VerseD: Psalm 126:5
Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy!
Psalm 126:5, ESV
This life is hard and painful, but we can celebrate our God coming to us to join in our suffering and redeem us from our sin.
a simple man of God
Hopefully making theology simpler to understand! (2 Corinthians 1:12)
Archive for December, 2022
Advent 2022 – Day 18: Matthew 2:12-13
And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way. Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.”
Matthew 2:12-13, ESV
At Advent, we look back at why Jesus had to come, that He came, and then that He will come again.
Our sins have stacked up to heaven, deeper and more vile than we could know.
But God was not willing to leave us mired in our sin.
God came to us, born as an infant, weak, physically powerless, yet without sin.
But we know He did not stay weak and powerless.
Many people in this world are hostile to Christ, afraid of His power or not wanting to follow His commands, thinking they know better. This hostility is often directed at Christians
But we also know God watches out for His people.
Herod wanted to destroy Christ, and possibly he would have hurt the wise men and Mary and Joseph in the process. God sent an angel to warn them to flee.
We have been shown the truth of who Christ is through His Word, and this same Word warns us of those who put up the pretense of being followers but secretly seek to or inadvertently damage and destroy the truth of Christ.
And this can include questioning the need for Christ coming or claiming God is the bad guy.
Yet, God came to us, joining in our suffering to help us through this life, even with those who seek our harm.
We may face persecution and hatred, but we also know Jesus faced it first and it is all ultimately against Him. And He helps us in the midst of the persecution. (John 15:18-26)
May we seek the Lord who knows our pain and fear.
VerseD: Isaiah 55:11
so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.
Isaiah 55:11, ESV
God sent His Truth into the world. The gospel will be preached to the whole world, and all will bow before Christ.
Choose Life now. Choose love and God’s Way.
Advent 2022 – Day 17: Matthew 2:7-8
Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.”
Matthew 2:7-8, ESV
At Advent, we look back at why Jesus had to come, that He came, and then that He will come again.
Our sins have stacked up to heaven, deeper and more vile than we could know.
But God was not willing to leave us mired in our sin.
God came to us, born as an infant, weak, physically powerless, yet without sin.
And the first sign given was a star.
Most people miss that our Lord has come to be with us as one of us, and they miss obvious signs, often relying on the truth of the biblical worldview to find truth. But that does not mean they follow the facts to the proper response.
We often still ignore Jesus for our own desires.
Herod is the epitome of pursuing desires over the clear leading of the Lord, showing that we can be willing to lie to continue looking good to others.
We pretend to worship when we hate what the truth is.
Yet, God came to us, showing us that even in our ignorant hatred He comes loving us.
We may make excuses or lie or look in the wrong places, but we should seek the Lord and be willing to give up our desires.
May we seek the Lord who loves us even in our sin.
VerseD: Psalm 47:1
Clap your hands, all peoples! Shout to God with loud songs of joy!
Psalm 47:1, ESV
We must acknowledge that God is good, and He has saved us from our sins.
That is worth celebrating!
Advent 2022 – Day 16: Matthew 2:3-5
When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet“
Matthew 2:3-5, ESV
At Advent, we look back at why Jesus had to come, that He came, and then that He will come again.
Our sins have stacked up to heaven, deeper and more vile than we could know.
But God was not willing to leave us mired in our sin.
God came to us, born as an infant, weak, physically powerless, yet without sin.
And wise men came to see this miracle, to give honor and gifts.
Most people miss that our Lord has come to be with us as one of us.
We often still ignore Him.
Yet, God came to us, showing us that even in our ignorance He comes after us.
We may not have much to offer but our sin, and maybe we have great wealth and/or skills to give, but only the wisest seek God who has come.
May we seek the Lord who grants wisdom to the lowly and grace to the humble.
This Sunday at Church: Pray for the Church Security Team
We are fortunate that we have a police officer who helps us run our security team (and I help, too!) Our team includes military veterans and former security guards.
And they are great men. (I just remembered I said I am on the team! I am definitely talking about them. They may have their own opinions of me.) They seek God and to protect His Word and His Church.
We live in a pretty safe area, but we have had a few issues even here, so their work is much appreciated. Join us in thanking God for them and that He keep us all safe.
Daniel
This Sunday at Church I want to encourage you to do the following: Pray for the Church Security Team.. These days there’s the concern for mass shooters. There’s also other dangers. I imagine churches that have a church security team might not have information public. You don’t need to know everything about the church security […]
This Sunday at Church: Pray for the Church Security Team
VerseD: 1 John 4:15
Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.
1 John 4:15, ESV
We must acknowledge that Jesus is the second Person of the Trinity, the Son of God who is God, or we do not have God in our life.
Advent 2022 – Day 15: Matthew 2:1-2
Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”
Matthew 2:1-2, ESV
At Advent, we look back at why Jesus had to come, that He came, and then that He will come again.
Our sins have stacked up to heaven, deeper and more vile than we could know.
But God was not willing to leave us mired in our sin.
God came to us, born as an infant, weak, physically powerless, yet without sin.
And wise men came to see this miracle, to give honor and gifts.
Most people miss that our Lord has come to be with us as one of us.
We often still ignore Him.
Yet, God came to us, showing us that even in our ignorance He comes after us.
We may not have much to offer but our sin, and maybe we have great wealth and/or skills to give, but only the wisest seek God who has come.
May we seek the Lord who grants wisdom to the lowly and grace to the humble.
Advent 2022 – Day 14: Isaiah 40:21-22
Do you not know? Do you not hear? Has it not been told you from the beginning? Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth? It is he who sits above the circle of the earth, and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers; who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, and spreads them like a tent to dwell in
Isaiah 40:21-22, ESV
At Advent, we look back at why Jesus had to come, that He came, and then that He will come again.
Our sins have stacked up to heaven, deeper and more vile than we could know.
We think that our sin will go unnoticed by God, that there isn’t really anything He can do against us.
We think that God is impotent, powerless, and unable to hold us accountable for our sin. This is evidenced in the way we live, how we talk, what we do, ignoring His ways, saying “He’ll forgive me” or “I can do what I want.”
But this is the God who can create everything from nothing, hold everything together and within His hands, and stretches out the univers with those same hands.
Yes, we are basically nothing compared to Him, but God intimately knows every part of His Creation, from the farthest flung stars to our innermost thoughts.
He knows how the cosmos work, and He knows our every sin, our every rebellion against Him.
Yet, God came to us, showing usthat He is a personal and loving Creator, becoming like one of us to show His might over even our rebellion and sin.
We therefore prepare ourselves by admitting we don’t understand as much as we think we do, turning to our Creator and Savior who became our example and demonstrated His vast power over our own vast stubbornness.
May we seek the Lord who has no reason to consider us, yet He still lavishes His love and grace on and in us.
a simple man of God
Do we truly love the Lord our God with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strengths? Maybe I can help with the mind part, at least! This is Daniel M. Klem, apparent poet, reluctant yet passionate Disciple (Peter?), and foolish man attempting to understand theology!
Join 748 other subscribers
RSS Links
What did I just say?
Where we have been …
When we have been …
I said stuff about:
Join 748 other subscribers
a simple man of God 