Christmas Stories: Mary & Joseph

Editor’s note: The Christmas story is a familiar one, even if you never grew up in the Church. We see the Nativity scene in homes and yards, on billboards and cards. This Advent, we will look deeper into the people whose key appearances in the Bible take place in the time of Jesus’s birth. Some may be familiar, some less so, but each has a story, and each person’s story can impact our own lives and, hopefully, draw us closer to our Savior. Join us for Christmas Stories, our Advent reflection series!

Mary and joseph’s Story

“In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!’ But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his Father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end. And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”

And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God.  And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. For nothing will be impossible with God.”  And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.”   Luke 1:26-38

Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. And her husband, Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel (which means, God with us). When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.” Matthew 1: 18-25

The Christmas Season is upon us again. For some, the arrival of December might have seemed to cut the fall a bit short and too quickly thrust us into the whirlwind of Western Christmas traditions! However, this season of Advent isn’t primarily a western holiday season, but first the Church’s season of preparation.

Advent is when we as God’s people dwell on the amazing miracle of God faithfully carrying out His promised plan to bring sinful man back into a relationship with a holy God. God’s promise of a Savior to the world was carried out though humble people, in particular, Mary and Joseph. They were not yet married. Both were told the news of Jesus in the quiet of being alone. In fact, Joseph was sleeping. Scriptures don’t tell us that they were blessed to receive the commission of birthing and raising the Savior in a community of people like Paul and Barnabas did when the Holy Spirit told them to go on a mission trip together in Acts 13.

So maybe there were moments when she was alone, afraid, and Mary wondered if she was crazy. Perhaps Joseph wondered if his dream was nothing. Didn't he just have a dream he was a bird last week? And when their small community found out, did she feel the urge to explain the angel’s “visit” over and over and over again? Did Joseph feel tempted to punch the disdaining looks off of the other men’s faces when he chose to stay betrothed to his “unfaithful” fiancée?  What did Mary feel when she walked through Nazareth pregnant before she was a proper wife? How did Joseph experience having a fiancée that was pregnant, but not by Him? We can imagine that they had confusing emotions just like we might. And still… they had listened to God and believed.

We can only speculate, but if there were moments like these, Mary still obeyed. And Joseph obeyed. They walked by faith into what God called them to do. When Mary was told of the miraculous conception and birth, she replied with faith and obedience, “Let it be done to me as you have said.” And Joseph obeyed. He stayed married, and named the baby Jesus as the angel had directed.

Being able to respond by faith in the way that they did didn’t just happen. I believe it makes sense that they were prepared to receive God’s call for them by having hearts that walked by faith before the Lord called them to this “assignment.”

I think they were prepared. Hearts that are tender towards God are hearts that practice daily obedience and communion with Him. As the calendar barrels towards Christmas, in our season of Advent we can prepare to celebrate Jesus by being obedient in the small and big things He has laid before us to do. Are we working? Then we are to work faithfully and excellently, filled with the Spirit. Are we in school? Then we can prayerfully study and use our minds for the glory of God. Are we parents? Then we can gently and truthfully point our children to the grace of Jesus. Are we single? We can rejoice in our friends and the ways God uniquely uses us in the lives of others.

Two lowly and humble people were part of the plan to do the miraculous— that is, to allow the Savior of the world to be born, grow, and eventually die for the souls of men and women who were lost in darkness.

How can you prepare your heart to celebrate the coming of Jesus as a babe? We don’t know what God will call any of us to do in the future, but our daily obedience, Bible reading, confession, and prayers are the tilling of the soil of our hearts so that God might use our lives for His glory.

The ripple effects of God’s plan being carried out by these two lowly people changed the course of mankind for eternity. Their hearts obeyed because they were prepared. Oh, Lord, let us obey because we, too, are preparing our hearts to celebrate your coming and for whatever you may call us to. Amen.

The Fruit of the Spirit

“But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!”  Galatians 5:22-23 (NLT)

Can you imagine a world full of love, joy, and peace—people living together with patience, kindness, helping one another with gentleness, and working together with self-control? What would that be like? In a word, it would be paradise, which is what Adam and Eve had together with God before sin. 

This is the abundant life that Jesus wants us to have in him (John 10:10). Now, how different would this world be if Jesus’ church was full of the fruit of the Spirit—if all throughout the Lehigh Valley his disciples were known for love, joy, and kindness? 

“For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.” 2 Timothy 1:7 (NIV)

Unfortunately, that has not been many people’s experience when they think of Christians. Our friends and neighbors see people who claim they follow Jesus putting their hope in the things of this world. Yes, we might belong to a church, but our hearts are chasing power and glorifying ourselves. 

“Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.” Galatians 6:8

The fruit of our lives show that our hope is not rooted in Jesus. Our fruit shows that we are connected to what is temporary and self-centered.

“No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers. A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.” Luke 6:43-45

A tree full of apples cannot claim to be a peach tree. A lemon tree cannot fool you into believing it’s an orange tree. In the same way, we are known by our fruit, so how can we bear the fruit of the Spirit that Paul is describing here?

“Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:4-5

We must embrace that Jesus is the vine, and we are his branches. It is vital that we stay connected to him, that we know how loved we are by him, and that our value comes from him.  He wants to be close and intimate with us. As we spend time in prayer, reflection, and reading his Word, we know him more. The Holy Spirit transforms us, and his fruit becomes apparent to everyone.

“And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” 2 Corinthians 3:18

Our Heavenly Father is an amazing gardener. As we know him more, he prunes us, opening our eyes to what he wants to remove to make us even more fruitful.

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.” John 15:1-2

In his love, he changes our desires, making us to be more like Jesus day by day. Our desire becomes to be with the one who loves us most, not as a duty or obligation. As we abide in him, the fruit of the Spirit begins to grow in our homes, neighborhoods, and workplaces, drawing the hungry and hurting to the eternal fruit of his perfect love.

 (For Further Reading on the fruit of a Spirit-filled life: John 6:63, Romans 15:13, 1 Corinthians 12:3-13; 14:12, 2 Corinthians 13:13, Galatians 5:5, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-22, 1 John 3:23-4:6; 4:12-15, Jude 1:18-21)

Walking in the Spirit

“God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.” John 4:24

The first time this verse really spoke to me was during my junior year of college, in a book I was reading called “Worship Matters” by Bob Kauflin. The book was given to me by a friend because I had just stepped into being worship team leader for Cru and was incredibly apprehensive. 

As it is geared towards worship leaders and teams, the book uses this verse to discuss worship music selection. To sum up the author's point briefly: songs that are musical masterpieces but shallow (or lacking) in theology are nothing more than pleasant melodies. Songs that are theologically rich but musically lacking are, well, tedious, to put it nicely. The sweet spot is the song that is both theologically rich and musically moving. That is worship: Spirit-led, driven by truth. Worship like that has power.

Spirit-led, truth-driven worship doesn't just exist in a church service on Sunday morning. Off the stage and outside of the industrial park where Riverbend resides, our lives are a song of worship—even more so than inside the four walls of a church building. So what does it look like to live a life that worships in Spirit and in truth?

“So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.” Galatians 5:16-25

The truth is, as we follow Christ, we are called to die to our flesh and its desires. Verse 19 says that the acts of the flesh are obvious; however, based on the amount of hatred, discord, and selfish ambition present in God’s greater Church today, perhaps they are not so obvious. It may, in fact, be that the truth of repentance hasn’t intertwined with the gift of the Spirit in our collective hearts.

If we focus solely on the law, we become ensnared in trying to earn our own righteousness, which we can never obtain. Instead, we are called to walk with the Spirit—taking the fresh fruits that it offers, even when acts of our flesh feel more gratifying. What a beautiful song our lives would be to daily die to our flesh and grasp the fruits of love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. What freedom is found in the fact that the acts of the flesh can’t exist with the fruit of the Spirit. You cannot have fits of rage when you are gentle; you cannot be drunk when you have self-control; you cannot hate when you love.

Walking with the Spirit, rooted in the truth, draws us to lives of worship and leads us, united as one chorus, to the One.

As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.

Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one

body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. Ephesians 4:1-6

Will you join the chorus of God’s body in Spirit and truth? Or continue to pursue the solo of the flesh and self-righteousness?

What does your life-song sing?

(Further Reading: Romans 7:6; 14:17; 15:30, 1 Corinthians 3:16-17; 6:19-20, Galatians 3:2-6, Ephesians 4:29-5:4; 5:15-21; 6:17-18, Philippians 3:3, 2 Timothy 1:14)

Further worshiping:

“And now my lifesong sings” by Casting Crowns

“Before the Throne of God” by Shane and Shane

The Work of the Holy Spirit

Last week, we looked at Pentecost, a time we remember as when the early church received the gift of the Holy Spirit, the promised gift Jesus mentioned before his death (John 14:15-31). This gift is not just something we apathetically accept, only to stick on a dusty shelf and move on with our lives. The Holy Spirit is needed, active, and working in and through us in various ways as believers.

The church at Corinth was established by Paul on one of his missionary journeys. By the time 1 Corinthians was written roughly 20 years following Jesus’ death and resurrection, the Corinthians’ focus is completely broken—the entire culture there, but even Corinthian believers within the church, had succumbed to focusing on their own power, eloquence, appetites and glory. In 1 Corinthians 2, Paul offers the church at Corinth a perspective shift. Prior to writing Corinth, Paul had been imprisoned in Philippi and run out of Thessalonica, among other attacks—he very well could have been feeling empty of physical and emotional strength.

And so it was with me, brothers and sisters. When I came to you, I did not come with eloquence or human wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. 2 For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 3 I came to you in weakness with great fear and trembling. 4 My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, 5 so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power.

6 We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. 7 No, we declare God’s wisdom, a mystery that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. 8 None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9 However, as it is written:

“What no eye has seen,

what no ear has heard,

and what no human mind has conceived”—

the things God has prepared for those who love him—

10 these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. 11 For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12 What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us.

13 This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words. 14 The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit. 15 The person with the Spirit makes judgments about all things, but such a person is not subject to merely human judgments, 16 for,

“Who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?”

But we have the mind of Christ.

1 Corinthians 2

Paul knows his need for the Holy Spirit to work in and through him. He knows his weakness; it is in his weakness the Spirit will have the leeway to work most powerfully, and God will get the glory, not himself (v 4-5). The Holy Spirit is our interpreter, revealing God’s truth to us as he is God in us (v.10, 12; 2 Peter 1:21). He searches our hearts, he teaches us that we may understand spiritual truths (v 13).

He is also our helper. As we come to understand the brokenness inside of us and come in contact with the brokenness in this world around us, we are bound to meet moments where our heart feels heavy in our chest and our mind cannot grasp the words we need to even form a prayer. In these moments, the work of the Spirit is intercession before the throne of grace on our behalf. There is a peace and comfort in knowing the Spirit is taking up the task on our behalf. Since he both lives in us and is God, who better to connect our hearts to the Lord? 

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God. Romans 8:26-27 

The Spirit helps us through the sanctification process.

But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:16-18

In some translations, v. 18 use of contemplate is translated as looking in the mirror at. Mirrors in this time were not the glass reflective pieces we know now but were polished metal. In order to see one’s reflection, the mirror had to be held closely, and even then, the reflection was far from perfect. Even as we hold close to the Lord, we can never have a perfect representation of God this side of eternity; however, the Holy Spirit’s sanctification work in us transforms us ever closer.

The Holy Spirit, given to those who call on Jesus Christ as their Savior, cleanses us.

But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. Titus 3:4-7

The Holy Spirit dwells in those who recognize their need for Jesus Christ as their Savior. Just as we recognize we could never do enough to earn our salvation, may we remember it is not by our own power that we are sanctified. Thanks be to God for the gift of the Holy Spirit who works in and through us for his glory!

(Further Reading: Romans 5:2-5; 15:16, 1 Corinthians 6:11, 2 Corinthians 3:3-9, Galatians 2:22, Ephesians 3:4-5; 14-19, 2 Thessalonians 2:13, 1 Peter 1:10-12, 2 Peter 1:21, 1 John 5:6-8)

The Gift of the Holy Spirit (Pentecost)

Last week, we discussed the promises God made throughout the Old Testament and the Gospels to send the Holy Spirit. Today, we look at the fulfillment of that promise. Acts 2 records the moment when the Holy Spirit came down to fill Christ’s followers. God chose the time of Pentecost, or the Feast of Weeks (Shavuot), to send his Spirit down. It was one of three festivals a year where all of Israel was gathered in Jerusalem.

When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

5 Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6 When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. 7 Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? 9 Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome 11 (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” 12 Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?”

13 Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.”

14 Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. 15 These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning! 16 No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:

17 “‘In the last days, God says,

    I will pour out my Spirit on all people.

Your sons and daughters will prophesy,

    your young men will see visions,

    your old men will dream dreams.

18 Even on my servants, both men and women,

    I will pour out my Spirit in those days,

    and they will prophesy.

19 I will show wonders in the heavens above

    and signs on the earth below,

    blood and fire and billows of smoke.

20 The sun will be turned to darkness

    and the moon to blood

    before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord.

21 And everyone who calls

    on the name of the Lord will be saved.’

This prophecy from Joel 2 and the many others like it are amazing, considering the ways the Spirit worked before Christ. He would fill special people—kings, prophets, leaders, artisans—for specific tasks for a limited amount of time and then leave them. The idea that your average person, that all people, could be filled indefinitely with the Spirit was unprecedented. But that day had come. Peter continues,

22 “Fellow Israelites, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. 23 This man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. 24 But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him. 25 David said about him:

“‘I saw the Lord always before me.

    Because he is at my right hand,

    I will not be shaken.

26 Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;

    my body also will rest in hope,

27 because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead,

    you will not let your holy one see decay.

28 You have made known to me the paths of life;

    you will fill me with joy in your presence.’

29 “Fellow Israelites, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this day. 30 But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne. 31 Seeing what was to come, he spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, that he was not abandoned to the realm of the dead, nor did his body see decay. 32 God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it. 33 Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear. 34 For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said,

“‘The Lord said to my Lord:

    “Sit at my right hand

35 until I make your enemies

    a footstool for your feet.”’

36 “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.”

37 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”

38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”

40 With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” 41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.

42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.  Acts 2

Peter explains to those witnessing this amazing event that it is through Jesus that his disciples were given the gift of the Spirit, who enabled them to proclaim the good news of Christ in every language represented there. He tells those there—and us today—to repent (turn away from our sin) and be baptized in Jesus’ name in order to receive the Spirit.

In Romans 8 (a passage I would recommend reading as a whole), Paul speaks a lot about life with the Spirit.

14 For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. 15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.  Romans 8:14-17

This gift of the Spirit is a mark of our standing as sons and daughters of the Most High God. When we receive his Spirit, we are adopted into his family.

Each and every one of Christ’s followers has the Spirit working in us. Go back to The Spirit Before Christ to see just how amazing that is. The Holy Spirit manifests himself in each person differently, as Paul explains to the Corinthians.

There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.

7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8 To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.

12 Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.  1 Corinthians 12:4-13

This gift that we’ve been given is truly amazing. And this gift that we can live empowered through is a seal or mark of a future gift we’re awaiting.

In him you also were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and when you believed. The Holy Spirit is the down payment of our inheritance, until the redemption of the possession, to the praise of his glory. Ephesians 1:13-14

Our inheritance that Paul mentions here is the inheritance of eternal life with God. He states that when they heard the “word of truth” and believed, they were given the Holy Spirit. Paul says believe in the Word, Peter says repent and be baptized—we are then given the gift of the Spirit until the end. There is no incantation to say, and God is not withholding any part of himself from us. We have full access now. Asking God to fill us or to come down on us or to give us more of him is a nice idea, but it’s wholly unnecessary. The better ask would be for him to tune our hearts and minds to his will and work.

I pray that we understand the magnitude of this gift we’ve been given through Christ, that we open our eyes and ears to the will of the Spirit in us. May God tune our hearts and minds as the Spirit works in us so that he may work through us to accomplish his will.

(For Further Reading: Romans 8:1-13, 2 Corinthians 1:21-22; 5:4-5, Galatians 3:13-14; 4:6-7, Ephesians 1:16-20; 2:18, 1 Thessalonians 1:4-6; 4:8, 1 Peter 4:14)

The Promise of the Holy Spirit

A Tale of Two Couples

You’ve probably heard of Charles Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities. Well, this is a tale of two couples and how it taught me about God’s provision for my life and family. When we were a young working couple, Dave and I had a slightly older couple who came into our lives and supported us. They were surrogate grandparents to our children as they were born. They were our late-night counselors when work stress became overwhelming. They welcomed us into their social circle and taught us what hospitality looked like. And then, when we were very dependent on them, they shared the news that they were moving to Georgia. In my inner being, I panicked. How would we make it without being able to jump in the car in an emergency and drive a couple miles to their home to get hugs and courage in the face of a storm? Who would hug our kids and laugh with us as they grew and challenged us? What kitchen table would we linger and “do life” at? It seemed like an unfillable hole.

What I didn’t realize was that God already knew, and He was already putting circumstances in place that would bring another couple, also a bit older, into our world. He would connect the dots and provide for us in ways we couldn’t have asked or imagined. This second couple brought seasoned engineering knowledge, a love of nature and the outdoors, and a faith in God to the friendship. They worshipped at our church, but we didn’t really know them. We shared some mutual friends. And shortly after the first couple moved, the husband in this second couple became the godfather for our youngest child. God provided and continues to provide.

That was the story that was unfolding in John 14. Jesus was preparing His disciples for His departure. In that preparation, He promised to send the Holy Spirit. Jesus promised that even though He was leaving, He would not leave his disciples alone, unsupported, unguided, unprotected. That provision extends to us too.

“I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you…All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” John 14:16-18, 25-26

In the Old Testament, long before Jesus walked the earth, the prophet Isaiah told of a future time when not just an elect few were given the Spirit, but all people of faith would receive Him and that God’s Spirit would stay with each believer. He would not come and go.

“I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants.” Isaiah 44:3b

In Isaiah 59, the prophet describes people’s sinful, disappointing behavior. And then God describes how He will come and work His righteous way, including using Isaiah to speak His word. It doesn’t end with Isaiah; He says, “My Spirit, who is on you, will not depart from you, and my words that I have put in your mouth will always be on your lips, on the lips of your children and on the lips of their descendants—from this time on and forever,” says the Lord.” (v. 21)

And in Ezekiel, scriptures provide this beautiful promise,

“I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh. Then they will follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. They will be my people, and I will be their God.  Ezekiel 11:19-20

We will have this “new spirit” because God’s Holy Spirit will be IN us. At Christmas we often rehearse the scripture Matthew 1:23 “and they will call him Immanuel (which means “God with us”).” Immanuel, God with us. That’s what Jesus was—God with humanity, God come to earth.  The Holy Spirit also is that--God with us, literally in us. In the Old Testament, the prophets promised. In the Gospels, Jesus promised. In Acts, the promise was kept (Acts 2:4). The Holy Spirit comes—a gift to each believer for the rest of time. God dwells IN us. All humans are made in God’s image. When we accept Jesus and become a Christian, God, in the form of the Holy Spirit, comes to dwell in us.

He is our comforter, our advocate, the revealer of truth, and convicter of sin. He is our helper and guide. Those who do not belong to Christ have no “interpreter” to guide them to know and understand God’s Word. They do not have One who will intercede for them with God (Romans 8:26). The Holy Spirit is God’s seal on His people. He is the One who gives us our story of who we are in Jesus.

God has kept His promise to us in sending the Holy Spirit. Each time a promise from scripture is kept, it communicates to a hurting, disillusioned humanity that our God—three-in-one, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—can be trusted and is truly dependable.

When your world feels unpredictable and untrustworthy, remember that you have GOD in you. The Holy Spirit dwells in each believer. It is your greatest hope to live your day fully in God’s power, seeing the world through His eyes, bringing His kingdom to your community in all that you do and in the ways that you embrace your circumstances. You don’t have to do anything more than believe. The promise has been kept. God is with you. You are never alone. You are never unseen.

Holy Spirit have your way. Guide. Comfort. Sustain. Assure. Equip. Empower.

(For further reading: Joel 2:28-29, Ezekiel 36:26-27, Matthew 28:18-20, John 15:26-27, Acts 1:4-8)

The Spirit before Christ

We often associate the activity and work of the Holy Spirit with the New Testament church era, and this makes sense – the scope of the work of the Spirit was certainly a bit different in the Old Testament. Grudem’s Systematic Theology states that the work of the Holy Spirit is to “manifest the active presence of God in the world, and especially in the church” (Grudem, 1994, Ch. 30). In the Old Testament, God was manifest in many unique ways outside of specific mention of the Holy Spirit. These are the glorious displays of his presence which would have been jaw-dropping to see, the “theophanies”, or physical ways in which God and his glory was present: a hip-popping wrestler, a burning bush, an angel or commander, a quiet voice, the fourth man in the fire in Babylon, heavenly fire leading his people or filling his temple. All of this most crucially leading to him embodied as a craftsman from Nazareth. 

Today, in the church age, the primary way that God is manifest is through the Holy Spirit, poured out on all people (Joel 2, Acts 2). The breadth of the Holy Spirit’s work in and through people undoubtedly changed at Pentecost. But his objective has not. What we sometimes miss as we are caught up in “What exactly can the Spirit help us do?” and “Can some people have more of the Spirit than others?” is that the Spirit is working to bring about evidence of God’s presence, not evidence of our greatness. As Spirit-filled believers, we would do well to look to the Old Testament to see whom God filled with his Spirit, situations where his Spirit is mentioned, and for what purposes. He is working those purposes through us even still. 

The Spirit works for the purpose of displaying beauty worthy of the Creator: 

“See, I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills—to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, to cut and set stones, to work in wood, and to engage in all kinds of crafts. Exodus 31:2-5

The Spirit works within people for the leading of his people (as only he can): 

I will come down and speak with you there, and I will take some of the power of the Spirit that is on you [Moses] and put it on them [Israel’s leaders]. They will share the burden of the people with you so that you will not have to carry it alone. Numbers 11:17 

The Lord replied to Moses, “Take Joshua son of Nun, a man who has the Spirit in him, and lay your hands on him. Numbers 27:18 (CSB)

The Spirit of the Lord will come powerfully upon you, and you will prophesy with them; and you will be changed into a different person. Once these signs are fulfilled, do whatever your hand finds to do, for God is with you. 1 Samuel 10:6-7 [Saul anointed]

So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David. Samuel then went to Ramah. Now the Spirit of the Lord had departed from Saul,… 1 Samuel 16:13-14a [David anointed]

The Spirit’s presence was a protection in difficult times (and whose absence was a crisis): 

(concerning Israel and the exodus)

Yet they rebelled
    and grieved his Holy Spirit.
So he turned and became their enemy
    and he himself fought against them.

Then his people recalled the days of old,
    the days of Moses and his people—
where is he who brought them through the sea,
    with the shepherd of his flock?
Where is he who set
    his Holy Spirit among them,

who sent his glorious arm of power
    to be at Moses’ right hand,
who divided the waters before them,
    to gain for himself everlasting renown,

who led them through the depths? Isaiah 63:10-13

Do not cast me from your presence

or take your Holy Spirit from me. Psalm 51:11

The Spirit provides guidance (both in wisdom and physically):

Teach me to do your will,

for you are my God;

may your good Spirit

lead me on level ground. Psalm 143:10

The hand of the Lord was on me, and he brought me out by the Spirit of the Lord and set me in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. Ezekiel 37:1

The Spirit reveals the word of God:  

And Balaam lifted up his eyes and saw Israel camping tribe by tribe. And the Spirit of God came upon him, and he took up his discourse Numbers 24:2-3

The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,

because the Lord has anointed me

to proclaim good news to the poor.

He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,

to proclaim freedom for the captives

and release from darkness for the prisoners, Isaiah 61:1

They made their hearts diamond-hard lest they should hear the law and the words that the Lord of hosts had sent by his Spirit through the former prophets. Zechariah 7:12

For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. 2 Peter 1:21

May we read these words and find boldness that he who worked these things for Israel has now been poured into us, for the flourishing of his church and the manifestation of the presence of God in this world (Joel 2:28). 

The Holy Spirit at the Beginning

In the weeks leading up to Pentecost, we will be exploring the Bible for what it says about the most elusive part of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit. Many don’t understand his role or may think of him as some mystical power or force, but the Bible actually says a lot about the Spirit throughout both the Old Testament and New. We hope that you will embark on this journey with us to discover this very important and active part of the triune God. Let’s dive in!

The first mention of the Spirit is in Genesis, which shows us that the Holy Spirit has been present from the beginning of all time.

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness covered the surface of the watery depths, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters. (Genesis 1:1-2*)

Not only was he there, but Job says he played a role in the creation of humanity.

The Spirit of God has made me,

and the breath of the Almighty gives me life. (Job 33:4*)

Two Hebrew words are both translated as spirit and breath, depending on the context.   רוּחַ (roo’-akh) is translated as Spirit here, but in other verses it is translated as breath (e.g., Genesis 6:17). נְשָׁמָה (nesh-aw-maw’) is breath in Job 33:4, where he alludes to Genesis 2:7, but it, too has been translated as spirit in other passages (e.g., Proverbs 20:27). Each time we see the Spirit of God mentioned in the Old Testament, it is רוּחַ (roo’-akh).

Then the Lord God formed the man out of the dust from the ground and breathed the breath of life into his nostrils, and the man became a living being. (Genesis 2:7*)

From these passages, we can logically say that the Holy Spirit is the one who gave humanity life at the beginning. In the New Testament, a main attribute of the Holy Spirit is his life-giving nature—not just the first breath of life with Adam, but also eternal life with Christ.

The Spirit is the one who gives life. The flesh doesn’t help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life. (John 6:63*)

I hope you join us as we explore more of the roles the Holy Spirit has played throughout God’s Word. Next week, we will discuss his work throughout the Old Testament.

For further reading, see Job 32:8, Romans 8:10, & 2 Corinthians 3:6.

*All verses are from the Christian Standard Bible (CSB), bold and underlines added.

Not by Might

Throughout Lent, the 40 days leading up to Easter, we shared a reflection series called Return to Me: A Pause for Lent. We had opportunity to, like David, invite God to search our hearts for anything that has caused a breach in our relationship with him. This inspection is heavy work, but it’s also redemptive. Confession and repentance feel painful, but they are a kindness and gift from our loving Father, an invitation to return to him.

This is not, however, work that we do on our own, in a vacuum. The heart-searching of Lent and the salvation offered through Jesus’ death and resurrection on Easter meet in the work of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit, God himself, lives in us, works in us. Beginning April 17th and leading up to Pentecost, we will share a new series on the Holy Spirit. In the meantime, we are honored to share the work that the Holy Spirit is doing in one of our own, Kyle Lara, as she laid a struggle before the Lord and he has begun to redeem it.

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Recently, I took my son to Skate-Away, and I'm grateful to have the experience of doing something like this with him. It doesn't get lost on me how fleeting and special this time is for us.  But it also isn't lost on me that if I hadn't given up alcohol for Lent and if I’d indulged in all the regular St. Patrick's Day "shenanigans," I would be too hungover and tired to even think about taking my son skating. And that would lead to feeling guilty for not being intentional and present with my family, ultimately leading to depression, anxiety, and shame.

Life without alcohol has been awesome, and I can say that as someone who genuinely enjoys the taste of beer.  It's given me a perspective that has completely changed my relationship with alcohol, and for that alone, I feel very blessed.  I keep thanking God for His grace and mercy because if it wasn't for Christ in me, I'd most likely be boastful about the success I have had with how many "dry days" I have had in a row.  There's a word for that, you know?  It's called "striving," and it's exhausting. I know this because of how hard I've been on myself when I wasn't successful at giving it up for longer than a week. I would probably be prideful in my ability to abstain as if willpower had anything to do with it.

The truth is, I am nothing and have nothing without Jesus. It's only because of His selfless and generous gift of salvation that I am not only forgiven of my sins but loved even while wading in sin knee-deep.  When you are loved here, in the wade pool, in a place of disdain for yourself and your actions, it changes you. This is the love of Jesus.  It's transformative. It's a type of kindness that leads to repentance, ultimately leading to a new way of life.  I could stay in this moment forever, because in this moment is a deep understanding that God can, does, and will forgive me.  He has given me more opportunities than I can count to choose Him again and again. See, this is His goodness, the kind that chases you down every day of your life.  This is His kindness and love for you. And this is His desire for my life.  How do I know that? I know that because I'm still here.

As I laced up some rental skates to follow my son around a roller rink for a few hours, it's not without the deep knowing that His Spirit goes with me.  It's His Spirit that is even making this moment possible.  Giving up alcohol for Lent has made it crystal clear that the flesh is weak.  My flesh loves St. Patrick's Day, green beer, and bar hopping; it hates early mornings, headaches, and hangovers.  But when we ask the Holy Spirit to lead us through the temptations of indulgence, I found that the Spirit of the living God is willing to carry me.  And I believe that it's in these moments—when I am surrounded by what truly matters and living joyfully without the one thing I thought only amplified my joy—that allows Christ to be most visible in me.  I am showing up fully present without alcohol on my breath and without regret in my heart.  It hasn't been without temptation and teeter-totter thoughts. It has been challenging and lonely at times. But it's also been incredibly rewarding.  I'm only able to show up because God loved me to this place.  This is the place where fullness becomes tangible:  full of His love, full of His peace, full of His Spirit willing to lead and love me forward. A place where filling myself with the light and love of God I've received can be shared with anyone else who wants to be here, in "this place" with Him too.

Return to Me: A Pause for Lent, Week 6

Day 1:

We’ve reached the final week of our Lenten reflections! We know that spending time in reflection, asking God to search your heart, confessing and turning from anything that has separated you from God is heavy work, but we pray it’s been a blessing. Hopefully you’ve been reminded or encouraged that the mercy and kindness of God, and that repentance is a gift that allows you to draw closer to the Lord.

Our final passage comes from James 4:7-10. Each day this week, we’ll build on these verses, but for now, simply read the passage and think on it. If you like, read it in more than one translation and see if anything sticks out to you.

James 4:7-10 (ESV)

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.

Day 2:

Re-read James 4:7-10.

The book of James was written by Jesus’ half-brother, who led the church in Jerusalem after Christ’s ascension. Rather than addressing this letter to a specific church, James wrote it to Christians everywhere as a reminder of how we are to live out our faith. In this series, we’ve seen how God calls us to return to him, using his words in Scripture and the community around us. We’ve seen how we can and should respond to this call by humbly confessing our sins and running to the Father who greets us with open arms. We’ve seen that once we’ve returned to God, we can invite others—the whole Body—to join us, and we can intercede on its behalf.

Here, James, too, is calling on the whole church draw near to God. He is reminding the people he invested most of his life to serving (and us) that when they submit, draw near, repent, and humble themselves before God, he will draw near and lift them up. As we can see from this series, this is not new information—it wasn’t news to the original readers, and it isn’t news to us. Sometimes, though, as our days come and go, we need this reminder. And sometimes, we need to be the ones reminding others.

When we live, share, and serve together as a community of saints, we can and should speak truth into each other’s lives. God has given us the words to encourage and build each other up, for, “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16). When we have submitted ourselves to God and we remain rooted in Christ, we can humbly train others to do the same. This takes knowledge of Scripture, prayer, and fellowship with the church community. We must be committed to God and his ways before we can instruct others to commit to his ways. May we choose to be a conduit for his love and truth to flow through us to those around us.

Day 3:

Re-read James 4:7-10.

There are great benefits to hand copying scripture. It increases your focus on the words and aids in memorization. Today, pick a verse from James 4:7-10 (or all) to copy down in your own hand or to memorize. If neither of those fit with your personality, draw a picture that comes to mind while reading it or read the passage over multiple times, maybe in a different translation.

In your handwritten copy of this scripture or in your Bible underline the verbs as you look over our verses in James. This passage is filled with calls to action.  Start with “Submit” and “Resist.” Continue to mark each verb, allowing your mind to notice these active ways to follow God’s directions.

Day 4: 

Re-read James 4:7-10.

Today in our Pause, we invite you to pray over the passage. Think through the scripture itself, what you may have learned from Day 2, or what has come to mind in your own personal study and pray it out. If you need some help, we’ve provided a prayer below.

Father God,

You have asked us to draw near to you, so here I am. I’m not always sure how to draw near, but I am trusting that in my willingness, you will draw near to me. You will hold me. This is a strange week in the church calendar—so many highs and lows, not so different from my life. My joys are quickly dashed, and disappointments and reality can knock me so low. And in my own reflection this Lent season, I have spent time facing some of my own sin. I am so sorry. I don’t want to stay where I am. With your help, with your power, I am turning away from Satan and all he is dangling before me. I am asking for your power to pull me from my sinful habits. And even as I remember today—Maundy Thursday, where you washed your disciples’ feet and shared a last meal—I remember that your body was broken for me. God, you were lifted up on a cross, paying for my sin.  Oh God, your mercy to me is so great! Please walk with me, lift me up, help me on my way today.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Day 5:

Re-read James 4:7-10.

Reflect and Apply:

• How many times a day do you wash your hands? Put this verse on a sticky note near your sink. As you wash your hands, think about the internal, spiritual, repentant cleansing that God wants to do in you. What does he want to wash away?

• James is the only Biblical author who uses the term “double-minded” (from the Greek word dipsuchos [dip’-soo-khos]). That description hints at the idea that believers can find themselves torn between competing ideas or interests, conflicted in their thoughts, easily thrown off course. Write down some things that pull your focus away from Jesus and his priorities for your life.

• The U.S. culture is often not comfortable with deep sadness. We shy away from lament or outward demonstrations of sadness. Push yourself today to spend some time in honest sadness. Allow yourself to cry, to sit with your personal pain, to maybe even be mad at God a bit. One position of humility is to physically kneel, to kneel with your head to the floor or even to lie face down on the floor. Spend time in this humble physical position and listen for God. He will raise you up.

Based on this week’s passage, take some time to think through an application that you can begin to carry out moving forward. And on Sunday we will all be able to sing His praises as we celebrate a lifted up, risen Savior.

Day 1:

This week in Return to Me: A Pause for Lent, our scripture for reflection comes from Joel 2:12-13. So far, we have looked at God’s invitation, and individual’s experiences with repentance. Today, our passage also includes a call for corporate repentance. Each day this week, we’ll build on this passage, but for now, simply read the passage and reflect on it. If you like, read it in more than one translation and see if anything sticks out to you.

Joel 2:12-13 (CSB)

“Even now — this is the Lord’s declaration — turn to me with all your heart, with fasting, weeping, and mourning. Tear your hearts, not just your clothes, and return to the Lord your God. For he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in faithful love, and he relents from sending disaster.”

Day 2:

Re-read Joel 2:12-13.

Joel was living through a time when Israel was experiencing the consequences of their sin and breaking their covenant with God. He’s also telling Israel about a future Day of the Lord where God’s judgement will be poured out on the land. But right in the middle of this book, he offers hope. He calls on Israel to repent—to return to the Lord, and in doing so they may receive God’s mercy from the impending judgement. With his own repentance, Joel invites Israel into a corporate repentance. They, as a nation, rejected God and his purposes for them. They had chosen to serve other gods and allow injustices to flourish in their land. For this, the whole people needed to repent, not just a few individuals. And this repentance needed to be genuine, not just an outward act, but a returning to God with all their hearts.

We, too, have turned to other gods—our phones, our jobs, influential people, our tribes, our own liberty, etc.—and have allowed injustice to flourish. As God’s people, we are to be a light to the world, we are to be his hands and feet, and we are to be united (though not uniform). We need to rend our hearts, confess and grieve the ways we, as a body, have fallen short, and return to God and his ways. God’s character has remained the same from before the beginning.

He is gracious and compassionate towards us. He is slow to anger and overflowing with faithfulness and love. We are so blessed to be able to come to him, confess our sins to him, and receive his mercy and forgiveness. Christ’s sacrifice has allowed us to approach God’s throne, and even more amazingly, opened a way for God’s Spirit to reside in us. Though we deserve his judgement, we’ve been given so much more than his grace.

Day 3:

Re-read Joel 2:12-13.

There are great benefits to hand copying scripture. It increases your focus on the words and aids in memorization. Today, pick a verse from Joel 2:12-13 (or both) to copy down in your own hand or to memorize. If neither of those fit with your personality, draw a picture that comes to mind while reading it or read the passage over multiple times, maybe in a different translation. The idea is to pause over the Word and let it sink in.

Day 4: 

Re-read Joel 2:12-13.

Today in our Pause, we invite you to pray over the passage. Think through the scripture itself, what you may have learned from Day 2, or what has come to mind in your own personal study and pray it out. If you need some help, we’ve provided a prayer below.

Most holy God,

We have sinned. Though we have been called to be your people, your body, we have turned to other things to try to satisfy us. We have allowed our dreams and desires to turn us away from you and your ways. May we, as a people, return to you, Lord. Out of your grace and compassion forgive us from our sin. Thank you for the abundance of your steadfast love toward us. Draw us to you and lead us in your ways forever.

May all your people say “Amen.”

Day 5:

Re-read Joel 2:12-13.

Reflect and Apply:

• As a culture that values individuality, it may be difficult for us to see ourselves wholly as one unit, but the Bible clearly states that we belong to each other when we belong to God. Think about your relationship with others in the body of Christ. Are you building up or tearing down?

• What corporate sins do you see in the church? Take time to confess them and intercede for us.

• Brainstorm a few ideas of how you can “stir up one another to love and good works.” (Hebrews 10:24)

Based on this week’s passage, take some time to think through an application that you can begin to carry out moving forward. (Though we’re focusing on Joel 2:12-13, I would encourage you to read through all of Joel if you have time.)

Please come back Monday morning for the post on Week 6.

Return to Me: A Pause for Lent, Week 4

Day 1:

Each week of our Lenten series, Return to Me: a Pause for Lent, we will focus on one passage in which God invites us to be in relationship him. This week’s passage, Luke 15:11-32, is a familiar one—The Prodigal (or Lost) Son. This is a lengthier passage, but if you have time, read it a second time, maybe in a different translation. We’ll continue reflecting on this passage through the week, but for today, take your time reading.

Luke 15:11-32

11 And he said, “There was a man who had two sons. 12 And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them. 13 Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. 14 And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. 16 And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything.

17 “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father's hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.”’ 20 And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’22 But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. 23 And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. 24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.

25 “Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. 27 And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.’ 28 But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, 29 but he answered his father, ‘Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’ 31 And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. 32 It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and now is found.’”

Day 2:

Re-read Luke 15:11-32.

The parable of the Prodigal (or Lost) Son is the longest, most detailed, and arguably the most famous of the parables Jesus shared during his ministry. There are many lessons to pull from these verses and we certainly can’t cover them all here*, but we’ll discuss a few details, particularly as they pertain to our Lent theme of Return to Me.

Although the title of this passage may indicate a single son is the focal point of Jesus’ story, this parable actually revolves around two sons and their father. The younger son chooses to walk away from his father and embrace sin—anything is fair game. By the end of the parable, he recognizes the brokenness he lives in and humbly returns home to his father; the relationship is restored.

The older son represents the Pharisees—self-righteous of their own standing and unfeeling towards the repentance of others. He, unfortunately, does not repent and turn back to his father by the end of the parable.

The father in Jesus’ story gives us a picture of our heavenly Father. He waits eagerly for the younger and older sons alike to recognize what they have in him. When the younger son returns, we glimpse a beautiful picture of the father joyfully and lavishly welcoming him home that gives us just a hint of the love God has for us.

Let’s be clear: both sons have gone their own way and turned from their father. Just as Adam and Eve were tempted in the Garden to believe that God did not have their good in mind and that God was not enough, both the younger and older brothers initially believed that a relationship with their father was not enough.

Thankfully our Heavenly Father also has a Son, and his name is Jesus. As we draw nearer to Easter, we know that we have been given an invitation to draw near to the Father through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Whether you relate more to the younger brother or the older brother, take a moment to remember your sin separates you from the Father, but even more incredible, remember what a gift you have been given to be able to call Jesus brother. (Hebrews 2:11)

 *[If you have never heard a thorough breakdown of this story and the way that each son has grieved the father and the father’s heart for his sons, as well as additional cultural context, please take the time to listen to Timothy Keller’s teaching on the Younger Brother and the Older Brother . They are each about 10 minutes. Even if you have, these are excellent teachings to refresh your memory or learn more!]

Day 3:

Re-read Luke 15:11-32.

There are great benefits to hand copying scripture. It increases your focus on the words and aids in memorization. Today, pick a verse from Luke 15:11-32 (or the whole passage) to copy down in your own hand or to memorize. If neither of those fit with your personality, draw a picture that comes to mind while reading it or read the passage over multiple times, maybe in a different translation. The idea is to pause over the Word and let it sink in.

Day 4: 

Re-read Luke 15:11-32.

Today in our Pause, we invite you to pray over the passage. Think through the scripture itself, what you may have learned from Day 2 or what has come to mind in your own personal study, and pray it out. If you need some help, we’ve provided a prayer below.

Dear Father,

Thank you for giving me such a beautiful understanding of your Father’s heart towards me, your child. Thank you that you long for me to stay close to you and be full of thankfulness for all you give me in your Son, Jesus. I confess that just like the younger brother, I can often look “over the fence” at other things in this world that I think I want more than I want you. I am grieved that I have chased other things for joy and fulfillment instead of trusting you and staying close to your side. I know that if I stay close to you, you will give me things you know are good for me and provide for all my needs. 

Father, I know it’s also in me to live according to your ways, but instead of giving you glory and thankfulness, my heart can swell with pride and self-righteousness like the older brother’s did. Would you break me of my pride and convince my wandering heart that only by your grace am I able to want you at all.

Thank you, Lord, that your heart is kind. Thank you for longing for us to come back to you when we wander and are filled with pride. You are the God who runs with joy towards me when I repent and come home. Remind me that your heart towards me is kind, you are not stingy or far off. You are generous, warm, kind, and inviting me to come home and stay near to my Father who loves me.

Amen.

Day 5:

Re-read Luke 15:11-32.

Reflect and Apply.

• Do you relate more to the younger son or the older son in this parable?

• In our introduction to this Lent series, we explored the Fall in Genesis 3 and talked about how Adam and Eve were tempted to believe that God did not have their good in mind, that God was not enough, and they went their own way. How did both the younger son and the older son believe that their father was not enough?

• How are you tempted to believe that God is not enough for you? Be specific with God. Turn those lies over to him and ask him to replace them with Truth.

• As you close your time in this passage, take a minute to imagine the joy with which the Prodigal’s father welcomed him home—then imagine how joyously God delights in your drawing near to him.

Based on this week’s passage, take some time to think through an application that you can begin to carry out moving forward.

Please come back Monday morning for the post on Week 5.

Return to Me: A Pause for Lent, Week 3

Day 1:

The past few weeks we have been studying scripture in which God invites his people to be in relationship him. This week we turn to a famous passage of individual repentance, Psalm 51, written by King David. After reading through the scripture below, read it again, maybe trying a different translation. Through the week, we’ll build on this passage, but for this first day, focus on the scripture and taking it in.

Psalm 51:1-17

Have mercy on me, O God,

    according to your steadfast love;

according to your abundant mercy

    blot out my transgressions.

2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,

    and cleanse me from my sin!

3 For I know my transgressions,

    and my sin is ever before me.

4 Against you, you only, have I sinned

    and done what is evil in your sight,

so that you may be justified in your words

    and blameless in your judgment.

5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,

    and in sin did my mother conceive me.

6 Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being,

    and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart.

 7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;

    wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

8 Let me hear joy and gladness;

let the bones that you have broken rejoice.

9 Hide your face from my sins,

    and blot out all my iniquities.

10 Create in me a clean heart, O God,

    and renew a right spirit within me.

11 Cast me not away from your presence,

    and take not your Holy Spirit from me.

12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation,

    and uphold me with a willing spirit.

13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways,

    and sinners will return to you.

14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God,

    O God of my salvation,

    and my tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness.

15 O Lord, open my lips,

    and my mouth will declare your praise.

16 For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it;

you will not be pleased with a burnt offering.

17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;

    a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

Day 2:

Re-read Psalm 51: 1-17.

David is known as a “man after God’s own heart” and was the king to whom all subsequent kings were compared. His is the holy line from Judah that would eventually bring us our Messiah, Jesus. And yet, he was not without sin.

Many people know the story of David and Bathsheba. In this saga alone, David covets, steals, commits adultery, lies, and murders (5 of the 10 commandments broken). In his pursuit of Bathsheba, he grows more and more callous to the sins he’s committing to the point where God needs to send Nathan to open his eyes to his own depravity. This Psalm is his response.

Sometimes we can be like David. In our pursuits of our desires, we, too, can become apathetic to the sins we commit, which is why it is so important to be in community with other Christians who can lovingly call us out on our sin. Without Nathan, David may have continued on the path of destruction. But God had mercy on David, and his grace abounds towards us.

Psalm 51 is a prayer of returning to God and his ways. It is a prayer that we can use to realign our hearts to God’s. We have been given the chance to respond to God’s call, “return to me,” and may we respond as David did.

Day 3:

Re-read Psalm 51: 1-17.

There are great benefits to hand-copying scripture. It increases your focus on the words and aids in memorization. Today, pick a verse from Psalm 51:1-17 (or the whole passage) to copy down in your own hand or to memorize. If neither of those fit with your personality, draw a picture that comes to mind while reading it, or read the passage over multiple times, maybe in a different translation.

There are also some songs that have been made from this passage, and you can find one to listen to or sing (Create in Me a Clean Heart by Keith Green is one, Shane & Shane’s Psalm 51 (Wisdom in the Secret Heart), and the old hymn, Whiter than Snow, takes from this passage as well). The idea is to pause over the Word and let it sink in.

Day 4: 

Re-read Psalm 51:1-17.

Today in our Pause, we invite you to pray over the passage. Think through the scripture itself, what you may have learned from Day 2, or what has come to mind in your own personal study, and pray. If you need some help, we’ve provided a prayer below.

Lord, Thank you for your steadfast love and abundant mercy. Give me eyes to see my own wrongdoing and cleanse me from my sin. Create a clean heart and renew a right spirit in me. Surround me with people who can speak truth into my life, and let me be someone to do the same. Help me to be bold in declaring your praise and teaching others your ways so that they might, too, return to you. Let me praise you all my days for your righteousness, wisdom, mercy, faithfulness, and love.

Amen

Day 5:

Re-read Psalm 51:1-17.

Reflect and Apply:

• What sin is keeping you from experiencing the joy of salvation?

• “For you will not delight in sacrifice… The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit” When we come to God in humility, we can experience the fullness of his love and mercy. Reflect on God’s perfect goodness and where you fall short. Confess your sin and soak in his merciful lovingkindness.

• Our first response to God’s mercy should always be praise. Take some time today to praise God for all he’s done and for who he is. This can be through worship music, but can also be done through writing out or speaking those things. “God, you are merciful, just, loving,…” “God, you’ve shown your goodness by…”

Based on this week’s passage, take some time to think through an application that you can begin to carry out moving forward.

Please come back Monday morning for the post on Week 4.

Return to Me: A Pause for Lent, Week 2

Day 1:

This week in Return to Me: A Pause for Lent, our scripture for reflection comes from the prophet Jeremiah. Each day this week, we’ll reflect on this passage in a different way, but for today, simply read the passage and take it in. If you like, read it in more than one translation and see if anything sticks out to you.

Jeremiah 24:6-7

I will set my eyes on them for good, and I will bring them back to this land. I will build them up, and not tear them down; I will plant them, and not pluck them up. I will give them a heart to know that I am the LORD, and they shall be my people and I will be their God, for they shall return to me with their whole heart.

Day 2:

Re-read Jeremiah 24:6-7.

The Israelites have a colorful history as God’s Chosen People. Throughout the Old Testament, we see this group of people—given the blessing of being identified as God’s own people— squander away that designation by turning away from God and going their own way, time and time again. Jeremiah, one of the major prophets of the Old Testament, was witness to one of those seasons of wandering.

The Lord declares, in Jeremiah 5:11, “the house of Israel and the house of Judah have been utterly treacherous to me” and in Jeremiah 9:3 that “they do not know me.” His words are not ambiguous. But our God is a God of mercy, grace and steadfast love; He is not done with them yet. Later in Jeremiah, in verse 7 of our passage, the Lord relents, saying, “I will give them a heart to know that I am the LORD, and they shall be my people and I will be their God.”

Jeremiah shows us that God’s strong words of judgement are surpassed only by his promises of mercy. He won’t give up on his people. He miraculously offers—to those who did not know him—a heart to know him as Lord, to call them his own, and to be called upon by them as their God. Why? Because they would return to him with their whole heart.

In my pride, I so often want to look down upon the Israelites for their wandering, but if I search my heart, I know I am no better. May we have hearts softened to his conviction, to turn away from our sin and turn to him with our whole hearts. Thanks be to God— He won’t give up on his people. He won’t give up on us.

Continue to reflect on that which separates you from the Lord and his great invitation to return to him.

Day 3:

Re-read Jeremiah 24:6-7.

There are great benefits to hand copying scripture. It increases your focus on the words and aids in memorization. Today, pick a verse from Jeremiah 24:6-7 (or both!) to copy down in your own hand or to memorize. If neither of those fit with your personality, draw a picture that comes to mind while reading it or read the passage over multiple times, maybe in a different translation. The idea is to pause over the Word and let it sink in.

Day 4: 

Re-read Jeremiah 24:6-7.

Today in our Pause, we invite you to pray over this week’s passage. Using the scripture, your own personal study, and anything you may have learned on Day 2, spend some time in prayer. Is there something that you want God to make clear to you, some sin you need to turn over to him? He wants to hear from you. If you need some help, we’ve provided a prayer below.

Father,

Like the Israelites, I let the circumstances of life and counterfeit gods get in between us. Instead of holding tight to you, I wander. Search my heart and help me to see where there might be distance between us and put that sin in me to death. And thank you for your mercy. Thank you for your invitation. Thank you for your promise, that if I recognize that I have turned away from you and turn back, you will welcome me home.

Amen

Day 5:

Re-read Jeremiah 24:6-7.

Reflect and Apply:

• Spend time in quiet. Take a few moments of silence to let God bring anything to mind that may be putting distance between you. Which broken places and through which means is he inviting you back? Welcome him into those places.

• Reflect on the building and planting metaphors in verse 6. Where would you like to see God build new works or grow new life in you moving forward? Be specific!

• Think back through the Israelites’ history and your own past, remember God’s mercy to redeem and restore us when we turn back to him. Again, be specific. Remembering is vital to building our faith deeper and stronger.

Based on this week’s passage, take some time to think through an application that you can begin to carry out moving forward.

 Come back next Monday morning for the post on Week 3.

Return to Me: A Pause for Lent, Week 1

Week 1 

Day 1:

Each week of our Lenten series, Return to Me: a Pause for Lent, we will focus on one passage in which God invites us to be in relationship him. We begin our first day of reflection by reading this week’s passage, Nehemiah 1:8-10. After reading through the verses below, read it again, possibly even in more than one translation. Each day this week, we’ll build on this passage, but for now, simply read the passage and soak it in.

Nehemiah 1: 8-10, ESV

Remember the word that you commanded your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the peoples, but if you return to me and keep my commandments and do them, though your outcasts are in the uttermost parts of heaven, from there I will gather them and bring them to the place that I have chosen, to make my name dwell there.’ They are your servants and your people, whom you have redeemed by your great power and by your strong hand.

Day 2:

Re-read Nehemiah 1:8-10.

Set in the time of the Israel’s captivity, Nehemiah is believed to be written by Ezra using the personal diaries of Nehemiah, the cupbearer to the King. Written 13 years after Ezra, the first chapter opens with Nehemiah learning of the deteriorating state of Jerusalem. Far from being a lowly service position, being cupbearer to the King was a critically important role. It was in this highly trusted capacity—as the one who drank from the king’s cup first to ensure it was not poisoned—that Nehemiah was in the position to approach the king on behalf of his people. But before he approaches the king with his mission, Nehemiah first appeals to God, citing God’s promise that if Israel would repent, he would restore them. (See also Deut. 4:29, 30:1-6.)

In this season of Lent, we pause and recognize the weight of our sin, that which separates us from the Lord. But first, we take a stop to dive into God’s call to us to return. If God did not call for us to return to him—if he did not promise to restore us if we did—no amount of recognition of sin could have eternal significance. But he did, and it does.

Pause and remember that even in your sin, God calls you back to him.

Day 3:

There are great benefits to hand-copying scripture. It increases your focus on the words and aids in memorization. Today, pick a verse from Nehemiah 1:8-10 (or the whole passage) to copy down in your own hand or to memorize. If neither of those fit with your personality, draw a picture that comes to mind while reading it, or read the passage over multiple times, maybe in a different translation. The idea is to pause over the Word and let it sink in.

Day 4: 

Today in our Pause, we invite you to pray over the passage. Re-read the passage and think through the scripture itself, what you may have learned from Day 2, or what has come to mind in your own personal study, then pray it out. If you need some help, we’ve provided a prayer below to get you started. 

Father,

In this season of Lent, we recognize all that separates us from you. But in order for our repentance and return to you to mean anything, we must first have the call, the invitation, the promise—that if we return to you, you will restore us. You have given that call throughout your Word. Most importantly, you gave that promise through the life, death, and resurrection of your Son, Jesus Christ, whose death made a way for us to join you eternally. Thank you that you invite us to return to you.

Amen

Day 5:

Re-read the passage.

Reflect and Apply:

• What does it mean to you that God invites you to come back to him, even though you’ve sinned?

• Spend a few minutes personalizing his invitation—he calls you, [insert name], to turn from your sin and return to him. There is no sin too great, time elapsed too long that he would not welcome you with open arms.

• Remember a time that the fullness of God’s invitation has settled over you and the weight of sin was lifted.

Based on this week’s passage, take some time to think through an application that you can begin to carry out moving forward. Be specific!

Come back next Monday morning for the post on Week 2.

Return to Me: a Pause for Lent

Today marks the beginning of Lent. The 40 days of Lent points back to the 40 days of temptation Jesus faced in the wilderness.  It’s not the flashiest set of days on the Christian calendar. Whereas Advent leads up to the birth of our Savior and Easter celebrates his resurrection, the 40 days of Lent are set aside as a more somber time of reflection, preparation, and even self-denial.

Often seen as a time to fast—from food, social media, TV, purchases, or something else that seems to have a deeper hold on us than God—though good to do, Lent is about much more than giving something up.

Lent is an opportunity to slow down, to hit pause on the frenetic world and force our eyes—and hearts—to hold still. As much as we love the love of God in our lives, we allow space to remember our sin and humanity. We came from dust and to dust we will return. We search our hearts and recognize the brokenness inside of each one of us that made Jesus’s death and resurrection on Easter necessary.

To that end, this year we are offering a 5 day/week Lenten resource. We know everyone is busy, so each day’s prompts are designed to be completed in 5 minutes or less—you can take a brief pause from your day and do them as offered, or you can spend further time reflecting and studying to make a lengthier study time if you wish. Weekends are off or can be used to catch up on missed days. Each Monday we will post the five prompts for that week on the Riverbend Blog.

Our theme for our passages this Lent is Return to Me. To set that up, let’s take a look back at the Fall in Genesis 3:4-8:

4 But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her,  and he ate. 7 Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths.

8 And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. 

The serpent’s lie to Eve was that God was withholding good from her, and she believed it. Adam did as well. It was not enough that they had everything they could ever need, living in a perfect place—deep in their hearts, they fell to the temptation that God is not enough. They went their own way.

The next 40 days, we will spend time thinking of where we have gone our own way, thinking God is not enough in our own lives. But the good news is God has provided us an invitation. As he did numerous times through the Old Testament and even in the Gospels, he invited his people: “Return to me”.

As we journey to the Friday Cross through to Easter, we will see that God has offered us that same invitation, “Return to me,” through the death and resurrection of his perfect Son. This time, it is an invitation that echoes into eternity.

Advent 2022: His Peace

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Editor’s Note: The theme for this year’s Advent reflections is Immanuel, Jesus has Come Here. God has always been present in the world, but with the coming of Jesus as an infant, he is also made present with his people. Our sin separates us from God, but through a baby, Immanuel, he draws us close.

This week, as we explore the blessings of Immanuel, God with us, we finish our Advent reflections by thinking on the peace that comes from Jesus.

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Sometimes the carols from our youth hold a message for today. I feel that way about Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day.”

You may not know that the poem which is now set to music was written by Longfellow on Christmas Day 1863, two years after his wife had died, in the depths of the Civil War, while nursing his soldier son. Longfellow was an abolitionist and was deeply depressed following his wife’s horrific death, but somehow the church bells that Christmas morning reminded him of a deeper truth, a truth that was stronger than his depression and pain.

One of the verses begins, “In despair I bowed my head; ‘There is no peace on earth,’ I said; ‘for hate is strong, and mocks the song of peace on earth, good-will to men.’” 

That’s often how I feel. Peace and good-will are platitudes that are thrown around, but people don’t have the courage, or perhaps the example to follow, to make that a reality.  How can we?  It is not human nature to offer good-will to others, especially when they are outside our group, outside our understanding.  But it is in God’s nature to do so. He is the one who sent His son from heaven to earth to show us a way of peace. The song continues, “Then pealed the bells more loud and deep: ‘God is not dead, nor doth He sleep; The wrong shall fail, the right prevail, with peace on earth, good-will to men.’”

This verse is a lyrical hint of God’s redemption described in Jesus’ own words in John 16:33,

“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

Jesus has overcome the world!

As we come to this last week—this last day—of Advent, on Christmas Eve and are once again confronted with the unbelievable accounts of Jesus’ birth—His coming—let us not make it a puzzle to be somehow cleverly solved but rather take a moment to peacefully ponder(1) all that was, all that is, and all that is to come, proclaiming again, with great confidence that Jesus is our peace.

(1.      Dr. Natasha Duquette, Vice-President Academic and Professor of Literature, Our Lady Seat of Wisdom College, Barry’s Bay, Ontario, Canada, https://ccca.biola.edu/advent/2022/#day-nov-29 )

Reflection:

1. Write in a journal some things that cause you stress, that take away your rest.  Then in a prayer, say “Jesus, ______________ is taking away my peace.  But I know that you are greater than this. It does not surprise you. It does not overwhelm you like it does me. I am claiming your peace, knowing you have already overcome this. Help me to rest in you.”

2. Find a bell, not a jingle bell, but something louder, deeper. If you can’t find a bell, make one. Fill a metal container with some water and strike it. Ring it and remember that God is not dead. He does not sleep.  Read aloud Psalm 121. If you can’t find or make a bell, go for a walk and listen for the carillon of a local church to remind you of the truths of Psalm 121.

3. Invite your family to sit and experience the quiet.  Pause with your eyes closed. Say “Jesus” and then let yourself lean into the silence for 60 seconds. Open your eyes and do a silent group hug. This may be the only quiet you get in a chaotic, celebratory week.  Enjoy it!

Advent 2022: His Perfection

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Editor’s Note: The theme for this year’s Advent reflections is Immanuel, Jesus has Come Here. God has always been present in the world, but with the coming of Jesus as an infant, he is also made present with his people. Our sin separates us from God, but through a baby, Immanuel, he draws us close.

This week, as we explore the blessings of Immanuel, God with us, we reflect on Jesus coming here and the gift of his perfection.

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One of my sons has inherited his mother’s unfortunate tendency towards perfectionism. When he tries but fails to master some new concept in school or in play perfectly, the frustration, shame, or defensiveness—or some combination of feelings—threatens to pull him down. But just as I know he will never be perfect, our heavenly Father knows he, nor I, nor any one of us, will ever be perfect. In fact, that inability to measure up to a 100%-perfection-all-the-time-every-time standard is the very reason Jesus came.

“For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.” Romans 3:20

Prior to Jesus, the Israelites measured their right-standing with God through adherence to the Mosaic Law. The Law had many purposes, such as to set the nation of Israel apart from other nations, but chief among them was to reveal to God’s chosen people who he is and who they were— people who fell short of his standard of perfection, and were, therefore, in need of saving. For the people of the Law, that saving came through prescribed sacrifices, which needed to be regularly offered to the Lord.   

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

“For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.” Hebrews 10:14

Immanuel came down to a broken world full of imperfect people, the spotless lamb. He faced earthly temptations, experienced the realities of this world, knew the exacting nature of high standards, and yet he remained without sin. His perfection covers our imperfection. And even more mind-blowing is that the driver behind this greatest act of all time, as identified for us in John 3:16, is God’s love for us. Timothy Keller famously says,

“The gospel is this: We are more sinful and flawed in ourselves than we ever dared believe, yet at the very same time we are more loved and accepted in Jesus Christ than we ever dared hope.”

From one recovering perfectionist to anyone else out there that struggles under the weight of something that is impossible, nor was ever meant to be attained, let us give endless praise to the One who has always been, is always, will forever be Perfect.

This Advent season, let us push off the weight of guilt and shame set by impossibly high standards, not as an excuse to continue in sin, but to fall headlong into his arms of grace. He came. Jesus came. Immanuel came.

Reflection:

1. Do you tend to hold yourself up to an impossible standard or do you use grace as an excuse to continue in sin?

2. Spend some time reflecting on who Christ is and the fact that Immanuel, the Son of God, was both without sin and came to cover us with his righteousness.

Advent 2022: His Pursuit

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Editor’s Note: The theme for this year’s Advent reflections is Immanuel, Jesus has Come Here. God has always been present in the world, but with the coming of Jesus as an infant, he is also made present with his people. Our sin separates us from God, but through a baby, Immanuel, he draws us close.

This week, as we explore the blessings of Immanuel, God with us, we reflect on Jesus coming here and the gift of his pursuit.

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“There is a crack in everything, it’s how the light gets in.” ~ Leonard Cohen

Another season of Advent is here—a season of hope, peace, joy, and love—the most wonderful time of the year. And yet, with each passing year, it seems easier to focus on all the cracks and brokenness that permeate this busted up world. 

A former student of ours, Sarah, a young wife and mother, passed away the day after Thanksgiving. We prayed for healing. We prayed for a miracle. But that healing came in a different way than we had prayed for. My mind drifts to the passage in Luke 24 when some of the disciples were walking on the road to Emmaus, and Jesus walks with them, though they do not recognize him. They talk about all the events of the crucifixion and the events leading up to it, when they say these three words, ”We had hoped...” So much of the sentiment of those words resonate with my heart and maybe yours as well.

We had hoped... you would heal Sarah.

We had hoped...you would restore that relationship.

We had hoped... for different test results.

We had hoped... you would give us a child to love.

We had hoped... for my family member to finally be free of addiction.

We had hoped... for a time together with family without another blowup.

“We had hoped He was the Messiah, who had come to rescue Israel.” Luke 24:21.

His very own disciples and closest friends doubted who Jesus was. And yet, I think about how even in the midst of their grief, disappointment, cynicism, or doubts, He walks with them. He listens. He reminds them of all that was promised to them. He is WITH them.

And isn’t that what Christmas is all about? God sends love down, putting on flesh, to pursue and get up close and personal with His prodigal people. Our cynicism doesn’t phase him. Our bitterness doesn’t deter him. Our doubts don’t scare him. He gives us the freedom to choose our own way over His perfect ways, and His love for us remains steadfast and limitless. But far too often we chase the fleeting pleasures of this world when “it gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom” (Luke 12:32). And His vast love and pursuit goes far beyond saving us to actually wanting to adopt us as His dearly beloved children, to share His inheritance with us, to experience eternal life and His kingdom now.

My grief and doubts may still sometimes blind me from recognizing Him in the moment, but as I look back on my life, I can still see His pursuit of me, his unending love, his goodness and faithfulness to me. For when His hope and my heart burned within me, I can see how He was with me all the way (Luke 24:32).

So yes, there are still cracks in everything, but I pray this Christmas, and always, that we would allow the light and love of Jesus to permeate those cracks of our broken hearts so that hope, joy, and peace would shine through us. And rather than continuing to say “We had hoped,” we can now proclaim with confidence, “We have hope” — in Jesus, our Messiah, and He has really come to rescue us. Amen.

Reflection:

1. What are the “cracks” in your life?

2. Where do you see, amidst the cracks, the Lord’s pursuit of you this holiday season?

Advent 2022: His Presence

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Editor’s Note: The theme for this year’s Advent reflections is Immanuel, Jesus has Come Here. God has always been present in the world, but with the coming of Jesus as an infant, he is also made present with his people. Our sin separates us from God, but through a baby, Immanuel, he draws us close.

This week, as we explore the blessings of Immanuel, God with us, we reflect on Jesus coming here and the gift of his presence.

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Isaiah 7:14 - Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign; Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel.”

Name him—Immanuel. It means God is with us.

Have you ever noted that sometimes it’s not the pain or seriousness of an injury that matters in the end? I have more traumatic memories from my childhood of splinters and scrapes than the concussion I sustained from gymnastics. And my first sickness, a cold, as a freshman in college was worse than the flu I had had at home with my parents in high school. The difference between each scenario was that I was alone with the lighter, seemingly easier afflictions, but held and comforted by my parents with the more serious maladies.

It is curious that Immanuel is the name God chooses for His Son in this passage. He could have named himself “Chesed,” (grace), “Shalom,” (peace), or “Hesed,” (love). God is in fact all of these things. Other places in the Bible God calls Him these exact beautiful words and more!  But when His Son was to be born, it’s almost as if God just didn’t want us (and Israel, the original recipients of this sign) to miss it. “I have come near. I am here. I am with you. You are not alone.”

During Christmas time there is both a beauty and magic about the celebration of Jesus’ arrival. Yet, there can also be sadness and grief. Perhaps you feel the loss of someone you love to sickness, or you have a wayward child, or a much desired expectation wasn’t met in your life.

The name God gives His Son tells us you are never by yourself in both these delights of the season—lights, gifts, food, friends—nor the strange heartache. He is with you. He is near.

Jeremiah 23: 23-24 “Am I a God who is near,” declares the Lord, “And not a God far off? Can a man hide himself in hiding places, So I do not see him?” Declares the Lord, “Do I not fill the heavens and the earth?” Declares the LORD.

Psalm 139: 7-10 Where can I go from your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend to heaven, Thou are there; If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, Thou are there. If I take the wings of the dawn, If I dwell in the remotest part of the sea, Even there thy hand will lead me, And Thy right hand will lay hold of me.”

When the God of the Bible draws near, it is to be like a balm to cracked skin. When Moses asked God to go with them as they travelled through the desert, it was to be a strong protection over the Israelites. And when Jesus came near as a baby who grew into a man who willingly died for people who would reject Him, it was to bring healing to our broken, rebellious and hurting souls. When God sends His Son to be “with” us, it is a very very good thing.

So when you feel alone…

•    When you have met yourself as a new Mom for the first time and are bone tired

•    When you have your grown children living outside your home for the first time.

•    When you are working with your difficult child NOT for the first time.

•    When you are up late studying for that impossible test and you’re running out of time

•    Or up late working on a budget that just won’t stretch any more

•    Or even up late flirting with temptation to sin and you just can’t walk away and you already feel the shame that inevitably comes when we choose sin.

In those times this season, let the beauty of the lights, the music, the unique tastes of this season remind you that the presence of our gentle, kind, forgiving, powerful, perfect Savior is with you. Though your feelings may try to convince you otherwise,  your prayers are not just hitting the ceiling. You are talking to your Savior. You are crying with your Savior. You are fighting the good fight against sin with Your Savior. When it seems no one else cares about the strange heartache of things that didn’t materialize, or things that did, remember and believe that Jesus came to show us just how near He wants to be with us.

Immanuel.

Reflection:

1. Can you remember a time that someone’s presence with you in a hard time brought comfort or peace?

2. In what situation you are currently facing do you need to remember that Jesus came to be with you on this earth?