Latest / Jessi Morgan Devotions for the Christian Heart Podcast / Heralds Of Christmas Grace - Day 11

Transcript

Heralds Of Christmas Grace - Day 11 · Jessi Morgan Devotions for the Christian Heart Podcast

• 0:00
  SPEAKER_00: Hello, hello.
• 0:01
  SPEAKER_00: This is Jesse Morgan Devotions for the Christian Heart Podcast.
• 0:04
  SPEAKER_00: Welcome, welcome.
• 0:05
  SPEAKER_00: This year I'm bringing my 25-day Christmas devotional to life in a new way.
• 0:10
  SPEAKER_00: Beginning on day 11 through day 25, each devotional entry now has a matching mini podcast episode, a simple 8 to 10 minute reflection designed to help you slow down and truly sit with the story of Jesus' birth.
• 0:23
  SPEAKER_00: Each episode clearly follows the same day as the written devotional, so day 11 in the book is day 11 on the podcast and so forth.
• 0:31
  SPEAKER_00: My hope is that these daily audio reflections make the journey to Christmas feel even more personal, peaceful, and meaningful.
• 0:38
  SPEAKER_00: Thank you for being here.
• 0:40
  SPEAKER_00: Let's go.
• 0:46
  SPEAKER_00: Hello and welcome back to the Jesse Morgan Devotion for the Christian Heart Christmas devotional series.
• 0:51
  SPEAKER_00: Today is day 11, and just like it's written in the devotion, the written devotional on day 11, we are continuing our daily walk through the story of Jesus' birth.
• 1:00
  SPEAKER_00: Let's begin.
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  SPEAKER_00: Key passages is Luke 1, 5 through 25.
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  SPEAKER_00: And today we'll be focusing in on John the Baptist.
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  SPEAKER_00: And the question is, are you a herald?
• 1:10
  SPEAKER_00: So have you ever thought about what it means to be a herald for Christ?
• 1:15
  SPEAKER_00: From every from the very beginning, God's desire has been the same.
• 1:19
  SPEAKER_00: Every person born into this world is created in his image, invited to glorify him, to know him, to walk with him, and to be filled with his spirit after receiving Christ as Savior.
• 1:30
  SPEAKER_00: And when we receive the Holy Spirit, we don't just become believers, we become heralds.
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  SPEAKER_00: And just hear me out.
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  SPEAKER_00: A herald is someone who announces, prepares, and points the way toward the King.
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  SPEAKER_00: And that is exactly what we are called to do.
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  SPEAKER_00: We witness, we testify, we make his name known.
• 1:48
  SPEAKER_00: We help prepare hearts for the one who came to save, which is Jesus.
• 1:53
  SPEAKER_00: In scripture, the first and most powerful example of a true herald is John the Baptist.
• 1:59
  SPEAKER_00: That's our focus for today.
• 2:00
  SPEAKER_00: John's entire life, even his birth, was a miracle, positioned to prepare the world for Jesus.
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  SPEAKER_00: His story reminds us that before Jesus began his ministry, God sent someone ahead of him to make the path straight, to call people to repent and to and to be ready, and to basically ready their hearts for the coming of the King.
• 2:22
  SPEAKER_00: That was John's assignment, and now it's ours too.
• 2:26
  SPEAKER_00: As Christians, we get to be part of the greatest story ever told, the story of Jesus Christ.
• 2:31
  SPEAKER_00: His birth marks the beginning of that story.
• 2:34
  SPEAKER_00: His cross reveals the depth of his love and his resurrection seals our salvation.
• 2:39
  SPEAKER_00: But the world cannot know that unless someone points that way.
• 2:43
  SPEAKER_00: This Christmas season, we are being basically this Christmas season, are you being a herald?
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  SPEAKER_00: Are you celebrating his birth and helping others understand what comes next?
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  SPEAKER_00: The salvation he purchased for us?
• 2:56
  SPEAKER_00: Just as God used John the Baptist, he wants to use you.
• 3:00
  SPEAKER_00: Remember the miracles surrounding John's birth.
• 3:03
  SPEAKER_00: Let's get back to that story real quick.
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  SPEAKER_00: Zechariah and Elizabeth were elderly and without children.
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  SPEAKER_00: Yet God sent the angel Gabriel to tell Zechariah that Elizabeth would bear a son, and they were to name him John.
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  SPEAKER_00: Even in his naming, his role was established.
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  SPEAKER_00: John would prepare people for the Messiah.
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  SPEAKER_00: And now we are called to do the same.
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  SPEAKER_00: So this Christmas, don't just celebrate the nativity, celebrate the calling that comes with it.
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  SPEAKER_00: Be a herald, prepare the way, appoint people to the King who came, who died, and who rose for us.
• 3:39
  SPEAKER_00: And let's start by sharing the birth of Jesus Christ.
• 3:43
  SPEAKER_00: Let's pray.
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  SPEAKER_00: Heavenly Father, thank you for this beautiful day and for the story of John the Baptist, the first herald of our King.
• 3:50
  SPEAKER_00: Help us to celebrate the birth of Christ with joy, but also with purpose.
• 3:55
  SPEAKER_00: Give us boldness, Lord, and love to prepare others to understand who Jesus is and what he came to do.
• 4:02
  SPEAKER_00: Let us be modern-day heralds just like John.
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  SPEAKER_00: We love you and we praise you in Jesus' name.
• 4:08
  SPEAKER_00: Amen.
• 4:10
  SPEAKER_00: Thank you for listening.
• 4:11
  SPEAKER_00: This episode is part of my Christmas devotional series inspired by my written devotional, 25 Days Till Christmas, a scriptured-filled journey preparing our hearts to celebrate the birth of Jesus.
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  SPEAKER_00: I invite you to read along and reflect on his story in a deeper way.
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  SPEAKER_00: Details in the show notes for the written devotional.
• 4:28
  SPEAKER_00: And it also says in scripture, glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace, goodwill towards men.
• 4:33
  SPEAKER_00: Luke 2, 14.
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  SPEAKER_00: And don't miss the next reflection in this Christmas series by subscribing to the podcast to continue walking through God's word this season.
• 4:43
  SPEAKER_00: And a little bit about me.
• 4:44
  SPEAKER_00: I'm Jesse Morgan, wife, mom, and devotional writer and podcaster who loves sharing biblical encouragement and the hope we find in Jesus.
• 4:53
  SPEAKER_00: Till next time, Jesse Morgan signing off.