December 10
Leave a comment
Uncategorized

And Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.” (Luke 2:52, NASB)

Bethlehem, the manger, the heavenly host, the visit of the wise men, and all of the other wondrous features of our Lord’s arrival were a great beginning; but it didn’t end there. The baby Jesus became the boy Jesus, who became the adolescent Jesus, who became the fully-grown man.

In our lives, there are many wondrous beginnings: The birth of a child; a wedding; a new lease on life after a serious illness; a new day.  It is only the first step.  Advancing through each step that follows is as expected as night following day.

We grow in stature because we take nourishment over time.  We grow in wisdom by the same principle, but instead of food, it is obedience to the word of God that increases wisdom and divine favor.  – Luther

Tagged , , , , , , , , ,
December 9
Leave a comment
Uncategorized

“Then the dragon was enraged at the woman and went off to wage war against the rest of her offspring — those who keep God’s commands and hold fast their testimony about Jesus.”  (Revelation 12:17, NIV)

The book of Revelation’s bold and graphic metaphors might discourage some of us from looking into it’s central message: The ultimate state of God’s creation.

The devil and his demons wage war against all that is of God.  Scripture tells us that the devil’s goal is to kill, steal, and to destroy.  He failed in his rebellion against God before the creation of the world.  He failed again in his efforts to keep Jesus from His mission to be the Redeemer of God’s creation.

As we await the return and “The Revelation of Jesus Christ” (which is the the full title of the book we commonly know as “the book of Revelation”), the devil wages “war against the rest of her [the church’s] offspring”: Those who keep God’s commands and hold fast to their testimony about Jesus.

Each new day brings challenges to our commitment to obey God and to proclaim Jesus in deeds and in words.  Do not fear.  Do not fret.  Stand firm for all that is true, and good, and worthy of the approval of our heavenly Father.  – Luther

 

 

 

 

 

Tagged , , ,
December 8
Leave a comment
Uncategorized

“See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are.  For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.”  (1 John 3:1, NASB)

The scriptures tell us that a pupil is not above his or her teacher.  If the teacher suffers the slings and arrows of ignorant people, the pupil should expect nothing less.

Jesus is God in human flesh, blood, and bone.  He came because God loved the world; but the world did not return His love.  The world preferred its ways to God’s ways.  The world preferred its gods to the one true, living, God.

The evidence of God’s love is the gift to us of His own name.  As His children, we are His heirs; and as His heirs, all that came to Jesus has also been set-aside for you and me.

With this in mind, always live a life worthy of the Name you’ve been given.  Our heavenly Father’s good name may not always be honored on this earth, but the mere whisper of it anywhere in the universe makes available to us every blessing and gift from heaven!  – Luther

Tagged , , ,
← Older posts
Newer posts →