15 The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John might possibly be the Messiah. 16 John answered them all, “I baptize you with[a] water. But one who is more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with[b] the Holy Spirit and fire. 17 His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” 18 And with many other words John exhorted the people and proclaimed the good news to them. 19 But when John rebuked Herod the tetrarch because of his marriage to Herodias, his brother’s wife, and all the other evil things he had done, 20 Herod added this to them all: He locked John up in prison.

I find myself challenged by the single mindedness of John. No matter what people thought about him, good or bad, he stayed on mission. I wonder if he was ever tempted by the crowds?  The crowds loved him. They even thought that he could have been the Messiah that they were expecting to come.

Surely, he could have stayed on mission but enjoy a more comfortable lifestyle? No one would have questioned him or thought less of him. I mean, was it really that important to keep his Nazarene vow? Maybe not to the crowd, but it meant everything to John.

This is the path that God had set for him, and I imagine that never once did he consider anything else. For John, he chose complete obedience to God. Even though this obedience put him in jail, and eventually claimed his life, he didn’t waiver.

It’s easy to get distracted by life and all the ups and downs and not focus on the mission and plan that God has for us.

Father I thank you that you have a plan and purpose for each of us, and a mission to serve you with. Help me today to not be distracted but to stay on mission for you.

Written by Andrew Martin

3 In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar—when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and Traconitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene— 2 during the high-priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness. 3 He went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 4 As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet: “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.’”

What a fascinating way Luke has chosen to write this portion of his account of Jesus. It is as if he starts with a long shot to establish the setting and then zooms in closer and closer until he reaches the extreme close up. Luke starts with the highest ranking leader in the Roman Empire, Tiberius Caesar; then the Roman Governor of Judea, Pontius Pilate; then the Roman installed leader of Galilee, Herod the tetrarch; then the Jewish religious leaders, Annas and Caiaphas; and then … John.

Starting with great political power and ending with humble John. In fairness, John belonged to the tribe of Levi, God’s chosen priests, and his birth was quite remarkable… but it is almost comical to consider his everyday life against that of Caesar.

What strikes me is that all the other people in this list had great political power, wealth and influence. But it was John who received the Word of the Lord, and it was John whom God was going to use to announce His son, the saviour of the world.

God uses those He chooses, not necessarily the powerful, or wealthy, or influential to bring about His purposes. Will I answer God’s call today? Who knows how He may use me! God, I want to be part of the big story you are telling. Help me to recognise your voice and follow your leading today. Amen!

Written by Ps. Beth Waugh

36 There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, 37 and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. 38 Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem. 39 When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth. 40 And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him.

Lately I’ve been thinking about the human tendency to categorise life’s circumstances as either ‘good’ or ‘bad’.

In the case of the story of Anna here, she lost her husband after only 7 years of marriage and then lived as a widow for many years afterwards. That’s ‘bad’, right? But look at what this enabled Anna to do – she lived at the temple, worshiping, praying and prophesied that the child Jesus was the coming messiah.

But what if I look at life through the lens of Romans 8:28 – our God is able to work all things together for good for those who follow Him. This helps me see things from a different perspective, and instead of labeling circumstances as either ‘good’ or ‘bad’, I am prepared to see things as ‘both’.

When difficult things happen to us, when the enemy comes at us to cause trouble, our God is able to turn those ‘bad’ things into good. He is the God of ‘both’.

What things are happening around me that I am considering categorically ‘bad’ but God doesn’t see it that way? Lord help me to see through Your eyes of faith to be a person sees the ‘both’.

Written by Shelley Witt

21 On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived. 22 When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord”), 24 and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: “a pair of doves or two young pigeons.”

Jesus is circumcised, named and presented to the Lord. While circumcision is a parental decision not a religious decision nowadays, although we are to be circumcised in heart, naming and presenting/dedicating our children is very important.

Naming speaks to the character, personality and nature of a child. God commonly changed the name of someone after an encounter with Him.

Jesus was also presented to the Lord. This act of dedication was made by the parents in thanksgiving to God for the child as well as to dedicate themselves to bringing the child up to know the Lord.

For each us, irrespective of what our parents may or may not have done, dedicating ourselves to knowing and following Christ is very important. Making a decision deep on the inside to obey Jesus whatever the cost, consecrating ourselves to a life of purity and purpose in pursuing the will of God is an important action.

Written by Ps. Richard Botta

2 In 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.

7 verses, simple everyday details- a girl, a boy and a baby. And yet these 7 verses describe the beginnings of events that have changed the world. To an onlooker, the events in these verses would have seemed unremarkable, but it makes me wonder how many times over the course of history has God taken ordinary events and turned them into the extraordinary. Mary and Joseph were just living their best life, and I want to do the same. Mary and Joseph did not work hard so they would be used by God. They just humbly lived their lives, loving God. He came after them and used them mightily.

So I am thinking if I want to be part of great things for God, then maybe I just need to live my best life, humbly and in obedience. Maybe I need to be open to God and allow him to use my ordinary everyday as part of his plans and let Him make my life significant for His Kingdom.

Jesus, I give my life to you. Use me Lord to bring glory to your kingdom. Help me to be faithful to your call on my life. In Jesus name I pray. Amen

Written by Christine Knight