So This Is What Happened On Christmas

So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.

John 1:14 

 

Have you ever contemplated what REALLY happened on Christmas?  A baby was born in a barn, put in a feed trough, and shepherds came to visit... We know that story from Luke's Gospel.  But what REALLY happened?

 

Think about this: When that baby was conceived, Jesus left Heaven!  Did you get that? Jesus walked away from Heaven!  Not only that, but Jesus CHOSE to become one of us . And if THAT weren't enough, Jesus CHOSE to live among us!  Jesus left ALL the glory of Heaven, because Abba knew that we need Him!

 

Let me be brutally honest...If we were living in Heaven (the ONLY Perfect Place anywhere), what would your response be to the people of earth?  We may have "holy thoughts" and believe we would do exactly as Jesus did, but my response would most likely be something along the line of "Y'all are on your own."  

 

Aren't you glad Jesus is the one who made the decision?

 
 

Not "If", But "When"

"Be strong and brave! Don’t be afraid and don’t panic, 

for I, the Lord your God, am with you in all you do."

Joshua 1:9 

 

Have you ever wondered why Abba told Joshua to be strong and brave?  Guess what? Abba wasn't speaking just to Joshua!  He is speaking to us as well. 

 

Not only did Abba tell Joshua to be brave and strong, He told Joshua, "See, I have given Jericho into your hand, its king, and the mighty men of valor."  Abba had already conquered and Joshua just had to go in and take the land Abba had already provided.  Joshua didn't have to wonder IF he would win, Joshua knew that Abba had ALREADY won.

 

Isn't this the same thing Abba has done for us through the sacrifice of Christ? Abba has ALREADY won, so we don't have to wonder IF Abba will help us overcome our challenges because He has. Life will ALWAYS bring challenges, if there were no challenges we would have no reason to believe that Abba will ALWAYS give strength to face them!   

Grace? Can It Really Be?

For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves,

 it is the gift of God; it is not from works, so that no one can boast. 

Ephesians 2:8-9 

 

Grace.  It's rather a little word that carries enormous meaning.  Charis is the Greek word for "grace" and it means: "the merciful kindness by which God."  Think about that!

 

We sing:

"Grace, grace, God's grace

Grace that will pardon and cleanse within
Grace, grace, God's grace
Grace that is greater than all our sin"

 

But what does that REALLY mean?

If you're like me, you have wasted years of life. You have made poor choices. Yet God answers the mess we've made of life with Grace!   God's Grace isn't a feeling. It isn't a vague concept. God's Grace changes us! It shapes us! It strengthens us! It will soften our hardest heart! God's Grace drenches us! God's Grace comes after us and takes us from insecure to God secure! 

 

God's great grace calls us to change and then gives us the strength and power to change!