Announcement:

This week, until this Friday the 21st, will be the last week of podcasts for the year from this channel, and we’ll be coming back in January 2019. For those of you who haven’t caught up on past episodes, I really encourage you to go back on some of them during that time and that you’ll enjoy them if you are in need of devotionals to enjoy during your holiday.

Today's Scripture Reading:

15 When one of those at the table with him heard this, he said to Jesus, “Blessed is the one who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God.” 16 Jesus replied: “A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests.17 At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’ 18 “But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, ‘I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me.’ 19 “Another said, ‘I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I’m on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.” 20 “Still another said, ‘I just got married, so I can’t come.’ 21 “The servant came back and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and ordered his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.’ 22 “‘Sir,’ the servant said, ‘what you ordered has been done, but there is still room.’ 23 “Then the master told his servant, ‘Go out to the roads and country lanes and compel them to come in, so that my house will be full. 24 I tell you, not one of those who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.’” – Luke 14:15-24

Excerpt:

Spiritual discipline in gospel living requires absolute discomfort because it tears us away from our fleshly and broken nature that holds onto false comforts. But the deception is this: that we will ultimately find comfort in what I have or what I can attain in this lifetime. The truth, is that even in our most discomforting circumstances as we practice our spiritual discipline to cling to Christ and seek to constantly be in gospel living, we will ultimately and eternally find unmatchable comfort in the peace of the Holy Spirit that transcends all of what we may have lost. Our comfort and our peace does not come in decaying creation, but only in our creator.

Music by:

AShamaluevMusic – “Family Christmas (https://www.patreon.com/ashamaluevmusic)

Peter Thompson – Devotional Tracks – “01” (www.ourworshipsound.com)

Announcement:

This week, until this Friday the 21st, will be the last week of podcasts for the year from this channel, and we’ll be coming back in January 2019. For those of you who haven’t caught up on past episodes, I really encourage you to go back on some of them during that time and that you’ll enjoy them if you are in need of devotionals during your holiday.

Today's Scripture Reading: 

“12 He said also to the man who had invited him, “When you give a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, lest they also invite you in return and you be repaid. 13 But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, 14 and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just.” - Luke 14:12-14

Excerpt:

...As believers then, we ought to be busy reaching out to the lost and carrying out the great commandment and commission. Not as a religious duty, but because we truly believe in the good news deep within our hearts and that the Holy Spirit is continuously at work in me. We need to stop praying all the time for more blessings, but instead as a result of our prayers and faith in God, each day we would become a blessing unto others even outside of our immediate circles to bring them in. If there is truly the powerful and transforming love of Christ within our churches and families, then we ought not to be afraid of bringing others in to share it with them.

Music by:

AShamaluevMusic – “Family Christmas (https://www.patreon.com/ashamaluevmusic)

Dyslm – “You Belong Here” (https://soundcloud.com/dyslmofficial)

Note to my Students: For those who are younger listeners, the english is a bit old and traditional language used in the 1800s. Despite the language, this is a message I'd really like you to hear. If you are able to be patient with it, listen carefully and skim over the words that you don't really understand. The message is still very clear if we are able to listen for it. I hope you are challenged by it today as I find it timely and very valuable and relevant for us even today.

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Today's Message is an excerpt from a Christmas Sermon by Rev. Charles H. Spurgeon titled "A Christmas Question". 

Charles Spurgeon was the Pastor of New Park Street Chapel (later known as Metropolitan Tablernacle) in London, England between 1854-1892. 

He is today regarded as one of the most influential and revered preachers of the modern history. He was the founder of Spurgeon College which was named after him posthumously. 

The message excerpt today is taken from the New Park Street Pulpit Volume 6, and delivered on December 25, 1859.

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Music by:

AShamaluevMusic – “Family Christmas (https://www.patreon.com/ashamaluevmusic)

Peter Thompson – Devotional Tracks – “02” (www.ourworshipsound.com)

Today's Scripture Reading: Matthew 1:18-25

18 This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. 19 Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.

20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 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.”

22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”(which means “God with us”).

24 When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. 25 But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.

Excerpt:

If we choose to love, we are choosing to trust God. Even if we have a hard time trusting the person and their circumstances, their track record, love them as God would love them. Love them because you trust God. Let the Lord do the rest of the transformation and shaping.

Music by:

AShamaluevMusic – “Family Christmas (https://www.patreon.com/ashamaluevmusic)

Dyslm – “You Belong Here” (https://soundcloud.com/dyslmofficial)

Today's Scripture Reading: Psalm 5:11

But let all who take refuge in you be glad;    let them ever sing for joy.Spread your protection over them,    that those who love your name may rejoice in you.

Excerpt:

The Christmas season. It can be either a season of blessings, or a season of racking up the credit card bills. For some of us, we don’t spend much money at all. For some of us, we spend too much money – more than we expected. Some of us, may not feel like we have enough time to do everything we want to do. Some of us have too much time on our hands we don’t know what to do with ourselves! Although we call it a “Merry Christmas”, there are some of us here in this room today that don’t appreciate this season at all as “merry” or “joyful.” Never mind being joyful just this season, we have a hard time being joyful at all. We just want to get through this season because it reminds us of all the dysfunction and pain that is in our lives.

Music by:

AShamaluevMusic – “Family Christmas (https://www.patreon.com/ashamaluevmusic)

Dyslm - "You Belong Here" (https://soundcloud.com/dyslmofficial)

Today's Scripture Reading:

Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” - Romans 12:19

Excerpt:

When somebody who has wronged you, insulted you, or caused you pain there is a broken part of us that feels ecstatic at the knowledge of those who suffer in return for their sins. Our excuse is often that they "had it coming" or "they deserve it". But in so many ways this is contradictory to the very heart of God. God does not take pleasure in punishment.

Music by:

AShamaluevMusic - "Family Christmas (https://www.patreon.com/ashamaluevmusic)

Peter Thompson - Devotional Tracks - "01" (www.ourworshipsound.com)

Today's Scripture Reading: Luke 2:1-14, Matthew 11:28-30

1In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while[a]Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register.

4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,    and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

Excerpt:

We’re so preoccupied trying to make our lives right, and worried that if we invite Jesus in that he’ll see all of our shortcomings, what we don’t have enough of. We’re so concerned that if we invite Jesus in we’d have to change everything around and that we’d have to give everything up and lose everything.

We’re so preoccupied with making our home, but we must realize that God has already prepared a home for us. He has prepared it through Jesus. There is no home or life that will ever be good enough by its own merits for Jesus to reside within it. We are so preoccupied with whether we should allow Jesus into our hearts and lives. But we’ve got it completely flipped around!

Some of us are constantly asking Jesus to enter our hearts. While the premise is innocent to ask Jesus of this, there is no biblical evidence to this being a proper response to the knowledge of Jesus. This is the assumption that we have power over Jesus’ presence and existence. Who are we to invite Jesus in? Are we Lord over him? Is he the needy God who is hanging by our porch at the mercy of letting him in? No, instead it is this that He invites YOU in instead.

Music by:

AShamaluevMusic - "Family Christmas (https://www.patreon.com/ashamaluevmusic)

Peter Thompson - Devotional Tracks - "03" (www.ourworshipsound.com)

Today's Scripture Reading: Psalm 37:1-7

1 Do not fret because of those who are evil or be envious of those who do wrong; 2 for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away. 3 Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. 4 Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. 5 Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this: 6 He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun. 7 Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.

Excerpt:

Envy leads us in the direction to become more erroneous in our ways and desperate to become more earthly than to become more like Christ who is our source of life each day. When we start comparing ourselves to other people on earth, is when we've lost sight of how God perceives us - how he looks at you and I with unmatchable goodness as his creation. It is not only the destruction of our own self esteem, but also the esteem of others as it could very easily cause us to compare the ones we ought to love unconditionally with people we wish they were. Either is destructive and sinful in nature.

Music by:

AShamaluevMusic - "Family Christmas (https://www.patreon.com/ashamaluevmusic)

Peter Thompson - Devotional Tracks - "03" (www.ourworshipsound.com)

Today's Scripture Readings: 

A voice of one calling in the wilderness,‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him. 5 Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill made low. The crooked roads shall become straight, the rough ways smooth. 6 And all people will see God’s salvation.’ - Luke 3:4-6

Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life. - Philippians 2:14-16

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. - Philippians 4:4-5

Excerpt:

If you find yourself grumbling more than you rejoice daily, then it is likely you are far from a repentant relationship with God. Though our lives may not be looking good, the significance we place in our lives does not hang on our circumstances. They depend on the Grace of our God. The truer meaning of God’s grace shines far brighter in darkness than only in the shining lights of prosperity. This is because our significance in life is not about how things are going my way, but rejoicing because God still has his way in us - that we are loved and are saved by the blood of His Son - and none can take that away! So when we think about how bad our circumstances may be, we can think about the Lord and how he has saved us. Radical rejoicing is choosing to have the light of Jesus shine in our most darkest hours.

Music by:

AShamaluevMusic - "Family Christmas (https://www.patreon.com/ashamaluevmusic)

Peter Thompson - Devotional Tracks - "03" (www.ourworshipsound.com)

Today's Scripture Reading: Genesis 1:27

So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them

Excerpt:

Finding common ground with one another is to find who we were all created to look like and begin to look at the giftings that God has placed in each one of us, pressing forward for the things that matter for eternity, rather than the things about yesterday, today, or even tomorrow. This can only be worked out when we realize that my neighbor’s life was given in Grace as much as mine was – that I am no greater or lesser than my neighbor is.

Music by:

AShamaluevMusic - "Family Christmas" (https://www.patreon.com/ashamaluevmusic)

Peter Thompson - Devotional Tracks - "03" (www.ourworshipsound.com)