Daily Devotional
By Pastor Jerry Teboe
MIRACLES IN 2025
Advent Series- 13-14
Unfaithful Servants
Matthew 2:4-6
And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born. Mat 2:5 And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet, Mat 2:6 And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.
Today’s portion stands out in contrast to many of the others we have seen in the last few days. In the previous verses, we saw people willing to be used of God for His service and glory. But here we notice a group who did not really care.
When the Wise Men arrived in Jerusalem, they went to the palace and sought the newborn King. Herod did not know what they were talking about, so he called the religious leaders together and asked them. They had the answer as to where the Messiah would be born. And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel. The problem was that they did not care enough to go the five miles to Bethlehem to find the Savior.
We find this lackadaisical attitude toward the things of God had been a part of the priesthood for hundreds of years. In Malachi, written over 400 years prior, we see the Lord’s statement toward the priests who did not care enough to give God the best of their time and service. Malachi 1:11-12 … for my name shall be great among the heathen, saith the LORD of hosts. But ye have profaned it, in that ye say, The table of the LORD is polluted; and the fruit thereof, even his meat, is contemptible. Mal 1:13 Ye said also, Behold, what a weariness is it! and ye have snuffed at it, saith the LORD of hosts; and ye brought that which was torn, and the lame, and the sick; thus ye brought an offering: should I accept this of your hand? saith the LORD. The priests had become lazy in their service, seeing it as burden instead of a blessing to serve the Almighty God of the universe. That attitude had prevailed in the priesthood for 400 years and continued in the priests up until the time of Christ’s birth.
What we see here should be a challenge for us to be excited about serving the Lord. The Wise Men had traveled nearly 500 miles just to worship the Christ Child, and the priests could not go 5 miles. It is no wonder that the Lord rejected the religious leaders of His day and brought light to those who would accept the wonderful message of salvation which accompanied the birth of God’s own Son.
Let’s be fervent in our love and service for the Savior throughout this Advent season and for all the years to come.
Bible Reading for the Year
December 13th, Hebrews 3-4
December 14th, Hebrews 5-7
Prayer Needs
Please continue to pray for Linda Franks. The doctor had to prescribe new medication that is helping her. She sees the surgeon on December 16th for a consultation.
Please continue to pray for Beth Buchta. She had a hip replacement, on November 25th. She saw her orthopedic doctor, and he explained she really had a hip revision which is more serious and will take much rest and recuperation time.
Please continue to pray for Jennifer Teboe Buchamer. Yesterday she completed 10 of the 28 radiation treatments. So far, she is tolerating them well. Please pray for he tumor to shrink.
Please pray for Frances and Edward Lee who are both sick with upper respiratory infections. Edward is better, but Frances is still not well.
Please pray for Lee Roy Elks, Jackie Whitehurst’s brother-in-law. He is home now, but under hospice care.
Praise the Lord for Anderson and Meredith Womble, friends of Donna Dixion. The doctor said the fluid is gone from the baby’s heart. They will check the baby again as soon as the birth takes place. This is a great answer to prayer. Thank you for praying!!!
Please pray for Jackson Broome as he goes to Duke to discuss a new treatment plan.
Please pray for Marvin Silverthorne. He will see his eye doctor on January 20th.
Please continue to pray for Phil Corey. Pray for his continual dialysis treatments.
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Pray for our Missionaries!
Sue Singleton and the mission in Cambodia
Dr. Joe Jordan and the CBM (Cross and Bible Ministries)
Travis and Caroline Fennessy – IBM missionaries to Southeast Asia