ADVENT ~ Day 25

December 23, 2009

Scripture Passage:
READ Galatians 4:1-31

Today, I'm combining my Word-Filled Wednesdays post with the Advent devotional, as the Key Verse for today's devotional has really impressed upon my heart who we really are - without Christ.

As I read our Scripture Passage today, my heart rejoiced in the fact that I am a child of The Promise. An adopted child, born of God, through faith in Jesus Christ's first coming, His virgin birth, His perfect sinless life, His atonement for my sins, His death, His resurrection and His second coming.

And then my eyes and heart stopped and rested on two verses: "But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons." (Galatians 4:4-5)

I'm still trying to wrap my mind around the fact that Jesus, the Son of God, left Heaven. In Heaven, Jesus was rightly worshiped and adored, He was unconditionally obeyed and lived in the splendor of His own glory. He left that, to come here and purposely allow Himself to be bound by human flesh. I don't know what Heaven looks like because there is nothing we know of here on earth that's even comparable, but I do know this for certain: When we all get to Heaven, we'll ask, "Jesus, YOU left this for me?" I am humbled and overwhelmed by this truth.

Have you ever tried to sing a praise song and worship God while you're still in angst about something here: Whether it's something with your spouse, your kids, friends, or just plain 'ol anxieties about how you think things ought to be? I have, and you know what? It doesn't work! When I get this way, our gracious Father is always so kind and gracious to remind me that I must first choose to mortify the desires of my flesh and resolve to know nothing but Christ crucified. It is only then that the same Holy Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead, will also raise me to walk in step with Him (Galatians 5:25).

Thoughts to ponder:
Much like this little boy in today's Scripture-picture, we were once lost orphans, hungry and poor. But in God the Father's infinite love and abounding compassion, He chose to adopt us, to pay for us - with His own Son's blood. In order for this poor, hungry and homeless child to live with his adopted Father, he'll have to leave his worldly possessions and comforts behind. What do you think they would be? His dirty coat? His filthy clothes? Charms or trinkets he's collected to make him feel special? What about you? What natural affinities, natural comforts and natural attachments will you have to leave behind, both tangible and intangible, in order to live as if you are truly an adopted child of the King of kings?

Merciful Father, my glorious Love, You have captured my heart!

Why have you called me Your own? Why did you choose to touch me when I was stained with all my guilt? Why did you choose to wash me with the blood of Your one and only Son? Why Lord? Why such a great sacrifice, for such a lowly and wretched soul?

My eyes have never seen You. Yet my heart knows You. Thank You Father, for working the impossible in my life. Thank You for choosing me, so that I could choose You. May this Christmas be different. May my celebration of Jesus' first coming be founded in why He came. And may I live as if I believe You.

ADVENT ~ Day 23

December 21, 2009

Scripture Passage:
READ Isaiah 60:1-5

I've mentioned before that I am not the sharpest pencil in the pack, therefore I don't understand many things as other people do. Often it takes me quite some time to really perceive what someone is saying, as the meaning often seems to escape me.

Knowing this, when I was in high school, I used to carry a dictionary in my backpack, to have with me at all times. And back in the days when dinosaurs still roamed the earth (just kidding), pocket-dictionaries were not invented yet; well, not very good ones. So, the dictionary I carried around in my backpack was - you guessed it, the large, Webster's Collegiate Dictionary. Sure it was heavy, but I didn't mind because I pulled it out often to look up the words that people were using during conversations, as well as reading it during lunch and anytime I had available. I always had it with me when I read the Bible because it seemed that I would often find myself stuck on some of the simplest words, just like I did today. Today, I got stuck on the word, "upon". To be honest, I'm not really sure what that means. And it seemed it would be greatly beneficial to look it up so that I might gain full understanding of what our Father God is trying to teach me today.

upon (preposition) - in an elevated position on¹

According to the definition of the word "upon", today's key passage makes so much more sense to me and I pray that it will bless you as well.

You see, the Prophet Isaiah, by the leading of the Holy Spirit writes that the entire earth is covered with thick darkness. It was that way then, and I know we can all testify that it is also the state of the world even now. The world is filled with wickedness, self-centered, selfish, self-absorbed, treacherous, thieving, lying, God-hating, adulterous people who are under the power and deception of Satan. Yet, the Lord speaks this wonderful truth through Isaiah in the next statement, that while this is the true state of the world, God includes a "but". I love when God does that! Unlike us, when God says, "but" He's not going to make a statement of objection, but instead a statement of hope! Isn't our awesome Father so brilliant?!

I love this second statement, that starts with "but", that goes on to tell us the promise of the hope found only in Christ Jesus our Lord, "but the LORD will arise upon you, and His glory will be seen upon you."

Did you see that?! The LORD God Himself will be in an elevated position on us (specifically, His children)! He didn't say, He might, He said He will! The magnitude of this truth humbles me as I consider that Jesus made Himself nothing; took a lowly position among us; He put Himself under us in order to lift us up so that He will be exalted; that is, elevated in our lives. And so much so, that it will be evident to all people! Wow!

This promise of the evidence of Christ's resurrected life in all believers is amazing to me! And how does that come about? It is manifested in everything we do; whether we wash dishes, scrub toilet bowls, change diapers, cook meals, feed the homeless, preach the Gospel or clothe the naked. When any of us lives solely to demonstrate our love and gratitude to God, for the Gift of Jesus, then every breath we take, is breathed for His honor and glory.

Sometimes we often think that we have to do some "big" thing for God in order to feel that our lives matter. But the truth is, nothing we do is "big" in the sight of the Great I AM. Everything we offer is small in His eyes, but is made into something extravagant when we give our all to Jesus. In Jesus' hands, all things are made new and beautiful! What opinions and thoughts have imprisoned you and kept you from believing this truth? Will you choose to praise the Lord our God in spite of how you feel and defy the chains of your mind today?

Lord God, You noticed me, when no one else did. You loved me and cared for me, when no one thought to share. I stood there, like an outsider. Just a small, frightened, little girl. Dirty, ragged, poor and afraid. I saw many children playing. They were smiling and enjoying one another's company. And they were very involved in what seemed to be a very important and exciting activity. I stood there alone, and thought to myself, "I wish I could be with them! I wish I could join and participate! But I'm too small, dirty, and poor."

Just then, the Man standing there with them motioned to me with His hand and said, "Come! Come join us!" I was humbled and began to cry as I couldn't understand why someone as wonderful as Him, would notice someone as lowly as me. Then You told me Father, that THIS is Your Son, whom You loved and gave up, so I could participate, participate in Your glorious presence and miraculous work of transforming lives.

I wish I had the proper words to express my gratitude and love to You Father, for the Gift of Jesus. But I'm afraid that my words pale in comparison to Your mighty love. So I will trust that You listen to my heart and hear my spirit sing.

You are my Maker. You are My God. You are my Jesus.
I love you.

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ADVENT ~ Day 19

December 17, 2009

Scripture Passage:
READ 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10

What an incredibly uplifting passage! The Apostle Paul opens his first letter to the church in Thessaloniki with a greeting of mutual love, hope, grace and peace found only in God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ. Then Paul shares how he is so encouraged by the faith of the Thessalonian believers, that he is moved to give thanks to God for their work of faith, labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord, Christ Jesus.

What was it about these 3 things that caused the Apostle Paul to continually give thanks to God? Let's take a closer look.

1. work of faith: The way the Apostle Paul worded this is very significant. Notice here that Paul specifically writes, "work of faith", not "work to have faith". As we know it is clear in Scripture that we are saved by grace through faith in Jesus, it is a gift of God, NOT by works, so that no man can boast (Ephesians 2:8-9). We also know that the word "of" is an adjective that indicates: ownership, belonging, origin, or source of the noun it follows. Therefore, the "work" someone performs does not necessarily prove they have faith, instead a person's faith will be proved by the work that belongs to it. (James 2:18)
2. labor of love: The same truth that applies to "work of faith" applies here as well. The small two letter word "of" plays a huge role in what this phrase means. Labor of love, means that the labor performed originates, and is owned by love. And what is love? Well, the more accurate question is, Who is love? And we find the answer in 1 John 4:16 - "So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him." Therefore, according to Scripture, labor performed without God, is performed without love. What we as human beings call "love" is not true love at all. For most of us, love is only a feeling. And as feelings do, they come and they go. If we throw love into the category of feelings, why then are we surprised that it comes and it goes? We shouldn't be. Love is not a feeling, but an active choice. Does love include feelings? Of course it does. God is love and God feels. But love is stronger and greater than our feelings. That's why a labor of love is not capable of being manufactured by any human effort. We may have strong feelings, affections and warmth towards one another, but eventually, our "passion" will fade away and so will our labor that belonged to it. But all things from God are eternal and have everlasting effect.
3. steadfastness of hope: The Greek word used in this verse for steadfastness is: hupomone which means: constancy; endurance; in the NT the characteristic of a man who is not swerved from his deliberate purpose and his loyalty to faith and piety by even the greatest trials and sufferings; a patient enduring, sustaining, perseverance.¹ Now, let's take a look at what the word "hope" means. Unknowingly, most of us use its connotative definition (implied meaning: that something might happen), rather than its denotative definition (explicit meaning: that something is definitely going to happen). Truth be known, the word "hope" is synonymous with the word "trust". That's why God tells us to put our hope, that is, our trust in Him alone. When we hope in Christ, we're not saying we think He might come through for us; instead we are saying we know for certain He will. Therefore, steadfastness of hope means that hope owns our endurance, our patience, our loyalty even through the toughest trials and sufferings. And who is our Hope? His name is Jesus, and He is the Owner and Master of our hope; that's why it can be steadfast; because He alone does not fail at anything, but is victorious in all things! What an incredible promise!

This is what it all boils down to: it doesn't take a Christian to dig wells and provide clean water, or feed the hungry, visit those in prison, clothe the naked, mentor the under-privileged, or build homes or churches. While all these things are demonstrations of acts of kindness in which God's children should engage in, it doesn't take a Christian to perform these well-meaning deeds; as it has been proven that even unbelievers know how to show this kind of charity toward others.

We know this to be a fact as we look around our world and see multitudes of non-believers doing all these things. And while it doesn't take a Christian to perform these acts of kindness, it does take a Christian to perform works of faith, labors of love with steadfastness of hope. It also takes a Christian to perform such acts of kindness with great patience and endurance in the midst of sufferings, afflictions and any other hardships that may come their way; with humility. Only a Christian can balance the pain and sorrow of suffering, while still finding the joy in all their trials; without complaining (Philippians 2:14-15). Why? Because only Christ Jesus can miraculously balance these two opposites: joy and pain. Not that Christians always work this way. But my point is that we, as Christians are capable of living this way, but unbelievers are not; as this is only a supernatural work of God, in His children. And this is what causes the world to wonder, to wonder "Why?"