STANDING IN THE RIGHT PLACE

 DECEMBER 30, 2022

Philippians 4:9

9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

John 14:27

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.

John 15:5

5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

Isaiah 32:17

“The fruit of that righteousness will be peace; its effect will be quietness and confidence forever.” 

Righteousness is a biblical, theological word that at its simplest definition means right-ness, as in standing in the “right” place with God.

How do we know we are standing in that right place? Simply, it’s when we have peace—Peace. Confident Peace that transcends every circumstance, every conflict, every difficult and dark place. The right place is abiding with Jesus, being Jesus followers living by His truth and His righteousness. Personally, I have found in my journey, that when life is somewhat in turmoil, disordered and chaotic and missing peace, it is usually because I have stepped away from abiding in the Prince of Peace. This unrest I feel is because instead of trusting my faithful saviour I take over and try to run things my way, instead of resting in him. Does this ever happen to you?

Paul tells us in Colossians 3:15 to “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts…” It’s an instruction to rest in Jesus and his gift of Peace. That “Peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Phil. 4:7) This peace keeps us standing in the right place.

Jesus humbly entered the world as the Prince of Peace and His lasting gift to us is His peace-filled presence by the Holy Spirit.

As we have been saying this week, peace is not just a perfect scene, a place without noise and difficulties, or only a feeling. Peace is a gift; Peace is a Person.

Let us rest in God’s Peace.

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.                          John 14:27

 

MISSING PEACE

 DECEMBER 29, 2022

JOHN 14:15-27

15 “If you love me, obey my commandments. 16And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. 17He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you. 18No, I will not abandon you as orphans—I will come to you. 19Soon the world will no longer see me, but you will see me. Since I live, you also will live. 20When I am raised to life again, you will know that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. 21Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them.”
22Judas (not Judas Iscariot, but the other disciple with that name) said to him, “Lord, why are you going to reveal yourself only to us and not to the world at large?”
23Jesus replied, “All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them. 24Anyone who doesn’t love me will not obey me. And remember, my words are not my own. What I am telling you is from the Father who sent me. 25I am telling you these things now while I am still with you. 26But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.
27 “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.

If you ask people, “What is peace?", you will receive a range of responses:

Peace and quiet
Tranquility
Freedom from disturbance
Lack of oppressive thoughts or feelings
Harmonious relationships
Time without war
Absence of hostility or harm

Those answers are quite good, don’t you think? These answers though are usually from a viewpoint that peace is the absence of conflict, war, opposition, or tension. I find that this kind of peace is temporary and is dependent upon circumstances. That’s where questions like “Did the angels waste their words? come from, or the declaration “there is no peace on earth," as Longfellow mourned. According to the world when things are calm, we are at peace. When our circumstances grow dreary, gloomy, or tense we’re not at peace.

Do you recall yesterday’s scripture where Jesus promises his peace to us and then says that there is a distinction between his peace and the world’s peace? The rejection of his peace brought Jesus to tears as he entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. We Read in Luke 19 that “as he came closer to Jerusalem and saw the city ahead, he began to weep. “How I wish today that you of all people would understand the way to peace. But now it is too late, and peace is hidden from your eyes. What grieved Jesus at this moment was that he wanted to give something better to people than a peace that depended on the insecurity of circumstance.

In John 14:27, Jesus doesn’t want our hearts to be troubled. Because although we concern ourselves with earthly struggles, He’s offering a permanent solution, which is His peace. The Creator of peace is the One who created us. He is our Lord, our Creator, our Mighty God, our Everlasting Father and our Prince of Peace offering the gift of a deep lasting Peace that is not based on circumstances or feelings, but on the foundation of God's desire for his peaceful favor to rest on all.

Peace peace wonderful peace
Coming down from the Father above
Sweep over my spirit forever I pray
In fathomless billows of love

What a treasure I have in this wonderful peace
Buried deep in the heart of my soul
So secure that no power can mine it away
While the years of eternity roll

I am resting tonight in this wonderful peace
Resting sweetly in Jesus' control
For I'm kept from all danger by night and by day
And His glory is flooding my soul

Peace peace wonderful peace
Coming down from the Father above
Sweep over my spirit forever I pray
In fathomless billows of love

I WANT ME SOME OF THAT

 DECEMBER 28, 2022

JOHN 14:26-27

“But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the
Father will send in my name, will teach you all
things and will remind you of everything I have
said to you. 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.”

When we think about the scene of Jesus’ birth, “peace” is probably not the first word that comes to mind. In Luke’s account of the story (Luke 2), we read that while Mary was pregnant, she and Joseph traveled about 80 miles on a donkey to Bethlehem, because of Caesar’s census. Upon arriving, the couple found there were no rooms available, so Mary had to give birth to the Savior of the world in a stable. To me, this scene of a journey in late pregnancy, newborn infant laid in a manger, the presence of animals, and the darkness of the night doesn’t exactly paint a picture of peace. Rather, it seems this situation results in an overwhelming and chaotic circumstance. Where is the peace in this? No wonder that Chris Rice asks, “Did the Angels waste their words.” The Nativity scriptures and the after-birth scriptures seem to have more conflict than peace.

In today’s Scripture from John, Jesus encourages His disciples by saying that after He returns to the Father, the Holy Spirit will come to remind them of everything He had taught them. Jesus left us with the promised Holy Spirit to constantly point us back to Himself and help us live in His perfect peace. 

Jesus says “Peace, I leave with you; my peace I give you.” Let us not miss what Jesus says next, it is rather important about this peace, “I do not give to you as the world gives.” Peace that I give, Jesus implies is not simply a circumstantial absence of conflict, my peace is deeper, it is an experience deep in your spirit that all is well. It is a peace that rests in God’s faithfulness.

This has been a rough year, for most people. Doesn’t it feel like we have been enduring one long, tiresome, unexpected, and difficult journey to Bethlehem. We have arrived there, we celebrated that on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, and we have heard the angel message that was declared our Emmanuel Has Come!! God with Us. Our Prince of Peace. Glory to God in the highest.

This means that when the world around us plunges deeper into darkness, chaos, and instability, we can walk confidently and bravely because our foundation has been built upon the love and work of Jesus, our Prince of Peace. The one who is the same, "yesterday, today, and forever." 

 

A GIFT FOR ALL

 DECEMBER 27, 2022

John 14:27

“My Peace I Give to You.”

The word peace is common in most languages. People can talk about peace treaties or times of peace; it means the absence of war. And in the Bible, the word peace can refer to the absence of conflict, but it also points to the presence of something better in its place.

Two words in the Bible stand out, the Old Testament word “Shalom” and the New Testament word “Eirene” both can be translated as “peace,” but the meaning of these words suggests that the peace described in the bible is the presence of completeness and wholeness as a outcome of restoration.

The core idea in the scriptures is that life is complex, full of moving parts and relationships and situations, and when any of these is out of alignment or missing, then “peace” breaks down. Life is no longer whole as God intended. It needs to be restored.

So, the prophet Isaiah, in chapter 9 looked forward to a future king, a prince of Peace. And this Prince’s reign would bring ‘Peace” with no end. Isaiah looks toward a time when God would make a covenant of peace with his people and make right all wrongs and heal all that’s been broken.

Jesus’s birth, as the New Testament Nativity texts reveal, was announced as the arrival of Peace. Jesus came to offer his peace to others, just like when he said to his followers, “My peace I give to you all.”

The idea is that Jesus restored to wholeness the broken relationship between humans and their Creator. Therefore, the apostle Paul can say Jesus himself is our Peace.

Remember the question Chris Rice posed in his song “Peace on Earth, Did the angels waste their words?’ later in his song he writes

Peace with God, peace with God
Offered through one Holy Child
Even when this life is hard
There can be peace with God
There can be peace with God.

Peace requires taking what’s broken and restoring it to wholeness, whether it’s in our lives, our relationships, or in our world. And that’s the rich biblical concept of peace.

So, the Angels declare to the shepherds, and to us, a promise,

“Glory to God in highest heaven,
and peace on earth ….”


And now may the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:7

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

 DECEMBER 26, 2022

Isaiah 9:6

For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Micah 5:5

“He will be our peace”

LUKE 2:14

“Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”


Peace. God’s Promise of Peace. The Scriptures above emphasize that the Messiah, Jesus will bring this peace to us. Do you believe that?

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow in reflecting on this promise of Peace observed in his well known Christmas hymn “I heard the Bells on Christmas Day” the following

I heard the bells on Christmas day
Their old familiar carols play
And wild and sweet the words repeat
Of peace on earth goodwill to men

And later in the Hymn he writes,

And in despair I bowed my head
There is no peace on earth I said
For hate is strong and mocks the song
Of peace on earth goodwill to men

Chris Rice, a Christian Songwriter in his song “Peace on Earth” in a similar fashion asks

Peace on earth, peace on earth
Did the angels waste their words?

What do you think? Wasted Words?

Our Daily Devotions this week will reflect on the message of God’s Peace promise that weaves through scripture and seek to answer Chris Rise’s question “Did the Angels waste their words.”

For today, as preparation have a listen to the following:

CHILD OF PROMISE

 DECEMBER 24, 2022

Luke 2:11 

“Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.”

We hope you enjoyed our Jesse Tree Advent series and the glimpse of rich and relevant stories that fill the bible. It’s easy to see some common themes weaving throughout – promise and doubt, hope and waiting, faithfulness and struggle, and our God who loves and gives purpose to everyday people… and keeps his promises.

Tonight’s service will welcome this 

Child of Promise 

as we journey to Bethlehem together.

Come and join us at

6:30 pm Hot Chocolate and "goodies"

7:00 pm for carols, candlelight, and the story of Christ’s arrival!

BETHLEHEM, EPHRATHA

 DECEMBER 23, 2022

Micah 5:2-5

But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah,
are only a small village among all the people of Judah.
Yet a ruler of Israel,
whose origins are in the distant past,
will come from you on my behalf.
3 The people of Israel will be abandoned to their enemies
until the woman in labor gives birth.
Then at last his fellow countrymen
will return from exile to their own land.
4 And he will stand to lead his flock with the Lord’s strength,
in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God.
Then his people will live there undisturbed,
for he will be highly honored around the world.
5 And he will be the source of peace.




Our ears aren’t accustomed to hearing prophecies. We sure hear a lot of promises—campaign promises, wedding vows, promises from brands that buying their product will improve our quality of life. But those promises are so often broken that we start to think promises hold no real weight. And we might think the same is true of prophecies. They won’t possibly come true, will they?

I urge you, do not let your skepticism about promises color your hearing of this prophecy: from Bethlehem will come someone who will rule, not the way  promise-breaking politicians do, but like a shepherd. He won’t say one thing and do another. He won’t disregard his constituency. No, this leader cares for his people the way a shepherd cares for his sheep. He’ll stand and feed his flock in the strength of the Lord.

The people who heard this prophecy for the first time worried about the same things we do: what to eat for dinner, how to make amends with family members, whether their homes and land would be secure. It seems to me that the prophecy can bring us the same comfort, comfort that we will live securely and in peace. The same Jesus who was born in Bethlehem, fulfilling Micah’s prophecy, will come again to reign as Prince of Peace. Come, Lord Jesus!

LET US PRAY

Prince of Peace, I am eager for you to return. Some days, both the world and my life seem out of control and beyond repair. But I am trusting you to keep your promise to come and rule like a good and gentle shepherd. Amen.

DAWN OF REDEEMING GRACE

 DECEMBER 22, 2022

Jeremiah 33:14-15

“‘The day will come,’ says the LORD, ‘when I will do for Israel and Judah all the good things, I have promised them. In those days and at that time I will raise up a righteous descendant from King David’s line. He will do what is just and right throughout the land.’”

At the time of today’s text, Jeremiah has been fighting a battle. A long, hard, uphill battle, which has now landed him in prison. All that  he has warned God’s people about is coming true. Despair is everywhere. Doom and gloom have taken up a home in the cities and villages. God’s promises seem to have come to an end. From where is their Saviour to come now? Who are they as a people? Has God abandoned them?

Defeated. Exiled. Hopeless. Sagging and Tired.

And into this despair God speaks: “I will fulfill the good promise I made . . . “

God gave the world his best so that we can experience the best even in the midst of our darkest. When life is demanding the best of you, lean on the promise of God’s best: “…the dawn of redeeming grace.”

 

 

ONE WE CAN TRUST

 DECEMBER 21, 2022

Isaiah 42:1-7

“Here is my servant, whom I uphold,
my chosen one in whom I delight;
I will put my Spirit on him,
and he will bring justice to the nations.
2 He will not shout or cry out,
or raise his voice in the streets.
3 A bruised reed he will not break,
and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out.
In faithfulness he will bring forth justice;
4 he will not falter or be discouraged
till he establishes justice on earth.
In his teaching the islands will put their hope.”

5 This is what God the Lord says—
the Creator of the heavens, who stretches them out,
who spreads out the earth with all that springs from it,
who gives breath to its people,
and life to those who walk on it:
6 “I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness;
I will take hold of your hand.
I will keep you and will make you
to be a covenant for the people
and a light for the Gentiles,
7 to open eyes that are blind,
to free captives from prison
and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.

Are you fearful? Disappointed or disillusioned? Discouraged by the lengthy “waiting period” in your life?

In Isaiah 40, the Prophet reminds his people the following about God.

The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary, …

29 He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak. . . .
those who hope in the Lord
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.

Then in Isaiah 41, God through the Prophet Isaiah encourages His people not to fear, because He will overcome all their adversaries. He tells them to look to His servant whom He would send – the One who will bring hope.

When we get to Isaiah 42, there is this growing excitement in the message, as God speaks to his people. I picture the announcement this way: As God unveils his Servant/Messiah, he is essentially clapping his hands and jumping up and down. LOOK! He says. THIS is my servant. I, myself have chosen him. And I couldn’t be more delighted in him. Filled with my own Spirit, he is ready to do all my will. God’s servant is calm, steady. Gentle. He doesn’t make noise or try to draw a crowd: “He will not cry aloud or lift up his voice (Isaiah 42:2).”

Isaiah 42:3 records about this servant that “A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out.”

We might not have much experience with reeds, unless we’ve taken basket weaving classes, or perhaps played a reed instrument in a school band. If you have you know that both types of reeds are dry and stiff, and that they will need to be soaked before they can be used.

A bruised reed is one that has been damaged, but not yet broken in half. Imagine the care you would need to move it safely so you can mend it. A moment’s distraction could ruin it. A hasty movement could finish it. Isaiah 42 says, this is the care our Deliverer takes when he handles our souls. He is “gentle and lowly in heart” (Matthew 11:29).

Jesus is this servant, and he is the one that we welcome into our world and our lives at Christmas. “Let every heart prepare him room”!!

GOD'S DWELLING PLACE

 DECEMBER 20, 2022

2 Samuel 7:11b-13

“I will raise up your offspring to succeed you… and I will establish his kingdom. He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.”

These words from God to David in 2 Samuel 7:12–13 is a powerful promise in the "now and not yet." We know that this promise is fulfilled in David’s son Solomon who would indeed build a house, a temple, for the dwelling of God’s glory. It was an awesome temple; it became the measure for any future temples.

In 2 Samuel 7:13, God says, “I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.” This is not just talking about David’s kingdom or Solomon’s throne that would last throughout Solomon’s life. Davidic kings ruled in Jerusalem for more than four centuries, ending with the exiling of Zedekiah in 586 BCE. The word “forever” tells us we are talking about a throne, a kingdom that would be without end. It is a kingdom that is still going on today.

During the Advent season, we remember God’s promise, not just to bless David, or David’s son, Solomon, but God is going to send a King through David’s line who would reign forever. David’s not reigning anymore, Solomon’s not reigning anymore, and all the kings we read about in the Old Testament aren’t reigning anymore. Jesus comes as King. This is noted for us in the Gospel’s in the accounts of Jesus birth. He is a king in David’s line, and He is still ruling. And He will always govern as King of kings.

Jesus said to Pilate, “My kingdom is not of this world." Jesus' kingdom is not restricted by physical boundaries. This kingdom includes all who follow Jesus, who place their faith in him, and live with the Holy Spirit’s help in the way of love. I believe what we are to be mindful of is that it is not a building that defines God's kingdom but the community that works together in love, peace and compassion.

AN UNEXPECTED QUALIFICATION

 DECEMBER 19, 2022

1 Samuel 16:7

"The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

Here we have the account of Samuel’s search for Israel’s new king. God leads Samuel to Bethlehem where he was to invite Jesse to a sacrifice, and thereby Samuel began the interview process of Jesse’s family. Jesse presented his tall and handsome son, Abinadab, thinking he looked the part of a king. But God told Samuel to look for someone with the right heart. Jesse then presented six other sons, but Samuel asked, “Are these all your sons?” In response, Jesse then presented his youngest son, David. By outward appearances, this shepherd boy was not considered a good fit for king. Samuel took one look at him, and God spoke “This is the one; anoint him.” God had big plans for David. David would make some mistakes, big ones, but he had the heart and courage to lead God’s people.

You see God calls, uses, and does great things through the unexpected. Whether it is places like little Bethlehem, or People like Jesse’s son David. David did not look the part of a king on the outside. Yet, the youngest and the least in Jesse’s family became Israel’s greatest king and leader.

From the line of David came the Messiah, Christ the Lord. A baby, unexpected! In a stable, unexpected! In little Bethlehem, unexpected! God does great things through you and me, unexpected!! Remember the verse today when you doubt God's plan and purpose for you, "The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

LET US PRAY

Lord, I give You my heart
I give You my soul
I live for you alone
And every breath that I take
Every moment I'm awake
Lord, have Your way in me. Amen

Grace, Grace, God's Grace

 DECEMBER 18, 2022

Ruth 1:16

“Where you go I will go, where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God”

These words were spoken by Ruth, Naomi’s Moabite daughter in-law. Over the previous 10 years Naomi had experienced famine and the deaths of her husband and two sons. In addition, both her sons’ wives were barren. As she journeyed back to Judah her words were, “I went away full, and the Lord has brought me back empty…The Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me.” (v20-21)

Can you empathize with Naomi? Have you ever felt abandoned or even treated unfairly by God? Well, the story of Ruth and Naomi is a story of God’s faithfulness that provides us hope for the future. By God’s hand, Naomi’s life would turn around once at home in Judah. Naomi would also play a significant role in Ruth’s redemption, ultimately helping Ruth to marry a man named Boaz, with whom Ruth would have a son. This grandson to Naomi would be a part of a powerful lineage including Jesse and King David and ultimately leading to our redeemer, Jesus Christ.

God never abandoned Naomi. Ruth, the Moabite, found faith in Naomi’s God, our God and was willing to leave her home and family to follow and serve Naomi in a foreign land. Naomi did not see God’s grace at work, yet it was God in his faithfulness who rescued her and ultimately made her part of his saving plan in Jesus Christ.

Remember God never stops working, look for the signs of Grace in your life today.

IN OUR WEAKNESS

 DECEMBER 17, 2022

Judges 6:15-16

“But Lord, …how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family?” The Lord answered, “I’ll be with you….”

This story comes from a period is Israel’s history when it was weak – very weak. They had not been listening to God. I want to acknowledge that the damaging forces in our life are not always our fault but let’s be honest sometimes they are. In this story the destructive forces were Israel’s fault. Here is the backstory, during this time, whenever it was harvest time Israel’s neighbors would invade and destroy its crops and cattle. For an agricultural society, this was as bad as it could get. Eventually they came to their senses. God chose Gideon, the weakest of the weak, (Gideon’s own words) and through him, God defeated the enemy so Israel could flourish again.

We remember at Christmas the amazing gift of God. God himself took on the weakness of humanity to lovingly show us his way. So that we could flourish. That we might have and realize his abundant life!

Jesus came to give hope and strength through his Spirit even in our weakest moments. He speaks to us through the words of 2 Corinthians “My grace is enough; it’s all you need. My strength comes into its own in your weakness.”

We relate to Gideon's words don't we? “But Lord, …how can I save Israel? (How can I be of use to you? How can I fulfill this call?) My clan is the weakest ..., and I am the least in my family?” As God spoke to Gideon in his doubts, he speaks to us in those moments doubting as well, and says “I’ll be with you….” Ah, there it is yet again the Promise of God's presence with us. Our Emmanuel!!

OBEY THE CALL

 DECEMBER 16, 2022

JOSHUA 6:16b-17

“the Lord has given you the city! The city and all that is in it are to be devoted to the Lord.”


The way I see it, Joshua faced what looked like an impossible task. Yes, God had called him to lead Israel into the Promised Land. First up, they were to attack a large walled and fortified city. The battle plan was for the Israelites to approach Jericho and then wait seven days. You may recall the story, that this waiting place was an active period of waiting. God commanded them to march around the city every day, and seven times on day seven. I wonder if this plan might have seemed senseless to God's people, but Joshua God's chosen leader, followed his calling. He and the people obeyed.


I love what Joshua told his people to do in this waiting period: “Love the Lord your God, walk in all his ways, keep his commandments, and hold fast to him, and serve him with all your heart and with all your soul” (Joshua 22:5). That sounds like good advice for us too. Wouldn't you agree? We know this is what we are to do in gratitude for the gift of Jesus, live and walk in obedience to God every day. Be faithful!! Let God look after the things God looks after best. Follow the call, serve him with our hearts and souls. That might be the whole point of this story. FAITHFULNESS.

LET US PRAY

Jesus, I am humbled that You call me to serve in ways that accomplish Your purposes. Help me respond without hesitation whenever I perceive Your voice calling me into action.

Amen.

 

Faith, Grace, and Kindness

 DECEMBER 15, 2022

JOSHUA 2:12 

 "Now then, please swear to me by the LORD that you will show kindness to my family, because I have shown kindness to you. Give me a sure sign.”

HEBREWS 11:31

By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient.

JAMES 2:25

 . . . was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction?

Rahab. Do you know her name and story? This is one of the great stories in the bible that displays faith, grace, and salvation.

Rahab is introduced to us in the Bible as an Inn Keeper, and a prostitute living in the city of Jericho. We are told she enjoyed the protection of the king. Rahab had heard stories of the God of the Israelites and how he opened the Red Sea to save his people from the Egyptians. So, when she encounters two spies who are being hunted down by the king, she hides them in the roof of her house. She does so believing that their God is mightier than the king. When the king inquires if she has seen them, she denies having seen them and sends the king’s men on a what we call a “wild goose chase,” and thereby with an act of kindness protected the two spies. Risky? It sure was. If she had been caught, her life would not have been spared. Still Rahab, acted in faith in the God of Israel, hiding the spies through a generous act.

Rahab’s kindness results in two important outcomes. First, saving her and her family’s lives when the Israelites advanced on the city.

Second, Rahab became an ancestor of David. Matthew lists her in Jesus’ family tree, and the book of James names her as an example of Christian hospitality. The book of Hebrews also includes her in the roll call of heroes of faith, right alongside Abraham, Jacob, Isaac, Joseph, and Moses. In other words, Rahab is our ancestor in faith. She saw and believed that God was doing something new in the world, and God made her a part of the story.

Through the grace and mercy of God, this woman who was an “outsider” provides us a role model of faith. We must not miss the fact that God used her story to remind Israel that they were not chosen because they were a great and mighty nation; they were chosen to be God’s people because of God’s compassion, kindness, and mercy. God chose Rahab too.

During Advent and Christmas, we also know that God is doing something new in the world. By faith we trust in our Creator who sent his Son into our world to establish his kingdom everywhere. Soon we will celebrate his birth, and at the same time we will look forward with expectation and hope to his return to reign forever. We pray, Come, Lord Jesus!

TEN WORDS

 DECEMBER 14, 2022

EXODUS 19:5-6

“Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.”

EXODUS 20:1-2

And God spoke all these words:
2 “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery….

1 PETER 2:9

9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

Most of us know them as the Ten Commandments. Yet, a far better rendering of the title may be God’s “Ten Words.” (Decalogue) These Ten Words were written by God’s own finger, not once but twice you may recall. These Ten Words in Exodus 34:28 are called “the covenant”. So important were these utterances from the Covenant God that they were among the items that were placed inside the Ark of the Covenant. The Ten Words served to point the people to the details of the entire covenant.

They were thought of as the Ten Words of wisdom – how to live well and flourish as a society. As Ten Words of special revelation – disclosing the goodness of God’s heart as caring, fair and concerned for everyone’s wellbeing. As Ten Words of re-creation – God’s heavenly rule being realized on earth, bringing order to our chaos. All this so we can be a ‘kingdom of priests’ mediating God’s blessings, and a “holy nation” showing the world a better way.

The bible teaches us that Jesus established God’s kingdom through his work and ministry. You may recall some of his first words were that the “kingdom of God had come near” through his very presence. Jesus demonstrated Kingdom realities in his interactions with diverse people. The establishing of God’s rule and reign through people just like us, who by God’s own work are made to be a “kingdom of priests” and a “holy nation”. Jesus then taught us to pray: “Your kingdom come, and your will be done on earth as in heaven.” I mean just read Exodus 20 and the Ten Words (Commandments) and think what a world would look like that acted like these utterances describe.

So, at the season of Advent/Christmas we remember and celebrate the arrival of God, “the word made flesh” who invades the world and brings order to our chaos, and the world’s confusion, through Jesus.

Does your understanding of Jesus need to broaden this season? 

It what way(s) does your living point to the "better way" to live that the Kingdom of God declares?

STAND FIRM .... BE STILL

 DECEMBER 13, 2022

Exodus 13:13-14

“Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today… The lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”

No sooner had the Israelites left Egypt then they faced a challenge: The Red Sea ahead and the Egyptians behind. Have you ever faced anything like that?

Isn’t it interesting that in this situation of roadblocks, a fear producing experience, God tells his people I’ve got this, stand firm … be still. I don’t know what it is like for you in these situations of feeling surrounded with seemingly no way out, but “stand firm … be still, is not my go to response. Is it yours? Is it not the case that we are more likely to busy ourselves to find a way of escape, we spring into action, we practice “don’t just stand there do something.”

In this case, our reading today tells us that “stand firm …. Be still” is the pathway through the trapped experience. Why? Well, it says “the Lord will fight for you.”

I am becoming more and more aware that I need to do more Standing Firm and Being Still in my living and to “wait on the Lord” and let God do what God does best, look after his people with love, grace, and power. I know I have said before in this series, but it fits here too. I wonder if God does not say to us, “Don’t just do something, stand there.” When we do, we are witnesses to God’s amazing works.

PSALM 37:7

"Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret . ...."

 

Isaiah 40:31

“But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”

Psalm 33:20-22

“Our soul waits for the Lord; he is our help and our shield. For our heart is glad in him, because we trust in his holy name. Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us, even as we hope in you.

AMEN!

I WILL FREE YOU

 DECEMBER 12, 2022

Exodus 6:6

“‘I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. I will free you from being slaves to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment.”

The Israelites had been in slavery for centuries. They were worn down. Their hope had nearly run out. But God made them a promise, "I will set you free." God then demonstrated his ability to keep that promise through unbelievable signs, that ultimately would lead to Israel’s release from Egyptian slavery.

Moses was a messenger with great news. God was promising to free His people, yet hopelessness kept them from accepting that promise. The Bible says, “... they refused to listen anymore. They had become too discouraged by the brutality of their slavery” (Exodus 6:9, NLT).

Are there stretches in your life where you get so caught up in what’s happening around you, that hopelessness causes you to find it hard to believe God’s promises or God’s ability? We can be so blinded or distracted by our circumstances we fail to listen or hear when the God speaks. God keeps pursuing us the same way He kept pursuing Moses and His people in Egypt.

This is a remarkable truth don’t you think? God keeps pursuing us, in our hopelessness and the resulting deafness to God’s promises, he keeps reaching and speaking. You see God wants the best for us. What he promises to do in our lives is “to our good.” And over time, as we lean in and listen, we begin to find the truth of God’s promises. The God who promised and delivered freedom to the Israelites still says to us now, “I will free you.” At Christmas we celebrate Christ who entered our world to set the captives free.

THINK IT OVER

What, stops you from hearing from God?

What do you need to be liberated from?

UNEXPECTED ASSURANCE

 DECEMBER 11, 2022

Exodus 3: 11-12

“Moses said, ‘WHO AM I to go to the king and lead your people out of Egypt?’ God replied, ‘I WILL BE WITH YOU.’”


Moses faced two questions at once “Who is God?” and the question of his own identity, “Who am I? You see God was asking Moses to be a leader of his people, who were under the stifling and oppressive rule of a harsh king. God’s intention for Moses was to lead the people out of Egypt, away from the ruthlessness of Pharaoh. 

Let us admit that was no small calling. Moses response was he didn’t meet the requirements for such a task. I picture Moses with his eyes darting in all directions looking for a way to escape this divine call. Moses had recently returned from many years in exile where he had been an ordinary shepherd; he was getting up there in age; add to this that he was a foreigner. By Moses calculations and assessment of the task Pharaoh had the upper hand.

God’s intention was to take Moses’ focus off his perceived inability and have him place his focus where it should be, on God’s ability. God’s plan, that included Moses, was to be a savior and a rescuer for His people. Here again, the creator God makes a bold promise. God says that his presence would guide Moses, sustain Moses, and assure him of a positive outcome.

Like Moses, we also struggle with the questions of “who we are” or “who God is” when we face difficult, stifling, and oppressive situations. Who is God then in those moments? Moses received an unexpected answer to this very basic question, God’s word of assurance: “I will be with you.” During this Advent/Christmas season we have our eyes focused on God’s promised deliverer who came to us in “the word made flesh” and through his coming he says to each one of us that his presence is with us too.

I wonder if we can be so focused on our perceived inabilities and shortcomings that we miss the great reality that God is our savior and is always present with us. Can we see God as our Redeemer and guide? Do we live out of the amazing truth of what the apostle Paul wrote about, “I can do all things through Christ who gives me the strength”?

Let us trust God’s words of assurance today! “I will be with you.”

THE HEART OF COMPASSION

 DECEMBER 10, 2022

Exodus 2:6

“She… saw the baby. He was crying, and she felt sorry for him. ‘This is one of the Hebrew babies,’ she said.”

The Israelites are being oppressed by the Egyptians. Even so, Pharaoh, the Egyptian king, is worried that if they keep multiplying, they will overthrow him. Pharaoh tells his people to throw every baby boy born to the Israelites into the River Nile.

A  baby boy is born to a certain Israelite woman, but she manages to hide him for 3 months. When she can no longer hide him, she makes a bassinet-boat, lays him in it, and puts it among the reeds at the river’s shore. Pharaoh’s daughter finds the baby in the basket among the reeds, and as he starts to cry, her heart melts, even though she recognizes him as one of the very babies that her father wants killed.

That moment. That moment Pharaoh’s daughter felt something pure and good within her heart, but understood something dreadful in her mind…what was that like for her I wonder? Was she conflicted about what to do? Obey her father's edict or rescue this tiny Israelite baby. What to do, what to do!

Have you ever had this kind of conflict within yourself? I find it very interesting how God used someone who didn’t even seem to know him, who came from a family that actively worked against him and his people, to achieve his purpose. God used a women with a compassionate heart to save Moses and in that very moment, continued his purposes and plan. God’s great story continued. This story would continue with a baby born in Bethlehem who would teach us compassion in a new way, compassion even in the midst of violence and brokenness.

How might God use your compassion?

ANOTHER CHANCE?

 DECEMBER 9, 2022

GENESIS 50:20-21

"’You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives’ …he reassured them and spoke kindly to them.”


Do you ever compare yourself to others? It’s a silly question in the age of social media, but take a moment to think about a time when you acted out in jealousy or perhaps when someone was jealous of you.

Now let us think of a man named Joseph who grew up in a family with many brothers. He was favored by their father and his brothers couldn’t bear this favoritism. At the height of their sibling rivalry, Joseph’s brothers ganged up on him and sold him into slavery. Let that sink in for a minute: they sold him into slavery!

After many painful years, Joseph finds himself in a position of power over his family in their time of need, and he chooses the unexpected. He chooses to extend grace and forgiveness. He chooses to give a second chance to his brothers.

This beautiful Bible story is only a glimpse of the story of grace that would later unfold in the life of God’s Promised Messiah. This One would show us how to forgive instead of retaliating. When betrayed by the people closest to him, this One would show us how to love the people who are supposed to love us, but instead hurt us. He would live out a peace that demonstrates how to respond to others in conflict.

I wish I could say that I always follow this example!

Do you give second chances?

Or do you tally up how others have wronged you in order to get even?

I Corinthians 13:4-7

“no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I’m bankrupt without love.

Love never gives up.
Love cares more for others than for self.
Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have.
Love doesn’t strut,
Doesn’t have a swelled head,
Doesn’t force itself on others,
Isn’t always “me first,”
Doesn’t fly off the handle,
Doesn’t keep score of the sins of others,
Doesn’t revel when others grovel,
Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,
Puts up with anything,
Trusts God always,
Always looks for the best,
Never looks back,
But keeps going to the end.”

DIVINE DREAMS

 DECEMBER 8, 2022

Genesis 28:14-15

“…All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring. I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go… I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”



Sometimes the consequences of choices and decisions can be a heavy weight to carry. This is clearly the case with Jacob. As he leaves home in search of a wife and to sort out his way in this world, Jacob leaves fearing his brother Esau would kill him for taking away his birthright, and his blessing. It is in a dream that Jacob hears God’s promise to include him in the covenant He made with Abraham and Isaac. God has promised Jacob a secure future and although Jacob believes his dream and declares that place to be blessed, his response is still more like a business transaction. We read that if God provides the things Jacob needs, he will follow God. 

Before we are too critical of Jacob, lets consider the fact that his response is such a common human reaction to situations that result in fear and uncertainty, to try to offer God our devotion if He will only help us out with our problems. Can you relate? Been there done that?

The rest of Jacobs’s life is not one of ease and calm. He would know hardships and trials, fear, and grief. What is very striking is that God’s promise to Jacob is bigger than Jacob’s problems. In the times when Jacob worried, he reminded himself (and God) that he was included in God’s promise. Many of us have doubted God's faithfulness at times only to look back and see how God was working things out for good in a way we did not expect. Who could have anticipated that the fulfillment of God’s promises to Jacob would be through the birth of a baby in an animal stall?

When it feels like God isn’t keeping His promises to you, what do you do?

Proverbs 3:5-6

Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight.

WAITING .... WAITING ..... PROMISE FULFILLED

 DECEMBER 7, 2022

Genesis 21:7

“Who would have said… that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne [Abraham] a son in his old age.”


We have all gone through periods of waiting in our lives that seemed like they would never end? The Bible has many stories of people having to wait, wait to be delivered from their enemies, wait to be delivered to a new land, wait to meet the promised Messiah.

Abraham and Sarah waited a long time to have a child. Are you ready for this? Sarah was 91 years old and Abraham 100 by the time they had a baby. This couple had endured decades of disappointment from their inability to have children. 

This was no doubt more difficult considering God’s promise to Abraham when he called him. Do you recall in Genesis 12 the covenant that God makes with Abraham includes the promise “I will make you into a great nation.” In Genesis 17 God again says to Abraham “You will be the father of many nations. ... 6 I will make you very fruitful; I will make nations of you, and kings will come from you.” In another place angels and the Lord came to Abraham and told him that "his descendants would be more than the stars in heaven.” Promises, Promises. Still no offspring.

Sarah was in a stage of life well beyond her childbearing years, and yet God kept making them an unbelievable promise. Their wait seemed endless! And yet, we read their story and discover that God was faithful to his promise. 

Isaiah 30:18 encourages us by reminding us that,

the Lord waits to be gracious to you;
therefore he will rise up to show mercy to you.
For the Lord is a God of justice;
blessed are all those who wait for him.

See that promise? All who wait for him are blessed.

What is your heart waiting and longing for?

Isaiah 46:4

Since the day you were born,
I have carried you along.
4 I will still be the same
when you are old and gray,
and I will take care of you.
I created you. I will carry you
and always keep you safe.

THAT'S IMPOSSIBLE ISN'T IT?

 DECEMBER 6, 2022

Genesis 12:2-3

“I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you… and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”

After 75 years of age can someone still change the world? For 75 years Abram worked the same job, in the same country, the same way his father had. He was destined to live an ordinary life and be forgotten in time. No son, no legacy, and no impact. But God had a different plan. He could have used a big powerful king to set up His great nation, but instead He chose a childless unknown man from Ur.

You see when God steps in, things change. The childless couple become a nation, the unnoticed become famous, and the insignificant change the world. It feels like in the Biblical accounts that God loves choosing everyone’s last choice. 

Being someone considered insignificant, who plays a minor role seems to be the very person God wants to use. That's tremendous news because that means God's blessing is not limited by our abilities, our status, or our vocation. 

God chooses to bless from the least to the greatest because that is the kind of God He is. It’s how God has always been. 

God chooses the 75 years-old childless man and his wife, Sarah to start a nation, the youngest and smallest of Jesse's son's to rule a country,  a teenaged girl from the country to raise the Savior of the world, and then called fishermen to start a movement. 

God wants to bless us and He invites us into His amazing plan. The only question is: will we follow Him into "the crazy impossible, and amazing adventure" He is inviting us into?

PRESENCE

 DECEMBER 5, 2022

Genesis 11:4

“Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves”

Do you ever worry life is out of control? It's an experience common to all of us, isn’t it? There is an old story from the Bible about some builders. This tower of Babel, which even non-Christians are probably vaguely familiar with, is often thought to be about human pride. However, there is another consideration I wonder about. In the ancient world, a world where life seemed like it might always be on the edge of chaos (floods or drought) it was thought necessary to get the gods on their side. A tower was a way of inviting a god down into a city to protect it. The Creator God, condemned this idea, and offered a different approach.

Ancient people worried about life and its uncontrollable chaos, just like we do. They wanted to take control by arm-twisting the gods into attending to their needs. Our God doesn’t work like that. You can’t arm-twist or even sweet talk God to make him do something you want. You can ask, though. And God does promise us his very presence in our life, his grace, mercy, and care when we walk the Jesus way. There are no easy answers to the problems of this life, yet we have a God that took on a physical body to be with us. He understands you and me. That’s the story of Christmas. John 1:14 says “the word became flesh and moved into our neighborhood”. (The Message)

How would knowing you have the very presence of God in your life be a comfort and give you hope? What would change for you in life?