphold us through the difficult waters of this world.  Help me to see Your hand of action and follow You where You lead.  Open my ears to hear Your word when You speak and heed the admonitions that You give.

Lord Jesus, Word made flesh, You have come to make eyes to see and ears to hear.  Your word is still spoken and there are those who will receive Your word of life.  Guide me so that I walk on the path You have set before me.  Help me to understand that You must be the One who leads, for I do not know where to go.  Through all of these things, lead me.  In all things, let Your hand be that which guides my actions.  Amen.

“And has raised up a horn of salvation for us In the house of David His servant – as He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from of old” (Luke 1:69-70)

The Lord spoke through the prophets of old of the coming redemption.  God knows what He is doing.  He sees the beginning from the end.  He will accomplish the salvation of those who come to and through Him to eternal life in Him.  The story is still unfolding, and we are a part of the ongoing story as the horn of salvation continues to blow.  He has now given you his word of salvation.

Heavenly Father, my ears have heard the words You have given me.  You have fulfilled the words You gave to the prophets of old and my eyes have seen the movement of Your people in the church.  Lead me into the words of eternal life which You have spoken through Your Son so that I may learn how to live the new life You have given me.  Guide me out of the old  ways of this world to live the new way of everlasting life.

Lord Jesus, Salvation of God made flesh, You have come in fulfillment of the prophecies of old so that I might have true life and have it abundantly.  Guide me in the goodness of Your revelation to hear and heed the words You have spoken.  Help me to receive and then act upon Your instructions.  Daily, lead me ever deeper into the way of everlasting life so that I may become what You will make of me.  Amen.  

“And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying: “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, For He has visited us and accomplished redemption for His people” (Luke 1:67-68)

What is it that the Lord said in prophecy which the faithful understood?  Listen to what is said here, for these are the words of a faithful Israelite speaking the faith before Jesus came.  “The Lord has come and accomplished our redemption.”  To be redeemed is to be taken out of bondage.  God’s plan has not changed.  Jesus came to redeem us.  What we do with that redemption is the next step.

Lord, many around me think in terms of being saved.  It is that, but there is something important I forget.  You lifted me out of the pit of death and destruction.  You have set a path of life before me.  Help me to see what I was and what You are making of me are not only completely different, but that I am not yet where I will be as You prepare me to live forever with You.

Lord Jesus, You are the One who has come to redeem those who look to You for their salvation.  It is You who accomplishes this for us.  Guide me in the way of living which moves into the life You have set before me.  Help me to see the pitfalls where I think I am doing these things on my own.  You are the Redeemer and the Savior and apart from You I can do nothing.  Lead me to learn how to always follow You.  Amen.