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December 11
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“Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt compelled to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to God’s holy people.”  (Jude 1:3, NIV)

Jude encourages all followers of Jesus — past, present, and future — to “contend for the faith.”

I do not believe it to be accidental that he chose the positive, as in contending for; instead of the negative, as in contending against.  The truth is this: We can go either way, but as it concerns the faith we hold dear let us be forward looking, optimistic, and proactive.

To “contend” means to strive for a particular goal or objective.  We contend for the faith when we make choices that are consistent with our profession, and embrace those choices with confidence and joy.  – Luther

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December 10
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And Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.” (Luke 2:52, NASB)

Bethlehem, the manger, the heavenly host, the visit of the wise men, and all of the other wondrous features of our Lord’s arrival were a great beginning; but it didn’t end there. The baby Jesus became the boy Jesus, who became the adolescent Jesus, who became the fully-grown man.

In our lives, there are many wondrous beginnings: The birth of a child; a wedding; a new lease on life after a serious illness; a new day.  It is only the first step.  Advancing through each step that follows is as expected as night following day.

We grow in stature because we take nourishment over time.  We grow in wisdom by the same principle, but instead of food, it is obedience to the word of God that increases wisdom and divine favor.  – Luther

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December 9
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“Then the dragon was enraged at the woman and went off to wage war against the rest of her offspring — those who keep God’s commands and hold fast their testimony about Jesus.”  (Revelation 12:17, NIV)

The book of Revelation’s bold and graphic metaphors might discourage some of us from looking into it’s central message: The ultimate state of God’s creation.

The devil and his demons wage war against all that is of God.  Scripture tells us that the devil’s goal is to kill, steal, and to destroy.  He failed in his rebellion against God before the creation of the world.  He failed again in his efforts to keep Jesus from His mission to be the Redeemer of God’s creation.

As we await the return and “The Revelation of Jesus Christ” (which is the the full title of the book we commonly know as “the book of Revelation”), the devil wages “war against the rest of her [the church’s] offspring”: Those who keep God’s commands and hold fast to their testimony about Jesus.

Each new day brings challenges to our commitment to obey God and to proclaim Jesus in deeds and in words.  Do not fear.  Do not fret.  Stand firm for all that is true, and good, and worthy of the approval of our heavenly Father.  – Luther

 

 

 

 

 

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