Dec 25 2025 … Give Our Worship …

Dec 25 2025 …  Give Our Worship … 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...      and PLEASE take the time to listen to music and lyrics, from John Sutter, sung by The Ensemble Altera singing What Sweeter Music … calling for all to bring songs of worship to our King, … Lord Jesus.

Highlight Passage: … Matthew 2:11 … [NLT] …  

11 They entered the house and saw the child with His mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped Him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.   

… The Magi came to where Jesus resided to worship Him as The King of the Jews” with their precious gifts. 

Highlight Passage in Context:  Matthew 2:1-2, 7-12 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …

… The Magi came to worship “The King” with their gifts to honor Him.

================

Reference Passage: … Psalms 95:6 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …

… The Psalmist, likely David, calls on believers to come before the Lord, to worship Him as our Maker.

Reference Passage: … Luke 4:8 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Jesus’ reply to Satan’s temptation, quotes from Deuteronomy 6:13, where God calls on His chosen people to worship their Lord as their King.

Reference Passage: …  John 4:24 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… John calls on Christians to worship God in Spirit and in truth.

Reference Passage: … Romans 12:1-2 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Paul begs fellow Christians to worship God with our lives as living sacrifices, avoiding the worship of worldly things. 

Reference Passage: … Colossians 3:16 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Paul calls on fellow Christians fill their (our) lives with worship, including spiritual songs from thankful hearts.

Reference Passage: … Hebrews 13:15 [NLT] </b>  USE THIS LINK ... 

… The author of Hebrews calls on Christians to offer up continual sacrifices of praise to worship our King, Jesus.

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread from Karen Pimpo …  USE THS LNK       …  writes about modern day composer, John Sutter, taking lyrics the 17th Century poet, Robert Herrick, who wrote his poem,  “What Sweeter Music” ... (hear the song linked above), written to show how the Magi came to honor and worship young Jesus with precious gifts to worship Him as the King of the Jews.  

And today’s ODB author challenges her readers - that’s you and me here on Christmas Day - to come before our King Jesus with sacrifices of praise to Him … as our greatest gift.  Oh, how I, … for one, … am challenged in this upcoming year to bring more of my life as a sacrifice of praise to my King, Jesus.   How about you? 

My Thanksgiving: … Oh, King Jesus, thank You …Lord, … as I receive You as the greatest gift of salvation which You have given me freely, may my life worship You.

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, … for giving us salvation as the greatest gift of all. … Amen

=============

Blogger Note:  Everyday during this year, my daily devotional blogs are influenced by the reading and study of the online devotional blog entitled “Our Daily Bread,” distributed online via email by RBC Ministries.  If you GO TO THIS LINK on the date of my blog, you can read/study the ODB blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.

Dec 24 2025 … To The Humble Shepherds …

Dec 24 2025 …  To The Humble Shepherds … 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...      and PLEASE take the time to listen to music and lyrics, from Andrew Peterson singing While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks … declaring HALLELUJAH as God pronounces the coming of The Christ to the Shepherds.

An Angel Appears to the shepherds ... 

 

Highlight Passage: … Luke 2:10 … [NLT] …  

9 Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, 10 but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people.   

… Luke’s account of God sending His angel to the shepherds near Bethlehem to declare the birth of Messiah. 

Highlight Passage in Context:  Luke 2: 8-14 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… God sends His Angel to shepherds to declare the birth of Messiah, calling them to go and see the Christ, their King.

================

Reference Passage: … Isaiah 40:11 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Isaiah prophesies the coming of The Messiah, Who will be like a shepherd caring for His sheep.

Reference Passage: … Matthew 9:36 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Matthew compared Jesus’ confused and helpless followers to be like sheep without a shepherd.

Reference Passage: …  John 10:11 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Jesus refers to Himself as “The Good Shepherd,” …willing to die for His sheep.

Reference Passage: … Acts 20:28 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Paul declares to the Elders of the believers in Ephesus to be like shepherds, caring for their flock.

Reference Passage:… Hebrews 13:20 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… The author of Hebrews compares God to a great shepherd.  

Reference Passage:… 1Peter 5:1-2 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Peter calls on Elders in Christ’s church to care for the “flock” in Christ’s church as a shepherd cares for his sheep. 

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread from Amy Boucher Pie …  USE THS LNK      …  tells of the first radio broadcast of music and voice from  a over radio likely occurred on a Navy vessel in the Atlantic on Christmas Eve in 1906 when ships heard Reginald Fessenden playing a violin solo of “O Holy Night,” closing with a vocal statement about the Christmas Eve declaration from Luke 2: “Glory to God in the highest heaven!” 

And that Luke 2 story of God’s Angel appearing to the shepherds near Bethlehem on that eve of the birth of our Lord is likely the most quoted word of God about the birth of Christ in our world, isn’t it?   And isn’t it wonderful that God chose SHEPHERDS to announce the birth of His Son, The Messiah, showing that God favors the humble to be mankind’s model of humility, which SHEPHERDS in those days certainly represented.

I get the message!!  … Here on Christmas eve, we all need to take a deep look at ourselves and see if we can do all we can, going into the New Year, to do all we can to be humble and caring for others in God’s flock, just like shepherds were for their sheep in Jesus’ day.  Jesus, as our “Good Shepherd,” referred to Himself as “Humble and Meek (i.e., “kind”)  (look it up in Matthew 11:29); and I certainly need to be more like my Good Shepherd into this upcoming year.  How about you? 

My Thanksgiving: … Oh, King Jesus, thank You …Lord, … for being my model Shepherd in caring for me as one of Your sheep.

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, … for coming to us to be our Good Shepherd.  … Amen

=============

Blogger Note:  Everyday during this year, my daily devotional blogs are influenced by the reading and study of the online devotional blog entitled “Our Daily Bread,” distributed online via email by RBC Ministries.  If you GO TO THIS LINK on the date of my blog, you can read/study the ODB blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.

Dec 23 2025 … God Is ALWAYS Fair …

Dec 23 2025 …  God Is ALWAYS Fair … 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...      and PLEASE take the time to listen to music and lyrics, from the group, Elevation Worship, singing God Is Not Against Me … declaring God’s eternal fairness to be with all of His children ALWAYS.

Highlight Passage: … James 2:9 … [NLT] …  

9 But if you favor some people over others, you are committing a sin. You are guilty of breaking the law. 

… James declares God’s truth that it is sin to favor one over another. 

Highlight Passage in Context:  James 2:1-4, 8-13 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Jesus’ brother James teaches truth about being impartial and fair, as instructed by God’s word. 

================

Reference Passage:… Leviticus 19:15 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …

… God’s Law and His word calls on His people to judge others fairly and impartially.

Reference Passage: …  Deuteronomy 10:17 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… God’s word declares that our God is ALWAYS fair and impartial.

Reference Passage: … Acts 10:34 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Peter declares to Cornelius (and to all) that God is ALWAYS impartial.

Reference Passage: … Romans 2:10-11 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… The Apostle Paul teaches truth to fellow Christians that God shows no partiality to Jews or Gentiles.  

Reference Passage: … Galatians 3:28 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Paul teaches fellow Christians that ALL are equal in Christ. 

Reference Passage: … Colossians 3:25 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Paul reinforces his truth to fellow Christians that God shows no favorites.

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread from Mike Wittmer …  USE THS LINK   …  relates a true story about President Ulysses S Grant in 1872, being arrested by an African-American policeman, named William West, for driving and racing the President’s carriage in a dangerous manner.  The officer, recognizing the President, told Grant,  “I am very sorry, Mr. President, to have to do it, for you are the chief of the nation and I am nothing but a policeman, but duty is duty;” and West arrested the President.  Later, Grant apologized and lauded Officer West for his impartial justice. 

If my readers have read the ODB entry, meditated on the Scriptures above, and taken in the link song, I’m praying we all realize that we serve and follow an ABSOLUTELY impartial and fair God, Who loves ALL and judges ALL fairly and impartially, expecting that ALL who serve and follow Him do so with others.  …  How about it?   Are we following our Lord but treating others fairly … just as Our Lord is fair with all of us?  I’m praying so!   

My Thanksgiving: … Oh, King Jesus, thank You …Lord, … for showing me Your impartial ways; and calling me to treat others the way You treat me … with Your love, mercy,  and grace.   

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, … for showing us all how to treat others the way You treat us.  … Amen

=============

Blogger Note:  Everyday during this year, my daily devotional blogs are influenced by the reading and study of the online devotional blog entitled “Our Daily Bread,” distributed online via email by RBC Ministries.  If you GO TO THIS LINK on the date of my blog, you can read/study the ODB blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.

Dec 22 2025 … We Are His Body …

Dec 22 2025 …  We Are His Body … 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...      and PLEASE take the time to listen to music and lyrics, from the group, Casting Crowns, singing If We Are the Body… calling on Christians to reach out, as the body of Christ, to be Christ’s eyes and ears and His arms and legs, … HIs hands and feet, … working TOGETHER to witness for His glory.

Highlight Passage: … !Corinthians 12:27 … [NLT] …  

27 … All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it.  

… Paul declares the truth that all Christians come TOGETHER to be part of Christ’s body. 

Highlight Passage in Context: 1Corinthians 12:5-7 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… The Apostle Paul teaches truth about Christians coming TOGETHER to become the “Body of Christ.”  

================

Reference Passage: … Matthew 28:18-20 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Jesus’ “Great Commission” for all Christians to come TOGETHER as His Body and to “go” and make more disciples who are equipped to serve God as His body, The Church.

Reference Passage: …  Romans 12:4-5 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …

… The Apostle Paul teaches truth to fellow Christians about Christians coming TOGETHER as His body to work for His glory. 

Reference Passage: … Ephesians 4:12-15 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Paul teaches that the members of God’s church are to be a unified BODY, working TOGETHER for God’s glory.

Reference Passage:… Colossians 3:14-16 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… The Apostle Paul also calls all Christians to join TOGETHER with the love of God to serve God for His glory.

Reference Passage: … 2Timothy 3:16-17 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Finally, Paul teaches Timothy (and all Christians) that God has given His word to show them (us) how to come TOGETHER to serve God as His church. 

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread from Jennifer Benson Schuldt …  USE THS LINK     …  told of a friend, Maritza, who took a job which required traveling to various cities in the USA, causing Maritza to be lonely.  So, being Christian, she prayed that God would send her fellow Christians to quell her loneliness.  And over time she encountered a number of Christians who would reach out and befriend Maritza, helping dispel her loneliness.

Perhaps my readers have experienced the body of Christ, reaching out to share God’s love, mercy, and grace from fellow Christians.  And if my readers have taken in the linked song and the Scriptures shared above, you may be convicted, as was I, to reach out and be more of Christ’s eyes and ears and His hands and feet, serving TOGETHER with Him - Our Lord - as our Head of the Body of Christ, doing more TOGETHER to befriend and help other Christians, or just anyone … maybe even TODAY.  Are you with me? 

My Thanksgiving: … Oh, King Jesus, thank You …Lord, … for calling me to be part of Your body.   

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, … for using us as Your Body, working TOGETER for Your glory.  … Amen

=============

Blogger Note:  Everyday during this year, my daily devotional blogs are influenced by the reading and study of the online devotional blog entitled “Our Daily Bread,” distributed online via email by RBC Ministries.  If you GO TO THIS LINK on the date of my blog, you can read/study the ODB blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.