The title is more than a religious label; you share an anointing with our Savior. Read / Listen Listen to passage & devotional: Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 32 Q. But why are you called a Christian? A. Because by faith I am a member of Christ and so I share in his anointing. I am anointed to confess his name, to present myself to him as a living sacrifice of thanks, to strive with a good conscience against sin and the devil in this life, and afterward to reign with Christ over all creation for all eternity. Summary This past week, we have focused on the significance of Jesus’s mediatorial office of prophet, priest, and king bound up in his title of Christ, the anointed one. Since those who follow Jesus are called Christians, a word that literally means 'little Christs,' what does it mean to share in this title? Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 32 applies how the prophet, priest, and king roles translate into the life of a Christian, as well. By faith, you are united with Christ and are anointed by the Holy Spirit to live for Him. John brings up this anointing in this passage of his first letter. The first marker is knowing and confessing the truth that Jesus is the Christ! This is the work of the Christian as a prophet: professing the truth of God, which God’s Word and Spirit testify to us. Those who deny Jesus as Christ are the deceivers. This past week, we have heard from many places in the Bible that Jesus is fulfilled all of the Old Testament prophecies regarding the Messiah: He is the true Prophet, Priest, and King. Yet these claims faced opposition through false teachers who tried to lead these young Christians astray that John is addressing. So, John directs them to abide in the truth of God’s Word that they have been taught from the beginning. This means you need to meditate on (think deeply about) Jesus and the promise of eternal life. Dig Deeper It can be easy to forget what it means to be a Christian in today’s world. We face different opponents and false teachers than John’s audience did in the first century, but his advice is still sound. His language in this passage echoes the promise of the new covenant described in Jeremiah 31, especially verses 33 through 34, “For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.” Make sure you personally know God and His grace! Christ delivered on the new covenant promises and shared its blessings by sending the Holy Spirit. So that in claiming the name Christian, as prophets, we can boldly confess Jesus as the Christ proclaiming the truths of His Word. As a priesthood of believers, we can live as sacrifices of thanks because of Christ’s once-and-for-all sacrifice on the cross. And as royalty belonging to God’s kingdom, we strive in this world against sin and the devil while looking forward to reigning with our Lord for eternity. AAA Prayer (About) ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: The Holy One who is righteousness and truth ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Abide in Jesus and what He teaches you through His Word. “Fight the good fight, holding on to faith and a good conscience” (1 Tim 1:18-19) ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED: Read the New Testament in a year, a chapter a day - Galatians 3

Many want Jesus to fit their own agenda, but we can be glad He came as a King with eternal purposes. Read / Listen Listen to passage & devotional: Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 31 Q. Why is he called “Christ,” meaning “anointed”? A. Because he has been ordained by God the Father and has been anointed with the Holy Spirit to be: our chief prophet and teacher who perfectly reveals to us the secret counsel and will of God for our deliverance; our only high priest who has set us free by the one sacrifice of his body, and who continually pleads our cause with the Father; and our eternal king who governs us by his Word and Spirit, and who guards us and keeps us in the freedom he has won for us. Summary In ten days, you may hear this passage read or see children waving palm branches to commemorate “Palm Sunday.” The entry into Jerusalem on a donkey at the beginning of the week that would lead Jesus to the cross was another significant event showing how Jesus fulfilled Old Testament Scripture as the expected Messiah-King. The anticipation had reached a fever pitch in Jerusalem. It was abuzz with many traveling into town for the Passover, including many who had heard Jesus’s preaching and witnessed His miracles. Jesus’ earthly ministry was primarily spent in Galilee and outside of Jerusalem. Yet, Jerusalem was always where Jesus was heading in the end. In Matthew’s account, we can see how Jesus is aware of all that will occur. He knows where the disciples can fetch a proper donkey for His royal entrance. The crowd recognized the connection to what the prophet Zechariah said, and how David had also sent his son Solomon riding in on a donkey at the beginning of his reign (1 Kings 1:33). Jesus, the Christ of the tribe of Judah and line of David, was riding into Jerusalem as her prince of peace. He was being recognized as such through the reception and shouting of “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” However, many missed what Jesus had come to Jerusalem to do and what this visitation of the Lord meant. Dig Deeper Jesus failed to meet the expectations of most of His own Jewish people in His days on earth. Most of the religious leaders fiercely opposed Him and charged Him with blasphemy. Many everyday folks were weary of the years under foreign rule and longed for Israel to be a powerful and united kingdom of God’s special people as in the days of David and Solomon, and were allured by the authority of His message and power of His miracles. Those who recognized that He might be the long-awaited Messiah still missed the greater purpose of His coming. Jesus knew that before He was to be exalted as King of Glory, He must first lay down His life as the Suffering Servant. His kingdom was not earthly nor temporary but of another world and one that will never end. The catechism gets at this eternal aspect of Christ’s reign as our King. He reigns through the governing power of His Word and Spirit, and He rules and protects those He saved from His throne of grace. It could have been easy for anyone else to get caught up in the excitement of that day and try to ride that wave of popularity. But thanks be to God, Jesus had eternal salvation in His sights. The King had come to Jerusalem to suffer, die, be buried, and rise again, securing freedom for His people forever. AAA Prayer (About) ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: The King of Glory and the Lord Who Saves ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Seek first God’s kingdom and righteousness ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED: Read the New Testament in a year, a chapter a day - Galatians 2

Jesus is the perfect sacrifice and only high priest we need Read / Listen Listen to passage & devotional: Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 31 Q. Why is he called “Christ,” meaning “anointed”? A. Because he has been ordained by God the Father and has been anointed with the Holy Spirit to be: our chief prophet and teacher who perfectly reveals to us the secret counsel and will of God for our deliverance; our only high priest who has set us free by the one sacrifice of his body, and who continually pleads our cause with the Father; and our eternal king who governs us by his Word and Spirit, and who guards us and keeps us in the freedom he has won for us. Summary We all have our daily routines and chores that need to be done at home and work. Engines need regular oil changes. Dentists recommend brushing your teeth twice a day. No matter how large of a meal you had yesterday, you will still be ready for another one today. And as long as there are meals, there is cleaning up to do and dishes to wash. The priests we read of in the Old Testament were never done with their work. Every day, morning and evening, they made sacrifices on behalf of the people. Each day they gave offerings to God and practiced purification rituals to be qualified to enter God’s presence. Over and over, every day, the priests were at work making sacrifices to God. The guilt and the sin piled up each day like dirty laundry. However, the book of Hebrews reflects on why the Old Testament purification rituals and sacrifices ceased in the New Testament church. There is a reason why you do not pass by animal sacrifices in the church parking lots on Sunday mornings. These rituals are no longer required because Jesus fulfilled and accomplished what the sacrificial system could only pledge and symbolize: a complete cleansing and forgiveness of sins. Dig Deeper After a hard day’s work, you may look forward to sitting in your favorite chair and putting your feet up. When you get to that point of the day, sitting down signifies your work for the day is done. However, that time can be short-lived, since there will likely be more work the next day. So, v11 paints the contrast between the priests constantly standing and working away in a job that would never be complete, and Jesus making one sacrifice and sitting down. Yet Christ offered the one perfect sacrifice and then sat down. Sitting at the right hand of God tells us that His work is done once and for all. He has entered the most Holy Place before God as our only high priest. He has made way for us to be sanctified and to enter God’s holy presence where He is. Jesus is not idle on his throne either, but also is interceding for us in prayer just like the priests would pray for the people in the holy place (Romans 8:34). So even though we add to our guilt every day (Q&A 13), Christ has made the complete and eternal payment, once-and-for-all. And that is good news in a world where there always seems to be more work. AAA Prayer (About) ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: Our Father, who sacrificed His own Son as a complete payment of our sins and intercedes for us in Heaven; ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Confess your sins for “he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).” ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED: Read the New Testament in a year, a chapter a day - Galatians 1

Jesus was not just a prophet in the line of prophets, but He's the chief prophet of God Read / Listen Listen to passage & devotional: Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 31 Q. Why is he called “Christ,” meaning “anointed”? A. Because he has been ordained by God the Father and has been anointed with the Holy Spirit to be: our chief prophet and teacher who perfectly reveals to us the secret counsel and will of God for our deliverance; our only high priest who has set us free by the one sacrifice of his body, and who continually pleads our cause with the Father; and our eternal king who governs us by his Word and Spirit, and who guards us and keeps us in the freedom he has won for us. Summary Jesus’s earthly life is usually described as His time of humiliation until His resurrection and ascension to heaven, which is then His exaltation. The transfiguration was a unique moment when a few of Jesus’s disciples glimpsed His divine glory. It is also a confirmation of His office as the chief prophet of God. Mark mentions in verse 2 that “after six days,” the transfiguration occurred. Six days prior, Jesus was with His disciples in Caesarea Philippi, and Peter had testified that Jesus is the Christ (Mark 8:29). Then, on this mountain, Peter, James, and John saw Jesus speaking with two prominent Old Testament prophets, Moses and Elijah. Plus, Jesus radiates such a pure light, reminiscent of Moses’ encounter with meeting the Lord on the mountain. It's recorded in Exodus that “When Aaron and all the Israelites saw Moses, his face was radiant, and they were afraid to come near him (34:30).” Next, a cloud overshadowed them, just like the pillar cloud would descend over the tabernacle in the Israelites’ time in the wilderness to show God’s presence. All these elements on the mountain point to the fulfillment of Jesus as the Messiah. The voice in the cloud confirms He speaks for God, “This is my beloved Son, listen to him.” This is divine approval that Jesus, the Son of God, would declare the Word of God to His people, fulfilling His office as a prophet. At the close of this event, the other prophets disappear, and only Jesus is in front of them. Jesus was not only a prophet but the chief prophet and the one the other prophets prophesied of and pointed to (cf. Deut 18:15; Mal. 4:5). Dig Deeper Jesus would confirm His prophetic message throughout His ministry by performing miracles, making predictions of things to come, and preaching and teaching with authority. As we learned yesterday, He did not just quote Scripture but was an embodiment of it and fulfillment before their eyes. As He states within the sermon of the mount in Matthew 5:17, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.” The way Jesus spoke was different from an ordinary teacher or prophet. Taken at His Word, He cannot merely be another prophet in a line of religious prophets or a great moral teacher. Even today, the Father’s voice calls us to listen to what Jesus says throughout Scripture. As Heidelberg Catechism QA31 notes, He perfectly reveals God’s secret counsel and will for our deliverance to us. He shows us the power of God to save: “For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ (John 1:17).” The plan to rescue His people was made visible and fulfilled through the person and work of Jesus Christ. He is the prophet representing God to His people and God for His people. AAA Prayer (About) ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: Jesus is our chief prophet and teacher, the Word who became flesh who revealed the glory of God full of grace and truth (John 1:14) ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Jesus, as a prophet, spoke words of warning and promise. Listen to Him in whatever He tells you in His Word. ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED: Read the New Testament in a year, a chapter a day - Hebrews 13

Jesus gave the shortest, most powerful sermon ever, and it's good news for you! Read / Listen Listen to passage & devotional: Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 31 Q. Why is he called “Christ,” meaning “anointed”? A. Because he has been ordained by God the Father and has been anointed with the Holy Spirit to be our chief prophet and teacher who perfectly reveals to us the secret counsel and will of God for our deliverance; our only high priest who has set us free by the one sacrifice of his body, and who continually pleads our cause with the Father; and our eternal king who governs us by his Word and Spirit, and who guards us and keeps us in the freedom he has won for us. Summary Jesus' public ministry took off like a rocket after His baptism. His cousin, John the Baptist, was already gathering crowds who went far out into the wilderness to hear this eccentric prophet speak about the coming Messiah, so you can imagine the anticipation people had after the heavens were torn open, a booming voice indicated it was pleased with 'my son,' while a dove descended upon Jesus. Soon after His baptism and subsequent months-long time of temptation in the wilderness, Jesus re-emerged into society and the miracle show began. All sorts of people were healed, water was turned to wine, and Jesus has become a rock star with mobs of people following Him everywhere He went. The opportunity came for Jesus to return to His home synagogue in Nazareth, and you can imagine the locals packed the synagogue to hear their native son who had become famous. What would he say? It just so happened that the scroll of Isaiah the prophet was handed to Jesus, and He unrolled it nearly all the way to the end. He read the passage quoted by Luke: The Spirit of the Lord is on me... He's anointed me... He's sent me to proclaim good news, freedom, and the Lord's blessing. When Jesus finished reading, He sat down. You can bet the packed room was on pins and needles. Every eye, Luke writes, was fastened on Jesus. Jesus then delivers one of the shortest, most powerful sermons ever preached: Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing. This was the ultimate mic drop moment. It stunned those present. From that moment on, the devil, who'd just been defeated by Jesus in the desert, sets about to turn public opinion against Jesus until they ultimately had Him nailed to a cross. Dig Deeper It often may seem like Christ is simply Jesus' last name, but that's not the case. Both the Greek word Christos and the Hebrew word Mashiyach (Messiah) both are titles which mean the same thing: Jesus, the anointed one. The concept of anointing is a distinctly ancient near eastern idea. The thought of oil being poured over our head doesn't seem all that attractive to us, but in the Old Testament, it was a big deal to be anointed. In fact, only a small contingent of men were anointed: prophets, priests, and kings. As we go through this week, we're going to see how Jesus the Christ fulfills all three of those offices, and why that's so important for you. AAA Prayer (About) ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: Our Father, who through His Spirit anointed His Son Jesus to save us, His covenant people; ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Thank God that Jesus fulfilled the Old Testament prophecies on your behalf; ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED: Read the New Testament in a year, a chapter a day - Hebrews 12

Jesus isn't just a crutch to help with some of your guilt, rather He cleanses you from ALL of your sins. Read / Listen Listen to passage & devotional: Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 30 Q. Do those who look for their salvation and security in saints, in themselves, or elsewhere really believe in the only savior Jesus? A. No. Although they boast of being his, by their deeds they deny the only savior and deliverer, Jesus. Either Jesus is not a perfect savior, or those who in true faith accept this savior have in him all they need for their salvation. Summary Details matter, take for example how a comma ended up costing the U.S. government millions of dollars. Back when the 1872 tariffs act was passed, tariffs made up a considerable amount of the government’s income. In this act, congress specified items that were exempt from these tariffs. Included in this list of exemptions was fruit-plants…..at least that was the intention. Instead of listing “fruit-plants” as an exemption, what was mistakenly put into the final draft was “fruit, plants”. That mistaken swap of punctuation was costly as various fruits had previously carried 10-20% tariffs. It is estimated that the government lost around $2 million dollars from this mistake, which when you consider inflation would equate to around $40 million today. Details matter, not just in official government matters but also when we read the Word of God. The presence or absence of a single word can have a significant effect on the meaning of a passage. We see that with 1 John 1:5-7. Amongst this well-known description of God as light and how we are to walk in the light, there is also the phrase “the blood of Jesus his son cleanses us from all sin." The word “all” matters a great deal. It is one thing to say that Jesus cleanses us from sin, and another entirely to proclaim that Jesus cleanses us from all sin. Dig Deeper You may have heard the idiom, “in this world, nothing can be said to be certain except death and taxes”. There is at least one more thing that you can add to this list: people sin. To say that you are without sin is to deceive yourself. Your debt of sin grows each day. In the face of this mounting debt of sin, Jesus is the only source of relief. The catechism reminds us that if you have faith in Jesus, you have all you need for salvation. Not only is the blood of Christ enough to wash you clean of sin, it is enough to cleanse you from all sin. There is no distinction between sins, as if some sins are unpardonable while others are not even worthy of forgiveness. Jesus cleanses you from all sins; not just the sins of your past, but even the sins you have yet to commit! When you sin, you do not need to wonder if that sin was one too far, as if that might be the sin that is too much for Jesus to forgive. The word all from today’s passage is significant for it encapsulates the totality of the grace of Jesus. Jesus did not face the cross so that you could be partially forgiven, but so that you could be fully forgiven and washed clean from sin. Guilt is real and can be debilitating when allowed to take root, but in Jesus you do not need to be enslaved to the guilt of your past. Accept the grace of Jesus, forgive yourself in the same way that Christ has forgiven you, and do your best to live a life full of gratitude for what Jesus has done for you. AAA Prayer (About) ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: Father God, you are light, and in you there is no darkness at all. ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Pray for the strength and courage to walk in the light as He is in the light. ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED: Read the New Testament in a year, a chapter a day - Hebrews 10

There's only One who can unite our polarized world: Jesus Christ Read / Listen Listen to passage & devotional: Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 30 Q. Do those who look for their salvation and security in saints, in themselves, or elsewhere really believe in the only savior Jesus? A. No. Although they boast of being his, by their deeds they deny the only savior and deliverer, Jesus. Either Jesus is not a perfect savior, or those who in true faith accept this savior have in him all they need for their salvation. Summary In his first letter to the Corinthians, Paul raises the issue of disunity and conflict amongst the believers in Corinth. In this letter Paul also addresses concerns over other issues including lawsuits amongst believers, mistreatment of the poor at the Lord’s table, boasting about spiritual gifts, and the strained relationship between the so-called 'strong' and 'weak.' Each of these areas that Paul addresses highlight the dissention within the church. A lack of unity causes or at minimum contributes to a whole host of issues. Singled out as a sign of their disunity was the Corinthians divided allegiance. Some claimed to follow Christ, or Cephas (Peter), and others Christ. When Paul came to Corinth and preached the Gospel, he was not looking for followers of himself, but desired for the people to come to faith in and become followers of Jesus. It is rightly pointed out that Paul was not crucified on their behalf, nor were they baptized in the name of Paul. It is Jesus who was crucified on their behalf, and in Jesus’ name that they were baptized. Instead of creating divisions by aligning with one of various teachers of the day, Paul hopes to see the Corinthian church united in their devotion to Christ. Dig Deeper The church in Corinth is not the only example of believers straying in devotion to Jesus and leaning into an allegiance to someone or something else. In Q&A 30, the Heidelberg Catechism directly mentions the examples of looking for salvation in saints, oneself, or elsewhere. While there are probably not a lot of protestants looking for salvation in the saints, there is still the possibility of repeating the same shortcomings as the Corinthians. Just as Peter and Paul were the well-known teachers of their day, a similar celebrity exists today around certain popular biblical teachers. There is nothing wrong with being fond of the teachings of Francis Chan, Craig Groeschel, or R.C. Sproul. Where issues can arise is when you forget that they are only human and not above critique. When I was a senior in high school Rob Bell was at the height of his popularity. His NOOMA videos were particularly popular and some nights after work a few coworkers and I would watch his lessons at the house of a friend who owned the DVDs. Eventually Rob Bell had a fall from grace when he started publishing works that had, at best, questionable theology. So, what do you do when a biblical teacher starts saying things that disagree with the Word of God? You trust the Word of God, every time. Our faith is in Jesus Christ and in no one or nothing else. Rob Bell is not the only well-known biblical teacher to let people down. Just in recent years Bill Hybels stepped down from Willow Creek following allegations of sexual misconduct and Mark Driscoll resigned after fostering a 'fear based' environment that led to the dissolution of the Mars Hill church. What the fall of these well-known individuals highlights is how no teacher today is infallible. Your allegiance should not rest upon a particular church, pastor, or likewise; as Christians our allegiance is to Christ, and Christ alone. AAA Prayer (About) ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: Our God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, our undivided Savior; ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Pray that even though our society is riddled with division that Christians will remain undivided on the truths of God's Word. ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED: Read the New Testament in a year, a chapter a day - Hebrews 10

Be strengthened in the name of Christ, the one & only source of salvation. Read / Listen Listen to passage & devotional: Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 29 Q. Why is the Son of God called “Jesus,” meaning “Savior”? A. Because he saves us from our sins. Salvation cannot be found in anyone else; it is futile to look for any salvation elsewhere. Summary Following the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, the Disciples ventured out into the streets of Jerusalem actively preaching and healing in the name of Jesus. After healing a crippled man unable to walk since birth, Peter shared that this man was healed by the name of Jesus. This was followed by a declaration that Jesus is the Messiah, which included a critique of the Jewish rulers. These same rulers had charge of the temple and played a role in pressuring Pilate to execute Jesus. Word of this made it to the captain of the temple, who had the disciples arrested. After being held in custody overnight, they were then brought before a group of leaders from the Jewish religious council known as the Sanhedrin. In response to their questioning about what had taken place Peter does not back down from his prior declaration, despite knowing the role these men played in Jesus’ crucifixion and the danger they posed for him. Instead, Peter makes a bolder declaration in their midst: “And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” Not only was Peter stating outright that salvation is found in Jesus, but that salvation is ONLY found in Jesus. Dig Deeper The Book of Acts is one of my favorite books of the Bible. I have always been drawn to the fact that the miracles did not stop after the resurrection. Despite Jesus having already ascended to heaven, the Disciples were out healing the sick and making the lame walk. These miracles were a sign to the people that what the Disciples spoke of Jesus was true. These signs also protected the Disciples in this instance, for while it would have been easier to “get rid” of the Disciples, the council’s hands were tied, since the people had already seen the miracles, with thousands coming to faith in Jesus as a result. Instead this group of leaders on the council tried to compel the Disciples to stop telling people about Jesus. Despite the council being a powerful enemy to have, Peter refused. Peter had seen the risen Jesus and been filled with the Holy Spirit. He was not going to give in to the demands of the council; they could not offer him salvation. Instead, Peter held firm and trusted in Jesus, the only one who saves. You will likely never stand before a council and have to speak on behalf of your faith. However, you might be put in a position someday where you are asked to compromise on your faith and values. If that day comes, remember Peter’s example of standing firm on your faith in Jesus and his reason for doing so: “for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” AAA Prayer (About) ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: Almighty God, who raised Jesus from the dead; ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Pray that you will build your life with Christ as the cornerstone. ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED: Read the New Testament in a year, a chapter a day - Hebrews 9

Where can you find peace while wandering through a spiritual desert? Read / Listen Listen to passage & devotional: Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 29 Q. Why is the Son of God called “Jesus,” meaning “Savior”? A. Because he saves us from our sins. Salvation cannot be found in anyone else; it is futile to look for any salvation elsewhere. Summary Near the end of the movie Thor: Ragnarok, Thor’s brother Loki is freed by a group of escaped slaves and expresses to them, “You do seem to be in desperate need of leadership”. Surprisingly enough, the newly escaped group followed Loki’s lead. Leadership is something that we desire. To see this in the world today, look no further than how countries are organized; typically there is an official head of the government known as the president, prime minister, or by some other title. The Old Testament book of 1 Samuel accounts how the Israelites wanted a king and asked the Prophet Samuel to appoint one over them. And in today’s passage we see this desire for leadership in the Israelites at Mt. Sinai. Moses had gone up the mountain to speak with God. After a delay in his return, the people began to worry. Without any confirmation that anything had happened to Moses, they began looking for new sources of leadership. It would be one thing if they were looking for a replacement for Moses, but the reality was far more troubling. At the behest of the people, Aaron fashioned a golden calf; an idol which the people declared as “your gods, O Israel, who brought you out of the land of Egypt.” Dig Deeper The errors of the Israelites at Mt. Sinai are plentiful. Believing that Moses may have perished on the mountain, they look towards not someone, but something to lead them. They were not looking to replace Moses so much as they were seeking out a replacement for God. Despite God having saved the Israelites from Pharaoh's army, feeding them manna when they needed food, and leading the Israelites through the wilderness as a pillar of smoke by day and fire by night; it is astounding how quickly they started searching for gods to lead them in the absence of Moses, who had acted as mediator between God and the Israelites. Where do you turn when God feels distant? A prolonged period of time where God feels distant is often referred to as a 'spiritual desert.' While many believers have experienced this at one time or another, experiencing a spiritual desert can be a sad and lonely place to be. When God feels distant, the actions of the Israelites at Mt. Sinai stand as a great example of what NOT to do. Having lost their connection with God via Moses’ absence, the people tried to seek out a replacement. The problem with this approach is that there is no replacement for God. While God may feel distant at times, this does not last forever. Remain faithful during the struggle. Spend time praying and reading scripture, even if it feels like a struggle to do so. Instead of seeking something to replace God, it will be far more rewarding spending that time in pursuit of God. AAA Prayer (About) ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: Our Holy Father, unchanging and omnipresent, even when we can't see Him; ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Pray that God will keep you from wandering away, even as you experience spiritual drought. ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED: Read the New Testament in a year, a chapter a day - Hebrews 8

Lots of people say 'Jesus Christ' often... be one of the people who knows what it means! Read / Listen Listen to passage & devotional: Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 29 Q. Why is the Son of God called “Jesus,” meaning “Savior”? A. Because he saves us from our sins. Salvation cannot be found in anyone else; it is futile to look for any salvation elsewhere. Summary While we celebrate the birth of Jesus on Christmas, there is no reason to limit our study of these verses to one season. Just as the resurrection is relevant all year long, so too is the virgin birth. Matthew’s account of the birth of Jesus is less detailed than the one found in the Gospel of Luke (which gets the most love around Christmas time). However, what we see in Matthew’s condensed telling of Jesus’ birth is the most important details being highlighted: the role of the Holy Spirit in Mary conceiving Jesus, the name and purpose of this child, and the faithfulness of Joseph to the angels command in naming the child. Dig Deeper When each of our children were born, there was a time at the hospital when my wife and I had to fill out information for the birth certificate. It is common today for parents to name their child either on the day they are born or shortly after. For us, this was something my wife and I did together. Things were a little different when Jesus was born into the world. According to the custom of the day, the duty of naming a son was reserved for the father, who would do so when the child was circumcised, eight days after birth. The visit from the angel changed Joseph’s perspective. Instead of doubting Mary, he now knew the truth of this miraculous child. Instead of leaving Mary, Joseph was faithful to the directions given to him by the angel. When the day came, Joseph gave the child the name Jesus, as he had been instructed. The name Jesus is significant because its Hebrew root means Yahweh saves. As the angel explains to Joseph, this name is fitting because Jesus would go on to save his people from their sins. What is shown in the angel’s message is how Jesus’ purpose was made clear before he was ever born. Jesus came to save us from our sins. Rejoice this day not just in the grace given by Jesus on the cross, but that saving believers like you and me is the reason Jesus came into the world at all. AAA Prayer (About) ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: God almighty, who became Immanuel - God with us; ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Pray that you, like Joseph, will do what the Lord has commanded you to do. ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED: Read the New Testament in a year, a chapter a day - Hebrews 7