Luke 4:18-19

“The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to set the oppressed free,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

As I read this passage of scripture yesterday I was flooded with thoughts about what this meant to the people of Jesus’ day and for us today.

Jesus not only blessed those who were physically poor, but those who were poor in spirit.

Jesus healed many who were physically blind and opened the spiritual eyes of those who followed him that they might see God’s divine purpose.

Jesus freed people from demonic oppression. And in his death and resurrection Jesus set the world free from captivity to the power of sin.

We have all been prisoners to our pain, fears, appetites, and past, Jesus has come to set us free.

There is no greater bondage than living a life devoted to oneself. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. (John 15:13) The word Christ means anointed one. From this passage it’s clear that Jesus was anointed to give himself away, hold nothing back, and live to the glory of God. For those of us who call ourselves Christians, “little Christs” let’s proclaim this good news of freedom from oppression and the glory of living in the Lord’s favor.

Tis The Season

Are YOU Jolly?

What is there to be happy about? Are you racking up debt, buying gifts to be barely appreciated beyond the present opening session? Feeling stressed that you haven’t sent out a single card? How are the preparations for the big dinner coming, or will you be alone this year?

Why all the fuss, long lines at department stores and in the parking lots at the mall? What are we doing all this for?

This season is about a gift, from God, to the whole world. We don’t have to stand in line to buy His gift. Truth is, we could never afford it. The life of His only Son is what God is offering: an opportunity for relationship with a God who is for us and with us. Emmanuel.

Put down your shopping list, your guest list and take a look at this list from Isaiah, about the best gift and guest to ever visit our planet. For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6 KJV)

And God, in His divine mystery, provided a gift that could also make a purchase, the whole human race, for the life of one. Now that is sure to warm your heart and make you merry. That’s if you believe Christmas is more than the hurried mess we’ve made of it. The Anointed One, made flesh on our behalf, is asking you to slow down and truly enjoy the season for all the joy He intended to bring.

O come O come Emmanuel, thou long expected Jesus. Bring joy to the world as we sing, “Glory to the newborn King.” Peace on earth and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled. Where meek souls will receive Him still the dear Christ enters in. Fall on your knees before Christ the King. O come let us adore Him.

Do you need mighty shoulders on which to lay your weary head?
How about a wonderful counselor who is always available and free?
What about an everlasting Father (a parent on whom you can depend)?
Who couldn’t use some peace in this hectic season?

Death at Hands of Angry Mob and Into the Presence of God

Death is nothing to be afraid of when your eternity is secure in Christ. When Jesus rose from the dead He took the “sting” out of sin and death. Rendering them powerless over those who repent and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. (See 1 Corinthians 15:55-57)

The story of Stephen, laid out in chapters six and seven of the book of Acts, describes him as a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit. And like Jesus, Stephen seemed to make the religious leaders of his day nervous. The religious leaders had such a problem with Stephen that they incited others to testify falsely against him.

Stephen was speaking wisdom (words of life) and the other teachers and leaders got “stirred up” (Acts 6:12 NIV). This didn’t scare Stephen because he knew his eternity was secure in the work that Jesus completed by dying on the cross, and more importantly, rising from the dead. Stephen could face any angry mob with assurance that he spoke the truth and if that was the reason he had to die then so be it.

Most of us will not have to die for what we believe. In the US we still speak the name of Jesus freely and celebrate His birth without fear of reprisal. This is not so for others around the world. Some pay a high price for placing their faith in Jesus. And yet they know as Stephen did – to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:8, see also Acts 7:55-56 and 59).

What or who is your faith in?

How sure are you about what you believe?

Who or what are you willing to die for?

Is your eternity secure in Christ?

God Wants Your Heart

Whatever drives you to follow Jesus, know this truth – God wants your heart. Whatever you do let it be motivated by love.

Even as I write the word do I am reminded that God would rather us be with Him than do for Him.

In The Core Issue Caine makes this reference, “In the book of Revelation, Jesus rebuked the Ephesian church for leaving their first love – Him – and settling for Christian activity. (Revelation 2:2-4) It was crucial that Jesus addressed this issue with the Ephesian church so that they would not become hard and legalistic, full of empty rituals and obligation.”

At one time or another most of us have told someone, “I love you with all my heart.” We also talk about people, wearing their heart on their sleeve. And remember as a kid when you made a promise, you would cross your heart? God’s desire is for a relationship marked by such commitment, vulnerability, and devotion.

All that God has ever done has been motivated by love. He made himself vulnerable in Jesus’ death, securing life for us (Romans 5:8). He is committed to us – we are sealed with His Holy Spirit, as a guarantee of our inheritance (Ephesians 1:13-14). God’s daily devotion is shown through His mercies, which are new every morning (Lamentations 3:22-23 NLT).

However you spend time with God let it not be motivated by guilt, fear, or duty. Instead do it with all your heart. Choose to live a life inspired by adoration, rather than obligation.

What examples do you have of living for God with all your heart?

This is All that Matters

This morning I woke up with a heavy heart and throughout the morning I prayed to God through tears. As the morning went on, a song, I have not heard or even thought about in years, came to mind.

The words of this song are true no matter what else is going on. They remind me that – this is all that matters

May these words bring you hope and strength today.

To Ever Live Without Me

Choices, even though you knew the lines
You’d have to cross for me
You made them anyway
Voices, You knelt there in the garden
‘Neath the olive tree
You heard me call Your Name
I cannot pretend to understand it all
But heaven knew the reason You were there

Chorus:
It was all about a man
It was all about a cross
It was all about the blood that was shed
So I would not be lost
It was all about a love
That was bigger than a life
It was all about a freedom that was given
Through Your sacrifice
‘Cause You would rather die
than to ever live without me

Helpless, that’s humanity without Your saving grace
So misled
So selfless, You could have called a thousand angels
Down to take Your place
But You took mine instead
I cannot pretend to understand it all
But heaven knew the reason you were there
A greater love has no one than this
That he will lay his life down for his friends

By Jody McBrayer
from the album This Is Who I Am

Psalm 20:3

I was reading Psalm 20 this morning as part of my devotional time and this verse popped out at me. May he remember all your sacrifices and accept your burnt offerings. I was curious and so I looked in the dictionary, included in my Bible, for the definition of sacrifices and burnt offerings.

Sacrifice – A gift or offering to God (Exodus 12:27). Something offered to God to atone for sin. Jesus is the ultimate sacrifice, which satisfies God’s wrath toward mankind.

Offering, Burnt – The most frequent of the sacrifices at the Old Testament sanctuary – offered morning and evening everyday. To make payment for sins, a worshiper voluntarily brought an unblemished animal to the priest and laid his hand on the animal’s head to express identification. The priest then killed it and burned it up completely, symbolizing the person’s total devotion to God (Leviticus 1).

The words in bold above are what got my attention – “to express identification”. It made me think, so the person laid their hands on the head of the animal symbolically transferring their sins to it and then the priest would kill the animal and burn it.

The identification part is what grabbed me. What subsequently happened to the animal should have been the fate of the person – they should have had to pay the life debt for their own sin. Instead, God set up a system of substitution, so that mankind could remain in relationship with him. And the ultimate substitution came in Jesus Christ as stated in the definition of sacrifice.

Wow, I am still blown away by the simplicity and enormity of what God did through Jesus Christ. Jesus’ death simplified the sacrificial system – once and for all, eliminating the need for continued loss of life and bloodshed. The enormity of what Jesus did in taking on the sins of the world is incomprehensible. Reflect on the sins you commit in one day and then imagine Jesus serving as the morning and evening sacrifice for every human being that had ever lived before him, in his day, and throughout all of history.

This is why we celebrate his birth. Without his birth we would be doomed to death, but because he chose to be our substitute we have the chance at eternal life – all we need to do is believe.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son that whoever believes in him, will not perish, but have eternal life.You may have heard or even said these words many times, but do you believe them? Have you accepted his substitution for you?

Definitions taken from the Quest Study Bible

RESTING

RESTORATION
Elijah 1 Kings 19:1-19
Energy Gains and Drains – Know what drains you and what restores
your strength

ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE
Trials 2 Corinthians 4:17-18
Worry Matthew 6:25-34
Trust & Rest Isaiah 30:15

When we have an eternal perspective on our trials and worry then we are able to trust and rest.

SECURITY
Who and what is your security in?
NOT Christ plus, but Christ ALONE Colossians 2:2-3

TIME OUT
When was the last time you took a time out?
Regular intervals of rest – throughout the day or a entire day – Sabbath
Let your friends help with the burdens of life – Galatians 6:2

INTROSPECTION
Who do you see when you look inside?

Who ‘I AM’ (Jesus) – God’s Provision for all our needs and our
insecurities that plague us – John 11:25, John 14:6

How God sees you – righteous, a temple of the Holy Spirit, an heir(ess).
Romans 4:21-24, 1 Corinthians 6:19, and Romans 8:15-17

When you trust Jesus to provide and know how God sees you, true rest is attainable

NOT MY WILL
There are works that the Father has prepared for us to do. Ephesians 2:10
Not to deserve or earn salvation, but in response to the gift received.

Jesus is our example of Responding to the Father in obedience

We can trust that his yoke is easy and his burden light. Matthew 11:28-30

GOD’S INVITATION
Come away with me – We are cultivating a love relationship which takes
intentional – time,effort,and communication

Timing is Everything – Jesus

His birth was right on time –
But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman…” (Galatians 4:4 KJV, italics added)

His ministry began with these words —
“The time has come…”(Mark 1:15 NIV, italics added).

Jesus didn’t go ahead of God’s timing to be crowned King –
Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself. (John 6:14,15 NIV)

Instead he waited to be glorified by his Father–
And Jesus answered them, The time has come for the Son of Man to be glorified and exalted. (John 12:23 NASB, italics added)

Jesus knew when it was time to fulfill his calling–
I am not going up to this festival, because my time has not yet fully come.” (John 7:8 NIV, italics added)

Though he knew he came to die, timing was everything–
After this, Jesus went around in Galilee. He did not want to go about in Judea because the Jewish leaders there were looking for a way to kill him. (John 7:1 NIV)

Jesus knew when to face danger–
Jesus fully realized all that was going to happen to him, so he stepped forward to meet them. (John 18:4 NLT)

He knew when it was time to go home–
As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. (Luke 9:51 NIV, italics added)

Like Esther, Jesus was aware that his mission could cost him his life. But unlike Abraham, when Jesus wondered if God could fulfill the promise through any other means, Jesus did not go ahead with his own plan. Instead Jesus talked with God and asked the question that he wanted answered. And then surrendered his will. “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine. My Father! If this cup cannot be taken away unless I drink it, your will be done.” (Matthew 26:39, 42 NLT)

The gift that Jesus’ death and resurrection provided is so precious, that God is willing to wait. “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9 NIV) That sounds like good news, and maybe it’s time for you to go and share it.