Eleventh Day after Christmas
Posted on January 4, 2024 by under
Scripture: Hebrews 1:1-12 (NKJV)
1:1 God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, 2 has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; 3 who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.
5 For to which of the angels did He ever say:
“You are My Son, today I have begotten You”?
And again:
“I will be to Him a Father, and He shall be to Me a Son”?
6 But when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says:
“Let all the angels of God worship Him.”
7 And of the angels He says:
“Who makes His angels spirits and His ministers a flame of fire.”
8 But to the Son He says:
“Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom.
9 You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You with the oil of gladness more than Your companions.”
10 And:
“You, Lord, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of Your hands.
11 “They will perish, but You remain; And they will all grow old like a garment;
12 “Like a cloak You will fold them up, and they will be changed. But You are the same, and Your years will not fail.”
Devotion
The book of Hebrews emphasizes that Jesus is the Christ. The baby born to Mary and Joseph in Bethlehem is indeed the true King of kings and Lord of lords, who fulfills God’s promises to the people of Israel from the prophets.
This book speaks especially to those Jews who know the teachings of God’s Word, but are slow to see and hear. It seeks to teach those who are descended from the Old Testament fathers, and save these descendants from the darkness and evil that ensnared so many like the Pharisees, chief priests, and others who knew the Law, but resisted God’s Spirit.
Jesus fulfilled so many prophecies just in the Christmas story alone. This baby was born in the line of David, surrounded by marvelous events, and worshiped by the very angels in the presence of men! “For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (see Luke 2:8 and following). These events, and the rest that took place during the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, all exemplified righteousness and faithfulness to the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The true sons of God would not resist His Spirit and truth, but see, hear, believe in Jesus Christ, and be saved according to His mercy!
Collect: Almighty and Everlasting God, direct our actions according to Thy good pleasure, that in the Name of Thy beloved Son, we may be made to abound in good works; through the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
