The Trustworthiness of God

A friend of mine recently shared from Sam Alberry's little book, '7 Myths about Singleness' regarding the faithfulness of God especially in times of uncertainty and anxiety. I tracked the book down and here is that section:

From 7 Myths About Singless by Sam Alberry, pg.138-139:

"I am grateful to my friend Kathy Keller for reminding me that God doesn't give us hypothetical grace but only actual grace. The point is that when we imagine all those worst-case-scenarios, we are imagining them without factoring in the presence and grace of God that would be there if they actually happened. As Kathy wrote in an email once, "God doesn't play that game. He doesn't inject hypothetical grace into your hypothetical nightmare situation so that you would know what it would actually feel like if you ever did end up in that situation." He only gives grace for our actual situation. Replaying these scenarios over and over inner mind is therefore not at all helpful and actually factors out what God would be doing were it to ever happen. What we're imagining is actually life in that situation without God's presence. Better to find something else to fill our minds with. C.S. Lewis makes a similar point when he says, "Remember one is given the strength to bear what happens, but not the 101 different things that might happen." One of the Scriptures I found myself returning to during that time of meltdown, and which is still a wonderful comfort, is Psalm 139 and these well-known words:

Psalm 139:1-6

O Lord, you have searched me and known me!

You know when I sit down and when I rise up;

    you discern my thoughts from afar.

You search out my path and my lying down

    and are acquainted with all my ways.

 Even before a word is on my tongue,

    behold, O Lord, you know it altogether.

You hem me in, behind and before,

    and lay your hand upon me.

Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;

    it is high; I cannot attain it.

Forgot Christmas?

"We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure." Hebrews 6:19a
Is that a good description of your soul today? Anchored...firm and secure?

Do you remember seeing presents under the tree weeks before December 25?  The anticipation, curiosity and excitement could be unbearable to a child. But if your name was on a present then it was secure and firm that you were receiving something on that special day. It was undeniable even though you had to wait for it, it was secure. There is a real parallel to our our lives today.

By the time of the first advent, the Messiah had been promised to come and yet the people had grown weary, a Saviour had been prophesied to come yet the nation grew tired and lost hope. It was like the nation of Israel was like a child who forgot that Christmas was coming...actually...thats exactly what they became like.
Something that comes up over and over again throughout the Bible (one thing that most of us are not good at or like)...is that God's promises 'by their nature demand patient endurance to receive' (D.L. Allen). Think of Abraham and Sarah awaiting a child into the twilight of their life...based on a promise; or Moses leading the people in the wilderness for 40 years...based on a promise...not to mention the prophets or what about Simeon in the Gospel of Luke who waited late into his life to see the Christ...based off a promise.

God remembers his promises, He is faithful and will fulfill this in the right time. Perhaps its okay this Christmas to watch children (even adults?) get excited for Christmas, the anticipation of the promise...is it today? How many more sleeps? I can't wait! God's promises are secure, they are firm and our soul is anchored in them. Promises to provide, to care, to nurture and guide. But also it is a promise to save and to cleanse and a promise that Horatio Stafford captures well:

And Lord haste the day 

when the faith shall be sight, 

The clouds be rolled back as a scroll; 

The trump shall resound, 

and the Lord shall descend, 

Even so, it is well with my soul.

Gal 3:29: “If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”

Advent

"The word advent means coming. In this season of the year, we focus on the meaning of the coming of the Son of God into the world. And the spirit of our celebration should be the spirit in which he came. And the spirit of that coming is summed up in Luke 19:10 "The Son of Man came to seek and save the lost."" 
That is how John Piper begins his advent devotional The Dawning of Indestructible Joy (you can download the pdf for free!: https://www.desiringgod.org/books/the-dawning-of-indestructible-joy).

Jesus came to seek and save the lost. That means he knew that there were some...many...most...okay all of us...that were lost and needed saving. That he would come and rescue fallen humanity is the good news, the gospel! We first get to really sink our teeth into this story in the nativity as Mary and Joseph, the super excited shepherds peak in on the manger scene. But this all began long before that, long planned, long arranged and long decided on.
God's plan to rescue you was not a response to a foxhole prayer or a knee jerk reaction to something you did. He planned and knew you long before you were born (Ephesians 1:13).

Crazy.

So what is the condition of your soul at the start of this advent? Can God begin a new work, a renewing work in you? Can He find you? Can He locate the key to softening your heart and filling you to the full of His presence this advent? Even in this midst of Christmas plays, family gatherings, racked up credit cards, and ramped up expectations???

Of course He can.

The first advent He took a young virgin and filled her lips with praise that have lasted centuries; He spoke to a group of shepherds keeping watch in the background of society and filled them with wonder and belief; He spoke to a group of wisemen from far away and led them to the Christ Child where they would be filled with joy because they met Joy incarnate.
Filled with praise, filled with wonder, filled with joy.

I want that.

Over the next several weeks as we prepare for Christmas I will attempt once again to write frequently as a compliment to any readings you may be doing already for this special season.

But know this as you begin this new week, advent meant that he was coming...coming to seek you out and to save you.

Benediction

A benediction...what is it? Usually its the closing words from a church service, a funeral...even a wedding; it serves as a blessing and closing before everyone is dismissed. To a regular church goer it can trigger a pavlovian response--a yawn, a stretch and a quick glance to the door and clock.

But Paul's benediction in the middle of his letter to the Ephesians is anything but a final set of ho hum kind of words:
Ephesians 3:20-21
“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen”

This comes at the end of an epic prayer (3:14-21) that the church in Ephesus would be strengthened so that Christ could dwell in them, he prays that they not only be grounded in love, but also comprehend the incomprehensible love of God that is in Christ Jesus and closing that we would be filled to the fullness of God. Mind blowing stuff really. And that is why he ends with these words that God would do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine...I don't think Paul even really understood how God would do these things.

So what do you imagine that God would do for you today? Do you even think he wants to do anything for you this day? If you have come to think that God just tolerates you or keeps putting up with you or has resigned to being perpetually disappointed with you...its pretty hard to believe God loves you, much less was interested to help you in anyway.

But look at the benediction once more.

John Stott breaks down these couple verses to show all that God does to build our faith again--that God loves us:

1. God can do…he is not idle, not sleeping, not distracted, not dead
2. He answers prayer…The God of the universe hears you.
3. Able to do what we think and imagine—He reads our minds (better than Santa Claus!)…before a word is out of our mouths he knows it already…what do you imagine for you life? Have you told God that? If you do not ask, do not receive.
4. All we ask…every detail, every hearts cry
5. Beyond what we ask…His expectations are more than we think!
6. More Abundantly…not calculated pieces or parcelled out fragments of grace
7. Far More abundantly…Vastly more than more! There are no limits to what God can do. The angel Gabriel would tell Mary, 'With God nothing is impossible' Luke 1:37

"I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God."

That's what God wants to do for you today. On a cloudy, cold November morning...God has a good, big plan for you and I. Amen.

'Christ's love is as incomprehensible as his riches unsearchable' John Stott

How far does God's love extend?

How far does Gods' love extend? How far will it go...till it runs out?  Does it run out? My patience runs out, my creativity drains quickly, my endurance seems to decline with every passing year but does God's love end?. I was reading Psalm 107 as part of my Bible reading plan (M'Cheyne's), and the opening line is: 'Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; His faithful love endures forever.' (emphasis mine). Forever.
To prove the point the psalm looks at 4 groups of people that find themselves in situations that bring to question if God's love is still around.
1. 'Some wandered in desolate wilderness...' These guys are lost, confused and turned around with little to no hope of finding their way back home, or anywhere safe. They're hungry and desperate.
2. 'Others sat in darkness and gloom...' This group has rebelled from God and is paying the price...dungeons and gloom with heavy chains. Feeling rejected by men and God.
3. 'Others become fools through rebellion...'. It seems this group also rebelled against God but this led to illness that was so bad the doctors could do nothing more for them; they are in complete distress.
4. 'Others went out on the sea in ships...' only to run into an epic storm and 'their courage melted away...they were at their wits end'. This group is simply going about their work when their world erupts into unexpected chaos.
Each situation is very relatable even to the casual observer--who hasn't been at their wits end or experienced unexpected chaos? Who of us can confidently say we have not rebelled against God and not paid for it one way or another though lingering guilt and broken relationships?
And at the end of each situation it says that 'they cried out to the LORD in their distress and trouble'--they are beyond human help and finally cry out to God when all hope seems to be gone. In each of these it can feel as though God is far away, far removed and waiting for us to fix our own mess...but look what He does: "He delivered them from their distress. He led them by a straight way...he broke their chains...he saved them and healed them...he stills the storm to a whisper and guided them to their desired haven.'
It is in the darkest pits; at the end of a dead end; in the greatest storm and the most hopeless state that God's love extends even there...actually does some of its most amazing work.  His love here is not a passive, limp encouragement note...its active--breaking, freeing, delivering, calming, healing...exactly what we need.
Jesus refers to himself as the Good Shepherd (John 10), one who leads the sheep, heals them, restores and protects them and finds them when they have wandered away into dark valleys. What a great Psalm and such good news going into a new week!

Evening Wolves

Recently I was reading Charles Spurgeon's 'Morning and Evening' devotional and came across this meditation before bed. Thought I'd pass it along, hope you are encouraged:

“Evening wolves.” (Habakkuk 1:8)

While preparing the present volume, this particular expression recurred to me so frequently, that in order to be rid of its constant importunity I determined to give a page to it. The evening wolf, infuriated by a day of hunger, was fiercer and more ravenous than he would have been in the morning. May not the furious creature represent our doubts and fears after a day of distraction of mind, losses in business, and perhaps ungenerous tauntings from our fellow men? How our thoughts howl in our ears, “Where is now thy God?” How voracious and greedy they are, swallowing up all suggestions of comfort, and remaining as hungry as before. Great Shepherd, slay these evening wolves, and bid thy sheep lie down in green pastures, undisturbed by insatiable unbelief. How like are the fiends of hell to evening wolves, for when the flock of Christ are in a cloudy and dark day, and their sun seems going down, they hasten to tear and to devour. They will scarcely attack the Christian in the daylight of faith, but in the gloom of soul conflict they fall upon him. O thou who hast laid down thy life for the sheep, preserve them from the fangs of the wolf.

False teachers who craftily and industriously hunt for the precious life, devouring men by their false-hoods, are as dangerous and detestable as evening wolves. Darkness is their element, deceit is their character, destruction is their end. We are most in danger from them when they wear the sheep’s skin. Blessed is he who is kept from them, for thousands are made the prey of grievous wolves that enter within the fold of the church.

What a wonder of grace it is when fierce persecutors are converted, for then the wolf dwells with the lamb, and men of cruel ungovernable dispositions become gentle and teachable. O Lord, convert many such: for such we will pray tonight.

Sabbatical starts...

I guess the title is not correct as our sabbatical is well under way but this is perhaps the first chance I have had to consider the past few weeks. Its been full without a doubt! After a cup of 'smoking bishop' with good friends we were off to Mexico with Shonet's family, 7 days in the Cancun area. Here are some thoughts from that week: 

Mexico

December 30-January 6

1. Church community needed and missed
2. Paradise on earth is not necessarily paradise 
3. Serving the weak and vulnerable is hard
4. 1 Timothy 1:5 “The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart, a clear conscience and a sincere faith.” 

1. Church Community needed and missed. As much as travelling to an all inclusive resort had its perks—no dishes, no cooking, no snow!, there were many more important aspects that were missing. Having travelled to and lived with the local church in isolated areas, I knew what it was like to have a community care for you and be generous with no money attached...to enjoy the lingering conversation with a family over a cup of tea and to share in the inside jokes of the land. To be with Christians who do not share a common language but share a common Father is a taste of heaven to be cherished. In our week in Mexico we needed to visit the doctor on the resort a couple times (my boys!), and eventually ended up in the hospital in Playa De Carman (Anthony!). A credit card speaks loud and clear in an area that has plenty of financial motivation, but in moments of uncertainty and fear it was the Christian community I really missed, the community that lives out Galatians 6:2 “Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” Nothing replaces that. And though it was a very beautiful place, I missed the beauty of the Christian community.  
2. Paradise on earth is not necessarily paradise. I had always dreamed of going to an all inclusive resort but growing up somewhat poor (from a western stand point) and being in ministry always felt like this dream was out of reach. But when Shonet’s mother offered to take the family as a last trip due to health issues I looked forward to the ‘living with ease’ dream. Don’t get me wrong as I mentioned above there were plenty of great things there and we would enjoy going back if we got the chance. But the lie is that this kind of week is ‘heaven on earth’, but its so not. Jesus said life is realized and achieved not when we accumulate and fill ourselves or even achieve our greatest dreams but when we are emptied for others and are expended for the poor. I watched many others fill themselves with sun, drink and food till they swelled...but we all got on the plane and went home back to our lives. It was ironic that no applauded when we landed in Winnipeg. These are great weeks if you get them, but don't be bedazzled into believing this is the best life can get...there is plenty more enriching experiences than this. Enjoy it but leave it where it belongs--fantasy. 
3. Serving the weak and vulnerable is hard. For most of the week my dear wife was a nurse to her mother who was diagnosed with an early onset form of dementia that has run rampant. In fact caring for her mother has characterized much of the first part of our sabbatical (more on that later). But though we were in a lovely place, grandma needed care every half hour…changing the pace and expectations of the week. We believe she had a good time-Pina Coladas and all, but if you are a caregiver of someone then you understand the toll that can take. With Shonet caring for her mom, I was delighted to hang out with our 3 amazing kids, even though we got to know the doctor on a first name basis, they still found the humour and joy of the adventure. Kids are more resilient than adults. Faith and joy comes quicker to them. Its no wonder that Jesus recommends those who seek power in this world to study children. 
4. 1 Timothy 1:5 “The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart, a clear conscience and a sincere faith.” This was perhaps the only verse I really meditated on the entire week, it popped out to me from a book I was reading by David Powlison on sanctification (how does God change us?). The simple clarity of this verse was what I needed. Sometimes I just need clear direction—the aim of my charge is love...that issues from a pure heart (not tainted to love other things)...a clear conscience (any regrets, any dark hidden secrets?) and a sincere faith (how's that doubt problem?). It took all week to think on that. 
   

Discipleship

As we begin a new series here at EMBC we're focusing on the subject of discipleship.  I like what Tony Payne and Colin Marshall say about discipleship in their book, 'The Vine Project'--they talk about us Christians as 'learners', learning the way of Jesus:

"What the ‘learners’ were learning from Jesus was a way of life based on an understanding of certain truths about reality.  The goal was for them not only to know what their teacher knew, but also to be like their teacher, to walk in his ways.  They weren’t learning a subject; they were learning a person, if we can put it like that—his knowledge, his wisdom, his whole way of life…Jesus wanted his learners (disciples) to walk with him, and to learn to be like him.  But the significance of following Jesus goes deeper than that in the Gospels, because of who Jesus was and where his ‘learners’ were following him to.  Jesus repeatedly tells people that following him is an exclusive, life and death commitment.  To go with him means to leave everything else behind, including your very life…to ‘learn’ Jesus—to submit yourself to his teaching, to walk in his ways—will mean leaving behind all your current loyalties and commitments.  It will mean walking the road to Jerusalem with him, and facing up to the cross that is waiting there.  As Jesus makes very clear, saving our old life is not an option; its only by losing our lives that we save them”

Colin Marshall and Tony Payne

To be pitied

In the aftermath of Jesus' death, the disciples were required by Jewish law to do nothing, it was the Sabbath, a day of rest.  The day that Jesus is crucified was waining on, after a hasty burial preparation, Jesus is laid in a nearby tomb and a stone is rolled over the place, with expectation that his followers would finish the preparation for burial once the Sabbath was over.  And now they were to rest.  But how did they rest when they are grieved so deeply?  How does anyone rest in sadness, when all hope is drained, when life does not make sense...how does one rest at that point?  The body can stop moving, chores can remain undone and work stands still, but does the mind and the soul stop feeling and thinking?
The appearance of Mary at the tomb early on the 3rd day (John 20) tells the story that she was crying, a wailing kind of cry--deep guttural soul cry; the other gospels tell us that the disciples are hiding and afraid.  So you have a day of rest, and yet they are stuck in grief, fear and shock.  We who have had the luxury of knowing the 'end of the story' may not have much compassion for these followers, because we know that in a day their grief will turn to joy!
But what I suspect made that day so painful was they did not remember or believe Jesus when he told them (at last count 3 times!) that he would rise again on the 3rd day.  They were thinking of going back to their previous way of life, melting back into society and trying to forget the past 3 years.  That's if there was no resurrection.
The picture that is given of the disciples on that dark Sabbath, is what Paul discusses in his epic chapter of the resurrection in 1 Corinthians 15.  He says there that if there is no resurrection then we have every reason to despair, we should grieve and be dumbfounded because we are stuck in our sins, stuck with this broken life with little hope.  In fact, he makes it very clear: "If we have put our hope in Christ for this life only, we should be pitied more than anyone." 1 Cor. 15:19  The disciples are a pitiful group that day of waiting...but oh, it will change in just a day.  Their lives will change, history will shift, grief turns to joy, guilt to grace and death to life...if only we could have whispered it to them and bring them out of that cloud.  But, I suppose only meeting Jesus will draw back the curtain they were under, only meeting Jesus takes the sting out of death.

Sowing to the Flesh

March 19, 2018

After yesterday's sermon a number of fine folk had asked me to post up John Stott's quote on sowing to the flesh...so here's his remarks:

"To ‘sow to the flesh’ is to pander to it, to cosset, cuddle and stroke it, instead of crucifying it.  The seeds we sow are largely thoughts and deeds.  Every time we allow our mind to harbour a grudge, nurse a grievance, entertain an impure fantasy, or wallow in self-pity, we are sowing to the flesh.  Every time we linger in bad company whose insidious influence we know we cannot resist, every time we lie in bed when we ought to be up and praying, every time we read (gaze) at pornographic literature, every time we take a risk which strains our self-control, we are sowing, sowing, sowing to the flesh.  Some Christians sow to the flesh every day and wonder why they do not reap holiness. Holiness is a harvest; whether we reap it or not depends almost entirely on what and where we sow.”

I will add on his follow up comments (which didn't make it into the message):

"Paul distinguishes between the two harvests as well as between the two sowings. The results are only logical. If we sow to the flesh; we shall 'from the flesh reap corruption'. That is, a process of moral decay will set in. We shall go from bad to worse until we finally perish. If, on the other hand, we sow to the Spirit, we shall 'from the Spirit reap eternal life'. That is, a process of moral and spiritual growth will begin. Communion with God (which is eternal life) will develop now until in eternity it becomes perfect. Therefore, if we want to reap a harvest of holiness, our duty is twofold.  First, we must avoid sowing to the flesh, and secondly we must keep sowing to the Spirit.  We must ruthlessly eliminate the first and concentrate our time and energies on the second. It is another way of saying (as in Gal.5) that we must 'crucify the flesh' and 'walk by the Spirit. There is no other way of growing in holiness."

This is part of 'The Bible Speaks Today' commentary series, published in the late 60's--still relevant to today.  I'm very grateful for the work of John Stott over the years, his words sometimes sting but wounds from a friend are trustworthy.

December 24

Little things.

It was the collision of my experience from India to the cold embrace of an early Winnipeg winter that fuelled the idea for this blog.  I was going from Curry to CandyCanes (TM) much faster than I expected and had put in my mind to write daily about advent as a means to prepare for the event of Christmas itself.  I'm not sure what I was expecting and I wasn't able to write everyday but when I missed a day I missed trying to capture the little moment that God had set aside for me that day.  And perhaps that was what surprised me the most in this little venture was how God often spoke, encouraged and shed light on something through the little things in life.  Normal things, experiences of each day that I pass by, I simply miss miracles and stories that God has set aside for us to notice.  The frustrations of a leaky rink, a flopsy mattress and a slow moving train became moments that could be unpacked, observed and digested as though they were real physical items...gifts packaged only for me...but I had a choice to open or reject it.  Perhaps one of the gifts I gained this advent was that each moment of the day, God is at work, God is drawing us to Himself, God is pleased to reveal Himself afresh.  He does not slumber, he does not sleep (Psalm 121), I began to see in the writing of this blog that days, weeks and months are not to 'get through', not to arrive at some magical moment (like Christmas morning), but actually each hour God has set aside something quite remarkable.  Can we see it?  Can we take the time for it?  A smile, a kind answer, an engine that starts on a cold morning, a friends' unexpected phone call, the sound of the church singing rich carols.  The list can go on, but perhaps in my writing of this you can consider the little things that God puts in your life simply to bless you, to remind you that He loves you, that he cares for you and is preparing a home for you.  I'm often drawn to where the big things and moments are, thinking anything small and 'ordinary' is not worth my time.  But what if life was not a journey simply to get to the end, what if each minute was an exploration to see what God has packaged for you, like a scavenger hunt with clues and riddles...seems kind of mischievous of God to do that doesn't it?   I'm quite sure that as Christmas moves on, I will move on as well to bigger and busier things...and will drive past the little things God has set aside for me.  I hope not.  Life seems more pleasant, even holy when I see him actively involved.  Perhaps the word, Emmanuel (God with us) is a title I use only when times are really tough, or confusing, but I fail to see Emmanuel in the little things, but it seems this past month for me at least God has been alive, bearing fruit even bursting the seams of the little things to squeeze life into my soul each drop of the way.  Just to be clear, I'm not drifting into some mystical avenue, Scripture stayed the main diet and light for the path, in fact scripture when read slowly with the expectation that God has something afresh for today became real food for the soul.  And it gave light to the experiences I was having, helped me remain humble when my kid laughs at me, or when I could not see my way through a tough turn.  God so graciously gives us His Word, alive, active, sharper than a two edged sword!
Merry Christmas to you, thank you for reading, I trust this was somewhat encouraging.  I'm not sure if I will write much more or what project will be on my mind but I will keep this blog up to post new thoughts along the way.  Let me close from a quote from a friend of mine who wrote recently, quoting Buechner:

“I never heard a tall tale I’d sooner have true than that tale. 

How the Light of the World come into the darkest night ...

so there’d never be cause to fear darkness again" - Frederick Buechner 
             
            wishing​ ​light to you and yours this Christmastide​ ...​

December 23

Isaiah 61.

This is the text that Jesus reads at the inauguration of his ministry, an open statement that this is what he is about and why he came:

"The Spirit of the Lord God is on me,
because the Lord has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor.
He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives
and freedom to the prisoners;
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor,
and the day of our God’s vengeance;
to comfort all who mourn,
to provide for those who mourn in Zion;
to give them a crown of beauty instead of ashes,
festive oil instead of mourning,
and splendid clothes instead of despair.
And they will be called righteous trees,
planted by the Lord
to glorify him."

Isaiah 61:1-3

This night, before the eve of Christmas read these 3 simple verses again.  Look carefully at what Jesus was coming to do, can you see a need in your life for his work?  Where are you at tonight?  Do you need good news?  Do you hope that your heart might indeed heal from its dark wounds? That  chains to habitual sin would be broken?  To hear words of hope...that this year will be full of the Lord's favour?  Comfort?  Honour?  Shame taken away?  That joy might replace mourning?  Despair wiped clean and replaced with a life clothed with purpose?  To belong, to be known and to be given a purpose  by the Lord...to glorify him?  This is what Jesus came for, made possible through his blood and his sacrifice, but this passage is deeply personal and relevant to anyone who has longed for God's hand to work on their behalf.  Take a moment, read the verses again but this time prayerfully ask the Lord to do his great work in your soul, this day, this night, this season...so that you might again experience what it is like to be planted by Him to glorify Him!

December 21

Final Preparations.

Inevitably you have been asked, or will be asked...or perhaps have asked the question of the season:  "Are you ready for Christmas?"  It usually insinuates...have you bought all the gifts you need to buy, is your house ready for guests, do you have food in the fridge and baking in the freezer...something like that.  I was reminded today that the early church did not celebrate Christmas, but rather celebrated Epiphany, the start of Jesus' public ministry.  In that case, John the baptist came along as "A voice of one crying out in the wilderness:  Make straight the way of the Lord--Just as Isaiah the prophet said."  John 1:23.  He's not talking about paving roads, but getting our lives ready to meet our Maker.  In essence he was calling out to the crowds--are you ready to meet the Messiah?  Are you ready for what he is about to say and do?  Are you ready to serve him as your king?  Steve Bell wrote in an advent song, 'Ready my heart for the birth of Emmanuel', echoing what John is asking the people to do.  Get ready!  Some of us are going into the weekend about to run ragged from children's activities, family events, last minute shopping and church events...all good, but these are not the means by which we get ourselves ready for the Lord.  My son lamented the other day that he does not feel the Christmas spirit (he's only 9!), somehow we and the world have convinced him that he should feel a certain mood to experience Christmas and get the most out of it.  But John the baptist is not after a mood, but rather a heart attitude--a recognition that at the coming of Jesus we are in the presence of the divine, listen to his view of Jesus, "He is the One coming after me, whose sandal strap I'm not worthy to untie."  John 1:27.  If you are after a mood today you'll get disappointed as easily as your hot chocolate gets cold.  The hearts that Jesus came to were the ones ready in humility, ready to receive Jesus as Lord, master and maker.  The ones who humbly asked for help and forgiveness, for mercy and for wisdom, the ones who recognized their brokenness.  But the ones who spent their lives preparing the outside of their lives were the ones who did not recognize him when he came, they spent their lives worrying about the periphery stuff (how they look in public, religious duties, following laws instead of loving people) and in the end, these were the ones who had Jesus crucified.   But who does the Son of God come to:  the humble, the lowly who recognize their need of him, and these were the ones He was willing to call children, even friends:  John 1:10-13 "He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God."  Lets get ready for sure, but lets get ready by receiving him, by making straight roads in our lives through obedience, confession and even repentance.  These are the marks of the season, far more eternal than tinsel and gingerbread.

December 19

Wisdom from John Piper.
So today, a pastor with a few more miles on him dropped by the church to offer some wisdom and in our discussion he referenced John Piper's daily advent devotionals, so today I would like to simply forward us on to his devotional thoughts for this day.

John Piper's advent devotional for December 19:

"Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. (Hebrews 2:14–15)
Jesus became man because what was needed was the death of a man who was more than man. The incarnation was God’s locking himself into death row.

Christ did not risk death. He chose death. He embraced it. That is precisely why he came: “Not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45).

No wonder Satan tried to turn Jesus from the cross — in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1–11) and in the mouth of Peter (Matthew 16:21–23)! The cross was Satan’s destruction. How did Jesus destroy him?

Hebrews 2:14 says that Satan has “the power of death.” That means Satan has the ability to make death fearful. “The power of death” is the power that holds men in bondage through fear of death. It is the power to keep men in sin so that death comes as a dreadful thing.

But Jesus stripped Satan of this power. He disarmed him. He molded a breastplate of righteousness for us that makes us immune to the devil’s condemnation. How did he do this?

By his death, Jesus wiped away all our sins. And a person without sin cannot be condemned by Satan. Forgiven, we are finally indestructible. Satan’s plan was to destroy God’s rule by condemning God’s followers in God’s own courtroom. But now, in Christ, there is no condemnation. Satan’s treason is aborted. His cosmic treachery is foiled. “His rage we can endure, for, lo, his doom is sure.” The cross has run him through. And he will gasp his last before long.

Christmas is for freedom. Freedom from the fear of death.

Jesus took our nature in Bethlehem, to die our death in Jerusalem — all that we might be fearless in our city today. Yes, fearless. Because if the biggest threat to my joy is gone, then why should I fret over the little ones? How can you say (really!), “Well, I’m not afraid to die but I’m afraid to lose my job”? No. No. Think!

If death (I said, death! — no pulse, cold, gone!) if death is no longer a fear, we’re free, really free. Free to take any risk under the sun for Christ and for love. No more enslavement to anxiety.

If the Son has set you free, you shall be free, indeed!"

John Piper, desiringgod.org, 2017 
https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/christmas-is-for-freedom

December 18

What was Gene Autry thinking?

Back in 1946, Gene Autry rode down the streets of Hollywood during the Santa Claus parade as the crowd shouted, ‘Here Comes Santa Claus’.  Here is his take on that event:  “Each year out in Hollywood, California they have what they call the Santa Claus parade.  A few years ago, while I was riding in this parade, I saw smiles on thousands of faces, both young and old alike waiting for a look at that most popular man all over the world.  I can hear 'em shouting now
"Here comes Santa Claus!”
That inspired him to write the famous song by the same chant…’Here Comes Santa Claus’.  It has a nice jingle, but what this song does that no other Christmas song (that I know of) attempts to do is blend a piece of Christian doctrine along with the myth of Santa Claus to create a holiday cocktail for our radios. See if these lines bring the tune to your mind, but the irony is kind of obvious:
 
     Peace on earth will come to all, if we just follow the light
So let's give thanks to the Lord above 'cause Santa Claus comes tonight

I’m not sure if Autry is trying to point people to the true light (Jesus) or to happily blend his Christian faith with the rapidly popular Santa figure.  Whatever the case, it is sad that the most popular man around was Santa Claus, whereas advent points us to the true light.  Here is John’s take on that first advent:
John 1:1-5 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”
The darkness has not overcome, or as some translations put it, has not understood it.  Isn’t that our day and age today?  We sing and celebrate, put up lights and enjoy the wonders of the season, yet can easily miss the whole point.  We do not understand that God became man to rescue fallen man, to give more than a new pair of slippers or an xbox.  Autry saw the faces of young and old 'waiting for a look at the most popular man all over the world', a mythical figure who represents some of the peace, joy and hope of the season, yet it was the baby Jesus who held the real power to bring peace, to change hearts, to cross every cultural barrier and bring light and life to mankind.  He came to rescue our souls, to give peace on earth by making peace for us with God.  What a great gift!  God is so good, lets give thanks to the Lord above that Jesus came that night so long ago!

December 16

R.C. Sproul,  1939-2017

The man who first challenged my view of God as being far too small, passed away this week.  His book, 'The Holiness of God' would be in my top 5 reading list for any Christian.  For a short reading this evening, here are a couple quotes from Dr.Sproul as quoted in Christianity Today.  He is writing about the peace a Christian has in death, a peace brought to us by Jesus setting us free from the fear of death, Hebrews 2:15.

“When we close our eyes in death, we do not cease to be alive; rather, we experience a continuation of personal consciousness. No person is more conscious, more aware, and more alert than when he passes through the veil from this world into the next,” he wrote, six years before passing away in a suburban Orlando hospital.

“Far from falling asleep, we are awakened to glory in all of its significance. For the believer, death does not have the last word. Death has surrendered to the conquering power of the One who was resurrected as the firstborn of many brethren.”

December 15

Leaky Faith

Winter in Canada means ice hockey in Canada.  I am attempting to make an ice rink on my front lawn, about 18x24 with 8" boards around; its a great way for the kids to learn how to skate, and for the neighbours to stop by and enjoy the same.  This is my second year at this, and last year it was used more for sliding than skating but we'll give it a try again.  I recently noticed that you can buy a tarp for hockey rinks (full size), it kind of creates a big shallow tub that the water sits in till it freezes...but its fairly pricey.  I decided to go with several tarps, overlapping them nicely and covering the rink tucked in behind the 8"boards...sounds good!  Last night I started to flood the rink, seasoned rink advice says 'put the water hose in the middle, turn it on and leave it for a few hours'.  So that is what I did...only to discover my rink leaked (or should I say poured) onto the shared sidewalk in front of our home, turning my rink into a funnel to flood the shared sidewalk.  There I was, 6am this morning salting, sanding and bemoaning my lack of foresight.  The water went under the tarps where they overlapped, creating a mushy slush bed under my tarp instead of a crisp flat ice surface on top.  I have no idea how this is going to turn out, I may wait till it gets much colder to attempt to flood this again but as I watch my dreams of a rink leak onto the yard I was reminded of something.  On one hand I was challenged to stop being cheap, I should have bought the big pricey tarp, that probably would have solved most of my problems.  But honestly, I thought of our series at church right now on Galatians (weird I know), but as I watched my work turn to mush I knew there was an easier and better way, but it would cost more...I had been convinced I could jerry-rig this my own way.
In Galatians Paul is rebuking (almost pulling out his hair) at the young church for believing there was an easy way to get right with God and find peace in our lives--obey all the laws and all the rules...in essence, get really religious and God will like you and all will go well--That's how you become a good Christian!  But Paul is saying that they have become bewitched, that in the end their faith will hold no water (pun intended!), because their faith is based on their works, not the perfect work of Jesus.  Galatians 4:4-5  "But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons." At the perfect time, God sent his perfect Son to be a perfect plan to restore imperfect man--the gift born at Christmas.  On this Friday, perhaps entering a ridiculous weekend of shopping, gatherings or home prep...I invite you to look at your life, pause, slow down, turn off the radio of all the distractions even for a moment...and look at what you are building your life on and around.  Faith that feels secure by your good works or by having just good things come our way (the hope of Christmas for many of us!), is like my leaky rink...unable to handle the challenges of life, embarrassing because it is obvious to others that it is not making a difference and even dangerous to others nearby.  Zechariah did not have faith to believe what the angel told him about Jesus and John, so he was struck mute till John was born to teach him to trust...that was merciful.  We have just over a week to 'get ready for Christmas', perhaps the best way to get ready is to take an inventory of your life and see if you are depending on your own wisdom and strength to jerry-rig your life--hoping you can hold it together...when in reality the seams and the layers of sin and character flaws overlap each other, letting all the joy, hope, love and peace leak out.  We hope, quite subtly that God will delight in our good works, when in the end God has made it fairly clear what he delights in:

Psalm 147:10-11
His delight is not in the strength of the horse, 
    nor his pleasure in the legs of a man,
 but the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him,
    in those who hope in his steadfast love.

December 14

Fear not.

"And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.  An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.  But the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid...'"  Luke 2:8-10

That is what the angels tell the shepherds, its what they tell Mary (Lk.1:30) and Zechariah (Lk.1:13)...its a common theme whenever the angels show up that they tell people...don't be afraid.  Why is that?  Probably because, as Sally Lloyd Jones describes these celestial beings--as warriors of light, their image is startling even terrifying.  Zechariah is gripped with fear, the great Roman soldiers when they see the angel at the empty tomb are frozen in fear and become like dead men.  Even in the Old Testament, the angels come to Elisha's defence in the great deliverance of chariots of fire (2 Kings 6:15-18).  They are so amazing that even John in Revelation bows down to worship them two separate times he is in such awe at their presence and power.  Its enough to be said that these angels, Gabriel, Michael and other servants of the Lord are majestic, displaying the holy glory of God and the response of humans is shear terror.  Its ironic though isn't it, these mighty beings sent to display the glory and prepare people for One who was greater than they are, yet the One they would sing about was the One who formed them...and yet, He did not come in such glory and power.  Rather, he came helpless, as a baby to a poor family in a small village in a dangerous time.  As Paul says in Philippians 2 he humbled himself in his incarnation.  There is not a more humble and gentle way that God could have chosen to come other than a newborn baby, so that we would fear not, but that he would draw us to himself...not unlike a newborn draws so many to look upon him with wonder and joy.  Philippians 2 goes on and says, "Therefore God exalted him, to the highest place and gave hi the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow in heaven (including the mighty angels!) and on earth and under the earth and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." Philippians 2:9-10.  The fear that holds us, the fear of death, the fear caused by sin Christ came to abolish.  So as we worship Him, along with the angels this advent, he teaches us to Fear Not!

December 12

Longings (Part II)

Have you ever said something only to hear someone else say the same thing...but a little better? I came across this writing by Joni Eareckson Tada today about longings at Christmas.  I trust this will encourage you in your advent journey.

"God announced his intentions about the Messiah when he made a promise to Abraham.  And what did Abraham do?  Romans 4:3 tells us that he believed God.  That's all he needed to do.  The rest was credited to him as righteousness. But I wonder how Abraham felt two weeks later. Or months later.  How did his children feel many years later? And what about his descendants, thousands of years later? How long did these people wait before they finally stopped believing? The fact is, many did stop believing. They had no faith. They didn't reckon that God was the promise keeper. As a result, they had no righteousness to their credit.  But others continued to believe. They dreamed of the day, they hoped for the future, they put their confidence in the promise of God. These, no doubt, were the ones who recognized Christmas when it happened.  These were the ones who knew Jesus. These were the ones who waited for the promise. Zechariah, in Luke 1, said, 'Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come...(as he said through his holy prophets of long ago)...to remember his holy covenant, the oath he swore to our father Abraham' (Luke 1:68, 70, 72-73).  On this side of eternity, Christmas is still a promise.  Yes, the Saviour has come, and with him peace on earth, but the story is not finished.  Yes, there is peace in our hearts, but we long of peace in our world.  Every Christmas is still a 'turning of the page' until Jesus returns.  Every December 25 marks another year that draws us closer to the fulfillment of the ages, that draws us closer to...home.  When we realize that Jesus is the answer to our deepest longing, even Christmas longings, each Advent brings us closer to his glorious return to earth.  When we see him as he is, King of kings and Lord of lords, that will be 'Christmas' indeed!...Christmas is an invitation to a celebration yet to happen.  If you've got a Christmas longing, you're about to be satisfied, too.  Just hold on and say with me...Maranatha!  Come Lord!"

December 11

Snow.

Psalm 51:1-7 (ESV)
             1      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

David writes Psalm 51 after he is caught in his sin by Nathan the prophet (see 2 Samuel 11-12).  This is the notorious sin of David (the man after Gods' own heart!), who makes a series of sins that lead to his affair with Bathsheba and then orchestrates the murder of her husband to cover up his tracks. If you read the story its shocking that he doesn't seem to feel any conviction that what he did was wrong until Nathan the prophet exposes him (only because God tells Nathan what happened).  But when he is confronted, David demonstrates what repentance looks like and what conviction feels like.  We don't know how long after this encounter David writes this famous Psalm, but it couldn't have been too long as the tone and conviction seem driven by the reality of the new light shed on a dark sin.
Last night it snowed here in Winnipeg, fresh, new and white.  The dirt, the ice, and the dead grass are all covered with a blanket of new snow and I think of this Psalm--the cleansing of sin and the covering of death with a blanket of grace.  How many of us have sins that linger with shame and guilt that we could only a faint hope that we would be whiter than snow...it would create joy again wouldn't it?  Joy is a resounding theme of advent, David wants and craves for joy (vs 8) after experiencing the crushing weight of his sin, not because he got caught but because he has sinned against a Holy God and recognizes only this Holy God can restore and heal him and create a clean heart.  This is the theme of Christmas!  The author of 'Joy to the world' caught this in the 3rd stanza reflecting on the grace that would come through Jesus:

No more let sins and sorrows grow,
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make His blessings flow
Far as the curse is found,
Far as the curse is found,
Far as, far as, the curse is found.

Far as the curse is found in our lives, God's grace cleanser deeper.  Yesterday at church we sang 'though our sins they are many, his mercy is more'.  On this day (assuming you're in Winnipeg), look at the new snow and see that as God has made the city anew, his grace makes anew our souls.  Rejoice!