Category: First Things First Devotional

They sang with praise and thanksgiving to the Lord: “For He is good; His faithful love to Israel endures forever.” Then all the people gave a great shout of praise to the Lord because the foundation of the Lord’s house had been laid. Ezra 4:11 HCSB

There have been times in my life when I have really felt the presence of the Lord during worship and wanted to shout, but I have kept my excitement to myself. In our culture we are not accustomed to shouting in church. In most worship services we have a few songs and preaching, but seldom will we find someone shouting praises to the Lord. Some churches tend to have more subdued worship services while other denominations seem to have more excitement and freedom. One way of worship is not necessarily right or wrong, for there are many different ways to express praise and thanksgiving to God.

The people of Israel were excited about the foundation of the temple being completed and they naturally offered praise and thanksgiving to God. They did this through songs and a great shout. The words of the songs reminded them of the love and faithfulness of God. Today, we offer songs of praise and thanksgiving to God. Too often people do not participate in the singing because they do not know the words or they just don’t like the music, but we are to make a joyful noise before the Lord. God deserves our praise and thanksgiving. Maybe we need more shouting in our worship services.

Challenge: Participate in singing the songs at your worship service, even if you do not know the words or don’t like the music. God deserves and wants to hear your praise and thanksgiving. Praise Him for His everlasting love and faithfulness. Today we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. How about giving a big shout of praise for Jesus!

When the builders had laid the foundation of the Lord’s temple, the priests, dressed in their robes and holding trumpets, and the Levites descended from Asaph, holding cymbals, took their positions to praise the Lord, as King David of Israel had instructed. Ezra 3:10 HCSB

On July 17, 1981, two suspended walkways through the lobby of the Hyatt Regency in Kansas City, Missouri collapsed, killing 114 people at a tea dance. The collapse was due to a late change in design, altering the method in which the rods supporting the walkways were connected to them, and inadvertently doubling the forces on the connection. This illustrates the importance of a proper design, foundation, and construction.

The foundation of the temple was vital to the construction of the building. If the foundation was not strong enough and properly built to support the weight of the walls, it would collapse. The same is true in our lives. We must have a strong foundation in Jesus Christ. Without a strong foundation, our spiritual lives will collapse in ruin. A strong foundation is built through faith, trust, and spending time in God’s Word and in prayer each day.

Interestingly, the people began the rebuilding of the temple before they began to rebuild the walls of the city which would protect them from the attack of other nations. The people realized that no matter how strong the city walls might be, without God they were defenseless. The most important thing was to put God first in their lives and have a right relationship with Him. He would be their Protector and Provider.

Challenge: How is your spiritual foundation? Is it about to collapse? God is the Master designer and wants to help you make the right connections so you can build a strong foundation of faith and trust.

They celebrated the Festival of Booths as prescribed and offered burnt offerings each day, based on the number specified by ordinance for each festival day. Ezra 3:4 HCSB

When I was 10 years old, my parents and I took a six week trip to the west coast. We traveled through Texas to visit my grandparents, and then we continued to travel west where we saw the Grand Canyon, Painted Desert, Petrified Forest, and Death Valley before we made our way to San Francisco where my father attended the Southern Baptist Convention and preached a revival for a friend. We then traveled through the Redwood Forest to Seattle, Washington where we went to the World’s Fair and saw the Space Needle. On our way back home we traveled through Yellowstone National Park where I caught my first fish. Except for the time with grandparents and when my dad was preaching the revival, we camped out every night in a small tent. It was a memorable trip that I will never forget.

The people of Israel “camped out” for 40 years as they traveled in the wilderness. They lived in tents and lean-tos. The Festival of Booths (also called the Festival of Shelters) lasted seven days, and it was a reminder of how their ancestors had lived in temporary housing as they journeyed through the wilderness on their way to the Promised Land. The festival was to remind the people of God’s protection, guidance, and provision. The Festival of Booths is described in detail in Leviticus 23:33-36.

Challenge: Even though the people had disobeyed God, He still loved them and provided for their needs. God loves you and will provide for your needs if you will only trust Him. Thank Him for your home and the many blessings He has provided for you and your family.

By the seventh month, the Israelites had settled in their towns, and the people gathered together in Jerusalem. Jeshu a son of Jozadak and his brothers the priest along with Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and his brothers began to build the altar of Israel’s God in order to offer burnt offerings on it, as it is written in the Law of Moses, the man of God. Ezra 3:1-2 HCSB

My wife and I enjoy camping. We have a small 1982 Coleman pop-up camper we have used with our family for twenty years. When camping, the first order of business is to get the pop-up camper set up so we will have a place to sleep. It is important not to be distracted by other needs so we can focus on the main business.

Once the Israelites were settled into their new homes, the first order of business was to build an altar for sacrifices so they could follow the laws of Moses as instructed in Leviticus 1-7. The altar symbolized God’s presence among them and God’s protection. It also indicated God’s purpose for the Israelites – They were to worship and connect with God. The sacrifices indicated that the people realized they had sinned against God and needed to offer a sacrifice to have a right relationship with Him. They also needed God’s guidance and protection.

Challenge: As believers, our main purpose is to seek God and follow His will for our lives so we might bring glory to Him. We no longer are required to offer animal sacrifices, but we are asked to offer our bodies as a living sacrifice each day (Romans 12:1). Our first order of business each day should be to read God’s Word and pray. How well are you taking care of the main purpose for your life?

After seeing them, they reported the message they were told about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. Luke 2:17-18 HCSB

There is a wonderful song titled, “Go Tell It on the Mountain”. Wikipedia reports that “Go Tell It on the Mountain” is an African-American spiritual song, composed by John Wesley Work, Jr., dating back to at least 1865, that has been sung and recorded by many Gospel and secular performers. It is considered a Christmas carol because its original lyrics celebrate the Nativity of Jesus: “Go tell it on the mountain, over the hills and everywhere: Go tell it on the mountain that Jesus Christ is born”

The shepherds did what all of us should do. They heard the Good News, responded to the Good News, and then shared the Good News. The final command of Jesus to His disciples was, “Go and make disciples, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son and Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” As disciples of Jesus, that is also our command. The shepherds immediately went and told others about what they had experienced.

Challenge: With whom have you shared the Good News this week? Watch for opportunities to share how Jesus has changed your life. Make a list of people you know who need to hear about Jesus and then ask God to provide opportunities for you to share the Good News of Jesus Christ with those you encounter. Listen to the song, “Go Tell It on the Mountain” as sung by Dolly Parton on YouTube at https://video.search.yahoo.com/video/play;_ylt=A0LEVr7vVJJUHBMAKDAPxQt.;_ylu=X3oDMTB

When the angels had left them and returned to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go straight to Bethlehem and see what has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” They hurried off and found both Mary and Joseph, and the baby who was lying in the feeding trough. Luke 2:15-16 HCSB

We have a very nice ceramic nativity set that my wife’s mother and father made for us years ago. Each piece is hand-painted and is one of our treasured possessions. Every year as we decorate our home for Christmas, we carefully unwrap each piece and place it in the stable that was built by my father-in-law for the nativity set. The nativity set reminds us of the “reason” for the season. Christmas has become such a secular holiday that is all about buying and receiving gifts that too often the baby Jesus is forgotten in the business of the season.

The shepherds did not hesitate. They did not wait until morning. They responded immediately and left the fields in the darkness of the night and went to Bethlehem to see if what the angel had told them was actually true. Notice that the shepherds went straight to Bethlehem, they did not take a detour. They were in a hurry to go and see the Messiah, the baby Jesus. Surely, excitement was in each step as they headed for Bethlehem.

Challenge: Do you have the same excitement you did when you first received Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior? Are you excited about meeting and developing a relationship with Jesus? Thank God for sending His Son to earth to live a perfect life and then to die as a sacrifice for your sins so you might have forgiveness and eternal life.

Suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly hosts with the angel, praising God and saying: Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to people He favors! Luke 2:13-14 HCSB

Each year at First Baptist Church in Amarillo, Texas we would erect a large Christmas tree that climbed 40 feet toward the ceiling in the sanctuary. Next came the fresh greenery and then beautiful lights were added. It was a week long production just to erect the tree. The smell of the greenery filled the sanctuary. The choir would prepare Christmas music, and each night for a week they would fill the different levels of the tree and share the Christmas story through music and drama. People from all over the city and surrounding cities would come see the “Living Christmas Tree”. One of the more popular songs the choir would sing was Gloria in Excel-sis Deo (Angels We Have Heard on High).

Try to imagine the shepherds enjoying a quiet evening on the rocky slopes surrounding Bethlehem. The sheep had probably been put in the sheep pen and the shepherds were possibly conversing and preparing for a good night’s rest when suddenly an angel appeared and delivered an amazing message Then a multitude of angels filled the sky singing praises to God. The angels’ voices and the bright lights surely caused the shepherds to be frightened. The angel’s song is usually referred to as “Gloria” based upon the first word in the Latin translation. It is the basis for many Christmas carols such as “Gloria in Excel-sis Deo” or “Angels We Have heard on High” and liturgical chants.

Challenge: Do not be surprised what God can do in any situation. Give glory to God in the Highest for sending His Son to die on the cross and providing a way for you to have eternal life. Join in the singing and praise God through songs like the angels did many years ago. Listen to Chris Tomlin sing “In Excel-sis Deo” on Youtube at https://video.search.yahoo.com/video/play;_ylt=A0LEViUMA5FU6kQAjI8PxQt.;_ylu=X3oDMTBs

Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: Today a Savior, who is Messiah the Lord, was born for you in the city of David. Luke 2:9-11 HCSB

When our first grandchild was born, we were proud and wanted everyone to know. We called people, texted, sent messages, and even put pictures on Facebook announcing her birth. We did the same with our second grandchild, and next year we will celebrate and proclaim to others the birth of three more grandchildren.

Wow – what a birth announcement the shepherds received! Angels proclaimed the good news that the Messiah had been born. The Jewish people had been looking forward to the birth of the Messiah, the One who would be their Savior and deliver them. This would have been exciting news for the shepherds. Mistakenly, the Jewish people were looking for an earthly Savior, but Jesus came to save all people from their sin and give them eternal life.

Interestingly, the shepherds were probably watching sheep that would eventually be used as a sacrifice in the temple for the sins of the people. They were the first to hear that the perfect Lamb of God had been born. Instead of the birth being announced to the rulers and the wealthy, the greatest birth announcement of all time came to common shepherds.

Challenge: Thank God for the perfect Lamb of God – His Son, Jesus Christ – who has paid the perfect sacrifice for your sins and made it possible for you to enjoy forgiveness and eternal life.

In the same region, shepherds were staying out in the fields and keeping watch at night over their flock. Luke 2:8 HCSB

As a former youth pastor it is humbling to think that I was responsible for helping shepherd and take care of a group of teenagers. While serving at First Baptist Church, Amarillo, Texas I had the opportunity to work with a large group for seven years and watch them grow up through the youth ministry. Today I still keep in touch with many of them. It is inspiring to see how they have grown in their relationships with God and are now serving Him in some capacity. Some are even serving as ministers and missionaries.

The shepherds were responsible for protecting their flock of sheep from attackers, healing their wounds, helping them find food, keeping them from danger, and caring for them when they were sick. The shepherds spent all day and night with the sheep, who learned to recognize his voice and trust him. Scriptures refer to Jesus as the “Good Shepherd” (John 10:11). The term shepherd is often associated with the office of pastor. Sunday School teachers are sometimes referred to as shepherds who care for those in his or her class.

Challenge: Who has God called you to shepherd? Are there people in your life who are dependent on you and need your care and guidance, perhaps your children, other family members, or a neighbor or a work associate? What are you doing to help them develop trust in you and ultimately God? Ask God to give you guidance and direction as you shepherd those for whom you care.

Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: “Go and assemble all the Jews who can be found in Susa and fast for me. Don’t eat or drink for three days, day or night. I and my female servants will also fast in the same way. After that, I will go to the king even if it is against the law. If I perish, I perish.” Esther 4:15-16 HCSB

Our pastor called for the people to pray and fast for three days before we made a decision as a church to relocate. There had been a lot of discussion and there seemed to be people in favor of relocating while others were opposed, even though we needed more space to continue to grow. After three days of praying and fasting a large crowd gathered on Wednesday night to vote on the proposed relocation. We were unsure of what the outcome of the vote would be. During the discussion time, one older lady stood up and said that this church had always been her church and her children had been baptized and married in the church, but if relocating was going to help us reach more people for Jesus Christ, then we needed to relocate. The church voted unanimously to relocate. We were surprised but we knew God was in control.

Esther asked the people to fast and pray to seek God’s direction and wisdom before she approached the king. She understood the power of prayer and seeking God when making difficult decisions. Fasting is a time to help focus and pray for a specific need. God honored the fasting and prayers of the people. Esther realized she must do what was right, even if it meant she would die.

Challenge: Spend time fasting (if physically able to fast) and praying when you face a difficult situation or decision. It will help you focus on discovering God’s will and direction.