Category: Devotion

Todays Reading: Matthew 15

I decided I didn’t know how to write a devotional (mostly due to no experience) but, I knew how to write a letter to a friend. So hey friend! Today, we read Matthew 15 and there is A LOT to unpack. I am not skillful enough to unpack it all or any of it without Christ. So with a lot prayer and many tears, here we go.

The opening passage to Matthew 15 starts with the Pharisees questioning Jesus on why His disciples break the traditions of the elders by not washing their hands when they ate. Jesus ends up rebuking them for following traditions of man vs. God’s Commandments.  Jesus references back to Isaiah 29:13 “And the Lord said: Because this people draw near with their mouth and honor me with their lips, while their hearts are far from me, and their fear of me is a commandment taught by men.” (side note: I love when you see Jesus and the disciples referring back to the old testament. It reminds me of 2 Timothy 3:16 ^“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.”)

When we go a little further down, Jesus expounds upon what actually defiles us.

Matthew 15:10-20 ¹⁰ And he called the people to him and said to them, “Hear and understand: ¹¹ it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person.” ¹² Then the disciples came and said to him, “Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?” ¹³ He answered, “Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be rooted up. ¹⁴ Let them alone; they are blind guides.^[c] And if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.” ¹⁵ But Peter said to him, “Explain the parable to us.” ¹⁶ And he said, “Are you also still without understanding? ¹⁷ Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the stomach and is expelled?^[d] 18 But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. ¹⁹ For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. ²⁰ These are what defile a person. But to eat with unwashed hands does not defile anyone.”

Goodness, every time I get here I feel overwhelmed with fear that I wouldn’t explain this part right. Would it be legalism? It could be.  Obviously, in the beginning of the chapter the Pharisees are well ,the Pharisees. But, is that all we can take away from this? Don’t be legalistic, have a nice day? What about matter of the defilement of sin? All would be great topics, I am sure. (I have many opinions on both. Let’s talk later about it.) I want to talk about what fixes those issues. How do we stay away from legalism and, die to our sin?

We remind ourselves of the Good News. We have been saved by grace through faith in Christ. The God of the universe sent His one and only son to be the last sacrifice ever needed for the atonement of our sins, so that we could be called sons and daughters of God. Stop for a minute and, be in awe with me. We are ADOPTED BY GOD.  Because of this, we no longer have to be slaves to sin or the demands of legalism. Our only duty in life now, is to live it for the Glory of God. How freeing is that?

Soli Deo Gloria!

Todays Reading: Matthew 14

The Death of John the Baptist

This chapter starts out pretty graphic and incredibly sad with the beheading of John the Baptist. Before it flashes back to Herod killing John, the first two verses talk about Herod speaking to his servants about the fame of Jesus and all the miracles He was performing. He made a point to say that this is John the Baptist. Herod feared John was resurrected and performing these miracles through Jesus. Guilt plagued him for having John executed.

Now I have never had anyone beheaded before, but I know I can relate with the guilt that Herod was feeling. There have been many times in my life where I know I helped nail those nails in Jesus’s hands because of my sin. I have felt that utter guilt. I have feared His punishment. Thankfully, Jesus came for the sinners. He gives us grace. We should confess, repent, and turn away from our sin, striving each day for the spirit of excellence as an old pastor friend would tell us.

The Bible says there is no greater man born of women than John the Baptist (Matt. 11:11) He was faithful to his death. His life was doing God’s will.  He served the Father and the Son throughout his life. Comparing myself with John, I am lacking greatly.

Jesus Feeds the 5000

After Jesus heard of his cousins death, he withdrew to a desolate place to mourn. The crowds followed and Jesus had compassion for them and fulfilled their needs.  It’s understandable he would want to get away, but he put himself aside because of his love for them. Not only did he have compassion, but he healed and fed the crowds who left everything behind to hear Jesus’s words and see the miracles he was performing.

Jesus Walks on the Water

When Jesus finishes praying on the mountain, he walks on the water toward the boat where his disciples are. They were afraid at the sight of him.  But Jesus says some powerful words here: “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.”  Because of Jesus, we do not have to fear anything. We can be courageous with all the trials and tribulations we face. He is with us always.

Even though Peter had doubt in this passage, he still cried out for Jesus.  We tend to make fun of the disciple’s doubt with everything they have seen, but haven’t we done the same in our own lives? When the world around us is chaotic, we tend to sink also. When we find ourselves sinking, we should follow Peter’s example and cry out to the Lord. If we shift our focus to Jesus, we will stay afloat.

Jesus Heals the Sick in Gennesaret

Jesus is for anyone who wants him. He goes on to Gennesaret, where he heals everyone sick that was brought to him. Their faith was so strong that they only asked to touch a fringe of His garment, and they were made well.

There is a lapse of faith throughout this chapter, but there is also incredible faith. It teaches us the need for prayer and to serve those in need. It gives us examples from Jesus’s sacrifice and also taking time to get away to pray. It tells us to be courageous and be willing to face our challenges for He is with us. It shows us that Jesus is the ultimate provider, the ultimate physician, and the Savior to all who believe in Him.

 

Todays Reading Matthew 13:18 – 58

How great it is that we get to read the parables of Jesus from the bible.  We get to read them in context.  The bible tells us why Jesus speaks in parables. The bible even explains the parables.  The parables tell us who is for us and who is against us.  Where treasure and wealth are found.  They even tell us the future.

The Sower

In the parable of the sower, He tells us that the devil is against us (along the path), our own fleshly desires are against us (on the rocky ground), and the world is against us (among the thorns).  But there is hope for the good soil.  But what is the good soil?  The one who hears and understands the word!  So, then I have to ask myself, what am I doing to hear and understand the word?  Am I doing enough?

The Wheat and the Weeds

We as believers in Christ (the wheat) are growing in the same field (the world) as the weeds (from the devil).  God’s plan for us is to grow in the same field but not feed on the same food.  After all, once upon a time we were weeds ourselves, feeding on the bread of the world.  But God worked through someone to change our lives.  They fed us with truth.  By the grace of God, we are now fed by every word that comes from the mouth of God.  Also, by His grace and mercy we will be separated from the weeds at the end of the age and shine like the sun. In order to serve others as someone has served us, we must feed on the Bread of Life so that we may have what we need to feed others.  I ask myself these questions.  What are you feeding on? Who are you feeding and what are you feeding them?  We can’t give what we don’t have lest we get it from somewhere else.

The Mustard Seed and the Leaven

The impact of something small can make all the difference in the world.  Granted the life of Jesus wasn’t small. He has made an eternal impact on the world. What other man can lay claim to that?  Jesus said the kingdom of heaven was like a mustard seed and leaven.  Both are small things that can grow and affect everything around it.  Jesus is the kingdom of heaven, so he was comparing himself to something small that would affect everything around him. And we can see it today.  His leaven has spread across the whole world.  He ministered for over three years and his ministry is still carrying on through his followers.  Am I part of the leaven that is spreading out affecting everything around me?

The Great Treasure

The parable of the hidden treasure and of the pearl are one in the same. Both parables show that gaining the kingdom of heaven is worth any price.  Whatever is lost in pursuit of the kingdom of heaven is a small price to pay, considering the value of what is gained. What have you given up for the kingdom of heaven?  What do you need to give up?

New and Old Treasures

This parable is a little different than the previous ones. It is about the scribes or the teachers of the kingdom of heaven.  The master of the house is a teacher that will bring out his old and new treasure.  His old treasure is the Old Testament, and the new treasure is the life and teachings of Jesus.  Which will become the New Testament.  The teacher who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven understands the new revelation from Jesus and how it fulfills the Old Testament promises.  This parable tells us that the Old and New Testament are built on each other.

The Rejection

Jesus, through several of these parables, has told us how valuable his kingdom is.   He also illustrates that some would find this kingdom and be richly blessed.  Others would miss it for various reasons.  Those who miss it would hear but not understand and see but not perceive.

When Jesus returned to his hometown of Nazareth, he taught the people there with wisdom and authority and they were astonished. He even performed mighty works.  Yet they rejected him because of their pride.  How could a carpenters son teach with more wisdom and authority than the scribes?  But the truth didn’t matter to them.  Because they built up in their minds who Jesus was, they did not believe that he could do great things, even though they saw it.

Jesus is who the bible says he is.  When we hear or think something we should always test it against the scriptures.

 

 

 

 

 

Today’s Reading: Matthew 12:33-13:17

As we read through today’s passage, one thing is clear: Many of Jesus’ contemporaries did not truly understand God, His mission nor His ways, or worse, they had competing agendas, and they were willing to go to great lengths to realize them rather than surrender to the divine plan of God.

Isn’t this the dilemma many people have faced, including us living today? Passages such as this remind us of a long-standing truth.

History repeats itself. 

One thing we tragically see today, both inside and outside the Church, is that people desire God to fit a certain mold of their expectations rather than submitting and pursing God’s divine design of things.

Passages like this put us in a position where we see in fuller display, the sovereignty of God.

Why do so many of us fail to see God’s desired way of things and why do we combat Him?

It’s because many of us fail to accept God on His terms.

Yet, even to make that observation is not deep enough. 

What is at the heart of all the conflict we read of for today’s installment?

It is the continuous human ailment: 

That we desire to be God.

History, both globally and personally, shows us that when we are guilty of this ancient malady, we inevitably sow and reap distortion and destruction. This also leads to spiritual blindness which carries with it implications that touch every corner of life and to deadly effect.

When we also desire to be God, we miss out on the full beauty of the Gospel:

That Christ came into the world to testify to the Truth which pierces the darkness with an otherworldly light and clarity. 

That God rips us out of the clutches of death and holds us securely in His everlasting arms- those of us He chose before the very foundation of the world.

That Christ bore our sin and we inherited His righteousness.

That we, who were dead, He now makes alive.

Those who were hopelessly lost are now found.

Those who were once enemies of God can now be children of God.

Those who were guilty are pardoned. 

Those of us who have been born again, are no longer destined for eternal death.

All of this because of the overwhelming, reality-defying grace of God, and not because of how special we are, but because of how unfathomably good and merciful He is.

As we begin this fast, I hope we don’t miss the pivotal opportunity set before us: That we may truly behold the deep and incalculable beauty of our Messiah and His Gospel, and to live according to such a momentous realization.

I pray that we would leave our shallowness, sentimentalism, legalism, pietism and self-idolatry behind. That we would realize that these things will only produce death in the end. 

I pray we would fall into the arms of Life Himself, Jesus, and that we would never be the same, and that we shout from the rooftops and live out the one true Gospel as recorded in God’s word, and that we would see the life offered in God to all of His children in high definition. 

I pray that we who still need to experience this moment will: Die so we can truly live. 

May God draw us nearer to Him, and further away from ourselves and the vices of this dying world that cannot save or satisfy.

May we be the peculiar people we are called to be by the powerful working of the Holy Spirit as He helps conform us more and more in the image of our Lord, Savior, Redeemer, Protector, and Master: 

Jesus, The Christ.

 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” 

Philippians 4:6-7

 

I think we all have struggled with anxiety in some point of our lives. Some people have it worse than others, but we all experience it. I never really struggled with anxiety when I was younger. Then as I got older and had my kids, my social anxiety started to really show up. As well as my hormones and body image. I’ve struggled with my hormones and body image ever since. I care what people think about me. Some people say they don’t, but we all do.

Anxiety, fear, and depression go hand and hand. We may fear of what people think, fear of making a mistake, fear of the future, etc. Fear leads to anxiety and anxiety leads to depression. We may feel stuck in this depression but in reality, we aren’t. We can go to God with anything and He can bring us out of anything.

We must fight back our thoughts and pray. Anxiety is hard to talk about to others. We try to avoid it and pretend it’s not there. We tend to show a “happy” face but deep down we are depressed. We feel alone. We think no one will understand what we’re going through. But we have to remember that God understands. The majority of people with anxiety will resort to medication and therapy to cope with it, but God should be our “medication” as well as our therapist. He is the Almighty God that can help us overcome anything that medication and therapy never could.

Anxiety is a hard thing to accept and live with. I tend to forget that God is with me through my anxiety. He is there carrying this burden with me. He loves us no matter what we are going through, good or bad.

 

“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”

1 Peter 5:7

 

Prayer is a powerful thing and we need to pray! Cry out to Him to deliver you from your anxiety and worry. I’m still struggling to go to God and cast my burdens on him. But God WANTS us to come to Him during our times of anxiety and negative thoughts. For us to have peace and comfort, we MUST go to Him.

 

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Matthew 11:28-30

 

In the end, our problems will no longer matter. We tend to forget this and lose focus on what’s most important. If we let fear interfere, how will we live out the gospel and share it with those around us? We should pray and trust in the Lord and focus on what’s important.

 

“When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.”

Psalm 56:3

 

We need to WORRY LESS and PRAY MORE!

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude.  It does not insist on its own way: it is not irritable or resentful

1 Corinthians 13:4-5

 

This is a popular, well-known scripture and a good one to remember.  When I was praying the other day, this verse came to mind.  It was because I was praying for patience, kindness, and not to be resentful in my situation.

So many fellow Christians have told me for years to NEVER pray for patience.  They told me as soon as you pray for it, God will give it to you.  He will put things in your life that will teach you to have patience.  Like the saying goes, be careful what you pray for, you might just get it.  

Jesus told us the two greatest commandments are to love God and love our neighbor, but in 1 Corinthians he has described attributes of love.  The first thing it says is “Love is patient”.  If we need patience, why wouldn’t we pray for it?  

My patience has been tested greatly these past few months. With the death of my father-in-law and becoming a caregiver to my mother-in-law, my patience is wearing thin.  I wonder about what others have told me.  Is it because I am praying for it?  Am I getting what I prayed for? 

God told us in His word to take care of our family also. 

 

But if a widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show godliness to their own household and to make some return to their parents, for this is pleasing in the sight of God.

1 Timothy 5:4

 

But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for member of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

1 Timothy 5:8

 

God has laid this opportunity on me to do His work and His will.  I am constantly complaining and negative about it.  What God revealed to me in my prayer for patience WAS to pray for it.  I pray for a change of heart, for the Lord to help me be patient, to be kind, to be caring and joyful in my circumstance, to have love and give it abundantly.  He has opened my eyes and revealed my failures.  

This season hasn’t been easy.  I’ve had many struggles and haven’t handled them well.  I am thankful God shows me my mistakes and gives grace.  I will continue to pray for the things I need.  I have learned through prayer a peace that goes beyond all understanding.  It’s more about what praying does TO me as much as what it does FOR me.       

 

Lord, I am sorry I have not shown the love you have called me to show.  I am sorry I complain about my situation.  You have given me a wonderful opportunity to show love, and I have fallen short.  Please Lord, I ask for forgiveness.  Give me patience and understanding.  Give me strength and endurance.  I love you.  In Jesus name, Amen

 

Paul makes a statement in Acts 18:6 that should both haunt us and clarify our purpose.

Acts 18:6 ESV  And when they opposed and reviled him, he shook out his garments and said to them, “Your blood be on your own heads! I am innocent. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.”

Paul tells the Jews that ‘their blood be on their own heads’ and that he is innocent.  This is a statement made by prophets and it’s for every believer to understand.

Blood on Hands/Head

• On Hands – to have blood on your hands means that as God’s messenger, you are guilty of not obeying or giving a message to someone.
• On Head – The recipient is guilty of not accepting the message. The messenger is innocent.

It’s very prophetic language and this wording stems from the Old Testament.  It is also a mentality for believers.

Ezekiel 3:17–19 (ESV) “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me. 18 If I say to the wicked, ‘You shall surely die,’ and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, in order to save his life, that wicked person shall die for his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand. 19 But if you warn the wicked, and he does not turn from his wickedness, or from his wicked way, he shall die for his iniquity, but you will have delivered your soul.

The point is this:  Not all Christians have a prophetic gifting as described in the New Testament, but all Christians are prophets in this sense:  God has given all of us a message:  The Gospel.

He’s given us all a command to speak:  Matthew 28, “Go and make disciples of all nations…”

You see, today, we have relegated the ‘watchman on the wall’ as someone who is looking for Christ’s return.  That is only part of that responsibility.

According to Ezekiel, at least in a New Testament sense, the watchman is the person who shares the message of God to their people.  We have all been given the Gospel, and we have all been called to share it because God’s judgment is coming for those outside Christ.

God is almost done with our ways, our sin, our neglect, our injustice, murder, and our immorality. The age of grace will come to an end.

However, He sends His Son to rescue us and everyone who would hear His message and turn to Christ for salvation.  But who is the watchman called to speak that message?  Make no mistake.  If you have received the message of salvation, that message was not just for you.  It is for everyone.  Whether it makes us uncomfortable or not, we must face the truth as believers:

We are the watchmen.

The message is His, but it is ours to share.  The Gospel is necessary, and judgment is coming.  As hard as this message is to hear, we are called to speak it as watchmen. Yes, we watch for signs of His return, but we proclaim Christ’s salvation until He comes.  It is the message given to every believer.

Creation is God making the universe and all that is within it. Idolatry is man’s feeble attempt to make God.

This idea is becoming lost more and more in both society and even Christianity. Sometimes a person will find a deity other than God to worship that is merely a man-made god, an idol crafted from human hands, or we find some “thing” to worship. It can be something as simple as our careers, other people, sports, hobbies, speakers, singers, musicians, or any secular thing that we set before God.

If we could be honest, idolatry comes when our desires become greater than God’s will. It basically happens every time we sin. We set ourselves above God. I have seen the dark power of idolatry. I’ve seen it destroy marriages, friendships, careers, and lives. Our addictions, our pleasures, and our desires become relentless masters when at the forefront of our lives ahead of the will of God.

The Bible speaks of a great apostasy coming, where people will corrupt or stray from their faith. This is also rooted in idolatry. Today many are leaving their faith, and still others are picking and choosing what parts of our faith to believe. We are giving the final say on our lives to ourselves and not to God.

There was a Pew Research study done in the last few years where Christians were polled about Christmas and the resurrection. People believed that Jesus was born, but the numbers got less when asked if Mary was a virgin, if Gabriel came to her, if the angels worshiped, and in looking at the resurrection, some “Christians” didn’t believe Jesus actually rose from the dead.

Practically, when we pick and choose what parts of the Bible we are going to believe and not believe, we are literally changing its message. We are literally declaring that we know more than God and that our limited human experience precedes both His knowledge and will.

The reminder today is this: We are not here to find or fashion a god for our lives. If you are a Christian today, you didn’t “find” God. God made Himself known to you. There’s nothing we can change or invent to make who He is. In the times we live in, holding to the truth of God, believing His Word, and living that out matters. He is unchanging and this idea brings a deeper meaning to the famous words of Jesus.

 

John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

It is His way, His truth, and His life. There is nothing we can add or ignore to make this ours and when we try, we will never gain anything for ourselves. We will only lose something. His will is enough and it is how we are called to live and in an age of idols, we are called to worship the one true God.

 

In the book of Luke, Mary is visited by the angel Gabriel. He informs Mary that she is going to give birth to a son, though she is a virgin.vShe is told to name Him Jesus and that He would be the Son of the Most High and would receive the throne of David and that His Kingdom would never end. Mary is told of Elizabeth, her relative, and that she also is pregnant with a son in her old age. The point of Elizabeth’s pregnancy was a sign to Mary that all things are possible with God. Mary’s response to all of this? “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your word.”

I love this perspective but you must understand what she was saying “yes” to. They were going to gossip, accuse her, there could have been a threat on her life for being pregnant out of wedlock. It’s why Joseph tried to put her away quietly, in order to protect her. In the end, this would not be a normal marriage or a normal life. She was going to have not just a son, but THE Son. Mary visits Elizabeth and Elizabeth declares that her baby leaped in her womb when Mary approached carrying Jesus in her womb. Mary realizes the reality of her situation and she breaks the workings of her mind with praise.

Luke 1:46–55

⁴⁶ And Mary said,

“My soul magnifies the Lord,

⁴⁷ and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

⁴⁸ for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.

For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;

⁴⁹ for he who is mighty has done great things for me,

and holy is his name.

⁵⁰ And his mercy is for those who fear him

from generation to generation.

⁵¹ He has shown strength with his arm;

he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts;

⁵² he has brought down the mighty from their thrones

and exalted those of humble estate;

⁵³ he has filled the hungry with good things,

and the rich he has sent away empty.

⁵⁴ He has helped his servant Israel,

in remembrance of his mercy,

⁵⁵ as he spoke to our fathers,

to Abraham and to his offspring forever.”

Here is what I love about all of this: Her praise speaks to every topic you’ve heard today:

To loneliness, Mary is given God’s Son

To hopelessness, God is redeeming His people

To injustice, a captive Israel was receiving a King

To sin, God remembered His people in mercy

 

Jesus offers life for every person who would follow Him.

John 10:10

(ESV) The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

God sends His Son to save the world, save Israel and to save you and me. God didn’t stop at the nation or the planet. Through what most scholars believe was roughly a 16-year-old girl named Mary, God makes His salvation personal. He looks not just at the world, not just at the nation of Israel, He looks at you.  He looks at me. Time is about to change. BC is about to become AD, hopelessness will turn to hope, punishment for sins will be met with mercy, loneliness is met with God’s presence and injustice is met by a just King. All of this, in a moment at Christmas, where labor pains turn to birth, a baby is born and with each breath He takes, life is breathed into the world, and his breath becomes word and His words become life. Hope spreads from a manger to all of us. A new clock begins to click and almost without notice, the world has changed.

Have you read in Scripture that the return of Jesus is much like this scene at Christmas? He talks about labor pains before He returns. The reason they call it labor pains is because… pain… But these pains lead to something wonderful, and they will give birth to a new reality, a new Kingdom and all will submit to this new King. This time, it will not go unnoticed. Heaven and earth are made new, labor will give birth to His Kingdom come.

It all began here, at Christmas, over 2000 years ago. Let us celebrate what God has done as we remember what Christmas is about: Jesus comes to earth for the glory of God, in order that we may have life.

Merry Christmas!

Luke 2:8-14

⁸ And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. ⁹ And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. ¹⁰ And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. ¹¹ For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. ¹² And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” ¹³ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, ¹⁴ “Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

2 Corinthians 5:21 CSB

“He made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”

 

From the opening syllables of Genesis to the closing chapters of Revelation, we are introduced and confronted with a most problematic reality: The problem of sin. We first hear of it in the garden when Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit. Where there was once paradise and perfection, such was then cast into dark horror and chaos. When we stop and behold the Christmas story, we have an opportunity to behold our God and exactly how other-worldly wonderful and merciful He is. In that vein, in order to have a proper view of the ancient assassin we know as sin, we must have a proper view of God.

 

How magnificent a God we worship, who in His holiness cannot tolerate sin, but looked upon our bleak situation after the fall and essentially said, “I will have mercy on them.” Further, the Christmas story shows us that we could not and cannot save ourselves, and that we needed a perfect Savior to save us from certain eternal death, from the just wrath of a most Holy God. You see, mankind is no stranger to sadness, depravity, desperation and hopelessness, which is the exact situation God came into as the holy infant, our Lord Jesus. When the divine infant was born, salvation, hope and joy pierced the dark fog of estrangement between God and His people. The sinless savior had come, and therefore making a way for us to not die in our sins. The baby in the manger was the fulfillment of the long-standing promise of God that He would deliver His people from their spiritual bondage and captivity. The first cries of that baby were the opening notes to sin and death’s demise. For sin, the ancient contagion, is no match for Jesus, our ultimate sovereign.

 

Further, our spiritual condition was darker than the deepest depths of the sea, blacker than the furthest reaches of space, so much so that only that which was most pure could satisfy the cosmic debt you and I owed. The Christmas story shows us that we are beneficiaries of a most divine and perplexing exchange between God and humans. He took on our sin upon Himself and we received His righteousness as our own. Where we were once dead in our trespasses, He makes us alive. In exchange, He died the death we should have. Where we were once criminals, having dishonored God, He made a way for us to be His children. He freed us from being slaves to sin and to now be slaves to righteousness.

Sin is the disease and Christ is the cure.

If any of us today find ourselves overwhelmed by sin or have willingly participated in it and know that there is distance between themselves and God, I beg you to not go another day longer in the bondage of the enemy for it will destroy you because Satan is the destroyer. May you allow yourself to fall into the arms of your Redeemer Christ who is also The Supreme Victor over sin and death.

May we all keep our eyes fixed on Him and in all seasons.