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        • Day 12: Don't Let Go
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        • Day 21: Hard Hearts
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        • Day 23: Eternity With Him
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        • Day 26: A Choice to Make
        • Day 27: For This Very Reason
        • Day 28: He Proved His Love For Us
        • Day 29: Secure and One with the Father
        • Day 30: Love One Another
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Advent Devotional 2021
The Gospel of Luke

Day 23
Monday, December 20th
Read Luke 20

Picture

One day as Jesus was teaching the people and preaching the Good News in the Temple, the leading priests, the teachers of religious law, and the elders came up to him. Luke 20:1 (NLT)​

We often think of Christmas as a time for family to come together. Often we will have a “Norman Rockwell” type image of Christmas, a large family all gathered together around a table, laughing and loving one another. Unfortunately it is not always so.  

My father had two brothers . . . and they did not get along.  My aunt, wanting the family to be close would often host a Christmas party. Her heart was in the right place but her wishes were never realized. My father and his brothers would all gather together in the same room but rarely spoke to each other.  
Something similar happened to Jesus. The Jewish leadership; the Pharisees, Sadducees, and Scribes weren’t “brothers” of Jesus but they really did not like him.  

Throughout Jesus’ ministry, these “leaders” tried to undermine Jesus, they tried to discredit him, lead people away from him. They often came to Jesus with questions that were meant to make him look bad.  We see such questions in Luke 20:20-40.

In the first question (Luke 20:20-26), they asked Jesus about paying taxes to Rome.  If Jesus said that one should pay taxes . . . then they could say he sided with Rome against his own people. And if Jesus said that one should not pay taxes . . . then they could run to the Romans and tell them that Jesus was disobeying Caesar and teaching others to do so also. It looked like the perfect trap.

Jesus’ response was perfect. We are to give to Caesar (the government) that which rightfully belongs to them (taxes).  We are to give to employers that which rightfully belongs to our employers (show up on time, look professional, and do the best job we can). And we are to give to God what rightfully belongs to him (our full measure of devotion).  

Sadly my father and his brothers never really reconciled. They would gather together when my aunt insisted but . . . after her passing the only time they would be in the same room was when they were attending one another’s funeral.  

Similarly, Jesus and the Pharisees, Sadducees, and Scribes never seemed to reconcile.  

I hope we can be reconciled with one another. What a great Christmas gift that would be.
​


Prayer focus: For healing & reconciliation in family relationships

Community prayer focus: Mental Health workers in our community, prayer for wisdom & guidance as they serve those hurting

Hymn: O Holy Night

O holy night the stars are brightly shining
It is the night of the dear Savior's birth
Long lay the world in sin and error pining
Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn

Fall on your knees
O hear the angel voices
O night divine
O night when Christ was born
O night O holy night
O night divine

Led by the light of faith serenely beaming
With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand
So led by light of a star sweetly gleaming
Here came the wise men from Orient land
The King of kings lay thus in lowly manger
In all our trials born to be our Friend

He knows our need
To our weakness is no stranger
Behold your King
Before Him lowly bend
Behold your King
Before Him lowly bend

Truly He taught us to love one another
His law is love and His gospel is peace
Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother
And in His name all oppression shall cease
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we
Let all within us praise His holy name

Christ is the Lord
O praise His name forever
His power and glory
Evermore proclaim
His power and glory
Evermore proclaim

Adolphe Charles Adam | John Sullivan Dwight | Placide Cappeau
  • © Words: Public Domain
  • Music: Public Domain
Picture
Centenary Church
1911 Toyon Ave.
Corner of McHenry/Tokay
​Modesto, CA 95350
Church Office: (209) 527-5441
Fax: (209) 527-3230
Email: ​centenary@centenarychurch.net
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  • Home
  • Visit Us
    • I'm New
    • In-Person Worship Services
    • Live
    • Cambodian Worship Service
    • Easter
  • About Us
    • Our Staff >
      • Pastor's Corner
    • Leadership Teams
    • Our Mission & Vision
    • Core Beliefs
    • Membership & Baptism
  • Family Ministry
    • Family Ministry Events
    • Teens
    • Kingdom Kids
  • Adult Ministry
    • Jesus and Coffee
    • Men's Ministry
    • Women's Ministry
    • Choir
  • Resources
    • Preschool
    • Devotionals >
      • Lent Devotional 2023: The Gospel of Matthew >
        • Day 27 - Promise Keeper
        • Day 26 - Who Am I
        • Day 25 - The Messiah
        • Day 24 - New Thing
        • Day 23 - Abundant Life
        • Day 22 - Have Faith
        • Day 21 - Miracle
        • Day 20 - Courage
        • Day 19 - Share the Love
        • Day 18 - Kingdom of God
        • Day 17 - Choose Him
        • Day 16 - Why Use Parables?
        • Day 15 - Growing
        • Day 14 - Unity
        • Day 13 - Criticism
        • Day 12 Life Change
        • Day 11 A Cup of Cold Water
        • Day 10 Jesus is God
        • Day 9 Good & Faithful
        • Day 8 Good & Faithful
        • Day 7 Lord's Prayer
        • Day 6 Lists
        • Day 5 Beatitudes
        • Day 4 Temptation
        • Day 3 Prepare the Way
        • Day 2 Follow the Star
        • Day 1 Geneology
        • Introduction to Matthew
      • Christmas Devotional - 2022 >
        • Day 1 Christmas Devotional - 2022
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      • Lent Daily Devotional >
        • Day 2: Pointing the Way
        • Day 3: Follow Me
        • Day 4: Transform the Ordinary
        • Day 5: Who has Authority?
        • Day 6: God So Loved the World
        • Day 7: Worthy of Worship
        • Day 8: Everyone
        • Day 9: Signs & Wonders
        • Day 10: Rejected & Despised
        • Day 11: Do Nothing On Your Own
        • Day 12: Don't Let Go
        • Day 13: "I Am the Bread of Life"
        • Day 14: Adjusting my Expectations
        • Day 15: Learn by Doing
        • Day 16: God's Anointed Messiah
        • Day 17: We Are All Sinners
        • Day 18: I am the Light of the World
        • Day 19: Jesus is God
        • Day 20: The Work of God
        • Day 21: Hard Hearts
        • Day 22: Abundant Life
        • Day 23: Eternity With Him
        • Day 24: An Ultimate Purpose
        • Day 25: A Purpose Fulfilled
        • Day 26: A Choice to Make
        • Day 27: For This Very Reason
        • Day 28: He Proved His Love For Us
        • Day 29: Secure and One with the Father
        • Day 30: Love One Another
        • Day 31: The Way, the Truth, & the Life
        • Day 32: Order to Our Chaos
        • Day 33: Remaining
        • Day 34: You Are Never Alone
        • Day 35: Never Alone
        • Day 36: In His Will
        • Day 37: What did Jesus Pray For?
        • Day 38: Jesus Prays
        • Day 39: Complete Unity
        • Day 40: Peter's Worst Day
        • Day 41: My Kingdom is Not of this World
        • Day 42: For the Joy Set Before Him
        • Day 43: It is Finished
        • Day 44: You are Loved and Accepted
        • Day 45: Doubting Thomas
        • Day 46: Gone Fishing
        • Day 47: Follow Me
      • Advent Devotional 2021 >
        • Advent - Day 28
        • Advent - Day 27
        • Advent - Day 26
        • Advent - Day 25
        • Advent - Day 24
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      • Summer Daily Devotional Acts >
        • Intro Summer Daily Devotional
        • Acts - Day 53
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    • Food Bank Sunday
    • Love Modesto
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    • Operation Christmas Child
    • Gospel Mission
    • Little Free Library
    • Neighborhood School Partnership
    • Thrift Shop
    • World Relief
  • Giving