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Thursday, December 24, 2015

"....For the Former Things Have Passed Away"

"Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and first earth had passed awayAlso there was no more sea....And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, 'Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people....And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor cryingThere will be no more pain, for the former things have passed awayThen He Who sat on the throne said, 'Behold, I make all things new.'" (Revelation 21)

The Baby in Bethlehem's stable was One Who brings forth, "new."  There is the New Birth, the, "new creation."  It is as the NIV Bible declares, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!"  The Living Triune God is the God of, "new."

There is a very real sense in which the appearance of, "Immanuel, God with us," as a baby in a stable was very, "new," to philosophers and theologians.  God becoming a baby did not compute with their reasoning.  Theirs was human reasoning, very limited.  When Nebuchadnezzar dreamed and was perplexed as to its meaning, he demanded that the theologians interpret it.  They responded, "No one can reveal it to the king except the gods, and they do not live among humans."  This is religious theology of all religions, including Islam.  Jesus was telling John, however, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men...."  What the shepherds and the kings visited was indeed, "a new thing."

But the Blessed Trinity is not through with, "new," yet.  We read that some day there will be, "a new heaven and a new earth."  I simply have very little idea what that may mean.  Maybe it is a little of what my Grandpa Barnette saw in his last moments before he left this life.  Whatever he saw, I saw in his face, "Behold, I make all things new."  Death is not so much about the "old" passing.  It is rather, "Behold, I make all things new."

If you are saddened this Christmas Season because of those whom you knew and are no longer here, as the song says, "over joys departed, tell it to Jesus."  Encounter Jesus in our text, for our text is Jesus' Words.  There can be no greater joy to a human being than receiving the, "God-Breathed," Words, "And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor cryingThere shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away."  There is a "now-ness" in our text, but there is also the yet-to-come.  What we can live in now is what the Bible tells us, "For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil."  At the Cross, in His Blood, His Death and Resurrection, Jesus did just that.  And how about this for a Christmas present? "There shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying.., no more pain." 

Father, in Jesus' Name, no greater gift than Yourself in Jesus and the immutable, "things to come."  Amen. 
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Read what the German is doing this Christmas Season:   jhs58.blogspot.com

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

Wednesday, December 23, 2015

Enjoy But Beware

"Rejoice, O young man, in your youth, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth; walk in the ways of your heart, and in the sight of your eyes; but know that for all these God will bring you into judgment." (Ecclesiastes 11:9)

This was my "Wisdom Literature" reading for today.  How sobering is this?!?  The CEB says, "Rejoice, young person, while you are youngYour heart should make you happy in your primeFollow your heart's inclinations and whatever your eyes see, but know this: God will call you to account for all of these things." 

There is a "gospel" today which proclaims that no matter what we did in the past, Jesus will make everything okay.  You lived a life of reckless financial practices?  No problem; God will cancel your debts.  You lived primarily "for the moment?"  No problem; God will cancel all those bad decisions and cure your past.  You treated your spouse/kids/fellow workers with contempt?  Again, no problem.  When you get saved, they'll all forgive you and love you unconditionally.  To such I say, How's that working?

From what I see in the Bible, I have no doubt that our Lord Jesus Christ intended good for mankind, not bad.  "Enjoy this wonderful Garden.  Feast on all the produce.  Enjoy the scenery.  And multiply yourselves; I want many people in my Kingdom.  And by the way, just stay away from," well, you know.  Our text could well be called a "prime directive."  If you read the first three chapters of Genesis, you see that, "The Word of God," was in the, "and indeed it was very good," business.  We can see this in, "....let your heart cheer you...."  Yet this only "works" if my heart is Jesus' Heart, as in, David, "had God's heart."  If such a heart is not in me, then, "Follow your heart's inclinations and whatever your eyes see," will not end well.

I believe our text reveals Jesus' intent for humanity, "....and indeed it was very good."  Mankind, however, attempted to pursue, "Your heart should make you happy in your prime," with a selfish heart, a heart of, "I'll do it my way."  This disastrous course is why history reveals a baby in an animal stable in Bethlehem. 
"Yet in thy dark streets shineth the Everlasting Light."  Regardless the mess we have made of our lives in, "Follow your heart's inclinations," His Name is Jesus, "for He will save His people from their sins."  We will still have to pay our bills and repent of how we have treated people, but forgiveness for sin is ours in Jesus, "Immanuel, God with us."

Father, in Jesus' Name, help me to pursue "the good life" with Your Heart.  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

Tuesday, December 22, 2015

I Have Medicine For A Broken Heart

"....He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted...."  (Isaiah 61:1b)

The baby in that feeding trough was a healer.  No one who was to encounter Jesus would ever walk away without their broken heart healed.  Maybe there was/is no dancing around, no shouting, but there will always be broken-heart-healed when Jesus enters that heart.  And, let Jesus determine what that healing entails.

There are probably times when you wonder, "Who really cares about me?"  I remember that when my Mom died, the thought occurred to me, "The last person whom I know prayed regularly and earnestly for me is gone."  Well, I'm sure that is not true, but do not fret when that kind of attack comes upon you.  A sense of aloneness can grip us at any time.  The loss of loved ones, a sense of abandonment, as well as rejection, betrayal and so many other human maladies can break one's heart, but remember, "He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted"-------- "Glory to the New-Born King."

Everything Jesus did while walking among the people of the Land of Israel in the First Century, CE, revealed an "otherness" about Him.  This should be the hallmark of our lives too.  The sin nature we all "inherited" wants us to live our lives in a self-centered manner.  Thinking of the other, being sensitive to their feelings, etc., can too easily be pushed out of our lives in preference for our way, our will, our contentment.  It's the old adage, "I only care about number one."  Yet in the Blood of Jesus, His Cross and Resurrection that nature was destroyed, "Sin shall no longer have the dominion over you."  The selfishness which so easily rules in others does not have to rule in us if we are under the authority of, "Christ in us...."  We become those who look for hearts to heal.

While so many spend their lives just taking care of themselves, manipulating others for their comfort and contentment, you and I have another life directive.  Because Jesus Christ lives in us, the work for us is His work, "He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound."  Look across the table tonight and start there.

Father, in Jesus' Name, please do Your Work of, "heal the brokenhearted," through me.  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

Monday, December 21, 2015

Light Or No Light-- Our Choice

"The light of a lamp will never shine in you again." (Revelation 18:23a)

Our text reveals the end of the nations which have rejected Jesus.  Later in the Book, however, we read of our City, "They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light."

The nations have rejected, "The Light of the world"; hence, they are rejected, left as those sinners of Sodom, going around in the attempt to find someone to lead them.  America is such a nation.  Having systematically rejected the Words of Jesus and the Prayer of Jesus for its young people, which was just symptomatic of the culture's rejection of the reign of Jesus, America's political scene is full of people walking in darkness attempting to lead people who are walking in darkness.  Judgment is manifest in abandonment.

The carol speaks of Jesus, "Yet in they dark streets shineth the everlasting light."  Jesus told humanity, "I am the light of the worldHe who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life."  There is no stumbling, groping for direction, blindness in a world full of the blind for the one whose trust is Jesus Christ.  Whatever semblance of "light" was in the nations will go out completely in the judgement coming on the whole earth.  I tell you, I am clinging, trusting, relying more and more on our Lord Jesus Christ.  The world situation will get worse.  Yet the situation of the Followers of Jesus just gets better.

Father, in Jesus' Name, thank You for such great promises to those who, "walk in the light as He is in the light."  Amen.
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Read of what is happening in Germany in light of the "refugee crisis" at:  jhs58.blogspot.com

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

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