Month: December 2024

Isaiah 9:6-7 NIV For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders.  And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  ⁷ Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end.  He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever.  The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.

Luke 2:8-14  PHILLIPS  There were some shepherds living in the same part of the country, keeping guard throughout the night over their flocks in the open fields. Suddenly an angel of the Lord stood by their side, the splendour of the Lord blazed around them, and they were terror-stricken. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid! Listen, I bring you glorious news of great joy which is for all the people. This very day, in David’s town, a Saviour has been born for you. He is Christ, the Lord. Let this prove it to you: you will find a baby, wrapped up and lying in a manger.”  ^13-14 And in a flash there appeared with the angel a vast host of the armies of Heaven, praising God, saying, “Glory to God in the highest Heaven! Peace upon earth among men of goodwill!”

Observation

I can understand how prophecies could create expectations about how the Savior was going to bring great changes, such as overthrowing world powers and restoring Israel’s sovereignty.  Over the centuries, Israel had been through so much – war, subjugation, exile, destruction of the Temple, rebuilding and then defilement by foreign rulers.  Under such dire circumstances, they created a picture of a great warrior king who would immediately and spectacularly drive out their enemies and restore justice and righteousness.   I don’t blame them for doing so.

When the Savior did arrive as a baby in a manger, having angels announce His arrival would have done nothing to dim the expectations.  Nothing changed that anyone could see.  Their oppressors, the Romans and Herod, were not going away just yet.  The Savior was coming to redeem us by overthrowing the ultimate enemy of us all, the one who is the driver behind every evil person, government, and work.  However, the battles would be fought on a level above our understanding and perception, above the immediate circumstances.  The initial announcement of Jesus’ birth was to outcasts, those who were given no hope of redemption by spiritual leaders.  This baby was not born in a mansion to wealthy parents who might have social influence or power.  This baby came to change our eternity, not the present circumstances. 

Impact on Me

Were I living then, I don’t know if my expectations would have been any different.  Would I have recognized Jesus as the Savior Isaiah prophesied?  He certainly did not appear to be a great warrior king come to save Israel in mighty battles.  He was a common man from Nazareth (of all places!) who worked with his hands, an itinerant rabbi, a rebellious man who broke the rules and insulted and aggravated the respected spiritual authorities.   Would I have been spiritually grounded, not so religious, and open-minded enough to recognize the power and truth of God working in and through Him?  I don’t know….

I am grateful that I did not have cultural, historical and religious barriers to overcome to recognize Jesus as Savior.  I am not under the same circumstances as they were then.  It does not mean that I don’t have expectations about how He will respond to the troubles and challenges I face.  However, over time I have come to understand that I it is my choice, regardless of my expectations and immediate circumstances, to choose for His government to be over my soul and spirit, regardless of what I may currently I face.  Jesus’ birth, death and resurrection are the beginning of my opportunity to walk in victory no matter the challenges I face.  It is my choice to allow Him to lift me, lead me and use me to live out that victory.

Devotion

Lord God, Redeemer, Provider, Deliverer, My Refuge, My Comfort, My Living Hope, I worship You for Who You are and treasure what You have done in me.  I embrace Your will and purpose for me.  Give me insight into how to respond to the circumstances that come my way so I may be above them in You and not under them.  Help me to be spiritually wise and flexible enough to break the rules that do not honor or please You. May I be so soaked in Your presence that others will experience Your love, comfort and care through me, remembering only You and what You have done after I am gone.  Make it so, in Jesus’ name.

Jeremiah 29:4-7 MSG   This is the Message from God-of-the-Angel-Armies, Israel’s God, to all the exiles I’ve taken from Jerusalem to Babylon:  ⁵ “Build houses and make yourselves at home.  Put in gardens and eat what grows in that country.  ⁶ Marry and have children. Encourage your children to marry and have children so that you’ll thrive in that country and not waste away.  ⁷ Make yourselves at home there and work for the country’s welfare.  Pray for Babylon’s well-being. If things go well for Babylon, things will go well for you.”

1 Timothy 2:1-3MSG  The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know. Pray especially for rulers and their governments to rule well so we can be quietly about our business of living simply, in humble contemplation. This is the way our Savior God wants us to live.

Observation

The prophet Jeremiah wrote to the displaced captives taken to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar, a pagan king of a pagan kingdom.   The bottom line was, “If you find yourself in a pagan land, do what Jesus did – be My light, My agent for change.  Choose My Kingdom and Me as your ruler regardless of your circumstances.”  The captives in Babylon had major challenges  to honoring God within a pagan culture.  They needed God’s wisdom to determine how to work for the good of the country in which they lived without dishonoring God.  Regardless of where they served God, He was faithful to preserve and even exalt those who set themselves to “make yourselves at home there and work for the country’s welfare.”  In the book of Daniel, we can see how he became a trusted advisor to several successive pagan kings while still honoring God.

In Paul’s letter to Timothy, he was speaking essentially the same message to people who lived under pagan Roman rule.  Timothy was overseeing the church in Ephesus, a port city in Asia Minor, present day Türkiye.  Port cities then and now are very cosmopolitan, a mixture of cultures, values and ideas, the proverbial cultural melting pot.  Both the Romans and the Greeks worshipped many gods.   Paul was teaching Timothy how to pastor his people in faithfulness to God while functioning in a pagan culture.  Paul tells us all that prayer is our best defense against the ungodliness around us.  He is telling us that if Jesus is the rock on which we build our house, it will not be moved by the rushing waters of ungodliness swirling around us. 

Impact on Me

The captives were asked to “Pray for Babylon’s well-being.”    Those who lived in Ephesus were instructed to  “Pray especially for rulers and their governments to rule well.”  Certainly Daniel and Timothy did not approve of the cultures or religions under which they served, but both honored and represented God in spite of their surroundings.  They were citizens of Heaven and ambassadors to their respective pagan lands.  And God preserved and even promoted them.  I think about the recent election and how each party demonized the other.  This has caused chaotic emotional responses and fear.  I am sure the captives felt these same emotions as they were led off to Babylon.  HOWEVER, Jeremiah’s words and Paul’s words are still relevant today.  Whether I agree with those who rule over me or not, I am instructed to pray for them to rule well and wisely so I can “be quietly about our business of living simply, in humble contemplation.”   

I can easily forget that God’s thoughts and ways are above my understanding and He has no obligation to explain the “why” to me.  I would not have chosen crucifixion of my own son as the pathway to redemption, but I am not God and do not have His eternal perspective.  I don’t understand why suffering and sickness are still in this world after their advocate was defeated by the Cross and Resurrection, but I am not God.  I don’t understand many things, but I have learned by experience to trust God’s love, comfort and care for me in my confused and painful times.  Like Peter, I say, “Where else would I go?  Jesus, You have the words of life.”   I want to leave government of my life on Jesus’s shoulders.

Devotion

Lord God, Creator, Redeemer, All-Wise, Eternal Father, You are my only safe haven, my strong tower.  When I cannot understand the why for what is going on, remind me that I am Your ambassador, Your light, an instrument in Your hand, to bring Your presence, Your love, Your peace and Your comfort into the confusion, pain, sorrow and upheaval, submitting to be an instrument in Your hand regardless of the circumstances around me or the government ruling over me. I submit to the government of Jesus over any other.  Lord, help me to always put my faith and future in Your hands even when I don’t understand.  Make it so, in Jesus’ name.

This week I have included a link to my former pastor’s blog. His perspective on Christmas was so very different. I have never really considered the weight of responsibility borne by Mary and Joseph to parent Jesus, the Messiah, Emmanuel, God Incarnate. Parenting any child is a challenge, but there love, care and teaching of this One must have been truly daunting. Enjoy and have a joyous Christmas!

https://betweenthepaws.org/merely-human-a-blog/questions