Asides

December 28
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Uncategorized Aside

“I have much to write you, but I do not want to do so with pen and ink. I hope to see you soon, and we will talk face to face.” (3 John 1:13-14, NIV)

John’s affection for his people (or as he refers to them: his “children”) is obvious in each of his three letters. As a practical matter, John wrote when he must, but he wanted to visit — “face to face” — when he could.

Since the days of John, we’ve added option upon option to our communications menu: Snail mail, telegraph, telephone, e-mail, Skype/Facetime, and text. But, as John noted in today’s scripture, there is no substitute for physically “being there.”

In the coming New Year, consider who you need to visit, face to face.  Make the plan, and commit the time and the money for its success.  – Luther

Reminder: Daily Encouragement will be on break on Sunday. Have a great day in worship.  Lord willing, see you again on Monday!

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December 27
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“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

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December 26
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“So Joseph got up and took the Child and His mother while it was still night, and left for Egypt. He remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: ‘Out of Egypt I called My Son.’” (Matthew 2:14-15a, NASB)

Egypt.

Time and again in the Bible, Egypt becomes the place of exile and pain. Joseph (of many-colored coat fame; please see Genesis 37 for details) found himself in Egypt after being sold by his brothers. The Children of Israel were delivered from slavery in Egypt in what is known as the Exodus. And now, the Christ child is taken to Egypt by His parents to escape Herod’s slaughter of children.

Exile may have its purposes but it, nevertheless, also had its own proximate difficulties: Loneliness, unfamiliarity, suffering.

Have you ever been exiled to your own “Egypt”?  Are you there today?

If you are, be resolute in the knowledge that God is in “Egypt” with you; that God will never forsake you; and that God will, in the fullness of time, deliver you.  – Luther

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