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Psalms 24:7-8 Lift up your heads, O you gates; be lifted up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. 8 Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle.
& Luke 2:9-14 An angel of the Lord appeared to the shepherds, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 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. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.” THE psalmist calls for the King of Glory, the Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle, to enter into the LORD’s domain. In essence, the psalmist calls, “Enter mighty God into your sanctuary. Display your power that we may live in victory with you.” This is an advent call, anticipating the Lord God will come. Known as a “psalm of ascents” it declares the righteous will worship the Almighty God as he enters through Jerusalem’s gates and into his sanctuary. Luke then records the King’s glorious arrival into his creation. His glory prophesied and promised, anticipated through the ages came to the shepherds that night. The Almighty God’s power and purity descends from heaven to enter through heaven’s gates into his domain. Indeed, the earth is the Lord’s and everything in it (Psalm 24:1). The glory – the power, wonder and purity of the LORD Almighty has come to earth. How do we respond to the King of glory? Confess the King and welcome him into your heart, into your life. Arise each day to confess and announce, “The King of Glory has come into my life.” Live in faithful assurance that the King’s glorious gospel reveals his Almighty power to raise your soul to life. Shine the King’s glory into others’ lives because he has come into your life. In wonder, you will enter into his sanctuary each Sabbath day to know the King has come to his church. In joyful worship you will proclaim him king of your life. Prayer: Thank you, King of Kings, Lord of Lords, that you have come into the world to glorify your name. I praise you and rejoice the King of Glory has entered into my heart. In faithful assurance, I await you, King of Glory, to come again, to see your glory fill the heavens and the earth. Amen. Luke 2:10-11 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. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.”
& John 20:16 Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned toward him and said in Hebrew, “Rabboni!” ONE popular Christmas hymn is “Joy to the World.” The angels declare joy has come in Jesus’ birth. Mary Magdalene declares joy is alive before her in John’s report of Jesus’ resurrection. From the angel’s, “I bring you good news of great joy.” to Mary’s “Rabboni!” exclamation we receive a message: Joy to the world! The Lord has come. Indeed, Mary represents us all. Jesus found her chained in despair, captured by seven demons. Jesus released Mary to the joy of salvation in Christ, so she could follow, serve and learn from the Son of God. But then came the cross. Mary, the other women who also cared for Jesus and Jesus’ disciples suffered an inexpressible anguish. What sorrow and despair to witness their beloved Good Shepherd die on the excruciating, cursed cross. But look! That’s all gone now. Despair is done! Now Mary knows joy has come. Yes, our risen Lord has come, and he has made himself fully known to Mary, her friends. Now, even more, the Spirit has revealed him to the world - to even you and me. The psalmist of old wrote of this in the advent, the anticipation, of the Messiah: Psalms 14:7 Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion! When the Lord restores the fortunes of his people, let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad! God’s promise is fulfilled. Jesus was born. Jesus has lived as a man. Jesus suffered the cross. Jesus died as a man. Jesus rose as the Son of God, Savior of the world. Salvation has come out of the tomb to restore the world. Satan is conquered. Death is done. 1 Corinthians 15:55 “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” Against the culture, out of the norm, out of their past and out of the tomb’s despair, Mary and the others stepped into joy to become the first missionaries, the first ambassadors to represent the risen Christ. Yes, Mary, your despair was deep. But your joy is so much higher! No matter what anyone said to you, you know he lives in you because despair is gone. Joy to the world, the LORD is come! Be sure your joy prompts you tell, “Jesus is alive.” Prayer: Thank you, Jesus, for being Joy to the World. Amen. Deuteronomy 30:1-3 When all these blessings and curses I have set before you come upon you and you take them to heart wherever the Lord your God disperses you among the nations, 2 and when you and your children return to the Lord your God and obey him with all your heart and with all your soul according to everything I command you today, 3 then the Lord your God will restore your fortunes and have compassion on you and gather you again from all the nations where he scattered you.
& Romans 10:9 That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. TODAY is the first day of Advent. “Advent” means arrival, expectation and appearance. You could include “revelation” as God reveals himself through the personal coming of the Son, Jesus Christ of Nazareth. Even though we are at the end of our calendar year, it is the beginning of the new year in the church. Appropriately Advent is about beginning. As Bible passages around Jesus’ birth from Isaiah, Luke and Matthew are most commonly read during this time, you likely wonder how Deuteronomy and Romans would be appropriate for Advent scriptures. In truth, the entire Bible is about Advent. We live today and each day in an expectation that Jesus is coming. We do not need to expect he will come to Bethlehem. He already has. We do not need to expect he will come to begin his church. He already has. He is coming to establish the new heaven and earth. Our purpose then in the Advent season is to consider promises God has spoken and kept about his coming as the Son, who is Savior. Most importantly, it is to expect his coming again as Son of Man. This is the connection between Deuteronomy – a book of the law – and Romans – an epistle to declare grace has fulfilled the law. See Deuteronomy’s commands and promise in “take them (the law) to heart” and “when you and your children return to the Lord your God and obey him with all your heart and with all your soul … then the Lord your God will … gather you again from all the nations.” Then compare with Romans’ words, “confess with your mouth” and “believe in your heart…you will be saved.” In the law and the gospel, God reveals he has graciously prepared a way for a lawless, sinful world to be with him in the faithful heart that loves God. The promise of Deuteronomy is fulfilled in Romans’ way of salvation. In Christ we are gathered to God. Moses wrote seven times in Deuteronomy to “Love the Lord your God.” Then he added this promise in Deuteronomy 30:20 For the Lord is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. The Jews were to obey God with a heart love. This was the way to the life God had planned for them. Then Jesus graciously came because “God so loved the world” (John 3:16a). Through the gospel, the Lord God is revealing himself to his chosen people – the church. In the Spirit’s work hearts of stone become hearts of faith to confess Jesus is the Son of God. Deuteronomy is a promise that required the Jews’ heart love, so they could live with God in the Promised Land. Romans is the gracious promise fulfilled. God has come to Bethlehem. He has come to begin his eternal reign on earth, so you know a faithful heart is God’s way for you to enter into the eternal Promised Land. God is Emmanuel. He has come to us through the law. He has come through the gospel. He is with us now in Spirit as we confess with our hearts we love and believe in him. Proclaim with your mouth and in your heart, “I am a sinner. Forgive me Lord. Jesus is risen from the grave and ascended to heaven. Jesus saves.” You will live in the land God has forever prepared for you. Prayer: As we await your Second Coming, Lord Jesus, we pray we do so with our hearts full of love, that we may joyfully live in your commands. Amen. Matthew 7:3-5 “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”
THE overall meaning of this passage continues on from Jesus’ “do not judge” sermon point in Mathew 7:1-2. Jesus’ masterful preaching uses a log in the eye as a painful illustration of how we are often too focused on others’ sins to see the size and burden of our own sins. He chooses the eye because the eye critically gazes on others. You look to see what someone else is doing or not doing with an attitude of reproof or superiority. Our sinful hearts tell the eye, “Look and mark the wrongs you see and ignore the right things the person does.” We can have this “log in the eye” look against our spouse, our children, our neighbors and our church. The sinful heart sees intently into others’ lives to expand their faults. This helps us feel whole and justified in contrast to “that sinner”. Jesus personally knew the eyes of judgment from the Pharisees and teachers of the law. He knew the ruling Jews’ eyes were laced with logs, judging his every word, stopping their ears and blinding unbelief to their hearts. They even saw Jesus’ miracles as the devil’s work. He also received the look of disdain and judgment from many in his hometown (Luke 4:28-29). How do we to obey Jesus’ teaching to remove the log? Once more, let’s look back to Jesus’ blessings. “Blessed are the meek. Blessed are the merciful. Blessed are the poor in Spirit. Blessed are the peacemakers. Blessed are the pure in heart. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness.” Receive these blessings from the LORD God. They come to you in his inspired Holy Word, so you know how to cut out the criticisms, judgment and unforgiveness from your heart, mind and soul. Be poor in spirit to consider your own sins and repent. Mourn others’ sins to correct them in love. Be merciful to forgive. Make peace as you show the ways of Christ Jesus. Be blessed as you rejoice the Lord calls you to himself. Be thankful you have life in the Spirit’s power to bless others as Jesus has done for you: Acts 3:26 When God raised up his servant, he sent him first to you to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways. Blessings in your eye leave no room for logs. Matthew 7:1-2 “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
“WE are not to judge.” is a quick response in the church today to another’s sin. Yes, that is definitely Jesus’ teaching here. “Do not judge.” commands us to not condemn others in their sins. “Love one another.” And “Forgive one another.” commands the Lord. Judgment is the Lord’s responsibility. However, it seems we often equate, “We are not judge.” “Love and forgive others.” with, “Let’s ignore the sin. We’ll just love them.” What is right to do? Let’s see how Jesus expressed his love to the church in Laodicea: Revelation 3:19 “Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent.” The loving Lord rebuked his church for being lukewarm in their faith. He called them to realize their sins and repent. He disciplined them with strong admonition, “You are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.” (Revelation 3:17b) Is this love? Of course it is. God’s love demands he disciplines his people. How could it be otherwise? In Eden, God went to the sinful couple. He rebuked them for their sin. Then he clothed them to cover their shame and called them out of their hiding place. God set a penalty for their sin. Still, in his love the Father cared for his son and daughter even in their new life of toil. Because God is love, he did not judge them to destruction, but he judged them to salvation. Out of this broken couple would come the righteous Son of God to heal mankind’s sin. God rebukes. God corrects. God loves. God forgives. This our pattern for Christian living. We must recognize sin in ourselves (See next lesson.) and one another to remove it. How can true love exist if there is no correction for wrong? A God-cantered discipline requires rebuke, admonition and penalty. His love requires, too, forgiveness, healing and restoration. Loving discipline is essential for mankind because we sin against one another. No family, community, church, city or nation will exist as a functioning, effective body if we are lukewarm to God’s laws. Why, then, are we so reluctant to discipline someone who sins against us, our family, our church and our God? True, this is difficult, and none of us can say, “I am without sin.” But to discipline is not to judge. God-like discipline is truly loving someone enough to restore them to a righteous life. Proverbs 1:1 The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel: 2 for attaining wisdom and discipline; for understanding words of insight. 2 Thessalonians 1:3 We ought always to thank God for you, brothers, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love every one of you has for each other is increasing.
TODAY in the U.S. is our Thanksgiving holiday. Let’s take a moment from Jesus’ teachings in Matthew for all of us around the world to consider thanksgiving joy in the kingdom of God. Perhaps many of us would like to put 2020 away right now. The year has been very difficult. Some of you have experienced much loss and deprivation. But let’s remember Jesus’ lessons to be at peace in our faith. In thanksgiving today and each day, know you are the Father’s child. Indeed, in the Lord’s kingdom light we have many reasons to be eternally thankful. Paul’s thanksgiving blessing to the church in Thessalonica tells a powerful story. The first time Paul went to Thessalonica, Acts 17 tells us that people agitated against his teaching and forced him out of the city. But in faith, Paul and others persisted. The gospel did its work. The Holy Spirit formed a new church! How wonderful to know the Holy Spirit has done this life-transforming work to create a church. Then Paul is thankful the story continued. As the church has begun, the people’s faith is growing more and more. God is sanctifying their lives to live into an increasing faith in God’s incomparable riches of his grace. (Ephesians 2:7) This is why you, too, can be thankful today and each day of your sanctified life. Consider that each church in the world today exists where once there was no church. Each church has been formed because the Spirit has transformed nonbelievers into believers. The church faithful to the gospel becomes the Living Water to flow throughout the entire earth. You can be especially thankful the Spirit has empowered people of Jesus’ church to move the gospel to write his story of faith onto your heart. God’s true church is a true creation miracle. The early church members persevered against agitations, persecutions and many economic and social challenges. New Christians from diverse backgrounds also needed to learn how to be a communion of the saints in God’s church. That’s the way it was, and that is how it remains today. In many parts of the world governments, tribal cultures and religions aggressively and dangerously seek to destroy the Lord’s church. Opposition from within also attacks the vitality of Jesus’ church. Amid all challenges, though, we echo Paul’s words, thanking God he has given us a growing faith! We treasure the incomparable riches of his grace to faithfully pursue his will done in our lives. We are grateful and humble to enjoy our citizenship in heaven, thankful for many true brothers and sisters in Christ. Earthly troubles will always be with us. Yet your faith tells you God is for us (Romans 8:31). God’s faith gift to you is truly a reason to be thankful now and forever. Amen. Psalms 105:1 Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done. 2 Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts. Matthew 6:27-30 “Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? 28 And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?”
WORRY is a big deal for Jesus, isn’t it? Jesus knows worry hurts you too much! His love for you directs you to step out of the world’s fears and into the Creator’s peace, especially as troubles strive to crush our faith. Consider how the Lord assured his disciples in the upper room the night before he died: John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” Do you see Jesus’ assurance? “Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not be afraid.” The Master knew those men young in their faith would need a deep, mature faith to confidently look through the fear they would encounter in the next few hours. They would witness his suffering and death. Jesus’ peace would need to overwhelm their hearts as they awaited his promised resurrection. But the disciples’ fear locked up their peace: John 20:19 On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked in fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” Then one week later, Jesus went again: John 20:26b Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” Behind locked doors, the disciples were afraid. We criticize Thomas for his doubts; yet the others lived with little or no faith behind locked doors, fearing the authorities and doubting Jesus’ resurrection. Indeed, it was time Jesus’ peace and power to be with the disciples, to transform their minds to fully access Jesus’ resurrection authority. It was time to step through the locked doors to faithfully minister the gospel of resurrection to a world dead besieged with worry and fears. The same is true for us, isn’t it? Yes, we are guilty as Jesus preached on the Mount: “O you of little faith.” To equate worry with “little faith” is truly a serious matter. Faith, after all, is the essence of our saving relationship with Jesus. The apostle Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 5:7 “We live by faith, not by sight.” Too often, though, we live by sight, not by faith, don’t we? Is Jesus, then, saying that if you worry you are not saved? Not necessarily. He is saying your faith must grow. As you are saved through God-given faith into God’s perfection, you are on a journey to become more as God. We all have our sins and weaknesses to overcome in the Spirit’s power. So then, Jesus is teaching that you do need to trust his resurrection power, to grow in your faith. To allow worry to keep your faith little is to miss a true intimacy with Jesus. If worry is your habit, it is because you have decided to worry. Listen to Jesus and choose a new way. Strive toward a new mindset to give each worrisome thought to Jesus. Pray to him to receive his peace and to grow your trust in him. Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall. (Psalm 55:22) Numbers 6:25 the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; 26 the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace. Matthew 6:25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?”
“THEREFORE,” says Jesus. His sermon has made several points on faithful kingdom living as you keep your eyes on God. As a consequence of your faithful response, you will begin to experience a greater confidence and trust in God for your life. You will not allow worry or worldly possessions to control you; instead, your faith will grant you Jesus’ peace. Do you worry? Of the many ways I see people struggle emotionally, worry is the most common. But why would I call worry an emotional struggle? After all, everyone worries! Many will say, “I have to do something! I can't just let it go.” So if that's true, has worry ever done one good thing for you? Has it had any power over any single circumstance? Oh, that's right, worry does have power. I'll bet it's raised your blood pressure, caused you sleepless nights, given you headaches, formed a rash on your skin or separated you from healing thoughts. Worry has stifled your creative mind and restricted your relationship with Jesus. . The fact is, physically, emotionally and spiritually, worry is an emotional black hole. It locks up your faith and darkens you view of God. Worry is a heavy, unbroken chain on your soul. Worry deceives you to think you’re rich in spirit, empowered to influence solutions to problems. Worry highlights, instead, your weaknesses. Jesus commanded, “Do not worry.” because your worry means you lack faith in God's consummate love. Worry, too, tells the Lord, “I want to be in control. I want to be you, God.” That's worry’s real tragedy. As it dominates your mind, you have little room for receiving God's Word. Anxiety, fear, doubt and worry will deprive you of the opportunity to truly understand Jesus' grace. Worry will keep you from trusting he will completely care for you. Yes, you do have to do something. First, stop the worry. Second, start to trust Jesus more. Yes, you can make a conscience decision to turn your worries into faith. When those thoughts come to mind, stop and understand their source. Take a minute to pray, “Lord, this worry is not from you. Put your first in my thoughts to trust and know you are my Lord above all things.” As with each element of our discipleship, you must be diligent to step away from the emotions that keep you from Jesus and be eager to seek him for each aspect of your life. Yes, it does make a difference Just Wondering: Did Jesus save you because you worried about it? Matthew 6:24 “No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”
JESUS continues his Sermon on the Mount to elevate your eyes, mind and heart onto him. You know what serving two (or more) masters looks like, don't you? As a Christian, you have heard and been taught how important it is to read the Bible, attend church, pray, serve, give and do other good responses to Jesus’ teachings. But you know there is much room for improvement. It seems your family, your employer, your need for food today and even your church’s demands are a few of the things that master your time and energy. How do you truly serve the Master above all things that affect your life– even your own lack of desire to know God? Consider this. If you were a slave, you would have no choice but to completely obey your master’s bidding. After all, he had purchased you to obey his demands on your life. Now, what about the Master, Jesus Christ, your Lord and Savior? Is he not, “Worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation” (Revelation 5:9) In Christ, you are new creation (2 Corinthians 6:17b) in the kingdom of God. We read and hear this. Still we live as if we can choose our response to the Master. Our natural desire for “free” will must become “faith” will. There is only one will to properly control our lives when the Savior calls. True faith directs you to God's purpose, which is his will to be done on earth through you. In truth, Jesus becomes your sole Master when you do some soul work. As you confess Jesus, “My Lord and Savior.” be mindful he is Lord, the Son of God, Living Word, sacrificial Lamb. Now that your sins have been laid upon the sinless one, what better purpose for your life than to be Jesus’ servant? As Jesus teaches kingdom life, he is your Master who requires your life. His command is to your heart, mind and soul to spend time knowing and doing your life’s purpose in view of Jesus’ servant sacrifice for you. Jesus is teaching us to stop moving in random circles, mastered by earthly needs to instead purposefully walk in line with your Master. Yes, it’s true. Family, food, job responsibilities, church service and many more actions are essential for responsible and good Christian life. But we do these works in light of our Master’s authority. To call Jesus, “Lord.” is, indeed, to confess he is your Master. Be prepared then to live into your words. Be purposeful and loving to seek and to respond to him. 2 Peter 1:4 Through his glory and goodness Jesus has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. Matthew 6:22-23 “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!”
JESUS continues his sermon with an emphasis on your eyes. He has been speaking to encourage us to committed eyes, humble prayers, forgiveness and satisfaction with possessions. His intention through this part of his Sermon on the Mount is to preach that the Father in heaven alone is your gracious Provider, worthy of all your heart, mind and soul in each aspect of your life. The metaphor here of the eye as the lamp of the body points to the single oil lamp in many homes. With the lamp, one could only see what was in the home when she pointed the lamp in a particular direction. She could, for example, shine the light on a wooden idol in the home. Wooden and stone carvings to represent idols were often in homes. Or she shine the light on the Word of God written on the home’s doorposts. (See Deuteronomy 6:9). The light would either reveal Satan’s corruption, or the light would faithfully point to God’s gracious law. We can have many idols in our lives – food, cars, entertainment, wealth, sports, self and more. If there is anything the keeps you from focusing first and foremost on Jesus, you must either remove it or position it properly in your life. Knowing who is Lord directs the way you order your life. Jesus emphasized the great divide between himself and evil in John 8:12, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” Do you see that? Read it again. Understand how life-transforming this is. In Jesus’ light, you will never walk in darkness. Darkness comes when the Light is gone. Darkness leaves when the Light is on. Genesis 1:1-3 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. 3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. |
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November 2024
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