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Listen! It’s the voice of someone shouting, “Clear the way through the wilderness for the Lord! Make a straight highway through the wasteland for our God! Isaiah 40:3
It’s the holiday season and many of us have been busy getting ready for parties, family get-togethers and perhaps even travel. Maybe you’ve decorated the yard with lights and decorations tied to the season. The tree is up and decorated, waiting for brightly wrapped packages. The interior of your house may have decorations to celebrate the season as well.
After all, it’s Christmas! We spend millions of dollars every year with decorations, food and gifts. Some neighborhood’s have contests (official or unspoken) to see who has the best light display. I love Christmas! All the work we put into decorating for a few short weeks is well worth it in my book.
While preparing all the external things for Christmas is important, of more importance is preparing our hearts. No doubt Mary and Joseph prepared for the coming of the infant Jesus as much as they could. But they could never have been ready for what God had prepared for them. I’m sure if they’d known everything they’d have done things differently.
What about us? We have the privilege of looking back. Can we prepare spiritually for celebrating Messiah? Among the lights and decorations can we find time to focus on the light of the world? While we enjoy all the holiday treats, can we remember to celebrate the eternal blessings of the babe in the manger?
Isaiah reminds us to prepare the way for Lord. He calls us to search our hearts for what we feel is important. He calls us to remove the idols of worry, doubt, desire and bitterness so we can experience the Hope of Ages, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Whether your tradition celebrates Advent or not, while you are hanging the lights and cooking all those Christmas goodies, don’t forget that Jesus is the reason for the season!
So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus. Ephesians 2:7
Have you ever completed a project, then stood back to admire your work? It came out exactly as you’d hoped. You smile and look to share your accomplishment with someone else? Perhaps not!
The perfectionist in us always see a flaw or think of how it could be better. The pessimist not only fails to celebrate the accomplishment, but finds ways to hide it from others. The insecure may feel like showing it to others may risk having the flaws pointed out or be accused of pride.
Those who are confident are willing to take the risk because they know this project is exactly what it needs to be. It’s a hard but wonderful reality to realize that God shows us off as his perfect creation. Before time began he had an idea for the you you are.
Oh, it may have been a rough road at times. You may have failed, rebelled, doubted or become apathetic, but that doesn’t take away from the you he sees.
We tend to look in the mirror and see the you that struggles with life issues. But not God. When he sees the ‘you’ he sees a masterpiece. When He looks at the ‘you’ you are, he sees the potential, he sees someone Jesus died for, he sees…someone to be proud of.
Imagine God shouting from the street corner how wonderful the ‘you’ is! And it’s all because of Jesus, not the ‘you’ you
The coming of the Son of Man can be illustrated by the story of a man going on a long trip. When he left home, he gave each of his slaves instructions about the work they were to do, and he told the gatekeeper to watch for his return. Mark 13:34
There’s been a lot of talk lately about whether or not we are ‘in the last times.’ It certainly seems like something is brewing with all the social, economic, political, physical and relational things going on.
Jesus talks about the end times. He gives few details, but more importantly, he gives us insight into what we should do. He gives us a picture of a landowner who goes away, but leaves his servants instructions on what to do while he’s gone. A watchman is posted to look for his coming because no one knew when he would appear.
Those who were doing what they were told to do would look forward to his return so they could show him what they’d accomplished.
Those who spent the time he was away tending to their own stuff and ignoring his instructions would be in fear lest he come and they had nothing to show for it.
The emphasis here is, watch for his coming but don’t neglect your work. We need not fear Jesus’ return. For those doing the work he’s given it will be a celebration, like the return of a loving friend.
Only those who have done nothing for the kingdom need fear his return. We are called to share the good news through grace. Look forward to the return of Jesus, not as an escape but a joyful reunion!
People who accept discipline are on the pathway to life, but those who ignore correction will go astray. Proverbs 10:17
No one likes discipline. Let’s face it. Discipline is hard, painful and sometimes embarrassing.
Unfortunately, discipline is often confused with punishment and for good reason. Both are painful. Both are often the result of our own decisions, regardless of the intent of those choices.
Psychologists define the difference as: “Discipline means “to teach,” while punishment means “to correct or cause pain.”
Punishment’s goal is to ‘make you pay’ for your crime. Discipline guides you to restoration.
Disciple is done in love; punishment is done in anger.
Discipline requires relationship; punishment does not.
Discipline results in life-long lessons, punishment causes short term results and life-long scars.
Does God punish or discipline?
All have sinned against God. All deserve his punishment, but Jesus took that punishment on the cross.
God will discipline us because he wants us to be the best we can be. It may be painful, but his discipline is always done in love and for our good.
Mike Fisk & Built with Grace 