{"id":5896,"date":"2018-12-22T20:11:52","date_gmt":"2018-12-23T01:11:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/orthodoxinsight.com\/?p=5896"},"modified":"2018-12-19T20:49:58","modified_gmt":"2018-12-20T01:49:58","slug":"orthodox-daily-devotional-for-december-23-29","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/orthodoxinsight.com\/?p=5896","title":{"rendered":"Orthodox Daily Devotional for December 23-29"},"content":{"rendered":"

Sunday<\/p>\n

Isaiah 7:14\u00a0\u00a0Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.
\nJohn 1:In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. <\/span> 2\u00a0<\/sup>He was in the beginning with God. <\/span> 3\u00a0<\/sup>All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. <\/span> 4\u00a0<\/sup>In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. <\/span> 5\u00a0<\/sup>And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

6\u00a0<\/sup>There was a man sent from God, whose name was<\/i> John. <\/span> 7\u00a0<\/sup>This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe. <\/span> 8\u00a0<\/sup>He was not that Light, but was sent<\/i> to bear witness of that Light. <\/span> 9\u00a0<\/sup>That\u00a0was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world.<\/span><\/p>\n

10\u00a0<\/sup>He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. <\/span> 11\u00a0<\/sup>He came to His]<\/sup>own, and Hisown did not receive Him. <\/span> 12\u00a0<\/sup>But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: <\/span> 13\u00a0<\/sup>who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>14\u00a0<\/sup>And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n
The Adoring Shepherds…<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
The adoration of the shepherds responding to the announcement of the angels proclaiming the Lord’s birth is an example of how to respond to God’s revelation. While our day to day life is not usually interrupted by a supernatural event, we are called in various ways by the ‘still small voice’ of God to respond to opportunities He gives us to show our love for Him. It can be a little as saying Merry Christmas to a busy store clerk for whom the meaning of the feast is drowned in hectic, frustrating work. Or, spending a little time with that relative at a family gathering who always seems to be slightly removed from the center of holiday activities. When the idea comes to our mind to do something, be a shepherd.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Monday<\/p>\n

Micah 5:2\u00a0But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,<\/span>
\nThough<\/i> you are little among the thousands of Judah,<\/span>
\nYet<\/i> out of you shall come forth to Me<\/span>
\nThe One to be Ruler in Israel,<\/span>
\nWhose goings forth are<\/i> from of old,<\/span>
\nFrom everlasting.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Isaiah 9:The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone. For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.<\/p>\n

Tuesday<\/p>\n

Matthew 1: the birth of Jesus Christ happened like this. When Mary was engaged to Joseph, just before their marriage, she was discovered to be pregnant\u2014by the Holy Spirit. Whereupon Joseph, her future husband, who was a good man and did not want to see her disgraced, planned to break off the engagement quietly. But while he was turning the matter over in his mind an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, \u201cJoseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife! What she has conceived is conceived through the Holy Spirit, and she will give birth to a son, whom you will call Jesus (\u2018the Saviour\u2019) for it is he who will save his people from their sins.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0All this happened to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet\u2014\u2018Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel\u2019. (\u201cImmanuel\u201d means \u201cGod with us.\u201d).\u00a0\u00a0And it came to pass in those days that<\/i> a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. <\/span> 2\u00a0<\/sup>This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. <\/span> 3\u00a0<\/sup>So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city.\u00a0<\/span>4\u00a0<\/sup>Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, <\/span> 5\u00a0<\/sup>to be registered with Mary, his betrothed [a<\/a>]<\/sup>wife, who was with child. <\/span> 6\u00a0<\/sup>So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. <\/span> 7\u00a0<\/sup>And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a [b<\/a>]<\/sup>manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Wednesday<\/p>\n

Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. <\/span> 9\u00a0<\/sup>And]<\/sup>behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. <\/span> 10\u00a0<\/sup>Then the angel said to them, \u201cDo not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. <\/span> 11\u00a0<\/sup>For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. <\/span> 12\u00a0<\/sup>And this will be<\/i> the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

13\u00a0<\/sup>And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

14\u00a0<\/sup>\u201cGlory to God in the highest,<\/span>
\nAnd on earth peace, goodwill\u00a0toward men!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

15\u00a0<\/sup>So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, \u201cLet us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.\u201d <\/span> 16\u00a0<\/sup>And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. <\/span> 17\u00a0<\/sup>Now when they had seen Him,<\/i> they made [f<\/a>]<\/sup>widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. <\/span> 18\u00a0<\/sup>And all those who heard it<\/i> marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. <\/span> 19\u00a0<\/sup>But Mary kept all these things and pondered them<\/i> in her heart. <\/span> 20\u00a0<\/sup>Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.<\/span><\/p>\n

Thursday<\/p>\n

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, [a<\/a>]<\/sup>wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, <\/span> 2\u00a0<\/sup>saying, \u201cWhere is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

3\u00a0<\/sup>When Herod the king heard this,<\/i> he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. <\/span> 4\u00a0<\/sup>And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.<\/span><\/p>\n

5\u00a0<\/sup>So they said to him, \u201cIn Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet:<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

6\u00a0<\/sup>\u2018But<\/span> you, Bethlehem,<\/span> in<\/i> the land of Judah,<\/span><\/span>
\nAre not the least among the rulers of Judah;<\/span><\/span>
\nFor out of you shall come a Ruler<\/span><\/span>
\nWho will shepherd My people Israel.\u2019<\/span> \u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

7\u00a0<\/sup>Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared. <\/span> 8\u00a0<\/sup>And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, \u201cGo and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him,<\/i> bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

9\u00a0<\/sup>When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. <\/span> 10\u00a0<\/sup>When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. <\/span> 11\u00a0<\/sup>And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>12\u00a0<\/sup>Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way.<\/span><\/p>\n

Friday<\/p>\n

Luke 2:21\u00a021\u00a0<\/sup>And when eight days were completed for the circumcision of the Child, His name was called Jesus<\/span>, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was<\/i> Simeon, and this man was<\/i> just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. <\/span> 26\u00a0<\/sup>And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord\u2019s Christ. <\/span> 27\u00a0<\/sup>So he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when the parents brought in the Child Jesus, to do for Him according to the custom of the law, <\/span> 28\u00a0<\/sup>he took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said:<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

29\u00a0<\/sup>\u201cLord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace,<\/span>
\nAccording to Your word;<\/span>
\n30\u00a0<\/sup>For my eyes have seen Your salvation<\/span>
\n31\u00a0<\/sup>Which You have prepared before the face of all peoples,<\/span>
\n32\u00a0<\/sup>A light to bring<\/i> revelation to the Gentiles,<\/span>
\nAnd the glory of Your people Israel.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

33\u00a0<\/sup>And Joseph and His mother marveled at those things which were spoken of Him. <\/span> 34\u00a0<\/sup>Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, \u201cBehold, this Child<\/i> is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against <\/span> 35\u00a0<\/sup>(yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Saturday<\/p>\n

Matthew 2:\u00a013\u00a0<\/sup>Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, \u201cArise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

14\u00a0<\/sup>When he arose, he took the young Child and His mother by night and departed for Egypt, <\/span> 15\u00a0<\/sup>and was there until the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, \u201cOut of Egypt I called My Son.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

16\u00a0<\/sup>Then Herod, when he saw that he was deceived by the wise men, was exceedingly angry; and he sent forth and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the wise men. <\/span> 17\u00a0<\/sup>Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying:<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

18\u00a0<\/sup>\u201cA<\/span> voice was heard in Ramah,<\/span><\/span>
\nLamentation, weeping, and great mourning,<\/span><\/span>
\nRachel weeping<\/span> for<\/i> her children,<\/span><\/span>
\nRefusing to be comforted,<\/span><\/span>
\nBecause they are no more.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Sunday Isaiah 7:14\u00a0\u00a0Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. John 1:In the beginning […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5896","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-orthodox-daily-devotional","has_no_thumb"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/orthodoxinsight.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5896","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/orthodoxinsight.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/orthodoxinsight.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/orthodoxinsight.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/orthodoxinsight.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=5896"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/orthodoxinsight.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5896\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5897,"href":"http:\/\/orthodoxinsight.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5896\/revisions\/5897"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/orthodoxinsight.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=5896"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/orthodoxinsight.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=5896"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/orthodoxinsight.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=5896"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}