DONNIE DAILY GEMS FOR WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 23:
WORD OF WISDOM
I hate when a couple argues in public, and I missed the beginning and don't
know whose side I'm on.
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DAILY DEVOTION
Join the Shepherds
"And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven,
the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and
see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto
us. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying
in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying
which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it
wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds."
Luke 2:15-18
The angelic host returned to Heaven after announcing the birth of Christ to
the shepherds. God could have sent these angels across Israel and even
around the world to make the same announcement. Yet instead, the shepherds
were the ones who spread the news that Jesus had come. God's plan for
spreading the message of salvation is that those who have heard it will take
it to others all around the world.
Writing to the church at Corinth, Paul said that God, "hath given to us the
ministry of reconciliation" (2 Corinthians 5:18). We have a calling to
proclaim the Gospel. This task falls not just on those in vocational
ministry, but on every believer. The shepherds had no training, but they
could tell what they had experienced.
Our focus on the shepherds in the Christmas story often begins with the
appearance of the angels and ends with them at the manger, but there is more
to it than that. They became messengers for God. This is a wonderful time of
year to share the Gospel with others. Even people who are not normally
interested in spiritual things may be more open because of the season. Be
alert for opportunities to share the true meaning of Christmas and God's
plan of salvation with everyone you can.
One of the best ways to celebrate the meaning and spirit of Christmas is by
sharing the Good News with others.
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DAILY BIBLE READING
Hebrews 11-13 New King James Version (NKJV)
By Faith We Understand
11 Now faith is the [a]substance of things hoped for, the [b]evidence of
things not seen. 2 For by it the elders obtained a good testimony.
3 By faith we understand that the [c]worlds were framed by the word of God,
so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.
Faith at the Dawn of History
4 By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through
which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his
gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks.
5 By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, "and was not
found, because God had taken him"; for before he was taken he had this
testimony, that he pleased God. 6 But without faith it is impossible to
please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is
a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
7 By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with
godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he
condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according
to faith.
Faithful Abraham
8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he
would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was
going. 9 By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country,
dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same
promise; 10 for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder
and maker is God.
11 By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and
she[d] bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him
faithful who had promised. 12 Therefore from one man, and him as good as
dead, were born as many as the stars of the sky in multitude-innumerable as
the sand which is by the seashore.
The Heavenly Hope
13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having
seen them afar off [e]were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that
they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14 For those who say such
things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. 15 And truly if they had
called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have
had opportunity to return. 16 But now they desire a better, that is, a
heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for
He has prepared a city for them.
The Faith of the Patriarchs
17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had
received the promises offered up his only begotten son, 18 [f]of whom it was
said, "In Isaac your seed shall be called," 19 concluding that God was able
to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a
figurative sense.
20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.
21 By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph,
and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff.
22 By faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the departure of the
children of Israel, and gave instructions concerning his bones.
The Faith of Moses
23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden three months by his parents,
because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the
king's command.
24 By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of
Pharaoh's daughter, 25 choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people
of God than to enjoy the [g]passing pleasures of sin, 26 esteeming the
[h]reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures [i]in Egypt; for he
looked to the reward.
27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he
endured as seeing Him who is invisible. 28 By faith he kept the Passover and
the sprinkling of blood, lest he who destroyed the firstborn should touch
them.
29 By faith they passed through the Red Sea as by dry land, whereas the
Egyptians, attempting to do so, were drowned.
By Faith They Overcame
30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they were encircled for
seven days. 31 By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who
[j]did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace.
32 And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon
and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the
prophets: 33 who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness,
obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the violence of
fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong,
became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. 35
Women received their dead raised to life again.
Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a
better resurrection. 36 Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings,
yes, and of chains and imprisonment. 37 They were stoned, they were sawn in
two, [k]were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in
sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented- 38 of whom
the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens
and caves of the earth.
39 And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not
receive the promise, 40 God having provided something better for us, that
they should not be made perfect apart from us.
The Race of Faith
12 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of
witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily
ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2
looking unto Jesus, the [l]author and [m]finisher of our faith, who for the
joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has
sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
The Discipline of God
3 For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself,
lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. 4 You have not yet
resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin. 5 And you have forgotten the
exhortation which speaks to you as to sons:
"My son, do not despise the [n]chastening of the Lord,
Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him;
6 For whom the Lord loves He chastens,
And scourges every son whom He receives."
7 If[o] you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son
is there whom a father does not chasten? 8 But if you are without
chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate
and not sons. 9 Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and
we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the
Father of spirits and live? 10 For they indeed for a few days chastened us
as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of
His holiness. 11 Now no [p]chastening seems to be joyful for the present,
but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of
righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
Renew Your Spiritual Vitality
12 Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, 13
and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be
dislocated, but rather be healed.
14 Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see
the Lord: 15 looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God;
lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many
become defiled; 16 lest there be any fornicator or [q]profane person like
Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright. 17 For you know that
afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he
found no place for repentance, though he sought it diligently with tears.
The Glorious Company
18 For you have not come [r]to the mountain that may be touched and that
burned with fire, and to blackness and [s]darkness and tempest, 19 and the
sound of a trumpet and the voice of words, so that those who heard it begged
that the word should not be spoken to them anymore. 20 (For they could not
endure what was commanded: "And if so much as a beast touches the mountain,
it shall be stoned [t]or shot with an arrow." 21 And so terrifying was the
sight that Moses said, "I am exceedingly afraid and trembling.")
22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the
heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, 23 to the
[u]general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in
heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, 24
to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling
that speaks better things than that of Abel.
Hear the Heavenly Voice
25 See that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if they did not escape who
refused Him who spoke on earth, much more shall we not escape if we turn
away from Him who speaks from heaven, 26 whose voice then shook the earth;
but now He has promised, saying, "Yet once more I [v]shake not only the
earth, but also heaven." 27 Now this, "Yet once more," indicates the removal
of those things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the
things which cannot be shaken may remain.
28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let
us have grace, by which we [w]may serve God acceptably with reverence and
godly fear. 29 For our God is a consuming fire.
Concluding Moral Directions
13 Let brotherly love continue. 2 Do not forget to entertain strangers, for
by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels. 3 Remember the
prisoners as if chained with them-those who are mistreated-since you
yourselves are in the body also.
4 Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators
and adulterers God will judge.
5 Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as
you have. For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."
6 So we may boldly say:
"The Lord is my helper;
I will not fear.
What can man do to me?"
Concluding Religious Directions
7 Remember those who [x]rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to
you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct. 8 Jesus
Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. 9 Do not be carried
[y]about with various and strange doctrines. For it is good that the heart
be established by grace, not with foods which have not profited those who
have been occupied with them.
10 We have an altar from which those who serve the tabernacle have no right
to eat. 11 For the bodies of those animals, whose blood is brought into the
sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned outside the camp. 12
Therefore Jesus also, that He might [z]sanctify the people with His own
blood, suffered outside the gate. 13 Therefore let us go forth to Him,
outside the camp, bearing His reproach. 14 For here we have no continuing
city, but we seek the one to come. 15 Therefore by Him let us continually
offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips,
[aa]giving thanks to His name. 16 But do not forget to do good and to share,
for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.
17 Obey those who [ab]rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out
for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and
not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.
Prayer Requested
18 Pray for us; for we are confident that we have a good conscience, in all
things desiring to live honorably. 19 But I especially urge you to do this,
that I may be restored to you the sooner.
Benediction, Final Exhortation, Farewell
20 Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead,
that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting
covenant, 21 make you [ac]complete in every good work to do His will,
working in [ad]you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ,
to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
22 And I appeal to you, brethren, bear with the word of exhortation, for I
have written to you in few words. 23 Know that our brother Timothy has been
set free, with whom I shall see you if he comes shortly.
24 Greet all those who [ae]rule over you, and all the saints. Those from
Italy greet you.
25 Grace be with you all. Amen.
