Day 358 - (Today’s Bible readings: Isaiah 7:10-14; Psalm 110:1-4; 1 John 4:7-16; Matthew 1:18-25)
Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel (which means, God with us).
Tonight we will once again experience that silent and holy night when a son was born to a virgin named Mary. What made that night so special is that His name prophesied hundreds of years earlier is fulfilled. On that holy night God came to be with us. This is the point of Christmas. And because Jesus came to be with us, to live a holy life without even one sin, and then to die innocently in our place, we who believe Him, are forgiven and guaranteed heaven.
Tonight's Christmas services will mark a special anniversary. 200 years ago, on Christmas Eve 1818, the beloved Christmas carol, Silent Night, made its debut in the St. Nicholas Church in Oberndorf, Austria. How dear these words are to us!
1. Silent night, holy night! All is calm, all is bright
Round yon virgin mother and child, holy Infant, so tender and mild,
Sleep in heavenly peace, Sleep in heavenly peace.
2. Silent night, holy night! Shepherds quake at the sight;
Glories stream from heaven afar, heav'nly hosts sing, Alleluia!
Christ, the Savior, is born! Christ, the Savior, is born!
3. Silent night, holy night! Son of God, love's pure light
Radiant beams from Thy holy face with the dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth, Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth.
Heavenly Father, thank You for sending Jesus that first Christmas Eve. Bless my worship of Him tonight. Help me to never forget that Christ, my Savior, is born. Amen.
"See" you at church tonight (6 pm at St. Paul's in Brown Deer)
Pastor David Paape
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105 ), is the theme for this three-year journey through the entire Old Testament once (the Psalms - twice yearly), and the New Testament twice. There will be daily readings from the O.T., Psalms and the N.T. Special days on the church calendar will be highlighted with appropriate readings. This calendar has been compiled by representatives of the Lutheran Church of Canada, the North American Lutheran Church and the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod. Please click this link for the daily reading calendar:
https://blogs.lcms.org/2017/lcms-lcc-and-nalc-compile-three-year-schedule-of-daily-bible-readings
Then scroll down to 2018 Bible Reading Calendar and download it if you so wish. The “assigned” daily readings will appear on a daily basis in this blog. May the Lord bless your meditation upon His precious life-giving Word!
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