Christ from birth

Matthew 2:1-23, Luke 2:41-52, Mark 1:1-8, Matthew 3:1-12, Luke 3:1-20, John 1:1-18

The Magi gave gifts of:

a) gold because Jesus is the King of Kings.
b) frankincense because Jesus is the Great High Priest.
c) myrrh because Jesus is the Sacrificial Lamb, slain for the sins of the world.

Compare Matthew 2:13 and 20:

13When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. "Get up," he said, "take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him."  14So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt,
20and said, "Get up, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who were trying to take the child's life are dead."  21So he got up, took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel.

Joseph was not the father of Jesus, yet he still obeyed God's will in taking care of Jesus.

At first glance, it might seem that the following passage supports salvation by works. 

Matthew 3:7But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 8Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. 9And do not think you can say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. 10The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.

However, when coupled with Luke 6:44,

Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers.

it is clear that the type of fruit produced is simply an indicator of the type of tree.  That is, we are judged on our identity (constitution), not works.  This is why we need Christ to make us a new creation, changing this heart of stone into a tender heart that seeks Him and allows the Holy Spirit to produce the Fruit of the Spirit in our lives.

Prayer
Heavenly Father, I want to offer gold, frankincense, and myrrh to Christ every day with my life.  Lord, may the practical details of my life be affected by the reality of Christ's birth.  I pray that I will be an honorable and obedient man like Joseph - realizing that each member of my family is really yours and not mine.  I know that you will finish the work of refining me into Christ, but I pray that I will cooperate with you today!  May I not miss another opportunity to grow into Christ and enjoy the fellowship of unity and love with you, my Heavenly Father.  I pray this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Christmas in September

Matthew 1:18-25, Luke 2:1-20, Matthew 1:1-17, Luke 3:23-38, Luke 2:21-40

Yesterday was a fantastic day for several reasons:

First, I started the New Testament yesterday!  After nine months in the Old Testament, I am excited to read about the fulfillment of all of the Messianic prophecies - the realization of all of the Old Testament symbols. 

Second, in addition to our regular Sunday morning Bible study and corporate worship, we went out to a local public park and celebrated in the baptism of one of our Bible Life Group members.  Following the baptism, we celebrated Communion together.  It was a beautiful day at the park - perfect for celebrating the work of Christ!

Third, we went to see the movie Fireproof.  It was really good!  The film highlights several very important principles in marriage and other relationships.

This morning I read about the birth of Christ, His genealogies, and His presentation at the Temple.  There are several truths that I was reminded of, but also a few things that popped out.  First, the angel told Mary and Joseph independently that Christ's name would be "Jesus."  The angel told Mary before Jesus was conceived, and he told Joseph after Mary was pregnant.  The other thing I thought was so fascinating was that the angels and infant prophecies emphasized a global perspective of Christ's salvation:

Luke 2:10 But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. ...
 28Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:
 29"Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,
      you now dismiss your servant in peace.
 30For my eyes have seen your salvation,
    31which you have prepared in the sight of all people,
 32a light for revelation to the Gentiles
      and for glory to your people Israel."

Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank you for the gift of Jesus Christ.  He was born of the line of King David - the true Messiah.  He was also born of the line of Adam - truly man and truly God.  The breadth of His Salvation is limitless, because you loved the world so much that you sent Christ to redeem us from our sins so that WHOSOEVER believes into Christ may experience redemption and life!  Father, may my food be the same as that of Christ Jesus - to do the will of the Father.  May you use me to share the light of the Gospel among the nations!  I pray this in the name of Jesus Christ, who was born of a virgin and laid in a manger wrapped in graves clothes.  Amen.

zeal for holiness

Nehemiah 13; Joel 1-2

Nehemiah's heart is for purity; he wants the people to obey the laws not for the sake of religion, but out of a heart of devotion to God.  So, when he discovered that merchants were selling goods on the Sabbath, he kicked them out!  And then when he saw them camping outside the city gates on the Sabbath, he told them they better get lost or he was going to beat them up! (v. 19-21)  What a hoss!  Later, he beat the snot (and hair) out of some knuckleheads that had married foreign women, and he gave them a lesson on King Solomon while he was at it! (v. 23-27)

I pray this promise in Joel for myself, my wife, my Bible Life Group, my congregation, and all of the congregations of God's One Holy Church:

2:28 "And afterward,
       I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
       Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
       your old men will dream dreams,
       your young men will see visions.

 29 Even on my servants, both men and women,
       I will pour out my Spirit in those days.

Prayer
Heavenly Father, please pour your Holy Spirit on me and my wife, and use us to spread your Spirit - to express yourself among the nations!  Please give us dreams, visions, and prophesies - according to your will.  Lord, please give me a heart for purity and holiness like Nehemiah.  I pray that you will deliver me from all temptations, and help me lead those in my spiritual influence to holy living (perhaps in a more gentle way than Nehemiah).  I pray this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

random humility

1 Chronicles 9:1-34; Nehemiah 12:1-47

Last night I gave a couple of guys a ride "home" from church.  One of the guys shared with me how God has taken care of him through a lot of trouble and heartache: alcoholism, deliverance, divorce, homelessness - yet growth in Christ as a result.  His testimony humbles me and challenges me to trust God more.

Love Dare - the challenge today is to make special effort to greet my wife with love and enthusiasm.  I need to be better at being kind and sweet to my wife.  I think I usually act pretty melancholy at home, so I need to allow God to fill me with life and energy and express that in an encouraging way to my wife.

Prayer
Heavenly Father, please help me be more humble.  Help me stay in your presence; help me worship you throughout my day today.  Please hold on to me because I can't trust myself to hold on to you.  Lord, please fill me with your agape love and flow your love into my wife through me.  Please give me energy and awareness to be an encouragement to my wife.  I pray this in the name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

recovery

Nehemiah 9:38-11:36

Based on Biblical typology, symbology, and similarity, I think the recovery of Jerusalem, the Temple, and sincere Judaism during Nehemiah's time represents a recovery or revival preceding Christ's return.  I think we are in that recovery period.

Love Dare (I missed reading on Monday, and I didn't read yesterday until late last night, so it's all backlogged in today's blog):

Love is not irritable.  To be perfectly honest, I have a tendency of being hypersensitive about stuff.  The truth is, people (including my wife) are not out to get me, stuff just happens, so I need to grow some thick skin.  It's similar to patience.  My wife is really good about not being irritable.  I need to work on this.

Love believes the best.  I'm definitely a hypocrite on this one.  When my wife and I first met (in junior high), I was a strong pessimist.  Over the last decade, she has helped me transition to an optimist/realist (I'm still growing).  Unfortunately, I still get very critical and pessimistic during arguments, also during which I expect her to "always believe the best" about me.  The Love Dare challenge was to make two lists: one of all the things you love about your spouse, and the other things that irritate you.  During my Awakening three years ago, I resolved to remember the latter no more.  Hence, I complete only the first part of the challenge:

1. She is a sincere Believer in the Lord Jesus Christ.  She's not a faker.  She's honest and transparent.  She doesn't pretend to have it all figured out, and she's open about stuff that she wrestles with.  She is the opposite of hypocrisy.
2. She is an amazing wife.  She is so dedicated, so loving and kind, so sweet.  I think that's what I love most about her - her sweetness.
   
3. She loves people.  She loves her family.  She loves her friends.  She loves strangers.  It's amazing how much she loves people.  She especially loves children.  Her eyes light up when she gets to play with children.
   
4. She is a wonderful teacher.  She is dedicated to improving.  She spends a lot of energy to make sure that she does a good job.  It's not just her job, it is her vocation.  She knows that God gave her the ability and opportunity to teach, so she glorifies Him in her work.
   
5. She is strong: spiritually, intellectually, emotionally, physically.  She is an extremely strong person - and so balanced.
   
6. She is gorgeous!  I think it's entirely appropriate to appreciate the fact that God hooked me up with an incredibly beautiful wife.
7. (this list continues on a long way, but for the sake of brevity, I'll truncate here)
   

Love is not envious.  I'm not saying I don't ever get envious of my wife, I just don't think this is a big issue for me, but the point is duly noted.

Prayer
Heavenly Father, please use me to bring revival to the Church and your Kingdom.  Make me a man of unquenchable worship, humble in who I am and what I have done, and wholly confident in Who You Are and what Christ has Finished.  Thank you so much for a wonderful wife; please help me appreciate her and all the other blessings you have given me.  May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Yahweh, my rock and my redeemer.  I pray this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

the matchless benevolence of Yahweh

Psalm 146, 147, Nehemiah 7:73-9:37

Last week my wife and I intended to get up half an hour earlier to be able to go to the exercise room at our apartment complex and read/listen to the Bible while we exercise.  Well, a hundred things got in the way, so we didn't end up making it.  But this morning, we finally made it.  Not only do I need and enjoy it for my own personal health, but it is so satisfying to spend quality time with my wife doing something that I know she enjoys and desires to do as well.  Spiritual exercise, quality time, and physical exercise all at once - who would have thought?

146:7 He upholds the cause of the oppressed
       and gives food to the hungry.
       The LORD sets prisoners free,

 8 the LORD gives sight to the blind,
       the LORD lifts up those who are bowed down,
       the LORD loves the righteous.

 9 The LORD watches over the alien
       and sustains the fatherless and the widow,
       but he frustrates the ways of the wicked.

And if that doesn't convince you that His love is matchless, then check this out:

Nehemiah 9:5 And the Levites—Jeshua, Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah and Pethahiah—said: "Stand up and praise the LORD your God, who is from everlasting to everlasting. Blessed be your glorious name, and may it be exalted above all blessing and praise. 6 You alone are the LORD. You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, and all their starry host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to everything, and the multitudes of heaven worship you.  7 "You are the LORD God, who chose Abram and brought him out of Ur of the Chaldeans and named him Abraham. 8 You found his heart faithful to you, and you made a covenant with him to give to his descendants the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Jebusites and Girgashites. You have kept your promise because you are righteous. ...

OK, so how does this impact me, practically?  First, I need to make sure that I am praising God for Who He Is - with every ounce of my being in every moment of my life.  This is something that God has been working in me - to be conscious of His presence and His will in every moment of my day.  I'm not there yet, but I pray that I will be like the Psalmist who loves to meditate on His glorious identity all day long - morning, noon, and evening.  Second, I need to thank Him for what He has done.  He has blessed me with an incredible wife, family, Church congregation, education, profession in addition to the basic needs that I often take for granted (shelter, clothes, food, air).  I pray that I will reach the point where I am consciously aware of the fact that He is my very breath; to do His will is my food.

Prayer
Heavenly Father, I praise you for who you are.  You are the Creator of the universe; you are in control of every little detail.  Nothing is outside of your power, and you have created all things for your glory and your good pleasure.  You are faithful to all of your promises, and your love has no end.  You love us in spite of our rebellious hearts and disobedient lives.  Lord, please help me be aware of Who You Are and how you are working in my life.  Help me be sensitive to the Holy Spirit today.  Help me live like Christ - aware of you and obedient to your plan, for your glory alone.  Thank you for the beautiful sunrise this morning.  I pray this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

blessed pursuit

Psalm 121, 122, 123, 128, 130, 134, 135, 136

Psalms 121 and 128 speak to the wonderful experience we find in our pursuit of God - because Yahweh is good, and His love endures forever.

121:1 I lift up my eyes to the hills—
       where does my help come from?
 2 My help comes from the LORD,
       the Maker of heaven and earth.
 3 He will not let your foot slip—
       he who watches over you will not slumber;
 4 indeed, he who watches over Israel
       will neither slumber nor sleep.
 5 The LORD watches over you—
       the LORD is your shade at your right hand;
 6 the sun will not harm you by day,
       nor the moon by night.
 7 The LORD will keep you from all harm—
       he will watch over your life;
 8 the LORD will watch over your coming and going
       both now and forevermore.

128:1 Blessed are all who fear the LORD,
       who walk in his ways.
 2 You will eat the fruit of your labor;
       blessings and prosperity will be yours.
 3 Your wife will be like a fruitful vine
       within your house;
       your sons will be like olive shoots
       around your table.
 4 Thus is the man blessed
       who fears the LORD.

With a million things going on at home, church, school, work ... I must stay focused on running the race that He has called me to.  I must stay focused on pursuing, loving, and honoring Him every moment.  I wrestle with whether or not I am over-committed or simply under-focused.  Christ calls me to come and die so that I may truly live.

Prayer
Heavenly Father, I pray that my life will be an offering poured out in loving devotion to you.  I pray that you will be always on my lips, that my mind will be consumed by knowing and loving you, and that my body will be spent in pure devotion to you.  I know that you will bless those who pursue you, but it is not your blessing that I seek.  I pray that you will reveal yourself to me!  Show me your face!  I pray this in the name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.