Advent Devotions Door County 2021

Judges 4-5 For many who read the story of Deborah in Judges 4 & 5, what sticks with them is the rather gruesome murder of the Canaanite King Jabin, by Jael, the wife of one of the tribal leaders allied against him. While he sleeps, thinking he has found shelter in her tent, Jael drives a tent peg through his eye with a hammer. This is not exactly the easiest material to be discussing in an Advent devotional. But a deeper dive into the story of Deborah brings us rich inspiration during this season of preparation and anticipation for the gift of the Christ child. The Advent stories provide us the examples of courage and faithfulness of women like Elizabeth and Mary who responded to God’s calling in their lives. Deborah is a unique example in the Old Testament of a woman who rises to the moment when God asks her to deliver her people. Deborah was a Judge, the leader of Israel during a time of great oppression, and she was also identified as a prophet. It is remarkable to find a woman...

Judges 3:12-30 Being ambidextrous, passages that include “right hand” (Isaiah 41:10) and “left hand” (Judges 3:15) stick out to me. Why the added detail? Also, in this passage in Judges 3, it mentions…well…it mentions the “width” of Eglon. Check out verse 17. Why the added detail? Then, in verse 20, it mentions a “cool roof chamber.” Again, why the added detail? This, and every other passage of Scripture is loaded with details (aka adjectives). The wonderful account in Luke 2 is no exception, as detail after detail is listed surrounding the birth of Jesus. So, why the added detail? Simply answered, because  our God is a God of details …not just with Ehud in the book of Judges, but also  with you in 2021. He cares about and is involved in every aspect of every part of you. He cares about and is involved in every aspect of your day. After all, the birth of Jesus is just one of the many ways God demonstrates this fact. He cares about…a...

Judges 3:7-11 As we start to prepare for the 2021 Christmas season, it is good to reflect on the subject and purpose of the Holiday. Jesus, more than a babe in a manger, is the Judge of all the earth as recorded in Genesis 18:25. Judgment is always necessary in scripture, that the righteous may be vindicated, and the unrighteous may be punished. The very fact that Jesus came to earth that He might become sin for us, taking that punishment for all who repent and receive this gift of salvation. In the passage listed for this devotion, God’s people have lived contrary to His teachings and expectations. As such, God’s anger brings them into bondage for their wrong living. When things become distressing enough, we find them crying out to Him for deliverance. It is not until then that God raises up Othniel, as judge, to deliver His people. Here we are about to close out 2021 following the events that have emerged since 2020. For a student of the Bible, coul...

Deuteronomy 16:18 – Appoint judges and officials for each of your tribes in every town the LORD your God is giving you, and they shall judge the people fairly. The judge’s role was to judge the people, conveniently enough. That means holding them accountable to the laws God gave them. For example, if there were a dispute between two Israelites about compensation after an accident, say, then the judge’s role was to decide what should be done. A bit like when two people come before Judge Judy with a dispute about who the dog really belongs to or something like that. When it comes to the judges of Israel, the cases are real, the decisions are final. But it’s important to see that God didn’t set these judges above the law. They are held to certain standards too. God says to the judges in Deuteronomy 16:19, “You shall not pervert justice. You shall not show partiality, and you shall not accept a bribe…”   God’s not interested in corrupt judges who play favorites. ...

  Introduction Advent (from the Latin adventus , meaning "coming") begins on the 4th Sunday before Christmas Day, and is often considered a season of anticipation and hope. For many Christians it is not just about waiting for a Savior to be born, but also looking to a time when the Christ will come again, in power and with authority. The traditional emphases for this season are on both the First and Second Coming of Jesus Christ, and our accountability for faithfulness. Each devotion will feature a Bible passage about a person or persons from the Biblical Era (including one from the Apocrypha). There will also be a theme/introduction to each week that helps set the tone for each of the 4 weeks which is not directly tied to individuals. The Offices of Christ tell us how Jesus served as the ultimate Judge, Priest, Prophet and King, and how those roles were filled less-than-perfectly by Hebrew and Gentile alike in the time before His incarnation – giving the world glimpses of th...