ADVENT ~ Day 6
From the time of Adam and Eve's sin, our Father God has been proclaiming the mystery of His gift of salvation, that is found only through faith in His one and only Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. (Genesis 3:14-15)
The LORD of hosts, then repeated this mystery of salvation to Abraham, Elijah, Moses, King David, Isaiah, Daniel, Jeremiah, along with many other prophets and faithful servants of the LORD God Most High.
By faith, they all believed God's message of salvation to all people, whether Jew or Gentile. Because they believed God, and put their trust in the One whom they would never see on this side of Heaven, God credited Christ's righteousness to them, so that they too may enter into the fullness of His glorious presence for all eternity in Heaven.
The righteousness of Christ was not credited to them because of mere words, but their lives proved that their trust was in the coming Messiah of God, by the way they lived.
The LORD of hosts, then repeated this mystery of salvation to Abraham, Elijah, Moses, King David, Isaiah, Daniel, Jeremiah, along with many other prophets and faithful servants of the LORD God Most High.
By faith, they all believed God's message of salvation to all people, whether Jew or Gentile. Because they believed God, and put their trust in the One whom they would never see on this side of Heaven, God credited Christ's righteousness to them, so that they too may enter into the fullness of His glorious presence for all eternity in Heaven.
The righteousness of Christ was not credited to them because of mere words, but their lives proved that their trust was in the coming Messiah of God, by the way they lived.
"if someone speaks, let them speak God's words;"
~ 1 Peter 4:11a
(CJB)
"Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth."
~ 1 John 3:18
The prophets of old and the faithful servants of God truly lived as if they trusted every word that proceeded out of the mouth of the LORD. And God knew it. The Lord God sees our hearts and is not fooled or moved by words spoken only from fleeting, emotion-driven moments.
Who is this King of glory?
He is the King of kings, the Lord of lords. He is the Alpha and the Omega; the Prince of Peace; the Lion of the tribe of Judah; the Bright Morning Star; the Good Shepherd; the Bread of Life; the Word of God; the Way, the Truth, and the Life; the High Priest; the Rock of Ages; the Redeemer; the True Vine; the Son of God.
Who is this King of glory?
He is Jesus the Christ - the Revealer of the greatest mystery: the miraculous reconciliation of wicked and evil sinners, to a holy and good God.
"And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made together alive with Him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This He set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in Him."
~ Colossians 2:13-15
Who is this King of glory?
He is our victorious, reigning King.
Who is this King of glory?
He is Jesus the Christ - mighty God, who became humble babe, born of a virgin, obedient to death, for the salvation of the wicked.
Before any one of us believed, the Holy Spirit of God wooed us to the Father, by preparing our hearts to receive the Gospel of Christ, through the gift of repentance that works salvation. And from the day of our second birth - our birth in Christ; the Holy Spirit continues His work of sanctification so that we might not be ashamed at our Lord's second coming.
Thoughts to ponder:
What family traditions can I establish (or for wives, lovingly suggest to your husbands) to help my kids (or kids-to-be) understand that Christmas is about God's gift of Christ to mankind, not our gifts to one another for our entertainment? Are there any activities I'm doing right now, that might seem "good", but does not build me up in my faith? Do I give gifts so others will think well of me, or because I'm consciously considering the eternal impact of my giving?
Blessed Redeemer, holy Father God, may Your name forever be praised!
Help me to remember how You give gifts, so that I might give them the same way; with agape love. Oh, search my heart Lord and know it. Test my heart and my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me Father and lead me in the Way everlasting. If I say I am Your child, help me to look more and more like You, so that others will see Jesus in me. Don't let me hide this great Treasure in this broken jar of clay. But teach me Father to humbly lift up my broken life, with all its imperfect pieces so that You might make something beautiful of it.
Thank You Jesus for making Yourself nothing, so that I might be what I could've never been on my own; a child of the Most High God. May Your name alone forever be praised! Amen.
Help me to remember how You give gifts, so that I might give them the same way; with agape love. Oh, search my heart Lord and know it. Test my heart and my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me Father and lead me in the Way everlasting. If I say I am Your child, help me to look more and more like You, so that others will see Jesus in me. Don't let me hide this great Treasure in this broken jar of clay. But teach me Father to humbly lift up my broken life, with all its imperfect pieces so that You might make something beautiful of it.
Thank You Jesus for making Yourself nothing, so that I might be what I could've never been on my own; a child of the Most High God. May Your name alone forever be praised! Amen.
Printable Version
4 comments