Tag: word

Joy and Expectation

Job 33:14-30, Psalm 126, Luke 1:35-45

In many respects, joy is both easy and incredibly difficult to truly understand. On one hand, we understand that joy is something much deeper than the feelings of the moment. Yet, on the other hand, we use the word joy often when we really mean happy or maybe happier than usual, but still happy.

It is time for us to claim joy. This is not a “name it to claim it” kind of thing. We must have a definition that makes sense within the context of Christianity and that helps us use the word in a similar way. Let us define joy as a deep-seated emotion that provides assurance, resolve, positive outlook, and is life-giving through building up of self and others, and is based upon the character and nature of God—Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

As we look through most translations of scripture, we can see where joy is not used in the above way and that’s okay. This word is for us to use when we especially talk about the joy of Christmas.

Reminiscent of Abraham and Sarah, Elizabeth and Zechariah were expecting their first child in their advanced age. This pregnancy was a result of God’s faithfulness (not Zechariah’s) and was life-giving in two ways. First, Elizabeth and Zechariah were ashamed (life-taking) due to the lack of a child. Second, their child would go before the Messiah, announcing the Messiah’s coming (giving life and hope to others).

Many years ago, I heard a Christmas Eve sermon that was startling. In fact, my family and I were appalled at the sermon. It started with, “Tonight, we are all pregnant.” It took me many years to actually understand—more than just intellectually—what he meant.

With wanted pregnancies, the two biggest emotions are joy and expectation. These are the two (or should be) biggest emotions of Christmas. Not for the presents or family or food or parties, but for Jesus. The Savior of the world, and of you and me.

1) Are you really looking forward to Jesus coming?

2) Christmas looks: to the past when Christ was born in a manger; to the now for transformed lives; to the future when Jesus comes again. How does that perspective change how you view Christmas this year?

3) It’s easy to get into the habit of “just” another annual celebration with Christmas (as with any holiday or observance). What will you do to keep it fresh this year?

KD) If you knew you were not getting any presents this year for Christmas, would you still look forward to Christmas? Why, or why not?

2018-12-16
Peace and Holiness

Ezekiel 37:24-28, Romans 12:9-18, Hebrews 12:7-15

“I will make a covenant of peace with them…”
Ezekiel 37:26

“Live in harmony with one another…”
Romans 12:16

“If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peach with everyone.”
Romans 12:18

“Pursue peace with everyone, and holiness—without it no one will see the Lord.”
Hebrews 12:14

When God speaks to Ezekiel, the consequences of living a life outside of and away from God are showing up to the Israelites, and it is not a pretty picture. Something to understand throughout Ezekiel is that while the consequences of not living life with God is bad, God promises hope. Especially a hope which cannot be earned. God makes the new covenant of peace.

We, too, have a covenant with peace to live out. It is the covenant of peace with others. In Romans 12, Paul is talking specifically about the peace between members of the Christian framily. However, this peace is supposed to also spill out into our relationships outside of the church framily.

The author of Hebrews, however, makes what can be chilling ties to peace with others: holiness and divine life. Mercifully, the author of Hebrews uses the word “pursue.” Other translations have it as “strive for” or “chase after.” As we read yesterday, peace requires effort.

Peace and holiness are tied together by the author of the Hebrews. This is not unreasonable, as the ultimate peace is given by God who is holy. The importance of living at peace with one another—especially, but not exclusively, in the church framily—cannot be overstated. If the Children of God are not at peace with one another, what kind of peace can they share with others?

1) What does it mean to you that “no one will see the Lord” when it comes to being at peace with one another and holiness?

2) Is being at peace with one another important to you? Why or why not?

KD) We all struggle with being at peace with one another. Are you pursuing peace with others? What are you willing to give up to have peace?

2018-12-12
To Keep or To Make Peace
Psalm 16, Matthew 5:1-10, 2 Corinthians 5:16-21

“When a person’s ways please the LORD, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.”
Psalm 16:7

In many parts of the world, the United Nations has stationed peacekeepers. Their purpose is to be a soothing presence in the midst of conflict that has, temporarily, stopped bloodshedding. However, they do not make peace. Their goal is to keep conflict from breaking back out.

Often, sadly, they are merely symbolic. They often are not empowered to actually make peace, and they will usually be pulled out of an area they were stationed in if hostilities rise again. This is not to say that the UN Peacekeepers should violently enforce the peace. That would be counterproductive.

In daily life, people will do many things to keep the peace, even if it is not (even from their own perspective) the best thing spiritually, socially, economically, or physically. Peace is kept by doing nothing. It is a peace of questionable value.

In this section of Matthew called the Beatitudes, the word peacemaker is nearest to reconciler. In other words, “Blessed are the reconcilers.” Paul states that part of the Christian life is to be reconcilers. We are not only to be reconciled to God (through Jesus) and fellow Christians but to help the world to come to the table and to be reconciled to God and each other.

Imagine the whole world reconciled to God and each other. That would be a peace worth having.
1. For you, what is the difference between a peacekeeper and a peacemaker?
2. Being a peacemaker is one of the callings of the Christian life. What are you doing to be a peacemaker?
3. On the playground, in the classroom, online, or at home, what do you do that isn’t peacemaking? What is one thing you can do this coming week to change that?
2018-12-08
Hope Fulfilled and Hope to Come

Psalm 25:1-10, Jeremiah 33:14-16, Luke 21:25-36

“…for you are the God of my salvation…” Psalm 51:5

“In those days and at that time, I will cause a Righteous Branch to sprout up for David, and he will administer justice and righteousness in the land.
Jeremiah 33:15

“…they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.”
Luke 21:27

Hope. It’s a big word for how small it looks. The Psalmist knows God is the source of his salvation, despite current circumstances. God’s words to Jeremiah provide for a hope that Jeremiah can guess he will not see, but they are still hope for the Israelites.

Christmas is about hope. It is about Emmanuel, which means God with us. It is about God sending the Son down to us. Advent, however, is not just about Christmas, and the singular time that God became man. Advent also looks forward to the next time God returns…at the end of the story.

Advent, therefore, is about both the hope fulfilled for both Israelites and the rest of the world, and it is about the hope to come when Jesus returns. Hope is to desire with expectation of obtainment or fulfillment. Hope was fulfilled when Jesus was born in a manger. We obtained hope through his death on the cross and his resurrection. Then there is the expectation of the return of Jesus…more hope!

1/KD) Why is hope important?

2) Why do we easily think of the hope of Christmas, but not of the hope of Jesus’ return?

3/KD) What is your hope this Christmas?

4/KD) What is your hope a year from now?

2018-12-02