An Improbable baby and an Impossible Baby

Today I am on the 15th day of the Rediscovering the Christmas Season reading plan by YouVersion (you can sign up for it here). Today's theme is about God doing the impossible. The reading was Luke 1 and Jeremiah 32:17, which says, "Oh, Lord God! You Yourself made the heavens and earth by Your great power and with Your outstretched arm. Nothing is too difficult for you!"

Luke 1 tells the story of the arrival of an "improbable baby (John the Baptist)" and the announcement of "an impossible baby (Jesus)." These two acts set the stage for God to do the impossible- making sinful humanity right with a Holy God. The truth is- it is only impossible for us to achieve. We could never make ourselves right with God; however, this is more than possible for God- it is accomplished through the life and death of Jesus Christ.

Luke 1:17 caught my attention this morning. The angel, Gabriel, says that John the Baptist "will go before [Jesus] in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of fathers to their children, and the disobedient to the understanding of the righteous, to make ready for the Lord a prepared people."

I always pick up on the turning of disobedient people to the understanding of the righteous. I get that...isn't that what God wants to do? He wants to reach sinful people and make them righteous. However, I totally missed the other emphasis in this passage.

God's Spirit not only draws disobedient people to Himself, His Spirit also works in the heart of fathers [parents], I believe both physical and spiritual parents, to their children (again these can be both physical and spiritual).

What this means is that God's Spirit becomes active in the heart of spiritually mature people in order to raise up children, i.e. disciples. The passage says that these fathers "make ready for the Lord a prepared people."

God's Spirit not only goes after the those far from God to draw them back to Himself; He also stirs the heart of the spiritually mature to develop the spiritual children. The Spirit will not rest with just people coming to God. No His work is not finished until they become a prepared people for the Lord.

Jesus, please empower me to raise up for You a prepared people.

I Refuse

On Sunday (Dec. 12), we sang a new song, I Refuse, in our worship service. It is a different kind of song for us to sing in a worship setting- it doesn't focus on the character or deeds of God, but it is a song to God. A song that expresses our desires to be more than what we are...to do more than what we have done. I think it is a true expression of worship because it says, "God, you are worth more than the easy path or my comfort."

Josh Wilson, the writer of I Refuse, tells why he wrote the song here. I love that he realizes that he can't do everything, but he refuses to do nothing. I want to live that way as well. You can listen to the whole song here. I included the lyrics below.

Sometimes I,
I just want to close my eyes
And act like everyone’s alright
When I know they’re not.
This world needs God
But it’s easier to stand and watch.
I could pray a prayer and just move on
Like nothing’s wrong.

But I refuse.

‘Cause I don’t want to live like I don’t care.
I don’t want to say another empty prayer.
Oh, I refuse to
Sit around and wait for someone else
To do what God has called me to do myself.
Oh, I could choose
Not to move but I refuse.

I can hear the least of these
Crying out so desperately,
And I know we are the hands and feet
Of you, oh God.
So, if you say move,
Then it’s time for me to follow through,
And do what I was made to do.
Show them who you are.

‘Cause I don’t want to live like I don’t care.
I don’t want to say another empty prayer.
Oh, I refuse to
Sit around and wait for someone else
To do what God has called me to do myself.
Oh, I could choose
Not to move but I refuse.

To stand and watch
The weary and lost
Cry out for help.
I refuse
To turn my back
And try and act like all is well.
I refuse
To stay unchanged,
To wait another day,
To die to myself.
I refuse
To make one more excuse.

‘Cause I don’t want to live like I don’t care.
I don’t want to say another empty prayer.
Oh, I refuse to
Sit around and wait for someone else
To do what God has called me to do myself.
Oh, I could choose
Not to move but I refuse.

Jesus, I refuse to sit around and wait for someone else to do what You have called me to do myself.

Gifts I have already received for Christmas

Obviously the Christmas season is heating up. Trees are up and decorated, lights are turning neighborhoods into Clark Griswold wannabes, and shopping for gifts has gone into high gear.

I've been doing a lot of thinking about gifts lately. What do I get for my wife...my boys...my family? Then I've had to give ideas about what I want for Christmas to my family. It is hard to determine what exactly you need (or want) when there isn't a whole lot you really need. It sure makes gift giving more challenging when you are trying to find something special.

Anyway, 1 John 5:18-21 put a new perspective on gifts for me. As I was reading these verses, I was reminded of some incredible gifts that God has given me through Jesus. These are truly special gifts- gifts that I both need and want:

-He has given me freedom from the power of sin ("We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin")

-He has given me safety and security in my relationship with Christ ("the One (Christ) born of God keeps him (the believer) safe")

-He has given me protection from Satan ("and the evil one cannot harm him (the believer)")

-He has given me assurance and eternal security ("We know that we are children of God")

-He has delivered me from the control of the evil one ("and the whole world (which no longer defines a believer) is under the control of the evil one")

-He has given me understanding about Him and His will ("We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know Him who is true")

-He has given us a relationship with God and eternal life ("And we are in Him who is true- in His Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life")

Those are some incredible gifts. I encourage you to share the gift of Jesus with others this year at Christmas. He gives the gifts that everyone needs.

Jesus, thank you for these gifts. Gifts that were beyond my ability to obtain on my own, but gifts that you freely give to all who believe.

A Bible Reading Plan for Christmas

The other day I started a 25 day reading plan called Rediscovering The Christmas Season. It is available at YouVersion.com. It is 25 daily readings focused on keeping Jesus at the center of the Christmas season. It has a daily reading and some additional questions to encourage reflection.

I put the plan below but I really encourage you to go to youversion.com and sign up for a free account. It’s a wonderful tool I think you’ll love.

If you don't want to sign up for it on your mobile phone or device, I encourage you to read along with the plan anyway. Below are the 25 days and their reading. It is not too late to start.

Dec 1: Luke 2:21-40

Dec 2: Matthew 1

Dec 3: Luke 2:1-20

Dec 4: Mark 9:33-37

Dec 5: Matthew 4:12-17, Isaiah 9:1-3, Matt 5:14-16

Dec 6: Acts 20:35, 1 John 4:10

Dec 7: Exodus 25

Dec 8: Matthew 25:31-46

Dec 9: Isaiah 9:6-7, Revelation 19:1-16, 1 Timothy 6:11-16

Dec 10: Matthew 1:22-23, Isaiah 7:10-15, John 1:14

Dec 11: Genesis 1, Isaiah 1:18, Psalm 51:1-10

Dec 12: Revelation 2:1-5, 1 John 3:1-3

Dec 13: Psalm 150

Dec 14: Acts 15:22-31

Dec 15: Luke 1, Jeremiah 32:17

Dec 16: Matthew 2:1-12

Dec 17: Galatians 4:1-7

Dec 18:Isaiah 58, Matthew 6:16-18

Dec 19: Luke 11:1-13

Dec 20: John 1

Dec 21: John 21:25

Dec 22: Psalm 100

Dec 23: Matthew 25

Dec 24: John 3:16

Dec 25: Luke 1:26-56, Matthew 1:18-25, Luke 2:1-40