TerryLema

“Joy to the World the LORD has come…. Let Heaven and Nature Sing.”

 I love music. I especially love Christmas songs. Oh, I’ll laugh at “Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer,” and grow nostalgic when I hear “White Christmas,” or “I’ll Be Home for Christmas.” But the songs I truly love to hear are the carols. “O, Come Let Us Adore Him.” “Hark the Herald Angels Sing.” “Silent Night,” “O Holy Night.” And the newest “carol,” “Mary Did You Know?”.

When I think of that first Christmas, I remember those Shepherds and the angels that first appeared to announce the birth of the Christ Child. It doesn’t say that the angelic hosts sang, but it does say that they praised. And to me praise and music walk hand in hand.

“Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.’” [Luke 2:1-14 NLT]

“Joy to the World the LORD has come…. Let Heaven and Nature Sing.”

I think all heaven was singing out Joy to the World that night. And I think those on earth who have God’s peace have been singing Joy to the World every night since! I know I’ve lent my voice to that earthly choir.

“Joy to the World the LORD has come…. Let Heaven and Nature Sing.”

“Joy to the World the LORD has come. Let earth receive her King.”

December is the season of joy. We celebrate the reason for this season, recognizing that apart from Jesus, there is no meaning in Christmas. God’s Son took on the form of humanity and came to earth as a Babe in a Manger.

But the December season of joy is always tempered by the knowledge that as we kneel in celebration before a babe in a manger, we will kneel in grief before the Man of the Cross. Earth did not receive her King. In fact, He was rejected and despised.

“He came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him. He came to his own people, and even they rejected him.” [John 1:10-11 NLT]

But … BUT, there is a promise to those who come in faith to the Babe in the Manger and the Man of the Cross. There is a promise of joy and life that is eternal!

“…to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God.” [John 1:12-13 NLT]

“Joy to the World the LORD has come. Let [all who believe and accept Him] receive their King.”

It is December! The Season of Joy is upon us. I love Christmas Carols, and none means more than to me on this first day of December than “Joy to the World”!

“Joy to the World, the LORD has come.”

Shortly after the angel Gabriel announced to Mary that she would be the mother of God’s Messiah, she traveled to her cousin Elizabeth, who was also pregnant (with John the Baptizer).

Upon arrival, before Mary said anything, the child in Elizabeth’s womb leaped with joy. Elizabeth proclaimed to Mary, “When I heard your greeting, the baby in my womb jumped for joy.” [Luke 1:39-45 NLT]

That is the way I feel on December 1 – like jumping for joy!

“Joy to the World, the LORD has come!”

I am reminded on this day that Christmas is about the coming of God’s Son. It is about Jesus. There is ABSOLUTELY no other reason for the season. He is Savior and LORD. He is the source of all our joy. He is the giver of life and peace and grace and love.

“Joy to the World, the LORD has come!”

I came across a warning in Psalm 146. It seemed a timely warning following this recent election. No matter what side of the election you are on (winners or losers) it is a warning we should heed. “Don’t put your confidence in powerful people; there is no help for you there.” [vs 3 NLT]

I wonder if we have been putting too much confidence in our government. Are we looking to them for the things we are to be seeking in God?

We should be responsible citizens and vote wisely and always with God’s holy standards and principles in mind. But at the same time, we must recognize that our citizenship here is a temporary one. Our true and eternal citizenship is in heaven. Out true government is a Theocracy … We serve the King of Kings, and LORD of Lords.

In fact, the psalmist opened Psalm 146 with a statement of truth about where our confidence should reside. “Praise the Lord! Let all that I am praise the Lord. I will praise the Lord as long as I live. I will sing praises to my God with my dying breath.” [vs1-2 NLT]

Tomorrow, we enter the Christmas season. Tomorrow, we turn our attention to the King of Glory who became a Babe in a Manger to save us from sin and judgment. Let’s put our confidence in Him, Christ Jesus our LORD.

Some days I cruise through the verses that come into my email inbox as either a study verse or verse of the day. Other days I hit the brakes, and you can almost smell the rubber burning as I come to an abrupt stop.

That happened this morning. The verse was from 1John 2:6: “Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did.” [NLT]

Immediately I am wondering if I am living my life “as Jesus did.”  That is a tough assignment. But how can I claim that I am “in Christ,” and that Christ is living in me If I do not say the things Jesus said and do the things Jesus did.

Jesus identified Himself with the prophecy found in Isaiah 61. He said that prophecy was fulfilled in Him.

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, and that the time of the Lord’s favor has come.” [Isaiah 61, Luke 4:18-19 NLT]

That was how Jesus lived. Now His Spirit lives in us. Now we are anointed to proclaim the Gospel to the lost. We are to declare that those who are held captive by sin, and guilt, and shame can be set free. We are to announce that those bound in darkness, those spiritually blinded and oppressed, now can have the light of Christ.

Am I living my life “as Jesus did?” I pray, Father, that I have courage and strength to do so. Amen

No devotion today – just a reminder that we are Children of God. And not only that!

“You are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light. ‘Once you had no identity as a people; now you are God’s people. Once you received no mercy; now you have received God’s mercy.’”  [1Peter 2:9-10 NLT]

Have a blessed and joyful Thanksgiving Day!

I am truly thankful for all of you who take the time to read these devotions. I pray you are blessed and encouraged.

Terry

My eyelids droop. Probably from years of removing eye makeup the wrong way! I don’t usually notice they are drooping until I have been looking at my computer screen or reading on my Kindle for a long time without a break. Then suddenly, I’ll sense that my eyes are nearly closed, demanding that I look away and consciously raise them.

One of my recent daily verses came from Psalm 119:18: “Open my eyes to see the wonderful truths in your instructions.” [NLT]

The verse made me stop and think – which I assume is the intention of daily verses. It reminded me that just as my natural eyelids gradually droop until I am barely seeing … so my “spiritual eyelids” do the same.

I get distracted. My focus shifts. I become complacent (or arrogant). I start concentrating on the things around me. Difficulties, illness, aging, finances threaten my peace.

Thankfully, the Holy Spirit will give me a great big nudge and I’ll realize that my “spiritual eyelids” have drooped once more and almost blinded me to the “wonderful truths” that are mine in God.

His great big nudge will remind me to repent and re-focus… to open my eyes to God’s Faith, Grace, Love, Mercy, Peace, Strength, Courage. And when I respond to Him, all that God is to me and in me becomes clear once again. Amen

There is a little book I love. I pick it up once a year and read through it. It is “The Valley of Vision.” [A Collection of Puritan Prayers and Devotions, edited by Arthur Bennett]

I don’t just “read” those prayers, I “pray” the prayers of Thomas Shepard, Thomas Watson, John Bunyan, Isaac Watts, Charles Spurgeon and others. The prayers of those saints of God expand my vision and deepen my resolve to live the life Christ has called us to live.

A line in today’s prayer caught my attention. “Help me to be … a dispenser of grace as well as a partaker of it …. That the name of Jesus may be glorified in me and I in Him.”  

A “dispenser of grace.”

In Matthew 10:1-10, Jesus called His 12 disciples. He gave them power to deliver and heal. Then He sent them out and commanded them to preach the Gospel, heal, cleanse, and deliver. They were to do this relying totally on the provision and power of God. He provides their motivation in Vs 8, “Freely you have received, [now] freely give.”

They were to be both “a dispenser of grace as well as a partaker of it.”

We have freely partaken of God’s grace … now we are to freely dispense it to others. In doing that the name of Jesus will be glorified. Amen and Amen

I downloaded a new mystery novel to my Kindle. I enjoy reading mysteries to just give my brain a bit of a break from deeper things. I like the old-fashioned whodunits.  I do have one bad habit, especially if the book is a good one … I read the last page to find out how it ends. I do like to know the end from the middle!

Maybe that is part of what I love about being a Christian … I know the end. I know how it is all going to turn out.  The Author of our Faith published it all so that we might know.

The evil instigator and tormenter and his cronies will get their just punishment.  Those who are faithful to the King of kings will receive their rewards. (Read the end of the Book)

I also know that the love of our Father will “endure forever.” Mercy and grace will be the password at the gate. Hope will no longer be needed because everything we hoped for (and more) will be realized. Faith will be retired; in its place we will see the One Who Gave It All for Us.  Love will flow endlessly. Loved ones will be reunited. Bodies and minds that failed will be strong and brilliant beyond imagination. There will be work to do surely; but, it will be glorious and we will never grow bored, tired, sick, or old again.

Oh, yes, I love knowing the end from the middle!

Thank you, Father! We do not have to worry that You will accept and love us at the end; You have already told us that Your love endures forever. Thank you for giving us the reassurance of “the end of the Book” now while we are in the middle of it all! Amen.