ADVENT ~ Day 9

December 7, 2009

Scripture Passage:
READ Psalm 25:1-5

The Hebrew words for "ways" (derek) and "paths" ('orach), have virtually the same meaning: direction, road, way of living, manner.

In today's reading passage, King David is crying out to God in the midst of his distress. While it is obvious that David is under attack, he makes a strong proclamation of faith in the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. And then he humbly, yet boldly makes fervent requests for God to teach him the road, the way, and the manner of the Lord God Almighty. As we know, our Lord Jesus is The Way of God, revealed to us in the birth, death and resurrection of our Savior.

David even goes as far as stating his confidence in God's righteous judgment of those who reject His gift of salvation - whether witnessed here on earth, or ultimately, when Jesus will make a distinction between those who truly knew Him vs. those who only claimed it with their mouths, but their hearts testify against them; as their lives contradict what they professed to believe.

"His (Christ's) winnowing fork is in His hand, to clear His threshing floor and to gather the wheat into His barn, but the chaff He will burn with unquenchable fire."

~ Luke 3:17

Chaff is like our bodies - it is what encases that which is of great substance; our souls. And like chaff, our bodies, our earthly "tents" will one day return to the ground from whence it came. But our souls will live forever - somewhere; either in Heaven with God or in Hell with the demons.

The impetuous professions of false converts, who come to Christ, only in hopes for the betterment of their lives here on earth, are like chaff to God: useless and without substance; therefore, they are easily blown away in every direction, with whatever teaching the winds of the times might carry them.

But for those who have come to Christ, with a grateful, humble and repentant heart, recognizing the magnitude of His holy sacrifice, cry out daily, not just for protection and salvation from trials, but for personal refinement and discipline through knowing God more, in order to love Him better.

"Lead me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; for You I wait all the day long."~ Psalm 25:5

May we all learn to faithfully "wait" on the Lord; that is, intently watching Christ, fixing our eyes on Him, like a good waiter in a restaurant. A good waiter closely studies the one he/she is waiting on so that they may be ready in an instant to respond to any request being made of them. And when they are called, they rise immediately to serve with great joy and gladness.

Am I so close to the Lord that I can hear His every heart beat; His will and direction for my life? Do I daily cry out to God for personal refinement and discipline, or am I afraid of it? Do I see my life and those around me from a worldly/self-centered view, or from God's view?



Printable Version

In a time where all our minds are on what we want, what we'd like to ask for, how and with whom we will celebrate Christmas; let us remember God, who gave....

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him. Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because He has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the  judgment; the Light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the Light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the Light and does not come into the Light, lest His works should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes into the Light, so that it may be clearly seen that His works have been carried out in God."

~ John 3:16-21

The message of John 3:16 is not the message of the modern day, man-centered Gospel. The message of John 3:16 is the same message God-centered Gospel from the same God of yesterday, today and tomorrow: it's a strong, righteous, good and pure message that should cause anyone to fear God, be utterly grateful for His salvation and humble themselves before such a righteous, good and merciful God. This is why I never share John 3:16 with anyone without verses 17-21. That way, I can be sure that the hearer is benefited by God's truth and provided with much grace in the light of God's truth and extravagant love.

So let all those, who are called by God, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in light be different than the rest of the world, and instead of asking for things or looking forward to receiving or even giving to other people; let us, God's beloved children, let us give to God what is due Him:

praise,

honor,

glory,

and

thanksgiving,

every morning for His steadfast love,

and every night for His faithfulness.

and all God's people say:

AMEN

ADVENT ~ Day 6

December 4, 2009

Scripture Passage:
READ Psalm 24:7-10

From the time of Adam and Eve's sin, our Father God has been proclaiming the mystery of His gift of salvation, that is found only through faith in His one and only Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. (Genesis 3:14-15)

The LORD of hosts, then repeated this mystery of salvation to Abraham, Elijah, Moses, King David, Isaiah, Daniel, Jeremiah, along with many other prophets and faithful servants of the LORD God Most High.

By faith, they all believed God's message of salvation to all people, whether Jew or Gentile. Because they believed God, and put their trust in the One whom they would never see on this side of Heaven, God credited Christ's righteousness to them, so that they too may enter into the fullness of His glorious presence for all eternity in Heaven.

The righteousness of Christ was not credited to them because of mere words, but their lives proved that their trust was in the coming Messiah of God, by the way they lived.

The prophets of old and the faithful servants of God truly lived as if they trusted every word that proceeded out of the mouth of the LORD. And God knew it. The Lord God sees our hearts and is not fooled or moved by words spoken only from fleeting, emotion-driven moments.

He is the King of kings, the Lord of lords. He is the Alpha and the Omega; the Prince of Peace; the Lion of the tribe of Judah; the Bright Morning Star; the Good Shepherd; the Bread of Life; the Word of God; the Way, the Truth, and the Life; the High Priest; the Rock of Ages; the Redeemer; the True Vine; the Son of God.

He is Jesus the Christ - the Revealer of the greatest mystery: the miraculous reconciliation of wicked and evil sinners, to a holy and good God.

"And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made together alive with Him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This He set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in Him."

~ Colossians 2:13-15

ADVENT ~ Day 3
December 2, 2009

Scripture Passage:
READ Psalm 24:1-6

Who is worthy to approach the LORD? He is Sovereign. He is good. By His might, He created the heavens, the earth and all that it is within it. Time cannot encompass Him. There is nothing in all creation that can overpower Him. He is self-sustaining. He is majestic. He is holy. He is glorious. He is perfect. He is righteous. He is just.

God is so awesome, so brilliant, so holy; and the magnitude of His righteousness is so pure and powerful, that the Bible says no man can see God’s face and live (Exodus 33:20)!

In our Scripture reading today, we find King David, perfectly assessing the level of righteousness a person must possess, in order to approach God, and not die.

“He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false and does not swear deceitfully.”
~ Psalm 24:4

Well, that leaves me out! And not just me, but everyone I’ve ever known or heard of! There is not one person who has lived, is living and will live, that is qualified to fulfill all of God’s righteous requirements in order to be made acceptable, to approach His holy presence – except for the Person of Jesus Christ.

Jesus alone has:

• Clean hands: hands that have never shed innocent blood nor hated anyone in his heart. (Matthew 5:43-48, 1 John 3:15)
• A pure heart: a heart that has never conceived to break God’s Law (the Ten Commandments) or devised evil to lead himself or anyone else into sin. (Proverbs 20:9, Hebrew 4:15)
• Righteous worship: a soul that refuses to give reverence, honor or praise to false gods; instead, worships the LORD God alone, who is the Maker of every soul. (Ecclesiastes 3:11, Matthew 4:8-10)
• Honorable speech: a tongue that faithfully speaks the truth, will not boast, defends the rights of the poor, does not flatter and is full of the wisdom that comes from God. (Psalm 101:7, Isaiah 53:9, 1 Peter 2:22-23)

Our Lord Jesus was born of a virgin, in order to die, so that sinners might be born again, in order to live. He gave us His righteousness, because we had none of our own, for “none is righteous, no, not one.” (Psalm 143:2, Romans 3:10)

Therefore, let us give Christ His due honor and praise as we dedicate our hearts to the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. And let us not forget what a precious time of Advent God has granted us by cleansing ourselves from the commercialism of Christmas, and fixing our hearts and minds on the reason why we, as Christians, celebrate.

Thoughts to ponder:
Am I living as if I truly believe that I posses the righteousness of Christ? Do I faithfully demonstrate to God, my love and gratitude for my salvation by setting my personal needs, comforts, ideas or even rights aside, so that others may see Jesus in me? If so, how? If not, what will I do today to remedy this situation?

Gracious LORD God in Heaven, with awesome compassion and abounding grace and mercy, You have cleansed my filthy soul of all unrighteousness with the pure blood of Your Son, Jesus the Christ.

Thank You Father for loving me when I was still Your enemy; hating You, by sinning against You. Thank You Jesus for suffering the wrath of God in my stead and imputing to me, Your righteousness, so that I might be made acceptable in the sight of the Father. Thank You Holy Spirit for faithfully sanctifying me by the washing of water with God’s word.

LORD, I commit to You this day, that Your work of salvation will take precedence in my heart, will be kept at the forefront of my mind, and will be the passion of my soul.

Thank You, heavenly Father, for this time of Advent. Help us to remain in a state of reverence, awe-inspired worship and gratitude as we prepare to remember Your Son’s first coming, as well as looking intently and eagerly with all our hearts, minds and souls daily for His second coming. Jesus, may Your name be praised, forever and ever, Amen.