Mighty God

For unto us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace (Isaiah 6:9).

What comes to mind when you think of the word mighty?  I think of words like powerful, capable, strong and influential.  What kinds of people do you think of as mighty?  Political leaders?  Business leaders?  Religious leaders?  NFL players?  What about terrorists?  Some of these people/groups use their might for goodness while others use it for evil.  Whether through physical power, political power, financial influence or the ability to invoke pain and suffering, I think the adjective mighty can be used to accurately describe them all.

Mighty God is the name of Jesus we are studying today.  According to scripture, Jesus embodied all the characteristics listed above (powerful, capable, strong, influential).

…He is the head over every power and authority (Colossians 2:10).

all things are possible with God” (Mark 10:27).

The name of the Lord is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe (Proverbs 18:10).

But Jesus’ might didn’t come from his political position, financial resources or physical strength.  Because everything in the world belongs to God, he could have used any of these avenues to express his dominion over the world, but he didn’t.  It wasn’t his plan.  Jesus’ power and might came from love, not winning.  From putting others’ needs ahead of his own, from serving.

Think of it this way – you can’t just give yourself the title of “mighty”.  This characteristic is only valid when others esteem you as such.  Its like being a leader – you aren’t a leader unless someone is following you.  Jesus had power, strength and capability based on his position as God’s son.  His influence, however, came from his love.  People followed Jesus because he loved them, he served them and he put their needs ahead of his own, even to the point of giving his life in exchange for theirs.

Do you want to be influential?  Do you want to be a leader?  Do you want to be regarded as mighty?  Try serving others, and putting their needs ahead of your own.

The greatest among you will be your servant (Matthew 23:11).

 

Messiah

John 1:41 The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother, Simon, and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means Christ).

In the first chapter of John we learn about John the Baptist. He was the one sent to pave the way for Jesus, to prepare everyone for his coming. The Jewish leaders sent priests to John to ask who he was and what he was doing. He was a strange  man who didn’t fit in and was spreading some interesting news about the coming Messiah. The leaders were concerned because they were expecting a political leader as well as a spiritual leader in the Messiah and this man “paving the way” did not fit with their expectations. This was not the way the Messiah was supposed to save them! The beauty of Jesus coming to save the world was that he did not come for just one group of people. He came for ALL. Jesus did not start his ministry by meeting with the Jewish leaders and setting up a political agenda or meeting with those in high social standing. Instead, he was obedient to God and was baptized by John even though John was not worthy to “be his slave or untie the straps of his sandal”. They had been waiting for the Messiah and He was finally here. In John 1:41 Andrew couldn’t wait to tell his brother Simon that they found the Messiah.  Once they knew Him they started following him immediately. Can you imagine the excitement in his voice as he shared the good news with his brother? Everything was going to change for them and they were hopeful as they saw the prophecy being fulfilled.

There is a book we have read with our kids over the years and it is one of my absolute favorites! It is “The Jesus Storybook Bible” written by Sally Lloyd-Jones and Illustrated by Jago.  It is simple to read and I often pick it up on my own before bed or when I just want something sweet and simple. From this book I learned that the whole Bible is the story of Jesus, the Messiah. The front cover says “Every story whispers his name”. Each chapter of the Bible points to God’s plan to save through Jesus. From Genesis to Revelation, it is about Jesus. Without Him, we would not have our salvation and our relationship with God. In the book Jesus is referred to as the “rescuer” which is a perfect way to describe our Messiah.

Do you know your “rescuer” and are you eager to tell others that you found him like Andrew did in John 1:41? It is the best news we can give in a time of uncertainty and unrest. Jesus came as the Messiah for ALL!

Shelly

 

Merciful

What does mercy look like to you? For each of us, this will look a little different, yet still, have the same result. (Amen!)  As believers, we’ve heard the words mercy and grace many times. We have been the recipient of this mercy more times than we ever deserve. I’m so grateful for every mercy that has been given and is to come. There are over 50 plus verses that talk about merciful or mercy. These were wonderful reminders about His love for us.  Our merciful verse for today is:

Hebrews 2:17 Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.

When you break down this verse you get an opportunity to read, reflect, and see God’s merciful self. God decided to send His son, Jesus, to be our example of merciful to anyone He met. Read about the mercies Jesus showed to everyone in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Amazing! This same mercy He showed then is given to us now. He paid the ultimate price, for our sins. He showed us why He is called Merciful.

God’s mercy is abundant.  There is enough for you, me, and everyone.

1 Peter 1:3 says Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

Our Merciful Father gives you hope today. No matter where you are at, what you are going through, or how bad you have messed up. Our Lord’s mercy will cover you.

How has the Lord been merciful to you? Give Him thanks, praise Him, let others know about His loving mercy that is available to them. This mercy will provide you and them with the hope we all need right now.

keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. Jude 1:21

The Mediator

Today’s Reading:  I Timothy 2:5

Daily we are confronted with situations that allow us to make decisions based on our past experiences. As adults these decisions are formed from a complex and diverse skillset and experiences to make the best choice in the midst of many variables.  For children, this process is sometime much simpler.  Last weekend, our family went on an adventure of camping.  Camping has become a tradition that the kids and we enjoy. Each time camping is a different experience.  Something is always changing and exciting.  I remember the first time that we went camping and the closest restroom was a primitive restroom, a natural latrine.  The youngest kids were to little to use it properly and the older kids would not attempt.   Now everyone used the latrine without hesitation.

During these trips, we can reconnect with the kids on an individual basis and some of the insights can be remarkable.  While on a walk to the main office, Ollie and I had a conversation about the trip and what were the highlights of the trip.  As he was recounting the highs about the trip he also stated “ Those people in the RVs are not really camping”.  This made me pause and inquire more about the statement.  Ollie replied, “Real camping is in tents and not in the RVs with running water and air condition.”  I had to gently redirect his view of the situation.  We had a dialogue on the different ways of camping and how different people chose to enjoy nature differently, but we are all able to participate in the beauty that God has given us.  We have to be grateful in all aspects of camping from backpacking to glamping.

This interaction with Ollie helped me to reflect on the many areas of my life and my thinking and become more aware of the benefit that we have Christ as a mediator for us.  There have been many situations that I have misinterpreted, but God allowed me to see it through his eyes.  There are situations that he has been a guard and shield for me.  These situations are not guaranteed to work out easily, but with His presence, they have been a benefit for his Glory.   In the midst of so many different scenarios and situations, we could be seen differently outside of the true content.

While on the campgrounds there was a beautiful RV camper that was created for a person who had been through some difficult situations.  This camper was a sanctuary for this person.  This was a way to create a new sense of peace and wholeness for this person.  But if we were only thinking from one perspective, we could have missed to deeper meaning.

Christ through the manifestation as a human from the Spirit of God has been given the ultimate ability to intercede and be our chief mediator to God the Father.  Just as with our children, we often cannot understand the complexities that Christ advocates for us to God on a daily basis.  This advocacy didn’t start after the death, burial and resurrection, it was present at the beginning of creation and it is also recovered in the oldest book of the bible Job.

Job 16:19-21 (NIV)

Even now my witness is in heaven;
my advocate is on high.
20 My intercessor is my friend[a]
as my eyes pour out tears to God;
21 on behalf of a man he pleads with God
as one pleads for a friend.

 Christ has always been our advocate, but his sacrifice completed the ultimate place as the mediator who can represent us in spite of our sins and transgressions.

Heavenly Father,

Thank you for our Mediator in Christ.  Thank you for the gift that you gave so that we may be able to communicate with you personally through Christ. Thank you for the peace that you give us in spite of our sins.  Amen

Master

Are you a Master at anything?  I found a list of things that you can actually become a master at:  Master conductor, Master gardener, Master chef, Master mechanic, Master sommelier, Master electrician, Master carpenter, and I am sure there are more that I didn’t list.  You can also get a Master’s Degree in numerous subjects.  To be a master at something means that you know a subject or can you can perform it very well.  I read that it takes 10,000 hours or more to become a master in a certain area.  That means that it would take 416.67 days non-stop to become a master in the area of your choice!  That is a lot of dedication!

To become a Master, usually one is required to become an apprentice.  An apprentice is someone who trains for a career by working under the supervision of more experienced workers.  In Biblical times (and today), a disciple was part of a deliberate apprenticeship, a follower or adherent of Jesus, the one true Master.  

In Luke 8:24 we read about the disciples calling Jesus, Master.

The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!”  He got up and rebuked the wind and raging waters;  the storm subsided, and all was calm.  

The disciples were saying “Master, Master,” meaning teacher, chief or commander.  If you recall the story, Jesus and the disciples were boating to the other side of the lake, but as there were sailing along a fierce wind descended upon the lake.  In their anxiety and fear of the storm they cried out to Jesus as their Master.  The very next verse answers our question as to who Jesus is that He could quiet the storm.

…In fear and amazement they asked one another, “Who is this?  He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him.”

Luke 8:25

He is the Creator (John 1:1-3), the Almighty God, the real “Master” of the universe!  When the disciples called on Jesus they were looking to the one Man who has the ultimate authority over all the earth.  The one Man who could take the churning waters threatening to consume them, command, “Peace,” and have complete and immediate obedience.  Like apprentices looking to their Master for protection and provision, they pleaded with the One who could meet their needs.  

As we have been reading in every Bible Journal Post this year, Jesus has many names.  But we see here in Luke 8 that when Jesus was called out as Master in the midst of a life-devouring storm, He was moved to action.  He came to their rescue.  Jesus is the Master because He has the power and the ultimate authority to speak even to the winds and waves.  The powerful forces of nature listened and obeyed because He was, without question, Master.

Just as the disciples faced the storm, we face many storms in our own lives.  The disciples were positive that Jesus could save them from the storm and they called on Him.  Will we call on Him when we face the storms in our life?  Will we call Him Master?

Manna

John 6:49-50 : “Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die.”

Have you ever tried eating the same meal over and over and over? Late last year I started meal-prepping my lunches for the week, cooking a big pot of curried lentil stew to eat throughout the week. On it’s own, it’s not a bad meal; it’s nutritious, very cheap, takes a short time to cook, and I do like the taste. But let me tell you, after eating that same lunch almost every weekday for seven months now, it gets a little tough to swallow some days. But still I’m grateful that I’ve been provided plenty to eat at all.

In John 6, when the crowd at Capernaum asks Jesus for a sign that He has come to do God’s work, citing their ancestors’ 40-year manna diet while wandering the desert. Specifically, they say in verse 31: “Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’” This bread, which we know as manna, was allotted by God as sustenance for the Israelites in their decades of wandering. Described in Exodus 16 as “a fine, flake-like thing, fine as frost on the ground,” as well as “like coriander seed, white, and the taste of it was like wafers made with honey,” the Israelites were able to gather it to make bread, owing their survival to this manna, a gift from God. It was partly to test the Israelites’ trust in the Lord, but also an act of great kindness and generosity to a people who were not at all grateful to an abundantly kind Lord. Of course, even then the Israelites grumbled at the prospect of having to live off this bread alone. I can’t say from my human perspective that I can’t relate; not only to eating the same meal over and over (it’s tough enough with the same lentil stew for seven months, I can’t imagine 40 years of the stuff), but how from time to time I can tend to overlook the bigger picture while focusing instead on my few annoyances.

But as Jesus reminds these people, even with day after day of being blessed with manna from heaven, they still died, same as the rest of us. This part of Jesus’s statement is a sobering reminder: yes, God will provide for us. As Jesus says in Matthew 6:31-33, “do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear? …Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” God has promised to meet our basic needs as long as we remain faithful, and in our faith we know He makes good every promise. But nothing the Lord will provide to fill our stomachs, or keep us warm, or protect us from the elements, or any thing of this world, will prevent death. Though they can satisfy us for the moment, no temporal good can hold off sin’s wages. This mirrors our spiritual lives as well; how often we can look to gain fulfillment in things of this world, but end up underwhelmed and spiritually malnourished in this pursuit, no closer to salvation than before.

Thankfully, God always has a plan. In this case, not only for the physical fulfillment, but spiritual fulfillment as well. Just as God provided bread from the heavens for the Israelites, Christ came down from heaven to give us the Bread of Life, of which we can eat and not perish. What better words to hear on this than verses 35 to 40:

Jesus said to them, ‘I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe. All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.’

Only through coming to Jesus and living out His word can we experience eternal life in Him. Only by offering our lives to Christ can we endure to eternal life. While God may provide for our needs now, it is our choice to eat the true bread of life. I pray today for the hunger in my spirit; not to be content with the things of this earth, but to fully pursue Jesus with my heart and soul. I know Christ will provide food to fill my stomach and a roof over my head, but none of those earthly things bring eternity with Christ. Lord, help us today to put aside the blessings of this world in favor of something more; to appreciate and be thankful for all you’ve given us on this earth, but even more, in all we say and do, to come to Christ and partake in your word.

Man of Sorrows

Most of us are familiar with the Disney classic Aladdin and the legend of a genie in a magic lamp granting 3 wishes to the person who finds and rubs it, especially with the recent remake and also the emergence of Disney Plus. If there were such a lamp and you were lucky enough to find it, what would you do if you had that much power? Even if you would use that power for something good to change the world and mankind, would it be the first thing you would do with your power? Would you ever even think of helping someone who had directly disobeyed you which hurt you deeply? Much like the fortunate person to find a lamp with a magic genie like Aladdin, God has all power. We know from Genesis 3 when Adam and Eve brought sin into the world by eating from the tree God told them not to and thus directly going against His one direction, God not only immediately provided for them through skins to clothe them (Genesis 3:21) when they realized they were naked only because of their sin, but He also immediately promised a Savior in Genesis 1:15 to help mankind defeat Satan and death and bring us back to Him.

Let me pose another question…..if you made a decision to help save someone who directly hurt you, would you be willing to go through much hardship and pain to do so if you could get the same result without it? God chose to save us and to take the pain upon His Son Jesus. He also chose to do so in the most humbling way possible. Through the prophet Isaiah, God tells us Jesus was a “man of sorrows” in Isaiah 53:3 who was despised and rejected.

Jesus came in to this world the son of a carpenter and young virgin, not a king and queen. Jesus and His family were rejected from the beginning, there was no room at the inn so he was born in a stable, not a castle, and placed in a manger, not a bed. As He became a man, we know nothing about His earthly home leading us to believe it couldn’t have been much. From Scriptures, we know He became hungry and thirsty. He felt the pain of losing a friend in Lazarus and cried. He was rejected by those in His own hometown. He was betrayed and given to the authorities to be killed by one of his 12 closest friends and followers, Judas. The remaining 11 then ran, abandoned Him, and hid when He was captured. One of His other closest friends and followers, Peter, denied he even knew Him. Then, despite seeing His mighty works and raising others from the dead, another of His closest friends, Thomas, refused to believe He was raised and had done what He said He would. In all of this, we have not even mentioned yet He was beaten and tortured to the brink of death and then was executed in one of the most gruesome and painful ways our world has ever known. No doubt He was a “man of sorrows.”

When we have a bad day, week, month, or are in some of the deepest valleys and toughest, most painful seasons of our life, we must remember we have a God and Savior who empathizes, knows, and cares about what we are experiencing because He experienced some form of the same pain. He didn’t have to, but He did. If we think we don’t deserve what we are going through, we can remember Jesus definitely didn’t deserve what He went through…all for us nonetheless. If we now think about the honor, power, and glory of Jesus, we might picture Him on a throne sitting at the right hand of the Father in Heaven, but we can be thankful while He was on this Earth…He was a “man of sorrows”…all for you and for me…so that our pain could be temporary and not eternal.

Man

 

 

Acts 2:22

Why is it significant that one of the names of God is “man”? We have spent half of the year looking at God’s character, His power, His might, His love, His Lordship,… the list is long. “Man” seems so out of character for God. “Man” is beneath God, because He is above all, knows all, sees all, is everywhere, created everything and God is our King. But it is true, God became “man” in Jesus.

God becoming “man” was completely His idea, part of His plan. He knew that the only way we could be in relationship with Him was for our sin debt to be paid, and He knew that the only way we could pay our debt would be with our lives, our own blood poured out as payment. He wanted relationship with us so deeply, He decided to make another way for our debt to be paid. He left His perfect home in heaven and came to earth so He could die in our place. His blameless perfection was the only substitute valuable enough and pure enough to take our place. There was no other option for us. Jesus lived on this earth just as you and I do, and He died a tortuous, humiliating death to cover the cost of our sin because He wanted to buy us back out of our death sentence. He chose to become man.

God becoming “man” is the best gift we have ever been given. God trading His life for mine/ours is the most meaningful, rich, costly, and selfless gift I can imagine. Never will there be another gift more valuable. It is valuable because He gave His own life for you and me, and didn’t have to do it. He could have let us live and die on our own. If He had chosen to leave us on our own, the first time we sinned, our relationship with Him would have been over. We couldn’t have been in His perfect presence again with sin separating us. Because He loves us and desires relationship with us so desperately, He gifted us a replacement for our payment of sin so we could be washed clean and still be able to commune with Him. I am amazed at His gift.

God becoming “man” is pure grace and generosity. We do not deserve His payment for our sin. No one is good enough to make the cut on our own. God’s love is different than our love. His is so enormous, so full, so rich and completely unconditional, He was willing to pay whatever it cost Him to buy us back. He knew He was the only perfect payment, the only possible replacement and He was willing to lavish us with exactly what we didn’t deserve.

 

The only reason for God to take on the name “man” was to save us and wash us clean so we could have relationship with Him. This name of God reminds me of His enormous love for us, His willingness to give up His only Son, His grace because I am so undeserving of His gift, and His perfect knowledge because He knew we would need to see His actual life on earth to be able to believe His plan. This name of God might be the most humble name He has. It stops me in my tracks to fall face down in His presence in gratitude to Him.

Master of Heaven and Earth

Creation shows God’s majesty! How often do you stop and notice the birds in the sky, each blade of grass in your lawn, a beautiful blue sky, or the snow that falls on a cold winter night?

God’s creation is everything on this Earth, the heavens, and the entire universe. The Lord our God is the creator of all things! When was the last time you spent significant time meditating and praying about God’s creation?

Psalm 146:5-6 says, “Blessed is he whose helps is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God, who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, who keeps faith forever,”.

These verses are here to not only show us that God has created all things, but that is He is always with us. God is the master of Heaven and Earth, which includes us. Our creator has chosen to give us dominion over all the beauty and majesty of the Earth (Genesis 2:15-22).

The beauty and majesty that the Lord has provided need to be recognized and enjoyed. God has created an incredible landscape to live out our lives.

One of my favorite things to do on a vacation or time off is to spend time in God’s creation. I go to a quiet place and sit in awe of His creation. During that time I feel connected to God in a way that I never do anywhere else. I believe that is because I don’t stop each day to recognize what God has created.

We live in a fast-paced world. Change happens quickly, and we have to adapt to it. That leaves us no time to slow down. In Genesis 2:1-3, God finishes all that He has created, and then He took time to rest. I believe that in the time of creation, God used that seventh day to enjoy what He has created. I also believe that He has set aside that day for us to use to enjoy his creation and slow down, even when it seems impossible.

Take time this week to find one day where you can go for a hike, drive to a quiet place, or just spend some time looking at the stars. Daily, we all need to recognize how great and powerful it is that God has created all things and that we get to be a part of that. I pray that each of you would take time to see that this week!

All Nations, Tribes, and People Will Stand Before God

Our country is in a state of turmoil. People are hurting emotionally and many, financially. Each day seems to reveal another challenge. The lingering impacts of COVID-19, add on the horrible instances of racism along with riots and protests, are the making of a tumultuous time.

The Bible tells us in Genesis that God created created the world without sin. Man brought sin into God’s perfect creation. The Bible tells stories of deceit, jealously, adultery, and murder. All created by the selfishness of man. Unfortunately, since the beginning of time, man has defied God and allowed our sins to pull us away from Him, which includes racism and discrimination.

Our Lord tells us in Genesis 1:27 “So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.” How does Christ feel about different colors, race, or people? I encourage you to take a few minutes and read these verses in the Bible to see what our Lord says about mankind and His creation.

• Galatians 3:28
• Acts 10:34-35
• Colossians 3:11
• Romans 2:9-11
• John 13:34
• Revelations 5:9-10
• Proverbs 31:8-9
• Acts 10:15-48
• Colossians 3:10-16

What causes us to fear and discriminate against our fellow man? Jesus said in John 8:15-16, “You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one. And yet if I do judge, My judgement is true; for I am not alone, but I am with the Father who sent Me.”

As has been stated by many, racism is a sin issue, not a skin issue. When we follow the ways of the world, we are drawn to corrupted thinking that pulls us away from Jesus. When we stop reading our Bibles and God’s word, the devil pulls apart our conviction and resolve to follow Christ’s teachings and example.

Hall of Fame player and coach Tony Dungy recently stated “I believe it has to start with those of us who claim to be Christians. We have to come to the forefront and demonstrate the qualities of the One we claim to follow, Jesus Christ. We have to be willing to speak the truth in love but we have to recognize that we are not fighting against other people. We are fighting against Satan and his kingdom of spiritual darkness.”

Plain and simple, Satan drives us to discrimination, hate, and violence. The world needs Jesus. Jeremiah 10:16 says “for He is the maker of all things. And Israel is the travel of His inheritance; The Lord of hosts is His name.” Our Lord made us and this world perfect, without sin. We brought sin into God’s perfect creation.

John’s vision, recorded in Revelations 7:9 reads “After these things I looked, and behold a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” The Bible clearly states that “all nations, tribes, and people” will stand before God. We are all equal in God’s kingdom and therefore we should treat everyone in God’s own image on earth.

Lord God, please heal us. We are in need of your grace and love. We ask for your strength in our lives each day to point us in the right direction. Give us the judgement and wisdom to follow your Word and not the ways of this world. Allow us to feel your divine presence as we choose to change our neighborhoods and communities through our own example, which “surpasses all understanding.” Amen