Posts Tagged ‘ Grace ’
whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins.
Romans 3:25, ESV
We know God’s love for us because only He is righteous, yet He died for our unrighteousness.
And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.
2 Corinthians 9:8, ESV
God has given us His grace, not as a one-time boost or temporary fix, but His grace is all-encompassing and forever.
May we share that grace with our world.
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
Luke 2:11, ESV
God came to us as a defenseless baby.
Yes, angels were watching, but He came to live as one of us to fulfill His promises since the Garden of Eden and to save us from sin. And the lowliest to the greatest of people are all invited to come to Him.
“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”
Revelation 1:8, 22:12-13 ESV
“Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.”
At Advent, we look back at why Jesus had to come, that He came, and then that He will come again.
Jesus is the Eternal Son of God who was with the Father “before” Creation, through whom all things were created.
We rebelled against our Creator, thinking we could be like Him or had no need for Him.
And Jesus is coming again.
He came as a baby, becoming like us to grow up and save us, and we remember this.
But we also remember that this Man is also our God – truly man and truly God at once and completely.
He died on a cross for us, but He arose again from the dead proving that this Jesus is our God of wrath and grace.
And He is returning soon in His wrath and grace to finally and completely fully redeem this world to Himself.
May we seek the Lord who has defeated sin and death, has saved us, and is coming back again in glory.
Hallelujah and Amen.
Come, Lord Jesus!
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
John 1:14, ESV
The most impossible thing happened: God became like us, God the Son taking on flesh to share His grace and truth with us to the glory of God the Father and for our salvation from wrath against sin.
Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.
1 John 4:7, ESV
We don’t want to love others, but the God who came to us to show His love can fill us with His love to then want to love others.
But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there, and being warned in a dream he withdrew to the district of Galilee. And he went and lived in a city called Nazareth, so that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled, that he would be called a Nazarene.
Matthew 2:22-23, ESV
At Advent, we look back at why Jesus had to come, that He came, and then that He will come again.
Jesus came to live amongst us, bringing danger to His earthly family.
Though one danger may pass, it does not mean all danger is gone.
We still see that God protects His own.
The one who tried to kill fellow image-bearers in an attempt to destroy God had died, but his just as twisted son took his place.
God once again sent a dream to Joseph to protect this family. Jesus, Mary, and Joseph were still not completely safe, but in this moment we can see that God keeps His promises.
God was not surprised by any of the events surrounding the birth and early childhood of Jesus. In fact, He had it prophesied centuries earlier.
There were still those who would hurt the young Jesus and God’s faithful servants.
This world may not be safe, and we also know that this world is not our home, but we can rely on the promises and prophecies of God.
Again, Christ has shown us how to live and trust and love in the midst of danger.
May we seek the Lord who has saved us from sin and shown us His power over time, death, and evil.
Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
Ephesians 4:32, ESV
We celebrate that our God has redeemed us, forgiven us our sins.
Now, we turn to others (even in the Church), showing the same kindness and forgiveness He has shown to us that they may also celebrate with us.
And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.
Daniel 12:3, ESV
Our God has saved us, and He sends us to show others salvation in Christ. With every new believer we rejoice and worship our Savior.
Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men.
Matthew 2:16, ESV
At Advent, we look back at why Jesus had to come, that He came, and then that He will come again.
Jesus came, and the first powerful person to hear about him reacted … violently
Have things really changed?
We still react to God in violent and nasty ways, usually against each other. When we get upset, we attack God by attacking His image found in each of us.
We demean each other, mock and ridicule and belittle each other. We kill and mutilate ourselves and each other, our children, our elderly and infirm.
All of this is our attempt to push away and destroy God from in our lives.
And we all do it.
Herod wanted to destroy Christ, but he was only fulfilling prophecy.
Christ came to save us, and it meant living in this fallen world with all of its dangers and temptations.
But He did not give in, and turned our anger and violence into the tools to save us.
Let us respect the image of God in each other, turning to the One who took on our image to redeem us.
May we seek the Lord who works in the midst of our sin to redeem us from sin.
a simple man of God 