"....HE APPEARED SO THAT...."

"But you know that He appeared so that He might take away our sins.  And in Him is no sin."  (1 John 3:5, NIV)

Out text is an also a great "Christmas Story."  All my sins "disappeared" when Jesus, the Babe in the manger, "appeared."

The Carol declares that, "....the hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight."  Man's "hopes and fears of all the years" are self-destructive, full of self-centeredness, self-reliance.  Both are driven by sin, rebellion against the Living Triune God.  Jesus, "appeared," however, in those "dark streets" of Bethlehem, "....so that He might take away our sins."

 

No matter the "hopes" and "fears" in life, because of our Lord Jesus Christ, "Immanuel, God with us," we can live as David declared so long ago, "The Lord is my Light and and my Salvation; whom shall I fear?  The Lord [Jesus Christ] is the Strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid."

Father, in Jesus' Name, I so thank You that, "....He appeared so that He might take away our sins."  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

DO WE MAKE OTHERS JESLOUS?

"....if by any means I may provoke to jealousy those who are my flesh and save some of them." (Romans 11:14)

Paul desperately wanted his fellow Jews to surrender their lives to Jesus Christ. He apparently believed that the Gentiles beginning to follow Jesus just might, "provoke to jealousy," the Jews, not just by the conversion of said Gentiles, but also by something of what they saw in those surrendering their lives to Jesus, viz., the fruit of the presence of Jesus in His Followers. 

I had a thought: Do people see in me something of Jesus Christ that makes them "jealous" of what/Who I have in Jesus Christ in me?  When is the last time someone said to you and me, "I want what you have?"

Father, in Jesus' Name, I pray that the salt and life, which You say I am, would create a desire in others to know You.  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

THE MOTIVATION OF SERVICE

"For I have no one like-minded, who will sincerely care for your state.  For all seek their own not the things which are of Christ Jesus."  (Philippians 2:20, 21)

I was a senior in high school when I heard John Kennedy's famous words, "Ask not what your country can do for you.  Ask what you can do for your country."  

Paul is making a similar challenge in our text to the Philippian Church.  Timothy was a young man of whom Paul could say, "....who will sincerely care for your state" (This should be true of all of us).  As for others, "....all seek their own...."  Our Lord Jesus Christ once declared to those who were self-seeking, "But I am among you as One Who serves."  Too many church-goers select a particular local church based on what that church can do for them.  Others do so based on how they can do their particular "ministry."  If they can do "their thing," they stay; if not, they leave.  

Today I say to all of us Followers of Jesus: Ask not what your local Church can do for you.  Ask what you can do for that Church.  

Father, in Jesus' Name, I pray to be as Timothy.  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

THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST IN THE CHRISTMAS CAROLS

"And the Word became flesh and dwelled among us."  (John 1:14a)

As we sang some of the Christmas Carols in our recent church service, I was reminded of just how many of them express wonderfully the Gospel accounts.  Here are a few of them:

"Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing."   

"Veiled in flesh the Godhead see, Hail the incarnate Deity, Pleased as man with man to dwell, Jesus, our Emmanuel."

"Yet in thy dark street shineth the Everlasting Light."

Hence, my prayer today is, 

"Yea, Lord, we greet Thee, born this happy morning, 

Jesus, to Thee be all glory giv'n

Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing,

Oh come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord."  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