Long ago, at many times and in many
ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has
spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom
also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact
imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power.
After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the
Majesty on high. (Hebrews 1:1-3 ESV)
In the beginning was the Word, and
the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God….
He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not
know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to
all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become
children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor
of the will of man, but of God. 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 1:1-2, 10-14 ESV)
Have you
ever thought of what it was like in Israel before Jesus came? The Jewish nation
had not received a fresh word from the Lord for 450 years. The last prophet of
the older covenant, Malachi, spoke four centuries before Jesus was born.
In
comparison to the rest of the world, the United States is a relatively young
nation. Double the length of time the country has existed and this is how long
since the tribes of Israel had heard a fresh word from God. The people living
with the promise existed on a hope not based on a current encounter with the
Lord. They lived by an obedience void of a recent experience with their
Redeemer from oppression and bondage.
Today the
Holy Spirit abides in those following Jesus, yet Israelis did not have this
special blessing. The Holy Spirit did not reside in believers until after Jesus
ascended into Heaven, fifty days after dying on the Cross.
Does
ancient Israel’s situation relate to current circumstances? Possibly! Presently
many followers of Jesus are as thirsty and hungry for a fresh word from God as
the people of Israel must have been just prior to the day of Pentecost. If contemporary
believers find themselves starving while having the presence of the Holy
Spirit, then the Jewish people must have been famished to the point of death. Discouragement
was most likely a defining factor of their era.
Look at the
scenario from another perspective. What occurs when believers gather to worship
on a Sunday morning? They sing as a
means of bringing themselves into harmony with one another, united in thought
by the lyrics of songs. They give an
offering as a means of reflecting a core value of God who gave with supreme
liberality. They pray as a means of
communicating to the Lord about His nature and their needs. They examine Scripture to hear from God,
becoming reconciled in heart, soul, and body. Yet everything is done with
reliance upon the Holy Spirit who dwells within and guides worshipers to the
Heavenly Father.
Gathering
to worship is one way to experience a fresh word from the Lord. Under the
inspiration of the Holy Spirit, followers of Christ regularly come together to
gain a relevant message from His throne. Yet Israel went centuries without such
a blessing when they gathered. God’s people went so long without a word from
Him that they did not recognize the Incarnate Word when Jesus came.
Time and
distance impacts an awareness of God. The longer the interlude without a fresh
word from the Heavenly Father the more difficult it is to recognize when a divine
visitation takes place. Frequently failing to attend church dulls the senses
from knowing when God speaks. The gathering is weekly, not monthly or only
during established holidays.
Are you in need
of experiencing a fresh word from the Incarnate Word? Are you able to recognize
a divine word when it comes? A couple of clues out of the Christmas narrative can
help you answer the question.
A fresh word establishes
peace
The angels proclaimed on the first Christmas
morning, “Peace on earth.” They
could make this pronouncement because they knew Jesus as the Prince of Peace.
A world in conflict, or a nation in
conflict, or a community in conflict, or a person experiencing inward conflict
can have peace restored through Jesus, the Incarnate Word.
Peace is the result of grace, meaning to bind together. The peace that comes from the unmerited and
unearned love of God can weave a
fragmented soul with wholeness, a peace beyond full comprehension. You can
recognize a fresh word from God for it is saturated with peace.
In everyone is a potential civil war of
divergent drives. On an
increasing level people feel like a rubber band being stretched in every
direction. The Word made flesh
brings an end to turmoil and inner conflict. The past becomes forgiven, He controls the present, and He shows the way
into the future.
A fresh word establishes
joy
A favorite song during the holiday season is
“Joy to the World.” This can only
be sung because Jesus has come. He
is the joy of the annual celebration – not Christmas trees and lights,
Christmas gifts, Christmas cards and well-wishes, Christmas gatherings and programs,
or Christmas cheer.
Nehemiah reveals the importance of possessing
divine joy: “The joy of the Lord is our strength.” Joy is based on reconciliation with God and
the personal empowerment of the Holy Spirit. Such joy acts as a fortress, guarding you from the troubles and
temptations contained in each and every day. Such joy acts as the power and motivation to persevere through the
challenges of living. You can recognize a fresh word from God for it lifts your
spirit to supreme heights of joy.
Elton Trueblood, a classic writer of eternal
truths, wrote, “The Christian is joyful, not because he is blind to injustice
and suffering but because he is convinced that these, in light of God’s power,
are never ultimate.”
A mother and her daughter, dressed in shabby
clothes, were standing outside the Daley Center, near the Marshall Fields’
department store in downtown Chicago, admiring the manger scene on the square.
The setting was elaborately portrayed with Mary and Joseph, the baby Jesus, and
Wise Men bringing lavished gifts. The little girl kept staring at the face of
Mary, depicted in a very innocent and pure appearance. Finally, she said,
“She’s so beautiful but she does not know the pain and trouble we have.” The figurine
did not give an accurate interpretation, nor the completed story.
Christmas is a divine testimony to every
impoverished little child that He does know the pain and trouble people face.
God sent His Son to die and knows
exactly the hurt and sorrow of life. He recognizes, understands, and cares. And He also has the power to turn
all grief into joy.
A fresh word
establishes righteousness
Righteousness means being in a right relationship
with God. The chief reason why
Jesus came on the first Christmas morning was to restore everyone into a
suitable standing with the Heavenly Father.
Out of rebellion, also called willful
disobedience, a relationship with God became marred with shame, beginning in
the Garden of Eden. The current
condition of the soul is causing a sense of impending doom, feeling a great
dread with regards to life after death. Living without Jesus is troubling by the inevitability of the present life
coming to an end. Through faith
in Christ a relationship with God can be made right. You can recognize a fresh
word from God for it brings you into an eternal relationship with Him.
An ancient proverb states: “If there is
righteousness in the heart, there will be beauty in character. If there is
beauty in character, there will be harmony in the home. If there is harmony in
the home, there will be order in the nation. If there is order in the nation,
there will be peace in the world.”
The Incarnate Word restores a right standing
with God, bringing order to every dimension of life.
A fresh word
Current events reveal a world in
desperate need of a fresh word from God. People need the peace He provides, the
strength of His joy, and a right standing with Him. And God in these last days
is speaking through His Son, the Incarnate Word.
Are you keeping your experience with
the Incarnate Word alert and current? Has staleness developed in your heart? Has
peace and joy been lost? Then most likely a right standing with God has diminished
or disappeared. Make things right with Him this Christmas season, then join the
angels in worship of the soon coming King. He is coming again.
The Incarnate Word wishes to give
you a fresh word. I wish you a very Merry Christmas.
No comments:
Post a Comment