The Lord's Good Plan

"He was oppressed and treated harshly,

yet he never said a word.

He was led like a lamb to the slaughter.

And as a sheep is silent before the shearers,

he did not open his mouth.

Unjustly condemned,

he was led away.

No one cared that he died without descendants,

that his life was cut short in midstream.

But he was struck down for the rebellion of my people.

He had done no wrong and had never deceived anyone.

But he was buried like a criminal;

he was put in a rich man's grave.

But it was the LORD's good plan to crush him

and cause him grief.

Yet when his life is made an offering for sin,

he will have many descendants.

He will enjoy a long life,

and the LORD's good plan will prosper in his hands."

Isaiah 53:7-10 NLT

There are at least a hundred cases in the United States of innocent people who have been wrongly convicted of murder and sentenced to death row.  It's heartbreaking to see how their lives have been stolen from them and it's equally as infuriating to think that the justice system failed them so outrageously.  With all the checks and balances in place, this kind of injustice should never occur in a free country, yet it does more often than can be imagined.

Such wrongful death suits are nothing new, however.  Over two thousand years ago a similar case involving a humble Jewish teacher occurred in Roman-occupied Israel.  By all accounts this man spent his time helping others, giving them a new lease on life and showing them wonders never before seen.  He turned the religious system on its head, shaking up the status quo and calling out the hypocrisy found deep within the hearts of its leaders.  With all the good this carpenter's son from Galilee accomplished, he stepped on the wrong toes and thus was sentenced to death, death on a cross.

As infuriating as it is to see that an innocent man gave His life in such a brutal way, it amazes me to realize it was all a part of the Lord's good plan.

Offering.  The once perfect world is now tainted, corrupted and broken by the sin that came through Adam's disobedience (Romans 5:12).  Because of the wickedness of man, relationship with God is impossible.  His holiness cannot abide with such immorality as is found in His image bearers.  Thus He instituted the offering as a way to find forgiveness (Exodus 29:10-14).  So His people continuously laid their animal sacrifices on the altar as a way to find pardon for their transgressions (Leviticus 17:11).  But it was a temporary clemency at best, and only lasted until the next offense was committed, perhaps on the way home from the temple (Hebrews 10:1-3).  

Then came the permanent and eternal solution to this problem of sin.  Jesus Christ agreed to enter into the realm of men, becoming one Himself and presenting His own life as an offering for the transgressions committed by all for all time (Hebrews 7:27, 1 Peter 2:24).  His one perfect sacrifice proved to be enough to satisfy the justice of His Father, and His blood secured the forgiveness for all who repent and believe (Hebrews 10:10-12, 9:22).  Now I can be made right with God through faith in Jesus Christ and His sin offering given on the cross (2 Corinthians 5:21).  I can now find forgiveness from God for as many times as needed (1 John 1:9)!

The brutal, unjust death of an innocent Man on the cross of Calvary was all a part of the Lord's good plan to deliver permanent forgiveness to those who turn away from sin and trust in Jesus.

Gateway.  The town I grew up in was dubbed "The Gateway to Mt Rainier" since visitors to the scenic national park must travel through the small village before heading up into the hills to enjoy the recreation found there.   While this designation may have had a small influence on the local economy, the description made more of a sentimental impact on the hearts of those who took pride in the looming mountain's visual impact on the surrounding area.  The presence of the snow-covered peak made quite an impression and appeared on many logos and signs as the town's defining landmark.

Similarly, Jesus described Himself as a gateway of sorts, but not to a scenic park.  Instead, He is the only way through which one can enter into eternal life.  He is the door that leads to an everlasting kingdom with wonders untold (John 10:9-10).  By turning away from my desire to control my life my way and instead placing it all in His hands, I can discover what it is to have peace with God and hope for tomorrow.  No longer do I fear death, failure, or the future, for my destiny is secure.  By faith I have entered into the family of God and look forward to a place in His heavenly home (John 14:2-3).

The unspeakable death of an innocent Man transformed Him into a gateway through which all who repent and believe can find an eternal, satisfying life.

Victory.  The air itself is oppressive in this world, filled with particles that send the respiratory system into revolt.  Pain and suffering mark it's boundaries and all taste the agony of living in this broken world.  At the end of it all, each man must face death, and the inevitable looms as a dark and unwelcome phantom, striking dread in the hearts of mankind.  I live in a world marked by fear and oppression.

When Jesus gave His life on the cross, He proclaimed victory over sin and death.  While the world remains in a broken state, there is now a way to live in it without becoming tainted by it.  Through repentance and faith in Jesus, I can find peace despite the fact that there is so much to fear.  I can be freed from the shackles that bind me to my flesh that always leads me to destruction and instead walk in liberty as I find the new way of living in tandem with His indwelling Spirit (Galatians 5:16-26).  And as I do, I find victory over sin and the end of my life no longer is thought of with great dread (1 Corinthians 15:57, Romans 8:37).  Instead, I look forward to the reward that lies beyond as I stand firm on the promises of God.

The horrible death of an innocent Man delivered by faith victory for me over sin and death.

It seemed wrong, unjust and harsh: This Man, wrongly accused and condemned to death on a cursed cross.  Yet if I look a little closer, I discover it was all a part of God's good plan.  And as such, the sacrifice of Jesus became a sin offering that was permanent and eternal, delivering forgiveness to all who repent and believe, and served as a gateway to an everlasting, satisfying life, showing itself as the mark of victory over sin and death.  In these ways, the worst-ever scenario was revealed as the Lord's good plan.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can trust God enough to put my life in His hands.

When do I trust more in my own effort instead of in what Jesus has already done?

How do I doubt my complete forgiveness found in Christ?

     

Spiritual Eyes

"Who has believed our message?

To whom has the LORD revealed his powerful arm?

My servant grew up in the LORD's presence

like a tender green shoot,

like a root in dry ground.

There was nothing beautiful or majestic

about his appearance,

nothing to attract us to him.

He was despised and rejected--

a man of sorrows,

acquainted with deepest grief.

We turned our back on him

and looked the other way.

He was despised, and we did not care."

Isaiah 53:1-3 NLT

He didn't seem to amount to much, the son of a blue-collar working stiff from the wrong side of the tracks.  He had the kind of face only a mother could love and dressed in the most ordinary way.  Nothing about Him stood out, turned heads, or caught the eye.  He was not the kind you'd think of as a mover and shaker, a revolutionary, a Savior.

In order to see Jesus' true worth and power, to understand His purpose and mission, He must be seen with spiritual eyes, not in the way the world sees Him.  When I do, my whole perspective will change.

Beauty.  I was desperately lost.  I had foolishly led my pre-teen daughter, mother and dog out into the woods a few hours before sunset that crisp, autumn day with the intention of giving them a feel for the property my husband and I were considering as the perfect place to build a home.  As we followed a deer trail on the ten-acre parcel, I soon became disoriented and couldn't tell from which direction we came.  When we stumbled out into a unfamiliar clearing  and saw 200 acres of pasture open up beyond a barbed wire fence, I knew we were hopelessly lost.  Where on earth are we?  After stopping to pray for help, we decided to make our way toward a distant farmhouse.  When we finally knocked on the door as the sun began to set and darkness crept over the land, the stranger who responded was the most beautiful person I had ever seen.  Was she a supermodel-type with flawless skin and impeccable taste in clothing?  No.  She was just an elderly farmer's wife, but she had the information we needed to save us from our desperate state;  she knew where to find our vehicle.  With her guidance, we were soon back to our car and safely on our way back home.

Similarly, when I realize how desperate is my spiritual state, how far short from God's perfect standard are my efforts to live a good life, I know I need help (Romans 3:23).  Even worse, when I comprehend how incapable I am from saving myself from the punishment my aforementioned sins deserve and discover that the sentence for a criminal like me is eternal separation from the goodness of God and condemnation for all of eternity, I suddenly know my need for a Savior (Romans 6:23, Psalm 103:10).  As Jesus Christ emerges as the only One who can save me from the penalty my sins have earned, He suddenly is transformed from an ugly, ordinary man of no remarkable accomplishments to the most beautiful man I've ever seen (John 3:16-18).  To those who are being saved He is the Wonderful Savior who is worthy to be praised (Revelation 5:12, 1 Peter 2:9)!

When I look at Jesus through the spiritual eyes of one who is being saved, I find Him to be breathtakingly beautiful.

Power.  One of my favorite parts of being an Army wife was when our family was able to watch the demonstrations of military operations.  We would stand out on the edge of a drop zone, sheltered from the blazing-hot North Carolina sun by a stand of long-leaf pine and see amazing sights.  Cargo jets would fly low, dropping large equipment like tanks onto the field in front of us.  C-141s then filed by, depositing hundreds of paratroopers in the air, filling the sky with olive-colored parachutes.  Suddenly the most exciting part that sent a thrill down my spine came without warning; the fighter jets roared past, approaching from behind in a surprise mock attack that drew the attention of the crowd to the sky directly above us.  Those engines generated enough power to propel the jets faster than the speed of sound and caused all to instinctively cover their ears.  They were definitely the highlight of the show.

The power of Jesus is so much more awesome than those F-16s.  In fact, He has the power to transform lives from the mundane to the purposeful, to set free those held captive by their own sin, and to rescue mankind destined for eternal damnation (Isaiah 61:1-3).  Only Jesus broke the bond that sin holds over each and every human, and only Jesus triumphed over death (1 Corinthians 15:57).  Through repentance and faith in Jesus, I no longer face an eternity of suffering and the fear of death is gone.  Through Jesus, I've been given the power of hope (1 Peter 1:3-4).

When I look at Jesus through the spiritual eyes of one who is being saved, I discover His mighty power.

Majesty.  The mountain is breathtakingly beautiful in its majesty.  It rules over the entire Puget Sound area and is a familiar landmark for anyone visiting the Seattle area.  The snowy peaks of Mt Rainier are magnificent in their splendor and all who see it are amazed at the sight of her stately reign as she looms 14,409 feet above sea level.

As awesome as that splendorous peak is, nothing can compare to the majesty of the King of all kings.  His name is above all names.  In fact Jesus Christ is the only name by which man can be saved (Philippians 2:9, Acts 4:12).  He holds all things in creation together and is Himself the cornerstone of the church that is made up of those who trust in Him (Colossians 1:17, Ephesians 2:20).  Without Him, there is no life at all (John 1:3-4).  This is the true majesty of Jesus.  

When I look at Jesus through the spiritual eyes of one who is being saved, I revere Him as One who sits at the right hand of His Father in all majesty (Colossians 3:1).

Jesus is often dismissed as one who made no real impact in the world, disregarded as a no-account teacher from Galilee who never amounted to much.  According to popular opinion, He perhaps taught some good lessons and set a great example of how to live, but he can easily be dismissed as one who is worthless in the scheme of things.  When I look at Jesus through spiritual eyes, however, I find a beauty beyond compare, a power that cannot be fathomed, and a majesty that is both breathtaking and impossible to ignore.  Those who have eyes, let them see Jesus, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world!

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can drop the pretenses and look at Jesus from a new perspective.

When do I dismiss Jesus as just another teacher?

How do I disregard His power to change my circumstances for the better?    

At the Lowest Point

"Comfort, comfort my people,

says your God.

Speak tenderly to Jerusalem,

and proclaim to her that her 

hard service has been completed,

that her sin has been paid for,

that she has received from the LORD's hand

double for all her sins.

A voice of one calling:

'In the wilderness prepare

the way for the LORD;

make straight in the desert

a highway for our God.'"

Isaiah 40:1-3

Judah suffered greatly.  The people experienced tumult and chaos within their own nation, followed by the promise of exile for 70 years.  They were certainly at a low point and must have felt much despair.  As if to showcase His own heart of God, He did not kick His wayward and rebellious people when they were down. Even though they deserved it.  Instead, He offered something unbelievable.  He offered comfort, relief, and hope.  

This, too, is offered to 21st Century people immersed in a culture that has sunk to a low point.  There is blessing offered in the midst of the grief caused by unchecked wickedness.  Even though it seems there is no hope of crawling out of this pit, in Jesus, God is offering something incredible.

Comfort.  He doesn't enjoy watching His image-bearers suffer.  He is loving and kind, compassionate and patient.  But God is also perfectly holy and just, righteous and good.  He can't simply stand by and let sin ruin His creation unchecked.  Sin must be punished according to His own sense of right and wrong (Romans 6:23, Galatians 6:7).  Still, with all His heart He wants to avoid unleashing His holy wrath on any of mankind (2 Peter 3:9).  So He waits, He pursues, He sometimes introduces trials and tribulations that seem so unbearable but are designed to knock us to our knees where we will repent and turn to Him through faith in Jesus, the only way to be saved from His righteous judgement (John 14:6, Acts 4:12).

This is the heart of God.  He cannot change with the times like shifting shadows and is unable to deny any part of His character, yet His love is so strong that it drives Him to comfort the very ones upon whom He's punishing (James 1:17, 2 Corinthians 1:3).  After all, His objective is to draw people to Himself where each will find peace and fulfillment along with salvation from eternal condemnation (John 6:44, Romans 8:1, Romans 5:1).  He wants relationship with those He made who are more valuable than any other living creature.  It is man, broken and unrepentant as we are, that He wants to love.

At my lowest point, when God seems to have turned His back on mankind, He offers comfort in the midst of the pain and suffering.

Relief.  It's hard for me to pace myself if I don't know the end is coming.  If I'm enduring a grueling workout, for instance, it helps to spur me on if I can shoot for the finish line, so to speak.  If I had to keep grunting and sweating indefinitely, it would be very hard to push through the pain.  Humans need to know that relief is coming.

It's the same with life. When I'm weathering the storm, it's good to know the clouds will soon break up and the sun burst through.  To know the suffering is temporary and relief is coming helps me to carry on.  This relief comes through faith in Jesus Christ.  When I wait on Him, I can tap into His abundant, never-ending supply of grace that propels me forward when I'm weary from the struggle (Isaiah 40:31).  He offers relief, not always from the suffering itself but from the impotence I feel to endure the present hardship.  When I am weak, then I am strong because Jesus is my strength (2 Corinthians 12:10).

At my lowest point, when God seems to have turned His back, He offers relief that empowers me to soar even though I feel like giving up.

Hope.  The prophecy was intentionally given at the point when God had unleashed His righteous fury upon His own.  He did so not to see them suffer, but to draw them back to Him and His perfect plan for their lives.  They had fallen so far, forgotten everything He had taught them, and turned to their own wicked ways.  Sound familiar?

We, too, have fallen so far, forgotten everything He taught us, and have turned to our own wicked ways (Isaiah 53:6).  In the midst of such brokenness, God offers hope in the name of Jesus Christ, the promised Messiah who would come to make mankind right with God.  While theirs was a hope deferred, mine is a hope realized.  Today, all have the opportunity to turn away from the destructive ways that come naturally to man and toward Christ who took the punishment for all sin (1 Peter 2:24, Isaiah 53:5).  When I do so, I have the hope that this present darkness will not last forever.  The Light has overcome (John 1:5, 16:33).

At my lowest point, when God seems to have turned His back on mankind, He offers hope in the person of Jesus Christ.  

There is blessing to be found in the midst of pain and suffering.  The difficulties of life are all due to mankind's sin.  And while it is because of this sin that I am broken and deserve God's wrath, it is in the midst of feeling the consequences of this sin that I find treasure.  I discover that God can comfort in a way no one else can, that He offers relief from the burdens I carry, and hope for a future of bliss.  All of this is mine through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ.  Even at my lowest point, God is offering something good.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can stop taking advantage of God's patience and turn my life over to Jesus.

When do I bide my time, figuring I have tomorrow to live by faith in Jesus?

How am I stubborn in my desire to control my own life, thus reaping what I've sown, lashing out at God who waits patiently?    

Wisdom is not the Answer

"I said to myself, 

'Look, I have increased in wisdom more than anyone

who has ruled over Jerusalem before me;

I have experienced much of wisdom and knowledge.'

Then I applied myself to the understanding of wisdom,

and also of madness and folly,

but I learned that this, too, is a chasing after the wind.

For with much wisdom comes much sorrow;

the more knowledge, the more grief."

Ecclesiastes 1:16-18

Humans are so busy learning new things and seeking greater understanding of the world and everything in it, but what good does it do?  How does it relieve suffering or deliver meaning?  Does knowledge have eternal significance or make an everlasting impact?  The answer is "No."  In a lot of ways we are wasting our time because the more we know, the more we realize our lack, our deficiency, our utter hopelessness to save ourselves from insignificance.

So, what is the answer?  Jesus.

Understanding.  I find it difficult to have deep conversations with intellectuals who only want to discuss what they can quantify, prove, or sense.  Many look down on me for my faith in a God they cannot see, refusing to acknowledge even the possibility that there is Someone greater than they.  In their arrogance and at their own peril they reason that if they can't understand it, then it can't exist.  What a superficial and hopeless existence.

There is more to life than what we can touch, see, hear, smell and taste.  If I only pursue knowledge of physical things which are here today and gone tomorrow while completely ignoring spiritual truths which last forever, I am limiting myself to that which is temporary.  If I never recognize my Maker who set a perfect standard which I constantly miss, I will never see my need for rescue from the punishment my shortfalls deserve.  If I spend my life limiting myself to what I can comprehend and what I can sense, when I get to the end of this life and stand before a holy and just God, not only will He judge me according to my own sin, condemning me to an eternity of punishment, but I will have nothing to show for all my effort to understand.  Seeking knowledge and insight will not save me from the inevitable.  Only faith in the blood of Jesus can do that (Hebrews 9:11-15).

A life spent trying to gain insight into this world is a life wasted and an eternity doomed.

 Abundance.  There is an emptiness apart from Christ.  Humans have a desire for meaning, for fulfillment, for purpose.  I can search for the reason for my existence by throwing myself headlong into an important career, or giving my all to a vital cause, or pursuing deep connection with those I love, but still there is something missing.  No matter how hard I try, I will never find what my heart truly desires.

It's not until I see my own depravity, my brokenness, my lack that I will understand my need.  There is nothing in this world that can fill the void left by my estrangement from God due to my sin.  As I see how far I fall short from God's expectation for me as His image bearer, understanding the gulf that exists between Him and me, I see the value in what Jesus died to offer:  Forgiveness from the One who set the standard I fail to reach and restoration of the bond between Him and me (Romans 3:21-24).  This is the abundant life Jesus came to deliver to me by faith (John 10:10b)

A life spent trying to fill the void inside apart from Jesus is an empty and pointless life.

Purpose.  Why am I here?  Every human asks this question in one way or another.  Some look to religion to find the answers, finding a certain meaning in the rituals and fellowship.  Others turn to science, thinking if they can understand the "how" they will understand the "why".  A few use reasoning powers to conclude there is no purpose, life came about spontaneously and completely by accident so there is no ultimate reason for our existence.

No matter how I try to answer the question of my purpose, I come up empty apart from Jesus.  In Christ, I find my purpose as I learn I was made on purpose for a purpose (Ephesians 2:10).  Not only is there a design for all of creation, but I am placed right where I am to shine His light in the darkness around me (Matthew 5:14-16).  Knowing He made me for a specific reason gives me a feeling of worth and value.  I am intrinsically valuable to the One who made me (Psalm 139:13-16).  Therefore, my life takes on a new-found importance as I live for His glory instead of my own (Colossians 3:17).

A life spent looking for my purpose apart from Christ is an exercise in futility.

Wisdom in and of itself cannot save me.  It is powerless to rescue me from eternal condemnation, give me a rich life, nor reveal my purpose.  Only Jesus can fulfill such missions, and as I give my life to Him by faith, I'll find a new meaning that will lead to the rich and abundant life for which I've always longed.  Wisdom is not the answer, Jesus is!

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can trust God enough to look to Him to find the answers I need.

When do I look in the wrong places to find the answers I seek?

How am I wasting my time on temporary fixes instead of the permanent solution that is in Christ?  

  

Light of the World

"The true light that gives light to everyone 

was coming into the world.  

He was in the world,

and though the world was made through him,

the world did not recognize him.

He came to that which was his own,

but his own did not receive him.

Yet to all who did receive him

to those who believed in his name,

he gave the right to become children of God--

children born not of natural descent,

nor of human decision

or a husband's will,

but born of God."

John 1:9-13

The Light of the world dared to come down into the world He created, among the men whose hearts He knew only too well (John 2:24-25).  Yet He came, the Light who deserved to always reign at the right hand of His Father, gave this up for a time in order to step down into darkness (Philippians 2:5-11).

Why?  Why would the King of all kings do such a thing (1 Timothy 6:15)?  Out of love (Romans 5:8).  To reconcile sinful man to holy God.  To bring restoration to mankind.  To perfectly demonstrate His great love for us.

Let us worship such a God as this, who dared to come down into the world He created, knowing full well the treatment He would receive from the men whose hearts He knew only too well.  What love. . . won't you join me in worshiping such a God as this?

Never Hungry

"The LORD does not let the righteous go hungry,

but he thwarts the craving of the wicked."

Proverbs 10:3

God promises many things and He is faithful to keep each one of His words.  But this one has me wondering:  Is there more to hunger than an empty belly?

Righteousness.  There are many things I crave while living this temporary life.  I often drift toward selfishness, thinking if I could only find myself and figure out who I really am then I will be happy.  In my tendency to focus on my own needs and wants, I end up going after the things I think that will bring fulfillment and meaning:  success, pleasure, financial security, material wealth, social status (1 John 2:16).  In spite of my efforts, I never find complete gratification.  I'm always wanting more.

Then I remember that I was made for more than this.  In Christ I've been made right with God, the very thing I need to be able to enjoy His favor, to find His blessing, to prosper spiritually.  And when I truly value His better way of living, craving for all that He values like honesty, fairness in my dealings with others, kindness and obedience to His laws, I will find fulfillment and pleasure.  Finally, contentment will be mine as I walk in peace with my Shepherd.

God promises a happy and satisfied heart when I hunger and thirst for righteousness (Matthew 5:6).

Living Water.  She came to fill her jar with the life-giving liquid but came away with so much more.  No one valued her.  In fact, most saw her as worth little more than the grime between their toes.  She was despised by women and used by men.  Because of her station in life, she was constrained to visit the community well in the heat of the day to avoid the gossip and scorn of the other women.  Her heart ached for connection, for acceptance, for true love.

Then came the One who offered her Living water that will quench her deep-in-the-depths-of-her-soul yearnings.  Jesus gave her a new beginning as a woman who was seen and loved by the God who made her, and she received His gift of the abundant life with great joy (John 4:13-15).  

When I follow suit and receive the living water Jesus offers me, I will have everything I need flowing through me.  The indwelling Spirit of Jesus will quench my deepest thirsts, fill my empty places and heal my hurting heart.  He came to turn my worst nightmare into a great victory, not the kind of victory where I rise to the pinnacle of success or gain everything I ever wanted, but triumph over evil, worthless living and all that separates me from His love (Romans 8:31-37).  I am secure in His clutches, and this is the kind of success that lasts an eternity.

God promises to quench my deepest thirst with the living water that is found through faith in Jesus.

Bread of Life.  They saw their chance.  If they followed this charismatic and powerful teacher, they would never have to worry about food again.  Their days of hunger would be over.  Never again would they have to scrap for a few morsels to sustain their families.  Life would be good and they could focus on more than just survival.

Then Jesus brought them back to reality (John 6:25-34).  He came to give them more than just physical food to fill their bellies.  He came to fulfill every spiritual need as the Answer to every question they pondered, the solution to each problem they faced.  Jesus declared Himself the Bread of life that would deliver eternal and abundant life to those who believed (John 6:35).

I, too, am offered this full and thriving life as I look forward to life forever in my heavenly home.  When I trust in Jesus as my Savior, submitting to Him as Lord of my life, I will never lack for anything.  If, however, I stray away, looking elsewhere to supply my needs, to answer my questions, to offer solutions to my problems, I'll spend my days searching in futility.

God promises to satisfy my deepest hunger when I give my life to Jesus, the Bread of life.

The one thing I can count on in life is for God to keep His promises.  Therefore, there is no risk in seeking Jesus as my source of happiness, the Living water who will quench my deepest thirsts, and the Bread of life who fully satisfies my deepest cravings.  In Christ, I will never hunger for what really matters.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can trust God enough to be in charge of giving me what I need.

When do I look beyond Jesus to find meaning and purpose?

How am I straying away from my Shepherd who desires to give me what I most need?

Light and Glory

"Simeon was there.

He took the child in his arms and praised God, saying,

'Sovereign Lord, now let your servant die in peace,

as you have promised.

I have seen your salvation,

which you have prepared for all people.

He is a light to reveal God to the nations,

and he is the glory of your people Israel!'"

Luke 2:28-32 NLT

Jesus.  He came to save.  Some expected a glorious king who would rescue them from the oppression of the Romans, but God had something else in mind.  

Jesus came to make a way for all peoples to come to God.  Jesus came to earth as a man so that God's own people could know their Lord's true nature through faith and be delivered into a radical kind of covenant based on grace.

Jesus.  So much more than just a babe in a manger.

Do you know Him?

Who is this King of Glory?

"Lift up your heads, you gates;

be lifted up, you ancient doors,

that the King of glory may come in.

Who is this King of glory?

The LORD strong and mighty,

the LORD mighty in battle.

Lift up your heads, you gates;

lift them up, you ancient doors,

that the King of glory may come in.

Who is he, this King of glory?

The LORD Almighty--

he is the King of glory."

Jesus.  His birth is what I celebrate at this time of year.  I scurry around making preparations which often distract me from the purpose for Christmas: A time to joyfully celebrate a God who would send His Son to earth as a lowly human in order to reconcile mankind to Himself, placing His precious Son in the womb of a teenage girl so He could grow into a man who would die on the cross for me and for you.  Jesus.  He is King of kings and Lord of lords.

I invited Jesus in as King of my life, but do I really know Him?  Who is this King of glory?

Strength.  If I had to live the life Jesus lived while He was here on earth, I would have grown weary.  I would have reached a breaking point as I ministered to people who many times couldn't care less about the message I was delivering.  I would have been disgusted by the attitudes of the Pharisees who thought they were so good but couldn't even grasp a simple truth.  I would have grown tired of people always wanting something from me, the constant press of humanity against my flesh would have pushed me over the edge.  "Heal me.  Help me.  Give to me."  Yes, I would have quickly grown weary.

But Jesus has this strength that keeps Him coming.  He doesn't give up, never getting tired.  While His flesh may have felt the effects of keeping up such a fast pace and demanding schedule, His Spirit never grew weary (Isaiah 40:28).  He was always ready to deliver one more person from suffering, to lead one more captive to freedom, to offer one more thirsty soul living water.  And He still is.

Who is Jesus?  He is the One who is strong enough to bear my burdens, propel me forward and empower me to live for Him.

Mighty Warrior.  There is something about a battle between good and evil that draws me in.  Whether this story comes in movie or book form, it doesn't matter.  My heart beats faster when I witness a character standing up to the bad guy, going against the odds in the name of what is right or defeating evil.  

I think I'm drawn into such a narrative because Jesus is this kind of warrior in my life.  I have an enemy who is bent on my destruction, who wants nothing more than to steal my peace, kill my faith and destroy my life (John 10:10).  He lurks around like a prowling lion, looking for ways to trip me up and discourage me (1 Peter 5:8).  I sometimes feel so helpless against his attacks.  

Then I remember my Mighty Warrior who fights on my behalf and has already conquered such evil (John 16:33).  With Jesus at my side, there is no weapon meant to harm me that can succeed, no power working against me that can bring me down, no enemy tactic designed to wreak havoc that will triumph (Isaiah 54:17).

Who is Jesus?  He is my Mighty Warrior who fights my battles, giving me confidence to walk boldly forward despite the battle that swirls around me.

Lord of Hosts.  He is the Lord Almighty.  He is sovereign over all things.  He is the avenger of His people.  When it seems all hope is lost, that this world is going down in flames and there is nothing I can do about it, Jesus is still on the throne and it is in He that I place my hope.

I need not worry that evil is running rampant, unchecked and without consequence.  The Lord of Hosts is at His post and will bring about justice in due time.  When my heart hurts to see the innocent suffering at the hands of the wicked, I can rest easy knowing that the sovereign Lord is biding His time until His fury is unleashed.  My stomach is turned to witness how darkness is being portrayed as light, that which is wrong as if it was right, but the Lord Almighty sees all and will let no injustice go unpunished. 

Who is Jesus?  He is the Lord of Hosts, giving me courage to minister to the suffering, knowing that He will avenge.

Jesus is not just the babe in the manger I see portrayed at this time of year.  He set aside His divinity for a time in order to enter the world He created as an infant, but His true character has so many facets.  I have invited Him into my heart to rule over my life as my strength, my Mighty Warrior, and the Lord of hosts.   Who is this King of glory?  He is Jesus, and His many names say it all!

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can never stop seeking to learn more about the King of my life.

When do I make Jesus one-dimensional, minimizing His true character?

Do I know the real Jesus, or am I just familiar with the Jesus portrayed in pop culture?

Talk About a Turnaround!

"Then he restored the altar of the LORD

and offered fellowship offerings

and thank offerings on it,

and told Judah to serve the LORD,

the God of Israel."

2 Chronicles 33:16

He was about as bad as they come.  When you think of an enemy, he fit the bill.  He spent his days hunting down followers of Christ, using his power and position as a member of the Jewish Sanhedrin to persecute the early Christians.  Then he encountered the very One whose name he sought to destroy, and everything changed.  Instead of being bent on wiping out the followers of the Way, Saul became zealous for Christ and joined in with their cause (Acts 7:58-8:3, Acts 9:1-9). 

The history of Christianity is filled with such stories of radical transformation.  Coming into contact with a supernatural God who loves us beyond comprehension results in changes that cannot be generated any other way.  

Thus was the case of Manasseh, evil king of Judah who humbled himself before God and experienced a drastic change of heart.  And the same is true for me when I accept Jesus as my Lord and Savior and am turned from a slave of sin to one of righteousness (Romans 6:18).

New Perspective.  I was my most crucial consideration.  My plans, my safety, my comfort, it’s all that mattered to me.  Then I humbled myself before Jesus, recognizing how much I needed Him and letting Him lead me as only the Good Shepherd can. 

Over time I sensed a change.  Now I prefer God’s plan for my life, knowing it will bring Him glory.  Instead of worrying about how I can protect myself from harm, I let God do the shielding as I live for Him.  More often than not, I’m letting go of my desire to feel at ease with my familiar routine and surroundings and allowing God to push me beyond my limits.  While it is a work in progress, there is, nevertheless, a change taking place in my perspective.

Coming into contact with Jesus changes the way I see things.  For instance, I’m naturally drawn to anything that makes me feel good about myself.  Sometimes it looks good on the outside, like helping others or volunteering with charities, but my motivation is purely selfish.  I like how I feel when I’m doing good.  Jesus begins to show me, however, that I’ll never feel as complete as when I’m answering His call on my life (Ephesians 2:10).

Accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior begins a transformation process that includes a radical change in my perspective.

New Mission.  Cindy Lauper famously sang about a girl’s longing for fun.  The culture in which I live gives me the impression that my purpose here on earth is to gratify my own desires, quench my own thirsts, and satisfy my own appetites.  Then I meet Jesus and He gives me a new mission.

Now it is my heart’s desire to please God, placing myself under His authority.  As His servant, it is His calling which determines my footsteps.  Instead of doing what sounds good to me, I am now driven to seek His will, resisting the temptation to do as the world does (Romans 12:2).

Accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior begins a transformation process that includes a mission that comes from God instead of me.

New Values.   He had everything of which to be proud:  A strong Jewish heritage.  A stellar record.  A dependable and loyal image.  Paul possessed every reason to boast in himself.  After coming into contact with Christ, however, his values changed.  What once seemed so important now he considered as rubbish.  The only thing that mattered was knowing Christ Jesus as his Lord (Philippians 3:3-11).

What happens when I meet Jesus and invite Him into my heart?  The same as with Paul.  The pursuits I used to appreciate enough to chase wholeheartedly begin to lose their luster.   The friends I found as vital to my social life are now seen in a new, unflattering light.  The possessions that once seemed so important to my well-being now are considered as worthless.  Jesus becomes more as everything else fades in importance.

Accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior begins a transformation process that includes a new set of values.

No matter how I start out, God is able to radically transform me when I invite Jesus to sit as my Lord.  I will receive a new perspective, mission and value system as He takes over as my shepherd, transforming me into His own image.  Talk about a turnaround!  That’s a change worth talking about!

As I begin this day it Is my prayer that I can cooperate with God as He works to change me.

How do I tend to cling to the old ways when the new has already come (2 Corinthians 5:17)?

When am I unwilling to adopt my new mission?