One of the questions I posted on Facebook this week was, “What makes Christianity different from other religions? Bottom line, it is the grace of God. God comes to us we don’t have to make the effort to go to God. There we do not have to seek the approval of God. Our acts as noble as they might be are not the formula for a relationship with God. God loves us and that is grace.

The two passages for study today (Revelation 2:1-5, I John 3:1-3) reflect on the love that God has for us and the love we need to show God in return.

In Revelation, the Lord commends the Ephesians for their hard work, endurance, intolerance of evil, discernment, and quiet suffering. These are all great attributes. It is a description of a fine and upstanding church. They were an example for all churches to follow.

However, they are missing an important characteristic. One that is so crucial, that the Lord warns them, that he will remove their lampstand (their church) if they don’t get it right. The missing ingredient is love for God and for each other.

In the second passage (I John 3:1-3), we are reminded of the great love of the Father. He calls us “children” and what good the Father has in store for his children we can’t even imagine.

As we prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus, may we once again be reminded of God’s great love and grace toward us. And, may we also be reminded not forget our first love for God and for each other.

The three readings today are in need of some context, especially the Matthew and Isaiah passage.

Isaiah (read through chapter 7) challenges King Ahaz to chose a sign to prove that God is with them and that they have nothing to fear from the enemy. He refuses. If Ahaz  chooses a sign and it did come about then the king and the people would have to obediently follow the Lord and put away their false worship. He and the people are not willing to do that so he declines the opportunity to be comforted. In other words he believes that “ignorance is bliss.”

Not to be outsmarted by a snotty nosed king, God gives him a sign anyway.

NOW the term, “virgin” used in this context (7:14) does not mean that the baby would be born as a result of a virgin birth. The word simply refers to a young maiden.

The Isaiah passage has a fulfillment in the time that it is spoken as an immediate fulfillment.

FAST FORWARD to Jesus birth. It is obvious that Matthew believes that Jesus was born to a virgin. (Matthew 1:18-19). His quotation from Isaiah 7:14 is used as an ultimate fulfillment of that prophecy, that one has come to  provide ultimate comfort. Again the challenge is trumpeted to obediently follow the Lord and put away our false worship.

Jesus was completely his father’s son “full of grace and truth”

What signs has the Lord given to you that Jesus is the one who has come to comfort you?

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men,” reads Luke 2:14 from the KJV of scripture. This is the translation that i grew up with and from which I still recite from memory.  Now that i am “grown up” (although there is still some debate about that), I have found other translations that are easier to comprehend. They also use better biblical manuscripts.

Nonetheless, I still associate the coming of Jesus with the coming of peace in this world. After reading the biblical passages (Isaiah 9:6-7, Revelation 19:1-16, 1 Timothy 6:11-16) for today’s advent devotion I think I need a reset.

Everything in these passages speak of war, not peace.

• Isaiah acknowledges the everlasting peace of God’s kingdom but only at with presence of “Heaven’s armies” and the “passionate commitment of the Lord!”
  
• Revelation 16 speaks of judgement and punishment. the rider (Jesus) exercises “fair judgement” and wages a “righteous war.”  The armies of heaven join him. The nations are struck down and ruled with an iron rod as they face the fierce wrath of God.
• In Paul’s final instructions to Timothy he commands him to “Fight the good fight of faith.”

I challenge the idea that the advent of Jesus brings peace. Jesus came to right the wrongs of a fallen world. Jesus came to bring salvation. There can be no doubt but that Jesus came to fight! The very term salvation implies trouble. If all were at peace why would we need salvation or a savior?

In fact, in the midst of the first advent there was little peace in the hearts and  minds of the people. The world was at peace (PAX ROMANA)  only under the heavy hand of Rome.

The second advent of Jesus as described in Revelation 19 comes in the midst of a great war.

Our hope and assurance is that following his second advent, the promise of “Peace on earth” will be realized as the elements of evil are ultimately destroyed for ever and ever.

AMEN!

This morning (December 8th) I stated in my sermon that there is only one way to God and that is through Jesus Christ. Because of Jesus death on the cross and his resurrection from the dead we have been given the gift of eternal life. All we must do is accept the gift for our self. The sermon video will be  uploaded to youtube. Click here to listen in .

NOW, after reading today’s advent  text from Matthew 25:31-46 those that are received by God are those who have fed,gave drink, clothed, invited and visited “the least of these.”. Is this a work’s salvation ? Does it stand in contrast to a faith salvation? Are they two different ways to God?

What do you think?

Today’s Advent reading is from Exodus 25. the chapter begins with a very interesting command from the Lord:  “Tell the people of Israel to bring me their sacred offerings.”.  While noteworthy that is not the interesting part of this command. The Lord further states, “Accept the contributions from all whose hearts are moved to offer them.”.

The Israelites were readying the building of the Tabernacle. the financing was to be done by the people freely giving their offerings. it wasn’t a suggestion but a command, not from Moses, but from the Lord.

“Those who have ears to hear, let them hear.”

Although commanded the giving was to be done from the heart, freely. Only the offerings of  those who were  cheerfully giving were to be accepted.

Further, the rest of the chapter describes the exact trimmings, details, and quality of the Tabernacle. Perhaps an application to consider when constructing, furnishing, and maintaining a building is that we should be sensitive to the same type of direction from the Lord.. It is never appropriate to say, “That’s good enough” Unless of course, it really is.

“Those who have ears to hear, let them hear.”

As you re-read the chapter notice the symbolism of the decor and how they point to the Lord. The Lord’s building should contain symbols that remind us of the Lord and the Lord’s mercy and grace.

In other words, when it comes to the building in which God is worshiped

In the town where I live, Carterville, we have a four way stop. At certain times nonprofit groups stand at the four way stop with a basket and their hope is that passer bys will respond by gathering up the loose change floating around in the car and throw it in the basket.

This often serves as a great fundraiser. I participated in one several years ago with a local fire department that was collecting funds for Muscular Dystrophy. We raised a lot of money and presented a check to MDA. In fact I got to present the check to KFVS TV personality, Mary-Ann Maloney, during their  annual Labor Day telethon, but I digress.

We often think of giving in those terms. “Let’s see, what do I have that I can spare?” We even to go to great lengths to find the spare change, digging through the seats, looking under the plethora of papers and clothes in the car.

And I have been a constant example of how you can help those in need by working hard. You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”  

Acts 20:35, gives a whole new perspective on giving to those in need.  It is not with the spare change and left overs of our abundance. Instead, Paul’s example and command  was to work hard to have not only opportunity to give but the resources to give as well.  Further, he goes on to quote the words of Jesus, that we are more blessed when we give than when we receive.

Perhaps  today’s blessing is found in exchanging our “taking, getting, saving”  mindset for one of “working hard so I can give it away to those in need” .

10 This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.

1 John 4:10 provides further insight. Giving with sacrifice is a measurement of real love – for others and for God.

How hard are you working to give to those in need?

There are 3 readings in today’s devotion of “Rediscovering the Christmas Season”;  Matthew 4:12-17; Isaiah 9:1-3, and Matthew 5:14-16.

The focus is on light. I find that most appropriate this time of year. It was dark when I made my way to work this morning and it will be dark when I head home.

What I find most interesting in the use of light as a metaphor in these passages (I’m thinking metaphor, perhaps it is another literary device),  is that Jesus is the light that came to shine in this world of darkness AND we (Jesus followers) are light as well. because the light (Jesus), lives within us. The light we shine is not our light but the light of Jesus.

The contrast of light and darkness symbolize good and evil. Jesus has come to scatter the darkness. Jesus (the good) has come to destroy evil.

In a real sense, we do that as well with the reflected light of Jesus. When folks see our light they are not to see us, but Jesus through us. he is glorified and not us.

One more observation. The light is the gospel, Matthew 4:17 From then on Jesus began to preach, “Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.”. that is what scatters the darkness and destroys the evil. 

Please share your observations as well.

Today’s reading (Mark 9:33-37 NLT)  from “Rediscovering the Christmas Season” moves away from Jesus’ birth account to an encounter between Jesus and his disciples. The “discussion” of the disciples mimics one of the great discussions of humanity; “Who is the greatest”. Well we may not ask the question or answer it in as many words but often that is our life’s focus, to be the greatest.

We reward the greatest in their fields with power, influence, finances, and a myriad of other trinkets. Baseball has entered the “hot stove” season. All the pundits are talking trades, terms, and big time financial contracts for the first tier of players. Attention to the 2nd and 3rd tier players is minimal.

In the race to the top it is easy to be blind to the needs of those around us. It’s not because we are evil, mean, or arrogant. We just don’t have the time. We are busy building and climbing and moving and … .

But Jesus gives us a different perspective that if we would take the time to embrace, or maybe the better term is “practice”, would lead to not only an eternal life but the best kind of earthly life here and now. It is the life of surrender, service and servant-hood.

In today’s reading, Luke 2:1-20 the focus is on the shepherds. I read this account with the children at church on Christmas Eve. On Christmas morning as we are gathered around the Christmas tree someone reads it before we open presents. In the past few years Courtney has been the one to read this account of Jesus’ birth.

Of course, all our thoughts are lasered on the birth of Jesus, as it should be . However today’s devotion moves our thoughts to the plight of the shepherds. Shepherds, considered spiritual and religious outcasts, were at the heart of the Angel’s message. The birth of Jesus was REALLY “good news of great joy for all people.”

Notice with me how God revealed the “good news”, and the action of the Shepherds.

1. God interrupted the normal routine of life of the shepherds.
2. The shepherds chose to listen. I wonder if anyone else could have heard the choir of angels, if they were watching and  listening that night? Did they, and simply not respond? Or, was it only for the God-intended recipients?
3. The proclamation and hearing of the “good news” fulfilled its intended purpose ONLY after the shepherds stopped what they were doing, went out of their way, experienced it for themselves, and then returned to their routine sharing with joy the “good news” they heard.

God interrupts our life with a personal message, a revelation,  meant specifically for us.  We must be sensitive and choose to listen. We must stop take it in, experience the revelation, and respond with joyful sharing of that revelation.

Let us pray for sensitivity to hear God’s message.

What do you think?

As I read the passage today from Matthew 1, (actually I did not read it I clicked on the, “listen” tab in the KJV and heard Alexander Scourby’s narration) my thoughts landed on the fact that even though Israel was taken into captivity God’s plan continued.

Even though we find ourselves in places of captivity, or we have been taken away from places and “things” familiar God’s plans and purposes are not thwarted. While I hesitate to propose that God orchestrates  situations, I do believe God works through our situations to bring abut his good plan, not only for us, but also for his creation.

My second reflection on this morning’s reading  is the challenge to do something ridiculous that you know God wants you to do. HMMMM …

I spend a lot of my time and focus a lot of my effort on NOT doing things ridiculous.It seems as if I was born to do the ridiculous, so this is a greater challenge than anyone might expect, at least for me. I may lose control and live in the ridiculous

Doing the ridiculous comes natural. Doing the ridiculous God wants me to do, not so much. However, I will make the attempt and post my results..

Please post the ridiculous that God wants you to do in the comments section (if you are not too embarrassed). It will be good therapy for us all.