This week's scripture texts remind us that we have received a glorious gift. That gift was Jesus, who was sent by the Father to redeem us from our sins. Throughout the year we enjoy many kinds of gifts. Some are relatively small, such as allowing us to go first in line when we have just a few items at the grocery store. Some are larger; perhaps you received a fairly expensive item for your birthday or anniversary, for instance. But none are greater than God's gift of His Son, and as we look forward to the new year it is appropriate for us to stop and thank God for His glorious gift.
“Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.” (Luke 2:29-32, NIV)
This was Simeon's song which he sang upon meeting the child Jesus. Simeon had spent many years waiting for "the consolation of Israel." Now, having met the One who would deliver God's people from their bondage to sin, Simeon sang with joy to celebrate God's glorious gift of His Son. But Simeon knew that this gift came at a terrible price. The Son of God would be spoken against; a sign that many of God's people would deny. Not only would Jesus suffer, but so would Mary. A sword would pierce her soul, for she would witness the death of her son, of God's Son, on the cross. But through that gift we have been redeemed, and although the thought of Jesus' suffering pierces our own souls, we are also thankful for His sacrifice, for through it we have eternal life. Give thanks this day for God's glorious gift, and for our redemption through His blood.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise.
- Psalm 111:10
The "fear of the Lord" doesn't necessarily mean "afraid of the Lord" (although there is nothing wrong with having a healthy amount of fear regarding God's power and majesty). Here it refers to having reverence or respect for God, and the author is pointing out that it reverence for God which is the foundation for applying what we know in a way that benefits ourselves and those around us. If we want to be wise, we must begin by acknowledging the Lord and His sovereignty over us all. We must, in a sense, put ourselves in our proper place, remembering that there is One who reigns over all of us, and to whom we bow down. If you have put God in His proper place, and you in yours, you are on your way to wisdom.
I delight greatly in the Lord; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
-Isaiah 61:10
Here is something glorious as well. Today we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, but within that celebration is the anticipation of what the Christ child would grow up to do. Jesus came to die for our sins, and, having been raised up on the third day, make it possible for us to be clothed in garments of salvation and arrayed us in the robe of [His] righteousness. As we enjoy this day with our family and friends, we surely will want to acknowledge the founder of the celebration. As we share gifts with those we love, we will want to remember the Lord, who has given us the best gift, for we who were separated from God by our sin now stand before the throne boldly, clothed in the righteousness of Jesus Christ, God's Son, our Savior.
"There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem." (Luke 2:36-38) The prophetess Anna was thankful for God's glorious gift. She saw in Jesus the fulfillment of the Lord's promise to redeem His people, and was thankful. That redemption was carried out by Jesus according to the will and purpose of the Father. It is His work that has made it possible for all who belong to God to find redemption. Having received that glorious gift, it is left to us to proclaim it to those we know and love. In that way the news of God's glorious gift will reach all who belong to Him, one person at a time. No doubt you first heard of this glorious gift from someone else; more than likely it was a parent, relative or family friend who shared the news with you. Share that news today, as it was shared with you, so that those you tell can also look forward to the redemption of Israel.
"And the child [Jesus] grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him." (Luke 2:40) Jesus is the Messiah, anointed by the Father to redeem His people. In order to do that, Jesus would need both wisdom and grace. Those were supplied to Him in full measure in order for the work of the Messiah could be accomplished according to the Lord's will. Like Jesus, we have been given a great task. It is our responsibility to "walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which [we] have been called" (Ephesians 4:1), and to "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation." (Mark 16:15, NASB). That is a tremendous responsibility, but we can be certain that, like Jesus, we have received all that we need in order to carry it out. You have been equipped to fulfill your calling, and God has promised to be with you until the end. As you walk in a worthy manner and proclaim the gospel to those around you, be assured that there is nothing you lack in order to do what you have been asked to do. That is yet another of God's glorious gifts to us.
This week's scripture texts remind us that we have received a glorious gift. That gift was Jesus, who was sent by the Father to redeem us from our sins. Throughout the year we enjoy many kinds of gifts. Some are relatively small, such as allowing us to go first in line when we have just a few items at the grocery store. Some are larger; perhaps you received a fairly expensive item for your birthday or anniversary, for instance. But none are greater than God's gift of His Son, and as we look forward to the new year it is appropriate for us to stop and thank God for His glorious gift.
ReplyDelete“Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,
ReplyDeleteyou may now dismiss your servant in peace.
For my eyes have seen your salvation,
which you have prepared in the sight of all nations:
a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and the glory of your people Israel.”
(Luke 2:29-32, NIV)
This was Simeon's song which he sang upon meeting the child Jesus. Simeon had spent many years waiting for "the consolation of Israel." Now, having met the One who would deliver God's people from their bondage to sin, Simeon sang with joy to celebrate God's glorious gift of His Son. But Simeon knew that this gift came at a terrible price. The Son of God would be spoken against; a sign that many of God's people would deny. Not only would Jesus suffer, but so would Mary. A sword would pierce her soul, for she would witness the death of her son, of God's Son, on the cross. But through that gift we have been redeemed, and although the thought of Jesus' suffering pierces our own souls, we are also thankful for His sacrifice, for through it we have eternal life. Give thanks this day for God's glorious gift, and for our redemption through His blood.
This was a thoughtful insight, adapted from a recent Daily Bread devotional:
ReplyDeleteIn the beginning, God said, Let Us make man after Our Own Image."
In the Nativity, God said, Let Us be made in the image of man.
From Psalm 8: "You have made him a little lower than the angels; you have crowned him with glory and honor."
How Glorious is that !
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;
ReplyDeleteall who follow his precepts have good understanding.
To him belongs eternal praise.
- Psalm 111:10
The "fear of the Lord" doesn't necessarily mean "afraid of the Lord" (although there is nothing wrong with having a healthy amount of fear regarding God's power and majesty). Here it refers to having reverence or respect for God, and the author is pointing out that it reverence for God which is the foundation for applying what we know in a way that benefits ourselves and those around us. If we want to be wise, we must begin by acknowledging the Lord and His sovereignty over us all. We must, in a sense, put ourselves in our proper place, remembering that there is One who reigns over all of us, and to whom we bow down. If you have put God in His proper place, and you in yours, you are on your way to wisdom.
I delight greatly in the Lord;
ReplyDeletemy soul rejoices in my God.
For he has clothed me with garments of salvation
and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness,
as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest,
and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
-Isaiah 61:10
Here is something glorious as well. Today we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, but within that celebration is the anticipation of what the Christ child would grow up to do. Jesus came to die for our sins, and, having been raised up on the third day, make it possible for us to be clothed in garments of salvation and arrayed us in the robe of [His] righteousness. As we enjoy this day with our family and friends, we surely will want to acknowledge the founder of the celebration. As we share gifts with those we love, we will want to remember the Lord, who has given us the best gift, for we who were separated from God by our sin now stand before the throne boldly, clothed in the righteousness of Jesus Christ, God's Son, our Savior.
"There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem." (Luke 2:36-38) The prophetess Anna was thankful for God's glorious gift. She saw in Jesus the fulfillment of the Lord's promise to redeem His people, and was thankful. That redemption was carried out by Jesus according to the will and purpose of the Father. It is His work that has made it possible for all who belong to God to find redemption. Having received that glorious gift, it is left to us to proclaim it to those we know and love. In that way the news of God's glorious gift will reach all who belong to Him, one person at a time. No doubt you first heard of this glorious gift from someone else; more than likely it was a parent, relative or family friend who shared the news with you. Share that news today, as it was shared with you, so that those you tell can also look forward to the redemption of Israel.
ReplyDelete"And the child [Jesus] grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him." (Luke 2:40) Jesus is the Messiah, anointed by the Father to redeem His people. In order to do that, Jesus would need both wisdom and grace. Those were supplied to Him in full measure in order for the work of the Messiah could be accomplished according to the Lord's will. Like Jesus, we have been given a great task. It is our responsibility to "walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which [we] have been called" (Ephesians 4:1), and to "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation." (Mark 16:15, NASB). That is a tremendous responsibility, but we can be certain that, like Jesus, we have received all that we need in order to carry it out. You have been equipped to fulfill your calling, and God has promised to be with you until the end. As you walk in a worthy manner and proclaim the gospel to those around you, be assured that there is nothing you lack in order to do what you have been asked to do. That is yet another of God's glorious gifts to us.
ReplyDelete