Advent 15

 God can be trusted to bring about what we do not understand. He orchestrated the physics of space and time to make the birth of Jesus happen. He chose the right time in history as planned from the beginning, selecting the most unlikely parents and geography. He moved the brought star into place at the right time, visible to the wise men, communicating a strong warning to them. Why did He do all this?  Because He loves us. Our Father is in control of what we are incapable of grasping but He gives us the choice to respond to Him. His love is gentle and humble, not doecing anyone to obey.

“What a paradox that a babe in a manger should be called mighty! Yet even as a baby, Jesus Christ revealed power. His birth affected the heavens as that star appeared. The star affected the Magi, and they left their homes and made that long journey to Jerusalem. Their announcement shook King Herod and his court. Jesus’ birth brought angels from heaven and simple shepherds from their flocks on the hillside. Midnight became midday as the glory of the Lord appeared to men.”  - Warren Wiersbe

Name If Jesus a Problem

 The name of Jesus has always been divisive. From the beginning, different groups have been for Him, against Him, and indifferent to Him.

For some, Jesus is a nonentity in their lives. Matthew 2:4 says, “ Assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, [H erod] inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.” The priest tell Herod—and that is that—back to business as usual. We hear of nothing else. Given the magnitude of what was happening, the sheer silence and indifference of the priest were overwhelming...

For some, Jesus is a problem. Jesus threatens their way of life and the kingdom they have built around themselves. Matthew 2:3 says, “When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.” Herod’s afraid. So afraid that he schemes and lies and then commits mass murder to get rid of Jesus. Why? Because Jesus is a threat to his way of life.

For others, the name of Jesus brings joy and praise. Matthew 2:10-11 says that "when they [the wise men] saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. And going into the house, they saw the Child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him”

When faced with Jesus, there are only three responses: you want to ignore Him, kill Him, or worship Him. As a Christian, Christmas should be the time we ponder what it means—what it costs—to worship and follow Jesus.

Humility

 

Romans 12:16

 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight.

HUMILITY LOOKS GOOD ON EVERYONE

REFLECTION

Jesus is the King of Kings, yet He arrived as a humble servant. Humility is not thinking you are less, it is never forgetting the fact that it is Jesus who made you more. So, how do you become like Jesus? How do you develop a spirit of humility?

Humility is the byproduct of being with Jesus. Anyone who walks intimately with Him will not think more highly of himself than he should. To be loved by Jesus and invited into a relationship with Him, is all we need to right-size ourselves and to assume His gentleness and grace.

To be humble doesn’t mean you have to be weak. God has given you all you need to live confidently as His. The proud will never truly lift up God’s name in praise. Yet He raises the humble to new heights.

MEDITATION AND PRAYER

A Private Litany of Humility

From the desire of being praised, deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being honored, deliver me, Jesus.

From the desire of being preferred, deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being consulted, deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being approved, deliver me, Jesus.

From the desire of comfort and ease, deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of being humiliated, deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of being criticized, deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of being passed over, deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of being forgotten, deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of being lonely, deliver me, Jesus.

From the fear of being hurt, deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of suffering, deliver me, Jesus.

That others may be loved more than I,
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be chosen and I set aside,
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be praised and I unnoticed,
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.

O Jesus, meek and humble of heart, make my heart like yours.
O Jesus, meek and humble of heart, strengthen me with your Spirit.
O Jesus, meek and humble of heart, teach me your ways.

O Jesus, meek and humble of heart,
help me put my self-importance aside
to learn the kind of cooperation with others
that makes possible the presence of your Abba’s household. Amen.

 

Adapted from a prayer by Rafael,
Cardinal Merry Del Val, 1865–1930

Advent 14

 King Herod must have been a ruthless insecure cowardly leader. His insane murderous intent was matched with his deception and distortion of motives. He wanted absolute control of anything that would undermine his authority. I wonder how many times I have not faced up to my temptations to protect myself through a distortion of fact, or an enhancement of telling a story. But when we face the King of kings, every word and motive will be exposed. The more I grasp how much He loves us, why should I wait to get my life in line with His kingdom. 

“You see, the Advent story reminds us that our past, present, and future hope rest not on our willingness, but on the willingness of the One for whom the angels sang, the shepherds worshiped, and the magi searched. Willing Jesus is the only hope for unwilling sinners!” - Paul David Tripp, Come, Let Us Adore Him: A Daily Advent Devotional

Advent 13

 The wise men searched for Him. What clues did they have about the new born King?  Who gave them the information to inspire the trip? They knew enough to be compelled, driven to travel and ask questions. How strong and intentional am I to search for Him, His kingdom, and His righteousness?  Am I looking for in all the wrong places?  Let’s pray that our immediate and extended families experience His during Advent. May our hearts be on fire for Him, that others can catch the spark to ignite a fire in their heart. 

“the Advent story reminds us that our past, present, and future hope rest not on our willingness, but on the willingness of the One for whom the angels sang, the shepherds worshiped, and the magi searched. Willing Jesus is the only hope for unwilling sinners!” - Paul David Tripp, Come, Let Us Adore Him: A Daily Advent Devotional

Advent 12

 Either God is sovereign over every single thing that is or He is not sovereign at all. There is no in between. But do I really believe this in my personal life?  Either He is orchestrating all  issues and events beyond what I understand for His purpose or He isn’t.  If He isn’t, life is certainly full of despair and discouragement. But since He is over all and in all issues, we have a hope that surpasses hope. Our Father has had a plan from the beginning of time and He is working in the here and now moments for His purpose. His love is a sure foundation to live in the here and now with a great hope for each tomorrow. 

“…the great author of history’s plot determined that the overarching theme of His story would not be judgment, but grace. And He knew that if the story were to be a grace story, the central character would have to be none other than His Son. Only the divine Son of God would be up to the task of living a perfectly righteous life in the middle of sin and suffering, dying an acceptable death that would satisfy His Father’s holy requirements, and rising out of the tomb of His death as the author of eternal life for all who place their trust in Him.” - Paul David Tripp, Come, Let Us Adore Him: A Daily Advent Devotional

Advent 11

 How could a person reject such awesome love that is offered by the Creator of the universe?  The scriptures plainly say that the message of Christmas divides humanity. Either we believe or we don’t. But I often wonder what is involved with the quality of belief identified by John 3:16. Is the message of Christmas being communicated clearly to a noisy world that is divided on a long list of issues?  So many consider Christmas message much like Santa Claus as a cultural tradition?  How can we be observe this round if celebrations with a message of love, hope and faith? Will our cake rations with family and friends be an intense worship and devotion to the King of kings?

“No priest, no theologian stood at the manger of Bethlehem. And yet all Christian theology has its origin in the wonder of all wonders: that God became human. Holy theology arises from knees bent before the mystery of the divine child in the stable. Without the holy night, there is no theology. “God is revealed in flesh,” the God-human Jesus Christ — that is the holy mystery that theology came into being to protect and preserve.  If Christmas time cannot ignite within us again something  a love for the wonder of the manger,  the son of God,  the mysteries of God, then it must be that the glow of the divine mysteries has also been extinguished in our heart and has died out.” - Dietrich Bonhoeffer, God Is in the Manger: Reflections on Advent and Christmas