A 25-Day Devotional by New Spring Church of Anderson, SC
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“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.”
Matthew 5:17
The Old Testament commanded that God’s people love Him and love others (Deuteronomy 6:4-5, Leviticus 19:18). After generations of trying, Israel discovered what God knew to be true. We are incapable of keeping God’s law without His special help.
When we see Jesus’ arrival in the context of the Old Testament, we understand why Anna “began to give thanks to God and to speak of Him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem” (Luke 2:38). For hundreds of years, Israel languished waiting for the anointed deliverer. Anna, Simeon, and later, John the Baptist recognized Jesus as the long-promised Messiah. Jesus did everything the prophets described— sometimes in unexpected ways. [I dare say, MOST of the time in unexpected ways.]
Jesus’ death and resurrection provide [the] way for us to experience freedom from sin. When we believe in Jesus, we receive His Spirit, and with it, the ability to really love and finally fulfill God’s law. Like Anna, we can give thanks to God for our salvation and speak of His deliverance to everyone, everywhere.
Reflect: Read Luke 2:36-40, Matthew 5:17-18
How does Jesus’ statement that He came to fulfill the law and prophets change your view of the Old Testament?
What can we learn from Anna’s joy and excitement in seeing the Lord?
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Prayer:
Father,
Thank You for the hope and the promise of freedom - deliverance - from our sin. We truly are incapable of anything without Your Love and Grace. We pray as Paul prayed for the church in Ephesus. When we think of all this, we fall to our knees and pray to You, Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. We pray that You will empower us with inner strength from Your glorious, unlimited resources through Your Spirit. And that Christ will then make His home in our hearts as we trust in Him. We pray that our roots will grow down into Your love and keep us strong. And that we have the power to understand, as all Your people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep Your love is. May we experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then we will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
***********************************************************************
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.”
Matthew 5:17
The Old Testament commanded that God’s people love Him and love others (Deuteronomy 6:4-5, Leviticus 19:18). After generations of trying, Israel discovered what God knew to be true. We are incapable of keeping God’s law without His special help.
When we see Jesus’ arrival in the context of the Old Testament, we understand why Anna “began to give thanks to God and to speak of Him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem” (Luke 2:38). For hundreds of years, Israel languished waiting for the anointed deliverer. Anna, Simeon, and later, John the Baptist recognized Jesus as the long-promised Messiah. Jesus did everything the prophets described— sometimes in unexpected ways. [I dare say, MOST of the time in unexpected ways.]
Jesus’ death and resurrection provide [the] way for us to experience freedom from sin. When we believe in Jesus, we receive His Spirit, and with it, the ability to really love and finally fulfill God’s law. Like Anna, we can give thanks to God for our salvation and speak of His deliverance to everyone, everywhere.
Reflect: Read Luke 2:36-40, Matthew 5:17-18
How does Jesus’ statement that He came to fulfill the law and prophets change your view of the Old Testament?
What can we learn from Anna’s joy and excitement in seeing the Lord?
***********************************************************************
Prayer:
Father,
Thank You for the hope and the promise of freedom - deliverance - from our sin. We truly are incapable of anything without Your Love and Grace. We pray as Paul prayed for the church in Ephesus. When we think of all this, we fall to our knees and pray to You, Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. We pray that You will empower us with inner strength from Your glorious, unlimited resources through Your Spirit. And that Christ will then make His home in our hearts as we trust in Him. We pray that our roots will grow down into Your love and keep us strong. And that we have the power to understand, as all Your people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep Your love is. May we experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then we will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
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