Posts Tagged ‘ Holidays ’

Advent 2022 – Day 23: John 3:5

Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.

John 3:5, 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, teaching the truths of God and proving them with miracles, signs, and wonders.

Even the religious elite could see it, but they could not understand without help.

If the most religious and smartest could not understand the ways of God, what hope could the rest of us have?

Yet, God came to us, showing us how to understand how we are saved.

What does Jesus tell us about salvation?

Born of water: baptism does play a role, but this also tells us that only humans can be saved. (Fallen angels cannot be saved.)

Born of the Spirit: only those who believe and receive the Holy Spirit can be saved. (John 16:7-15)

This is difficult to comprehend, but only by trusting the Holy Spirit and the truth of the gospel of Christ can we inherit eternal life in Christ.

Jesus came to bring us life free from sin and in eternity with Him.

Christ has come, and we must seek the wisdom of His Holy Spirit and forgiveness of sins. (James 1:5; 1 John 1:9)

May we seek the Lord who has offered us His Holy Spirit, salvation, and eternal life.

2022
12/19
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Advent 2022 – Day 22: John 3:1-3

Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.” Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

John 3:1‭-‬3, 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, teaching the truths of God and proving them with miracles, signs, and wonders.

Even the religious elite could see it.

The Messiah had come! It must be the Prophet that Moses spoke of (Deuteronomy 18:15-22), the one who would restore Israel!

Yet, God came to us, showing us how little we understand, that we need to be different.

The Savior had indeed finally come, but He was not what was expected.

To follow Him, to be saved, means becoming a new – renewed – person.

Jesus said we must be born again, but even one of the great teachers of Israel could not comprehend it.

Salvation is simultaneously so simple to grasp yet so difficult to understand.

Like Nicodemus, we must be wise enough to seek the Savior and to understand His teachings.

Christ has come, but we must seek Him and ask for wisdom. (Matthew 6:33; James 1:5)

May we seek the Lord who has offered us His wisdom and salvation.

2022
12/18
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Advent 2022 – Day 21: Matthew 2:22-23

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.

Yet, God came to us, showing His omniscience and omnipotence, that He knew it would all happen but that He would stop our enslavement to sin and rebellion.

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.

2022
12/17
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Advent 2022 – Day 20: Matthew 2:19-20

But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, “Rise, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the child’s life are dead.”

Matthew 2:19-20, 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.

The promises we get from God are that those of the world will hate us for following Him, so it is dangerous to follow Christ. (John 15:18-25)

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, and God told Jesus’ family they could safely return home.

Likewise, we know that we face dangers from those in this world who want to do the same as Herod, and sometimes this includes our own thoughts and actions.

Yet, God came to us, defeating the power of Satan and this world, showing He still protects His own.

So we also know that this world is not our home, and Christ has defeated the power that still influences our lives. (John 16:33)

Christ has shown us how to live and trust and love in the midst of danger.

He did not give in, but He made a way for us to join Him in our eternal home.

May we seek the Lord who has saved us from sin and protects us from the ultimate effects of sin.

2022
12/16
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Advent 2022 – Day 19: Matthew 2:16

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.

Yet, God came to us, knowing His own creatures would hurt each other and ultimately kill Him on a cross, but to redeem us through our own violence.

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.

2022
12/15
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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.

2022
12/14
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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.

2022
12/13
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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.

2022
12/12
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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.

2022
12/11
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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.

2022
12/10
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