Wisdom for 2014

2. "Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom." (Psalm 90:12) 
3.  "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom."(Psalms 111:10)  
4. "But by His doing, you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption."(1 Corinthians 1:30)
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6. If wisdom is knowledge rightly applied, then God has covered all the bases. Redeeming the time, as it is so short; and fearing the God who made all and has a right to judge all, is the wiser way to go in the new year.  Oh, to be as wise as a serpent and harmless as a dove!  What a Wonder, Merciful Saviour we have in the Lord Jesus Christ. 
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8.                                                              My prayer for 2014:
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10.  O to be Like Thee
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12. Oh! to be like Thee, blessed Redeemer,
13. This is my constant longing and prayer;
14. Gladly I’ll forfeit all of earth’s treasures,
15. Jesus, Thy perfect likeness to wear.
16. 
    
17. Refrain:
18.                              Oh! to be like Thee, oh! to be like Thee,
19.                               Blessed Redeemer, pure as Thou art;
20.                              Come in Thy sweetness, come in Thy fullness;
21.                              Stamp Thine own image deep on my heart.
22. 
    
23. Oh! to be like Thee, full of compassion,
24. Loving, forgiving, tender and kind,
25. Helping the helpless, cheering the fainting,
26. Seeking the wand’ring sinner to find.
27. 
    
28. Oh! to be like Thee, lowly in spirit,
29. Holy and harmless, patient and brave;
30. Meekly enduring cruel reproaches,
31. Willing to suffer, others to save.
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33. Oh! to be like Thee, Lord, I am coming,
34. Now to receive th’ anointing divine;
35. All that I am and have I am bringing,
36. Lord, from this moment all shall be Thine.
37. 
    
38. Oh! to be like Thee, while I am pleading,
39. Pour out Thy Spirit, fill with Thy love,
40. Make me a temple meet for Thy dwelling,
41. Fit me for life and Heaven above.
42. (Hymn-writer Thomas O. Chisholm. Published in 1897)

Every time I see Christmas lights, I think of Jesus- the LIGHT of the world

     

He is Lord 

He is Immanuel

He is God

He is Holy 

He is Truth         

                                                                    

No wonder the angels shouted: "Glory to God in the Highest!" as they left the shepherds in their fields.

Glory.  

Oh, the weight of that word.  The shining of it.  The brightness of it.

To God. 

 Who else deserves glory but Him?

In the Highest.  

In case we missed it the first time - He alone is worthy.

And when He brings the first-born into the world, He says: 

'And let all the angels of God worship Him.'

(Hebrews 1:6)

Those shepherds- they headed straight for Bethlehem and found the baby.  In a manger.  Just like the angel had told them.  

"And they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child." 

(Luke 2:17)

And how fitting... that a Star should appear, to guide wise men from the East, over a period of two years.  From east to west, they travelled to Bethlehem:

 "And they came into the house and saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell down and worshiped Him; and opening their treasures they presented to Him gifts of gold and frankincense and myrrh." 

(Matthew 2:11)

Worshiping angels; message-bearing shepherds; worshiping wise men.  Accompanied by most glorious kinds of light.  Wow!

And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overpower it."

(John 1:5)

Then came the crucifixion.  Had not the darkness conquered, after all?

"And when the sixth hour had come, 

darkness fell over the whole land until the ninth hour." 

(Mark 15:33)

The Light of the World had come to die.  

Inglorious paradox!

A death for my death - to pay for sin.

Rising again!

That I might truly live.  Forgiven. 

May the truth of that first Christmas light my every day.  

Jesus, Light of the World

The Christmas Story- Part II

Luke 2:25-35

“And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel; and the Holy Spirit was upon him.  And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.  And he came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to carry out for Him the custom of the Law, then he took Him into his arms and blessed God, and said, ‘Now, Lord, Thou dost let Thy bond-servant depart in peace according to Thy word; for my eyes have seen Thy salvation, which Thou hast prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light of revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of Thy people Israel.   And His father and mother were amazed at the things which were being said about Him.  And Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, ‘Behold, this Child is appointed for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and for a sign to be opposed- and a sword will pierce even your own soul- to the end that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”

An older man, Simeon.  

(We are never too old to serve the Lord; never too old to be filled with the Spirit)

He is righteous, devout, expectantly hopeful for the Messiah’s arrival. 

(Am I thus - awaiting Jesus’ return)?

He is ready to die; but not until a promise is fulfilled-a promise from God, no less.  

(Am I ready)?

The Holy Spirit was upon him.  The Holy Spirit had revealed to him that he would not see death until he had seen the Lord’s Christ.  The Holy Spirit led him into the temple on the 40^th day after Jesus’ birth. 

And Jesus was there!    I imagine the temple practically bursting with light.  But that temple, covered with gold, could not hold a candle to the Light of the World who was carried inside by his parents.  Oh, the glorious revelations to come!

Luke revels in the use of so many terms dealing with sight:

·         Behold, there was a man in Jerusalem

·         Looking for the consolation of Israel

·         Revealed to him by the Holy Spirit

·         Would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ

·         My eyes have seen Thy salvation

·         Which Thou hast prepared in the presence of all people

·         A light of revelation to the Gentiles

·         And the Glory of thy people Israel

·         Thoughts from many hearts may be revealed

Simeon introduces Jesus to the world:

The Consolation (The Hope)

The Lord’s Christ (The Saviour)

The Light (The One who Reveals)

The Glory(The Shekinah Glory.  The Glorious One)

This Child(The Word became flesh)

Let my tongue not be silent in light of your revelation: 

My Highest Hope.  My Saviour.  My Light.  My Glory. My God

Only possible because of the piercing sword to come.

The cross.

What a dramatic ending to a dramatic prophecy.

Getting ready for Christmas has taken on a much sweeter meaning this year, as I consider Simeon and his faithfulness to wait for God; to bless Joseph and Mary and yes, to bless me as I read his story; his story that became the next chapter in the Christmas Story.

Three Marys

John 19:25 “Therefore the soldiers did these things, (i.e. cast lots for the seamless tunic Jesus had been wearing).  But there were standing by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary, the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.”

These three women named Mary.

Mary, the mother of Jesus.

Mary, a sister of Jesus’ mother.

Mary Magdalene, out of whom Jesus had cast 7 demons.

Remembering

His Mother remembered what Simon had said to her in the temple, so many years ago: “…and a sword will pierce even your own soul-to the end that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.” (Luke 2:35)

And she watched them pierce her son.

Watching

His Aunt watched, as the One whom she had come to believe, was dying.  On a cruel cross.  She needed to hold up her sister; but what about her own anguish and pain?

Holding

Mary Magdalene held her breath.  Her Deliverer!  So determined to see all of this through to the end.  She followed His body.  She prepared to cover Him with spices and perfumes for His burial. (Luke 23:55; 24:10).  She did hold Him again, after His resurrection:   “Jesus said to her, ‘Stop clinging to me…’ (Luke 20:17).  “And behold Jesus met them  and greeted them. And they came up and took hold of His feet and worshiped Him.”(Matt. 28:9).

These three women named Mary.

I can’t get them out of my mind. 

Their devotion to you, Jesus- in life, in death, and yes, in your resurrection.

Oh Lord, cause me to love you so!  

Remembering what you have done - paying for my sin, with your death  

Watching for your return - to be resurrected on that last day

Holding your word out to all whom I meet - truth to be believed

Thank you for the cross.