Hello, this is Jeff Walker and I have been on such an unexpected journey with God since my return in 2015. It has been such a blessing to serve on the worship team here at Riverside Church and now to leave the business world and join the ministry staff I could never have imagined that this is where God was calling me too.

The passages you are going to read today are Luke 1:1-25, 57-80. These passages begin in verse 5 by introducing us to a priest named Zechariah and his wife Elizabeth. We learn that they both were righteous and blameless before God. Zechariah was in the temple serving as priest before God when an angel (we believe Gabriel) appeared to him and foretold the birth of John the Baptist. The angel tells Zechariah that his prayers had been heard and that he and his wife Elizabeth would bear a son and that this son shall be named John. Very specific instruction. The angel prophesies that this baby John will be filled with the holy spirit. However, in Zechariah’s disbelief that he and Elizabeth could have a baby since they were well advanced in years Zechariah was struck speechless until this baby would be born.

The succeeding passages culminate with the birth of John the Baptist. The Lord had shown great mercy to Elizabeth and the peoples rejoiced with her. Zechariah is filled with the holy spirit and he prophesies. Blessing and praising the Lord for all he has done.

We see in these passages the Holy spirit at work to bring about the plan of God. God had chosen before the foundation of the world that the forerunner John would be conceived through Zechariah and Elizabeth and that amid unbelief God’s purpose and plan will come to pass.

• How has God spoken to you or what has he promised in His word that just seems so impossible that it will come to pass?

• What has God done in your life that you can bless and praise him for? Take a moment right now and do that.

Good morning this fine Sunday!

Whether or not you are one for resolutions, spend some time this morning praying about what qualities and characteristics you would like to see the Holy Spirit help you develop this year.

• Who do you want to be one year from now? What practices can you put in place to see that become a reality?

If you want help thinking through this, reach out to one of the Pastors, Elders, or Leaders that you’ve gotten to know through these devotions!

Hey family, it’s Ila here with you again. Is it okay if we just pass the small talk and get real for a moment? I realize I can’t verify your agreement, but thank you for pretending with me. Let’s get real! Sometimes, I’m pleased with myself as a “good” person…Other times, I deeply—desperately—know that I need a Savior to rescue me from my wretched self. In today’s passage, God sends Malachi the prophet to shine a spotlight on some wretched sins. It’s not a happy message. It’s quite devastating. Yet, it’s necessary.

God’s people were back in their own land, worshiping in their own temple. They were no longer exiles, no longer controlled by a foreign power. Life seemed to be good! They were home. They were free. But the people were enslaved to another master and power: sin.

Let’s buckle up, humble ourselves, and hear what God says to a people who desperately need the Savior: Malachi 2:1-3:5

Yes, God loves us always, and He is a forgiving God! But God is not okay with us dishonoring His name or dishonoring other people. In the very last book of the Old Testament, it is quite clear that laws are not enough to make people good.

We need a Savior.

To dissect this intense section further, grab a piece of paper and list out the major crimes of God’s people in:

• Verse 2:8
• Verse 2:11
• Verse 2:14
• Verse 2:17
• Verse 3:5

Confess and ask God to cleanse and free you from any of these sins.

• What is Jesus promised to do to save God’s people? (3:3-4)

Thank Jesus for fulfilling this prophecy and coming into our world as the promised acceptable sacrifice for our sins.

Hi, my name is Megan Colvin. I’ve been on the elder team for two years and also serve on the women’s ministry team with a wonderful group of ladies. I have been married to Greg for 22 years and we have been attending Riverside for almost 10 years with our children Charlie (17), Ben (16), Lincoln (9), Crisiya (9), Tariya (9) and Eddie (8). As an added bonus our oldest son Nick, daughter in-law Morgan and granddaughter Genevieve (2 months) live right across the street!

The passage you are going to read today is Jeremiah 33. It starts with the Lord giving Jeremiah a message. Jeremiah knows that the city is going to stand in judgment and the Lord reassures Jeremiah of the good things to come. He tells him of the defiled nation that will be restored, that the city will be full of people one day praising the Lord with joy. He continues on that the ruined fields and lands will be full of animals that the day will come that He restores peace and prosperity to Israel and Judah, just as He has promised them. He says in that day and time He will raise up a righteous descendant from King David’s line and that descent will do what is just and right for the land. At that time Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will live in safety.

Jeremiah has already been through so much dealing with the people turning their back on God. At this point he had continually called for the people to repent and they are clearly not doing so The repercussions for that willful disobedience have been and will continue to be massive. Jeremiah has many battles ahead and God knows this. When the Lord shares with Jeremiah the good things ahead, it had to be a boost to Jeremiah’s spirit.

The Lord tells Jeremiah that the city and lands will be restored to good health, prosperity and peace, that the fields will be full of animals again and that the people will be praising the Lord and loving one another. And then we have a foreshadowing when The Lord shares with Jeremiah of the greatest blessing yet to come, a Righteous descendant from King David’s line, a descendant that will do what is just and right and not just for Judah and Jerusalem but for all the world. That descendant of course, that came to earth as a baby is Jesus Christ.

Read Jeremiah 33 and do the Know, Be, Do method of study for through the chapter.

• KNOW – What does the text say about God?

• BE – What does the text say about us?

• DO – What is the text calling me to do?

• Write out the whole verse that you want to stick with you throughout the day today.

Hello, it’s Benji today again with a reading and reflection.

Today we are going to read Isaiah 61.

In this chapter of Isaiah, we are introduced to the way that God will enable his people to live righteous lives, which will in turn point the nations to God. Jesus applied these very words from the opening verses to his own mission as recorded in Luke 4:18-19. In Isaiah 61, the author states that God’s people will become like great oaks. This description is in direct contrast to what was previously mentioned in Isaiah 1:27-31: the people as oaks with fading leaves because of their unrighteousness and injustices that were happening in their community (Isaiah 1:21). God reveals how this change in the hearts of men will become a reality – through the work of the Messiah. Jesus will come not only to deliver, but to transform. These words from Isaiah remind me of the third verse of the Christmas carol “O Holy Night” which states:

Truly He taught us to love one another
His law is love and His gospel is peace
Chains shall he break, for the slave is our brother
And in His name all oppression shall cease
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we
Let all within us Praise His Holy name
Christ is the Lord; O praise His name forever!
His power and glory evermore proclaim
His power and glory evermore proclaim

• Which description of an oak tree do you relate more with right now: an oak with fading leaves or a mighty oak planted for God’s glory?

• Where specifically does your life need Jesus’s Isaiah 61 power right now? (to bind a broken heart, proclaim freedom, release from darkness, proclaim the Lord’s favor and justice, comfort during a time of mourning)

Hello! Susan here again 🙂

A few more things about me to round out the picture: I love seeing people connect with the scriptures and I love listening to the Bible read aloud; I love kayaking and have almost done the whole length of the St Joe River; I deeply desire to see the church be a more loving space for single folks and for those from the LGBTQ community; I love playing sneaky uppy games in the dark out at camp.

Read 2 Kings 22-23:26

Ahhhh! Josiah “follows in the ways of his father, David”!! Yeah! He is a shining light after he becomes king at only 8 years old following the assassination of his father- who was so evil that his own officials killed him and made this child king.

It is incredible to me how he turned the nation around. We read “ in the eighteenth year of King Josiah, this Passover was celebrated to the Lord in Jerusalem.” Josiah was 26 years old and was steadfastly working to lead his people towards the Lord.

I love the picture of the officials choosing an 8 year old to be king because they recognized the evil in his father and hoped for better from him. And then it seems they allowed their lives and people to be aligned to his young leading and much good was done.

I know that we’ve spoken often of allegiance in this devotional, and in the sermons we’ve been hearing through Revelation. It’s so important where we place our allegiance. Recognizing that it is a choice, it is active and premeditated.

• How are you choosing today to align yourself to the principles and values of God’s kingdom? Where do you see this evidence in your life?

• Josiah celebrates the Passover like it hadn’t been celebrated in years. What can you celebrate today in your relationship with Jesus?

Well, if you don’t know me, my name is Keith and I’m one of the leaders around our church. I was part of the team that started Riverside 11 years ago, and I’ve personally been so blessed in terms of how Riverside has helped me grow as a follower of Jesus.

There have been so many ways that Riversiders have spoken into me and helped form me to become more like Jesus, and for that I’m thankful!

With that said, today we have two passages. The first passage 1 Kings 16: 29-33 quickly talks about one of the worst kings of Israel. It’s a short passage but a really sad one.

Thankfully, two chapters later in 1 Kings 18:16-46 we then read about one of the most courageous stands by one of God’s prophets. The bad king is still on the scene but the prophet of God stands firm and calls people to make a decision in terms of where their ultimate allegiance will be.

As you read these two passages, really try to picture both scenes.

Place yourself in the first passage, and imagine how hard it would have been to stay faithful to God in the midst of such wicked leadership. In the second passage, really try and picture yourself as one of the bystanders. Try to immerse yourself into the event.

And ultimately, this season of Christmas calls us to reflect on the King of the universe that is PRESENT and among His people. Just like the all consuming fire came down from heaven in the time of Elijah, Jesus also came down from heaven in a spectacular (yet unexpected) way.

After you have read both passages, then reflect upon the following questions:

• Which characters in each of the accounts are you most like?

• God is still asking us the same question laid out in 2 Kings 18:21. What are the different ways that you waver in your allegiance these days?

• What does today’s passages reveal about God?

• Have you recently experienced Jesus and His Incarnation (His active presence in our world and lives) to the same extent that Elijah experienced the fire of God? If “yes,” spend some time thanking God. If “no,” pray for more awareness of His activity in your life.