Category: Jesus

  • Jesus is the Reason for the season

    I was recently talking about Christmas with an acquaintance.  He told me Christmas isn’t his thing; it’s just another excuse for a day off. They occasionally get together for a family function on Christmas, but his dysfunctional family makes it less than fun.

    Some of his in-laws have a “religious background” but don’t really practice, and he “is not into all that anyway.” 

    He and his wife don’t exchange gifts because they have everything they need. He told me that he “hates” shopping this time of year anyway because of the crowds and the hype.

    He isn’t alone in feeling that way. Many people don’t enjoy Christmas. I don’t judge them, but my heart does break.

    I agree that Christmas isn’t about the family get-togethers, the shopping, the decorations, the Christmas music and movies, or the gifts. Now, any or all of those things can add to the Christmas experience., but Christmas is a celebration of God’s story. 

    There is plenty wrong with how we portray the Christmas story; for example, Jesus was most likely born in the spring, the angels didn’t sing, we don’t know how many magi there were, and more. Yet, the incarnation of our Lord is front and center, and that’s reason to celebrate.

    The Christmas story is filled with miracles and fulfilled prophecies. That should catch our attention and point us to the wonder of it all.

    Jesus is the Center. Immanuel, God with us is the reason for the season. He is cause for eternal celebration.

    My favorite Christmas texts are not found in the gospel accounts of Jesus’ birth.

    Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1-2 NIV

    Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Philippians 2:5-8 NIV

    Those verses don’t mention Christmas, the virgin birth, angels, shepherds, miracles or prophecies, magi, King Herod, a star, a census, Bethlehem, or many other components of the Christmas narrative we expect.

    Yet, they describe what Christ sacrificed to come  and redeem us. That redemption started, in a way, with His birth. he came for us.

    The Lord gave up all things to step into time. He condescended to be born in the womb of one of His creations so that he could suffer and die for us.

    That, my dear friends, is the reason for Christmas. Strip away all the other trappings, even the ones we enjoy, and the reason for the season stands bright.

    A baby, born to die for you and me. A lord who humbled Himself to redeem us. God’s great gift of love and mercy. It’s when heaven came down to earth.

    May you keep that forefront in your mind this season.

    Hallelu Yah / Praise God 

    Kevin

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  • Cliffside

    Being disciplined and reshaped to be like Christ

    sandy cliffs at Lily Point Marine Park and Reserve, Point Roberts, Washington State
    Lily PointMarine Park and Reserve

    This beautiful sandy cliff is at Lily Point Marine Park and Reserve in Point Roberts, Washington. It’s a pretty spot, and it’s well worth visiting that area.

    The picture doesn’t show the ongoing degradation of the cliffside. The sand constantly slips towards the sea. At times, it’s tiny little streams, almost a grain at a time. Periodically, it’s in much larger chunks. We weren’t there during a storm, but I suspect storms remove even more cliff face.

    As Christians, we are in a process. When we become believers, we are justified. That means our sins are atoned for, and it is the entry point to the face. You cannot be a Christian without having been justified.

    Then comes the process of being made holy, more like Jesus, and set apart for Him. This is the process of Sanctification, which will last as long as we are on this earth.

    Lastly, we enter into the state of glory with God and become all He created us to be. That’s glorification.

    That process of sanctification can seem like a cliff face. Sometimes, God seems to chip away at our sin-filled, willful nature in tiny pieces. Other times, it feels like huge chunks are being removed.

    Our Lord loves us, and because of that, he disciplines us.

    Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him.For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.” It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us, and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. Hebrews 12:3-11

    Being disciplined is seldom fun, but I would rather be disciplined by the Father than separated from Him for all eternity.

    I am nowhere near what Jesus wants me to be, yet I am far further along the sanctification road than I once was. I’m grateful. What about you?

    Praise the Lord that He loves us enough to correct and teach us.

    Kevin

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