The Hope Within

 Game shows where contestants compete based on their knowledge [and recall] about anything-and-everything are entertaining, but how many of us really want to be a contestant - yeah, I think not! One thing I've learned: something that stops Believers in their tracks the fastest is to be asked a Biblical or spiritual question. "Always be ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is within you." (1 Peter 3:15). The skepticism and disbelief of the Jesus' first coming are widespread and plentiful. Remember the simple shepherds who were peacefully tending their flocks when they heard The Good News? "When they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds." (Luke 2:17-18). The Believer's defense of the Hope within is the encounter with The Savior and the change of heart! No matter how critics and skeptics may try to refute and discredit, the personal Hope Within is both ... irrefutable and indisputable. Why not go and see again - revisit Bethlehem's Babe to renew the Eternal and Confident Hope of all seasons and of eternity. Be read to testify and tell of Jesus Messiah, He is our ... Hope within.

Satisfying Savior

How I loved my Nanny's homemade fudge, and we only got it at Christmas! You [too] most likely have special delicacies of the Season. Mary sang, "He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich He has sent away empty." (Luke 1:53). Her words spoke of a particular hunger: something offering more than temporary satisfaction, outlasting time and space. The psalmist also wrote of such satisfaction: "You will show me the path of Life; in Your Presence is fullness of joy: in Your right hand there are pleasures forevermore." (Psalm 16:11).  Jesus Himself promised, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they shall be satisfied." (Matthew 5:6).  Mary sang with a deep satisfaction, anticipating God's Satisfaction in her son, The Son.  Perhaps as she stood and wept at the cross, she realized the Fullness of Joy, her [and mankind's]  complete Satisfaction. Are you hungry? If so, for what do you hunger?  Look to The Cross and know the ... Satisfying Savior.

God's Love Story

Some of our grandchildren were proud-as-punch to show me their invisible ink; I didn't have the heart to tell them that stuff's as old as I am! Do you remember what God said of His choice of a king for His people ... "I have found in David the son of Jesse a man after My heart, who will do all My will." (Acts 13:22, ESV). From the little town of Bethlehem came King David, God's choice of a king; years later, from that same obscure little town [of Bethlehem] came The King of all kings. First, born in a manger but most significantly born-again in the hearts of all who receive Him! Francesca Battistelli sings, "Make my heart Your Bethlehem - Be born in me." I'm confident no writer could have woven together as great or a more beautiful story than The Father's through His Son, Jesus Messiah: from the heart of The Father to hearts in need. For all the world to see and to know, The Father's Message of eternal love and rescue. It was and is ... God's love story.

It's Personal

Now, if time-travel was possible and you could be injected into Luke's account of Jesus' birth, where would you choose to be? I’ve pondered this and without hesitation, I would travel to the fields outside Bethlehem; there, where shepherds “watched their flocks by night … and lo, the angel of the LORD appeared” (Luke 2:8-9). Think about it: the last group an earthly king would give audience would be a group of lowly shepherds yet they are the ones whom The King of Glory chose to deliver His “good tidings of great joy to all people” (V.11). How evident The Gospel was for all people! The angel’s next words should ignite personal delight in every heart: “For unto you” ... unto you ... that is, for you and for me, a personal Savior! "Unto you" is as personal as it gets! Emmanuel – God with us – The Word became flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:14), meaning  "to pitch a tent" a reminder of the Old Testament tabernacle where God met with man. A Savior for all people - A Savior Who is personal. What a time to consider just how personal He is to you!

Treasure for Treasure

What fun to watch little ones open Christmas packages! We are sometimes humbled by their fascination with the box instead of the gift itself. Do you wonder what the young child Jesus thought of the gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh? After all, what are such riches to The One Who posses the "cattle on a thousand hills" (Psalm 50:10)! One of the biggest challenges we face as Believers today is how we wrongly identify our treasures. With a a quick point-and-click, we see and get whatever our eyes or hearts desire. Before too long, however, that "treasure" blends into the wood-work and is gathering dust. Some treasure it is. "... And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the Child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. And going into the house they saw the child with Mary His mother, and they fell down and worshiped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered Him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh." (Matthew 2:9b-11 ESV). You know what made the "wise men" so wise? They were treasure-seekers, and they were divinely led to the real Treasure - The Child, Jesus. It was fitting then that they offered their most treasured things ... gold, frankincense, myrrh ... laying them before Him. How willingly are we to set aside, lay-down, give-up, sacrifice things that have captured our hearts? Jesus needs nothing from me, from you; what He desires most is my heart, your heart. When Jesus is our Treasure [like the wise men], we will worship Him then offer-up to Him what possesses us. We delightfully give up ... treasure for Treasure. 

Promised - Delivered

When a promise is made, child-like faith never entertains the idea the promise it will be broken. Sadly, we live in a world where promises are not kept, therefore, certainty is a precious treasure.  Following the birth of his son, John [the Baptist], Zechariah said, "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for He has visited and redeemed His people and has raised up a horn of Salvation for us ... to show the Mercy promised ..." (Luke 1:68, 69, 72). Mercy promised - Jesus, Child of Bethlehem surpassed all expectations: "Because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high to give Light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of Peace." (V.78-79).  God promise of Mercy alone is a wonder but the promise [of Mercy] kept -- amazing still!  Lost and undone, Salvation with all its riches promised and delivered free to all who believe. A confident and absolute Certainty is Who the angel announced to the shepherds. Mercy promised - Mercy delivered!

Delight To Do

Some folks just don't care to be told what to do - not me! This older-me is quite happy to be pointed in the right direction and given instructions. It just seems to require less brain power! Did you know there are approximately three hundred references to angels in Scripture? I suspect there are more than three hundred imaginations and speculations, however, about what they do - many untrue. David wrote, "Praise the LORD, you His angels, you mighty ones who do His bidding, who obey His word. Praise the LORD, all His heavenly hosts, you His servants who do His will." (Psalm  103:20-21).  From this passage alone, we learn that angels are mighty heavenly beings, but most importantly, we learn that they do God's bidding; they obey God's word; they do God's will. Jesus Himself said, "My food is to do the will of Him Who sent Me and to accomplish His work." (John 4:34). What a perfect time of the year to consider our own obedience to The One Who calls us to Himself. David said, "I delight to do Your will, O my God." (Psalm 40:7-8). Let us - like the shepherds - make haste to go and see ... Jesus Messiah ... then delight to do His will.

Whose You Are

 

"Remember who you are," Mom would say as I left the house; it was a mother's advice - a subtle warning to "behave yourself." Matthew writes, "Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly,. But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, 'Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.'" (Matthew 1:18-20). Not that his parents would have ever let him forget, but God's messenger reminded Joseph of his royal lineage, which would have brought to mind ancient words that from David's family would come the Savior of the world. Consider this: every born-
again Believer has been bought with a price, adopted into God's Royal Family, and given an inheritance into His Kingdom for now into eternity. God's children have Kingly qualities and a Fragrance foreign to this world. You see, it's not who we are as much as whose we are! Do not let this Season of the Savior slip away before you know for sure whose you are and celebrate your rich life in Jesus Messiah.

Sovereign God

Do you ever have days when you just seem to be out-of-sorts – everything about the day seems … off? I’m not sure Mary would have described her days this way but reading her words in Luke makes me conclude she truly believed God to be Sovereign – in control of all times including her current situation.  “He has shown strength with His arm; He has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts; He has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate.” (Luke 1:51-52). In this culturally crazy-cycle, it’s comforting and encouraging to trust in God Who will have the last say!  We can’t always see it – that is, God orchestrating events of this world and of our lives – but God will ultimately accomplish His holy, eternal purposes, including fulfilling all His promises!  So on those out-of-sorts kinda days, remember nothing is ever out-of-sorts with All-Powerful, All-Knowing God. Consider how He intervened in the lives of two [otherwise] unknowns (Joseph and Mary) to bring us The Savior of mankind. “Wait for the LORD and keep His way, and He will exalt you to inherit the land; you will look on when the wicked are cut off.” (Psalm 37:34). It's a great time and 'tis the Season to delight in God Who is always in control. Wait for Him as you walk in His way - He is Sovereign God.

Rejoice in Hope

How many broken promises have you experienced?  How many promises have you [yourself] broken? Yeah, I know – let’s don’t go there. The last words from God in the Old Testament – “lest I come and smite the earth with a curse” (Malachi 4:6) – were followed by 400 years of silence! Those silent years must have felt as if God had abandoned His people, like a broken promise. Maybe it felt like Narnia under the continual curse of ice, snow and cold – hopelessness. A teenage girl named Mary knew differently: “He has helped His servant Israel, in remembrance of His mercy, as He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to His offspring forever.” (Luke 1:54-55). She was not detoured of heart by God’s long period of silence; she remembered The God of Promise never breaks His!  The angel left her with hopeful exuberance. The child she would deliver would deliver her! What might it have been like to live in that period of time: to see God’s Promise of The Messiah born, to experience “God with us” in relationship with people, to witness Truth unfold in the reality of life! ‘Tis the Season to remember with Mary and ... rejoice in Hope!

What We Needed

It's not uncommon when shopping for others to gravitate to things we'd love to have ourselves. If you think about it, how weird this is since, after all, we're shopping for someone else! In 1993 the group 4Him released a song entitled, "A Strange Way to Save the Word." Written from Joseph's perspective, he wonders ... why me - just a simple man of trade ... why her - just an ordinary girl. One line adds, "To think of how it could have been if Jesus had come as He deserved." This is truly part of the wonder of Christmas as it pertains to God's salvation of mankind - that Jesus would take-on human form and all that means to ... yes, save the world. "For our sake [God] made [Jesus] to be sin Who knew no sin, so that in [Jesus] we might become the righteousness of God." (2 Corinthians 5:21 ESV). You see, God was not blind-sided by the fall of man to sin and darkness; He knew and He knew what it would take to deliver us. His had a plan and that plan was to do what was best for us! Another line from the song says, "love had to reach so far" and Jesus was God's perfect reach. Jesus was ... what we needed.

Gift of Gift

Mark 10:45. Even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.

 There's few things, if we're honest, we enjoy more than being served. After all, it's what prompts us to go to a restaurant for a meal ... someone else is cooking, serving, cleaning-up. It is not, however, what disciples of Jesus are called to do! Jesus set for us the supreme example of servant-hood. Named in Isaiah 9 as Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace, Jesus surrendered Himself to serve-up Salvation as The Father willed it to be done. Altogether worthy and deserving to be served, He did not come for that reason. "But we see Him Who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone." (Hebrews 2:9 ESV). No one forced or compelled Jesus to die - no, He willingly gave Himself - He became a servant to forever be our ... gift of grace. 

Come

James 4:8. Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.

 A favorite song of Advent begins, "O come" - what an sweet invitation from The Faithful One to the unfaithful: "come," He says. His words are urging us to always be drawing nearer and nearer to Him. We may answer a hearty "yes" to invitations this month, gatherings of family and friends. With eagerness we prepare food and put on our festive best, and we off go! The angels invited and directed the shepherds to Bethlehem; they went and drew near to The Savior, discovering then excitedly telling the good news of His Presence. David wrote, "You make known to me the path of life; in Your Presence there is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore." (Psalm 16:11 ESV). How desperate are you for the nearness of God? The Father waits for us this Advent to draw near. Hear His invitation ... come!

 

 

The Gift and The Glory

 John 5:44. How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God?

Do you remember the Christmas catalog we knew as the "wish book?" Oh how easily it was to become lost in it, totally forgetting it truly was a ... wish book! It is our nature to seek-out that which we do not have in order to gain it, and oh the many places of our seeking. Time after time, year after year resulting in a frivolous lifetime, we seek and fail to find that which we seek. Of course, I don't speak of tangible things ... then, neither did Jesus. John Piper suggests we must become "disenchanted" with earthly things - enchantables. Yes, it's true: "Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth" (Colossians 3:2 ESV). Piper says we must give up our longings for praise of, sufficiency and consolation in temporal things. I counted four different kinds of brooms in my closet - each one purchased with the idea that each one would render a better swept floor. How foolish we are when we cannot see the best and most sufficient Christmas gift ever given was to the glory of God and to the utter sufficiency and consolation of mankind - The Word made flesh ... Savior of the world. Jesus - the ... gift and the glory.

Rescue Mission

 Luke 19:10. The Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.

 A favorite of the grandchildren's is the age-old game of "hide and seek." The "seeker" counts down ... 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 ... then yells to those hiding, "here I come, ready or not." The "coming" of Jesus is the focus of Advent - those our weeks prior to Christmas. Luke sums-up the essence of Jesus' coming to earth ... to seek and to save those spiritually lost. In his book, The Dawning of Indescribable Joy, John Piper writes: "The coming of Jesus was a search-and-save mission." We often hear a similar phrase - "search and rescue" - following a catastrophic disaster. Perhaps we miss the deepest thoughts of Jesus when we fail to see Jesus' mission as ... our rescue. Our thinking is too shallow when we merely ponder the plight of Mary and Joseph, no room at the inn, birth in an stable, a lowly group of shepherds, wise men bringing extravagant gifts. These things are indeed much to wonder about, however, we must not neglect to remember God's rescue mission, to spare man from the wrath to come (1 Thessalonians 1:10). "It's a season for cherishing and worshiping this characteristic of God - that He is a searching and saving God, that He is a God on a mission." (Piper). I suspect we'll all be on-mission about many things this month; let us not forget for even a moment the greatest mission for which all who believe should be most aware and grateful. That mission is that God sent Jesus to seek and to save the lost; yes, you and I were the ... rescue mission.