Liz’s Morning Devotional: Scripture selected from Upper Room
December 25, 2023
Matthew 23:1-12
1 Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and his disciples, 2 “The legal experts and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat. 3 Therefore, you must take care to do everything they say. But don’t do what they do. 4 For they tie together heavy packs that are impossible to carry. They put them on the shoulders of others but are unwilling to lift a finger to move them. 5 Everything they do, they do to be noticed by others. They make extra-wide prayer bands for their arms and long tassels for their clothes. 6 They love to sit in places of honor at banquets and in the synagogues. 7 They love to be greeted with honor in the markets and to be addressed as ‘Rabbi.’ 8 “But you shouldn’t be called Rabbi because you have one teacher, and all of you are brothers and sisters. 9 Don’t call anybody on earth your father because you have one Father, who is heavenly. 10 Don’t be called teacher, because Christ is your one teacher. 11 But the one who is greatest among you will be your servant. 12 All who lift themselves up will be brought low. But all who make themselves low will be lifted up.
Good Afternoon and Merry Christmas
We’ve all heard the saying, “Do what I say, not what I do!” It’s a grown-up excuse for when we make poor choices. Think of those things that we have learned through the school of hard knocks. How many times do we do one of those things that even though we have learned to be bad, we do it anyway? We lie to ourselves and say, this is the last time, or one little indiscretion won’t matter.
The Pharisees were living a “good” life by earthly standards. They were respected for their knowledge and for their status in the community. Sadly, they believed all the hype that accompanied their position and were proud of their accomplishments. This belief placed a barrier between them and Jesus.
That leads us to another old saying, “Pride cometh before the fall.” It is so hard to humble yourself and be God’s servant when you walk around in the robes of authority. It is easy to become accustomed to the privileges that their status implies.
Jesus teaches us that we will be lifted up when we make ourselves low. Jesus, the son of God, came to show us humility through his own earthly walk. The prophet Isaiah says, 4 Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain: 5 And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.
Today, on the day of great joy, God blesses us with Jesus to teach us and show us the way to righteousness.
Baby Born King, To You our lives we bring.
We sing Your birth: Born so lowly here on earth.
O Christ Child, You have come to redeem us from sin.
God’s gift of love, Sent from the throne above.
Jesus His name, And we bow before the same.
Gracious God, Thank you for this beautiful gift of life. On this blessed day, we praise your name. By your infinite grace, you love us more than we know. In the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen
Thought for the day: We are greatly blessed by giving and receiving gifts.
This, This, is Christ the King! The Babe, the son of Mary! Pastor Liz
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