Category: Devotionals

Continuing our look at the Letter to the Hebrews and finding “Visitation Principles,” the mysterious unknown author develops his (or her) Christology even further.  Angels worship Jesus.  But what of this “firstborn” stuff?  Will we all be gods? No. Firstborn is inheritance relationship, and it’s based upon Jesus’ obedience and setting a standard of righteousness only He could achieve.

Hebrews 1: 6 And again, when God brings His firstborn into the world, He says, “Let all God’s angels worship Him” …8 But about the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever; a scepter of justice will be the scepter of Your kingdom.  9 You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, Your God, has set You above Your companions by anointing You with the oil of joy.”

Jesus is over every human being and every angel.  For ever and ever.

Visitation Principle 5: Jesus Came to Set the Standard of Righteousness.
His standard of justice,
rewarding righteousness and hating/punishing wickedness,
will prevail eternally. 

Questions for further thought:

Why can no human being apart from Jesus Christ, Son of God, establish the standard (God’s standard) of righteousness?

How do human rulers fall short of true justice?  What is their standard of righteousness and tolerance of wickedness? Read 2 Timothy 4:3-4, and 2 Timothy 3:1-5 for insight. 

1 Timothy 4:3 For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will turn their ears away from the truth”

2 Timothy 3:1 But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4 treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God– 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.” 

How is this list a reflection of fruit of an unholy or worldly spirit and a tolerance of wickedness (which is the way of the world)?

Prayer: Thank You, Father, that You gave us a standard of righteousness in Your Son, Jesus Christ.  We thank You that He lived, taught, and died by Your standard of holiness so that we might receive forgiveness through His sacrifice—a forgiveness we could never earn while violating a standard we could never keep.  Lord Jesus, we offer You praise and adoration today and always!  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.

So long as Jesus was fully God, but not also fully man, He couldn’t have paid for our sin in full because He lacked the relationship with mankind.  Humanity was the one under the death sentence, not God!

Therefore, we see our Visitation Principle 4: Jesus came to man in the usual way, as a baby.  But He never stopped being God.

That’s why the author of Hebrews writes,

Hebrews 1: 4 So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs. 5 For to which of the angels did God ever say, “You are My Son; today I have become Your Father”? Or again, “I will be His Father, and He will be My Son”?  6 And again, when God brings His firstborn into the world, he says, “Let all God’s angels worship Him.”

Uh-oh, are you saying Jesus “became” God’s Son?  Nope, read it again.  That’s not what it says.  You are my Son. Today I have “become” your Father.  First, it’s the crucial distinction between “identity” and “relationship.” But that’s not the important reason why Psalm 2:7 is quoted when it continues in verse 8 “Ask me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession.”

When it says, “I will be His Father and He will be My Son”
that’s relationship and inheritance.

Jesus’ identity has always been co-equal with the Father in the 3-in-one Godhead—You are My Son.  Present and active agency in Creation, working as “the angel of the Lord” in His pre-Incarnate role, His identity is—and has always been—God.  That’s why the angels (also spiritual beings but created ones) worship Him…even at His birth…as a baby.  Fully God, fully human.

However, Jesus’ relationship (to God and man) became nuanced on account of His obedience and humility.  He received inheritance rights to the Kingdom, that’s what the “will be His Father…will be My Son” is all about.  Inheritance didn’t change His identity, but conferring the Kingdom upon Jesus was an act only possible by the Father to His Son…because it’s a Kingdom and any inheritance passes from Father to Son in an Old Testament Psalm 2 context.

Questions for further thought:

Consider Philippians 2:6-11and notice the word “therefore.”

Jesus, 6 “Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to His own advantage; 7 rather, He made Himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to death– even death on a cross! 9 Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the Name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Philippians 2:6-11)

What about this one?  Acts 5:30 The God of our ancestors raised Jesus from the dead– whom you killed by hanging Him on a cross. 31 God exalted Him to His own right hand as Prince and Savior that He might bring Israel to repentance and forgive their sins. (Acts 5:30-31)

Why is proper understanding in Christology critical?  Why might it involve both Jesus’ identity (fully God all the time) and His relationships to God and man (in order for God to confer a Kingdom to Him)?

Prayer: We praise You, Lord Jesus, for Your obedience from Your birth to Your work on the Cross, shedding Your blood for our forgiveness.  We honor You as Prince and Savior and exalt Your holy Name.  We look forward to seeing Your Kingdom come! 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.

Urgent times call for urgent measures.  The Last Days are like that.  To the Jews (even of Jesus’ day), they were looking for a great political leader who would vindicate their people toward the conclusion of earthly time.  But earthly time wasn’t ending quite as quickly as they thought because God had something better planned.

No political leader can bring forever change. 
I don’t care what political leader we’re talking about;
they all fall into the same category: sinners.

When it comes to sinners (which all of us are), any final Judgment decided before forgiveness was purchased would be ruinous and definitely not something any of us should want.  As Scripture reminds us, “Jews and Gentiles alike are all under the power of sin. As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one” (Romans 3:9-10).

So Last Days call for urgent measures.

Hebrews 1: 2 but in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, and through whom also He made the universe.3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His being, sustaining all things by His powerful Word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.

Visitation Principle 3: Jesus Came to Provide Purification for Sin.
Bam.  It is done.  It is finished. Sin was dealt with once and for all times.

Questions for further thought:

How easy is it for us to minimize our own sin or deny its power in our own lives?

A famous quote by Ravi Zacharias is “Sin will take you farther than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay, and cost you more than you want to pay.”  Can you think of any sin you have experienced where that is true, it seemed okay at the time but ended up being detrimental?

How did Jesus’ Visitation Principle 3 about dealing with sin offer an eternal correction to the power sin has over our lives?  Do you know the freedom that forgiveness brings?

Prayer:  Thank you, Lord Jesus, that You didn’t leave us in our sin to figure it out.  That You didn’t minimize or whitewash our sin, but You dealt with it.  Permanently.  Thank You for Your sacrifice on the Cross.  Thank You for purchasing my freedom.  I 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.

Hebrews 1:1 In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2 but in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, and through whom also He made the universe.3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His being, sustaining all things by His powerful Word.

Visitation Principle 2: Jesus Came to Be Born, but He Was Already God.

Jesus didn’t begin at His birth. His ministry didn’t even begin when He was 30. He’s always been God, creating the universe, and doing all the ministry God-things that God does because Jesus is the radiance of God’s glory and exact representation of His being.

Where was He in the Old Testament, you might wonder? Many scholars think “the angel of the Lord” (note: a specific “the angel” reference in the Old Testament, ex. Genesis 22:11-18, Exodus 3:1-6) was the pre-Incarnate Christ. However, He revealed Himself to the world personally through His Incarnation. The Word became flesh from the moment Mary conceived by the Holy Spirit, and it happened in the course of time in order for Him to be revealed as Messiah. But He existed before time itself. His Incarnation lasts into eternity which reminds us of His exemplary act of sacrificial humility.

Why is this an important principle of Christ’s first Advent?

Well, there are Christian-ish religions out there that do not acknowledge Jesus as God (Jehovah’s Witnesses) and those which believe Jesus wasn’t born God but became God over time (Mormons).  It doesn’t mean we don’t love the people, but please don’t be fooled by their Christian-ish literature or great choir.

The corrective message to them is as helpful today as it was to the Jewish believers for whom the Letter to the Hebrews was written. To anyone who feels like the Gospel was not final by Christ’s ascension; thinks it is always progressing as accommodation to modern culture; or to those feeling like they had left something special behind that was better that the Gospel alone, the corrective message we can all take to heart is that Jesus isn’t an add-on to the core of Law and Scripture. Jesus is the Core to which the Law pointed, and He is the One all Scripture proclaimed (Luke 24:27). He was born, incarnated from the moment of Mary’s conception as a virgin birth, but He was (and is) God the whole time.

Questions for further thought: 

Why might people prefer the Law with its to-do lists and checkboxes?
Think about control and self-determination rather than an ongoing relationship with God through Christ Jesus.
Why might Christian-ish religions have a hard time believing that Jesus is and has always been God? How do they take advantage of people who are not well-educated in the Scriptures?
How does denying the eternal divinity of Christ strip the power out of the Cross and the work God did through Jesus there?  Read Romans 5 for insight.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, we thank You that You did not negate the Law but, in Your grace, You fulfilled it perfectly that we might live by faith. We praise You for Your grace and lovingkindness. We thank You that Your mercies are new every morning and Your love never ends–something proven supremely on the Cross where You died.  We love You and praise You.  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.

In the Letter to the Hebrews, the author sets out to encourage Jewish believers in Messiah Jesus Christ that what they felt like were missing from their traditions wasn’t really missing out at all.  It was an upgrade.

The Jewish believers loved their prophets and their Scriptures and held a nostalgic feeling for them.  I get that.  It’s kind of like how some of us are old enough to miss the squeal of dial-up Internet and AOL proclaiming “You’ve got mail!”  But it wasn’t better, faster, or more advanced in its capabilities.  Traditions can be that way, both nostalgic and insufficient— becoming a dear bondage, if we’re not careful.

The Last Days call for better measures than being so stuck in the past that we miss out on the encouragement and superiority of the upgrade.

Hebrews 1:1 In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2 but in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, and through whom also He made the universe.

Visitation Principle 1: Jesus is God’s Final Word, the Last Prophet, the Alpha and Omega, Beginning and the End, the Heir, the Pioneer, but still the Creator God who spoke the world into existence and the Scriptures to the prophets they loved.

Questions for further thought:

Are there any traditions in your life that are holding you back from the freedom you have in Christ?
Are there any customs or style preferences that you elevate above the Word of God?
Are there any sins for which you can’t forgive yourself, that Jesus has already proclaimed forgiven by faith in Him?
How does Hebrews 1:2 tell us that Jesus is the true Last Prophet?
Think of ways in which Jesus’ being God’s final word is an upgrade over historic prophets alone.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, during this Advent season where our traditions are elevated and our focus is on Your birth, may we always be reminded that Your first Advent was not the beginning of something, but a continuation and fulfillment of the prophecies and promises from Your Word. We thank You for Your incarnation and the hope of forgiveness that You came to finalize, and by Your grace and mercy, You did this before returning in Judgment.  We praise You and worship You.  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.

Continuing my themes of Jesus as our Jewish Messiah (from last year’s Advent) and the series on the mystery of how Jews and Gentiles are heirs together in Christ, I invite you to join me in a study of the Letter to the Hebrews, one of three New Testament books/letters designed to relate to the Jewish people, their backgrounds and customs. 

The other two strong in their Jewish appeal are (1) the Gospel according to Matthew which is notable in its continual assertion that Jesus is the long-awaited Jewish Messiah, and (2) the Letter to the Romans (which was the Jewish Apostle Paul telling a Gentile audience how only in Christ can a sinner be born again to sufficient righteousness, which as all good theology does, it preaches to both Gentile and Jewish people.)

Like Romans, Hebrews is a theological masterpiece, and one dear to my heart.  First, because it’s mysterious…we don’t even know for sure who wrote it but also, the secret author (man or woman) loved theology and is an “explainer” by nature.  I can relate.  And third, it is written as encouragement to Jewish believers about how Christ’s first Advent made everything better. I like encouragement.

So, during Advent 2024, we will explore Visitation Principles of Jesus’ first Advent that we can glean from the letter to the Hebrews. As we go along, we will see WHY Jesus came and why His first Advent was NECESSARY in order to make His second Advent (His Return in Judgment) something to embrace, not simply fear.  We wouldn’t want the Judgment without the certainty of the offer of forgiveness.

Please consider joining me beginning December 1, 2024, for this annual tradition of Advent devotionals to grow our faith, encourage our hearts, and remind us how to live between two Advents.

===

 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.

If you believe the statistics, some US Christians will sit on their hands instead of voting in the upcoming elections.  I’ve known a few of these types in my life, their motto is, “Muh principles!” Not wanting to get their hands dirty by participating in such a worldly and political process as voting or soiling their self-perceived perfection with choosing among imperfect candidates who are sinners, they view themselves as too pure (they’re not), too holy (they’re not), too honorable (they’re not), and far too Christian to vote (no comment).

Then they complain as the spiritual and world problems they claimed to care about
get worse and evil runs amok. 

“Where was God?” they ask. 
He might reply, “Where were YOU when I gave YOU a choice of direction to go
and YOU did NOTHING?”

Should faithful Christians vote? 
Perhaps the better question is, “Do you believe God is sovereign, or not?”

“But I don’t like the choices,” you might say.  Sorry.  These are the choices God gave you…if you believe He is sovereign.  Jesus is not on the ballot and frankly, couldn’t win a primary if the world gets a vote.  Remember, they voted to crucify Him the last time.  Your choices will only be sinners because that’s all that’s left.

What does it say about your faith if you don’t accept that He laid these choices before you because you don’t like the process He used?  The Bible has an answer to that and is replete with examples of choices where you might wish for a few other alternatives.  Let’s look at a few:

Salvation in Christ alone. You might wonder, “Can’t there be another way for my loved one who doesn’t like Jesus?” Nope. Not if our God is real, His Word is true, and He is sovereign.  That choice is literally life or death.  Don’t sit it out.   Choose Jesus.

Promised Land.  God says to the Israelites, “I’m giving this land to you.” (Numbers 13-14) The spies–1 leader (ahem, LEADER) from each tribe—they go into the Promised Land for 40 days of reconnaissance (ewww….how worldly!)  Ten spies returned and said (paraphrased), Nah, I think I’ll pass. In a frightened whimpering voice, they say, “There’s big giants in there and I don’t want to die. Let’s go back to Egypt.”  In effect, their hearts said, “Yeah, God, well I don’t believe You are sovereign, capable, powerful, or wise.  I don’t like that choice. I think I’ll just sit this out.”  God says (paraphrased), Fine, sit it out. In the desert…for forty years…until you die. As your children reap what you sowed for their future.

Choose the direction of faith or the direction of judgment.
That’s what’s really on the ballot in any election.
And it’s nothing new.

Choose Life.  God says, it’s not always candidates I give you for choosing because under the surface of any candidate, there is a core direction you choose to travel. 

Deuteronomy 30:19 “This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live 20 and that you may love the LORD your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the LORD is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.”

What would it say if you decided to sit this one out?  Life? Death? I am too pure.  Choosing is just too worldly. I’ll just do nothing. You chose nothing and God has something to say about doing nothing.

Parable of the Talents/Minas. (In Matthew 25 it’s talents/gold and appears just before the sheep-and-goats judgment passage. In Luke, it occurs just before the Triumphal Entry. And don’t fool yourself. These are not coincidences).

Luke 19:12 Jesus said: “A man of noble birth went to a distant country to have himself appointed king and then to return. 13 So he called ten of his servants and gave them ten minas. ‘Put this money to work,’ he said, ‘until I come back.’  14 “But his subjects hated him and sent a delegation after him to say, ‘We don’t want this man to be our king.’  15 He was made king, however, and returned home.”   

Then you know the story. Each person had a choice regarding action.  Blessing followed those who worked with the system given to them.  Some of the people put their allotted talents to work and earned a return on investment and were blessed, but one guy decided to sit this one out.  It didn’t go well for him because it spoke to what he believed about his master, “a hard man”.  Make no mistake, sitting it out reveals what you think of God.

Give to Caesar and Give to God. It’s in all 3 synoptic gospels (Matthew 22, Mark 12, and Luke 2) and about something as political as paying taxes (ewww… so worldly!). People overlook that. I get it, some people think that giving to Caesar what is Caesar’s to them means unchristian people are the only ones who should vote—but they shouldn’t because they are too pure and the political process, too corrupt. 

Do you see how that notion results in placing Christian cultural values under the authority of the world and its cultural values?  By their choice not to give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, they are also not giving to God what is God’s.  They are not watching their life OR their doctrine closely and the nations pay the price when God’s values are subsumed under the world’s.

In case you can’t tell, I believe that people who sit it out are fooling only themselves and it speaks to the heart of their faith (or lack of faith) in God and His ability to use processes to both bless and judge us. God uses processes to judge us, so we’ll return to Him.  If we go into another round of judgment, the unbelievers and sit-it-outers will own it and hopefully wake up to return to God.  Just like the kids in the desert, faithful Christians will also suffer in punishment for the sake of those who are unfaithful.

Now, for those who decide they can no longer sit it out, Christians first and foremost know their doctrine given by the God they love, they know the WAY.  Christians PRAY.  Then Christians OBEY by putting their choice to work. 

And finally, Christians trust no matter the outcome that our sovereign God is working His will and is not thwarted by some political process.  (Wow, I’m sorry people, I really wanted My will to prevail, but phooey! Things were just too political, you know.  You see, there was this electoral college, and I just couldn’t get it done.  Sorry people, I tried really hard.  SERIOUSLY? That does not happen with a sovereign God.)  We may get more judgment for where we’ve chosen as a nation in this election, but God’s will prevails, nonetheless.

One final thing about politics.  Jesus’ birth, death, and resurrection were political. His return will be highly political.  King of Kings.  Lord of Lords.  The government (ahem) will be upon His shoulders (Isaiah 9:6-7).  You can ignore politics, but it won’t ignore you and says more about your faith in God than you may realize.  Faith without deeds is dead. That’s sitting it out.

“Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds.  19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that– and shudder… 24 You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone….faith without deeds is dead.” (James 2:18-26)

Way, Pray, Obey.  It’s not that hard.

At this point in Revelation, with God’s Church safely off the earth, the nations of Gog and Magog will descend like a cloud upon peaceful Israel (in the Great Battle of Ezekiel 38-39).  Israel, it is written, is recovered from war, has been gathered to the mountains of Israel and is living in safety. 

Time out. If Jesus already returned and was ruling for a Millennium on an earthly kingdom, is there a SECOND “Second Coming” and final war that comes from Ezekiel 38 and in Revelation 20:1-3, 7-9 with Gog and Magog?

What if it is a Millennium of Jesus’ uncontested reign on earth … as it is in heaven? With Satan incapacitated, mankind experiences the kind of peace that man alone can bring–at best–when spiritual realm evil is sidelined. To display that man in his own power and strength and wisdom…can never bring enduring peace. Only Christ can do that.

Perhaps it’s an odd view of the Millennium, but somehow one must expect that even after the Antichrist (Beast) is killed in Revelation 19:19-21, there is yet another war against Satan after a time of peace (which clearly the Middle East is not experiencing at present).

The two tandem passages are:
Revelation 20:7 When the thousand years are over, Satan will be released from his prison 8 and will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth– Gog and Magog– and to gather them for battle. In number they are like the sand on the seashore. 9 They marched across the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of God’s people, the city he loves. But fire came down from heaven and devoured them.

Ezekiel 38:8 In future years you [Gog and Magog] will invade a land that has recovered from war, whose people were gathered from many nations to the mountains of Israel, which had long been desolate. They had been brought out from the nations, and now all of them live in safety.  9 You and all your troops and the many nations with you will go up, advancing like a storm; you will be like a cloud covering the land.

Here’s how it happens:

Ezekiel 38:10 “‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: On that day thoughts will come into your mind and you [Gog and Magog] will devise an evil scheme. 11 You will say, “I will invade a land of unwalled villages; I will attack a peaceful and unsuspecting people– all of them living without walls and without gates and bars.”

Suddenly the nations of Gog and Magog (just as in Revelation) show up to invade for the final battle, coinciding with the release of the dragon (Satan) from the Abyss. 

Exactly who are Gog and Magog? 
First, they’re aligned with Satan which tells you they’re not good. 

Interestingly, scholars point out the names from Ezekiel 38 and 39 as being an alliance between Black Sea regions/Russia, Iran, Turkey, and/or the nations from Psalm 83 that currently encircle modern Israel.  Either way, they’re God’s enemies…or more accurately, God is their enemy.

I often wonder how much of that is a scholarly superimposing of our modern world, but the truth is no one actually knows for sure which nations will rise against the Messianic Kingdom in the end, only that it will happen. That battle will be happening on this earth as a dim reflection of what’s been going on in heaven, now with the final defeat of evil.

Scene shift: in heaven, there is silence (Revelation 8:1-4) before the Seventh Seal is opened, and before the bowls of wrath are poured out on the unbelieving world who hated Christ. The prayers of the saints are heard. Particularly there are prayers for protection and vindication and reminding God that ultimately every enemy of the Jews is foremost God’s enemy.

Isaiah 64:8 You, LORD, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand. 9 Do not be angry beyond measure, LORD; do not remember our sins forever. Oh, look on us, we pray, for we are all your people.

Psalm 83:1 O God, do not remain silent; do not turn a deaf ear, do not stand aloof, O God. 2 See how your enemies growl, how your foes rear their heads. 3 With cunning they conspire against your people; they plot against those you cherish. 4 “Come,” they say, “let us destroy them as a nation, so that Israel’s name is remembered no more.” 5 With one mind they plot together; they form an alliance against you.

God’s people know that their enemies are first and ultimately God’s enemies,
so the saints invite God’s final vindication
of the faithful ones among their countrymen in Israel and of God Himself. 
God will not remain silent forever.
Patience has an end.

The Church has not replaced the Jews, whom Scripture says will someday look upon the One they have pierced and mourn.  Before they are delivered (importantly!) by faith as Paul indicates with grafting back in (Romans 11:17-32), there will be a sign and a seal.

Revelation 12:1 “A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars on her head.  2 She was pregnant and cried out in pain as she was about to give birth… 5 She gave birth to a son, a male child, who “will rule all the nations with an iron scepter.” And her child was snatched up to God and to his throne.  6 The woman fled into the wilderness to a place prepared for her by God, where she might be taken care of for 1,260 days.”

The Sign describes the faithful Jewish people who are heirs with Gentiles on account of Christ, the Son who was born and snatched up to God.  As in Joseph’s dream in Genesis 37, when the sun, moon, and stars bowed down, it was a picture of the tribe of Jacob, Israel.  But moreover because of Christ and being co-heirs, it’s also a picture of God’s people together. 

Someone will flee to the wilderness.  But who?

Jesus said, Luke 21:17 Everyone will hate you because of me… 20 “When you see Jerusalem being surrounded by armies, you will know that its desolation is near.21 Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those in the city get out, and let those in the country not enter the city.  22 For this is the time of punishment in fulfillment of all that has been written.

(It’s those in Jerusalem and Judea… the Jews.)

Luke 21: 23 How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! There will be great distress in the land and wrath against this people.

(Which people?  The Jews, contrasted with the Gentiles.
Jews receive the wrath of man at the hands of other nations, the Gentiles.)

Luke 21:24 They will fall by the sword and will be taken as prisoners to all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. 25 “There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. 26 People will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken. 27 At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.

All the signs are in process for a coming Tribulation. We can all feel the “birth pains” as Jesus called them in Matthew 24:8. But what about the Jews?

Jesus says that before He returns, Jerusalem will be surrounded, Judea will flee to the wilderness, there will be signs in the sun, moon, and stars, and on the earth the nations will be in anguish at the tossing of the sea (chaos of evil).  During the first half of the Great Tribulation, all of God’s people remaining on earth will be persecuted, both Jew and Gentile. (If you want the math displaying the midpoint: i.e., figurative 1,290 days of wilderness in Revelation 12:6 … cut short as Jesus said in Matthew 24:22, to 1,260 days which corresponds to the forty-two months of Revelation 13:5 after which the two witnesses then preach for the other 1,260 days in Revelation 11:3.)

Mark 13:24 “But in those days, following that distress, “‘the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; 25 the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.’ 26 “At that time people will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. 27 And he will send his angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of the heavens.

The four winds.  Hold that thought.

The Tribulation comes, but we’ll all be sealed.  Christians are sealed by the Holy Spirit indwelling, and tribes of Israel are the sealed 144,000 who understand Christ in the wilderness and will recognize Him as the political leader they’ve awaited, symbolically on a white horse. 

They are sealed by God Himself in the heavenly realms in Revelation 7: 1 After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth to prevent any wind from blowing on the land or on the sea or on any tree. 2 Then I saw another angel coming up from the east, having the seal of the living God. He called out in a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm the land and the sea: 3 “Do not harm the land or the sea or the trees until we put a seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God.” 4 Then I heard the number of those who were sealed: 144,000 from all the tribes of Israel.”

I’ll be honest: I don’t know how it works, but it seems that somehow those in the wilderness who have been sealed by God will not be raptured with the Church but remain as witnesses as God testifies that He is the God of Israel.

Zechariah 12:3 On that day, when all the nations of the earth are gathered against her, I will make Jerusalem an immovable rock for all the nations. All who try to move it will injure themselves… 5 Then the clans of Judah will say in their hearts, ‘The people of Jerusalem are strong, because the LORD Almighty is their God.’

Some remaining Jews will recognize their God (who is our God as co-heirs). Jerusalem will remain intact in her place.

Zechariah 12:7 “The LORD will save the dwellings of Judah first, so that the honor of the house of David and of Jerusalem’s inhabitants may not be greater than that of Judah. 8 On that day the LORD will shield those who live in Jerusalem… 10 “And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son.”

Those sealed will say in their hearts that He is God, they’ll look upon Him, and repent.  Confess and repent. Delivered, not from death because they’ll be martyred (see Revelation 20:4), but delivered from God’s final wrath.

It is not another way to God, Nope, Pope, there are not many paths to God (Pope Francis, arrgh!).

There’s only one way: by faith in Christ (the exact same way as all people who are saved). Jews in a number of fullness will have been sealed (as God’s people who are all sealed by God) … in order to be delivered into Heaven as God pours out His wrath on a world that hates Him in the final battle against the dragon (Revelation 20:7-10) since the last enemy to be destroyed is death itself.

Sign, sealed, and delivered.