December 24, 2018 -- Psalm 27:4 -- The Beauty of Jesus

One thing I ask from the Lord,

this only do I seek:

that I may dwell in the house of the Lord

all the days of my life,

to gaze on the beauty of the Lord

and to seek him in his temple.

Psalm 27:4 NIV

He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him,

nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.

He was despised and rejected by mankind,

a man of suffering, and familiar with pain.

Isaiah 53:2b-3c NIV

So, is the LORD beautiful or not? He is not beautiful as the world defines beauty. His beauty is not physical and is not used to sell products as our world exploits beauty today.

Jesus is beautiful in all His perfections: love, mercy, holiness.

Jesus is beautiful in all His teachings. He reveals the Father.

Jesus is beautiful in His sacrifice. He was punished for our sins.

Jesus is beautiful in the Word. Shows us the way of life.

Jesus is beautiful in Majesty.

Jesus is beautiful in His suffering. All through His life, then at the cross and in His death He endured it all with the joy set before Him of His Father's glory and the knowledge that salvation is thereby opened to all who believe.

Beautiful Saviour, I am blinded to all Your beauty. Open my eyes through the words of Scripture. Beautiful Saviour cause Your Spirit to percolate through every part of my being so that I am transfixed by Your beauty and will be lost in wonder, love and praise all this to the glory of the Father. Amen.

December 22, 2018 -- Matthew 1:21 -- His Name is Jesus

"And she shall bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS,

for He will save His people from their sins."

Matthew 1:21 NKJV

It is an explosive text.

First of all the text reveals the reality of sin. If you think you are without sin or faults, take a moment right now. Ask your spouse, or your most honest friend: Can you think of anything I have done that is wrong, or dishonest. You have a "get out of jail free card" to be utterly and totally honest with me for five minutes.

Second, the wages of sin is death. God the Father, Who is eternally perfect and holy, is right and just to punish sinners eternally and fully.

Finally, though He was not obligated to show loving-mercy, God does show His great loving-mercy in Jesus Christ. Those sinners who realize "Yes, I am a sinner" can call out to Jesus. Jesus' name means: "He saves".

In the movies when a man is rescued from sure and certain death, he will often look to his rescuer and say: "I can never repay you! I owe you my life." This is taken straight out of the pages of Scripture. We were dead men walking straight to hell and an eternity of pain and punishment that our every sinful action earned. Jesus brought us from death to life. Jesus: He saved us from hell for an eternity in the fullness of life where we can enjoy God forever! In response we offer our hands and our hearts, our thoughts and our words to Him in an offering of thanks and praise.

Who is like You, O God? The answer is: "No one!" You rescue ruined sinners. You delight to show mercy. Blessed be Your Name. Blessed be Your Name Jesus! Blessed be the Spirit Who takes the Truth of Scripture and by it lights up the sin-darkened corners of our heart so that we know our need for Jesus. Gloria in excelsis deo! Amen.

December 21, 2018 -- Proverbs 18:10 -- Jesus the Strong Tower

The name of the Lord is a strong tower;

the righteous man runs into it and is safe.

Proverbs 18:10 ESV

And the Lord said, “If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.

Luke 17:6 ESV

Faith does not depend on me. Faith is merely my open mouth, hungering to be filled. Instead faith depends on its object. I can be a very weak man facing a huge army, but the strong tower will do its work and protect me. The fact is: the tower is strong. Whether or not I believe the tower is strong and can withstand any attack. Faith is what compels me to run to it and be safe.

Jesus is like that strong tower. Whether or not I believe in Him does not change the fact He is mighty and He is our protection. Faith, strong or weak, looks to Jesus and runs to Him and in Him finds safety. Faith does not depend on me, it depends on Jesus, the One in Whom I have faith.

Faith sees beyond the manger, beyond the talk of Jesus as a good man or a great teacher--faith sees Jesus on the throne of heaven. Him Who was crucified, now risen and seated in glory. He is the object of our faith. He is the strong tower. He is worthy of our whole heart, soul, mind and strength given in service to Him.Faith does not depend on me, it is focused on the One in Whom I believe: Jesus.

Spirit of God I believe. Help me overcome my unbelief. Help me to anchor my faith, weak as it is, in Jesus Christ, Who is Strength itself. He is the Christmas gift of love given us by our Father in heaven. Amen.

December 18, 2018 -- Matthew 1:23 -- Jesus, Immanuel

The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel--which means, "God with us."

Matthew 1:23 NIV

And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.

Matthew 28:20b

No doubt some are already humming the well-loved Christmas Carol: O Come, O Come, Immanuel. While there is great comfort in the name Immanuel, this name for Jesus is also a great warning.

Jesus is Immanuel--God with us for those who realize they are sinners and God is utterly holy. So Jesus calls for us to repent from our sins, turn away from them and trust in Him (Mt4:17)

Jesus is Immanuel--God with us for those who suffer because they believe in Him (Mt.5:10-12)

Jesus is Immanuel--God with us for those who find Him more precious than thousands of pieces of silver and gold (Ps119:72)

Jesus is Immanuel--God with us as one who is hungry, thirsty, naked and in prison. If we ignore His nearness in the needs of those He has placed in our path, then when He returns in His glory with all His holy angels, He will throw such people into the place of eternal punishment (Mt25:45)

Father in Heaven, already in the Old Testament You promised You would care for Your sheep, Your bewildered, lost, and wandering sheep. You have fulfilled Your promise most perfectly in Jesus Christ--our Immanuel. Jesus, You remain with us, giving to every believer the powerful Spirit Who leads us into all Truth. Spirit of God, give us eyes to see those in need, ears to hear their cries for help and hearts so dedicated to Immanuel that we serve others knowing it is Jesus Himself we serve. Amen.

December 17, 2018 -- I Peter 5:10-11 -- The God of All Grace

And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong and firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.

I Peter 5:10-11 NIV

Grace doesn't seem like grace until a sinner recognizes his need of it. Grace is just a concept or a doctrine or a hymn until a person so trapped by sin and bereft of hope meets up with the God of all grace and finds herself freed from the burden of guilt, shame and sin.

The hymn "Amazing Grace" is at its sweetest and most powerful when we have been confronted with our own sinful hearts and vile thoughts and realized, I am that wretch saved by the grace of our Father given to us in Jesus Christ.

The context of this Name for God--the God of all grace--is one where the saint has endured suffering. Suffering is the fiery furnace where our hearts and minds are purified from the deep impurities of sin. Such trials show we are as valuable as gold to God. His own Son endured trials and suffering and through these He is the only way of salvation and He shows us the way of salvation.

God of all Grace--blessed be Your Name. Thank You for the salvation You show us, guilty-sinners, that salvation which is found in Christ alone. Spirit of God when the depths of the vileness of our sins have been revealed to us may the high and wide and long and deep loved-filled grace of God lead us to the healing which is found in only in Jesus. This Christmas season as many who do not normally go to church find time to attend may they be captivated by amazing grace and fall on their knees in worship of Christ--born a child and yet a king. Amen.

December 15, 2018 -- Psalm 94:2 -- The Judge of the Earth

Rise up, O Judge of the earth;

Render punishment to the proud.

Psalm 94:2 NKJV

The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom,

And before honour is humility.

Proverbs 15:33 NKJV

A few days ago I was listening to a very acerbic Christian radio commentator. He was musing out loud that whenever one sees a person wearing the rainbow flag of the sexually immoral one should say something like:

"Thanks so much for reminding me of the judgment of the LORD.

Yes, He judged the world with the Noahic flood.

Next time He will judge the world with fire."

The title for God here in Psalm 94 is startling. He is the Judge of the earth.Too often we are prepared to judge others. We assume we are fine because we do not compare ourselves to the excellencies of Christ, but we find someone whom we guess to be wallowing in the cesspool of immorality and therefore compared to this person we are "safe".

Not so. Consider this: the Judge of the Earth sees into the heart. The Judge of the earth hears the secret thoughts of every person. So no one is "safe". All of us are exposed to and under the just judgment of God. Therefore the fear of the LORD instructs us. Therefore we confess our sins and repent of them. Humility before God and clinging to Jesus Christ, this is the way of life.

Judge of the earth--You know the thoughts of all people, and yes, the thoughts of my own heart. I confess how often I rebel against You, I confess I am prone to wander. Spirit of God anchor me to Christ--the Savior of the World and her rightful Judge. Instruct me in the way of Jesus. Teach my heart the way of obedience to Jesus Christ so that I will walk in the Light of Life. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to You and helpful to others in the way of life. Amen.

December 11, 2018 -- Psalm 94:1 -- The God of Vengeance

O Lord, God of vengeance;

God of vengeance, shine forth!

(Ps. 94:1 NAS)

The righteousness of the upright will deliver them,

But the unfaithful will be caught by their lust.

Proverbs 11:6 NKJV

What a stark title for God: the God of Vengeance. His very Name and His presence is a warning. The unfaithful will be caught by their lust. The God of Vengeance will not show mercy to the wicked, who are defined as those who follow their own lusts.

It is one thing to appear to be righteous, so that the people around you think you walk with integrity. It is entirely another thing to be faithful, in word and deed, in one's heart and secret thoughts.

Christ is our Righteousness. Proverbs 11 continues: "But through knowledge the righteous will be delivered". It is knowledge of Christ, the Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world, which brings deliverance. Only when God looks on us and sees Christ and Christ's righteousness can we ever be delivered.

God of Vengeance, thank You that You have provided the way of deliverance. By Your Spirit bring Your penetrating light and truth to the deepest places of our lives so that seeing the revealed ugliness of the sin deep within us, we will urgently confess our need for Jesus Christ. Let us then be those who bear fruits of righteousness and win souls for Christ. Amen.

December 8, 2018 -- Psalm 119:68 -- Not understatement to say: "God is good"

Do good to your servant

according to Your word, O LORD.

You are good, and what You do is good;

teach me Your decrees.

Psalm 119:65, 68 NIV

The LORD is Good. That is His Name.

The LORD is Good and that can be seen in all He does (119:68)

The LORD is Good in giving us His law (119:68)

The LORD is Good teaching us even in times of trial and suffering (Psalm 119:71)

The LORD is Good and His law is good, to be valued above all the treasures of the earth (Psalm 119:72)

The LORD is Good and the source of all good (James 1:17)

The LORD Jesus is Good, in Him we have our shield and

defense against sin and all its effects (Mark 10:18)

The LORD the Spirit is Good, sent by Jesus to guide believers in

all truth (John 16:13)

You, O LORD, are Good. I confess that too often I am satisfied with good enough, or try to justify myself by saying something is "not bad". How far I fall from the mark of Your goodness. Jesus You are the example and the way of all Good. Spirit of God, lead me in all that is good:

through study of the Bible

by learning about and living according to the commandments

while enduring hardships and troubles that You have designed to refine me so that I will be more and more like Christ.

In response to all of this, Spirit of God, let my words and my actions, my thoughts and my life be an echo of God's goodness and lived with constant gratitude to God, the Father, the source of every good. Amen.

December 7, 2018 -- John 8:12 -- Jesus the Light of the World

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

John 8:12 NIV

Homes are decorated with lights of all different, bright colours. Christmas trees shine with white brightness, or eye-catching blues that dance and twinkle off the tinsel. Light in the gathering darkness of late fall and early winter is such a blessing.

Jesus is the Light of World.

He reveals the darkness of our sins.

He shows temptations for their tawdry worthlessness.

He is the glory of the Father made plain.

He and the Father, give the Spirit who shines in our hearts.

He lights the pathway of obedience.

He dispels the gloom with the bright vision of our future.

He shows the foolishness of rebellion against His reign.

We have seen His Light which leads us from death, sin and darkness into the light of life. From the fullness of all the blessings of the treasury of Jesus we have all received grace. Those who believe in Him have their sins forgiven. Those who follow Him walk in the Light of Life. Those who obey Him know that all the suffering, all the grief and every pain of this life is utterly meaningful, for it is producing in us a weight of glory in the light of eternity.

Jesus, True Light that gives light to every man, every woman, every child, blessed be Your Name. In obedience and with full love for the Father, You gave up Your throne in heaven and took on flesh. Who is like You? Spirit of God, help us to understand our Savior, Jesus Christ as the Light of the World. Humble us so that we confess our sins, hating them more and more each day. Direct our hearts and our thoughts in joy-filled obedience as we follow Jesus, the Light of the World. Amen.

December 6, 2018 -- Psalm 62:6-7 -- God my Victory! God my Glory!

He only is my rock and my salvation;

He is my defense;

I shall not be moved.

In God is my salvation and my glory;

The rock of my strength,

And my refuge, is in God.

Psalm 62:6-7 NKJV

The New Living Translation has verse 7 read:

"My victory and my honor come from God alone".

God is our glory, He is our victory. There is a blessing and a warning in this.

The blessing is the promise that no matter the assault, troubles, or enemies that surround us, God is our glory, He is our Victory. We may survive it and He is our victory. We may be wounded in the battle, but He is our glory and our victory so that we endure knowing we have been counted worthy to share in Christ's sufferings. We may lose our lives in the spiritual warfare, thanks be to God that He Who made us, in Christ gives us life everlasting that no one can ever take away.

The warning is this: when we achieve a victory or see the glory of God in our lives, we must remain on our guard. Too often after a big battle a Christian will fall because of the victory parade he imagines he deserves after that victory. A Christian may think he won the victory and does not credit God--he will be humbled!

God is our Victory, He is our glory. When a skirmish has been won, praise His Name. God is our Victory, He is our glory, when we are weary and worn, do not lose hope, but cling to Christ, the Rock of Your salvation so that in the height of the raging battle, and especially in the deceptive quiet afterwards, you do not lose the Victory that is yours in Christ.

LORD Jesus Christ, You have promised the crown of life to all who overcome temptations of the world, of the flesh and of the devil. Thank You for the Victory You have already won at the cross and then at the grave--victory over sin and death. Spirit of the Living God, guard us as believers in God our Victory and our Glory. Keep us humble. At every step of the warfare may our joy and our song be: Christ is our Victory! Christ is our Glory! Amen.

December 4, 2018 -- Psalm 18:1 -- God my Strength

I will love You, O LORD, my strength.

Psalm 18:1 NKJV

The LORD is our strength:

~when we face enemies (18:3)

~when we face death (18:4-6)

~when we face disasters (18:7)

~when we face His wrath (18:15)

~when we face surging seas of troubles and enemies (18:16-19)

~when we work to serve Him (18:20ff)

~when we are presented before Him (18:23)

~when we are surrounded by the devious (18:26-27)

~when we face darkness and confusion (18:28)

~when we need a word of Truth (18:30)

~when we feel broken He is gentle (18:35)

~when we are given the victory (18:37ff)

~when we have scheming political leaders (18:43ff)

The LORD is our strength because of Jesus Christ. We give thanks to Him because God the Father has lifted us from death in our sins and made us alive in Christ by Whose Spirit we are made strong. As often as we confess our sins, as often as we confess our need for Jesus He is our Strength, Rock, Fortress and Deliverer.

With the Psalmist, and with all believers, I will given thanks to You, O God my Strength. As the day is just starting I do not know how You have already protected me through the watches of the night, nor how Your strength will surround me this day--blessed be Your Name. Thank You for Jesus, my Strength. Thank You for the Spirit Who keeps me at the spout where the blessings of God flow out and the Kingdom of Christ is being brought about. Amen.

December 3, 2018 -- Psalm 50:6 -- God the Judge

Let the heavens declare His righteousness,

For God Himself is Judge.

Psalm 50:6 NKJV

According to Psalm 50 God is first of all the Judge of His people. Their hearts are not wholeheartedly committed to Him in worship. They go through the motions. He calls His people to account for their actions and their heart. Today, you who claim to believe in God, don't just go through the motions, give Him Your head and your heart, Your enthusiasm and Your obedience.

Then God is the Judge of the wicked. All who hate instruction, all who think God is silent and therefore okay with their rebellion will be torn into pieces.

This psalm is a call to repentance. The Judge of all the Earth is prepared to bring down His just judgment. But before He does so there is a glorious chance for change. He Who made us, He Who is therefore fully within His authority to order our conduct and judge what we do or leave undone, God the Judge invites us to confess our sin, and follow Jesus Christ. Even at the eleventh hour, the moments before the gavel falls and judgment is pronounced, anyone who turns from sin and wickedness and rebellion and believes in Jesus and obeys Him will be shown the salvation of God. What a Savior!

You are God, the Mighty One! It is Your rightful role to Judge the believer and the wicked. It is Your holiness that will consume whatever is impure and staining our thoughts, words and conduct. You are our Good Father, giving us the way of salvation in Jesus Christ, so that all who believe on and obey Jesus are declared pure and spotless. Spirit of the Living God, continually soften my attitude and warm my heart so that I will stay close to Jesus--the Rock of my Salvation. Amen.

December 2, 2018 -- Psalm 4:1 -- The God of my Righteousness

Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness!

Psalm 4:1 NKJV

Whom or what do you serve? In order to really answer that I encourage you to remember the story of the Rich Young Ruler (Luke 18:18-23). When he met Jesus he asked: "What must I do to be saved?" Jesus told him to keep all the commandments. Charitably Jesus ignored this man's prideful response and said: "One thing you lack, go and sell all you have and follow Me". Interesting. Jesus was directly attacking that man's idolatry. God was not this man's righteousness, nor this man's glory. He found his security and pleasure in his riches.

The Word of God does this very thing. It reads us and calls out the very things we trust and rely on--all the things that would keep us from God.

For the glutton, the Word calls out idolatrous attention to eating.

For the LGBTQ?, the Word calls out the idolatrous place sexuality has above any other commitment.

For the adulterer, the Word calls out idolatrous lust.

For the murderer, the Word calls out idolatrous thoughts of hatred against others.

For the Gamer, the Word calls out idolatrous investments of time and money.

You can see what this list teaches. Whatever is obscuring our wholehearted devotion to God, that is idolatry, that is the very thing which points out who/what is the god of your righteousness. When the Word reads us in this way we can get angry, turn away with sadness (like the Rich Young Ruler), call others to see our point of view and with hostility require others to understand our allegiance to this false god or, OR, we can leave these false gods, these things to which we devote our money, time, worship and adoration and serve the God of my righteousness!

Psalm 5:11-12 the writer declares:

But let all those rejoice who put their trust in You;

Let them ever shout for joy, because You defend them;

Let those also who love Your Name

Be joyful in You.

For You, O LORD, will bless the righteous;

With favor You will surround them as with a shield. NKJV

The LORD God, the God of my Righteousness, will so fill our hearts, minds, time, and life that our former idols will soon be forgotten and shown to be the meaningless trinkets they are.

The God Who made us, has the right to teach us how to live.

The God Who sustains our every breath, is worthy of worship.

The God to Whom we will give account, awaits your response.

O God of my Righteousness, deliver me from false worship.

O God of my Righteousness, relieve my distress.

O God of my Righteousness, teach me Your will and way.

O God of my Righteousness, surround me with Your favor as with a shield so that I will shout for joy to You. Amen.

November 30, 2018 -- Psalm 145:18 -- The LORD is Near

The LORD is near to all who call upon Him.

To all who call upon Him in truth.

Psalm 145:18 NKJV

The LORD is Near to all Who call upon Him. What a great description of Who He Is.

Spatially He is near. He is close enough to hear a cry or prayer. In fact one of the Names of Jesus is: Immanuel--God with us.

Time wise He is near--the prayer of His people reaches Him as soon as it is formed on our tongue (Psalm 139:4)

Immanent--God is present through-out His universe, His stamp is on all He has made. The DNA of all living creatures and plants show the language of creation. People are made in His image.

In terms of the conclusion of history--He is near. Our world and all the people in it will face the judgment of God. His return is near at hand. It is a cause for alarm for all those who hate Him or are in rebellion against Him but a source of great comfort for those who call on Him in truth.

O God, our King, we will bless Your Name forever! We will teach this generation and the next of all Your wonders. We will declare the great assurance of Your nearness. You are the Father Who is the source of every good gift. You are Christ, the Savior Who is near to deliver us from sin and present us without blemish before our Father in heaven. You are the Spirit, so near You live within us cleansing us by the accomplished work of Christ, so by Your presence our trembling souls are declaring to God: Abba, Daddy. Great are You LORD. Amen.

November 29, 2018 -- Psalm 144:1 -- God my Rock

Blessed be the LORD my Rock

Psalm 144:1 NKJV

In a world of shifting opinions and uncertainties, the LORD God is our Rock--sure Truth that never changes.

In the middle of battles--for that is the context of this Psalm--the LORD is the immovable Rock--refuge, security.

Earlier in the Old Testament God is described as the Rock of our Salvation (II Samuel 22:47). This is a clear reference to Jesus. King David refers to God in this way in his song of deliverance and victory.

Jesus, the Rock of our Salvation, is our High Tower (Ps. 144:2) He is both our safety and He gives us perspective over the battlefield.

A huge Rock in our pathway requires us to go either to the right or to the left around it. In the same way, when we are confronted with Christ we will either stumble and fall, cursing Him as we pass by; or we will find Him our security, protection and salvation.

Blessed be Your Name, O LORD, my Rock! By Your Spirit may we ever esteem You, and may the circumstances of our lives ever drive us to find in You our protection.

You, O Christ, are the Living Stone, the foundation of all our hope and faith.

Immense, Eternal and Glorious are You, Triune God, what overflowing-beyond-all-measure loving-kindness You show us finite, wavering, frail as we are.Thank You for guarding us through-out our lives as God, our Rock of Refuge. Amen.

November 28, 2018 -- Exodus 3:14 -- God the I AM

"I AM has sent me to you."

Exodus 3:14 NKJV

When the LORD called Moses to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt, Moses asked: "Who shall I say has sent me?" And answering Moses God replied with the text we have: "I AM".

That is the fullest revelation of His Name. God alone has self-existence. He is not made. He is not dependent on His creation. In fact, creation declares He Is.

There is something called the "Intelligent Design Movement". It assumes neither the existence or non-existence of God, but finds in the cosmos evidence of design. Dr. Alan Cairns notes "You can not start pre-supposing a lie and arrive at the truth." The Truth is: the Almighty is I AM. Any other pre-supposition, any other starting point is beginning with a lie.

The I AM is complete and does not need people, creation, any thing or any one.

The I AM is alone the Creator Who can give life.

The I AM is Truth, there is no other source of truth.

The I AM is the One Who sustains and upholds all things so that

there is not, in all the vast universe an ungoverned atom.

The I AM reveals Himself Him in Scripture.

The I AM is worthy of all our worship, honour and obedience.

I will praise You, O God, with my whole heart. You are the Eternal One. You are the Perfect One. You are Truth and the source of Truth. Do not forsake the works of Your hands. Amen.

November 26, 2018 -- Numbers 24:17 -- Jesus the Bright Morning Star

I see Him, but not now;

I behold him, but not near;

A Star shall come out of Jacob;

A Scepter shall rise out of Israel,

And batter the brow of Moab,

And destroy all the sons of tumult.

Numbers 24:17 NKJV

I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the Root and Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star.

Revelation 22:16 NKJV

In ancient times there were two celestial bodies referred to as "the Morning Star". One of them was Venus, the other was the star Sirius. These appeared near the end of the night and heralded the approach of morning.

Jesus is the named: "Star" in Hebrew, that is the passage from Numbers. Israel was surrounded by enemies trying to curse them and lead them into sin. The people of God were invited to look to God and see the Star--in fact, the Hebrew language allows this to be translated the "Burning Star"--as the Light to lead them to safety.

In Revelation Jesus calls Himself the Bright and Morning Star. While the world rages against Him and denies Him, those who walk in these dark times look to Him and know His full day is near at hand.

Looking to the Bright Morning Star reminds believers that the Day of His return is near; when all the peoples of the earth, kings and paupers, rich and poor, all who ever have lived and are living will be judged. Those who believe in Him will be given life everlasting in His Bright and Glorious presence. Those who rejected Him will be thrown into the fires of hell.

This post Christmas, or Epiphany, hymn is such a beautiful and appropriate prayer:

How bright appears the Morning Star, with mercy beaming

from afar; the host of heaven rejoices.

O Righteous Branch, O Jesse's Rod, the Son of Man and

Son of God! we too will lift our voices:

Jesus, Jesus, holy, holy, yet most lowly,

come, draw near us; great Immanuel, come and hear us.

Though circled by the hosts on high, he deigned to cast a

pitying eye upon his helpless creature.

The whole creation's head and Lord, by highest seraphim

adored, assumed our very nature;

Jesus, grant us, through your merit, to inherit

your salvation. Hear, O hear our supplication.

Text: William Mercer 1859

Hymn: "How Bright Appears the Morning Star"

November 25, 2018 -- Haggai 2:6-7 -- Jesus, the Desire of All Nations

For thus says the LORD of hosts:

'Once more (it is a little while) I will shake heaven and earth, the sea and dry land; and I will shake all nations, and they shall come to the Desire of All Nations, and I will fill this temple with glory,' says the LORD of hosts.

Haggai 2:6-7 NKJV

There are really only two times in my life that I can remember feeling the tremor of an earthquake. Both times it was pretty mild compared to what people in our world who live in earthquake prone regions experience! Yet I can tell you, to have the earth shake under you grabs your attention and focuses you.

In our passage to day Jesus is called: The Desire of All Nations. All our wanton and wrongly directed cravings are perversions of our one, true desire: Jesus. When God created Adam and Eve, He planted in them, and in us, all of us who are their biological descendents, a deep longing, a soul-consuming desire for relationship with God. In fact, Jesus is the soul's true Desire. Sin is the act of trying to satisfy the soul's craving with anything else or anyone else apart from Him, Jesus alone is the Desire of All Nations.

Get up and join with believers in a Bible-believing church today. Discover why you are living with such dissatisfaction in your life and answer the true craving of your soul by encountering Jesus, the Desire of All Nations.

Forgive me, Spirit of God, for the many times I ignore Your prompting and proddings and I go my own way trying to satisfy my desires. Forgive me Spirit of God, for trying to fill my desires with all the things that can never satisfy. Thank You, Spirit of Truth, for directing me to Jesus Christ, He Who is the True Desire of my soul. Spirit of Compassion, by Your summons You bring men and women, boys and girls to church. Often those attending church don't even realize it is Your work to bring them there--so help me to be a welcoming presence to all who You are bringing to church. Let my words and actions show others I walk with Jesus, the Desire of All Nations. Amen

November 24, 2018 -- Revelation 5:5 -- Jesus, the Lion

Behold the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals.

Revelation 5:5 NKJV

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devils walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

I Peter 5:8 NKJV

Two descriptions of a lion. One is ascribed to the devil as a warning, the other is ascribed to Jesus Christ, seated on the throne of heaven, for our great comfort and assurance.

When a lion has a pride--female lions and cubs--he is a fierce defender of what is his. The devil had attacked the pride of Jesus. The devil tempted Jesus--and all his temptations fell to the ground. The roaring lion the devil attacked Jesus' followers, the disciples, and Jesus prayed for them and they were spared--except the one designated for destruction. The losing lion falsely accused the Lion of Judah, Jesus, and had Jesus put to death--at least, so it seemed to the world. But Jesus willingly underwent a trial, and gave Himself up to death so that the punishment of God against sin would be spent on Jesus and all who believe in Him would no longer face God's wrath against sin. The desperate lion, the devil, had the tomb of Jesus sealed, but Jesus the Lion was victorious and death lost its power, it could not hold in its chains a perfect man who died though He had done no wrong. Death itself was defeated by Jesus the Lion, the One Enthroned in Heaven.

The devil is a roaring, wandering lion. He is defeated. He is awaiting his final execution. Be cautious for the devil is real and brutal and cornered and angry.

Jesus is the Lion, Enthroned in Heaven, seated as King and He prays for His pride, all who believe in Him. Jesus is the Lion Who defends His people, so that the wandering lion-who-lost cannot gain the final victory over the pride of Jesus. No, even death itself is defeated. Be wise believer! The devil is for now a lion, one who is facing eternity in hell, but for now is loose. Do not toy with sin, fellow believers, but claim Jesus--the Lion Who has won the victory--as Your Savior and closely follow Him in obedience.

Blessed be Your Name, Jesus, the Lion of Judah and Ruler over all. Thank You for Your victory at the cross. Thank You for Your victory over death and the grave. Thank You, for Your great protection. Send Your Spirit to keep us close to You. Forgive our waywardness and wandering. Let our words and our actions bring praise to our Father in heaven. In Jesus' Name we pray this. Amen.

November 23, 2018 -- Psalm 31:5 -- The God of Truth

Into Your hand I commit my spirit;

You have redeemed me, O LORD God of truth.

Psalm 31:5 NKJV

Jesus said to them, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."

John 14:1 NKJV

The Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him, for He dwells with you and will live in you.

John 14:17 NKJV

This glorious Name of God is desperately needed in our generation. God is the God of Truth. Jesus declares Himself God as He says He is the Truth. Jesus reveals the Spirit as the Spirit of Truth. The Spirit bears witness to the Truth of Jesus in the written Word and by His testimony in our hearts, speaking to the believer's heart: "Abba, Father".

Our world is awash in "your truth" and "my truth". It has lost any sense of the Truth. As Christians following Jesus Christ, obedient to His word, we walk in the Truth.

According to God, the Truth is He made the universe, created everything out of nothing in six days and rested on the seventh day. There was no primordial slime becoming, via evolution, politicians...I mean man. The world is wearing out like a garment. That is the Truth of the Word. Climate change is the big lie of our age. Billions being spent on this distraction. It is a political billy club wielded by those who do not fear the God of Truth in order to claim science alone as worthy of obedience. It is one of the lies of our age, even leading many Christians astray.

God will preserve His planet and this cosmos according to His divine purposes. The Spirit of God will shepherd the people of God in Christ to the moment when heaven and earth will be wiped away and all people who ever lived and all people then living will face God's judgment. Obedient believers will be ushered into the new heavens and new earth and all others will be sent to hell there they will bear God's punishment against their sin.

Jesus is Truth. There are not many paths to life with the Father in heaven. The Gospel is offensive to our culture and the people of this world precisely because of the exclusivity of Jesus' claim. He alone is Truth, He alone is the Way to God.

The Spirit reveals the Truth of the Word--the Scripture which is the written Word and Who Jesus Is, the Living Word. We know God made us male and female. Not all kinds of genders, but male and female God made us. The agenda of the LGBTQ is another great lie of our age. It is direct defiance against the Truth of the Word.

The fact is sin entered the perfect world. Adam rebelled against God and sinned. As the father of all people who would ever live, he was our representative and our biological father. By his sin all people are born sinners. Jesus Christ, Who is Truth, was conceived by the Holy Spirit in Mary's womb. He alone was and is without sin. He alone is the sacrifice, taking our place at the cross and bearing in His body and soul God's punishment against sin. All who believe in Him have their sins forgiven.

The Truth of the Scripture is this: there is still great temptation to sin. Christians are facing spiritual warfare all the time. The answer is not to let everyone wallow in their sins or allow people to follow the death-path of their temptations. Instead, we are to find victory in our Lord Jesus Christ. He will present us without spot or blemish into the presence of our Father in heaven.

O LORD, You live in Truth, in righteousness and in judgment. One day the nations will be presented before Jesus Christ and all will bow down to Him, as the Truth. Spirit of Truth, cause us, as Christians to walk in Truth, as the Light of Christ in this sin-darkened, lie-filled generation. Spirit of Truth, fill us with the strength and grace we need to walk in obedience to Jesus Christ. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen.