GIVE THE KING YOUR JUSTICE

January 10, 2024

 

Psalm 72:1

Give the King your justice, O God, and your righteousness to the King’s son; that he may rule your people righteously and the poor with justice.




Last week as I was preparing for Epiphany Sunday service, I read through Psalm 72, a suggested Psalm reading for Epiphany worship. We did not read it in our service but its words have been on my mind. Today, I saw a headline that said most Canadians think our Prime Minister should step down before the next election, I saw another headline that called into question the US President’s competence, then there were headlines about other world leaders, Netanyahu, Putin, Kim Jung Un, and others. Most articles were pointing out the flaws and inabilities of these world leaders. Remember, I had the words of Psalm 72 floating around in my mind, so I found myself comparing these articles to this Psalm.




Psalm 72 is an earnest prayer for a leader. I wonder how often we pray for our political leaders. The leadership blueprint of Psalm 72 is clear.

· Lead with God’s justice.

· Defend the needy among the people.

· Rescue the poor and crush the oppressor.

· Deliver the poor who cries out in distress and

· the oppressed who has no helper.

Outcome of such a leader is that,

· The righteous shall flourish, and

· there shall be an abundance of peace

· Enemies and foes will bow down.

· lives will be redeemed from oppression and violence.

And nature, the mountains, the hills, the abundance of grain, and elements of gold shall bring prosperity to the people.

This is God-shaped justice according to Psalm 72.

This is a Old Testament leadership model

that I think we all could get behind.


What does justice look like for you today?

How can we, in all that we do, wherever we are, lead and live with this kind of God-shaped justice?

How might we incorporate some of Psalm 72 in our prayers for national leaders and international leaders? What if we just prayed that our Country’s leaders would lead with God’s justice? What might God do in their lives? and our national lives?

Give the King your justice, O God, 

and your righteousness to the King’s son; 

that he may rule your people righteously and the poor with justice.

Read all of Psalm 72 below.

 As you do consider how you can incorporate 

its words into your life?

Endow the king with your justice, O God,

the royal son with your righteousness.

2 May he judge your people in righteousness,

your afflicted ones with justice.

3 May the mountains bring prosperity to the people,

the hills the fruit of righteousness.

4 May he defend the afflicted among the people

and save the children of the needy;

may he crush the oppressor.

5 May he endure as long as the sun,

as long as the moon, through all generations.

6 May he be like rain falling on a mown field,

like showers watering the earth.

7 In his days may the righteous flourish

and prosperity abound till the moon is no more.

8 May he rule from sea to sea

and from the River to the ends of the earth.

9 May the desert tribes bow before him

and his enemies lick the dust.

10 May the kings of Tarshish and of distant shores

bring tribute to him.

May the kings of Sheba and Seba

present him gifts.

11 May all kings bow down to him

and all nations serve him.

12 For he will deliver the needy who cry out,

the afflicted who have no one to help.

13 He will take pity on the weak and the needy

and save the needy from death.

14 He will rescue them from oppression and violence,

for precious is their blood in his sight.

15 Long may he live!

May gold from Sheba be given him.

May people ever pray for him

and bless him all day long.

16 May grain abound throughout the land;

on the tops of the hills may it sway.

May the crops flourish like Lebanon

and thrive like the grass of the field.

17 May his name endure forever;

may it continue as long as the sun.

Then all nations will be blessed through him,

and they will call him blessed.

18 Praise be to the Lord God, the God of Israel,

who alone does marvelous deeds.

19 Praise be to his glorious name forever;

may the whole earth be filled with his glory.

Amen and Amen.

WHOLE or HOLE?

 

January 9, 2024

Psalm 119:2-3

Blessed are those who keep his statutes
and seek him with all their heart—
3 they do no wrong
but follow his ways.



I read the following quote the other day, “The difference between being whole and having a hole in our hearts is a “W,” and that “W” stands for worship”. Perhaps this is what the Psalmist was trying to get at in Psalm 119, that it makes a difference who or what we worship. It matters who or what we “seek” with all our hearts. That the path our life journey takes, whose ways we follow, can make the difference in whether we live in a place of wholeness, completeness or Shalom or in a place trying to find the missing piece, a life lived that feels empty, disordered and incomplete.

I suppose, the question becomes: who or what do you worship? What is the story you follow? Is it a story of babies being born from barren wombs, faith the size of mustard seeds that can move mountains, or a teenager who slays giants? A story of hope about how a life in Jesus conquers death, brings new life, transforms, and gives an expectant world view.

Our Psalm today says that in seeking God with our whole hearts, we bring our everything to God: the light and the darkness, the joy and the despair, the shame, and the pride. God knows the desires of our hearts. The bible reminds us that no secrets are hidden from God. And so, we seek to follow God’s ways and keep God’s statutes, not perfectly and not without stumbling. We do pursue and chase after God. To Worship him in spirit and in truth. To live life, being “whole” versus living life with “a hole in our hearts.”

The Psalmist is saying that authentic life and joy are found when what we say we believe is reflected in what we do in our lives, that points to the story we live by.

Psalm 63

1 You, God, are my God,
earnestly I seek you;
I thirst for you,
my whole being longs for you, …”

 

 

RENEWED VISION

 

JANUARY 8, 2024

John 1:2-3

“He was in the beginning with God.

All things came into being through him,

and without him not one thing came into being.”



Oh, the beautiful Creation!! God is all around, revealing God-colors and God-sounds and God’s wonderful designs. This is true no matter the season, yes even in Winter. Even in the lightest dusting of snow, where the fresh fallen snow sits resting on the barren branches of trees, or lays undisturbed on our lawns. How about the cool designs that frost leaves on our windows? Doesn’t the appearance of the Sun even for few hours in those darker days of winter lift our spirits toward our Creator.

Our reading says that "All things came into being through God and without God, not one thing came into being." What if we looked at the world through this lens? What if we looked at life, people, and situations through "God-goggles"? I wonder, how that would change the way we treat each other, the natural world around us, and even ourselves. Pause and reflect on such a notion, what might be different if we viewed “all things” that we encounter daily as revealing God’s presence, as signs that point to the experience of Immanuel: God with Us.

Perhaps our prayer today might be to ask the Holy Spirit to help us to look around with great intention and humbleness, to see the world the way God sees it.

Here is a challenge for us today, look in the mirror and think about seeing yourself as God sees you. What changes in your view of the image in the mirror?

FORWARD into LIGHT

JANUARY 5, 2023

Numbers 8:1-3

The LORD said to Moses, 2“Tell Aaron that when he sets up the seven lamps in the lampstand, he is to place them so their light shines forward.” 3So Aaron did this. He set up the seven lamps so they reflected their light forward, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.

 

Have you noticed that the scripture story, and the history and events it describes are going somewhere, they are moving God’s story of revelation forward. Repeatedly God’s word encourages us to have hope for what is ahead. We experience this during Advent and Christmas, when we both look back at the Old Testament scriptures of the past, and at the same time we read them with our eye on the future. That is what fills us with such hope as we light candles and sing songs like “Hark! The Glad Sound the Savior Comes”, or the longing and hope and promise in one of our favorites “Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus”.

We witness this forward emphasis in God’s instructions to Moses regarding Tabernacle worship in the Old Testament. It is fascinating that God told Moses to have Aaron position the lamps in the Tabernacle in such a way that the light was projected forward, not backward. (Details are important to God) There certainly are lessons here for us––life principles we need to understand and embrace.



Here are a few:



· God’s light is found when we look forward, not backward.



· God has something positive ahead for us––His light is drawing us to our future, not to our past.



· God’s light always goes before us.



· We are invited to live with a forward-focus.


God lights our way. Psalm 119:105 reminds us that God’s “word is a lamp for our feet, a light on our path..” Psalm 27 says “The LORD is my light and my salvation” Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” When with the Apostle Paul we determine to “forget what is behind and press on into what is ahead” we find and experience that the past, is just that, past. When we decide to walk in the light we journey in hope. From God’s perspective, yesterday’s experiences whether they are great moments or moments we would like to forget, do not need to be an obstacle that keep us from pursuing and knowing the thrilling future full of great promise(s) that God has for us. One of the special verses that I often call to memory that helps me stay focused on looking ahead is found in Isaiah 43:18-19 where God says through the prophet “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness.” So, let us lean into “Forward Living.”



“God today I pray, that you would help me to know that your light shines ahead of me. I ask that you help me stop wasting time, energy and focus on what is behind me. Help me to turn my focus to what you have ahead for me. I thank you that your light illumines a path for my future. Help me to daily walk in your light. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”

RESPONSIBILITIES

 

JANUARY 4, 2024

Matthew 2:13-15a

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." And he rose and took the Child and His mother by night and departed to Egypt and remained there until the death of Herod.

Isn’t it surprising, as we read the story of the birth of Jesus, how much trust God put in Joseph. Look at today’s reading, when Jesus' life is threatened, God doesn't strike king Herod down, or carry Jesus to safety in a whirlwind. Instead, He speaks to Jesus' earthly father Joseph. God speaks to him in a dream, warning him about Herod's plans. God trusts him with the safety of the Son of God Himself.

And Joseph comes through. Joseph listened. Joseph did what God told  him. Joseph leads Jesus and Mary safely out of the country. As a father, Joseph does everything in his power to keep his little family safe. He doesn't expect praise for it. He just does it.

That's true for us as well. We all have responsibilities God has given to us, in our families, in our neighborhoods or churches, at work. What we do may look tiny, ordinary, what any decent and honourable person would do. Remember that God is using us, even when we can't envision how.

This isn't surprising, is it? For a God who came down from heaven to earth to become a Man, a carpenter, a traveling teacher, and healer? What Jesus did, He did with all His love and obedience, whether it was healing the sick or rescuing and restoring the people of the world through His death and resurrection. And now God trusts us with His work in the world, just like he trusted Joseph.



God, show me what You want me to do, and I will obey. Enable me by the help of your Spirit, to fulfill my responsibilities faithfully, that you would be glorified. Amen.

 

LEAD ME, GUIDE ME

JANUARY 3, 2024

Matthew 2:9-10

After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the Child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.



The experience of the Wisemen must have been difficult and troubling. They saw the star and traveled expectantly to the king's court in Jerusalem, expecting to meet the new "king of the Jews" among Herod's family. Instead, they encountered a King who knew nothing, and had to bring in his staff to help him respond to the question of these travelers. I find it interesting that these Eastern travelers seemed to understand better than Herod the Messianic expectations. They were not expecting what transpired in Jerusalem.

Now the Wisemen are headed to Bethlehem. I wonder what thoughts occupied their minds. “Are we even on the right path anymore?” “Have we travelled all this way for nothing?” Perhaps this is the backdrop to their rejoicing when the star reappeared. It was confirmation that they were going the right way. They continued their faithful steps led by this Star and they found the baby King in a house instead of a palace. They saw and understood that where the infant messiah is found, Palace or house, matters not, only that their eyes behold the “new Born King.”

Does this sound like your experience as well? There are times in our own lives where things start off “bright”, only to take a difficult turn that makes us wonder if somehow, we've lost our direction or misunderstood God's will. But we haven't. As we follow faithfully, we will discover what the Wisemen did, that God is still caring for us, guiding us, holding us up, even when unexpected things happen. Even when things in life have a different shape to them than we thought, or had hoped. Remember this: Through Jesus' life, death, and resurrection, God has made us His children. He has promised to be faithful, and he won't let go of us, even when the world around us turns dark. He will lead us to our destination, as the Wisemen experienced so long ago.

God, when I don't know what to do or where I'm going, guide me and uphold me. Amen.

 

THE LIGHT SHINES

 

JANUARY 2, 2024

Matthew 2:1-3, 7-8

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." When Herod the king heard this, He was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him ... Then Herod ... 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." 

Herod was a cruel, paranoid king who had recently killed his own wife and sons when he thought they were a threat to him. And now he says, "Let me know when you find the baby, so I can come and worship him, too" What an obvious lie!

It's clear that Jesus was born into the same dark world we see around us today, a world that is not safe, where wickedness destroys human lives. We see this in the conflicts that are raging in our world don’t we? Amos 5:13 records this message from our Creator:

For I know how many are your offenses
and how great your sins.
There are those who oppress the innocent and take bribes
and deprive the poor of justice in the courts.
13 Therefore the prudent keep quiet in such times,
for the times are evil.

 

And yet God has not deserted us. He has come Himself to rescue us, to make His light shine into the darkest corners of our world. Back to Amos 5

 

14 Seek good, not evil,
that you may live.
Then the Lord God Almighty will be with you,
just as you say he is.

 

John at the beginning of his Gospel teaches that the pre-existent, eternal, and incarnate Word both acknowledges the darkness of the world and makes a promise that Jesus, the true light the enlightens everyone, shines on in the darkness and, even more, that the darkness has not overcome it.

That is different, take note, than saying that Jesus’ light vanquishes darkness, dispelling it once and forever. That day will come, but it is not yet. Rather, Jesus’ light shines on. Darkness is still there, but it has not, and cannot, overcome the light.

We are at a time when it is, I believe, so important to acknowledge the darkness of loss, grief, and fear that still permeates our world and lives. No devotion, sermon or Christmas carols can or should seek to deny that. Rather, we are reminded that the light of Christ shines on, perhaps never appearing brighter than just now, and will light our way forward. For this is the light that no darkness can overcome.

Jesus laid down His own life to make it happen and then rose from the dead. Death and evil cannot put out His light. Let us remember that death, and wickedness, and the terrible evils we witness in our world cannot destroy us either, because, as we are told in the Bible, that the Holy Spirit draws us to Jesus' light and makes us children of light through faith in Jesus (1 Thessalonians 5:5).

Lord, keep us in Your light and help us against the powers of darkness. Amen.

 REFLECT

When have you seen Jesus bring light into a dark situation?

THE WORK OF CHRISTMAS

 

DECEMBER 29, 2023

Luke 4:18-19

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor.  He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

 

When I use the words, the work of Christmas, what do you think of?

Maybe you think the work of Christmas is all the preparations and the energy that you put into trying to create the perfect Christmas experience for your family and your friends. Perhaps the work of Christmas for you is finding the perfect Christmas tree, or centerpiece for the Christmas dinner table. The work of Christmas might be untangling the tree lights, for you. Is the work of Christmas for you, the search for that perfect gift for your wife, husband, son, daughter, or mom and dad. For some, the work of Christmas maybe maintaining a joyful and expectant spirit in a season of grief, sorrow, sadness and an emptiness of heart. When I use the words the work of Christmas, what do you think of?

 

Howard Thurman, published a poem called The Work of Christmas which goes like this:

When the song of the angels is stilled,

When the star in the sky is gone,

When the kings and princes are home,

When the shepherds are back with their flock,

The work of Christmas begins:

To find the lost,

To heal the broken,

To feed the hungry,

To release the prisoner,

To rebuild the nations,

To bring peace among others,

To make music in the heart.

 

The Poem's work of Christmas, is based in the Gospel of Jesus Christ:  “…for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.” (Matthew 25:35-36)

The focus of the Bible is not on what cannot be accomplished. (Which can be my focus at times) The Bible’s focus is just the opposite. Jesus taught “…all things are possible for the one who believes.”  (Mark 9:23). Paul wrote “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13).

Repeatedly the Bible reveals that God is a can-do God: “God can do anything, you know – far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams!”  (Ephesians 3:20, The Message). 

Let’s be honest, individually, alone we can’t accomplish much of the things we are called to do. However, as a part of the body of Christ, the Community of Jesus, we can do much together.

The work of Christmas requires an attitude that with God, we can do what God calls us to do. The work of Christmas, because it is the work of Jesus, becomes for us a lifelong Christian calling. It begins by caring about the things Jesus cared about. Truly, We CAN do all things through CHRIST who strengthens US.

 

Luke 1:37

"For nothing is impossible with God."

 

Isaiah 60:1

"Arise, … Let your light shine for all to see."

 

GIFT RECEIVED

 

DECEMBER 28, 2023

Ephesians 2:8


“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.”

 

Over this Advent and Christmas season I have been doing some reflection on what the Bible is asking of me, or teaching me through the readings from Isaiah, Matthew and Luke. What I began to see was that these much-loved narratives in the Gospel’s invite us to be receivers. Now I know, that seems a bit contradictory to how we mostly respond to the Christmas message. The strong emphasis on giving and generosity is the focus.

Think of the last month in our congregation, we did a lot of giving, served free community meals, held a Community Food Drive for our local food bank, we transformed a bare tree in our entry into this colorful Mitten tree for children in our area, some of you baked cookies that we were able to share with over 40 families, and our GEMS club gave the gift of time and song to carol in our neighborhood, with all of that we still gave our financial offerings in support of our church. This is an amazing testimony to biblical motto of “it is more blessed to give than to receive.”  

What I have been wondering though, is if a greater emphasis ought to be placed on our being receivers. Reread the Matthew and Luke accounts and I believe you will notice, that the message of being receivers is boldly taught. The texts seem to go to great lengths to demonstrate that our power, talents, our capabilities, had little to do with what God was up to in Jesus’ birth.

 Commentator and Preacher Will Willimon puts it this way,

 “God wanted to do something so strange, so utterly beyond the bounds of imagination that God had to result to the strangest of means, a pregnant virgin and angels and stars in the sky to get it done.”

What I see in all the characters, all the manger people, is that all they could do was receive the amazing gift that God gave to them. It is the same for us, isn’t it? With Mary don't we respond with I am the Lord’s servant,” ... May it be to me as you have said"?

What I am trying to say is that the faith that results from such a story as the birth in Bethlehem is guidance in how to be a receiver. A recipient of what you may ask. Grace, the unearned, unmerited gift that God gives. What did the angels sing? “Glory to God in the highest and peace to those on whom his favor, (grace and goodwill) rests.

Generosity is important, we get that from God’s word and God’s action toward us in Jesus. But, receiving is equally important, and is biblical too. God comes to us and blesses us with a baby, and then invites us to see ourselves for who we really are, empty-handed recipients of a gracious God who, rather than leave us to our own devices, gave us a life transforming  gift.

2 Corinthians 9:15


“Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!”

 

 

IT'S ALL ABOUT GRACE

 

December 27, 2023

 

Titus 2:11

 

11For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people.

“For the grace of God has appeared, that offers salvation to all.” In this one verse we find a summary of the Christmas story. The Christmas Story is really at its foundation the story of God’s grace. This verse in Titus, instructs us that the event of the birth, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ is all about grace. God’s grace makes its appearance in Jesus Christ.

The appearance of grace has its purpose in the salvation of “all people.” New Testament writer Beverley Gaventa reminds us that “All people” includes sinner and penitent, persecutor and persecuted, “insiders” and “outsiders” of every type.” The point is God’s saving grace knows no limits.

Grace teaches all of us Jesus followers to wait for “the blessed hope and the manifestation of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. He it is who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purify for himself a people eager to do what is good” (Titus 2:13–14). This is a summary of Christian confidence in the future and reminds us that our celebration of Christmas, the first advent of God’s grace in Jesus Christ, is also a celebration of the promised second advent as well.

This grace first appears in the little town of Bethlehem, but this grace intends to impact the world. God’s grace comes to Mary and Joseph in a manger, is seen by Israel and the shepherds, and it is proclaimed to the wise men and to all nations. Christmas comes as the kindness and mercy of God is extended to the whole earth, for all who believe.

Let us worship Him today with a more recent song (see below), that has become a favourite of mine, as the song writer reminds us of the outcome of the birth of “our Great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.”

https://youtu.be/FiGnsqhQ6fU 

ADORATION

 DECEMBER 26, 2023

 

Colossians 1:19-20

¹⁹ For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, ²⁰ and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

 

Christmas is about hope, a hope given to humankind at the birth of Jesus that inhabits the whole world. A favourite Christmas Hymn for many is O Come, All Ye Faithful. This hymn was composed by John Francis Wade, and the hymn invites the citizens of heaven and earth to greet this Newborn King:

            “O Come All ye, faithful …” is a call to the Earth’s inhabitants.

“Sing choirs of angels …” is a command to the heavenly beings.

 

The hymn’s message is that the good news of the birth of Jesus Christ is for all of creation. Colossians 1:15-16 describes this child in the manger in this way:  he is “the Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. ¹⁶ For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.”

O Come, All Ye Faithful, is an invitation for every creature to respond to their maker with “Yea, Lord, we greet Thee …” The Word has appeared in the flesh! O Come let us adore Him!

I know the Christmas season can be rather busy and hectic, maybe even frantic at times. In the middle of all our activity let us not forget to stop and worship, to pause and give thanks for the gift of Jesus Christ, to sing, O Come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord.

Prayer

I thank you Father, that your Word became flesh and lived with us  full of grace and truth. I open my heart so it can receive the grace and truth that is ours in Jesus Christ. “O come to my heart Lord Jesus, there is room in my heart for you.”

O LIGHT DIVINE

 

DECEMBER 22, 2023

 

Luke 2:32

He is a light to reveal God to the nations, and he is the glory of your people Israel!

 

O Holy Night Fall on your knees,

O hear the angel voices!

O night divine,

O night when Christ was born!

 

While reflecting on the birth of Jesus we find much in the details that are messy, chaotic and disordered. I also find myself saying that the night Christ was born could also be considered one of the most perfect nights ever.

Think about the accounts we read each Christmas Eve, the unifying factor is that God used difficult circumstances (travelling on a rough road with a very pregnant wife) and an uncomfortable location (not even a hotel room, but a barn with only a manger to sleep in) to bring His perfect and holy Son into the world. Yes, God could have easily made Jesus’ birth triumphant, but He chose not to.

I find this overwhelming, do you? I mean the way God brought His son into the world reminds me of the way God works in my life, and yours. God works within our lives. God walks with us in all the failures, flaws, and weaknesses of our experiences. Is it not the case, that God often takes the imperfections in our lives and uses them to perfect, improve, and grow us?

Think for a moment of some of the most significant scars you carry. Painful ones. Yet have you not found that God takes the physical and emotional scars we have and transforms them, uses them to grow us into people of strength.

God also wants us to take what we have learned from our imperfections and put them into play to help others who may be struggling with the some of the same things.

Jesus was a light, the Bible teaches us, to reveal God to all the nations, and we are called to reflect that same light into our world.

Here is the teaching for us today. Do not let your imperfections, limitations, or so-called weaknesses hold you back. I really believe it is the enemy, Satan, that magnifies our pains, hurts, that hold us back. You see, God focuses on what we can become. What we can become, cooperating with God’s spirit, is the person that God designed you and me to be. Instead of being focused on our perceived flaws, why not take this approach: Surrender yourself to God and allow God to use your painful experiences to shape you into a follower that becomes light in a dark world.

 

Led by the light of faith serenely beaming,

With glowing hearts by His cradle, we stand.

The King of kings lay thus in lowly manger,

In all our trials born to be our Friend.

He knows our need— to our weakness is no stranger.

Christ is the Lord! O praise His name forever!

His pow’r and glory evermore proclaim!

His pow’r and glory evermore proclaim! AMEN

THE JOURNEY

 

DECEMBER 21, 2023

Luke 2:1-5

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with Child.

It is easy to overlook the small things. Caesar Augustus had no idea what was going on in tiny, conquered Judea. All he wanted was a tax registration; he ordered one, and that was the end of it. Augustus gave little thought to the impact of this registration, on the people of Judea.

Among those people burdened by this tax registration was a couple from Nazareth. Mary was “with Child”, in the late stages of her pregnancy, not the most ideal condition to be traveling. Still, Mary and Joseph obeyed the order, like many others, and headed to the city of David, Bethlehem.

Augustus may not have had any inkling of what was unfolding. But God did. This was the birth He had chosen for His own Son Jesus. Sure, God could have chosen another “cleaner, less messy” birth. Yet, it feels like something bigger is occurring in this birth story than initially meets the eye. Why else would the son of God be jolted and jarred along dirt roads as His mother walked or rode the long way to Bethlehem; why would it be that His mother's labor would begin at the worst possible time, before they had a decent place to stay; that the infant would be laid to sleep in a manger instead of a cradle. Is there some small yet meaningful detail we have overlooked?

I know there is the fulfillment of Messianic prophecy taking place, that underscores the faithfulness of God’s promises. That is rather important.

I wonder if the detail of the journey is what we need to sit with. Jesus journey to birth sounds a lot like a description of life, doesn’t it? Don’t you find that life is messy, we too are jolted and jarred along our paths, that the events in our life we often describe as occurring at the worst possible time, we may not lay our heads down in a manger, but we sure do have our share of uncomfortable, restless sleeps. My point today is, that Jesus journey to birth was yet another way we see him as fully human, even though he was God. His path and our path are not opposite, and therefore this baby in the manger, is able to identify and speak to the realities of life that we live with.

Looking at the Gospels I find, perhaps you note this too, in Jesus' eyes, no one is too small to matter, beyond the scope of compassion, not enemies, not the sick, not those with demons, not the poor or wealthy, not you, not me. I read this line recently, it says, “Jesus became small for us, so that He could be our Savior.” As Hebrews 4:5 says it,  Jesus was “like us in all things, except sin.”

My Advent devotions this year has been “God is in the Manger” based on thoughts and reflections of Dietrich Bonhoeffer. I conclude today with a quote from him.

For the sake of humankind, Jesus Christ became a human being in this stable in Bethlehem. Rejoice O Christian! For sinners, Jesus Christ became a companion of tax collectors and prostitutes: Rejoice O Christian! For the condemned, Jesus Christ was condemned to the cross on Golgotha: Rejoice O Christian! For all of us, Jesus Christ was resurrected to life: Rejoice O Christian!!

Joy to the world! the Lord is come!! Amen.