"Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, 'The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!'" (Revelation 11:15, from today's reading)
On the first "Christmas," an angel also, "sounded." He said, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord." Then his brethren joined him, "a multitude of the heavenly host praising God...." This was the First Appearing of, "our Lord and of His Christ." To say Jesus' First Appearing was humble is an understatement. "The first Noel the angels did say was to certain poor shepherds in field as they lay." Then as the shepherds said, "Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us," they left their flocks and, "came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger," an animal's feeding trough-- hardly the birth "fit for a king." But, the kings of the earth are not as our King. "Their rock is not like our Rock," nor, "the kingdoms of this world," as, "the Kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ." Ours is a Shepherd/King.
The Bible is full of the phrase, "'The days are coming,' says the Lord, 'when,'" and, "that I will...." Throughout the centuries man has laughed at, discarded, railed on such promises/prophesies of the Lord Jesus Christ. We will all "see," won't we? The only "proof" we have of the certainty of Jesus' Words is, "faith...the substance (steadiness, support, a guaranteeing, reality) of things hoped for ( expected, anticipated) the evidence (proof, test) of things unseen." Those of us who are of, "the faith of Jesus," are those who believe/receive/act upon the "God-Breathed" Word. We are the steady, supported, guaranteed, real, expecting and anticipating, hence, very secure people; and whether alive or, "fallen asleep in Jesus," at Jesus' Second Appearing, we will be a part of the rejoicing, praising multitudes in Eternity who will be, even as we are now, a part of that great, "Kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ."
Father, in Jesus' Name, thank You for Your angelic "soundings." Amen.
On the first "Christmas," an angel also, "sounded." He said, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord." Then his brethren joined him, "a multitude of the heavenly host praising God...." This was the First Appearing of, "our Lord and of His Christ." To say Jesus' First Appearing was humble is an understatement. "The first Noel the angels did say was to certain poor shepherds in field as they lay." Then as the shepherds said, "Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us," they left their flocks and, "came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger," an animal's feeding trough-- hardly the birth "fit for a king." But, the kings of the earth are not as our King. "Their rock is not like our Rock," nor, "the kingdoms of this world," as, "the Kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ." Ours is a Shepherd/King.
The Bible is full of the phrase, "'The days are coming,' says the Lord, 'when,'" and, "that I will...." Throughout the centuries man has laughed at, discarded, railed on such promises/prophesies of the Lord Jesus Christ. We will all "see," won't we? The only "proof" we have of the certainty of Jesus' Words is, "faith...the substance (steadiness, support, a guaranteeing, reality) of things hoped for ( expected, anticipated) the evidence (proof, test) of things unseen." Those of us who are of, "the faith of Jesus," are those who believe/receive/act upon the "God-Breathed" Word. We are the steady, supported, guaranteed, real, expecting and anticipating, hence, very secure people; and whether alive or, "fallen asleep in Jesus," at Jesus' Second Appearing, we will be a part of the rejoicing, praising multitudes in Eternity who will be, even as we are now, a part of that great, "Kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ."
Father, in Jesus' Name, thank You for Your angelic "soundings." Amen.
When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"
Hebrews 12:2
Hebrews 12:2
