Devotion 4. The 2nd Promise of a Savior, “A Prophet Like Me”.
What is a prophet? God chooses and calls a person to be a prophet. For example, God told Jeremiah “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you and before you were born I consecrated you. I appointed you a prophet to the nations.” Jeremiah 1:4-5. Jeremiah actual tried to get out of it, claiming he was too young. But God said not to claim youth and to speak whatever God commanded him to speak. (Jeremiah 1:6-7).
God let the prophets know his mind and purpose and enabled them to speak about it through the Holy Spirit. That is why so many of their speeches began with “thus says the Lord”. They spoke his very words.
Many think of prophets as ones who foretell the future. Mostly the prophets preached the law and the covenant. They warned Israel to repent and obey the covenant. Sometimes they brought word that God would act to protect them. Sometimes they brought warnings that God would punish or destroy them for disobedience.
Moses was a great prophet. God spoke the law of the covenant to him and he spoke it to Israel. He led Israel to obey the Lord. He prayed for Israel when Israel rebelled. He even told them they would eventually rebel and be driven out of the land for it.
At the end of his life Moses told Israel:
“The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers – it is to him you shall listen-just as you desired of the Lord your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly when you said ‘let me not hear again the voice of the Lord my God or see this great fire any more lest I die.’ And the Lord said to me ‘They are right in what they have spoken. I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. And I will put my words in his mouth and he shall speak to them”. Deuteronomy 18:15-18.
Certainly God raised up many prophets to speak to Israel. Samuel, Elijah, Elisha, Amos, Ezekiel and many others.
But the ultimate fulfillment of this word was Christ.
The Jews themselves interpreted this message as messianic. At the time of Jesus, they were looking for the prophet promised by Moses. The priests and Levites asked John the Baptist if he was the prophet. (John 1:19-21). When Jesus fed the 5,000, the people said “this is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world” (John 6:14). When Jesus preached at the Feast of Booths the people said “This really is the Prophet” (John 7:40). Finally, Peter preached in Solomon’s Portico and invoked this passage to call Jews to believe in Jesus as the Messiah. (Acts 3:22)
We often hear the offices of Jesus referred to as prophet, priest and king. How did he function as a prophet? He knew the mind and words of God and spoke them. He did what the Father told him to do and said what the Father told him to say.
John wrote “No one has ever seen God (the Father). The only God (Jesus the Son) who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known (John 1:18).
Jesus said “…whatever the father does, that the Son does likewise. For the Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing. John 5:19). He also said “I declare to the world what I have heard from him” (John 8:26) and “all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.” John 16:15).
Jesus’ words are the last prophetic words. The New Testament is the writing of Jesus’ words and life in his words and in those of the apostles. Their teaching is his teaching. There are no new prophets and no new words. The words of those who claim to have new sayings from God or new revelations are false. The writer of Hebrews made this plain when he wrote “Long ago at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son…” (Hebrews 1:1-2).
Even that last prophetic word in the New Testament, the Book of Revelation, is the word of Christ. John made it clear. He wrote:
“The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who bore witness to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw.” (Revelation 1:1-2).
Our gracious Heavenly Father revealed to us through his prophet Moses that a great prophet like Moses would eventually come to us. As John says in his gospel, the law came through Moses but Jesus brought us grace and truth.
All of those centuries passed from Moses and Joshua through the Judges, the kings, the exile, the return under Ezra and Nehemiah, the years of silence at the end of the prophets, and God still remembered and kept his word. At the right time, he caused a little baby to be born to a poor Jewish couple from a little town. And in so doing, he kept his word and brought it to pass, giving us the last and greatest prophet, the one who was with God and was God and spent eternity in perfect fellowship and harmony with the Father and Spirit before coming to us.
He was thus the perfect one to not only speak the words of the Father, but to reveal the Father to us, to make God known. He not only spoke, he lived and reflected the perfect image of God.
We reflect at Christmas on the wonder of God born in flesh to live among us. That alone is a wonder. But it is a great wonder also that he kept this word and brought it to pass in this event, along with many others.
This is the great God we worship and serve.
Monday, December 05, 2011
Saturday, December 03, 2011
Devotion 3. The First Sacrifice and the First Clothes.
After Adam and Eve sinned they faced God’s judgment. The man, the woman and the snake (Satan) all received punishments from God that affected them and all mankind to come. They were driven from God’s presence and the perfect place God prepared for them. All things that were easy became hard. They would die.
They also experienced shame for the first time. They realized they were naked. Originally they were both naked and were not ashamed (Genesis 2:25). After their sin, they were ashamed to be naked in front of each other. They made little coverings for themselves out of fig leaves. When the Lord came to see them, they hid. They were afraid because they were naked (Genesis 3:10). In their state of shame, they could not face the holy Lord.
Yet, in the midst of his judgment, God also extended grace. The Bible describes it in one simple sentence. Genesis 3:21 says “And the Lord God made for Adam and for his wife garments of skins and clothed them.”
God looked at his disobedient children and gave them grace. He relieved their shame by giving them clothes. Interestingly, humankind has turned clothing into a badge of honor, making them from rich and ornamental fabrics. But, speaking theologically, clothing is a badge of shame. It is a constant reminder of our lost innocence. It is a symbol of original sin.
The skins came from an animal. An animal had to die to cover the sin of men and women. This sacrifice foreshadowed the sacrifices to come. We see it in the very next generation. Abel’s sacrifice was the firstborn of the flock with its fat portions. God accepted it. Cain brought an offering of plants. God rejected it. God had instructed them, probably after the first animal was slain, to kill an animal and offer it as a sacrifice for sin.
I wonder if God let Adam and Eve see the killing of the animal. It would have been shocking to them. They had never seen an animal killed. They never used parts of animals for clothing or food. Animals were companions. But this animal was killed and skinned to make their clothes. Although they were relieved of the shame of their nakedness, they would have realized the great cost of that relief.
Our guilt and shame is also relieved by the shedding of blood. Ephesians 1:7 says “in him we have redemption trough his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace which he lavished upon us…” We should also realize that our relief came at great cost: the death of the one sinless God-Man, Jesus Christ.
But another theme emerges from this event. The story shows us that the clothes made by the man and woman were not good enough to cover their shame. That is why they hid even though they were wearing the fig leaves. But God’s clothes were sufficient.
Paul picked up the theme in Colossians 3. He wanted to illustrate that our “self” without Christ, or made by our own hands, is sinful, corrupt and unacceptable to God. But our self in Christ is acceptable to God and holy. He said “Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.” (Colossians 3:9-10) Then, in verse 12, he continued with “Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness and patience…”
The image for the self is clothing. He is saying to take off the clothing that goes with the traits of those who rebel against God and put on the clothes that reflect the transformed nature given by Christ.
The old clothes made by our own hands are not sufficient. They represent our work to make ourselves acceptable to God. But no work can do that. Those clothes will in reality be stained with sin. As Isaiah said, all our supposedly righteous acts are like filthy rags in God’s sight. (Isaiah 64:6).
When Christ comes into our lives our natures begin to be renewed in knowledge after the image of God our creator. He gives this to us, as he did to Adam and Eve, as an act of his grace and mercy, not our worth.
John’s picture of believers in heaven finalizes this thought. In Revelation 7, the faithful are those who are dressed in white robes. How did the robes get to be white? Not by their own doing. Rather, they had washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
If you have never put your faith in Christ and committed to follow him, Christmas would be a great time to do it. Put off the dirty self made clothes that God sees as filthy rags. Give up trying to please God by your works, or by hoping God will think your good outweighs your bad. Put off those clothes you made and put on those made by Christ, washed in the blood of his death for your sins and acceptable to God.
And if you are a Christ follower, do not put those old dirty clothes back on. Those clothes for Paul represented the acts and attitudes of the old sin dominated nature. Rather, seek those things of Christ, keeping on the robes of mercy and grace, living in them daily.
After Adam and Eve sinned they faced God’s judgment. The man, the woman and the snake (Satan) all received punishments from God that affected them and all mankind to come. They were driven from God’s presence and the perfect place God prepared for them. All things that were easy became hard. They would die.
They also experienced shame for the first time. They realized they were naked. Originally they were both naked and were not ashamed (Genesis 2:25). After their sin, they were ashamed to be naked in front of each other. They made little coverings for themselves out of fig leaves. When the Lord came to see them, they hid. They were afraid because they were naked (Genesis 3:10). In their state of shame, they could not face the holy Lord.
Yet, in the midst of his judgment, God also extended grace. The Bible describes it in one simple sentence. Genesis 3:21 says “And the Lord God made for Adam and for his wife garments of skins and clothed them.”
God looked at his disobedient children and gave them grace. He relieved their shame by giving them clothes. Interestingly, humankind has turned clothing into a badge of honor, making them from rich and ornamental fabrics. But, speaking theologically, clothing is a badge of shame. It is a constant reminder of our lost innocence. It is a symbol of original sin.
The skins came from an animal. An animal had to die to cover the sin of men and women. This sacrifice foreshadowed the sacrifices to come. We see it in the very next generation. Abel’s sacrifice was the firstborn of the flock with its fat portions. God accepted it. Cain brought an offering of plants. God rejected it. God had instructed them, probably after the first animal was slain, to kill an animal and offer it as a sacrifice for sin.
I wonder if God let Adam and Eve see the killing of the animal. It would have been shocking to them. They had never seen an animal killed. They never used parts of animals for clothing or food. Animals were companions. But this animal was killed and skinned to make their clothes. Although they were relieved of the shame of their nakedness, they would have realized the great cost of that relief.
Our guilt and shame is also relieved by the shedding of blood. Ephesians 1:7 says “in him we have redemption trough his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace which he lavished upon us…” We should also realize that our relief came at great cost: the death of the one sinless God-Man, Jesus Christ.
But another theme emerges from this event. The story shows us that the clothes made by the man and woman were not good enough to cover their shame. That is why they hid even though they were wearing the fig leaves. But God’s clothes were sufficient.
Paul picked up the theme in Colossians 3. He wanted to illustrate that our “self” without Christ, or made by our own hands, is sinful, corrupt and unacceptable to God. But our self in Christ is acceptable to God and holy. He said “Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.” (Colossians 3:9-10) Then, in verse 12, he continued with “Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness and patience…”
The image for the self is clothing. He is saying to take off the clothing that goes with the traits of those who rebel against God and put on the clothes that reflect the transformed nature given by Christ.
The old clothes made by our own hands are not sufficient. They represent our work to make ourselves acceptable to God. But no work can do that. Those clothes will in reality be stained with sin. As Isaiah said, all our supposedly righteous acts are like filthy rags in God’s sight. (Isaiah 64:6).
When Christ comes into our lives our natures begin to be renewed in knowledge after the image of God our creator. He gives this to us, as he did to Adam and Eve, as an act of his grace and mercy, not our worth.
John’s picture of believers in heaven finalizes this thought. In Revelation 7, the faithful are those who are dressed in white robes. How did the robes get to be white? Not by their own doing. Rather, they had washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
If you have never put your faith in Christ and committed to follow him, Christmas would be a great time to do it. Put off the dirty self made clothes that God sees as filthy rags. Give up trying to please God by your works, or by hoping God will think your good outweighs your bad. Put off those clothes you made and put on those made by Christ, washed in the blood of his death for your sins and acceptable to God.
And if you are a Christ follower, do not put those old dirty clothes back on. Those clothes for Paul represented the acts and attitudes of the old sin dominated nature. Rather, seek those things of Christ, keeping on the robes of mercy and grace, living in them daily.
Friday, December 02, 2011
Devotion 2. The First Promise of a Savior
The third chapter of Genesis is a bleak story. Humanity rebelled against God, choosing Satan’s lie over God’s truth. They (and we) became children of wrath (Ephesians 2:3), separated from God (Isaiah 59:2) and subject to death (Genesis 2:17).
As a result of sin, God proclaimed judgment on all the parties involved: man, woman and Satan. The first is the judgment on the snake, the figure of Satan. But the curse or judgment on Satan also contains God’s word about the future. It is a word of hope for the future of humanity. It is the promise of a redeemer.
God said:
I will put enmity between you and the woman,
and between your offspring and her offspring;
he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”
(Genesis 3:15, ESV)
Most people either fear or loathe snakes. They are often used as symbols of evil in movies and books. That comes from this event. In my experience, women especially fear snakes. It is the first level of fulfillment of this word: there is enmity between women and snakes. Women fear them and want them killed or want to kill them. They hit them with hoes and shovels until they kill them, severely bruising their heads. Sometimes their husbands come to the rescue and kill the snake, as Adam should have done in the Garden.
But there is a greater picture of this enmity here, it is the enmity between Satan and his followers\offspring and God’s people. The Bible unfolds this story as the forces of Satan attack God’s people through Egyptians, Caananites, Assyians, Babylonians and Romans.
Then there is the greatest picture, the greatest fulfillment. In the fullness of time God revealed the ultimate offspring, the offspring that would finally crush the head of Satan, or defeat him. It is the offspring of woman but not of man, the virgin born offspring. That offspring or seed is the Son of God, the second person of the Trinity, the Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. The Bible tells us this in several ways. Luke gives the genealogy of Jesus in Luke 3, showing him to be the offspring of Eve through Seth (Luke 3:38).
Jesus said he saw Satan fall from heaven like lightening (Luke 10:18). The 72 he sent out reported that demons were subject to them in Jesus’ name (Luke 10:17). Revelation tells us Satan was restricted so that he no longer could deceive the nations (Revelation 20:1-3). Jesus told a parable about binding the strongman to illustrate that he healed illness and drove out demons because he was God (Mark 3). He cast out demons repeatedly (Mark 5 for example). He demonstrated his power and dominion over Satan.
Once Christ was revealed, Satan and his forces went into a frenzy to try and kill him. Herod tried to find him and kill him because he feared he would grow up to be king, but God warned the Wise Men in a dream and they went home by another route to avoid Herod (Matthew 2:11-12). Then Herod killed all of the male babies in town he could find, but Joseph took Jesus to Egypt out of harm’s way (Matthew 2:13-16).
Satan tempted Jesus in the wilderness. He tried to deter Jesus from the Father’s purpose and his mission (Matthew 4). He later used Peter to try and deter him from the cross (Matthew 16:23).
Ultimately, and ironically, the Jews become the forces of Satan arrayed against Christ, Eve’s offspring, whom God purposed to crush Satan’s head. Jesus called them the children of the devil (John 8:44). They rejected him in favor of a criminal and had him crucified (Matthew 27:15 et seq). John referred to them as the synagogue of Satan (Revelation 2:9).
But none of these people or their actions stopped God’s purpose. The crucifixion was God’s plan all along. He even stated in the law way back in the wilderness that a man who hangs on a tree is under God’s curse (Deuteronomy 21:23). He punished sin in the suffering and death of the sinless Son. Referring to the verse in Deuteronomy, Paul said “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree” (Galatians 3:13). In Romans 8:3, Paul said ‘…by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin he condemned sin in the flesh in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us…”
God then announced the satisfaction of sin and the triumph over Satan by raising him from the dead (Romans 4:25). Jesus rose from the dead and made a spectacle of his enemies. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame by triumphing over them in him (Colossians 2:15) He is at the right hand of the Father, sitting on a throne, ruling his kingdom from heaven (Mark 16:19; Acts 2:33; 1 Peter 3:22). He will stay there until the time all his enemies, and ours, are put under his feet (Acts 2:34-35).
When Jesus returns in glory, he will complete his victory. He will take Satan and his minions and cast them into eternal punishment away from his people and their dwelling place (Revelation 20:7-10). Then he will live in the midst of his people on the earth he restores, the new Eden, the new Jerusalem (Revelation 21:1-3, 22-27, 22:1-4). And we will live with him forever in that new Eden with no sorrow, no pain, no hunger, and no death, only worship, joy and fellowship forever.
Then the promise of Genesis 3:15 will be completely and finally fulfilled.
The third chapter of Genesis is a bleak story. Humanity rebelled against God, choosing Satan’s lie over God’s truth. They (and we) became children of wrath (Ephesians 2:3), separated from God (Isaiah 59:2) and subject to death (Genesis 2:17).
As a result of sin, God proclaimed judgment on all the parties involved: man, woman and Satan. The first is the judgment on the snake, the figure of Satan. But the curse or judgment on Satan also contains God’s word about the future. It is a word of hope for the future of humanity. It is the promise of a redeemer.
God said:
I will put enmity between you and the woman,
and between your offspring and her offspring;
he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”
(Genesis 3:15, ESV)
Most people either fear or loathe snakes. They are often used as symbols of evil in movies and books. That comes from this event. In my experience, women especially fear snakes. It is the first level of fulfillment of this word: there is enmity between women and snakes. Women fear them and want them killed or want to kill them. They hit them with hoes and shovels until they kill them, severely bruising their heads. Sometimes their husbands come to the rescue and kill the snake, as Adam should have done in the Garden.
But there is a greater picture of this enmity here, it is the enmity between Satan and his followers\offspring and God’s people. The Bible unfolds this story as the forces of Satan attack God’s people through Egyptians, Caananites, Assyians, Babylonians and Romans.
Then there is the greatest picture, the greatest fulfillment. In the fullness of time God revealed the ultimate offspring, the offspring that would finally crush the head of Satan, or defeat him. It is the offspring of woman but not of man, the virgin born offspring. That offspring or seed is the Son of God, the second person of the Trinity, the Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. The Bible tells us this in several ways. Luke gives the genealogy of Jesus in Luke 3, showing him to be the offspring of Eve through Seth (Luke 3:38).
Jesus said he saw Satan fall from heaven like lightening (Luke 10:18). The 72 he sent out reported that demons were subject to them in Jesus’ name (Luke 10:17). Revelation tells us Satan was restricted so that he no longer could deceive the nations (Revelation 20:1-3). Jesus told a parable about binding the strongman to illustrate that he healed illness and drove out demons because he was God (Mark 3). He cast out demons repeatedly (Mark 5 for example). He demonstrated his power and dominion over Satan.
Once Christ was revealed, Satan and his forces went into a frenzy to try and kill him. Herod tried to find him and kill him because he feared he would grow up to be king, but God warned the Wise Men in a dream and they went home by another route to avoid Herod (Matthew 2:11-12). Then Herod killed all of the male babies in town he could find, but Joseph took Jesus to Egypt out of harm’s way (Matthew 2:13-16).
Satan tempted Jesus in the wilderness. He tried to deter Jesus from the Father’s purpose and his mission (Matthew 4). He later used Peter to try and deter him from the cross (Matthew 16:23).
Ultimately, and ironically, the Jews become the forces of Satan arrayed against Christ, Eve’s offspring, whom God purposed to crush Satan’s head. Jesus called them the children of the devil (John 8:44). They rejected him in favor of a criminal and had him crucified (Matthew 27:15 et seq). John referred to them as the synagogue of Satan (Revelation 2:9).
But none of these people or their actions stopped God’s purpose. The crucifixion was God’s plan all along. He even stated in the law way back in the wilderness that a man who hangs on a tree is under God’s curse (Deuteronomy 21:23). He punished sin in the suffering and death of the sinless Son. Referring to the verse in Deuteronomy, Paul said “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree” (Galatians 3:13). In Romans 8:3, Paul said ‘…by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin he condemned sin in the flesh in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us…”
God then announced the satisfaction of sin and the triumph over Satan by raising him from the dead (Romans 4:25). Jesus rose from the dead and made a spectacle of his enemies. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame by triumphing over them in him (Colossians 2:15) He is at the right hand of the Father, sitting on a throne, ruling his kingdom from heaven (Mark 16:19; Acts 2:33; 1 Peter 3:22). He will stay there until the time all his enemies, and ours, are put under his feet (Acts 2:34-35).
When Jesus returns in glory, he will complete his victory. He will take Satan and his minions and cast them into eternal punishment away from his people and their dwelling place (Revelation 20:7-10). Then he will live in the midst of his people on the earth he restores, the new Eden, the new Jerusalem (Revelation 21:1-3, 22-27, 22:1-4). And we will live with him forever in that new Eden with no sorrow, no pain, no hunger, and no death, only worship, joy and fellowship forever.
Then the promise of Genesis 3:15 will be completely and finally fulfilled.
Devotion 1: Before the Foundation of the World
Before this world was created, the Father chose the Son to be the savior. He sent him into the world to be born of a woman, live as a man and die as a substitute for our sins. The Bible gives us several glimpses of this truth.
John 1 says that “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.” Just as Genesis 1:1 says “in the beginning God…” to communicate that God existed before the creation, John tells us that Christ existed before the world was created. He was with the Father. He was and is God.
Jesus himself prayed “And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world began.” John 17:5. Before the world was created, Christ was with the Father and had glory with him. He was in the form of God and equal to God, according to Philippians 2:6-7, but took on human form. Can you even imagine that? We do not want to give up our comforts, the approval of friends or our place in society for Christ. But he gave up heaven and glory to take on human flesh and die for us.
So, Christ existed from eternity. He did not begin to exist when he was born into human form. He was only revealed to us at that time. Peter said it this way: He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you who through him are believers in God.” 1 Peter 1:18-19.
Jesus not only existed before his physical birth on earth, his mission was also determined before his birth and even before the world was created. Paul wrote to Timothy: Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel…” 2 Timothy 1:8-10. Peter preached at Pentecost saying “Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God…” Acts 2:23. So Christ’s birth and mission were set before the world was even created.
God also chose believers in Christ before creation. Ephesians 1:3-4 says “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him.” Revelation 13:8 reinforces this idea. Speaking of the beast, it says ‘and all who dwell on earth will worship it, everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain.” Jesus’ birth, mission and the salvation of believers was decided before the creation of the world.
At Christmas we often concentrate on a helpless little baby in a manger as the beginning of Christ’s life and work. But it was not. In eternity before the creation of this world, the Father chose him and he agreed to be the Savior. All through human history, God worked to bring about his purpose to send his son at the right place and the right time to accomplish his purpose. He was not deterred by the disobedience of his people, the designs of Satan, the attacks of sinful men and women or the governments of the world. Even King Nebuchadnezzar had to confess “…he does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth and none can stay his hand…” Daniel 4:35.
Beyond the cuteness of the baby in the manger, the exoticism of the wise men and the drama of the poor Jewish couple is the sovereign God who purposed to redeem people from sin and reconcile them to himself through the sacrifice of his eternal son and who brought it about over thousands of years.
That is a God you can worship.
Before this world was created, the Father chose the Son to be the savior. He sent him into the world to be born of a woman, live as a man and die as a substitute for our sins. The Bible gives us several glimpses of this truth.
John 1 says that “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.” Just as Genesis 1:1 says “in the beginning God…” to communicate that God existed before the creation, John tells us that Christ existed before the world was created. He was with the Father. He was and is God.
Jesus himself prayed “And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world began.” John 17:5. Before the world was created, Christ was with the Father and had glory with him. He was in the form of God and equal to God, according to Philippians 2:6-7, but took on human form. Can you even imagine that? We do not want to give up our comforts, the approval of friends or our place in society for Christ. But he gave up heaven and glory to take on human flesh and die for us.
So, Christ existed from eternity. He did not begin to exist when he was born into human form. He was only revealed to us at that time. Peter said it this way: He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you who through him are believers in God.” 1 Peter 1:18-19.
Jesus not only existed before his physical birth on earth, his mission was also determined before his birth and even before the world was created. Paul wrote to Timothy: Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel…” 2 Timothy 1:8-10. Peter preached at Pentecost saying “Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God…” Acts 2:23. So Christ’s birth and mission were set before the world was even created.
God also chose believers in Christ before creation. Ephesians 1:3-4 says “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him.” Revelation 13:8 reinforces this idea. Speaking of the beast, it says ‘and all who dwell on earth will worship it, everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain.” Jesus’ birth, mission and the salvation of believers was decided before the creation of the world.
At Christmas we often concentrate on a helpless little baby in a manger as the beginning of Christ’s life and work. But it was not. In eternity before the creation of this world, the Father chose him and he agreed to be the Savior. All through human history, God worked to bring about his purpose to send his son at the right place and the right time to accomplish his purpose. He was not deterred by the disobedience of his people, the designs of Satan, the attacks of sinful men and women or the governments of the world. Even King Nebuchadnezzar had to confess “…he does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth and none can stay his hand…” Daniel 4:35.
Beyond the cuteness of the baby in the manger, the exoticism of the wise men and the drama of the poor Jewish couple is the sovereign God who purposed to redeem people from sin and reconcile them to himself through the sacrifice of his eternal son and who brought it about over thousands of years.
That is a God you can worship.
25 Devotions for December
I am writing and posting 25 devotions for December. I got the idea to post in on Facebook and have, starting yesterday. It dawned on me today I should post them here also. So, I will. You will just have to read two of them in one day to catch up.
I pray they are blessing to you.
I am writing and posting 25 devotions for December. I got the idea to post in on Facebook and have, starting yesterday. It dawned on me today I should post them here also. So, I will. You will just have to read two of them in one day to catch up.
I pray they are blessing to you.
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Recognizing A Good Deed
I am often disgusted by the behavior of those I see around me. However, today I saw a great thing done. A woman at work is going into cancer treatment. She has long blonde hair. Since she knew her hair would fall out eventually, she cut it and donated it. How generous to think of making someone's life better while you are suffering.
I am often disgusted by the behavior of those I see around me. However, today I saw a great thing done. A woman at work is going into cancer treatment. She has long blonde hair. Since she knew her hair would fall out eventually, she cut it and donated it. How generous to think of making someone's life better while you are suffering.
Wednesday, November 09, 2011
Clayton Cramer's Blog: Temperature Change In U.S. Since 1999: Watt's Up With That? has a summary of the data. Every region of the lower 48 has a declining average winter temperature since 1999 (even t...
Does anyone have Al Gore's email address?
Does anyone have Al Gore's email address?
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