Month: December 2023

Ref. Matthew 1:18-25

Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man (upright), and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus (Literally Savior) for He will save His people from their sins.” So, all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: “Behold, the virgin shall be with child and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which translated, “God with us.” Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took Mary to be his wife, and did not know her till she brought forth her firstborn Son. And they called His name Jesus.

*Observation*

The Lord spoke to Joseph in a dream, it’s so important to note that this was not a random choice, the angel of the Lord who visited him called him, “Joseph, son of David,” indicating that he was of the birth line of David, OT king of Israel, whom God had said, would the Messiah come from. So, we know that Joseph was a man of God. And he was a carpenter, a skill that Jesus would be known for. The name Jesus is a Greek version of the Hebrew name, Joshua, which is a contraction of the name of God, Yahweh, and Shua, which means “salvation.” Shortened to Joshua it’s “God’s salvation.” His name describes His nature and reason for coming. Jesus fulfilled over 300 prophecies in birth and life, death, and resurrection. The gospel of Matthew points to these prophecies more than the other Gospel writers.

Today, our world is in desperate need of salvation. It is a world that is void of understanding there is a great need of spiritual help but choosing to rely on man’s resources of political and invented systems and man-made programs as solutions. This will never work, and higher education teaching it doesn’t need God. Paul wrote to the church in Corinth, but even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them (2 Corinthians 4:3-4). The gospel of Christ is unseen by those who are lost, because Satan has blinded their eyes.

Our faith and trust are in the One who came to save us as “Our Immanuel, God with us.” This Christ Child grew up to fulfill His Father’s will, to die for the sins of man, and now we can know true peace, and have hope beyond the years of this life on earth. We can have eternal life as our destiny and rejoice now here today, by reminding others of God’s love for us, and having His Son, Jesus Christ inside our hearts. This Christmas season, let the light of the good news of the gospel be the shining light of all our daily activities and make His name known to our families, neighbors, and friends.

Prayer: Dear Lord, during Christmas time, we can become so busy preparing and gathering to share gifts and prepare meals with families and friends, May the Light and Love of Christ be seen in our hearts and be felt in our home, which truly enables us to share the greatest gift of Your presence “Our Immanuel” with each other. We thank You for the Greatest Gift, Jesus our Savior and Redeemer.

In His Holy name, we pray, Amen.

Ref. James 3:13-18

But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. (James 3:17) KJV

In this verse in James, we learn about the type of wisdom that is from Heaven. There is a stark contrast between the wisdom of heaven and the wisdom of the world. Heavenly wisdom is first off pure, peaceable, gentle, willing to hear other opinions and perspectives, merciful, and honest. As Christians, we all have access to wisdom from the Lord, which He gives to us liberally, and without reproach.

Let’s break down the characteristics of heavenly wisdom; It begins with purity coming from a heart that is undivided. Pure wisdom has a single aim: to serve and honor the Lord in every possible way. People with this kind of wisdom are not worried about being first in line or getting the best of anything, nor if others respond back to their kindness. Instead, their primary concern is to bring glory and honor to the Lord. Their hearts are focused on Jesus, so everything else falls into second place.

Heavenly wisdom is also an instrument of peace and gentleness. It seeks unity above division, knowing that people are always more valuable than their own ideologies or argument debates. Because of the high value it places on gentleness, heavenly wisdom will not be caught up in emotions that lead to anger or harsh words. Instead, it will be temperate and kind in all circumstances. This type of wisdom will not hold back on mercy or bearing good fruits of the Spirit, it will remain open to hearing new perspectives and ideas. But will not speak words that differ by their actions.

If this seems impossible or overwhelming to you, rest assured that it is for all of us to reach this place in our life without God doing it for us. As a Christian, God lives through us by His Holy Spirit in us, who is our source of Divine wisdom and strength which is conforming us into the image of Christ.

Godly wisdom communicates concern for others well-being through a gentle, yielding, merciful spirit. All of which you and I have already received from the Lord. How we treat others is how we treat Jesus. Believers whose lives are lived out as Jesus desires, will know where His heart is over what is important to Him. He longs for His Father to be glorified that His followers be sanctified, and that the church be unified to reach the world for Him.

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You so much for heavenly wisdom. Help us to desire Your heavenly wisdom to characterize our lives. May Your Holy Spirit help us to be more and more like You, dear God. So, thank You for letting us communicate Your heavenly wisdom to our families and to others we come across with, for Your glory and honor.

In Jesus name, Amen.

Ref. Luke 3:22

And the Holy Spirit descended in bodily form like a dove upon Him, and a voice came from heaven which said, “You are My Son; in You I am well pleased.”

*Insight*

At the very beginning of His ministry, Jesus is baptized by John the Baptist. Afterwards, the Holy Spirit comes down like a dove, and God speaks from Heaven that Jesus is His Son and that He is pleased with Him. The verse along with being a beautiful depiction of the trinity, gives us an image of the importance of blessing each other. God blessed Jesus by saying He was pleased with Him. This reminds me in this life how much love and encouragement do children receive, when their father claims publicly, “This is my son/daughter and I’m so proud of them!” This comes into a deeper meaning when we remember that right after this scene, Jesus is led by the Spirit into the wilderness (Matt. 4:1) to be tempted by Satan for forty days. He does not eat or drink anything, and the Adversary comes to tempt Him to give up His kingdom.

There is nothing to make us believe the timing is coincidental. We can imagine Jesus in the desert repeating the blessing that His Father in heaven had given Him: I am His beloved Son, and He is pleased with Me. Imagine what strength those words might have given Jesus has He endured the temptations. He uses the Word of His Father to fight off Satan’s attacks. Jesus’s ministry had barely begun, and the cross was still ahead of Him, but the Lord was already pleased with Him. He wasn’t looking for anything Jesus had done, but who Jesus was, His Son.

Today, we should remember that our words have the same life-giving ability that God’s words did for Jesus. If Jesus accepted His Father’s affirming words, how much more do we need to receive then give forward these types of words to others? We are God’s elect who face many temptations and trials of testing, if we are rooted and grounded on the foundational truth of the Word of God, and His love for us; that God is pleased with us because we are in His Son, these temptations and trials will not overcome us. How are you using your words? Are you remembering the heart of God is already pleased with you. All your iniquities were washed away by the blood of Jesus when you called out to Him in the moment of your salvation. Rest in the fact that Jesus loves you and uses your words to bless others, begin today to learn and know how powerful our words are when they are Spirit filtered, and Spirit led. Those we love and even had disappointments with, will notice the difference.

Dear Lord, we thank You so much for words that give life and offer hope adding to others well-being. Thank You Jesus, that Your work on the cross made it possible for Your redeemed children to be pleasing to You. Let our words give life to others especially those who are searching for answers for why their lives are the way they are, void of hearing the truth that You love them, and want them to know that they are pleasing to You, by their acknowledgment of Your Beloved Son, Jesus Christ. Help us to remember that we are loved by You and share that love with others.

In Jesus name, Amen

Ref. Jeremiah 18:1-6

The word which came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying: “Arise and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will cause you to hear My words.” Then I went down to the potter’s house, and there he was, making something at the wheel. And the vessel that was made of clay was marred (ruined) in the hand of the potter; so, he made it again into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to make. Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying:“O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter?” says the Lord. “Look, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel!”

*Observation*

This a picture of God’s sovereignty over Israel, as well as for us NT believers especially those serving in ministry. Created by God in His image mankind has been marred by sin, and our own self – righteous efforts of fig leaves to cover our sin would never be enough to please a Holy and Righteous God. The beauty of holiness can only come to us through the imputed righteousness of God. Through our broken lives can God begin to reshape us and from the beauty of brokenness in veiled guilt and shame by His grace are we restored to God. The life of Jesus is our example of what it cost for us to be redeemed. In ways far beyond our comprehension, deeper than our human minds can descend to, Jesus would come into our broken and painful lives by becoming one of us human creations yet, without the marring of sin. Jesus could embrace unreservedly God’s purpose of brokenness because He understood the deep works of God that was from the beginning of time. God uses brokenness in the life of His children to unearth the beauty concealed in earthen vessels.

God uses broken things. It takes soil broken up and turned over to produce a crop. Broken clouds to give rain, broken grain to make bread, and broken bread to feed people. and through the example of the alabaster box that was broken to give forth a fragrant aroma; God uses a broken and contrite heart to restore us to a right relationship with Him. God sees no greater path for your life than one that has been burrowed out of brokenness; it is one of heaven’s great mysteries of beauty that can never be fully realized nor understood on earth. The Bible is filled with examples of God using the lives of His broken people to make others whole. Life comes out of death for the Christian, and wholeness is wrought through the avenue of brokenness. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, the the excellence of the power may be of God and not of ourselves (2 Cor. 4:7). We must understand that we are like clay in the hands of the Master Potter, and our brokenness when it is remade by the grace and mercy of our Creator God, will bring glory to God in our ministry calling proving His love through us to a lost and dying world. What is God breaking in your life? Brokenness is a gift God gives to us.

Lord bless you my beloved friend!