He Came As a Baby

As the children of Israel camped at Mount Sinai they saw the smoke and fire on the mountain.

“Now Mount Sinai was wrapped in smoke because the LORD had descended on it in fire. The smoke of it went up like the smoke of a kiln, and the whole mountain trembled greatly. And as the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God answered him in thunder” Exodus 19:18-19.

As readers coming to the event through the printed page, we might think this a wonderful and awesome sight. It was, however, rather terrifying for the Israelites.

“Now when all the people saw the thunder and the flashes of lightning and the sound of the trumpet and the mountain smoking, the people were afraid and trembled, and they stood far off and said to Moses, ‘You speak to us, and we will listen; but do not let God speak to us, lest we die’” Exodus 20:18-19.

An encounter with God is a terrifying thing. Even if you love, worship, and obey God as the prophet Isaiah did. When he was drawn into the presence of God he proclaimed,

“Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!” Isaiah 6:5.

This separation between Creator and creature, Holy and unholy, is real and understandable. But if there was ever to be reconciliation between the two;

Jesus Tree

And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”   Luke 2:10-14

Like everyone, we have a Christmas tree, decorated with lights and all sorts of other things. It’s a pretty nice looking tree (or so I think) without being ostentatious. As a family, we enjoy the process of decorating it while drinking hot cocoa and eating Christmas cookies with Christmas music playing in the background. Like you, we want to make every effort to keep Jesus at the center of our celebrations and not lose him in the midst of all the shimmer and shine. To this end,

Sit down, shut up

Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters! Let every person be quick to listen, slow to speak. James 1:19

I’m seeing what is for me a new application of this verse—I shouldn’t work so hard and be so quick to say something I think is profound, but rather be quicker to listen, working hard to pay attention with the hope of learning something new.

In this vein, I am further sobered by James when he says,

Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. For we all stumble in many ways. James 3:1-2a

Do I really think I know so much as to take this risk? Wouldn’t it be better to sit down, shut up, and listen to those more noble and wiser than I?

The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice.  Proverbs 12:15

Vanity, vanity

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:3

I confess that I’m an “Eeyore,” glass half empty Christian. I realize that admitting to that is, at least in the eyes of many, an admission of weak faith and lack of spiritual maturity. But it helps explain the fact that I actually find the biblical book of Ecclesiastes to be a source of encouragement. “Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities!” (Ecc 1:2). But, you see, life is more meaningless for some of us than for others. Some of us are more attuned to the brokenness of life because we live it every day. When we read Ecclesiastes we’re encouraged because

Leaving the Right Legacy

Sons are a heritage from the Lord, children a reward from him. Psalm 127:3

I have a granddaughter; my first. She’s only a few months old. Spending time with her has made me think. The joy of watching her smile is indescribable. Knowing that she is my flesh and blood is a wonder—God is continuing the human race, His image, through me. I see in her the next generation and know that my influence, however small, will be felt long after I’m gone. And I realize that no matter what else happens in my life—whatever I may or may not achieve, however rich or poor I may be, however great or small I may become—I’ll leave a legacy; a good one. Ultimately, the only one that really matters—my children and grandchildren. Perhaps, in part, this is what Jesus meant when he said,

But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:20-21

I’m encouraged to spend more time with my kids, more effort in the relationship, and more time in prayer for them. Ultimately, nothing else matters; they are the greatest project on which I’ll ever work; and, unlike my other projects and possessions, they will last forever. To paraphrase Jesus, what good will it do me to gain the whole world, but lose my children?

The Source of Joy

Scholar D.A. Carson shares the story of Dr. Martyn Lloyd Jones who was one of the most influential preachers of the twentieth century. A few weeks before he died someone asked him how, after decades of fruitful ministry and extraordinary activity, he was coping now that he was suffering such serious weakness it took much of his energy to move from his bed to his armchair and back. He replied in the words of Luke 10:20,

Do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.

In other words, Carson says, do not tie your joy, your sense of well-being, to power in ministry. Your ministry can be taken from you. Tie your joy to the fact that you are known and loved by God; tie it to your salvation; tie it to the sublime truth that your name is written in heaven. That can never be taken from you. Lloyd-Jones added, “I am perfectly content.”

Yahweh Jireh – We Are Redeemed

As Yahweh Jireh, God has revealed himself as our provider, the one who meets our needs. Central to understanding this name is recognizing Yahweh Jireh as the one who provides for our greatest need—the one which comes before all other needs, the one without which all other needs don’t really matter—our salvation. Our deepest need is redemption from sin and reconciliation with God who is our Creator and the Lover of our souls. This is ultimately what Abraham’s encounter with God in Genesis 22 is all about.

In John 8:56 Jesus says something interesting,

Yahweh Jireh – We Receive

God is Yahweh Jireh, our provider—the one who is there to provide for our needs. This includes our more ordinary need for sustenance. We have legitimate material needs—air, water, food, clothing, shelter.  As Yahweh Jireh, God has promised to meet those needs. We see this pattern from the very beginning.

And the LORD God planted a garden in Eden, in the east, and there he put the man whom he had formed. And out of the ground the LORD God made to spring up every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Genesis 2:8-9

Throughout Scripture this aspect of God’s character and work is emphasized.