HIS GOSPEL IS PEACE DAY 8

 

December 8, 2024

 

Matthew 17:6-8

When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were terrified. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Rise, and have no fear.” And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only.

 

The apostles had seen many things in their time with Jesus: the blind given sight, the deaf given hearing, the dead given life, and more. Today, though, they had the most splendid sight of all: only Jesus. When they were overcome with fear at the sight of the transfigured Lord, Jesus calmed them with his words. Then they saw the Jesus they had walked, talked, and eaten with. They saw the Jesus they knew well who was fully human, and yet not like the rest of them. They saw Jesus and only him.

It’s hard to see Jesus in this life, let alone only Jesus. There is just so much to hear and see. And yet, the most blessed thing of all is to see Jesus and to see Jesus only. And that happens solely when he calms us with his words. And so we do well to open our ears and to focus our eyes. And when we see Jesus only, we see everything else rightly again. We see a world given to us in Christ; we see Christ in our neighbor; we see Christ as our beginning, our present, and our end.

Jesus is not just "only"; He is everything! In our deepest fears, confusion, and distractions, it is Jesus who can direct our gaze towards Himself and offer words of comfort, for His voice is still heard today. He is the Savior, foretold by prophets, born in Bethlehem, and it is because He came for us that we can "stand up and fear not."

HIS GOSPEL IS PEACE DAY 7

 

December 7, 2024

Matthew 8:26

And he said to them, “Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?” Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.



The storm must have been fierce. The seasoned fishermen, who thought they knew the waters intimately, were caught off guard. As evening fell, the notorious sharkia winds of Galilee descended, overpowering their boat. Tossed by the waves, the disciples' are filled with fear.

“Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!” (v. 25).

Jesus’ response to his disciples’ fears was immediate: “And he said to them, "Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?" Then Jesus stood up and "rebuked" the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.” What strikes me about this event is that the disciples were saved not because of their great faith but despite their lack of it. In reality, it was at their most desperate moment that help came. Jesus words, as always, were reliable and more powerful than their worries. Jesus told the wind and the waves to "shut up", (at least that is the meaning of the greek word here) banishing their fears with his authoritative word. The disciples were amazed. “Who is this man?” they asked. “Even the winds and waves obey him!”

Advent signifies the time when God sent his son, the manger-born king to deliver us from despair, even in our darkest moments. The Word incarnate (John 1:14) arrived at the darkest point of night, when all hope appeared gone: "The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness, a light has dawned" (Isaiah 9:2).

Jesus casts out the night in and around us, and through God's promise being fulfilled, we are held "in the grip of his grace", we are freed from fear and despair. "In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." (John 1:4-5)

Thanks be to God!

HIS GOSPEL IS PEACE DAY 6

 

December 6, 2024

Isaiah 26:3

You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.



It seems that peace is a short lived experience in life. Each day, we are faced with events and circumstances that contradict the notion that everything is right, all is well. Don't you find that peace is here one moment and gone the next? Peace feels neither perfect nor long lasting.

How, then, can we ever have perfect peace?

To understand what the Prophet Isaiah is saying in 26:3, you must go back to chapter 25, verses 8 and 9: “He will swallow up death forever; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces, and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth, for the Lord has spoken It will be said on that day, “Behold, this is our God; we have waited for him, that he might save us” (Isa. 25:8-9).


We need to notice that the perfect peace Isaiah is talking about comes from outside of us. It comes from hearing the promise that God has swallowed up death, taken away all our sins, and saved us. It is a "gospel peace". It is a grace gift given to us. 

This peace does not hide itself when life is hard 

This peace does not hide itself when temptation wins. 

This peace has promised never to leave or forsake you. 

This peace is a person. 

This peace was born in Bethlehem. 

This peace is Jesus Christ, the perfect one, and your perfect peace.

LET US PRAY

God,
thank you for the peace that comes only from the work
of your Son and help me to trust in all that you have
promised me in him. Amen

HIS GOSPEL IS PEACE DAY 5

 December 5, 2024

 

Isaiah 9:6-7     

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

 

WOW, the prophet Isaiah compresses a profound message of boundless hope for the world within just a couple of verses. 

The hope of peace? Yes. 

The hope of conquering fear? Yes. 

The hope of justice and righteousness? Yes. 

This hope of all people, of all times, everywhere is riding on the shoulders of a single person, well child.  All eyes are on a child, a Son, who is born for us and given the name Jesus.

He is a Wonderful Counselor who, even as a twelve-year-old, amazed the teachers of the law with this understanding. (Luke 2:47) He is the Mighty God, fully divine with his Father, who “emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men” (Phil. 2:7). He is the Everlasting Father in that he, with a father's love, beckons us to come to him, to receive from him compassion, forgiveness, and a place in the family of God. He is the Prince of Peace, who gives us peace “not as the world gives” (John 14:27), but a peace that “surpasses all understanding,” which guards our hearts and minds against all assaults from forces of evil (Phil. 4:8).

Isaiah says this is a royal child who will sit “on the throne of David,” a fact confirmed when the angel Gabriel said to Mary that her child “will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David” (Luke 1:32-33). Gabriel adds, “Of his kingdom there will be no end” (1:33), echoing what Isaiah had already said, “Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end” (Isa. 9:7).

In Christ, we are made children of this kingdom. He reigns over us in love. His throne is one of grace. All our hopes are in him, and in him, all our hopes are certain.

HIS GOSPEL IS PEACE DAY 4

 

December 4, 2024

 

Isaiah 8:12-13 

Do not call conspiracy all that this people calls conspiracy, and do not fear what they fear, nor be in dread. But the Lord of hosts, him you shall honor as holy.  Let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.

 

 

The goal of the Christian life is not to live fearlessly.

Rather, it is to have the right kind of fear.

It deeply troubles me, probably you too, that we live in a world of widespread fear. Everywhere we look, we read, or we hear people crying, “The sky is falling".  Have you found this unsettling? In politics, for example, candidates tell us that the universe will come crashing down if you elect their opponent that they are the only hope of holding things together. Fear is everywhere: fear of judgment, fear of death, fear of failure, fear of war, fear of environmental disaster, fear of the past, fear of the future, fear of rejection. 

You add to the list . . . .

Choose faith over fear is often the Christian response to this dread and angst. That seems rather simple, doesn’t it? Yet there is problem, as I see it, left to our own devices we seem to lean into fear more than into faith. Perhaps there is a reason some form of “Fear Not” is one of the most common phrases in all of Scripture. So, if faith over fear is not the answer, not the solution what is?

These rather interesting words from the prophet Isaiah speak profoundly to all this, “Do not call conspiracy everything this people calls a conspiracy; do not fear what they fear, and do not dread it. The Lord Almighty is the one you are to regard as holy; he is the one you are to fear…” (Isa. 8:12-13a). Remember, the fear of the Lord" in the Bible speaks of awe and wonder of who God is, "Holy Awe", I call it. Now do you hear the message in Isaiah 8? God is reassuring his prophet that the fears infecting the people hold no staying power because God is bigger and stronger than them.

Furthermore, in Jesus Christ, who Matthew's Gospel says, "bound the strong man" (Matt. 12:29), God has demonstrated his solidarity with us. He is for us, and “if God is for us, who can be against us?” (Rom. 8:31b).

HIS GOSPEL IS PEACE DAY 3

 

 December 3, 2024

Psalm 112:6-8

For the righteous will never be moved; he will be  remembered forever. He is not afraid of bad news; his heart is firm, trusting in the Lord. His heart is steady; he will not be afraid, until he looks in triumph on his adversaries.

 

Psalm 112 can’t properly be understood apart from Psalm 111.

Psalm 111 is about God’s faithfulness. The reformer Martin Luther cherished it and encouraged Christians to do the same. God is a God of his word. He will do what he says. His promise is certain. This is the foundation on which Psalm 112 builds.

Psalm 112 shifts our focus. It tells us about the person who trusts in God, who knows and believes that God is a promise keeper. This, person says Psalm 112,  is blessed. There is nothing that compares to the fulfillment of God's promises. You see the Advent/Christmas season teaches us that all God's promises are fully realized in His incarnate Son, Jesus, who was born of a virgin and lived, died, and was resurrected for us. I believe that's what the Apostle Paul meant by

For no matter how many promises God has made,
they are “Yes” in Christ.
And so through him 

the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God.

The promise of God, Jesus, is firm and unwavering , and therfore, so is the person who places their trust in Him.

“In the end, it will all be good. And if it isn’t good, it isn’t the end,” this phrase catches the spirit of our verses from Psalm 112. Through trust in the God who is "the same yesterday, today and forever", the God who is a promise fulfiller from start to finish, who is unmoved and unchanging concerning what he has promised, We "the righteous" of Psalm 112, are unmoved as well. We are steady. And we will triumph in the end, because we are God’s and God's victory, is our victory in the end. Psalm 112 emphasizes something that brings us strength and comfort, God never forgets, he loves to remember the righteous, and so the righteous are never forgotten.

Our God is the God of Psalm 111. Psalm 112 describes you and me because it describes Christ, in whom our life is hidden through faith, in whom we now have life and live. As one writer put it, "The goal is not to make Psalm 112 true of you. The point is to realize Psalm 112 is already true of you. We don’t actualize these words. We get used to them." Amazing Grace isn't it!

So be encouraged today. Know your God. Know that he remembers you. He graciously sees you, and in him our heart is steady; we will not be afraid. With the Apostle in 1 Corinthians 15:57 we say "thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."

Amen

HIS GOSPEL IS PEACE DAY 2

 

 December 2, 2024

 

Psalm 46:1-3 

God is our refuge and strength, a very-present help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear, though the earth gives way, Though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling

 

As we pass through the various stages of life, the phrase, “You are in trouble,” carries a different meaning. As children, we fear being “in trouble” with our parents or maybe a teacher. If you were anything like me, getting “in trouble” was an ongoing temptation during my teen years. Then, into our twenties, thirties, forties, and beyond, being “in trouble” can mean a lengthy list of  unwelcome experiences in which trouble is a very present reality.

What we require daily, and with a measure of urgency, is a "very present help in trouble" (Ps. 46:1). In the Hebrew of the Old Testament Psalm 46:1 suggests: "a help in tight times is abundantly available." Truth is, during challenging moments, when we feel surrounded by difficulties, in tight times, times of trouble, we seek help, don't we? This help, according to the psalm, is found in "God [who] is our refuge and strength" (Psalm 46:1).

But we have a little difficulty with this. God is not really “the Answer” we are looking for. What we look for is for God to provide us with a stategy, a to-do list would be nice, right? Give us  something, anything that we can do to deal with our difficult issues of life. Some action steps. But here in our reading there isn't anything like that. The psalmist simply says,  "God is our refuge. God is our strength.”

Advent reminds us that God's strength comes to us as a humble baby, wrapped in swaddling clothes. His refuge is given to us in his weakness.

It is only in Christ alone, the refuge of those in a tight spot, the strength of the weary "whose forms are bending low", that we can say, “Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its surging” (46:2-3). The Psalm suggests that we will not fear when the waters are turbulent, unstable and rough, because of who is with us. When it feels like the roarimg and foaming waters are closing in, the outstretched arms, of God with us, on the cross stops them. When we are full of trembling, aprehensive and anxious inside and outside, the empty tomb of our risen Lord of life bolding declares to us that no matter what, in Jesus, who came to us and who we now wait for to come again, all is well and all shall be well.

Because Jesus is our mighty fortress, as the EHV puts it we have “a helper who can always be found in times of trouble”. That's good news isn't it. Rather than fear, anxiety, and worry, driving our life, we can stand and lift up our heads because we are the beloved children of God, who  is our refuge and strength, a very-present help in trouble.

Thanks be to God!

God, 

when trouble seeks to overwhelm us, send your Spirit

to carry us to Christ, our refuge and strength. Amen

HIS GOSPEL IS PEACE DAY 1

 

December 1, 2024

Joshua 1:9

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened; and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

Be strong and courageous. At times we take God’s commandment to be courageous as something to muster up rather than something revealed to us. We bring out our Christmas trees, deck the halls, and try to muster a spirit of cheer and good tidings, just as we attempt to display our own courage.

But God isn’t commanding Joshua to pull courage from "thin air." Instead, the courage God commands, and the end of fear, is based on the certainty of the promises that precede it:

Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given to you, just as I promised to Moses. From the wilderness and this Lebanon as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites to the Great Sea toward the going down of the sun shall be your territory. No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you (Joshua. 1:3-6).

Now remember, this isn’t the first time God has made this promise: “Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you.” In fact from the very beginning, despite their rebellion and their fear, God has been with his people. 

He has sought them out (Gen. 3:9), 

he has remembered them (Gen. 8:1), 

he has blessed them (Gen. 12:1-3), 

he has delivered them from slavery, 

and he has gone before them (Deut. 31:3).

Here is GOOD NEWS, in the midst of our uncertainty, worries and fear, God does the same for you and me as he did for Joshua: he does not leave us, nor does he forsake us. He doesn’t ask us to be courageous on our own. In this season of Advent, we are reminded that through a baby born in a manger, fear has been emptied of its power; you are his, and his strength is yours.

GETTING READY for ADVENT

November 29, 2024

Philippians 4:7

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

To be human is to understand what it means to fear. A tiny child trembles at the darkness of night; even a celebrated star harbors a dread of losing their fans' love. Our society is rife with fear—wars, strife, dangers, crimes, the uncertainty of elections, and the wavering trust in governance. It's a lengthy list, indeed. We are intimately acquainted with fear.

The season of Advent helps us long for a different reality: one ruled by peace rather than fear.Christ’s birth and the promise of his second coming means peace is breaking through. Jesus, the Son of God came into the world surrounded by our struggles, tribulations, despair, and fears, not merely to comfort us but to end that which we fear the most.

This is why the psalmist can boldly say, “We will not fear, though the earth gives way.” (Ps. 46) It is why one of Jesus’ common refrains is “Fear not.” It is why the Apostle Paul proclaims that the peace of God guards and rules over the hearts of his people, as a verse today reminds us. The Biblical message is that our Prince of Peace comes to live for us, die for us, and rise for us.

In Jesus living, dying and rising, he overcomes death itself, cleanses us of our sin, defeats the evil one, and makes us righteous. Through faith in Immanuel, "God with us," we are promised eternal life, finding that in Christ alone, fear gives way to peace.

The message of Advent is that despite our worries, anxieties, and very real suffering, we have a God who stands determined to give us his peace "which transcends all understanding." (Phil. 4:7)

Thanks be to God!!

LIVING WATER

 

NOVEMBER 28, 2024

JEREMIAH 2:13

My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water. 


There is something spectacular about fountains and waterfalls.We travel to see them, and we sit mesmerized, listening to the water gurgle, fall, and flow. Something about a fountain (or spring or babbling brook) seems to calm our spirits. 

What is it about fountains that captures our fascination? Maybe it's the refreshing coolness and the mist that offers a break from the sweltering heat of summer. It could be the mystery of its never-ending water flow and the pool's neverending refilling that holds our attention. Or, it might simply serve as a calming break from the hustle and bustle of the world surrounding us. One thing's for sure: fountains have a way of easing stress and breathing life into our days. This may be the reason that fountains have become fixtures in malls, hospitals, and airport waiting areas. 

It is not surprising, then, that God would call Himself “the spring of living water.” He is a constant, endless supply of refreshing life. He delivers peace and relaxation, joy and contentment. God constantly refreshes and fills the our hearts and minds with renewal.

In John 4, when Jesus met the Samaritan woman at Jacob's well, he found a woman who had suffered greatly, having lost five husbands to death or divorce, and was then living with a man to whom she was not married. Jesus offered her the ultimate treatment: living water. "Whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst," in these few words Jesus promised to quench her thirsty soul once and for all. And Jesus promises you and me the very same relief.

I heard a wonderful song recently, Jesus, Strong and Kind, and the lyrics say:

Jesus said that if I thirst
I should come to Him
No one else can satisfy
I should come to Him

For the Lord is good and faithful
He will keep us day and night
We can always run to Jesus

Jesus, strong and kind

If you are seeking refreshment, feeling "withered and dry" come to Jesus and drink. There, you will find eternal comfort for your weary heart.

Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.”

John 7:37-38

TODAY'S PRAYER

God, I often get so consumed with my hurts and struggles that I forget to pursue fulfillment in You. Help me realize I will never quench my soul’s thirst apart from the relief  You offer. Amen.

OUR GOD IS THE ANCIENT OF DAYS

 

November 27, 2024

Daniel 7:9

“As I looked, thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took his seat. His clothing was as white as snow; the hair of his head was white like wool. His throne was flaming with fire, and its wheels were all ablaze.” 

In our worship liturgy and songs, we often refer to God as the Ancient of Days. This name invites the question: What was God revealing about Himself in Daniel's vision? And what significance does it hold that God is called the Ancient of Days?

This description of God as the Ancient of Days  inspires awe, worship, confidence, and humble submission. The Ancient of Days carries the idea that God is the holy, the ageless and timeless One, that God is perfectly wise, and has the power and authority of one who rules.  The message is that God existed before time began. He alone is Creator and Ruler and Judge of the universe. He is the Everlasting God.

There is a similarity between the words of Daniel 7 and those in Revelation 1 where John emphasizes that Jesus' existence did not begin in the manger at Bethlehem. Instead, He is eternally one with God the Father, sharing in His divine nature and power. ( John 1:1-14) 

Jesus boldly stated to a group of Pharisees, “Before Abraham was born, I am!” (John 8:58). You see Jesus professed to be the same eternal, omnipotent, sovereign, holy, wise, and gracious being that Daniel witnessed, with an important distinction, Jesus was not a character visible in visions, but rather actively living among us, as described in John 1:14. The word made flesh!

The name "Ancient of Days" provides a rich background for worship, revealing our God as ageless, timeless, and perfectly wise. Our God reigns with power and authority and is treasured as the "Holy One." As God's people we believe that such a God, ever-present and at work in ways we connot see, will guide us through even the most challenging times. Amen? AMEN!!

TAKE AWAY QUESTION

How does your current understanding of God, compare with this Biblical view we have looked at today? 

What difference might it make if we were to live everyday with the truth that Our God is the awe-inspiring Ancient of Days?

MERCY? THIS IS HARD TO COMPREHEND!

 

November 26, 2024

Nehemiah 9:17

They refused to listen and failed to remember the miracles you performed among them. They became stiff-necked and in their rebellion appointed a leader in order to return to their slavery. But you are a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love. Therefore you did not desert them.”

Recognizing a need is only half the battle; finding the right help is the real game-changer.  When a friend recommends a top-notch doctor who is taking patients, a trustworthy mechanic, a reasonable plummer, or electrician, we are so thankful.It seems that we are all on the hunt for that advice that leads us to the help we seek.

In a spiritual sense, we all need a skilled restoration specialist. In our verses today, the God's people knew this and theu depended on God to provide the forgiveness they needed. Celebrating solemn festivals was one method they used to keep their reliance on God at the forefront of their thoughts.

At these religious festivals, the people of God acknowledged their sins and their urgent need for forgiveness, and the spiritual leaders would stand in front of the people and through song direct their attention to "Elohay Selichot" which means "the God who forgives."

Their song (recorded in Nehemiah 9) details God’s faithfulness to His people. Now if you think about God's faithfulness to his people its breathtaking and maybe hard for us to comprehend. If you know the story, the Old Testament people of God had a long track record, which one commentator describes as more like a rap sheet, of being hardheaded, hard-hearted, prone to forget, and eager to rebel.

At one point, they were ready to forget God and his promises and return to a life of slavery and captivity. I think most of us if we experieced this in our relationships we would be ready to "cut ties" with the people. I believe, all things considered, God could certainly have been justified in disciplining the people, and "cutting ties" because of their and lack of gratitude and their disrespect.

I want us to notice God’s character in our passage today. Pay attention to His actions. Instead of anger, He is full of grace. He oozes with compassion and floods His chosen ones with an ocean of love. And why would the creator do this? Because He is "Elohay Selichot"; "the God who Forgives". 

Maybe your life today is marked by guilt and shame. You are overcome by regret. You fear that God is going to get you. Punish you is someway. Perhaps you are waiting for the gavel to fall, and are dreading the treatment you know deep down you deserve. But Wait.

Good news! God is "Elohay Selichot". “He does not treat us as our sins deserve” (Psalm 103:10). He forgives. In Christ He has provided a way for us to be fully and finally forgiven.

I invite you to lift your eyes, and see the One whose grace is greater than all your sin.

Do not allow your own feelings of shame and guilt to blind you to God’s mercy.

TODAYS PRAYER

God, when the shame and guilt of my actions and decisions make me want to run and hide from You, help me remember that You are slow to anger and full of compassion, and that You offer full forgiveness. Amen.

 

WHO ARE YOU?

 

November 25, 2024

 Exodus 3:14

“God said to Moses, "I am who I am. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: I am has sent me to you.” 

Living in self imposed exile in Midian because he had killed an Egyptian and in fear he ran. While tending sheep, Moses encountered a burning bush and, in that experience, met God firsthand. God’s message to him was to go back to Egypt and lead his people to freedom. Now let us remember the context of this call. For nearly four hundred years, the children of Israel thought their God had abandoned them,  or was vacationing, or died. 

Think about it not long after Abraham had been introduced to God, and received the  “great Nation” promise, his descendants, found themselves slaves in a foreign land. Slaves!  A promise had been made, that they would be a mighty nation and possess the land of Canaan. But their reality was that they were slaves in the land of Egypt.

In response to God’s call to lead his people to freedom, Moses asked, “Who should I tell them sent me?” God answered, “I AM.” I Am. The meaning is powerful, even when translated into English. To say “I am” means “I exist.” But as a name, it also suggests timelessness, self-sufficiency, changelessness.

 God also said to Moses, “Say to the Israelites, ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you.’

“This is my name forever,
    the name you shall call me
    from generation to generation.

Now we need to notice that God’s people during the time of Moses may not have been aware of the presence of the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob, but God still knew all about them. He knew they would struggle to believe in a God who can’t be seen, a God who transcends time.  He knew they would be inconsistent and faithless, and that they would need constant rescue from the consequences of their own foolish choices. And still He set His affection on them.

We are constantly asking God questions:

Are You able to see me?
Are You going to help me?
Are You willing to forgive me?
Or the big “Why? question” in our hard places.

To all our questions, God answers, “I AM.”

Let Us Pray

I Am, I believe You are the one true God who is near and never changes, though I do not understand completely. Your promises will never fail me. Help me to rely on Your presence, God, and to trust in Your constant faithfulness. Amen.