Christmas 2015

"Therefore, when the time came for the eternal Son of God to be sent by his Father into the world, the work of the Holy Spirit was a quiet, unobtrusive work in the service of the Father and the Son. Through him the Father caused the Son to be conceived in Mary the virgin. So from the very beginning of Christ’s incarnation the Holy Spirit was quietly doing what needed to be done to put forward Jesus Christ as the Son of God and Savior of man." (John Piper)

"Infinite, and an infant.
Eternal, and yet born of a woman.
Almighty, and yet hanging on a woman’s breast.
Supporting a universe, and yet needing to be carried in a mother’s arms.
King of angels, and yet the reputed son of Joseph.
Heir of all things, and yet the carpenter’s despised son." (Charles Haddon Spurgeon)

"How shall we deal with such a child? Have our hands, soiled with daily toil, become too hard and too proud to fold in prayer at the sight of this child? Has our head become too full of serious thoughts … that we cannot bow our head in humility at the wonder of this child? Can we not forget all our stress and struggles, our sense of importance, and for once worship the child, as did the shepherds and the wise men from the East, bowing before the divine child in the manger like children?" (Dietrich Bonhoeffer)

"The enemy is not going to win. Christmas is but the beginning of the story. The baby brought light into the darkness, and He would break the back of the powers through His later death and resurrection. If you’re struggling this Christmas season, don’t forget the rest of the story!" (Thomas Rainer)

Prior posts:

Day 26 | Day 25 | Day 24 | Day 23 | Day 22 | Day 21 | Day 20 | Day 19 | Day 18 | Day 17 | Day 16 | Day 15
Day 14 | Day 13 | Day 12 | Day 11 | Day 10 | Day 9 | Day 8 | Day 7 | Day 6 | Day 5 | Day 4 | Day 3 | Day 2
Day 1

Advent 2015 - Day 24

"We have become so accustomed to the idea of divine love and of God’s coming at Christmas that we no longer feel the shiver of fear that God’s coming should arouse in us. We are indifferent to the message, taking only the pleasant and agreeable out of it and forgetting the serious aspect, that the God of the world draws near to the people of our little earth and lays claim to us." (Dietrich Bonhoeffer)

Prior posts:

Day 23 | Day 22 | Day 21 | Day 20 | Day 19 | Day 18 | Day 17 | Day 16 | Day 15 | Day 14
Day 13 | Day 12 | Day 11 | Day 10 | Day 9 | Day 8 | Day 7 | Day 6 | Day 5 | Day 4 | Day 3 | Day 2 | Day 1

Advent 2015 - Day 21

(From the Gospel Coalition blog post by Trevin Wax "We Lepers"

Father Damien was a priest who became famous for his willingness to serve lepers.

He moved to Kalawao – a village on the island of Molokai, in Hawaii, that had been quarantined to serve as a leper colony.

For 16 years, he lived in their midst. He learned to speak their language. He bandaged their wounds, embraced the bodies no one else would touch, preached to hearts that would otherwise have been left alone. He organized schools, bands, and choirs. He built homes so that the lepers could have shelter. He built 2,000 coffins by hand so that, when they died, they could be buried with dignity.

Slowly, it was said, Kalawao became a place to live rather than a place to die, for Father Damien offered hope.

Father Damien was not careful about keeping his distance. He did nothing to separate himself from his people. He dipped his fingers in the poi bowl along with the patients. He shared his pipe. He did not always wash his hands after bandaging open sores. He got close. For this, the people loved him.

Then one day he stood up and began his sermon with two words: “We lepers….”

Now he wasn’t just helping them. Now he was one of them. From this day forward, he wasn’t just on their island; he was in their skin. First he had chosen to live as they lived; now he would die as they died. Now they were in it together.

One day God came to Earth and began his message: “We lepers….” Now he wasn’t just helping us. Now he was one of us. Now he was in our skin. Now we were in it together.

– From John Ortberg’s God Is Closer Than You Think (HT - Darryl Dash)

Prior posts:

Day 20 | Day 19 | Day 18 | Day 17 | Day 16 | Day 15 | Day 14

Day 13 | Day 12 | Day 11 | Day 10 | Day 9 | Day 8 | Day 7 | Day 6 | Day 5 | Day 4 | Day 3 | Day 2 | Day 1

Advent 2015 - Day 20

"The whole of Christ’s life was a continual passion; others die martyrs, but Christ was born a martyr. He found a Golgotha, where he was crucified, even in Bethlehem, where he was born; ... His birth and his death were but one continual act, and his Christmas Day and his Good Friday are but the evening and the morning of one and the same day." (John Donne)

Prior posts:

Day 19 | Day 18 | Day 17 | Day 16 | Day 15 | Day 14
Day 13 | Day 12 | Day 11 | Day 10 | Day 9 | Day 8 | Day 7 | Day 6 | Day 5 | Day 4 | Day 3 | Day 2 | Day 1

Recommended Posts - v3

A Prayer For The First Day Of 2016 - S Smith - 1/1/2016

Yesterday - Chambers - 12/31/2015

Reading The Whole Bible In 2016 - Taylor - 12/29/2015

Be Devoted To Prayer - Piper - 12/27/2015

A Christmas Poem: Come To The Manger - Kruger - 12/23/2015

A Prayer For Marveling At The Tenderness And Humility Of Jesus Incarnation - S Smith - 12/22/2015

We Lepers - An Unusual Christmas Meditation - Wax - 12/22/2015

Striving For A More Intentional Life Of Prayer - Raymond - 12/15/2015

I Am The Elder Brother - Guthrie - 12/11/2015

A Prayer Of Hope For Our Kids And Grand Kids - S Smith - 12/10/2015

A Prayer For Our Worship To Be Filled With The Presence Of God - S Smith - 11/15/2015

Calvin's Advice For Right Prayer - Qaoud - 10/12/2015

Christmas Thoughts 2015

“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us). - Matthew 1:23

This passage, from one of the biblical accounts of Jesus birth, is fairly common and most of us have probably heard it or read it or sung it dozens, if not hundreds, of times over the years. In fact, one of the classic Christmas carols is "Come, O Come, Emmanuel". However, despite our familiarity with this statement of an angel to Jesus' step dad, if you're like me, you may have missed the stunning promise being made to all who would love and follow Jesus.

The promise spoken to Joseph, but in reality made to all who would align themselves with Jesus, is that through Jesus God would be with us. Now, most of us would acknowledge that if God is really God, he is everywhere all the time. That's simply part of being God. Since this is true, what's so special about Jesus coming to live among us so that God could be with us?  Here are just a couple of simple thoughts.

First the fact that God is everywhere doesn't guarantee his closeness or his favor. Have you ever been to a college or NFL football game? How about a concert or a Broadway show? How about shopping on Black Friday? In all of these situations you are physically close to a lot of people. But how many are you relationally close to? How many of the 70,000 people at the football game "have your back"? Very, very few, if any. But Immanuel means the God who is everywhere is now here for you. As we follow and trust in Jesus, he is on our side in ways we can't even imagine. And, looking forward to Good Friday, we can honestly say, Jesus has our back.

Second, there is an elephant in the room when it comes to our relationship with God. Most of us would rather not talk about it (thus the elephant in the room metaphor) but that doesn't change the reality. We would prefer to just wish it away or hope that somehow God might develop Alzheimer's. But ignoring or wishing away our problem with God doesn't remove it or resolve it. In fact it makes it worse. The problem is this: since the moment we were born, we have wanted to do things our way. We have offended, rejected, ridiculed and rebelled against God day after day for our entire lives. Even the "best" of us have done our good deeds in self directed ways, thus doubling down on the problem. 

Because of all of this, God really has no reason to come to be with us, much less to be on our side. And yet the promise is that he will. However, in order to do this, our problem must be resolved. We don't have the resources or the ability to fix the problem, but Jesus does.  So, implicit in the promise that Jesus will be God with us is an even deeper promise. Jesus will solve the problem that every man, woman and child on this planet has. We are sinners and rebels while God is holy and just. Jesus has come to take the just punishment owed to us so we can receive the gracious blessing of God being with us and for us.

And finally, while this may seem obvious, it is quite easily missed or minimized when we think about Jesus, especially at Christmas. If Jesus is to be Immanuel, which means God with us, he must be God. Why is this so important? Consider some of the additional promises made to those who trust in Jesus: We will one day be with him, Jesus is praying for us right now, We will have new bodies just like his, Nothing can take away God's love for us, and so many more. How can any of these promises be true, much less realized, if Jesus is not God?

So, as we celebrate and enjoy this great and glorious Christmas season, remember that Jesus is Immanuel for those who love him, follow him and trust him. May this Christmas be the one where we truly worship the savior king who is God with us. Immanuel.

Recomended Posts v2

Three Ways Movies Are Searching For The Gospel - G Ortlund - 12/8/2015

O Come Again Emmanuel - Wax - 12/3/2015

Why Celebrate Advent? - Boswell - 11/29/2015

A Prayer For The First Sunday Of Advent - S Smith - 11/29/2015

Prepare Him Room - Bloom - 11/29/2015

Only One Black Friday - Tripp - 11/27/2015

A Prayer For Thanksgiving Day - S Smith - 11/26/2015

Alone With God - Chan - 11/24/2015

A Prayer For Marinating In The "In All Things Goodness Of Jesus - S Smith - 11/21/2015

It Is Finished - Chambers - 11/21/2015

We All Need Help - Piper - 11/19/2015

Four Reasons Why Some Preachers Get Better And Others Dont - York - 11/18/2015

A Prayer Of Lament - S Smith - 11/14/2015

The Glory of God in the Mess

(preached Christmas Eve 2014)

Luke 4:16-21

And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read. And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written,

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives
and recovering of sight to the blind,
to set at liberty those who are oppressed,
to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.”
And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. And he began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”


It has been said that other than funerals, sermons during the Christmas season are the hardest to preach. The expectations are high. The common texts are limited. The breadth of the audience is large. Add to this the reality that on Christmas Eve the focus of most of us is on what's coming next. Presents. An evening with family. Presents. Christmas lunch or dinner. Presents. Traveling. Presents.

So here I am, standing between you and...yes, presents. And yet I believe there is something that God would say to us tonight if we are willing to slow down just enough to listen. He may not proclaim it to us by angels. He may not testify to us by royalty. He may not reveal it to us through dreams. However as our value statement reminds us, God speaks to us through his holy, inerrant, unchanging Word.

To make this simple, because I know presents and parties are calling and that all of our attention spans are short, I will give you my single point right out of the gate. In reading through the Christmas narratives and considering how they tie to the rest of the accounts of Jesus' life, death and resurrection, I've become convinced that one of the reasons Jesus was born the way he was and why he lived the lifestyle he did was to demonstrate and declare that God is glorified in the mess. Let me say that again: The manner of Jesus' birth and the way Jesus lived his life was in part to show us that God is glorified in the mess.

Consider with me the events from the Christmas story. The first thing we see in Matthew's account is Joseph's relational turmoil over Mary's pregnancy. Say what you will about Joseph being a righteous man, what emotions did he have to face when he discovered Mary had apparently been unfaithful? Undoubtedly, many of us can relate to what I'm sure Joseph thought of as betrayal. But even in the depths of Joseph's emotional struggles, we see God at work. Joseph shows compassion and kindness where none was required. He shows a heart for the spirit of the Law rather than using the letter of Law to eliminate all pain from his life. And perhaps most God glorifying of all is Joseph's willingness to listen to God when he is told the most unbelievable thing. Here, in the midst of relational chaos, true fatherhood is displayed and God's glory shines all the brighter.

Next, consider the journey described by Luke from Nazareth to Bethlehem. Either walking or riding on a donkey some sixty miles with Mary nine months pregnant, this was not an easy journey by anyone's standards. Luke doesn't mention it, but what did they do about food, water, sleeping, and dare I ask, potty stops? Yet, here is a young couple being obedient to the civil authorities over them. Here are two Jews with complete trust in God, despite all the inconveniences he is allowing to pour into their lives. But, God used them and this less than desirable journey both to fulfill the prophecy from Micah 5, but also to establish Jesus' credentials as God's chosen messiah.

And of course Luke also gives us the whole stable, manger, no place for a nine month pregnant woman adventure. The entire scenario simply begs for "are you kidding me?" The lack of hospitality, risk to both Mary & Jesus' health and the shear humiliation of being put out with the cows or sheep is almost too much to handle. Yet, despite all of this, God is massively at work. In the stable, perhaps better than any place in the gospel accounts except for the cross, God is showing us just how humiliating it was to become human. Ever wonder how broad and wide and deep and high is the love of Christ? First look at the blood soaked instrument of torture then look at the manure filled stable.

We can't forget about the shepherds. What you may not know about shepherds is that despite the Bible's high view of the role and task of shepherding, the 1st century cultural view was much different. Shepherds were viewed as a disreputable lot. They were not able to hold any kind of public office nor could they testify in court. They were often accused of stealing from the flocks they tended, so when they were paid in sheep, they had difficulty in selling those sheep to feed their families. So when God chooses to disclose what he has just accomplished in the birth of Jesus, he does so to the most unlikely, disreputable, untrustworthy, unsophisticated people around. God is glorified by using these outcasts to proclaim what he has done. And he is glorified by showing the value of all people despite what society might say about them.

Back in Matthew's account, when the magi come through Jerusalem on their way to worship Jesus in Bethlehem, Herod's wicked mind kicks into gear. His slaughter of the innocents sets off a pair of situations that were so much less than ideal.  First, Joseph, Mary and Jesus need to pack up quickly and flee to Egypt. While maybe somewhat less difficult than the journey when Mary was pregnant, relocating on the spur of the moment and moving to a foreign country with a less than two year old child is definitely something most people would avoid. Add to this the innumerable families that lost a child for no purpose other than Herod's insatiable quest for power and we have a mess that is both personal and societal. But even here God is glorified.  He is glorified as Jesus is protected and sustained by an attentive and obedient guardian. He is glorified as sin and sinner are shown in their true colors and we are given a glimpse of where we might have gone without God's intervening grace. And, he is glorified in the demonstration that no opposition can thwart the sovereign plans and purposes of God.

Do you see that God, in orchestrating everything around Jesus birth, did not choose the easiest path. All the struggle, all the turmoil, all the mess was to show that God knows and cares about our mess as well. And not only does he care but he can be glorified in it as well.

And what about us? Can we find our own mess in the messes of the Christmas accounts? Are there any broken or strained relationships in the room? Any lives that are just plain hard, with no relief in sight? Do we know rejection or humiliation for no real reason? Have our lives turned out so much less than we've expected that we doubt God's ability to use us for any noble purpose? What do we do with unplanned, inconvenient disruptions in our lives? And how do we process the chaos resulting from Furgeson MO or New York City or the Middle East? All of these situations are here, in the Christmas narratives. And all of them can be used by God for his glory and the ultimate good of his people.

As interesting and relevant as all of this is, what I really want to consider tonight is Jesus' ministry beyond the early days of this life. Luke records Jesus inaugurating his ministry by reading from Isaiah 61. From the very beginning Jesus was declaring that the messiah would be different than what the religious leaders expected. His mission would have a scope and a breadth that no one would have anticipated. He came for people that society had no use for. He came to rescue and redeem people that had rejected God. And he came to give people the one thing they couldn't give to themselves.

Look with me briefly at Luke 4. Here is what Jesus read from Isaiah at the beginning of his ministry: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives
and recovering of sight to the blind,
to set at liberty those who are oppressed,
to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.”

Certainly Jesus worked all these things out through the physical miracles he performed. But beyond the physical, which is here today and gone tomorrow, I think Jesus and Isaiah both knew that the messiah would do more than treat a few physical issues; he came to live and glorify God in the mess.

Good news to the poor? What good news? That God had come. The angels proclaimed there was a savior, a deliverer, a redeemer born in Bethlehem.  The people were not abandoned. We are not abandoned. That neither physical nor spiritual poverty could keep the love of God at bay. There is light in the darkness. There is hope in the hopelessness. There is mercy and grace in the face of hatred and despair. In fact there is no situation too dark, no sin so bad, no relationship too toxic for God's grace to overcome and overwhelm. God is glorified in the mess.

Liberty to the captives and those who are oppressed? Think about what sin does to us. Even if you don't call it sin, everything we do has its effect. We may feel good for a moment, but then we are under its weight for a lifetime. Slavery, bondage, guilt. And it doesn't have to be the big sins either. Even our respectable sins like anxiety, pride, envy and impatience will eventually ruin our lives. These are just some of the ways sin controls and captivates us. But Jesus declared that he is here to free us from this bondage. It is for freedom that Christ has set us free and if Jesus sets us free, we are free indeed. And God is glorified in the mess.

Sight to the blind? So much of this life, both the good and the bad take our eyes off of God. We become blind to what is right and true. We make up religious rules to keep us safe and comfortable. We get swallowed up in our despair and can't see what God is calling us to or what he is doing all around us. But Jesus steps into this mess to remove the scales from our eyes so that we can see both God's love and his mercy. Jesus allows us to see that every good gift is from God and that even the broken dreams around us serve as stepping stones back to him. He is glorified in the mess.

The year of God's favor? We often think of ourselves as blessed by God and rightly so. But when Isaiah first wrote and when Jesus claimed his fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy, God's favor was not upon his people. Think of the pharisees. Their focus was not on God, but upon their own religious system. The Romans, they had their pantheon and couldn't care less about the one true God. And everybody else? They were perfectly content in their own spiritual bubble. They were all lost, wretched, poor, pitiable, blind and naked. But this mess too serves as the stage for Jesus to serve and give his life as a ransom for many. And it allows God to be glorified in the mess.

The reality is that Jesus' life continued to be one of bringing God glory in the mess. Over the course of his ministry he really had no home. He was often low on resources, depending on the generosity of others. He was quite often misunderstood, even by the guys he was training. People were following him not because he was the messiah or even a good moral teacher. They simply wanted food to eat and their diseases cured. Most of the religious leaders wanted him shutdown and even killed. And even his birth family thought he was insane.

That is the mess Jesus lived in. That is the mess Jesus glorified God in. He hung out with the outcasts and brought glory to God. He touched the untouchables and brought glory to God. On Good Friday he stood unjustly accused and died on a bloody cross and brought God glory. Mess at the beginning, mess in the middle and mess at the end. And God was glorified in it all.

So, the presents are waiting. The food is calling. Many of us will leave here and have a truly joyous Christmas season. But some of us won't. Some of us are neck deep in the mess. To the joyous, Jesus says "I am the source of God's favor. Rejoice in me and declare my goodness to those around you" To those in the mess, Jesus says "I have walked where you are walking. I have been rejected. I have lost all things. I have been tested to the extreme. I came in the mess. I lived in the mess. I died in the mess. And because of all this, even now, even if you don't see it, I am bringing God glory and I'm working for your ultimate good in the midst of the mess."

Merry Christmas

Why Jesus Came

(What follows is an excerpt from John Piper's 2013 Advent devotional. It is available for free here)

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

Hebrews 2:14–15 is worth more than two minutes in an Advent devotional. These verses connect the beginning and the end of Jesus’s earthly life. They make clear why he came. They would be great to use with an unbelieving friend or family member to take them step by step through your Christian view of Christmas. It might go something like this…

“Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood…”

The term “children” is taken from the previous verse and refers to the spiritual offspring of Christ, the Messiah (see Isaiah 8:18; 53:10). These are also the “children of God.” In other words, in sending Christ, God has the salvation of his “children” specially in view. It is true that “God so loved the world, that he sent [Jesus] (John 3:16).” But it is also true that God was especially “gathering the children of God who are scattered abroad” (John 11:52). God’s design was to offer Christ to the world, and to effect the salvation of his “children” (see 1 Timothy 4:10). You may experience adoption by receiving Christ (John 1:12).

“…he himself likewise partook of the same things [flesh and blood]…”

Christ existed before the incarnation. He was spirit. He was the eternal Word. He was with God and was God (John 1:1; Colossians 2:9). But he took on flesh and blood and clothed his deity with humanity. He became fully man and remained fully God. It is a great mystery in many ways. But it is at the heart of our faith and is what the Bible teaches.

“…that through death…”

The reason Jesus became man was to die. As God, he could not die for sinners. But as man he could. His aim was to die. Therefore he had to be born human. He was born to die. Good Friday is the reason for Christmas. This is what needs to be said today about the meaning of Christmas.

“…he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil…”

In dying, Christ de-fanged the devil. How? By covering all our sin. This means that Satan has no legitimate grounds to accuse us before God. “Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies” (Romans 8:33). On what grounds does he justify? Through the blood of Jesus (Romans 5:9).

Satan’s ultimate weapon against us is our own sin. If the death of Jesus takes it away, the chief weapon of the devil is taken out of his hand. He cannot make a case for our death penalty, because the Judge has acquitted us by the death of his Son!

“…and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.”

So we are free from the fear of death. God has justified us. Satan cannot overturn that decree. And God means for our ultimate safety to have an immediate effect on our lives. He means for the happy ending to take away the slavery and fear of the now.

If we do not need to fear our last and greatest enemy, death, then we do not need to fear anything. We can be free: free for joy, free for others.

What a great Christmas present from God to us! And from us to the world!

The Throne of God in the Depths of Humanity

(excerpted from God is in the Manger, a collection of writings by Dietrich Bonhoeffer)

"We cannot approach the manger of the Christ child in the same way we approach the cradle of another child. Rather, when we go to his manger, something happens, and we cannot leave it again unless we have been judged or redeemed. Here we must either collapse or know the mercy of God directed toward us.

"What does that mean? Isn't all of this just a way of speaking? Isn't it just pastoral exaggeration of a pretty and pious legend? What does it mean that such things are said about the Christ child? Those who want to take it as a way of speaking will do so and continue to celebrate Advent and Christmas as before, with pagan indifference. For us it is not just a way of speaking. For that's just it: it is God himself, the Lord and Creator of all things, who is so small here, who is hidden here in the corner, who enters into the plainness of the world, who meets us in the helplessness and defenselessness of a child, and wants to be with us. And he does this not out of playfulness or sport, because we find that so touching, but in order to show us where he is and who he is and in order from this place judge and devalue and dethrone all human ambition.

"The throne of God in the world is not on human thrones, but in human depths, in the manger. Standing around his throne there are no flattering vassals but dark, unknown, questionable figures who cannot get their fill of this miracle and want to live entirely by the mercy of God.

"'Joy to the world!' Anyone for whom this sound in foreign, or who hears in it nothing but weak enthusiasm, has not yet really heard the gospel. For the sake of humankind, Jesus Christ became a man in a stable in Bethlehem: Rejoice, O Christendom! For sinners, Jesus Christ became a companion of tax collectors and prostitutes: Rejoice, O Christendom! For the condemned, Jesus Christ was condemned to the cross on Golgotha: Rejoice, O Christendom! For all of us Jesus Christ was resurrected to life: Rejoice, O Christendom! ... All over the world today people are asking: Where is the path to joy? The church of Christ answers loudly: Jesus is our joy! (1 Pet 1:7-9) Joy to the world!"

To God alone be the Glory.

The Great Turning Point of All Things

(or as Gandalf would say, "I come to you now, at the turn of the tide")

I've been posting here and on Facebook, excerpts from God is in the Manger, a collection of writings from Dietrich Bonhoeffer. They are focused primarily on Christmas and Advent, but with other themes thrown in. The book was very helpful for me this year to reorient my heart and mind to the meaning and purpose of Christmas. Much has been lost and distorted even in the Christian celebration of this glorious event. I think we lose the majesty and the power and the awesomeness of Christmas when it becomes about gifts or family or church (good things, but not ultimate things). Christmas should always and forever be about God becoming man (no, a baby), being born  (no, born in a stinky, dirty, noisy stable), living  (no living a commoner's life), and dying (no dying a traitor's death). He did this for the twin goals of fulfilling his Father's will and executing a rescue mission that no Seal team would dare attempt. Jesus was born, lived and died for God and for you. Christmas is about Christ, not us. Glory to God indeed!

"What kings and leaders of nations, philosophers and artists, founders of religions and teachers of morals have tried in vain to do--that now happens through a new born child. Putting to shame the most powerful human efforts and accomplishments, a child is placed here at the midpoint of world history--a child born of human beings, a son given by God (Isa 9:6). That is the mystery of the redemption of the world; everything past and everything future is encompassed here. The infinite mercy of the almighty God comes to us, descends to us in the form of a child, his Son. That this child is born for us, this son is given to us, that this human child and Son belongs to me, that I know him, have him, love him, that I am his and he is mine--on this alone my life now depends. A child has our life in his hands... 

"How should we deal with such a child? Have our hands, soiled with daily toil, become too hard and too proud to fold in prayer at the sight of this child? Has our head become too full of serious thoughts...that we cannot bow our head in humility at the wonder of this child? Can we not forget all our stress and struggles, our sense of importance and for once worship the child as did the shepherds and the wise men from the East, bowing before the divine child in the manger like children"  - Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The Government upon the Shoulders, Christmas 1940

To God Alone be the Glory

The Wonder of All Wonders

From Dietrich Bonhoeffer:

God travels in wonderful ways with human beings, but does not comply with the views or opinions of people. God does not go the way that people want to prescribe for him; rather his way is beyond all comprehension, free and self determined beyond all proof. 

Where reason is indignant, where our nature rebels, where our piety anxiously keeps us away: that is precisely where God loves to be. There he confounds the reason of the reasonable; there he aggravates our nature, our piety--that is where he wants to be, and no one can keep him from it. Only the humble believe him and rejoice that God is so free and so marvelous that he does wonders where people despair, that he takes what is little and lowly and makes it marvelous. And that is the wonder of all wonders, that God loves the lowly... God is not ashamed of the lowliness of human beings. God marches right in. He chooses people as his instruments and performs his wonders where one would least expect them. God is near to lowliness; he loves the lost, the neglected, the unseemly, the excluded, the weak and the broken.

To God Alone be the Glory

Oh, to see Jesus!

I think we have the Christmas gift thing mixed up. Its not that I'm against giving (or receiving) gifts, but when we actually stop and ask, what is Christmas is all about, we seem to go in one of two directions.

First, we might ask "what could I give Jesus for Christmas?" Presumptuous, I know, but the heart is one of devotion, seeking to honor Christ with our lives, our gifts and our heart.

Or, we might ask "what would I receive from Jesus this Christmas?" Perhaps this just a more focused, seasonally heightened prayer request, but if its anything like mine, its focus, aim and goal usually falls way short.

Well, what if we crumpled all of the above like so much old Christmas wrapping paper? What if we found our guidance in the Holy Spirit and in the ebb and flow of God's Word?

For instance, consider Luke 18. While there is a lot in this chapter, I think Luke uses a great, subtle teaching technique by repeating overlapping truths in various parables and narrative accounts so that if one section doesn't hit us, the next one might. So, in one chapter we have God giving justice, a tax collector calling for mercy, the disciples learning that all things are possible with God, that Jesus journey to Jerusalem will result not in glorious, messianic victory, but painful, ignominious defeat, and that seeking the mercy of Jesus is worth more than any social custom or anyone's opinion of us.

Beyond this, Luke 18, like other sections of this book, is a study in contrasts. God vs the judge. Tax collector vs Pharisee.  Child-like faith vs "grown-up" faith. A love for Christ himself vs a love for all that Christ can (and does) give us. A vision to do God's will God's way vs a desire to do God's will my way. A willingness to defy all conventions to see (really see) Jesus vs obeying all conventions and missing (really missing) Jesus although he is right in front of us.

So, whether I zero in on the tax collector, who really grasped his position before God and his desperate need for God's mercy and grace or the blind man who defied all social and religious customs because he too desperately knew he was both helpless and hopeless without Jesus, my prayer and my plea this Christmas is that I want to see Jesus. This prayer is not just to see him in passages like Luke 18, but to see him as Paul says in Eph 1, with the eyes of my heart. To see him in his fullness, in his deity, in his humanity, as prophet, priest and king, as redeemer, as intercessor, as brother and as friend. Along with this, I need God's gracious reminder that on my own I am desperate, helpless and hopeless. The only reason to tenacious cling to Christ by faith is a firm knowledge that letting go results in ruin.

After nearly fifty years I think it is starting to sink in that while Christmas may be a great time to discipline our selfish hearts and actually be generous (not just pretend or talk about it), the reality is that we are never truly the giver. Christmas is about a gift given. A life lived. A death died. A price paid. A relationship restored. A victory won. 

May Jesus invade your Christmas this year in a great, glorious and perhaps unexpected way so that the focus is not so much on us but on Him. And not just Him in the manger, but on the cross and at the right hand of the Father and on the cusp of His return.

I pray that we each may take some time this year to consider not what we can give to Jesus, but what we so desperately need from Him and then have the humility and child-like faith to plead for it.

To God Alone be the Glory

The Faith of the Wisemen

Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” (Jn 20:29)

I recently read a blog post (read it here) that challenged by thinking about the wisemen, the magi from the east. Before a few days ago, I hadn't really considered their role in Matthew's gospel. Sure, they were a key part of the Christmas story. Sure they were integral to Matthew's overarching message to proclaim Jesus as King. But what about the wisemen themselves? Isn't there anything we can learn from them and how they approached the King of kings?

Enter J.C. Ryle. When I read some of his thoughts about the wisemen from his commentary on Matthew, I was stunned. Why hadn't I seen this before? Here's an excerpt:

The conduct of the wise men is a striking example of faith. They believed in Christ when they had never seen Him – but that was not all. They believed in Him when the Scribes and Pharisees were unbelieving – but that again was not all. They believed in Him when they saw Him a little infant on Mary’s knee, and worshiped Him as a king. This was the crowning point of their faith. They saw no miracles to convince them. They heard no teaching to persuade them. They saw no signs of divinity and greatness to overawe them. They saw nothing but a new-born infant, helpless and weak, and needing a mother’s care like any one of ourselves. And yet when they saw that infant, they believed that they saw the divine Savior of the world. ‘They fell down and worshiped Him.’

Faith without evidence? Believing in one you've never seen? As Ryle says, this is an incredible display of faith. Yet, as I reflected on this a little, what struck me is not so much their example of faith, as great as it is, but rather the object of their faith. How great is the King, if he is worshiped while he is still an infant? How great is the One who has all authority who is submitted to before he exercises any of it? How great is the Savior who is trusted before he has shed one drop of blood?

So, the question before us today is this: What is your estimation of Jesus? Is your vision limited to what you can see? If so, you may be stuck with a baby in a manger or teacher who needs to convince you of the truth or a savior who must demonstrate his authority and ability to save. Yet, if our vision can go beyond what's in front of us we will see that the baby is the king, and the truth and the one with all authority and the one who has saved all who will believe in Him.

I now send forth this post with a deep sense of its many defects; but with an earnest prayer that it may do some good. (JC Ryle)

To God Alone be the Glory

The Day After Christmas

I toyed with the idea of crafting a poem imitating Twas the Night Before Christmas, but quickly realized God did not give me a creativity gene. So instead I will simply share some of the thoughts that are rattling around in my mind following Christmas 2011.

After 40+ years of Christmas', its pretty clear that the best measure of how commercial your Christmas was is how big your let down is on the day after. The unfortunate reality is that we all are immersed in the commercialized Christmas to some degree. Praise God if it is only slightly. In a weird (or maybe prophetic) way, it is similar to the nation of Judah in the Old Testament. There were moments of complete failure and moments of tremendous revival (2 Chr29-30) but in the end, they were never completely freed from effects of the world around them. Until Christ came.

Another after Christmas observation is that "point in time celebrations" are good but insufficient. Once again the Old Testament gives us a great illustration. Israel had the Passover, the Day of Atonement and several other feasts. All of them were glorious. All of them had a God-ordained purpose. All of them were woven into the fabric of their culture. And yet these awesome mountain-top events only had limited impact in the days and months that followed. This again a profound reminder that as important as any single event may be in our lives, it is the Spirit's day to day walk with us that enables us to live out the salvation we have graciously received from Jesus.

A final post Christmas thought, which I'm sure is well worn, is that the joy and hope and peace and expectancy of Christmas should really mark every day of our lives. Why do we need a special day to give to the poor? Why do we need a special day to be nice to people we tend to not even notice (waitstaff, checkout clerks, custodians, etc)? Why do we need a special day to get excited  about the incredible, awesome, indescribable miracle of the incarnation? Why do we need a special day to recognize that the King has come and he has begun his mission of establishing his kingdom and that we are called to be part of that eternal plan?

The gospel of Jesus to all,
And to all - God's grace.


I now send forth this post with a deep sense of its many defects; but with an earnest prayer that it may do some good. (JC Ryle)

To God Alone be the Glory

The Reason for the Season

I know its a cliche, but even cliches are born in truth. And, I think we often need the reminder that Jesus is "the reason for the season". Of course, the danger with cliches is that they quickly touch our lips and then are gone. No connection with what they originally meant. No thought of what they might actually be trying to communicate. I think that is especially true of those who would most heartily agree with the cliche. It very easily becomes meaningless shorthand.

But Jesus is "the reason for the season". In fact I would say He is more than that. He is the reason for every season. Christmas is special because it celebrates a one time event where God became man, when he humbled himself to dwell (literally tabernacle) among us. But as the one who creates and sustains all things and as the one who owns all things, every yearly season, every season of life, every era of history belongs to Him, points to Him and gives glory to Him. Pick anything you want and you will see God's hand in it driving people to His beloved Son.

Yet, there is one moment, one season in history that outshines all of the others. As Christmas is known for the manger and the angels and the shepherds and joy and peace, this event is known for suffering and isolation and ridicule and humiliation. Blood and torture, rejection and death are not usually joyously celebrated. Yet at the cross, the real beauty and purpose of Christmas shines forth. In all reality Christmas without Good Friday and Easter is like a novel with only half the chapters.

Here is a new cliche to add to our repertoire: "Jesus was born to die". Or how about "Christmas without the Cross is only half the story" Or maybe this one (although it is a bit long) "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." (Gal 4:4-5)

To God Alone be the Glory

The Day After Christmas

Is it just me, or is there a post-Christmas "let down"? Maybe its because deep down we known the shinny toys and cool gadgets (my new netbook included) won't last. Maybe its because we too quickly realized these things didn't actually satisfy what we were longing for. And our friends and relations? While it was nice to see them, they're either gone or packing and we're left asking "Is this it?"

Maybe, just maybe, God has given us each this "let down" feeling to point us to something more. Maybe, just maybe, Christmas is a true appetizer, a small taste of something good to increase our hunger and anticipation for something even better. Maybe, just maybe, what we need on the day after Christmas is not a new diet or credit councilors, but rather a renewed, refocused relationship with the God who loves us and sent His Son to redeem us.

To God Alone Be the Glory

Christmas Is For Those Who Hate It The Most

The following is from a Gospel Coalition blog entry by Matt Redmond. I think he nails some of what we can miss about the true realities of Christ and Christmas.  SDG

Christmas is really about the gospel of grace for sinners. Because of all that Christ has done on the cross, the manger becomes the most hopeful place in a universe darkened with hopelessness. In the irony of all ironies, Christmas is for those who will find it the hardest to enjoy. It really is for those who hate it most.

christmas-is-for-those-who-hate-it-most

A Christmas Comparison

I want to thank John Starke for the insightful blog that spurred me to think more about the wonderful exchange that Christmas represents.  Read his blog here: The Most High God Who Became Like Us

Here's my thought: all that's broken in my life and in the world has its roots in this one thing: I (we) want to be God. Not just "like" God because, as Starke points out Adam and Eve were already like God. In fact, they were co-regents in God's newly created, very good. So, the prize they sought was not God-likeness, but Godness, divinity, complete autonomy. No wonder God sees and treats us as traitors and rebels!

However, the majestic, grace-filled irony of Christmas is that the salvation of divinity seeking rebels comes though a humanity-seeking God!  We wanted (and often still want) to be God. God of our lives, God of our marriages, God of our jobs, God of our churches. But while we were striving to usurp God, God was condescending to become human. And that is the mystery of the Christ's incarnation, isn't it? "The Word became flesh and dwelt among us"

So, this Christmas maybe in addition to reading the Christmas story, we can ponder the great exchange. Our pursuit of Godness, the root of our sin and rebellion has been replaced by God's achievement of humanness. And because of this we will be restored to the God-likeness we were originally created to have.  SDG