Emmanuel Devotional

The first Noel, the angels did say Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay In fields where they lay keeping their sheep On a cold winter's night that was so deep Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel Born is the King of Israel! They looked up and saw a star Shining in the east beyond them far And to the Earth it gave great light And so it continued both day and night Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel Born is the King of Israel! This carol was first published in 1823 by William Sandys in England. Since then, its melody and lyrics have grown more and more familiar to the Church, as have the stories of the shepherds and the wise men referenced by the song. The nativity accounts found in the opening chapters of Matthew and Luke were signals to God's people, Israel, who had been awaiting the arrival of a new king. Many of the signs surrounding Jesus' birth pointed back to the greatest and most respected king that Israel had yet known, King David: Shepherds: David is first introduced in 1 Samuel 16 as a young shepherd boy in Bethlehem. He was out keeping his sheep when the prophet Samuel arrived to anoint him king. Later, Micah prophesied that another ruler would come out of Bethlehem who would also shepherd God's people. Then in the book of Luke, the appearance of angels to shepherds near Bethlehem was an indicator that a major character in God's story of redemption had arrived. Wise Men and Myrrh: What would Samuel, a wise and respected leader, have used to proclaim David king after he was led on his mission to Bethlehem? According to Exodus 30, myrrh was one of the core ingredients used to make sacred anointing oil. And we read in the Gospel of Matthew that wise men are led to Bethlehem once again with gold, frankincense, and myrrh, this time as gifts for Jesus, our newborn King. The arrival of Jesus was deeply significant. It led a group of shepherds to tell many others what they'd seen and heard. It inspired powerful men to travel a great distance to bring gifts to the child of strangers. The arrival of Jesus matters. It changed everything for the shepherds and wise men, and it changes everything for us. We've seen their response to the arrival of the King. What is our response? Challenge As you hear this carol, I pray that your spirit is moved. I pray that you would not hold back in your response, whether it yields more passionate and authentic praise than you've ever experienced, or it gives you the courage to tell someone about Jesus. Maybe you've been on the fence about fully committing your life to Christ, or going to church. Whatever the response, He's worth giving your all. —Luke Guevara Based on the song Noel. Original post by Life.Church Worship available on YouVersion based on the album - Gloria by Life.Church Worship.

There's something so special and powerful about this song. It seems to be sung every year, at every church, yet when compared to the other classics, it stands out. In my opinion, it perfectly depicts the reverence and simplicity of the birth of Jesus. This holy God, this incredible Being and Almighty Savior, was born in the most unlikely of places. There was nothing special about Bethlehem at that time. Israel was in disarray and under foreign rule, but this is where He chose to enter the world in a manger, surrounded by hay, animals, and just a few people. There wasn't a large crowd. You would think that finally, after all this time, the Savior that the world had been waiting for would have made a fancy entrance, but it was quite the opposite. It says something about His character. When the rest of the world demands attention, our God comes with a still, small voice, to the most unlikely of places. This is where He chose to make His first impression. I pray that as you go about this Christmas season, you'll lean back and remember Him for who He is. Is He not a God worth worshiping? Remember what He has done for you. Remember that in our darkest moment He is there for you. Challenge Remember to simply stop and worship Him. —Rob Estevez Based on the song O Holy Night. Original post by Life.Church Worship available on YouVersion based on the album - Gloria by Life.Church Worship.

When you hear the word faithful, what does it make you think of? Does it remind you of a loved one, maybe a parent or a best friend you trust? Or maybe you've heard the phrase “faithful as the sun.” We know the sun will always rise and it will always set. It will be there every day when we wake up. But what happens when those friends fail you? What happens when your parents don't love you the way you need to be loved? Even the sun will someday burn away. The truth of the matter is that here in this life, faithful will always come up short when it's attached to humanity. But a move of true faithfulness was set in motion over 2,000 years ago, when the Savior of the world arrived as a baby. He came down and reached into our suffering to save us from our sin—to bring us hope when we were hopeless. He lived for 33 years and then died on the cross. But even then it wasn't over. He rose from the dead, and when He later ascended into heaven, He left His Spirit here to encourage and empower us. We have never been without the presence of our heavenly Father, even though sometimes it's hard to see it and feel it, especially when we or the people around us fail to live up to the Word. But what we know is that our God loved us so much that He came down to be with us, and He's never left us since. He's always present in our time of need. In fact, He calls to the brokenhearted, waiting to display His glorious love. That is our God. He is the definition of the word faithful. Challenge Think about the depth of God's faithful love for you today, and worship Him for it. —Rob Estevez Based on the song Faithful. Original post by Life.Church Worship available on YouVersion based on the album - Gloria by Life.Church Worship.

Have you ever walked through a season when, despite difficult circumstances, you had joy in your heart? And when your friends asked how you were doing, and you told them all that was going on, you got weird eyes because all they could see was joy? It can definitely be an interesting feeling. This is what I like to call the joy of the Lord. Despite the craziness all around us, with this kind of joy, we can find ourselves unfazed. I'd like to clarify the difference between happiness and joy. Happiness is an emotion that comes from something temporary like receiving a gift or winning an award. But joy is from the Lord—it's deeper, like the feeling we get when we give to others or worship our God. There was a season in my life recently when I had finally achieved my dream job—and not just that, but my calling! I had worked so hard for five years for this moment. My husband and I were given one week to pack up all our belongings and move to a different town. What we didn't expect was all the obstacles that would come our way during this one week. There were plenty, trust me. But the one I remember the most vividly was when I dropped off my rental car and noticed that someone had broken into my personal car. My whole car was trashed inside. Papers were scattered everywhere, pieces were missing, and the hood was left wide open. Someone had tried to hot-wire my car. I'll be honest, I was definitely shocked at first. But then I started small: I reorganized all my important papers and placed them in their spot. I shut the hood of my car, finally found the missing plastic piece, and replaced it where it belonged. After all this, I called my husband to inform him and began to laugh. See, despite someone trying to steal my car during a very hectic time in my life, I had joy, because I knew the enemy was working hard to make trouble so I would become frantic and angry. But our God is so mighty and powerful that He showed me what the enemy was trying to do and reminded me that He was taking care of me throughout this whole process. The Word says that “the joy of the Lord is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10), so there is no need to fear or worry. God gives us joy and peace to weather the storms and trials we face. When we're in His Word and we trust God, He reminds us of this. The next time you find yourself in a difficult season, try first seeking the Lord in prayer or worship. Once this becomes a natural practice for you, His joy will come to you more quickly. Challenge: How are you finding ways to experience God's joy? —Dominique McHenry Based on the song Joy (To The World). Original post by Life.Church Worship available on YouVersion based on the album - Gloria by Life.Church Worship.

Imagine a still, quiet night, with the stars above you. It's the kind of night you've experienced over and over again. Maybe you envision going camping, sitting on your back porch, or driving in your car. Wherever it is, it's somewhere familiar, comfortable, and normal for you. On this particular night, the shepherds are experiencing an ordinary night under the stars. They're watching over their flock as they did every moment of every day—to keep the flock safe from wild animals in the area or from wandering off to unknown terrain. Just another typical night. There's no doubt that the shepherds had heard all their lives about the coming of the Messiah, but when they least expect it, on the most common of days, the most extraordinary thing happens! An angel of the Lord shows up, an astonishing sight and sound. How terrifying and exhilarating it must have been. The angel tells them of the news they had longed to hear all their lives—the long-awaited Messiah is here! My favorite part of this story is in verses 13 and 14. Once the angel has shared the good news, it's then joined by “a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God ...” Luke 2:13 NLT The angels were preparing the way of the Lord with praise even at His birth—joining the scene purely to praise God for this momentous occasion! Even in the midst of sharing the story of Jesus' birth and how He could be recognized, they couldn't help but praise God: “Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.” Luke 2:14 NLT Challenge May we pause today and give Him the highest praise. In the middle of the busiest season, or the most ordinary of days, may we keep our eyes open for God moving in miraculous ways and give nothing in our lives higher praise than the one who came to save! —Ashten Wellman Based on the song Angels We Have Heard On High. Original post by Life.Church Worship available on YouVersion based on the album - Gloria by Life.Church Worship.

For many, the holidays are the most heartwarming, comforting time of the year. We're reminded of what matters most as families and friends gather, reconnect, and spend quality time with one another. For others, though, this season reminds them of what they don't have. It highlights the fact that their family isn't close anymore, that loss is real and present, and that they feel alone when it shouldn't have to be that way. You may find yourself in this position where everyone else seems happy and filled with holiday spirit, but for you, life feels a little bleak and cold. Let me remind you that even in the bleakest moments, even when life feels heavy and dark, Jesus is the light and the warmth you need in every moment. If you stop and draw near to Him, He promises to draw near to you. When the things of this world cease to satisfy, He gives a peace that will never, ever leave you, and it's only found in daily relationship with Him. Challenge Whether life is good or it feels a little bit bleak, pause and draw near to Jesus. Cry out to Him, and be reminded of the peace that you have in Him alone. —Stacey Willis Based on the song Midwinter. Original post by Life.Church Worship available on YouVersion based on the album - Gloria by Life.Church Worship.

When we consider the fall of humanity that took place in the Garden of Eden—resulting in the curse of death—hope seems distant. But because of His unrelenting love, God the Father set into motion the greatest rescue plan the world has ever known, in the form of His Son Jesus. Imagine for a moment that you've just received this news: You've been found guilty and sentenced to death for crimes you've committed. How do you feel? What do you say? There's no hope. But then you're greeted by an eleventh hour message informing you that the crimes you were guilty of have been completely and irrevocably forgiven. You're overwhelmed with wonder as to who intervened on your behalf and how it all happened. And almost at the same moment, you're bursting with relief, joy, and gratitude toward whoever saved you. This is the good news to be shared at every opportunity. When we receive the gift of salvation, our guilt, shame, and regret are exchanged for life, hope, and redemption—because of our Savior Jesus. Isaiah 52 foretells the salvation and redemption God is sending, proclaiming that this good news will be told on the mountains and all over the world. We see this come to pass in Luke 2 when the shepherds hurry to tell everyone that Jesus, the hope of the world, has arrived! This is absolutely news to be shared! I love that it says: All who heard the shepherds' story were astonished ... Luke 2:18 NLT Challenge Take a moment to reflect on your life before you experienced the love, grace, and mercy of God. You may remember guilt, shame, and regret. But now, let the redeemed of the Lord say so! Let's share the good news of forgiveness and life with those around us as we continue to shine the light of hope that comes through Jesus our Savior. Generations later, let's continue to “Go Tell It”! —Devon Goins Based on the song Go Tell It (This Is Amazing Grace). Original post by Life.Church Worship available on YouVersion based on the album - Gloria by Life.Church Worship.

“Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” was written by Charles Wesley, an English Methodist leader and hymn writer. He wrote over 6,000 hymns, with the goal of teaching sound doctrine to the poor and illiterate. His brother, John Wesley, a famous theologian and the founder of the Methodist movement, said that Charles' hymnal was the best theological book in existence. Let's take a moment to break down this theologically rich song. As the lyrics progress, we see three things: praise, presence, and promise. 1. Praise Hark! The herald angels sing Glory to the newborn King Peace on earth and mercy mild God and sinners reconciled The first response to the coming of Jesus is praise. Everyone is celebrating, because this means the atonement for mankind has arrived—our Redeemer has come! Jesus single-handedly defeats the power of darkness. 2. Presence Christ by highest heaven adored Christ the everlasting Lord Late in time behold Him come Offspring of a virgin's womb Think about it. Jesus, the Son of God, chose to leave heaven and come to earth for us! He left perfection for the imperfect, to be present with us. 3. Promise Hail the heaven-born Prince of Peace Hail the Son of righteousness Light and life to all He brings Risen with healing in His wings The birth of Jesus was no small thing. It was the fulfillment of a promise awaited for thousands of years—a promise that brings new life and a new start for all who believe. Healing, peace, comfort, and joy all stem from this moment: the birth of our salvation. My hope is that as you hear this song you will not just hear a nostalgic melody, but you'll join with the angels and all creation in celebrating the gift of Christ's birth. May He fill you with His praise and His presence as you remember the great promise of our God fulfilled through the gift of Jesus Christ. Reflect How do you celebrate the coming of Christ? Is your heart filled with joy when you think about this season? What can you do today to align your heart more closely with how this song portrays gratitude and praise? —Stephen Cole Based on the song Hark The Herald Angels Sing Original post by Life.Church Worship available on YouVersion based on the album - Gloria by Life.Church Worship.