Great Grace!

Posted on January 7, 2014 by Pete

Reading the opening chapters of Acts you can sense the growing momentum of the early church. As the body of Christ is birthed . . . as it, through the apostles, bears witness of the resurrection of Christ . . . as it grows in number . . . and as it is formed into a practical, authentic community, you just sense that there was an energy in the midst of these early believers. And at the center of it all . . . sustaining it all . . . was great grace.

Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all.
(Acts 4:32-33 ESV)

Whether it’s believing . . . or belonging . . . or giving . . . or serving . . . or preaching with great power . . . it was all fueled by great grace.

God’s favor upon God’s people.

We’ve introduced a new song to our church body over the past few weeks . . . Matt Redman’s “Your Grace Finds Me.” The song concludes with the anthem-like chorus, “So I’m breathing in Your grace . . . And breathing out Your praise . . . I’m breathing in Your grace, Forever!” Isn’t that the response of the fresh realization that when all is said in done, we swim in an ocean of unmerited favor?

Isn’t “great grace” the truth we need to never stray far from . . . whether we think we’re doing pretty good or know we’re messing up? Isn’t that the foundational reality that, when grasped, causes us to set our minds on things above . . . when we realize that whatever our circumstance, whether we think we’re winning or losing, that we know that great grace is upon us . . . that His grace finds us?

As I hover over “great grace” . . . as I meditate on the great grace that hovers over me . . . few words come to mind (or to fingers) . . . instead, there is just a sense of awe and wonder. A desire to reflect and respond with thanksgiving and worship.

If you’ve got a few minutes . . . check out Matt Redman’s “Your Grace Finds Me” by clicking here.

Great grace! Great, great God!

Amen?

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Angels Came

Posted on January 6, 2014 by Pete

One of those passages that is so easy to skim over. Yeah . . . yeah . . . been there, read that. I’m talking about the temptation of Jesus in Matthew 4. Pretty familiar account . . . I know who wins. Three times Jesus is tempted . . . three times the devil is repelled by the Living Word of God with the written word of God . . . game, set, match . . . lets move on. But not this morning. For some reason verse 11 put a halt on things . . . and I’m wondering about the implications of the fact that “angels came.”

Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to Him.   (Matthew 4:11 ESV)

Now, I know that angels are “ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation” (Heb. 1:14). But here we’re not talking about inheritors of salvation but about the Author of Salvation. And I wonder what kind of shape Jesus the man was in when the devil finally departed.

What was the condition of Him who had fasted and subjected Himself to the wilderness for those 40 days and 40 nights before encountering the serpent? To be sure, Jesus would have been physically spent from the deprivation of food as well as weathering the elements.

But, beyond that, what was the toll from His encounter with Satan? Was it just a “war of words” between the two, or was there more? When it says that “the devil took Him” (4:5, 8), did the dark embodiment of sin actually manhandle the holy Son of God? Did the roaring lion who goes about seeking to devour someone (1Peter 5:8) lay hands on the Lamb of God? And if so, I can’t imagine that the serpent would have gently transported the One who would bruise his heel as he set Him on the pinnacle of the temple or took Him to that high mountain overlooking the kingdoms of the world.

What was it for the Holy Son of God to subject Himself to the enemy of His kingdom? What was His condition that it was necessary that angels came?

I’m thinking the answers to the questions are less important than realizing afresh the depths of experience and suffering the Savior endured that He might be the pure, undefiled sacrifice for my sin. That because He won, through His substitutionary death for me, I win too.

The speculation of what happened in the wilderness is just that, speculation . . . but what I do know is that “because He Himself has suffered when tempted, He is able to help those who are being tempted” (Heb. 2:18) . . . and that “we do not have a High Priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin” (Heb. 4:15).

Angels came . . . and ministered to the Son of God. For sure they fed Him . . . I’m guessing that they may have brought some heavenly electrolyte drink . . . but was there more . . . were there wounds to tend to? I don’t know.

But I am reminded this morning of the depths my Lord went to in order to secure and sustain my salvation.

And so, like those angels, I too come . . . not too minister to Him . . . but to worship Him . . .

To Him be all glory . . .

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God of My Righteousness

Posted on January 3, 2014 by Pete

You sense that David was getting some bad press. Not just people gossiping about David’s flaws . . . but out and out lies targeted at his reputation by his enemies. They sought to turn his honor into shame . . . they made up things to make him look bad. And while it caused David some distress . . . who wouldn’t be distressed? . . . at the end of the day, he knew relief from the Lord . . . a joy in his heart . . . a peace that allowed him to sleep well at night . . . all because he knew the Lord was the “God of my righteousness.”

Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness!
   You have given me relief when I was in distress.
   Be gracious to me and hear my prayer! . . .
In peace I will both lie down and sleep;
   for You alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.    (Psalm 4:1, 8 ESV)

If David had to rely on his own righteousness in order to defend himself . . . if it truly was about his track record . . . then even this man after God’s own heart was done. He’d have more than enough reason to fret and be discouraged . . . and his enemies would have more than enough ammunition to accuse him with. But David, before the gospel was even called the gospel, knew the good news that God was, as Spurgeon says, “the author, the witness, the maintainer, the judge, and the rewarder of my righteousness.”

David’s righteousness was found in God alone. Only by God’s grace . . . only through the future provision of David’s descendant, Jesus . . . could David confidently claim a righteousness not His own . . . the righteousness of God Himself.

For our sake He made Him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.    (2Corinthians 5:21 ESV)

Having then this assurance of God’s unmerited cloak of righteousness upon him, David could rest despite his accusers’ claims. He could rest because God would be the maintainer of his righteousness. Through abiding communion . . . by means of God’s sanctifying Spirit . . . David’s boast would continue to be solely in the gracious work of God in his life. By whatever manner his heart was stirred to seek the Lord . . . to whatever degree he understood the things of God . . . he would remember that it was only due to the favor shown him by the One who called him out of the sheep’s pasture . . . only in the power of the One who enabled him to slay a giant . . . only due to the Him who in Sovereign grace sets apart the godly for Himself (v.3).

And so David would know joy and peace as he remembered that the God of his righteousness is the righteous God . . . He who judges with perfect judgment . . . He who rewards with just rewards.

I’m not aware of anyone slandering me today . . . though there is this repetitive whisper of an accuser who points out my flaws and failures, very real flaws and failures. But I also “hear” another voice . . . the voice of God’s Spirit . . . through the truth of God’s word . . . reminding me that He is my assurance . . . that He is my defense . . . that He is “the author, the witness, the maintainer, the judge, and the rewarder of my righteousness.”

To Him be all glory . . .

He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, whom God made our wisdom and our righteousness and sanctification and redemption. Therefore, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”    (1Corinthians 1:30-31 ESV)

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Worth It

Posted on January 2, 2014 by Pete

There seems to be a direct cause and effect. The actions of one man on earth having an impact on the heart of the one and only God of heaven. And it makes me think how valued is worship by the Lord. As if God says that, despite man’s fickleness and failure . . . although it might just be easier to wind the whole creation thing down, . . . that there is something so precious in sincere worship offered by faith, that God’s says, in essence, everything else I have to put up with is worth it.

Then Noah built an altar to the LORD and took some of every clean animal and some of every clean bird and offered burnt offerings on the altar. And when the LORD smelled the pleasing aroma, the LORD said in His heart, “I will never again curse the ground because of man, for the intention of man’s heart is evil from his youth. Neither will I ever again strike down every living creature as I have done.”    (Genesis 8:20-21 ESV)

It’s the “then” and “when” of these verses that’s got me thinking . . .

“Then” . . . after Noah had found favor in they eyes of the Lord (8:8) . . . after, in faith, he had obeyed God in building the ark and gathering its passengers . . . after God, in His saving power, shut the door of the boat, securing Noah and his family against the coming flood . . . after the land had dried out and Noah walked again on terra firma . . . then, Noah built an altar to the Lord and offered up sacrifices of thanksgiving and praise.

A man responds by faith, is saved by God, and so he worships. Seems like the appropriate response to me. And what never ceases to amaze me about the meager offerings of men is that they are a “pleasing aroma” to our God. The NKJV says it was a “soothing aroma” . . . the idea being of the sacrifice’s quieting effect upon God . . . its sweet smell bringing a pleasure to the God of Creation that, in a sense, I think, moves Him to pause and relish the response of faith. Sweet, sweet, worship!

And that brings me to the “when.” When God sees Noah, an object of grace, build the altar . . . as He watches Noah take of that which is a very rare commodity, some of the clean animals, and offer them as burnt offerings . . . as God observes Noah, I imagine, lower his head, bow his heart, maybe even go facedown . . . as God breathes in deeply the scent of worship arising from the face of a newly rescued earth . . . when that happens, then God determines in Himself, “Never again.”

There seems to be a cause and effect here. Though the nature of man’s heart has not changed . . . though Adam’s legacy still remains . . . though Noah is just a few glasses of wine from knowing again the depths of sin’s infection . . . there is at that moment, when Noah builds an altar and God smells a sweet aroma, something which moves God to say, “It’s worth it.”

The failure is worth it to see the faith. The refining is worth it in order to see the response. The war with the flesh is worth it to see the worship in spirit.

How much does our God delight in our worship? I’m thinking a lot!

Don’t fully understand it . . . but something within me says that God’s delight in receiving our offerings of thanksgiving, praise, and worship are such that they move Him to continued patience and grace so that He might, from time to time, inhale deeply of our sweet smelling sacrifices.

Worth it.

To Him be all glory . . .

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No Middle Ground

Posted on December 31, 2013 by Pete

The end of another year . . . unreal! Though cliche . . . it’s true . . . time flies. Can’t help but being a bit pensive. Thinking of the year that was . . . wondering about the year that will be. And while I keep saying I’m not much of a “resolution person,” I do take stock . . . and there are things that I, by the grace of God, aspire to. Some things that I want to do . . . or maybe not do . . . but mostly things that I want to be . . . things that I want to mark me . . . characterize me . . . things I’d like to be known for. Psalm 1 this morning calls out one of those things . . .

Blessed is the man
       who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
   nor stands in the way of sinners,
       nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
but his delight is in the law of the LORD,
       and on His law he meditates day and night.    (Psalm 1:1-2 ESV)

O’ to be one who delights in the law of the LORD. That the word of God would be my desire and longing . . . that it would be among my greatest pleasures. And not the word for the word’s sake . . . not just to know it as some inert body of knowledge . . . not that it might be a catalog of facts and data to be replayed as if participating in some trivia game. But that it might be used of God to work the work He has begun in me through His saving grace. That it would be water and bread for a soul that hungers and thirsts after the things of righteousness. . . a two-edged sword set at battle against a stubborn old nature . . . a toolkit used by the indwelling Spirit of sanctification as He conforms me more into the image of the Son. O’ that I might continue to delight in the God-breathed Scriptures.

And, as I hover over these verses this morning, it seems to me that there’s another reason why I would want to pursue the revealed counsel of God. There appears to be no middle ground.

If I am not delighting in His word, then what’s left is to be drawn into the counsel of the wicked . . . to be enticed to stand in the way of sinners . . . and, God forbid, in danger of even aligning myself with scoffers. It seems that something will become our truth . . . and, if it is not THE TRUTH, then that which will fill the void will be the thinking and ways of the ungodly . . . of a world fundamentally set against the things of God. Kind of a scary place for the child of God to think of being. Enough, it would seem to me, to become a “resolution person.”

No middle ground? I’m thinkin’ . . .

So, by the grace of God . . . and for the glory of God . . . I would delight in the law of the LORD . . . I would meditate on His precepts . . . I would submit myself to His word.

Anyone with me . . . ?

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The Lamb Forever

Posted on December 30, 2013 by Pete

Wrapping up my 2013 reading plan this morning . . . hovering over Revelation 21 and 22. A bit in awe of the wonder of that which is yet to come. Taking note again of the promises. Promises of things that won’t be there . . . like tears or mourning . . . no more crying nor pain . . . death is done! (21:4) And promises of things that will be there . . . the spring of the water of life able to satisfy for eternity and, still without payment (21:7) . . . the ability and access to gaze upon the face of God . . . able to see Him both as the Father and the Son. And there will be worship (22:3, 8) . . . ya’ think?

But what jumped off the page, as it has before as I’ve read through Revelation, is the number of times reference is made to the Lamb . . . 7 times in these last two chapters.  That Christ is seen in heaven is no surprise . . . but that He is recognized and referred to so often as “the Lamb” is.

Of all the ways in which Jesus might be known, why is it that the most enduring for eternity will apparently be that of the Lamb? He could be known as the Lion of Judah . . . forever gazed upon as the Bridegroom . . . revered endlessly as the Conquering Warrior . . . bowed before gladly as the Majesty on High, King of Kings and Lord of Lords. And to be sure, He will be. But, as John views the culmination of God’s plan of salvation, He sees the Lamb, again and again.

The Lamb come to take away the sin of the world (John 1:29) . . . the Lamb, though the Son of God, made of no reputation that He might taste death for every person . . . the Lamb, whose blood shed on the cross of Calvary was the once for all, sufficient, atoning offering for all transgression . . . the Lamb who, after three days in the grave, rose victorious, conquering sin and death . . . the Lamb who is now ascended, having gone to prepare a place for us . . . the Lamb, for eternity recognized, known, and worshiped as the Lamb.

If it were me, I might strike the image from heaven. In a place where there is no death, why be reminded of the death of the Son of God? In a place where there is no sin, why consider and reconsider the awful wages of sin? In a place where all things are new, why the tie with that of old?

But even as I consider the option of a Lamb-less heaven . . . and ask what quickly seem to be ridiculous questions . . . I sense the wonder that will be ours for eternity as we behold the Lamb.

For eternity, the grace of God will be known in the Son. Every time we look to the throne of God, and see the Lamb in the midst, we’ll know afresh the depths of God’s love. The nail prints will be a forever reminder of the extreme God went to in order to redeem a people for Himself.

And the awe will flow . . . just like “the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb” (22:2). And we’ll raise our heads . . . and, with loud voices, join angels in praise of His everlasting works. And our knees will buckle . . . and we’ll go facedown in unrestrained worship of all that He is.

Behold the Lamb . . . the Lamb forever.

To Him be all glory . . .

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Put Me to the Test

Posted on December 26, 2013 by Pete

I think if I was hooked up to a machine that measured your “risk taking quotient” like those machines that measure your heartbeat that I might “flat line.” Whatever the definition of risk adverse is, I think I might personify it. My “bucket list” is probably, by most standards, boring . . . my sense of adventure isn’t. Been this way since I can remember . . . I like to think “that’s the way God made me” . . . and so, I embrace it . . . I’m that part of the decision making spectrum. But I’d also like to think that if I push the envelope anywhere it’s in learning to “trust in the Lord with all my heart” (Prov. 3:5-6). And so this morning, as I’m reading Malachi, there’s an exhortation that’s caught my attention . . . and caused me to think about the need to be “all in” when it comes to seeking first the kingdom (Matt 6:33).

Bring the full tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house. And thereby put Me to the test, says the LORD of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.   (Malachi 3:10 ESV)

While I find the latter part of the verse attractive . . . heaven’s windows opened . . . blessings pouring down . . . no more need, it’s God’s challenge to “put Me to the test” that stirs me. It’s as if He’s saying, “Put it out there for for the kingdom . . . step out of your comfort zone FOR Me . . . take a risk ON Me . . .and see if I can’t be trusted.”

You got to think that bringing “full tithes” was a risky proposition . . . that making sure God’s storehouse was fully stocked while your cupboards were less than full went against the natural “me and my family” tendencies . . . that knowing that others were bringing tithes too led to the temptation to let others take the chance. But God says, Take a risk . . . Put me to the test . . . See if I can’t be trusted.

Doesn’t come natural for a natural-born non-risk taker. But it does kind of excite me . . . to try the faithfulness of God . . . to know experimentally that the steadfast love of the Lord never fails . . . to prove that His mercies really are new every morning (Lam. 3:22-23).

I’m not really a New Year’s resolution guy . . . but as I contemplate 2014, and whatever storehouses are to be filled . . . and whatever decision will need to be made, . . . I want to, as led by the Spirit of God and dependent upon the grace of God, put Him to the test. I want to be “all in” . . . and see the windows of heaven opened . . . and know the blessing of His presence as I seek to abide in His will . . . and, regardless of outcomes, need nothing more than Him . . . all for His glory.

Kind of out there for someone’s who’s mostly risk adverse. Kind of appropriate, though, for a follower of a great, great, God.

Amen?

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The Branch

Posted on December 24, 2013 by Pete

To be honest . . . it kills me to be offline . . . that’s where I’ve mostly been these past few days. We drove down to Santa Cruz to see my second oldest graduate as an RN . . . and now we (as in Sue and I, all the girls, a couple of sons-in-law, and one of our “adopted” daughters) are at the lodge that she and her husband manage outside of Yreka CA (check out the URL if your interested http://www.scottriverlodge.com/lodgeindex/#/lodge-gallery/ ). Here, though, the “offline-ness” is due to being “online” with the family. How blessed am I? Pretty!!!!

As I’m wrapping up my reading plan for the year I’ve been working my way through Zechariah . . . and the pause for thought phrase that’s caught me is “the Branch.”

Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, you and your friends who sit before you, for they are men who are a sign: behold, I will bring My servant the Branch. And say to Him, “Thus says the LORD of hosts, ‘Behold, the Man whose name is the Branch: for He shall branch out from His place, and He shall build the temple of the LORD. It is He who shall build the temple of the LORD and shall bear royal honor, and shall sit and rule on His throne. . . .”    (Zechariah 3:8, 6:12-13 ESV)

At this time of year we tend to focus on the names of the Savior . . . Immanuel, God with Us . . . Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace . . . “and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins.” How sweet is the name of Jesus? So sweet! And for the past couple of days, amidst all the “familiar” names of the Son of God at this birthday remembrance, another has been added . . . the Branch.

Not the grand limb . . . not the flourishing bough . . . but the Branch . . . a sprout . . . a shoot of the Davidic tree. Come, the first time, as God’s faithful servant . . . a meek, lowly, tender Branch. Come, the first time, to rule not on an earthly throne over a physical kingdom . . . but to rule in the hearts of men who, by faith alone, due to grace alone, invite Him in as Sovereign of their lives and welcome the establishment of His kingdom into their lives.

A King who came, the first time, as a servant. The LORD of Creation born as man that He might be the Lamb of God. The Branch . . . a hint of the rule of God over the affairs of men . . . born to die on a tree . . . that through His death, we might know life . . . and life to the full!

But, “Behold the Man whose name is the Branch” will return . . .  to build a temple . . . to bear royal honor . . . and to sit and rule on His throne!  The Branch is coming again!

The Tender Shoot returns as Mighty Warrior. The meek and lowly Jesus comes again with a name written on His thigh, “KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.”

Just as we anticipate the celebration of His birth tomorrow, so too we anticipate the culmination of salvation’s plan with His return in a day which we hope is not too far away . . . and which we believe could be today.

The world is still as unfriendly to the Branch as it was then . . . His grace compelling Him to wait patiently . . . His Spirit actively wooing men and women toward the Savior. But, there is coming a day . . .

And so, I bless the Branch . . . and I beckon the King.

A blessed Christmas to all . . . for His glory.

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.    (John 1:14 ESV)

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According to What He Has Done

Posted on December 19, 2013 by Pete

It is probably one of the most chilling paragraphs in all Scripture. John, in his vision, sees a great white throne and the One who was seated on it (Rev. 20:11). The throne is great because it is the very seat of the majesty and power of God. It is white because it is the seat of purity and holiness . . . the very standard by which everything is allowed into His presence. And standing before the throne are “the dead, great and small” . . . all of them. And beside them are “the books.” The books are the accurate record of every human deed . . . the full and complete account, made by an all-knowing God, of that which every person has done while on earth. And, writes John, “the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done” (20:12).

And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done.   (Revelation 20:13 ESV)

“According to what they had done.” That would seem to be the most chilling phrase in one of the most chilling paragraphs in all Scripture.

The thought of standing before Almighty God and having to give account for every thought thought, every word spoken, and every action taken is absolutely frightening . . . fill-me-with-dread frightening. That’s because I know about me what He knows about me. I know the days before being born again . . . I know the failures since being born again. And, if they were the basis upon which I were to be judged by a Righteous and Just Sovereign, I’d be done. The books wouldn’t lie . . . the appropriate verdict would be evident.

But this morning, as the dread of imagining that day settles in my stomach, I also note that, along with “the books,” there is another book open, “the book” . . . “the book of life.”

It is the “Lamb’s book of life” (21:27). And in it, rather than a record of deeds, there is a list of names . . . written from the foundation of the world (17:8). And, for those names listed in that book, their standing before Most Holy God will not be according to what they had done . . . but solely according to what He has done.

The names in the book are the redeemed. Those who plead only the saving grace of a loving God through the finished work of a spotless Savior. If asked on what merit they should be allowed into the very presence of a holy God, they will answer, “Because of the atoning blood of the Lamb . . . because, by faith, I have believed in Jesus as the Son of God and received His once-for-all sacrifice for sin as my own . . . because, by grace, You have washed me clean and robed me in His righteousness . . . and made me new . . . and adopted me into Your family. Not according to what I have done, but according to what Your Blessed Son has done.”

My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness . . .

And, while the dread abides for those who dare to stand before God on that day based on their own merit and according to what they have done, there is rising an incense of praise which ascends to heaven as I reflect again upon the grace found in the gospel . . . and I recall the righteousness that is mine in and through Christ . . . and I remember that my hope is founded only according to what He had done.

To Him be all glory . . . to Him be all praise.

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So Unlike His First!

Posted on December 18, 2013 by Pete

His second visit will be so unlike His first. His return in glory will be in a manner so different from His original coming into the world. The non-descript manger gives way to a white horse. The meek and lowly Babe will, in that day, be manifest as the King of kings and Lord of lords . . . His swaddling clothes replaced with many diadems and a robe dipped in blood. He who made Himself nothing . . . condescending to being born in the likeness of men . . . content at His first entrance to utter no more than the gurgling sounds of an infant . . . will, on that day, speak as the Commander of the armies of heaven, and from His mouth will come a sharp sword with which He will strike down nations. He who was called Jesus will be called Faithful and True . . . He was known as the son of Mary, will then be called the Word of God. Yeah . . . His second coming will be so unlike His first.

As I read in Revelation 19 this morning, while Christmas songs play quietly in the background, I can’t help but once again be moved by the contrast between these visions of which John writes and the pictures portrayed by the songs I hear . . .

Away in a manger . . . no crib for bed . . . the little Lord Jesus . . . lay down His sweet head . . .

Oh, what a disservice is done the Son of God if He never “grows up” and leaves the manger. If only remembered as God’s gift packaged in straw and surrounded by barn animals, then He is really no Savior at all.

The Christ child must grow up . . . the Creator enter fully into the trials and temptations of His creation . . . yet without sin. Having known experimentally the human condition He must then atone for the flesh’s failure . . . the Son of God offering Himself as the Lamb of God . . . the once for all sacrifice for man’s rebellion . . . for, without the shedding of blood, there is no remission of sins. Thus He would be the Savior for the penalty of sin.

But that the Holy Infant should taste death for all men could not be the end . . . but just the beginning. Just as there was no room for Him in the inn, so too, there could be no room for Him in the tomb. And so, on the third day, He rose from the dead . . . visibly, physically, demonstrating His victory over sin and death. His resurrection giving way to His ascension . . . and the sending of Another, just like Him, to indwell all those who, through faith, would own Him as Savior and Lord. The Holy Spirit taking the rewired spiritual DNA of the reborn, and enabling the people of God to say no to the old man . . . being conformed more and more to the nature of Him who once lay in a manger. And so He would also be the Savior from the power of sin.

And soon, there will come a day when He will be shown to be, beyond all dispute, the Savior who saves from the very presence of sin. When the ascended Christ returns as mighty Warrior. When He puts down all rebellion . . . when He completes the redemption of all things unto Himself . . . when He shows Himself in all His glory, power, and majesty . . . when the Prince of Peace establishes His universal rule.

One of the blessings of this season, where we are reminded of the fulfillment of the promise of His first coming, is the heightened anticipation of the promise of His second coming. When looking back causes us to again look forward . . . when looking down on the Babe in the manager turns our faces heavenward as we anticipate the Rider on the white horse . . . when reflecting on His birth refuels our longing for His return.

Yeah . . . His second coming will be so unlike His first. Even so, come Lord Jesus!

Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask Thee to stay . . . Close by me forever, and love me, I pray . . . Bless all the dear children in Thy tender care . . . And fit us for heaven, to live with Thee there.

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