Isaiah 61:1-2 (ESV)

The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn;

Luke 4:16-21 (ESV)

And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read. And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. And he began to say to them, "Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing."

Explanation:

The prophet Isaiah told of a coming Savior who would provide freedom for a broken world. He told us that Jesus would come and bring us a new world that was liberated—free from sin. When Jesus began His ministry in His earthly birthplace of Nazareth, He told those in the synagogue that He had come to fulfill that prophecy. He had come as the Messiah who would give them freedom.

What do you think about when you hear the word “freedom”? Often, my mind jumps right to those men and women who sacrificed their lives while serving our country, so that we may live in a nation and have more liberties than some may ever imagine. Maybe you think about when you turned the ripe old age of 18 and obtained “freedom” from your parents’ rules—and you could do what you wanted to do then. For some, it may mean the day you walked out of prison and back into the world that allowed you to independently determine when to eat, sleep, or exercise.

“Freedom,” in the context of today’s scripture, dives deeper. We were captive to sin, and Jesus came to provide our liberty. He wanted the world to know that we weren’t going to be slaves to our circumstances—regardless of whether we are poor, mourning, sick, addicted, possessed, or just common everyday sinners. Before He came, we would never have freedom—in any context. He fulfilled the prophecy, as He would so many more, and through His sacrifice on the cross, we are free.

Application:

1. Have you ever been in a situation where you felt like you were a captive?

2. How does knowing that you have eternal freedom in Jesus change that situation?

3. When you hear the word “freedom,” how does today’s scripture change your definition?

Prayer Prompt:

• In your own words, thank God for the freedoms you have in your life, and for sending us a Savior to set us free.

Devo Plus:

• Read more about the freedom that Jesus provides in these verses: Galatians 5:1;

2 Corinthians 3:17; John 8:31-32,36; Romans 8:1-2.

Isaiah 42:1-6, compare Matthew 12:18-21 (ESV)

Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my Spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations. He will not cry aloud or lift up his voice or make it heard in the street; a bruised reed he will not break, and a faintly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice. He will not grow faint or be discouraged till he has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands wait for his law. Thus says God, the Lord, who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and what comes from it, who gives breath to the people on it and spirit to those who walk in it: “I am the Lord; I have called you in righteousness; I will take you by the hand and keep you; I will give you as a covenant for the people a light for the nations.”

Explanation:

Justice can be such a tricky thing. If you have had any experience with the justice system, you know how daunting this world can be. Whether you are a member of a jury determining guilt or innocence, a judge providing a ruling, a family member of a person being charged, a person who has worked or served in a prison, or have personally been convicted of something, you know the challenges the justice world can present. From our human perspective, it can sometimes be unclear what is right and wrong, and what is just and unjust. God, however, does not wrestle with this. Deuteronomy 32:4 describes God in this way, “The Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is he.” God is outside the limitations of man, and knows fully what is just and unjust. He was, in fact, the creator of the standard of justice. From today’s reading, we see that Jesus was prophesized by Isaiah to be the one who would faithfully establish and bring forth justice on the earth. What does Isaiah mean by this?

As it says in Romans 3:23, we have all sinned against God, and that sin deserves punishment. Like a convicted felon, the sentence for our sin is death. Our sinfulness is so unrighteous that we can do absolutely nothing, even at our best, to remove this punishment. We need something outside of ourselves to save us. That’s where Jesus steps in. “For OUR sake He (God) made Him (Jesus) to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him (Jesus) we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21). This is unbelievable. Jesus gets punished and we go free. What Jesus did for us on the cross provided a way for anyone who places their faith in Jesus to be put back in right standing with God. Jesus made it so that our sin no longer alienated us from God. As one commentary put it, “The work of redemption (of Jesus on the cross) brings back man to the obedience he owes to God as his Maker.” Justice is served through Christ. This is what Isaiah was prophesying would come to be when Jesus came to save us. My friends, what a remarkable truth this is.

Application:

1. How does the truth of Jesus establishing justice between us and God impact you?

2. Why would this have been such good news for those in the time of Isaiah?

3. In what ways have you ever tried to gain justice with God on your own?

4. How would you like to receive the gift of justice that Jesus offers today?

 

Prayer Prompt:

• Jesus, no words can express how magnificent You are. Thank You for being punished for me. I believe in faith that You have made me righteous again. This truly is the greatest gift I could ever receive.

Devo Plus:

• Re-write 2 Corinthians 5:21 in three different translations. What stands out the most to you in all those translations?

Author: Stacey Crawford

A prophecy is a word given to someone from God, to give the person hope for something yet to come. I have had many prophecies spoken over my life and my situations at times I desperately needed them. These words often brought so much hope and life into situations that seemed confusing, dark, and as if they would never come to an end.

One of the biggest prophecies that stands out to me was when we were struggling to get pregnant. I had an incredible desire to become a mom, but God made us wait. I didn’t understand why I had such a great desire but it seemed as though it was never going to happen. Then one day, Pastor Matthew spoke a prophetic word into my situation that gave me hope for things to come. God had not moved in the situation yet because He was waiting for the perfect time. I had to wait for God because my child was going to have a greater impact on the lives of others. She had to be born at the right time, so that once she is in school, she can have a great impact on the lives of her classmates and lead them to Jesus, but we had to wait for them to be born. It was a hard season, but those words spoke so much hope into my life…and they still do today. I didn’t enjoy waiting, but to know that my child would eventually change the lives of others made it all worth it. God had, and still has, incredible plans for my precious daughter. I had to trust and wait on His timing so it could play out perfectly. And now, as I look back on it all, God’s timing was indeed perfect. My daughter has brought joy in sad times, she has brought light in the middle of darkness…and I can’t wait to see the lives she touches in the years to come. She was worth waiting for.

When I reflect on my own story, I think about God’s people. Over and over again, God used prophets to speak hope that a Savior would come at just the right time. They didn’t know when, they didn’t know how, but the prophecies spoke hope into their lives. They could walk in hope that God would come through and be faithful. And at just the right time, Jesus came to redeem them, to receive them, and to become their Savior. Jesus was worth waiting for.

Are you in a season of waiting? Has someone spoken a prophecy over your life that has not yet come to be? Rest in the promises of God. The season may last longer than you want, it may be difficult to navigate, and there will be hard days…but God is faithful to His promises. Keep looking forward, keep looking to God, and stand in confidence that God will come through at just the right time. For now, rest in His promises and find hope in Him. He is faithful, and whatever you are waiting for will be worth it.

Prayer Prompt:

God, we come to You today, asking You to help us in our seasons of waiting. Our timing is often not the same as Your timing, but we continue to trust You. When we don’t understand, remind us that You are working, moving, and preparing us. Give us hope that You will be faithful, and at the right time, we will see Your promise come to be. Thank You for being patient with us, for leading us, and helping us through our seasons of waiting. We trust You and give our seasons of waiting to You. Please speak hope to our hearts when we need it through this season. Thank You, God! Amen.

Jeremiah 23:5-6 (ESV)

“Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is the name by which he will be called: ‘The Lord is our righteousness.’

Explanation:

The nation of Israel has a tumultuous history. It was patterned by rescue, rejection of God the rescuer, and then a period of discipline. It starts in Egypt. God hears the cries of His people as slaves, so He rescues them. They reject His provision and His ways, and they face consequences. Even in the good moments, there is always the tinge of the moment when Israel would fall again. Time after time, generation after generation, they give up on God, and God finally brings them to the place where we find Jeremiah speaking the above verses.

He is addressing a nation about to go into exile. They would be conquered by the Babylonians, taken from their homes, and driven to a land that wasn’t theirs. Their rejection of God should have left them lost forever. But on the heels of the sentence of exile and discipline was the promise of a rescuer. One who would come, much like Moses, and free the people from their oppressors. One who would restore what was right and good in the land. The promised one, called “the Lord’s Anointed,” or better said “Messiah,” was the hope Israel held to in the darkness of their consequence for sin. One day, God would rescue them again, one from the line of David (Israel’s greatest king) would restore all that God promised to His people.

Today’s passage is one of the few times Jeremiah spoke of the Messiah. But as he points Israel to their redeemer, little did he know it would be the promise and hope for our lives as well. One day, the Messiah came and rescued His people, and one day, He will return again to free us, once and for all, from the greatest captor we face…death itself.

Application:

1. What is one thing you noticed in the passage above?

2. Does holding to a promise make enduring trials easier?

3. Think of a trial you are currently going through. Use Google to find one scripture that can remind you of the promises of God. Write it down in your phone or in a place where you can keep in front of you while you walk through the season of trouble.

Prayer Prompts:

• Ask God for hope and to help you hold onto His promises.

• Ask God to show you what you can do to learn and grow from your trial.

Devo Plus:

• Read Hebrews 11:1-12:2.

Micah 5:2-5a (ESV)

But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days. Therefore, he shall give them up until the time when she who is in labor has given birth; then the rest of his brothers shall return to the people of Israel. And he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth. And he shall be their peace.

Explanation:

Jesus was exactly who God said He would be. The very words that were spoken through the prophet (someone chosen to speak for God) Micah came 700 years before Jesus. Yes, that’s right, 700 years. These words were clearly from God, because Jesus came in the exact manner in which Micah said He would come, and fulfilled every part of this prophesy exactly as Micah said it would be fulfilled. This was a great promise that the people of Israel received because it spoke to their very needs. As a result of their disobedience to God, Israel spent many years relationally separated from Him, and this was even the case right up to when Jesus arrived. They hadn’t even heard from Him for hundreds of years. No prophet, no leader, no judge, no word directly spoken from God had pierced their ears. Those who did remain faithful to God through this drought of not hearing from Him held firmly to this hope, that a “ruler in Israel” would come and dwell among them, bringing security and peace for them.

After hundreds of years of waiting, that ruler finally came. However, He did not come as they had imagined. They truly desired a ruler with physical power and dominance who would establish them once again as a powerful nation. As we know from the gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John) and the letters in the New Testament, Jesus did not come in that form of power. He came with the ultimate power that would enable them to be connected relationally with the Father once again. This was the better of the two powers, because it saved them from a spiritual depravity that forever condemned them from ever connecting with Almighty God again.

Application:

1. How did Jesus, in His coming, fulfill what was prophesized through Micah?

2. In what ways did Jesus shepherd His flock (people) with the strength of the Lord?

3. Why can those who have put their faith in Jesus dwell securely?

4. Why was Jesus’s way of ruling better than any way Israel or we have conceived?

Prayer Prompt:

• Jesus, we trust that Your way is better. Thank You for coming exactly as You said You would through Micah. Help us this day to find everything we need in You, our Savior.

Devo Plus:

• Write a 2-3 sentence paragraph about how things would have been different if Jesus came in a different power than He did.

Isaiah 9:1-7 (ESV)

But there will be no gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he has made glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.

The people who walked in darkness

have seen a great light;

those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness,

on them has light shone.

You have multiplied the nation;

you have increased its joy;

they rejoice before you

as with joy at the harvest,

as they are glad when they divide the spoil.

For the yoke of his burden,

and the staff for his shoulder,

the rod of his oppressor,

you have broken as on the day of Midian.

For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult

and every garment rolled in blood

will be burned as fuel for the fire.

For to us a child is born,

to us a son is given;

and the government shall be upon his shoulder,

and his name shall be called

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Of the increase of his government and of peace

there will be no end,

on the throne of David and over his kingdom,

to establish it and to uphold it

with justice and with righteousness

from this time forth and forevermore.

The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

Explanation:

In this passage, we are given a prophecy spoken through the prophet Isaiah. Things were hard for the people of Israel, but this prophecy would bring them hope. Israel had suffered, but things were going to change. God was going to step in and claim the victory for them.

The world was walking in darkness, but One would come who would be a source of light. God had kept His promise to Abraham…He had built a people, the nation of Israel. The people of Israel had long suffered, had struggled with their sin, had struggled against many nations. But God was about to give them hope, another promise. He would send a Savior, who would bring light into the darkness, hope to the hopeless, peace to the restless, and joy to those in sorrow. He would claim a victory over the battle like no one before Him. The Messiah’s Kingdom would be greater than any kingdom here on the earth. He would be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His Kingdom is the only one that will stand in the end.

This message would have brought so much hope to Israel. Even though those who heard it would never experience the coming Messiah, even though they wouldn’t know exactly how it would play out, this was the assurance they needed. God’s story of redemption was still playing out. He was still working, He was still moving, and for now they could rest, knowing that God would continue to be faithful. He would come through…He would send the long-awaited Savior.

Application:

1. How do you think the people of Israel responded to this promise, this prophecy?

2. How does this prophecy bring you hope in your personal life?

3. Looking at the different names of Jesus in this passage, which one stands out to you and why? (Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace, Wonderful Counselor)

4. How does this passage help you persevere in the middle of hard, dark seasons?

Prayer Prompt:

• God, we thank You for keeping Your promises. Thank You that You always had a plan to redeem us, to save us, to bring us back into right standing with You. Thank You for Your promises and prophecies that remind us of the hope we have, the peace we can find, and the faith to trust You.

Devo Plus:

Check out Luke 1:32-33 to see the coming of the Messiah proclaimed.

Leviticus 16:15-19 (ESV)

“Then he shall kill the goat of the sin offering that is for the people and bring its blood inside the veil and do with its blood as he did with the blood of the bull, sprinkling it over the mercy seat and in front of the mercy seat. Thus he shall make atonement for the Holy Place, because of the uncleannesses of the people of Israel and because of their transgressions, all their sins. And so he shall do for the tent of meeting, which dwells with them in the midst of their uncleannesses. No one may be in the tent of meeting from the time he enters to make atonement in the Holy Place until he comes out and has made atonement for himself and for his house and for all the assembly of Israel. Then he shall go out to the altar that is before the Lord and make atonement for it, and shall take some of the blood of the bull and some of the blood of the goat, and put it on the horns of the altar all around. And he shall sprinkle some of the blood on it with his finger seven times, and cleanse it and consecrate it from the uncleannesses of the people of Israel.”

Explanation:

When an offense happens between two people, there is often a repair that needs to take place in the relationship. Whether it’s an emotional repair because the offense damaged a person’s feelings, or a physical repair because there was actual damage to the other party’s property, restitution and repayment is needed to rectify a torn relationship. This repair is what the Bible called atonement. Specifically, the Day of Atonement was the Jewish festival where they collectively remembered that they had broken the covenant with God, and for things to be right, a repair needed to be made. This is where the sacrificial system came into play. It was put into place to remind Israel that breaking the covenant with God was a serious offense, and the most extreme reparations had to be made to make things right. The blood, the symbol of life…and more importantly, the spilled blood, the symbol of a spent life…was always before Israel to remind them that their sin was grave, the cost of repair was great, yet God still made a way to forgive their sin and repair the relationship. This sacrificial practice stands as the model and foreshadowing of all of our redemption.

We see in Jesus the greater reality of the Day of Atonement. The book of Hebrews says that Israel celebrated the day every year, yet Christ, once and for all, atoned for the sins of the people.

Application:

1. Have you ever been offended by someone? What did you require to repair the relationship?

2. Have you ever offended someone? What did they require for the relationship to be repaired?

3. Why do you think God requires such a steep price for repairing the relationship?

4. What does it mean to you that God wants to repair the relationship we broke?

Prayer Prompts:

• God, help me to see how my behaviors break the relationship between You and me.

• God, help me to choose to trust You, and believe that You truly do want to be in relationship with me.

Devo Plus:

• Read Colossians 1:19-22 and Romans 5:6-11.

Exodus 12:12-13; 21-23 (ESV)

For I will pass through the land of Egypt that night, and I will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and on all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments: I am the Lord. The blood shall be a sign for you, on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague will befall you to destroy you, when I strike the land of Egypt.

Then Moses called all the elders of Israel and said to them, “Go and select lambs for yourselves according to your clans, and kill the Passover lamb. Take a bunch of hyssop and dip it in the blood that is in the basin, and touch the lintel and the two doorposts with the blood that is in the basin. None of you shall go out of the door of his house until the morning. For the Lord will pass through to strike the Egyptians, and when he sees the blood on the lintel and on the two doorposts, the Lord will pass over the door and will not allow the destroyer to enter your houses to strike you.

Explanation:

God’s wrath against sin and God’s rescuing of sinners always goes hand in hand. We have the promise of God that He is going to take care of His people. His promise to Abraham is that He would give them a land, make them a people, and bless the nations through them. But when we come upon the people of God in this moment of their story, they are slaves in Egypt in need of salvation. A reluctant and hard-hearted Pharaoh has doubled down on every request Moses (God’s spokesman) has put in front of him. Along with Moses’s requests comes signs, wonders, and judgments against the Egyptian people and their gods.

In today’s passage, we see the final judgment God is going to levee against Egypt, the death of all the first born. It is intriguing the way God commanded His people to weather this judgment. For all the previous judgments, the Hebrew people were left unaffected. But for this one…they would not escape this judgment, unless they sacrificed a lamb and placed the blood over the door and down the sides of the door. This judgment coming on Egypt would be a judgment levied against them as well, unless the Angel of Death would view the blood and “pass over” their house. The death was still demanded. But God gave the Hebrew people an atonement, a sacrifice, a way out of the judgment, so they would be saved from the Angel and from their slave master.

The Exodus story is a foreshadowing of what God was going to do for all people through Jesus’s death on the cross. We were an enslaved people, both entrapped by sin but also guilty of it. We were desperate and lost. God’s judgment was going to come against sin. Our guilt from sin would lump us with those who should be judged, yet God gave us a way out. But instead of a lamb, it was Jesus, and instead of a door, His blood was spread out on a cross. And the promise of God is for all those who put themselves under the blood of Jesus…the same Angel of Death who passed over the Israelites in Egypt also will pass over us, and we will be ushered into the “promised land” with God.

Application:

1. What is one thing that stands out to you in today’s reading?

2. What does it say about God that He doesn’t just sweep our offense and sin under the rug?

3. What does it mean to you that God provides a way for His judgment to “pass over” us?

Prayer Prompt:

• Thank God for His salvation.

• Thank God that He cares about us and hears our cries for help.

• Talk to God about something you are dealing with that you need “rescued” from.

Devo Plus:

• Read Hebrew 9 and 10, and pay attention to how Jesus is the better sacrifice.

Exodus 3:7-10, New Living Translation (NLT)

Then the Lord told him, “I have certainly seen the oppression of my people in Egypt. I have heard their cries of distress because of their harsh slave drivers. Yes, I am aware of their suffering. So I have come down to rescue them from the power of the Egyptians and lead them out of Egypt into their own fertile and spacious land. It is a land flowing with milk and honey—the land where the Canaanites, now live. Look! The cry of the people of Israel has reached me, and I have seen how harshly the Egyptians abuse them. Now go, for I am sending you to Pharaoh. You must lead my people Israel out of Egypt.”

Explanation:

The Lord saw hurting people (Israelites in slavery), and He needed to use someone to be a leader and lead them out of slavery. God chose Moses, and Moses had to become willing to involve himself in the solution.

Moses was inadequate by himself to do what was asked of him by God. But God wasn’t asking Moses to do it alone. God offered other resources of help, through Moses’s brother Aaron, God’s hand and connection at every turn, and miracles.

Application:

1. God often calls us to tasks that seem too difficult, but never asks us to do them alone. Are you tempted, like Moses, to hide behind your inadequacies?

2. Do you sometimes limp along, forgetting that because God created you, He knows exactly how to use you and your unique traits to fulfill His purposes?

3. What feels to you as impossible as leading the children of Israel out of slavery? God wants you to let Him give you His personal call for your life AND your surrender to do what He asks.

Prayer Prompts:

• Everything that is not God depends totally on God. The entire universe is utterly secondary. It came into being by God, and stays in being moment by moment because of God’s decision to keep it in being.

• Moses was inadequate by himself. When you read the whole third chapter, the answer God gave Moses to depend on was “I AM WHO I AM.” Focus today on the reality that God is your “I AM WHO I AM!” He is right beside you as you face impossible circumstances, and He will act to show His power in your deliverance. God is constant.

Devo Plus:

• Keep on loving each other as brothers and sisters. Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it! Remember those in prison, as if you were there yourself. Remember also those being mistreated, as if you felt their pain in your own bodies. For God has said, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.” So we can say with confidence, “The LORD is my helper, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me.” (Hebrews 13:1-3, 5b-6)

Author: Abbey Parsley

I sit next to a Christmas tree that’s warmly glowing, in a beautiful house, with children who are healthy and vibrant and who know Him. And a husband who loves me more than any human on this earth. When I sit like this, quiet before Him, counting all the things, big and small, that He’s gifted me, I feel so undeserving. He could count all the ways I’ve gotten it wrong. He could recount all of my sins, all the ways I’ve done the wrong thing. He could reflect on the horrible choices I’ve made over the years. (Trust me, there's many.) But He knew I was going to make those choices. He knew, and yet still blesses me. I have a lineage of autonomy and sin. As we all do, as it started with Adam and Eve.

God knew.

God knew that the beautiful creations He designed in His image, so intricately, remarkably, would fall to autonomy and sin. (Adam and Eve)

God knew that He would need to flood the earth in order to start everyone anew. (Noah)

God knew that without sending a Savior, His creation would be no more.

God knew the fall of man was going to happen. He knew sin would take over, and instead of allowing humanity to be wiped out and start over, He sent Jesus.

He sent Jesus.

Do you see the heart of God here? He didn’t just send Jesus for those people “back in the biblical day,” He sent Him for right now. This very day, minute, hour. He knows where we’re going to mess up (and where we already have). Just like He knew in Bible times, He knows now. He knows the things we struggle with. He knows about the generational sin. He knows about the cheating. He knows about the drug addiction. He knows about the lying. He knows about the alcohol abuse. He knows about the physical abuse. He knows about the financial ruin. He knows about the promiscuity. He knows about the relational turmoil. He knows about the bad business dealings. He knows…and He still wants you. This is why Jesus was born. For you…for this very moment with you. He had you in mind when Jesus was born. He wants you to lay whatever it is that you’re carrying, whatever sin you have shouldered, and set it at His feet.

What things or sin have you been carrying without realizing it? I recommend sitting in front of a warmly lit Christmas tree, with quietness surrounding you, maybe a cup of hot chocolate. Count all the ways He’s blessed you and see how He works.