It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter. Proverbs 25:2

Archive for December, 2023

We Have Been Given Good Tidings of Great Joy!

The first words to humanity by the angel were, “Do not be afraid.” The Good News that Christ the Savior of the whole world is born. All people of every nation, tribe and tongue can rejoice with great joy knowing they too have been given an opportunity to receive a Savior who will redeem them from their sins.

Luke 2:10-11 Then the angel said to them, “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. NKJ

When Adam sinned and heard the voice of God in the garden, his first words were “I was afraid.”  God had already warned Adam that the consequences of his disobedience would be death. From the beginning when Adam sinned against God, all mankind has lived in fear. In fear of death, in fear of lack, in not having enough, and in fear of God, because of sins.

Genesis 3:9-10 Then the Lord God called to Adam and said to him, “Where are you?” So he said, “I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself.”

God did not leave us in our hopeless state, but at the right time, in the fullness of time God sent His Son. The Eternal God, the Almighty God Jehovah, the Creator of time, stepped into time.  Elohim the Creator and Sustainer of all that exists, became like His creation, born of flesh, to live in obscurity as a person of insignificance to the kingdoms of this world.    

Galatians 4:4-5 But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.

Hebrew 1:3 who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

All humanity was living in darkness, only the Hebrew people had access to the words and the knowledge of Jehovah. Yahweh, the Almighty God had made a covenant with Israel to be their God, and they would be His people, and would represent Him in the earth. Israel was to give this knowledge to the world so that they would know how to come to God and be changed by their faith in God. 

Jeremiah 33:8-9 I will cleanse them from all their iniquity by which they have sinned against Me, and I will pardon all their iniquities by which they have sinned and by which they have transgressed against Me.   Then it shall be to Me a name of joy, a praise, and an honor before all nations of the earth, who shall hear all the good that I do to them; they shall fear and tremble for all the goodness and all the prosperity that I provide for it.’

The leaders and pharisees of the Jewish community lost sight of God’s command for them to be the light in dark places.  Instead of being open and being a light of the news of God’s great love for mankind and to show the people how they could turn from idolatry, Israel chose to separate themselves and be selective in their teaching. The leaders and pharisees instituted various hierarchies and divisions giving knowledge of God’s word to select and prominent men while leaving those of low esteem, laborers, shepherds and fishermen with limited knowledge.     

Luke 2:13-14 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

Now, we are all given an opportunity to be set free from the bondage of sin and death, and to no longer be an outcast and alienated from God. God gave His Son Jesus to pay the price of our sin debt, so that we may be able to be born into the family of God. However, this is still a choice, whether to receive this great gift is up to every individual person, and the decision is of their own will. God will not force anyone to be saved, but his eternal call is still there saying, come to Me all who are weary with heavy burdened and He will give them rest.

Matthew 11: 28-29 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given;And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. NKJ

What great news, what good tidings and what great joy for all humanity, to know that every person born in sin, now has a chance to choose to receive Jesus as their Savior and Lord and to be at peace with God and mankind.

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An Attitude of Gratitude and A Spirit of Thanksgiving

As Followers of Christ, we display many attitudes and attributes such as love, mercy, grace and forgiveness. Of all the attitudes we may exhibit, the attitude of gratitude and gratefulness will have the most profound effect on our lives in regard to our psyche, our health, our family, and our overall happiness, as we live this life on earth. It is hard to be affected by negative influences when we live with a spirit of gratefulness, appreciation and thanksgiving but our thankfulness must be rooted in the person of Jesus Christ.

Isaiah 26:3-4 You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. Trust in the Lord forever, for in Yah, the Lord, is everlasting strength. NKJ

Our attitude of gratitude and thankfulness comes when we focus our attention on the person, Jesus Christ, and all He has done for us. When we were still sinners and at enmity and hatred toward God, living for our own selfish concerns, God’s love and mercy chased us down and captured us, and because ofHis love He saved us. We are now blessed all the more with Hisprovision and protection, because we are now part of Hisfamily, the family of God!

Romans 5: 8-11 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation. NKJ

Colossians 1:21-22 And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight—

A spirit of thanksgiving and gratefulness must be developed, it is not something that comes naturally. We all are born with a selfish nature, as we see in most young children, they cry for what they want and everything “is mine.” It is part of the fallen human condition, but as followers of Christ, God has set us free from that old nature and we have been given a new one which imitate Christ. We are given the Holy Spirit of God and we are filled with His nature, which is transforming us into the image of His Son, Jesus. 

2 Corinthians 3:17-18 Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.   But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.

 

We should no longer allow the trials of this world to influence our spirit, our thoughts or our lifestyle. God has given us an everlasting hope which is in Christ, so no matter the situation or circumstances we view them through the lens of the Gospel of Christ and His truth. God will never leave us or forsake us, and in Him we are more than conquerors. The lives of the followers of Christ are mysteries to the world because they cannot understand our joy, our peace or our hope. It is Christ living in us, He is our hope and our glory for we are forever with Him, both now and eternally.  

Colossians 1:26-27 the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints. To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. NKJ

James 1:12 Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. 

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Rejoice always, pray without ceasing,in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

The trials we face will introduce us to our own strengths and weaknesses. So let us be strong in the Lord and the power of His might. It is in the midst of chaos that the light of Jesus shines in dark places.  It is our perspective on the eternal life we have in Christ and our attitude of thanksgiving and gratitude, which will allow us to persevere with peace. 

Romans 8:37-39 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.  For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Because we know God has the situation and we are more than conquerors. We will wait and see how the Lord will settle the matter.

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