Christmas: Christ came to live and die for us!

Tonight is Christmas Eve, we say we are preparing for the Lord Jesus as we remember his humble birth in a manger. Lets set the scene properly for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus didn't come to a world full of wealth and christmas trees. Jesus didn't come to a people who were righteous.

What was the state of the world?

Isaiah 9:1,2 which is quoted in Matthew 4:16 says:

the people living in darkness

    have seen a great light;

on those living in the land of the shadow of death

    a light has dawned.

We were living in the land of the shadow of death. 

We were living in darkness. 

Jesus did not just call us to love one another or even call us to that first. Jesus called us to first turn to God. 

Matthew 4 is the recording of the beginning of Jesus ministry:

Matthew 4:17

¹⁷ From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”

The solution to our sin isn't just to try harder to love each other. The answer is repentance and forgiveness by Jesus. And it certainly isn't about the presents or the building of our earthly kingdom, but the coming kingdom of heaven where God reigns that Jesus began to usher in. 

Because only God can bring a dead heart to life. Only can change our hearts so that we would love one another, love ourselves and love God. 

As Jesus was born fully God and fully man he was born with a purpose. He willingly came so that he could suffer and die for us as we humiliated him. Jesus' short earthly life from the beginning was marked for his end. I think its ironic we celebrate Christmas with a Christmas Tree from perhaps Germanic traditions and yet the end of Jesus earthly story is dying on a tree made into a cross for us. 

I want to pray into all of this and remember the reality of sin and death and hopelessness without Christ. Lord let my heart know the whole worlds need but especially my own desperate need for a savior this Christmas. Father God I want my heart to break because I know I need your Son Jesus so much. And yet break my heart for the death Jesus willingly walked into even as he was born humbly as a baby in a manger. 

Merry Christmas

Amen

Lord of the Rings: Guardian or King

I was studying Galatians today and the image that came to mind to visualize this text was Lord of The Rings. Which who knows Tolkien was a Christian so perhaps this was part of his intent.

The image is of a guardian like Lord Denethor vs the rightful king by the promise: King Aragorn.

Galatians 3 teaches us about the law and faith and how they relate and yet faith rules.

²³ Before the coming of this faith,^[j] we were held in custody under the law, locked up until the faith that was to come would be revealed. ²⁴ So the law was our guardian until Christ came that we might be justified by faith. ²⁵ Now that this faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian.

The law was our guardian making us aware of sin and guiding us. But Israel was still dark and in decay and under sin. Life under the law looks a lot like Gondor under Lord Denethor. Gray, dark and decaying. Yet when the king came and Aragorn led his rightful people they came to beautiful life. They glowed white and fought valiantly against Mordor even to the black gate. The people were the same people and the guardian was important. 

For us Israel was kept under the guardian of the law, but then our King Jesus Christ came to give us our full life by faith in him! We are no longer slaves to sin. We can be who we were made to be by God through Christ. The law was our guardian but we are no longer under the rule of the guardian the law. 

For those that rejected Aragorn there was only death and hopelessness and so to are those under the law without faith in Christ. But by faith we who know Christ no longer live under the law without hope but have life and hope!

Galatians 3

²⁶ So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, ²⁷ for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. ²⁸ There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. ²⁹ If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Through faith we are children of God! We too are heirs of the promise of eternal life!

Amen

Guardian

King!

Godliness with contentment is my prayer

Dear Lord,

I believe you have put it on my heart tonight to pray for and pursue godliness with contentment.

1 Timothy 6

⁶ But godliness with contentment is great gain. ⁷ For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. ⁸ But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.

God help me to believe that the gain is great and their are eternal lasting joy that comes by learning to be content. 

I was thinking about the Sunday School lesson I helped teach to 4 and 5 year olds at my church Calvary Bible Church in Boulder, CO. The lessons and impact those simple truths should have on my life even as an adult are profound. 

This weeks lesson was focused on:

Key Question: How do we know God loves us?

Bottom Line: Jesus came to us.

Memory Verse: “God has given a son to us.” Isaiah 9:6, NCV

When I think about this I am amazed. Because it reminds me of the truth that I know God loves me and other because he gave his only Son Jesus. I don't need anymore than I already have received through Jesus.

I spend a lot of my time and energy looking beyond that, but in the eternal perspective faith and who God shapes me to be are the only things that last forever. Jobs, success, accomplishing something, even InterVarsity and relationships won't last forever.

Its good to live this life abundantly and to pursue many of those things which God designed us for but to not make them idols or things we look for contentment in.

So this is my prayer God: help me want what I have and to pursue Godliness with contentment!

Amen

What do we hope in?

Recently I have spent a lot of time in the Old Testament during the time of exile. Today at church one of the scriptures and the sermon was about a prophecy of hope in God at the last day which was a powerful reminder!

Really this brings up the question of what will we put our hope in? 

Isaiah 2: 1-5

This is what Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem:

² In the last days

the mountain of the Lord’s temple will be established
    as the highest of the mountains;
it will be exalted above the hills,
    and all nations will stream to it.

³ Many peoples will come and say,

“Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,
    to the temple of the God of Jacob.
He will teach us his ways,
    so that we may walk in his paths.”
The law will go out from Zion,
    the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
⁴ He will judge between the nations
    and will settle disputes for many peoples.
They will beat their swords into plowshares
    and their spears into pruning hooks.
Nation will not take up sword against nation,
    nor will they train for war anymore.

⁵ Come, descendants of Jacob,
    let us walk in the light of the Lord.

For me this scripture and the sermon made me think about the way I spend my time during rest and vacations and especially with Ivanna. Do I live every day with my hope in God? This past week was a wonderful time of rest and joy over thanksgiving. This week was such a blessing from God and Ivanna and I were able to praise him for his good gifts! Yet I think its something to be careful of to put my hope in God and not in the blessings and gifts God gives. I love Ivanna but I know both of us want to put our hope in God, our faith in Christ, and set our Lord first in our lives and our relationship!

God help me to set my heart and hope on you, because you have already won it all in Christ and promised us a future! Then I want to rejoice in this life in the times of celebration and the times of flood. 

The other scripture today at church was Matthew 24:44
⁴⁴ So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.
This is such a powerful reminder that our life does not last forever and our hope is in Christ coming to finish the work he started on the cross! For this world is dying and decaying. I am young and think I am invincible often, but the reality is life is so fragile and imperfect. My life could end any day, Christ could come today and yet I have nothing too lose. When I consider how much I love Ivanna its hard to imagine how God is an eternal hope worth everything. 

God help me to see the world with spiritual eyes. Help me keep my eyes on the prize Christ Jesus. For the world wants me to look at my success, my possessions, my status and my accomplishments. But all that lasts eternally is my identity in Christ and salvation in Jesus death on a cross and his resurrection life! But while I am here let it all be for your glory, for you make beautiful things even in a broken world. Let my relationship with Ivanna be for your glory  and help our relationship to be centered on you Christ with our hope in God alone!
Amen!

Where would the world be without Christ?

I have been meditating on this scripture:

remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. (Ephesians 2:12, 13 NIV)

And it blows me away.

As a gentile I was a foreigner without hope and without God in the world.

I probably wouldn't even have known that I was living without what I needed.

And this is the state of most of humanity.

Sometimes because they have rejected Christ and sometimes because they haven't truly heard.

Yet through the blood of Christ I know God and have hope! And this message has spread to most of the world! Wow!

Here is a real mission statement:

The world is without hope and without God. People are lost and hopeless. But we can bring the message that brings life and hope and God through his Word and Son!

How beautiful is that work then to bring the gospel and good news of Christ. For it is the hope of God and the hope for us who were far from God!

Spirit take me to the people you want to hear this news. Proclaim this amazing good news through me with renewed boldness!

Amen

Paul's encouragement to Timothy and to me

Paul encourages Timothy to keep going, to seek God himself and to keep going in ministry even in the face of opposition from within the church body. Timothy was probably discouraged and perhaps hopeless, ready to give up on the mission in Ephesus.

Some nights or weeks I find myself at the corner of discouragement and hopelessness in ministry work. 

I sometimes let the circumstances define my identity. When things aren't going well or to my plan, like when only one person or 0 come to the bible study small group I lead with a student leader. I carry it close to my heart, emotions begin to weigh on my heart ant they don't leave when I go home. It often makes me doubt my work and God's plans or goodness. 

God I pray you would have a word for me, just as Paul had many words for Timothy. 

Paul writes to Timothy:

1 Timothy 1

¹⁸ Timothy, my son, I am giving you this command in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by recalling them you may fight the battle well,¹⁹ holding on to faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and so have suffered shipwreck with regard to the faith.

One of the first things Paul calls Timothy to is to hold on strong to his own faith. 

Paul also acknowledges there will be suffering and discouragement in ministry. 

2 Timothy 6-8

⁶ For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. ⁷ For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. ⁸ So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God.

In the challenge of ministry Paul points back to timothy's calling, the Spirit within, and invites him to join with him in suffering for the gospel. 

Paul continues and points Timothy back to the gospel which is our mission and has been entrusted to us to pass on and share with others. 

2 Timothy 9-12

9He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, ¹⁰ but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. ¹¹ And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher. ¹² That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet this is no cause for shame, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day.

God point me back to my calling. Help me to live in that calling and not get lost in the details or the times of discouragement. For you are at work on the CU campus and I see it already! Thank you for letting me be a part of it. I ask for more hope and vision to see your kingdom come and advance at CU!!!
Amen

Missionaries on the CU campus Jeremiah 29

God speak this word that you gave Jeremiah to me and to CU IV!
Send us to be missionaries on the CU campus!

Jeremiah 29
These are the words of the letter that Jeremiah the prophet sent from Jerusalem to the surviving (... people of Israel in exile):

⁴ This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: ⁵ “Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. ⁶ Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease. ⁷ Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.”

God what does it look like for me to enter back in as a part of CU in order to lead my students in their lives as college students in the culture of CU?

I think CU is an interesting place where students in IV somewhat feel like they are in exile in a strange culture but also they are chasing after dreams of success. 

God I pray that you would empower us to be missionaries on this CU campus. Give us eyes to see this place as our mission field. 
Give us hearts of love and compassion for those on campus. 
I pray that we would have hope that we might bless and renew the campus!

Boulder and CU are yours too God! And you love the people in this city and on this campus. Let us seek the welfare of this city! Let us pray for CU. God help us to leave a legacy here!
Amen

Paul's calling in God. What is mine?

With my friend Jonathan I have been studying 1 Timothy and letting God speak to us as Paul spoke to Timothy as a young man of God leading others. Now we are studying a few verses at a time in an intensive focused study. 

I am excited, because I know there is so much even in the first 2 verses. 

1 Timothy 1:1-2

1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope,

² To Timothy, my true child in the faith:

Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

Paul has such a clear understanding of who he is. His calling and identity are wrapped up in who God is and who God made him and called him to be. I believe he is apostle not as a title but as a calling. That is who God commanded him and enabled him to be from the inside out. Being an apostle is not a specific responsibility to a certain group of people, a certain church or a certain set of tasks. God gave and even commanded Paul with a mission an identity. 

God I want to meditate on who you are. 

Out of who you are I say I will go send me. 

Who are you calling me to be? 

What will define my life? 

Let it be all only for you!

Amen

God's promise: I will be with you.

I find this verse both scary and encouraging!

Isaiah 43:2 NIV

"When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze."

Often as Christians and people we just want things to go well and be easy. We want to see quick results and we want to avoid pain. Sometimes we think God should or promised to give us this. But the reality is Jesus promises us that we would face hard times and suffering and persecution. 

The real promise God gives is that through the hard times: He will be with us. 

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you

In this life we will face rough waters and fires. We will be afraid, we will be challenged. But God promises to be with us and protect us. I believe this is a spiritual protection, because physically we do get harmed. But if our hope is in God and our home is eternity with God in heaven then we have nothing to lose. Nothing can harm us from our eternal destiny. Nobody can snatch us out of our place as sons and daughters of the living God. 

So my prayer is: God help me to remember and trust your promise to be with me in the calm and rough waters. Help me to believe you will keep me from getting burned though I walk through the flames. Set my eyes on Jesus and the life you give me in Him!

Amen

Even through the flood waters God has been with me.

Devotional: We are not home yet: Isaiah 25

Devotion for: Tuesday November 5

Devotion By: Daniel Harrison called by God to be an evangelist!

OPENING:  An appropriate beginning to each day is to remember your baptism and say the words “In the name of the Father, and of the +Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.”

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY: Isaiah 25:7,8: 7On this mountain he will destroy
 the shroud that enfolds all peoples,
the sheet that covers all nations; 8  he will swallow up death forever.
The Sovereign Lord will wipe away the tears
from all faces;
he will remove his people’s disgrace
from all the earth.
The Lord has spoken.

A BRIEF THOUGHT ABOUT THE LESSON: For today we live in a land that is not our home, we live amongst a people who do not follow God and we are in disgrace. In the US we may forget this but daily those who follow Christ face persecution for the name of Christ. Perhaps that day is not as far away as we think. Even now we all face the pain and suffering of this world. Our hope is that the Lord’s day is coming the future and home we long for in God. In Isaiah here it talks about the mountain or the place where we will be with God and God will make all things right. God will take away the disgrace and persecution from his people who stood for Christ. God himself will wipe away every tear from our eyes acknowledging the pain we have been through allowing us to enter our home with him where we will be without sorrow.

QUESTIONS TO PONDER:  Do we think about the suffering and disgrace our brothers and sisters in Christ face everyday around the world? How can we be faithful with the freedom we have to worship God perhaps by encouraging and praying for our brothers and sisters around the world? Are we setting our hopes in this world or in our real home with God?

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, thank you for giving us a hope and a future. May our whole lives bring praise to you. Amen. (Ephesians 1:11-12)

A BLESSING TO GIVE: May you be given the wisdom and understanding that come from the Holy Spirit, so that you grow to know God better. (Ephesians 1:17)

MEALTIME PRAYER: Lord, as we await our home in heaven, bless our home on earth. As you fill our stomachs with food, please fill our hearts with faith. Amen. 

The love of Christ is so immensely rich!

This is my prayer for myself as Paul prayed for the Saints in Ephesus for i too am discouraged:

that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, (Ephesians 3:16)

God I feel so weak and selfish on my own - so I ask for our help even to remember you even to want to seek you. I trust in your power to strengthen me!

so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. (Ephesians 3:17-19 ESV)

Christ dwell in me on my heart and pour out from there to flood my life, my routines, my action as, my words, my thoughts and my desires would be life giving and satisfying in you Christ! But as this prayer says let me not focus on the outward too fast or depend on my own strength. It's amazing how I much I need you God even to have the beginning of roots and understanding to fathom the immeasurable riches and love of Christ. Let Christ and the knowledge of Christs abundance fill me that I need nothing else!

Amen