That same day (Resurrection Sunday), we’re told that these two men (identified as “two of them” … that is, disciples) were walking home.  It’d been a busy day full of mysterious and odd occurrences, the kind you won’t easily forget.  Even in the midst of their sadness, they seemed to know it was the kind of day destined for history books. 

As they walked, they started by remembering aloud what had transpired even up to that morning.  It was fresh in their minds, raw in their emotions.  They were no doubt processing the promises God had made and finding no answers. 

How many people might have been walking home that evening, we are never told.  But there was something in the discussion that these two travelers were having which attracted Jesus’ special attention.

Principle: Oral tradition requires accurate witnesses.

Questions for further thought:
What are the advantages in discussing matters while they are still fresh in your mind?
*
With writing instruments uncommon and parchment expensive, how might rehearsing the events cement the order and accuracy?  Particularly with two of them, a biblical requirement of witness testimony?
*
How did Gentile Luke know their story?  He wasn’t there. Mark (16:12-13) also tells their story, albeit more briefly, and in a “disputed” passage not present in some of the earliest manuscripts.

Prayer:    Lord Jesus, help us to remember all You have done by opening the Scriptures to us. Help us to know the value of remembering and the importance of oral tradition/ storytelling to spread Your truth and fix it in our minds.  Open our minds, teach us Your ways, and anchor our souls in the Truth. Amen.

===

Lent began March 5, 2025, and will continue until Resurrection Sunday, Easter (April 20, 2025). I hope you’ll join me and be prepared to have your eyes opened. I know mine have been in writing this series, “The Way it Had to Be.”

The author gratefully acknowledges Grok XI for assisting with this year’s pictures.
Technology can be amazing.

If you’re already signed up on my Home Page sidebar to receive posts, you’ll get the 2025 Lent Devotionals automatically. Or you can “Like” Seminary Gal on Facebook and they’ll be delivered to your Facebook news feed. If you haven’t signed up, today is a great day to do so. Advent and Lenten devotionals remain among my most popular offerings. You don’t want to miss this encounter with God to prepare your heart for Easter! Understanding that prior years’ devotionals continue to minister, you may want to have access to a full series ahead of time:

• Lent 2013 looked at The Letter to the Romans: Paul’s Masterpiece to reclaim foundations of our Christian heritage and began February 13, 2013.
• A very special and ever popular offering was Lent 2014’s Be Still and Know that I AM God  which can be obtained through the archives beginning in March 2014. 
• Lent 2015 began on February 18, 2015 with a series entitled With Christ in the Upper Room: Final Preparations.  We explored what is often called “The Upper Room Discourse” found in John chapters 13-17. 
• ReKindle, the Lent 2016 series, began on February 10, 2016 and encouraged us to rekindle our spiritual lives.
• Light: There’s Nothing Like It was the 2017 Lent series and explored this metaphor often used to portray Christ.  It is archived beginning March 1, 2017.
• Lent 2018, we explored the questions of Pi and Chi (the Greek letter beginning the word Christos, which means Christ, Messiah, the Anointed One). We asked and answered the questions “Why?” from the movie Life of Pi as we discovered the uniqueness of Jesus Christ in a world of many faiths.
• Lent 2019 gave us a deeper window into Easter “More to the Easter Story” since we miss so much when we rely only on a superficial understanding of the work of Christ. These devotionals are archived beginning March 6, 2019.
• Our Lent 2020 devotional series offered prayer points surrounding “Be Thou My Vision” and were aimed at helping us to see God for who He is. The full set of devotionals are archived beginning February 26, 2020.
• The theme for 2021 Lent Devotionals was how to live between two worlds while waiting for Christ’s return. Into the gap between the City of Man and its fixation upon sin and the City of God with its demand for holiness, two words minister peace: But God. Praise God for His intervention! They are archived beginning February 17, 2021.
• Revelation in 40 devotionals for 2022 offered 40 vignettes, scenes, concepts, and thoughts to inspire us to read the Book of Revelation as it is written and to go deeper. They are archived beginning March 2, 2022.
• “Created to Display His Image” explored what it truly means to be made in God’s Image and the profound significance of that fact. They are archived beginning February 22, 2023.
• “Seeing His Love with New Eyes” was the topic for 2024 and it explored looking at God’s love beyond the superficial and trite notions of love. They are archived beginning February 14, 2024.

“Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus,
about seven miles from Jerusalem.” (Luke. 24:13)

We don’t know when these two men went up to Jerusalem for the Passover or the length of their stay.  We only know they’d been there.  We don’t know what their expectations were when they arrived, we only know that their expectations (whether long held or recently developed) were disappointed.  Their expectations kept them from understanding what happened. 

They didn’t know that it had to be this way.

Today is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent. It’s a season of mourning over sin and how it necessitated the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Throughout Lent, we’ll be looking at the interaction of Jesus and two men on the Road to Emmaus. These two men were heading home from Jerusalem, deep in thought and debate, their mood was dejected, despite what ought to have been a mountain-top celebration like a typical Passover. 

But these two men are downcast, and it isn’t a case of their having post-holiday blues.  Whether part of their arrival or developed while in Jerusalem, their expectations dictated and disappointed. Their hopes in the end were dashed to the ground.

Principle: Expectations don’t determine Truth.

Questions for further thought:

How do our disappointments make us more open to hearing other views?
*
How does public/shared grief differ from individual/private grief?
*
In America, 9/11 was a time of public/shared grief.  How did people process it?
*
Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent and a time to recall our predicament of sin and engage in corporate grief over sin.  How do people honor Ash Wednesday and is it becoming more common or less common?  Why?
*
How does Ash Wednesday cause us to recall The Way it Had to Be?

Prayer:  Lord Jesus, in a world in which people laugh at sin, minimize it, celebrate it and elevate it, thank You for this day on the church calendar where we are reminded of the severity of sin.  The insult so serious, the breach so catastrophic, and the result so ubiquitous that the only solution was Your crucifixion.  Remind us daily that this is the true cost of sin.  We repent of our actions, our inactions, and our thoughts which betray You and Your holiness.  Help us to live godly lives for our good and Your glory.  Amen.

===

Lent begins today, Ash Wednesday, March 5, 2025, and will continue until Resurrection Sunday, Easter (April 20, 2025). I hope you’ll join me and be prepared to have your eyes opened. I know mine have been in writing this series, “The Way it Had to Be.”

The author gratefully acknowledges Grok XI for assisting with this year’s pictures.
Technology can be amazing.

If you’re already signed up on my Home Page sidebar to receive posts, you’ll get the 2025 Lent Devotionals automatically. Or you can “Like” Seminary Gal on Facebook and they’ll be delivered to your Facebook news feed. If you haven’t signed up, today is a great day to do so. Advent and Lenten devotionals remain among my most popular offerings. You don’t want to miss this encounter with God to prepare your heart for Easter! Understanding that prior years’ devotionals continue to minister, you may want to have access to a full series ahead of time:

• Lent 2013 looked at The Letter to the Romans: Paul’s Masterpiece to reclaim foundations of our Christian heritage and began February 13, 2013.
• A very special and ever popular offering was Lent 2014’s Be Still and Know that I AM God  which can be obtained through the archives beginning in March 2014. 
• Lent 2015 began on February 18, 2015 with a series entitled With Christ in the Upper Room: Final Preparations.  We explored what is often called “The Upper Room Discourse” found in John chapters 13-17. 
• ReKindle, the Lent 2016 series, began on February 10, 2016 and encouraged us to rekindle our spiritual lives.
• Light: There’s Nothing Like It was the 2017 Lent series and explored this metaphor often used to portray Christ.  It is archived beginning March 1, 2017.
• Lent 2018, we explored the questions of Pi and Chi (the Greek letter beginning the word Christos, which means Christ, Messiah, the Anointed One). We asked and answered the questions “Why?” from the movie Life of Pi as we discovered the uniqueness of Jesus Christ in a world of many faiths.
• Lent 2019 gave us a deeper window into Easter “More to the Easter Story” since we miss so much when we rely only on a superficial understanding of the work of Christ. These devotionals are archived beginning March 6, 2019.
• Our Lent 2020 devotional series offered prayer points surrounding “Be Thou My Vision” and were aimed at helping us to see God for who He is. The full set of devotionals are archived beginning February 26, 2020.
• The theme for 2021 Lent Devotionals was how to live between two worlds while waiting for Christ’s return. Into the gap between the City of Man and its fixation upon sin and the City of God with its demand for holiness, two words minister peace: But God. Praise God for His intervention! They are archived beginning February 17, 2021.
• Revelation in 40 devotionals for 2022 offered 40 vignettes, scenes, concepts, and thoughts to inspire us to read the Book of Revelation as it is written and to go deeper. They are archived beginning March 2, 2022.
• “Created to Display His Image” explored what it truly means to be made in God’s Image and the profound significance of that fact. They are archived beginning February 22, 2023.
• “Seeing His Love with New Eyes” was the topic for 2024 and it explored looking at God’s love beyond the superficial and trite notions of love. They are archived beginning February 14, 2024.

Wildfires roaring in LA. Flood water devastation still afflicting those in North Carolina. Hurricane damage persists from Milton in Florida. And that’s just the continental United States in the past few months! People have lost everything.

“It tests your soul, losing everything at once, I must say.”–James Woods.

I suppose it doesn’t make it any easier by Jesus having told us beforehand that these things would happen throughout the world. But Jesus doesn’t say “I told ya’ so.” Rather, He wants us to be comforted in our dire situations, hopeful instead of fearful, and not to worry.

“When you hear of wars and uprisings, do not be frightened. These things must happen first, but the end will not come right away.” Then he said to them: “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven… But make up your mind not to worry beforehand.” (Luke 21:9-11, 14)

Jesus will make a way. God is in the redemption business.

Lord God, there are no words people can offer to give the kind of comfort You alone can give. To those around the world who have lost everything, we pray You will restore the years the locusts are taking away. Guide them into Your truth and save their souls which are worth far more than sparrows or lilies of the field. Lord, protect them from the evil one whose desire is to steal, kill, and destroy. Shield their hearts from anger, despair, and depression. Give them supernatural hope. Help them to dig deep to the solid Rock of Jesus Christ and by Your grace, and with Your aid, help them to quickly rebuild their lives on this firm foundation. Let Your loving-kindness and mercy be an eternal testimony to a watching world. You are in the redemption business (the eternal redemption business!) and for that and more, we praise You. Amen.

It’s Christmas Eve, the night on which the miracle happened. Jesus Came as the Highest Expression of Love ever known. 

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)

As we conclude our message series Visitation Principle for Jesus’ First Advent from the Letter to the Hebrews, the author reminds us of the importance of love among reasons Jesus came.

Hebrews 13:1 Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters.

It harkens the mind to Jesus’ command given in the Gospel of John.  The new standard of love…because Jesus came…is now His standard and not a simple human love.

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34-35)

^“My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.  Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” (John 15:12-13)

Questions for further thought:

What does it look like… to love like that?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, we stand in awe of Your birth and life and the new standard of love You came to bring.  Help us to love like that. Help us to see beyond the gifts and the Santas in a million malls and a million stores and see that Your love, indeed, Your purpose in coming is one in a million: the Highest Standard of Love ever known.  We praise You and thank You for giving eternal life to those who come to You in faith.  You deserve all the glory at Christmas and always.  Amen.

One of the most beautiful and powerful prophecies of the Old Testament is found in Isaiah 9:6 “For to us a Child is born, to us a Son is given, and the government will be on His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  7 Of the greatness of His government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over His kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.”

I was thinking again about this as I prepared for Visitation Principle 23: Jesus Came to be the Holy Prince of Peace.  His kingdom’s government is marked throughout by peace, justice, righteousness, and holiness.  Truly set apart by the “zeal of the LORD Almighty.” 

In a world known for anything but peace at present, the idea that someday there will be a world government established under God’s authority, not man’s, and ruled by a Holy Prince of Peace is a wonderful thought.  In fact, Christ’s government will be the only hope for peace we can have.

Hebrews 12:14 Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.15 See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.

Questions for further thought:

Think for a moment about anything good the government might try to do.  If it is good, helpful, just, and right, how long does it take for someone to amplify any shortcomings?
If it is good, how long does it take for someone to add something bad into it?
If it isn’t good, how does the media portray it to sneak it by us? 

Peace without holiness is fraudulent.  How is that a true statement?

Prayer: Father, grant that we might be ministers of peace in a world of war. May we proclaim boldly that Jesus is the Prince of Peace, and only in Him is peace possible importantly with You before we’ll ever see it with each other.  Only holy peace will accomplish this.  Our culture filled with distractions at Christmas, so set us apart, Lord, that we might find time to worship You in the stillness, to take in the beauty of that first Christmas when the angels sang because Jesus was born in Bethlehem.  We praise You for this wondrous gift of love.  In Christ’s Name we pray.  Amen.

===

By signing up on the sidebar of my Home Page you can receive these daily “Visitation Principles” devotionals. Or they will be reposted on SeminaryGal’s Facebook page as well.

===

Acknowledging inquiries about an entire season’s devotionals for your study group’s planning purposes, Seminary Gal’s prior seasons’ Advent devotionals can be accessed via the archives to the right and are as follows:  

• “From the Jews for the World” was the theme of last Advent’s devotional series. It is archived beginning December 3, 2023, and explored how Jesus’ Jewish heritage was necessary for the salvation of Gentiles, too.
• “Awaken Remnant” was the devotional topic for 2022. It began November 27, 2022, and highlighted the remnant found throughout Scripture as evident in Jesus’ lineage.
• The multi-faceted Interlude between the promise of a Deliverer and the birth of our Messiah and King was the theme of 2021’s devotional series. It is archived beginning November 28, 2021.
• 2020’s Devotional Series Divine Intervention began on November 29, 2020 and explored God’s activity on behalf of a hurting world and nations in tumult– Intervention for you and for me when our status as sinners required nothing short of a miracle.
• God’s Christmas list explored what might be on God’s Christmas list, learning what He wants from us. It began December 1, 2019.
• Storyteller began December 2, 2018 and entered into the Christmas story through its telling.
• The 2017 series Still Christmas, began December 3, 2017 and was the Advent complement to the Lenten series, Be Still and Know that I AM God.
• The 2016 season devotionals were called “Timeless: The Message of Christmas for All Ages” and explored how the message of Christmas is timeless truth, for all ages of people, and for all ages at all times.  Timeless hope, encouragement, grace, peace, and love as we looked into the Word, saw the face of our Lord Jesus, and experienced restoration in His presence.  His goodness and His Gospel are truly Timeless. The 2016 devotionals began November 27, 2016.
• The 2015 season devotionals were titled Incarnation and involved digging deep–and yes, I mean deep– in this important mystery of Christian theology.  They began November 29, 2015.
• Carol Me, Christmas! remains one of my most popular offerings and tells the Christmas story through our most beloved Christmas hymns and carols.  You can access all of the numbered devotionals from 2014 via the archives.  They began November 30, 2014.
• The 2013 series was Emmanuel: When LOVE Showed Up in Person and examined the Prologue to the Gospel of John.  It began December 1, 2013.
• The 2012 series focused on Expecting the Unexpected…the unexpected, unlikely, and uniquely divine qualities of God’s perfect plan outlined in Luke’s account of the Christmas story.  It began December 1, 2012.

It’s pretty easy—at the end of the year or the end of a race—to feel a little weary from the activity, maybe even a little sad at outcomes that are less than perfect, and in our discouragement, we can let down our guard.  No one likes to think about that at Happy Christmas, I suppose, but I suspect I’m not the only one in the ministry that feels this way as the Big Day approaches.  There are certain “high pressure days” that almost always fail to live up to our best plans. Plenty of people outside of the ministry can feel that way too, particularly at Christmas, when so much of our society points to Santa and materialism. Jesus wants us to keep our eyes on Him at such times.

The author of Hebrews gives us encouragement to persevere in
Visitation Principle 22: Jesus Came to Establish the Reward of Faith

Hebrews 10:36 You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. 37 For, “In just a little while, he who is coming will come and will not delay.” 38 And, “But my righteous one will live by faith. And I take no pleasure in the one who shrinks back.” 39 But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved.11:1 Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.

The quality of one’s faith over the long haul is what counts.

Questions for further thought:

I was singing along with the radio to a catchy little tune when I realized how off the mark Kay Starr’s Man with the Bag is.  Read the lyrics and identify the places where it’s maybe fun but completely flawed.

Old Mr. Kringle is soon gonna jingle
The bells that’ll tingle all your troubles away
Everybody’s waiting for the man with the bag
‘Cause Christmas is coming again

He’s got a sleigh full, it’s not gonna stay full
Stuff that he’s dropping every stop of the way
Everybody’s waiting for the man with the bag
‘Cause Christmas is coming again

He’ll be here
With the answer to the prayers
That you made through the year
You’ll get yours
If you’ve done everything you should extra special good
He’ll make this December the one you’ll remember
The best and the merriest you ever did have
Everybody’s waiting for the man with the bag
‘Cause Christmas is coming again

Who are we really waiting for at Christmas?  Who does culture tell us to believe in?

How do many people feel after the pile of gifts is opened and the surprises revealed? Does Christmas still have that magic?

If we forget Jesus, what is Christmas reduced to being? Is Jesus the Center of your Christmas?

Prayer:  Lord Jesus, may we never forsake You at Christmas.  May we never forget that You came to die for our sins and that Easter was always in mind at Your first Advent.  Strengthen our resolve to keep You in Christmas and teach You to the next generation.  May we, by Your grace, persevere in our faith to receive the reward You have in mind which is far better than anything money can buy.  We love You, Lord Jesus.  Amen.

===

By signing up on the sidebar of my Home Page you can receive these daily “Visitation Principles” devotionals. Or they will be reposted on SeminaryGal’s Facebook page as well.

===

Acknowledging inquiries about an entire season’s devotionals for your study group’s planning purposes, Seminary Gal’s prior seasons’ Advent devotionals can be accessed via the archives to the right and are as follows:  

• “From the Jews for the World” was the theme of last Advent’s devotional series. It is archived beginning December 3, 2023, and explored how Jesus’ Jewish heritage was necessary for the salvation of Gentiles, too.
• “Awaken Remnant” was the devotional topic for 2022. It began November 27, 2022, and highlighted the remnant found throughout Scripture as evident in Jesus’ lineage.
• The multi-faceted Interlude between the promise of a Deliverer and the birth of our Messiah and King was the theme of 2021’s devotional series. It is archived beginning November 28, 2021.
• 2020’s Devotional Series Divine Intervention began on November 29, 2020 and explored God’s activity on behalf of a hurting world and nations in tumult– Intervention for you and for me when our status as sinners required nothing short of a miracle.
• God’s Christmas list explored what might be on God’s Christmas list, learning what He wants from us. It began December 1, 2019.
• Storyteller began December 2, 2018 and entered into the Christmas story through its telling.
• The 2017 series Still Christmas, began December 3, 2017 and was the Advent complement to the Lenten series, Be Still and Know that I AM God.
• The 2016 season devotionals were called “Timeless: The Message of Christmas for All Ages” and explored how the message of Christmas is timeless truth, for all ages of people, and for all ages at all times.  Timeless hope, encouragement, grace, peace, and love as we looked into the Word, saw the face of our Lord Jesus, and experienced restoration in His presence.  His goodness and His Gospel are truly Timeless. The 2016 devotionals began November 27, 2016.
• The 2015 season devotionals were titled Incarnation and involved digging deep–and yes, I mean deep– in this important mystery of Christian theology.  They began November 29, 2015.
• Carol Me, Christmas! remains one of my most popular offerings and tells the Christmas story through our most beloved Christmas hymns and carols.  You can access all of the numbered devotionals from 2014 via the archives.  They began November 30, 2014.
• The 2013 series was Emmanuel: When LOVE Showed Up in Person and examined the Prologue to the Gospel of John.  It began December 1, 2013.
• The 2012 series focused on Expecting the Unexpected…the unexpected, unlikely, and uniquely divine qualities of God’s perfect plan outlined in Luke’s account of the Christmas story.  It began December 1, 2012.

Closure can be the best of things.  A job completed and “well done, good and faithful servant.”  An ending to a suspenseful thriller in which resolution brings a return to restful feelings, knowing how the story ends.  

Open chapters and loose ends lend to uncertainty about the future and anxiety over what that looks like. While uncertain, some people prefer it because closure can also bring with it a sense of sadness, that what was comfortable and customary has ended and a new way forward must be embraced. 

The sacrificial system had been that way for the Jewish people.  They’d always done it, as far back as anyone can remember.  It was familiar and rote.  They knew it through years of experience.  It was the stuff of tradition, and they knew exactly what to do.

Jesus ended their sacrificial system by completing it.  It had to be fulfilled in order to end it.  And Jesus did it perfectly.

Visitation Principle 21: Jesus Came to Conclude the Sacrificial System

Hebrews 10:11 Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, 13 and since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool. 14 For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy. 15 The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First he says: 16 “This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds.” 17 Then he adds: “Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.” 18 And where these have been forgiven, sacrifice for sin is no longer necessary.

Questions for further thought:
Some, like the Temple Institute, are trying to reinstate the sacrificial system of the red heifer in order to usher in the Third Temple.  Why is that idea missing the mark? 

In what way does our passage today give closure and an indication that future sacrifice is no longer required, only faith that Christ Himself was the perfect sacrifice?

Prayer:  Lord Jesus, prophecy about You and Your return in the End Times is truly hard to understand. We pray, Lord, that You will give us clarity and confidence that You fulfilled that full sacrificial system so that Your prophecies (the ones we don’t see as fulfilled yet) either have been or will be accomplished in some unexpected way.  Grant us boldness in proclaiming that You ended the sacrificial system by Your perfect blood and the coming of the Holy Spirit affirms Your perfect offering as acceptable for the Father to pay our sin debt in full.  We stand amazed at Your mercy and love.  We give You all the glory.  Amen.
===

By signing up on the sidebar of my Home Page you can receive these daily “Visitation Principles” devotionals. Or they will be reposted on SeminaryGal’s Facebook page as well.

===

Acknowledging inquiries about an entire season’s devotionals for your study group’s planning purposes, Seminary Gal’s prior seasons’ Advent devotionals can be accessed via the archives to the right and are as follows:  

The 2012 series focused on Expecting the Unexpected…the unexpected, unlikely, and uniquely divine qualities of God’s perfect plan outlined in Luke’s account of the Christmas story.  It began December 1, 2012.

“From the Jews for the World” was the theme of last Advent’s devotional series. It is archived beginning December 3, 2023, and explored how Jesus’ Jewish heritage was necessary for the salvation of Gentiles, too.

“Awaken Remnant” was the devotional topic for 2022. It began November 27, 2022, and highlighted the remnant found throughout Scripture as evident in Jesus’ lineage.

The multi-faceted Interlude between the promise of a Deliverer and the birth of our Messiah and King was the theme of 2021’s devotional series. It is archived beginning November 28, 2021.

2020’s Devotional Series Divine Intervention began on November 29, 2020 and explored God’s activity on behalf of a hurting world and nations in tumult– Intervention for you and for me when our status as sinners required nothing short of a miracle.

God’s Christmas list explored what might be on God’s Christmas list, learning what He wants from us. It began December 1, 2019.

Storyteller began December 2, 2018 and entered into the Christmas story through its telling.

The 2017 series Still Christmas, began December 3, 2017 and was the Advent complement to the Lenten series, Be Still and Know that I AM God.

The 2016 season devotionals were called “Timeless: The Message of Christmas for All Ages” and explored how the message of Christmas is timeless truth, for all ages of people, and for all ages at all times.  Timeless hope, encouragement, grace, peace, and love as we looked into the Word, saw the face of our Lord Jesus, and experienced restoration in His presence.  His goodness and His Gospel are truly Timeless. The 2016 devotionals began November 27, 2016.

The 2015 season devotionals were titled Incarnation and involved digging deep–and yes, I mean deep– in this important mystery of Christian theology.  They began November 29, 2015.

Carol Me, Christmas! remains one of my most popular offerings and tells the Christmas story through our most beloved Christmas hymns and carols.  You can access all of the numbered devotionals from 2014 via the archives.  They began November 30, 2014.

The 2013 series was Emmanuel: When LOVE Showed Up in Person and examined the Prologue to the Gospel of John.  It began December 1, 2013.

Have you ever noticed how people jump to excuses or spin lies when caught doing or saying something wrong?   It’s almost automatic.  People don’t like to be caught with wrongdoing.  But people also don’t like being judged without knowing what charges they’re facing.

So, we can see Visitation Principle 20: Jesus Came to Give His Judgment Context. 

No one to be judged will have any excuse that stands.  We all know the mortality rate for human beings is 100%. If people want to imagine we just decay like leaves on the forest floor, it doesn’t explain how Jesus returns. They can live in denial. He won’t be stopped from returning by any person’s unbelief in His abilities.

Romans 1:18-20 tells us that “The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities– his eternal power and divine nature– have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse”.

They deny because they choose to do deny, not because they have a legitimate reason. So, no excuses when Jesus returns. Yet, He wants to give His Judgment a clear basis–important context–so no one will doubt His Judgments are right and fair in the end.

>>No claim we didn’t know about the crime.  (Jesus: Yes, you did. Sin. In fact, sin is so bad, I came the first time.  In almost 2000 years since My death/resurrection, you still didn’t care.)
>>No claim that Jesus didn’t know what it was like. (Jesus: Yes, I did.  I walked in your shoes but lived sinlessly in a world of sin.  Do you think it didn’t have an impact on Me?)
>>No assertion that sin isn’t bad (Jesus: Not that bad???  It cost My life’s blood to pay for it).
>>No claim to preferential treatment, playing favorites. (Jesus: Nope, My forgiveness has always been open to everyone and there’s only one way to the Father.  That’s through Me. John 14:6)

All of that in these two verses below, putting His righteous Judgment in context:   

Hebrews 9:27 Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, 28 so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.

Questions for further thought:

Why do you think it’s important that no excuses will stand?
What does that do to the possibility of making a mistake? Does God make mistakes?
What things in your life make it easy to believe there is a God?

Prayer: Thank You, Father, for all of creation that testifies You are God. Thank You, Lord Jesus, that You didn’t come in Judgment the first time, but in Your mercy, You provided a way out for sinners. We praise You as the Creator and Sustainer of all things. We give You all the glory for the wondrous gift of our world and the amazing heavenly future in the place You are preparing for us. We love You, Lord Jesus. Amen.

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Acknowledging inquiries about an entire season’s devotionals for your study group’s planning purposes, Seminary Gal’s prior seasons’ Advent devotionals can be accessed via the archives to the right and are as follows:  

• “From the Jews for the World” was the theme of last Advent’s devotional series. It is archived beginning December 3, 2023, and explored how Jesus’ Jewish heritage was necessary for the salvation of Gentiles, too.
• “Awaken Remnant” was the devotional topic for 2022. It began November 27, 2022, and highlighted the remnant found throughout Scripture as evident in Jesus’ lineage.
• The multi-faceted Interlude between the promise of a Deliverer and the birth of our Messiah and King was the theme of 2021’s devotional series. It is archived beginning November 28, 2021.
• 2020’s Devotional Series Divine Intervention began on November 29, 2020 and explored God’s activity on behalf of a hurting world and nations in tumult– Intervention for you and for me when our status as sinners required nothing short of a miracle.
• God’s Christmas list explored what might be on God’s Christmas list, learning what He wants from us. It began December 1, 2019.
• Storyteller began December 2, 2018 and entered into the Christmas story through its telling.
• The 2017 series Still Christmas, began December 3, 2017 and was the Advent complement to the Lenten series, Be Still and Know that I AM God.
• The 2016 season devotionals were called “Timeless: The Message of Christmas for All Ages” and explored how the message of Christmas is timeless truth, for all ages of people, and for all ages at all times.  Timeless hope, encouragement, grace, peace, and love as we looked into the Word, saw the face of our Lord Jesus, and experienced restoration in His presence.  His goodness and His Gospel are truly Timeless. The 2016 devotionals began November 27, 2016.
• The 2015 season devotionals were titled Incarnation and involved digging deep–and yes, I mean deep– in this important mystery of Christian theology.  They began November 29, 2015.
• Carol Me, Christmas! remains one of my most popular offerings and tells the Christmas story through our most beloved Christmas hymns and carols.  You can access all of the numbered devotionals from 2014 via the archives.  They began November 30, 2014.
• The 2013 series was Emmanuel: When LOVE Showed Up in Person and examined the Prologue to the Gospel of John.  It began December 1, 2013.
• The 2012 series focused on Expecting the Unexpected…the unexpected, unlikely, and uniquely divine qualities of God’s perfect plan outlined in Luke’s account of the Christmas story.  It began December 1, 2012.