Please indulge me for one more day with this verse: On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise him, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he had been conceived. Luke 2:21
Did not he who made me in the womb make them? Job 31:15
For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. Psalm 139:13-16
On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise him, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he had been conceived. Luke 2:21
(find these or any other passages at www.Biblegateway.org)
Jesus purpose preexisted His earthly body.
As it is for us all.
We are not Christ, of course, but we are, indeed...each of us...an integral part of His Body on Earth.
Your purpose, and mine, has been determined for centuries. Some of us choose to accept that; others do not. Our life should be pointed toward accepting that purpose that God has determined for us...before we were even conceived...and fulfilling that which He has in His mind for us...while we were still in our mothers' wombs.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. How does the idea that God knows you before your birth, strike you?
2. How about the idea that He has had a purpose for you since before you were conceived?
3. How does any of this affect your day to day life?
INTERESTING THOUGHTS:
"There is within every soul a thirst for happiness and meaning."
Thomas Aquinas
"Let things true be preferred to things false,
things eternal to things momentary,
things useful to things agreeable."
Lucius Caelius Lactantius
"Whatever else may be said of man, this one thing is clear:
He is not what he is capable of being."
G.K. Chesterton
"MAN: An animal so lost in rapturous contemplation of what
he thinks he is as to overlook what he indubitably ought to be."
Ambrose Bierce
"A man can no more take in a supply of grace for the future
than he can eat enough for the next six months,
or take sufficient air into his lungs at one time to sustain life for a week.
We must draw upon God's boundless store of grace from day to day as we need it."
D.L. Moody
"Go forth today, by the help of God's Spirit,
vowing and declaring that in life----come poverty,
come wealth, in death---come pain or come what may,
you are and ever must be the Lord's.
For this is written on your heart,
'We love Him because He first loved us.'"
Charles Spurgeon
"The soul, itself invisible, is seen by what it does through the body."
Johann Albrecht Bengel
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
ListenDaily - 30 December 2008; Typical?
I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas, and pray that all of us will hold onto Christmas for a while. Let us now take a few days to look at the next events the Scriptures tell us about.
When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to him and said, "I am God Almighty; walk before me and be blameless. I will confirm my covenant between me and you and will greatly increase your numbers." Abram fell facedown, and God said to him, "As for me, this is my covenant with you: You will be the father of many nations.
No longer will you be called Abram; your name will be Abraham, for I have made you a father of many nations. I will make you very fruitful; I will make nations of you, and kings will come from you. I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you for the generations to come, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you. The whole land of Canaan, where you are now an alien, I will give as an everlasting possession to you and your descendants after you; and I will be their God."
Then God said to Abraham, "As for you, you must keep my covenant, you and your descendants after you for the generations to come. This is my covenant with you and your descendants after you, the covenant you are to keep: Every male among you shall be circumcised. You are to undergo circumcision, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and you. For the generations to come every male among you who is eight days old must be circumcised Genesis 17:1-12
On the eighth day the boy is to be circumcised. Leviticus 12:3
On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise him, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he had been conceived. Luke 2:21 (find these or any other passages at www.Biblegateway.org)
There are some interesting insights here into the first few days of Jesus' life, and into his parents, Mary and Joseph.
Consider His circumcision and naming. The ordinance of circumcision began with Abram, ninety-nine years old, but was put into place for boys on their eighth day. This was later revisited in the Law given in Leviticus. And so the Babe was circumcised on the eighth day according to Hebrew Law.
The tradition of naming the child after their circumcision came from the same origin, reflecting God's covenant, sealed in the ritual. With Abram's circumcision, he received his Hebrew name, Abraham, and became the Father of the Jews.
What does this tell us about Joseph and Mary? We already saw that, apart from Heavenly direction otherwise, they would follow the laws of the land, as they followed the edict to go to Bethlehem. We see here, that, once again, without God's direction otherwise, they could be expected to follow Jewish Law and traditions, explicitly.
It is important for us Gentiles, adopted into the family, to remember that our Savior was raised in many ways, as a typical Jewish boy.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. Have you ever considered the Jewish aspects of Jesus' childhood? (think Bar Mitzvah)
2. Should these things be important to us as Christians?
3. What does their following of Law and tradition say to you?
INTERESTING THOUGHT:
"Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets;
I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them."
Jesus
When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to him and said, "I am God Almighty; walk before me and be blameless. I will confirm my covenant between me and you and will greatly increase your numbers." Abram fell facedown, and God said to him, "As for me, this is my covenant with you: You will be the father of many nations.
No longer will you be called Abram; your name will be Abraham, for I have made you a father of many nations. I will make you very fruitful; I will make nations of you, and kings will come from you. I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you for the generations to come, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you. The whole land of Canaan, where you are now an alien, I will give as an everlasting possession to you and your descendants after you; and I will be their God."
Then God said to Abraham, "As for you, you must keep my covenant, you and your descendants after you for the generations to come. This is my covenant with you and your descendants after you, the covenant you are to keep: Every male among you shall be circumcised. You are to undergo circumcision, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and you. For the generations to come every male among you who is eight days old must be circumcised Genesis 17:1-12
On the eighth day the boy is to be circumcised. Leviticus 12:3
On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise him, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he had been conceived. Luke 2:21 (find these or any other passages at www.Biblegateway.org)
There are some interesting insights here into the first few days of Jesus' life, and into his parents, Mary and Joseph.
Consider His circumcision and naming. The ordinance of circumcision began with Abram, ninety-nine years old, but was put into place for boys on their eighth day. This was later revisited in the Law given in Leviticus. And so the Babe was circumcised on the eighth day according to Hebrew Law.
The tradition of naming the child after their circumcision came from the same origin, reflecting God's covenant, sealed in the ritual. With Abram's circumcision, he received his Hebrew name, Abraham, and became the Father of the Jews.
What does this tell us about Joseph and Mary? We already saw that, apart from Heavenly direction otherwise, they would follow the laws of the land, as they followed the edict to go to Bethlehem. We see here, that, once again, without God's direction otherwise, they could be expected to follow Jewish Law and traditions, explicitly.
It is important for us Gentiles, adopted into the family, to remember that our Savior was raised in many ways, as a typical Jewish boy.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. Have you ever considered the Jewish aspects of Jesus' childhood? (think Bar Mitzvah)
2. Should these things be important to us as Christians?
3. What does their following of Law and tradition say to you?
INTERESTING THOUGHT:
"Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets;
I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them."
Jesus
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
ListenDaily - 24 December 2008; Anticipation...
ListenDaily - 24 December 2008; Anticipation...
While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born; (NIV) or
And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. (KJV) Matrthew 2:5
(find these or any other passages at www.Biblegateway.org)
They had travelled, they were far from home, they were alone except for each other.
They were exhausted.
She was pregnant and going into labor.
There is no reason to think he was any less nervous than any man standing by his wife as she was having a baby.
They were alone except for each other...and their God...and this Baby, who was ready to be born, who was God's Child. They were about to see the actual Son of the Most High God! What a mix of emotions! Imagine the birth of any child, then add in the loneliness, the stable, the animals, and this Holy Child. What our Christmas Story takes a few minutes to tell, had played out over nine-plus months in the lives of Mary and Joseph. Anyone who has ever been present at the birth of a child, has seen the pain and agony changed, in an instant, to incredible joy as the mother takes the baby into her arms, as the father stands in tearful amazement. How much more it was to be with the Christ Child! I cannot even imagine.
Today is Christmas Eve. Children everywhere are trembling with excitement as they await tomorrow morning. imagine, if you will, Joseph and Mary as the time approached when she should be delivered. Immanuel. God with us. God with us...just about to happen...!
Now imagine Immanuel. God with you....just about to happen...or already happened. How can you not tremble at the thought?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. Have you ever sat and really thought of the Biblical story as a nine month long story?
2. How do you imagine Mary's emotions as she prepared to deliver?
3. How do you relate that story to Immanuel...God with you?
INTERESTING THOUGHT:
"Immanuel, God with us in our nature,
in our sorrow, in our lifework,
in our punishment, in our grave,
and now with us, or rather we with Him,
in resurrection, ascension, triumph,
and Second Advent splendor."
Charles Spurgeon
While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born; (NIV) or
And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. (KJV) Matrthew 2:5
(find these or any other passages at www.Biblegateway.org)
They had travelled, they were far from home, they were alone except for each other.
They were exhausted.
She was pregnant and going into labor.
There is no reason to think he was any less nervous than any man standing by his wife as she was having a baby.
They were alone except for each other...and their God...and this Baby, who was ready to be born, who was God's Child. They were about to see the actual Son of the Most High God! What a mix of emotions! Imagine the birth of any child, then add in the loneliness, the stable, the animals, and this Holy Child. What our Christmas Story takes a few minutes to tell, had played out over nine-plus months in the lives of Mary and Joseph. Anyone who has ever been present at the birth of a child, has seen the pain and agony changed, in an instant, to incredible joy as the mother takes the baby into her arms, as the father stands in tearful amazement. How much more it was to be with the Christ Child! I cannot even imagine.
Today is Christmas Eve. Children everywhere are trembling with excitement as they await tomorrow morning. imagine, if you will, Joseph and Mary as the time approached when she should be delivered. Immanuel. God with us. God with us...just about to happen...!
Now imagine Immanuel. God with you....just about to happen...or already happened. How can you not tremble at the thought?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. Have you ever sat and really thought of the Biblical story as a nine month long story?
2. How do you imagine Mary's emotions as she prepared to deliver?
3. How do you relate that story to Immanuel...God with you?
INTERESTING THOUGHT:
"Immanuel, God with us in our nature,
in our sorrow, in our lifework,
in our punishment, in our grave,
and now with us, or rather we with Him,
in resurrection, ascension, triumph,
and Second Advent splendor."
Charles Spurgeon
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
ListenDaily - 23 December 2008; Everyday miracles
"But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times." Micah 5:2
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:1
In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3And everyone went to his own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. Luke 2:4-7
(find these or any other passages at www.Biblegateway.org)
It was prophesied that the Messiah, this ruler...whose origins are from of old, from ancient times would come up from Bethlehem. And through God ordained events Mary and Joseph made this arduous journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem. (According to various sources, 70 to 100 miles, depending on the route; Google Map says 96 miles, no, really.) They made this trip in response to a governmental decree, and yet, God's plan came to fruition by it.
I believe there is a vital Christmas message here for us. God's plans often require us doing our day-to-day task, following the rules, doing what we are supposed to do. (This infers that 'the rules' are not superseded by God's Word.) Mary and Joseph were righteous before the Lord, and obedient to the law of man as well, this brought them, with great personal hardship, to Bethlehem, where God's Word would be fulfilled.
What might happen if we would be obedient and righteous before God in the midst of our everyday tasks?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. Have you ever seen God's work in the middle of an ordinary day or event?
2. How difficult must this trip have been for a very pregnant young girl?
3. To what work has God appointed you?
INTERESTING THOUGHT:
Live as though Christ died yesterday,
rose from the grave today,
and is coming back tomorrow.
Theodore Epp
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:1
In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3And everyone went to his own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. Luke 2:4-7
(find these or any other passages at www.Biblegateway.org)
It was prophesied that the Messiah, this ruler...whose origins are from of old, from ancient times would come up from Bethlehem. And through God ordained events Mary and Joseph made this arduous journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem. (According to various sources, 70 to 100 miles, depending on the route; Google Map says 96 miles, no, really.) They made this trip in response to a governmental decree, and yet, God's plan came to fruition by it.
I believe there is a vital Christmas message here for us. God's plans often require us doing our day-to-day task, following the rules, doing what we are supposed to do. (This infers that 'the rules' are not superseded by God's Word.) Mary and Joseph were righteous before the Lord, and obedient to the law of man as well, this brought them, with great personal hardship, to Bethlehem, where God's Word would be fulfilled.
What might happen if we would be obedient and righteous before God in the midst of our everyday tasks?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. Have you ever seen God's work in the middle of an ordinary day or event?
2. How difficult must this trip have been for a very pregnant young girl?
3. To what work has God appointed you?
INTERESTING THOUGHT:
Live as though Christ died yesterday,
rose from the grave today,
and is coming back tomorrow.
Theodore Epp
Monday, December 22, 2008
ListenDaily - 22 December 2008; None other, no other
But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end." Luke 1:30-33
All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel", which means, "God with us." Matthew 1:22-23
(find these or any other passages at www.Biblegateway.org)
Yesterday's Wilmington News Journal ran a story about the great respect the Islamic faith has for Mary and Jesus. It also told of the great similarities between the two faiths, and how there are just a few differences, which came across in the article as insignificant. They even quoted some Christian clergy who were 'amazed' at this revelation.
Friends, I wish for peace in the world among all people of all faiths. But being close is not being right. Christians must believe and share the story of the virgin born Son of God, holy, wholly God and wholly Man, crucified, resurrected, and ascended, and the only Way, Truth, and Life.
He was, and is, Immanuell, God with us.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. Is it important to you that others believe in Jesus this way?
2. How do you feel about Jesus' commandment that we go and tell His story?
3. Does your church spread this message?
INTERESTING THOUGHT:
If your heart takes more pleasure in reading novels,
or watching TV, or going to the movies, or talking to friends,
rather than just sitting alone with God and embracing Him,
sharing His cares and His burdens, weeping and rejoicing with Him,
then how are you going to handle forever and ever in His presence?
You'd be bored to tears in heaven, if you're not ecstatic about God now!
Keith Green
All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel", which means, "God with us." Matthew 1:22-23
(find these or any other passages at www.Biblegateway.org)
Yesterday's Wilmington News Journal ran a story about the great respect the Islamic faith has for Mary and Jesus. It also told of the great similarities between the two faiths, and how there are just a few differences, which came across in the article as insignificant. They even quoted some Christian clergy who were 'amazed' at this revelation.
Friends, I wish for peace in the world among all people of all faiths. But being close is not being right. Christians must believe and share the story of the virgin born Son of God, holy, wholly God and wholly Man, crucified, resurrected, and ascended, and the only Way, Truth, and Life.
He was, and is, Immanuell, God with us.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. Is it important to you that others believe in Jesus this way?
2. How do you feel about Jesus' commandment that we go and tell His story?
3. Does your church spread this message?
INTERESTING THOUGHT:
If your heart takes more pleasure in reading novels,
or watching TV, or going to the movies, or talking to friends,
rather than just sitting alone with God and embracing Him,
sharing His cares and His burdens, weeping and rejoicing with Him,
then how are you going to handle forever and ever in His presence?
You'd be bored to tears in heaven, if you're not ecstatic about God now!
Keith Green
Friday, December 19, 2008
ListenDaily - 18 December 2008; Shhh...listen...
But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.".....Zechariah asked the angel, "How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years." The angel answered, "I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news." .....In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.".....At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, where she entered Zechariah's home and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she exclaimed: "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy .....Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord's Christ. Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God,.....After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him." (find these or any other passages at www.Biblegateway.org)
A common thread in these passages is communication from God. Angels appearing in the temple to Zechariah, in Nazareth to Mary, in a dream to Joseph, and though not listed here, on a hillside the the shepherds. Then there is this wondrous sign in nature to the Wise Men. Also a filling, a revelation, and a movement of the Holy Spirit.
We might be tempted to think that only these special "Bible people" would get such direct information from God.
But this is not the case. God speaks to you constantly, and desires that you would hear. The key is learning to listen. God gave you His written Word. He sent His Holy Spirit that lives inside you. Take some time in this celebratory season to listen to the One you celebrate.
Won't you try this today? Take ten minutes, get a Bible, find a quiet spot, with no TV, radio, or people.
Open your Bible to Luke 1.
Ask God to give you focus and clarity, to remove any distractions, and to speak to you through His Word.
Read Luke 1 and 2.
Think about what it says God did for you.
Thank God for His presence with you, whether you feel it or not.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. Have you ever heard from God? Is there a reason He would not communicate with you?
2. Does His presence depend upon you feeling it?
3. Might learning to hear Him be a great Christmas gift for you?
INTERESTING THOUGHT:
If your heart takes more pleasure in reading novels,
or watching TV, or going to the movies, or talking to friends,
rather than just sitting alone with God and embracing Him,
sharing His cares and His burdens, weeping and rejoicing with Him,
then how are you going to handle forever and ever in His presence?
You'd be bored to tears in heaven, if you're not ecstatic about God now!
Keith Green
A common thread in these passages is communication from God. Angels appearing in the temple to Zechariah, in Nazareth to Mary, in a dream to Joseph, and though not listed here, on a hillside the the shepherds. Then there is this wondrous sign in nature to the Wise Men. Also a filling, a revelation, and a movement of the Holy Spirit.
We might be tempted to think that only these special "Bible people" would get such direct information from God.
But this is not the case. God speaks to you constantly, and desires that you would hear. The key is learning to listen. God gave you His written Word. He sent His Holy Spirit that lives inside you. Take some time in this celebratory season to listen to the One you celebrate.
Won't you try this today? Take ten minutes, get a Bible, find a quiet spot, with no TV, radio, or people.
Open your Bible to Luke 1.
Ask God to give you focus and clarity, to remove any distractions, and to speak to you through His Word.
Read Luke 1 and 2.
Think about what it says God did for you.
Thank God for His presence with you, whether you feel it or not.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. Have you ever heard from God? Is there a reason He would not communicate with you?
2. Does His presence depend upon you feeling it?
3. Might learning to hear Him be a great Christmas gift for you?
INTERESTING THOUGHT:
If your heart takes more pleasure in reading novels,
or watching TV, or going to the movies, or talking to friends,
rather than just sitting alone with God and embracing Him,
sharing His cares and His burdens, weeping and rejoicing with Him,
then how are you going to handle forever and ever in His presence?
You'd be bored to tears in heaven, if you're not ecstatic about God now!
Keith Green
Thursday, December 18, 2008
ListenDaily - 18 December 2008; Pre-Christmas Joy
When it was time for Elizabeth to have her baby, she gave birth to a son. Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they shared her joy. Luke 1: 579 (find this or any other passage at www.Biblegateway.org)
Do you remember the story? Zechariah, on duty in the temple, meets the angel Gabriel and discovers he and his wife Elizabeth will have a son, and they are to name him John. We know him as John the Baptist. Elizabeth is Mary's cousin, and Mary comes to be with her, now carrying the unborn Jesus, and stays with her, probably until John's birth. (The Scriptures do not say this, but Mary goes when Elizabeth is six months pregnant and stays with her three months. It seems likely that she would have assisted her cousin in the last months of her pregnancy, and with the delivery.
And so, Elizabeth, an old woman with no other children, gives birth to John, and her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they shared her joy.
Three months before the arrival of the Messiah, there is joy.
One week from today, we will celebrate His arrival. But my prayer for you is that you will find joy in this day. As John the Baptist heralded his Cousin, the coming King, may your presence in the world reflect your relationship with Jesus. No matter how much shopping, baking, card writing, or whatever that you have to do, or that you will not get done...please...please...take a moment and feel the joy, then share the joy of Christmas with someone.
And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for Him, to give his people the knowledge of salvation...
Luke 1:76-77
These were Zechariah's words to his son, and, whether you are ever called 'prophet' or not, you, my child, can go on before the Lord to prepare the way for Him...to give His people the knowledge of salvation...and feel His joy...today.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. Are you looking for joy in the preparations for Christmas?
2. Might you have to give something up in order to receive that joy?
3. What difference might that make to those around you?
INTERESTING THOUGHTS ON JOY:
"Wise leaders should have known that the human heart cannot exist in a vacuum.
If Christians are forbidden to enjoy the wine of the Spirit they will turn to the wine of the flesh.
Christ died for our hearts and the Holy Spirit wants to come and satisfy them."
A.W.Tozer
"Rejoice, that the immortal God is born,
so that mortal man may live in eternity."
John Huss
"Spirit filled souls are ablaze for God.
They love with a love that glows.
They serve with a faith that kindles.
They serve with a devotion that consumes.
They hate sin with fierceness that burns.
They rejoice with a joy that radiates.
Love is perfected in the fire of God."
Samuel Chadwick
"The chief end of man is to
glorify God by enjoying him forever."
John Piper
"God created things which had free will.
That means creatures which can go either wrong or right.
Some people think they can imagine a creature which
was free but had no possibility of going wrong;
I cannot. If a thing is free to be good it is also free to be bad.
And free will is what has made evil possible.
Why, then, did God give them free will?
Because free will, though it makes evil possible,
is also the only thing that makes possible
any love or goodness or joy worth having."
C.S. Lewis
. "The Scotch catechism says that man's chief end is
'to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.'
But we shall then know that these are the same thing.
Fully to enjoy is to glorify. In commanding us to glorify Him, God is inviting us to enjoy Him."
C.S. Lewis
"We are to be re-made. All the rabbit in us is to disappear---the worried, conscientious,
ethical rabbit as well as the cowardly and sensual rabbit.
We shall bleed and squeal as the handfuls of fur come out;
and then, surprisingly, we shall find underneath it all a thing we have never yet imagined:
a real Man, an ageless god, a son of God, strong, radiant, wise, beautiful, and drenched in joy."
C.S. Lewis
"The joy of the Lord will arm us against the assaults of our spiritual enemies and
put our mouths out of taste for those pleasures with which the tempter baits his hooks."
Matthew Henry
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Do you remember the story? Zechariah, on duty in the temple, meets the angel Gabriel and discovers he and his wife Elizabeth will have a son, and they are to name him John. We know him as John the Baptist. Elizabeth is Mary's cousin, and Mary comes to be with her, now carrying the unborn Jesus, and stays with her, probably until John's birth. (The Scriptures do not say this, but Mary goes when Elizabeth is six months pregnant and stays with her three months. It seems likely that she would have assisted her cousin in the last months of her pregnancy, and with the delivery.
And so, Elizabeth, an old woman with no other children, gives birth to John, and her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they shared her joy.
Three months before the arrival of the Messiah, there is joy.
One week from today, we will celebrate His arrival. But my prayer for you is that you will find joy in this day. As John the Baptist heralded his Cousin, the coming King, may your presence in the world reflect your relationship with Jesus. No matter how much shopping, baking, card writing, or whatever that you have to do, or that you will not get done...please...please...take a moment and feel the joy, then share the joy of Christmas with someone.
And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for Him, to give his people the knowledge of salvation...
Luke 1:76-77
These were Zechariah's words to his son, and, whether you are ever called 'prophet' or not, you, my child, can go on before the Lord to prepare the way for Him...to give His people the knowledge of salvation...and feel His joy...today.
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Questions:
1. Are you looking for joy in the preparations for Christmas?
2. Might you have to give something up in order to receive that joy?
3. What difference might that make to those around you?
INTERESTING THOUGHTS ON JOY:
"Wise leaders should have known that the human heart cannot exist in a vacuum.
If Christians are forbidden to enjoy the wine of the Spirit they will turn to the wine of the flesh.
Christ died for our hearts and the Holy Spirit wants to come and satisfy them."
A.W.Tozer
"Rejoice, that the immortal God is born,
so that mortal man may live in eternity."
John Huss
"Spirit filled souls are ablaze for God.
They love with a love that glows.
They serve with a faith that kindles.
They serve with a devotion that consumes.
They hate sin with fierceness that burns.
They rejoice with a joy that radiates.
Love is perfected in the fire of God."
Samuel Chadwick
"The chief end of man is to
glorify God by enjoying him forever."
John Piper
"God created things which had free will.
That means creatures which can go either wrong or right.
Some people think they can imagine a creature which
was free but had no possibility of going wrong;
I cannot. If a thing is free to be good it is also free to be bad.
And free will is what has made evil possible.
Why, then, did God give them free will?
Because free will, though it makes evil possible,
is also the only thing that makes possible
any love or goodness or joy worth having."
C.S. Lewis
. "The Scotch catechism says that man's chief end is
'to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.'
But we shall then know that these are the same thing.
Fully to enjoy is to glorify. In commanding us to glorify Him, God is inviting us to enjoy Him."
C.S. Lewis
"We are to be re-made. All the rabbit in us is to disappear---the worried, conscientious,
ethical rabbit as well as the cowardly and sensual rabbit.
We shall bleed and squeal as the handfuls of fur come out;
and then, surprisingly, we shall find underneath it all a thing we have never yet imagined:
a real Man, an ageless god, a son of God, strong, radiant, wise, beautiful, and drenched in joy."
C.S. Lewis
"The joy of the Lord will arm us against the assaults of our spiritual enemies and
put our mouths out of taste for those pleasures with which the tempter baits his hooks."
Matthew Henry
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