But many of the priests and Levites and heads of fathers’ houses, old men who had seen the first house, wept with a loud voice when they saw the foundation of this house being laid, though many shouted aloud for joy, – Ezra 3:12 ESV

CONSIDER
The holiday season is upon us! Amidst all the celebrating and cheer, we might find that our expectations and reality aren’t fully aligned. So how are we supposed to navigate the tension this season can bring? Check out the video to explore more!

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What expectations do I need to surrender to the Lord?

But many of the priests and Levites and heads of fathers’ houses, old men who had seen the first house, wept with a loud voice when they saw the foundation of this house being laid, though many shouted aloud for joy,  so that the people could not distinguish the sound of the joyful shout from the sound of the people’s weeping, for the people shouted with a great shout, and the sound was heard far away.
– Ezra 3:12-13 ESV

CONSIDER
And by the light of that same star
Three Wise men came from country far
To seek for a King was their intent
And to follow the star wherever it went
– Verse 3, The First Noel

Theologians agree that there are significant differences between the Biblical account of the wise men traveling to see Jesus and the poetic account from the Christmas Hymns. Scripture never mentions how many followed the star, they most likely were not kings, and they probably came from a pagan country closer to Syria than China, India, or Korea. But the details of which the hymn does harmonize with the Bible are by far the most important and significant. These magoi – translated to mean either astrologers or astronomers – were expecting to find someone so important at the end of their journey that they chose to sacrifice time, energy, and fiscal resources to honor him. There’s a clear parallel between these men who sought after the newborn king and those exiles who were present when the temple’s foundation was laid. The men and women who made up the crowd in Jerusalem that day had experienced incredible hardships. And yet, any sacrifice they had made was as a result of seeking after their king and wanting to honor him with their lives. Some found their expectations unmet, and some rejoiced at the situation in which they found themselves. But regardless of the challenge, they were committed to seeking and following. There are times in our lives when it’s easy to believe the lie that unmet expectations are a sign to change course, that arduous roads and burdensome journeys are proof that we should turn around. But in Jesus, we see our God going to immense lengths to seek after us. His sacrifice was the most difficult proposition imaginable, and yet Christ joyously endured it all for you and me. This Christmas, may we pursue whatever next step God has for our lives with a persistence that rivals that of the exiles and Magi collectively!

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What expectations do I need to surrender to the Lord?

To listen to songs from this week’s worship set and the series on Spotify click here!

But many of the priests and Levites and heads of fathers’ houses, old men who had seen the first house, wept with a loud voice when they saw the foundation of this house being laid, though many shouted aloud for joy, so that the people could not distinguish the sound of the joyful shout from the sound of the people’s weeping, for the people shouted with a great shout, and the sound was heard far away.
– Ezra 3:12-13 ESV

CONSIDER
Joy. It’s a word whose definition has been discussed at length, and yet it needs to be experienced in order to be fully understood. We know it when we feel it, but when we try to create it or muster it up from inside, we can easily fall short. Why? Because joy makes a terrible end goal for our lives. C.S. Lewis says it this way: “All Joy reminds. It is never a possession, always a desire for something longer ago or further away or still about to be.” When the angel appeared to the terrified shepherds, he brought tidings of great joy. The Israelites who were present at the laying of the temple foundation shouted aloud for joy. But in neither of these experiences was joy the point; it simply pointed to the One who authored it. The season of Advent reminds us that true joy is found in the presence of God, and the only way we can enter his presence is through the sacrifice of Jesus, born in a manger and accessible to us all. His sacrifice once for all means that we will forever be with our Savior. So as we embrace the gift of joy in the events we attend and the people we encounter, let’s allow it to remind us that we’re only scratching the surface of the wonder we will experience for eternity.

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What expectations do I need to surrender to the Lord?

To listen to songs from this week’s worship set and the series on Spotify click here!

Then the people of the land discouraged the people of Judah and made them afraid to build and bribed counselors against them to frustrate their purpose, all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia.
– Ezra 4:4-5 ESV

CONSIDER
According to most Christmas movies out there, this is the season of perpetual results. The lonely find each other, the lost find their way back home, and the unlucky find success in anything they attempt. But part of the reason these movies are so popular is because things rarely (if ever) happen this way. So does God really care about how our lives play out? And if he does, why don’t our prayers get answered the way we think they should? For answers to these questions and more, check out this video!

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Where do I need to understand the power of my words?

Then the people of the land discouraged the people of Judah and made them afraid to build and bribed counselors against them to frustrate their purpose, all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia.
– Ezra 4:4-5 ESV

CONSIDER

O Come O Come Emmanuel
O come, O Branch of Jesse’s stem, unto your own and rescue them!
From depths of hell your people save, and give them victory o’er the grave.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel

 Augustine of Hippo was one of the most influential voices in church history. He lived in North Africa in a time when Christians were so heavily divided over theology that the western church split into multiple factions. One major schism happened shortly after a time of intense persecution. Some Christians chose to deny their faith during this time, but after the persecution ended they felt remorse and returned to Jesus. Augustine welcomed these people with open arms, while his rivals believed that this tainted the holiness of the church. Augustine’s reply to their position: our holiness is rooted in the work of Christ, not the perfection of our lives. This church leader spent the bulk of his days proclaiming the grace that Jesus earned on our behalf, and by doing so stood firm against the heresy of salvation by works.
When we sing the Christmas refrain O Come O Come Emmanuel, we’re proclaiming this too. In our weakness and brokenness Emmanuel has come; not to condemn or criticize but to save and heal. He was born in lowliness and poverty so that anyone could have access to the hope he offers. Whether we find ourselves in a season of light or darkness, Advent is a clear reminder that we have a reason to rejoice!

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Where do I need to understand the power of my words?

To listen to songs from this week’s worship set and the series on Spotify click here!

Then the work on the house of God that is in Jerusalem stopped, and it ceased until the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia. – Ezra 4:24 ESV

CONSIDER
We can all agree that words carry incredible power. They can change our mood, change our mind, change our relationships, and change our plans. And although the people closest to us can speak the most impactful words we hear, anyone with the capacity for language or communication can make an intentional or unintentional difference. In this week’s text, it appeared the opponents to God’s people had succeeded in their plan to stop the work of rebuilding the Temple. Their lying, threatening, nagging, and bullying words shut down the construction project for about fifteen years. But the Lord was at work behind the scenes, ensuring that he would get to speak the final word, and after that period of apparent silence his people were able to rebuild the Temple with the King’s blessing and with his checkbook!
This story from Israel’s history serves as a poignant illustration as we prepare for Christmas. John 1:14 describes Advent this way: “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” This season is the celebration of God’s Word having the last say in our lives and, as a result, the final authority in our world. Our opponents might shout slanderous lies that are aimed at hurting us, but God’s Word has come to proclaim the truth of who we are and what He is capable of! Whether we are navigating the darkness of what seems to be a silent season, or find ourselves in the light of his glory and grace, the Word has come to be a tangible expression of the power and love of God for us all.

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Where do I need to understand the power of my words?

To listen to songs from this week’s worship set and the series on Spotify click here!

Moreover, I make a decree regarding what you shall do for these elders of the Jews for the rebuilding of this house of God. The cost is to be paid to these men in full and without delay from the royal revenue, the tribute of the province from Beyond the River. – Ezra 6:8 ESV

CONSIDER
We’ve all felt the tension of being certain that something will happen, and waiting for the fulfillment of that thing to happen. Patience is necessary while anticipating God’s perfect timing to come about, but it doesn’t often come naturally or easily in our lives. So how can we remain poised to build what God has called us to when we find ourselves in a season of waiting? Check out this video for more on the benefit of our eager expectation this Advent season!

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Where is God asking me to build?

Moreover, I make a decree regarding what you shall do for these elders of the Jews for the rebuilding of this house of God. The cost is to be paid to these men in full and without delay from the royal revenue, the tribute of the province from Beyond the River. – Ezra 6:8 ESV

CONSIDER

Hark! The Herald Angels Sing

Mild He lays His glory by
Born that man no more may die
Born to raise the sons of earth
Born to give them second birth
Hark! The herald angels sing
“Glory to the new-born king”

London in the 1730s was an overcrowded, contaminated, and stress-filled city. The old money aristocracy intersected with the new money of the impending Industrial Revolution. While this might sound like it would bring affluence and prosperity, for decades it actually produced the opposite. London’s infrastructure could not keep up with its growing population, and for many the promise of wealth was overshadowed by the hopelessness of scarcity. It was into this world that Charles Wesley penned Hark! The Herald Angels Sing. Wesley was convinced that the poor and illiterate men, women, and children of London mattered deeply to God. So he wrote this – and many other hymns – as a catchy way to teach theology to the common people. For those who were so accustomed to death and despair, the promise of the gospel came alive in this song and created a new reality.
It would make sense that the returning exiles would feel the same way as they heard King Darius’ decree. After years of disappointment and setbacks, this message from a distant land must have seemed too good to be true. It may have even taken these people a moment to wrap their minds around the truth of their new reality. And because death and the grave are problems we still face, we all can identify with the transformation hope brings to our world. Jesus was born that man no more may die, and the promise of the gospel is having the same effect in the 21st century as it has since the herald angels first proclaimed glory to the newborn king!

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Where is God asking me to build?

To listen to songs from this week’s worship set and the series on Spotify click here!

Moreover, I make a decree regarding what you shall do for these elders of the Jews for the rebuilding of this house of God. The cost is to be paid to these men in full and without delay from the royal revenue, the tribute of the province from Beyond the River. – Ezra 6:8 ESV

CONSIDER
It’s likely that very few of us equate Advent with the act of building. The book of Ezra focuses on and celebrates the miraculous rebuilding of the temple of God, but this act has nothing to do with the arrival of Jesus. Or does it?
Through an astounding edict by King Darius, God’s people were able to create space to encounter his presence in their lives. By the worship, sacrifice, and adherence to the law that occurred there, they were able to connect with their Creator. But as time passed, the obedience of the Israelites became inconsistent to say the least, and about 600 years later the temple that was built through such extraordinary circumstances was destroyed yet again.
The good news that angels proclaimed to shepherds watching their fields was that a Savior was born, and that his birth would mean great joy for all people. This joy, in part, stemmed from the truth that Jesus would provide a way for us all to encounter the presence of God. But rather than it being contingent on our obedience, this encounter was contingent on His obedience! Jesus became the greater temple (see Matthew 12:6) because nothing we or anyone else can do could ever diminish his power to bridge the gap between us and God. He is the true temple who was willing to come to earth to build a permanent way to worship in the Father’s presence.

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Where is God asking me to build?

To listen to songs from this week’s worship set and the series on Spotify click here!

And the people of Israel, the priests and the Levites, and the rest of the returned exiles, celebrated the dedication of this house of God with joy. They offered at the dedication of this house of God 100 bulls, 200 rams, 400 lambs, and as a sin offering for all Israel 12 male goats, according to the number of the tribes of Israel. – Ezra 6:16,17 ESV

CONSIDER
In Ezra 6, the exiles gathered with joy and dedicated the temple that was 20+ years in the making. It was a long road getting there, with many seasons of light and darkness traveled along the way. Both of those seasons served as a backdrop for authentic worship in the hearts of God’s people. For a deeper dive into what this can look like in our lives today, check out this week’s video!

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What do I need to joyfully dedicate to the Lord this season?

And the people of Israel, the priests and the Levites, and the rest of the returned exiles, celebrated the dedication of this house of God with joy. They offered at the dedication of this house of God 100 bulls, 200 rams, 400 lambs, and as a sin offering for all Israel 12 male goats, according to the number of the tribes of Israel. – Ezra 6:16,17 ESV

CONSIDER

A thrill of hope- the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn!
Fall on your knees! O hear the angel voices!
O night divine, O night when Christ was born!
O night, O holy night, O night divine!

The weary world is an appropriate way to describe the situation in which the Israelites found themselves in Ezra 6. After decades of highs and lows, the temple was finally erected and the worship of God could finally begin as the law prescribed. Verse 16 even references what could be considered a thrill of hope as the people celebrated the dedication of the temple with joy. In both Ezra’s account of the dedication and in Placide Cappeau’s hymn about the night Jesus was born, the response to joy was to worship the One who authored it. Cappeau urges his reader to “fall on your knees” when we see the beauty of Christ and God’s plan for our redemption through him. Why? In part, because Jesus accomplished what the Temple could only point to. While the exiles dedicated a building where God could meet with people, the Son of God became a person so we could have a way to approach God. Now that’s a reason for joyful worship!

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What do I need to joyfully dedicate to the Lord this season?

To listen to songs from this week’s worship set and the series on Spotify click here!

And the people of Israel, the priests and the Levites, and the rest of the returned exiles, celebrated the dedication of this house of God with joy. They offered at the dedication of this house of God 100 bulls, 200 rams, 400 lambs, and as a sin offering for all Israel 12 male goats, according to the number of the tribes of Israel. – Ezra 6:16,17 ESV

CONSIDER
As a Mom, she would do anything to keep him by her side and free from harm. As a woman of faith, Monica knew that God had plans for her atheistic, pagan son Augustine that she couldn’t comprehend. And so with tears in her eyes, she prayed fervently against what he set out to do, pleading with God to keep him from traveling to Rome in order to keep witnessing to him personally. Years later, Augustine would come to know Jesus through his experiences in Rome and Milan, eventually becoming one of the most influential church leaders ever. Recalling his Mother Monica’s prayers and tears, he wrote this profound statement: “By her flood of tears, what she was begging of you, my God, was that you would not allow me to sail to Rome. Yet in your deep counsel, You heard the central point of her longing, though not granting her what she then asked, namely that you should make me what she continually prayed for.” The Lord did not answer Monica’s words for Augustine – he did leave her and sailed for Rome – but her prayer was answered! Augustine’s experiences in Rome led to his conversion, the very thing his mother was begging God for decades to do.
When God doesn’t answer our words, we may be tempted to react in anger, frustration, or sadness. But when we dedicate our lives to the Lord, in part, we are giving up our rights and giving him permission to answer our prayers with any method or set of events he chooses. The exiles dedicated the Temple after their words were unanswered in order for God to answer their prayers. They wouldn’t have written the seasons of darkness they endured into the script of their own lives, but the story God was writing answered their prayers in a way that brought him total glory and the people total joy. So should we find ourselves in an imperfect season, may Advent be a reminder that God loves us enough to answer our prayer in the exact way, place, and time we need it to be answered.

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What do I need to joyfully dedicate to the Lord this season?

To listen to songs from this week’s worship set and the series on Spotify click here!

And they kept the Feast of Unleavened Bread seven days with joy, for the LORD had made them joyful and had turned the heart of the king of Assyria to them, so that he aided them in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel.
– Ezra 6:22 ESV

CONSIDER
It feels timely to send this devotional on Sunday, the last day of Advent, rather than on our typical Monday… pausing once more to celebrate Jesus’ arrival. As Advent concludes and we wrap up this incredible series, it is fitting that we encounter the exiles responding to the faithfulness of the Lord by keeping the Passover. As we look back at what God has done, both through sending his Son Jesus into the world and in our lives personally, may we exhibit that same grateful attitude in joyful remembrance. For more, check out the video below, and Merry Christmas!

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How will I celebrate the Lord?

And they kept the Feast of Unleavened Bread seven days with joy, for the LORD had made them joyful and had turned the heart of the king of Assyria to them, so that he aided them in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel.
– Ezra 6:22 ESV

CONSIDER

Joy to the World

Joy to the Earth, the Savior reigns
Let all their songs employ
While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy

One of the most beloved and often sung hymns at Christmas is Isaac Watts’ ode to Jesus’ birth. Watts crafted a song that didn’t simply state the fact of the incarnation but also expressed its implications on our lives now that Christ has entered our world. The Christmas holiday may be over, but its meaning for our lives continues to resonate day in and day out. May the truth that Jesus entered our world for the sake of humanity make an eternal impact in each of our lives, now and into the New Year!

One note: In lieu of devotional content being delivered to your inbox this Friday, we encourage you to reflect on this week’s application question (found below) and share that reflection with someone in your sphere of influence!

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How will I celebrate the Lord?

To listen to songs from this week’s worship set and the series on Spotify click here!

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. – John 1:14 ESV

CONSIDER

A Prayer for the New Year

Thank you, Father, for another year to experience your goodness and faithfulness. Thank you that the logos – the Word – became flesh, dwelling among us so that your character could be better recognized and redemption could be made possible. As we enter a New Year, we pray that we would be led by your Spirit into any sphere of life you want us to influence. Guide us toward healthy decisions and habits physically, financially, emotionally, and spiritually. Because the gospel renews all things, remind us to keep it central in our lives. And because your kindness leads to repentance, stir us by your grace to make disciples of Jesus by reflecting your patience and hope throughout the year. The calendar may have changed, but your faithfulness never does! May this truth transform our perspective and our conduct each and every day. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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How does the Gospel inform how I will live in 2024?

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. – John 1:14 ESV

GREEK
Σὰρξ ἐγένετο/ sarx egeneto: transformed into a being made of flesh

CONSIDER

Come Thou Long Expected Jesus
Born thy people to deliver, born a child and yet a King,
born to reign in us forever, now thy gracious kingdom bring.
By thine own eternal spirit rule in all our hearts alone;
by thine all sufficient merit, raise us to thy glorious throne.

Christmas has been referred to by some as the “Festival of the Incarnation.” The word incarnation means in the flesh, and although it never appears in the New Testament, the concept is found throughout. The eternal Word (John 1:1) sarx egeneto (transformed into a being made of flesh) and dwelt among us. Now, there may be a temptation to “move on” from this theological truth since the Christmas season is behind us, but the point being made is actually central to the gospel. The Greek word egeneto expresses that a person or thing has literally changed its property into something that it wasn’t previously. And because it is in the aorist tense, it is a completed action; there is no taking it back! As we put both of these ideas together, we uncover the power of the incarnation. Jesus chose to put on flesh in order to become one of us. He sarx egeneto and in so doing, he was born to deliver his people and reign in us forever. Jesus is the ruler who didn’t just send a redeemer but himself became our redeemer. He’s the Savior who changes everything and the reason we can celebrate the Festival of the Incarnation in every season.

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How does the Gospel inform how I will live in 2024?

To listen to songs from this week’s worship set and the series on Spotify click here!

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
– John 1:14 ESV

GREEK
πλήρης/ plērēs: complete, completely abounding [in]

CONSIDER
In our 21st Century context, it’s far more common to find people skeptical of Jesus being God than him being a man. There is much historical evidence that Jesus was born, lived his life in Galilee and the surrounding region, and died by crucifixion just outside Jerusalem. But in the century after Christ and his ministry on earth, the prevailing argument among skeptics was that Jesus couldn’t possibly have been a man – in large part because many at that time believed pagan deities came to earth all the time and masqueraded as humans, from Zeus to Dolos to Dionysus. But John said that the Word came from the Father plērēs (complete, completely abounding [in]) of grace and truth. Only Jesus, being fully God and fully human, could have made atonement for our sin. He could live the sinless life required for a perfect sacrifice, and yet humble himself enough to die the death our sin deserved. May the beauty of this mystery inform how we live this year!

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How does the Gospel inform how I will live in 2024?

To listen to songs from this week’s worship set and the series on Spotify click here!