This week's author
Rev. Warren Hamp, Pastor
Faith Lutheran Church
Kitchener, Ontario
Unwelcome Christmas
Read: Matthew 23:34
Some are glad Christmas is "over." Now all the hype can
end. They are sick of the commercials, the tinsel, the parties, the
forced friendliness. Others are glad because they don't like religious
stuff! All the talk of Jesus and Mary and angels and shepherds has them
wishing for a nice secular January. They don't want to hear one more
Christian tell them "Jesus is the Reason for the Season."
Christmas can be an unwelcome holiday because Jesus is not welcomed
in this world. St. Stephen found out how unwelcome Jesus was as others
closed their ears to his words and led him out to be stoned. But he
spoke the Word of Christ anyway and bore witness with His death. We are
not being stoned, but we are still called to be "martyrs,"
witnesses to the One who has come into the world, the Light who shines
in the darkness.
And while those in darkness may still not want to hear, that won't
stop the Light. In some countries, today is also called Boxing Day, a
day to share Christmas fare with those less fortunate. What better to
share than the news that Christmas is not "over"- it will
never be over, since the Word made flesh has died and lives forever for
us.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, we thank You that Christmas is never over,
since You remain our Savior in the flesh forever. Amen.
My Bold Action for Today: Bear witness to Christ by joining
your fellow saints in the Divine Service today (even though you've been
"at church" the last two days). 
Bright Lights
Read: John 21:20-21
Christmas is pretty simple. A baby is born to a peasant virgin named
Mary and is laid in a feeding trough because there is no room in the
inn. Angels fill the sky with light and song, and the shepherds who hear
go to Bethlehem to see what has been announced to them.
There's probably a lot more that could have been said about this
unique event. After all, this is God's Son who has come into the world.
But the Holy Spirit moved His holy evangelists to tell us what we need
to know.
Today we commemorate St. John, whose Gospel so wonderfully proclaims
that Jesus, the Word of God, became flesh to save us who are flesh and
blood. He tells us how God so loved the world that He gave His
only-begotten Son that whoever believes in Him should have eternal life
(John 3:16). John could have told us much more. In fact, books about
Jesus could overflow the whole world. But He tells us what we need to be
saved: Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, born of Mary to redeem us,
that believing, we have life in His name.
Prayer: Merciful Lord, cast the bright beams of Your Light
upon Your church that we may come to the light of everlasting life.
Amen.
My Bold Action for Today: Start reading the Gospel of John to
your family, so the Spirit can proclaim to you why Jesus was born at
Bethlehem.
Not Fair
Read: Matthew 2:13-15
What did those little boys do to deserve such a horrid death? What did
their parents do to deserve such grief? What was Bethlehem's sin that this
little town should bear such a heavy cost in salvation history?
Do you ever wonder at the unfairness of life? Why are so many in need
when we have so much? Why do some go hungry while others are heading on a
tropical vacation? Why are children aborted when so many are eager to adopt
them? Why do I feel sad when this is supposed to be a joyous time?
Jesus is the Savior of an unfair world. He bore the brunt of its
injustice when on the cross He who is heaven's Holy Child received the pangs
of hell. The witness of those Bethlehem children to the Christ still speaks
today. In their wicked death God was still to be praised. Jesus did ask to
save us. And in His death and risen life God's eternal praises find their
source.
Prayer: Lord, in the midst of the injustice of our world, grant
that I may rest in Your undeserved mercy through Your Son Jesus Christ.
Amen.
My Bold Action for Today: Pray for those yet to be born, that our
heavenly Father may bring them safely into the world, and into His Son's
kingdom.
Lull Day
Read: Titus 2:12-13
I know it's just days after Christmas, but it's still Wednesday. And life
always seems plain on Wednesdays. Yet what it seems is not always what it
is! Because of Christmas, because the Son of God has come into our world in
the flesh to save us, nothing is ever plain. Something new is happening.
The grace of God has appeared in Jesus for all people. That grace makes
us different. It teaches us to say "no" to ungodliness and worldly
passions. Christmas has a subduing power. And Christmas grace has this
lasting impact: that by the Spirit's power we live self-controlled and
upright lives. And it's not just for now-it's forever. For since we have
received the grace that appeared in Jesus' first coming, we are now waiting
for our blessed hope-the glorious return of our great God and Savior, Jesus
Christ.
We are in more than the middle of the week. We are always in the middle
of God's salvation in Jesus. His first appearing brought us all God's grace;
His second appearing will bring us into His glory forever. We live in the
middle of exciting times!
Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, as we rejoice now in the mystery of
Your Son's incarnation, may we rejoice forever in His glad appearing in
glory. Amen.
My Bold Action for Today: Pick out a "worldly passion"
to say "no" to and let that self-denial be a reminder of the
excitement of waiting for Jesus to appear in glory.
Year-End Blow Out
Read: 1 John 1:8-9
Year-end sales. Clearing out the inventory. Everything must go! I
remember working one Christmas break doing inventory at a department store.
Everything-every last item-had to be counted before the year ended. It was
tedious work.
What do you have left over from 2004? Are there mistakes that still haunt
you? Arguments that still cause tension? Words you wish you had eaten
instead of letting them out? And that's just what you can remember!
If you are like me, the list of what you regret doing or saying or being
is too long to write. And even then, the list would miss most of it. And the
work would be worse than tedious. As the Psalmist asks, "Who can
discern his errors? Forgive my hidden faults" (Psalm 19:12).
Today God's mercy calls us to clear out the inventory of our sin and
guilt. And it doesn't need to be counted to be forgiven. Instead, we count
the blessings of Christ's forgiveness. He was born to live the sinless life
before the Father for you. He died to clear out all that could stand against
you. Jesus lives to blow out the guilt of this year too!
Prayer: Blessed Lord Jesus, grant me the eyes to see that even
though my sin be as countless as sand on the seashore, Your grace is greater
still. Amen.
My Bold Action for Today: Lose track of any wrongs you have been
collecting and counting-whether yours or those done against you.
Name that Year
Read: Matthew 1:20-21
On New Year's Eve we often get sentimental. Where were we in 1991? 1982?
1965? We might even name them a good year, a bad year, an unhealthy year, a
joyous year, a year of grief, or a year of celebration. It depends on how
the year went.
On this day we also remember a different naming. Blessed Mary was to give
birth to a Son, and blessed Joseph was directed by the angel of the Lord to
"give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their
sins."
No matter what kind of year we had in 2004, and no matter what name we
might end up giving 2005, all our days and years are lived under the name of
Jesus, whom God has given to save His people from their sins. The name of
Jesus covers our 2004 and the name of Jesus leads us into 2005!
Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and even forever. "There is no
other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved" (Acts
4:12).
Prayer: How sweet the name of Jesus sounds in a believer's ear.
Holy Spirit, keep His saving name in our ears and on our lips now and
forever. Amen.
My Bold Action for Today: Celebrate with a glad heart, since the
name of Jesus leads us into another year of grace.
His Blood Shed
Read: Luke 2:21
A blessed new year in Jesus our Lord! The Irish rock band U2's hit
single "New Year's Day" echoes the world's divisions and the
bloodshed they cause. It has a refrain of sorts: "Nothing changes
on New Year's Day." It may seem that way to us too. We wake up to a
new year, yet we still hear stories of hurt, of suffering, of bloodshed.
Many are feeling the pain of the loss of a loved one to bloodshed,
especially in the midst of this holy Christmastide.
But something does change on New Year's Day. Eight days after Jesus
was born, He was circumcised. His blood was first shed on this day. Shed
to fulfill the requirements of God's covenant. Shed that He might be the
perfect Son for us before the Father. Shed as a precursor to His blood
being poured out on the cross for our forgiveness, for the world's life.
His shed blood comes to us in His Holy Supper, not to cause us to
mourn, but to lead us to rejoice that His blood brings us forgiveness,
life, and salvation. In His shed blood is our peace for the New Year and
forever.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, pour out Your grace upon this new
year, that we might ever be found covered by the blood of Your Son,
Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
My Bold Action for Today: With whomever you gather on this
holiday, pray for peace in the places of the world torn apart by war and
strife.
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