Month: January 2022

Luke 2:8-10, NKJV

On the night of the birth of our Savior in the city of Bethlehem, “there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night” (v.8). The shepherds had a visit from “an angel of the Lord.” “The glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid” (v.9). When one of God’s angels stands before us, radiating God’s glorious presence, it’s a certainty that we will be terrified. Our loving Father’s response to these lowly shepherds was “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people” (v.10). Then the angel said to them, “For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (v.11). The angelic announcement of the birth of Christ Jesus as the Savior, the Messiah, of the world was “good news of great joy.” The great joy – the long promised Savior of the world – had arrived. His arrival meant that the whole world had the opportunity to be saved from their sins. Now ain’t that good news!

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). Will you humble yourself today and give up your selfishness for Christ’s selflessness? Let your response be that you accept Jesus, God’s great joy to the whole world.

Hebrews 13:20-21, Amplified Bible

God does not operate haphazardly or by chance to accomplish anything. He is a God of will and purpose; He does everything in decency and in order. He has a plan for every believer to glorify Him according to His will. In verses 18-19 the writer asked for continued prayers of these Hebrew believers. Prayer is a very powerful tool believers have to communicate with God. Our leaders do need the support of the righteous through our persistent, effectual prayers. These prayers can accomplish much. He goes on in verses 20-21 to give the benediction, a short prayer typically given at the end our worship service. He asks God’s blessings for the Hebrew believers.

He begins by acknowledging our heavenly Father as the God of peace, from whom our serenity and spiritual well-being comes. Without a relationship with the living God through faith in Christ Jesus, we cannot have peace. “Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it” (Psalm 34:14). He continues to pray that God resurrected our Lord Jesus, the great Shepherd of the sheep from the dead. It is through his blood that the Father sealed and confirmed the eternal covenant (v.20). His prayer assures us that we live because Jesus, the great Shepherd lives. We agree to obey God and in return He will grant us the blessings of eternal life.

 He prays that the God of peace will “equip the believers with every good thing to carry out His will and strengthen you, making you complete and perfect as you ought to be” (v.21a). Believers are perfected in every good work for God’s will. He prays God will “accomplish in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen” (v.21b). Today will you allow God to make you perfect and mature in every good work for His will through your obedience to Him and His Word?

Psalm 15

Here in Psalm 15 David begins by asking God who may abide in His tabernacle?
Who may dwell in His holy hill? This is powerfully important because the Israelites used these two terms – “to abide in His tabernacle” and “to dwell in His holy hill” – interchangeably to express and focus on being in the presence of God continually. In God’s presence believers are safe from the devil; there he can’t steal our identity. Unfortunately, far too many of us don’t know who we are and won’t meet the characteristics the psalmist outlines in verses 2-5. If we fail to abide in the Lord today, we aren’t enjoying the blessings of His presence now and won’t have the privilege of enjoying His blessed eternal presence.

The psalmist says that believers are to walk uprightly, work righteousness, and speak the truth in their hearts (v. 2). Believers are to always walk honestly, without hypocrisy  , be just in our dealings, and let our words be truth for what comes out of the mouth is from the heart. We are not to backbite with the tongue, commit evil against our neighbor, nor take up a reproach against one’s friend (v.3). To abide in or dwell in God’s presence, we are to have no respect of person; God doesn’t. If a person is vile, or evil, we are to see them as such and despise them. However, we are to honor those who fear the Lord. We, who abide in God’s presence, don’t change what we say to make it to our own benefit even when it hurts (v.4). Finally David says that believers who lend their money to fellow Israelites (applies to all believers today) without charging interest, or taking a bribe against the innocent abide in God. God expects those living in close relationship with Him to conform to His righteousness. Children of God who do these things will never be moved (v.5).

To abide in God’s presence, commands change. These guidelines for living a righteous life command believers to “be transformed by the renewing of your mind…” (Romans 12:2), and “as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct” (1 Peter 1).  

2 Corinthians 5:17, NKJV

Those of us who God has spared to see 2022 are indebted to Him more than ever to know the importance of whom we are in the Christ Jesus. We acknowledge that if justice had plumbed the line, we would’ve been gone home as many of our loved ones are. However, in 2022 we have a chance to prove our identification in Christ. Follow Paul’s urging and “walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called” (Ephesians 4:1, ESV). We don’t have to submit acceptable forms as proof of identification like we do online or in person at the Department of Motor Vehicle (DMV) to purchase our ID. Over 2000 years ago Jesus purchased our Real Identification on “The Old Rugged Cross” at Calvary by giving his life that we might have everlasting life. We must surrender ourselves totally to our gracious Father – heart, mind, and soul – through faith in Christ Jesus, accepting him as our personal Savior and Lord.

Apostle Paul says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17, NKJV). Oh, how sweet it is to know that our identity is in Christ! Yes, we are renewed by the Holy Spirit. Romans 6:10-11 declares “¹⁰ For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. ¹¹ Likewise you also, consider yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” In Christ we are a new creation. God’s plan of salvation is complete in Jesus. Let’s accept it as truth and let his resurrection life be a reality in ours; that’s our identification. Our old corrupt nature of darkness has passed away. A spiritual awakening has taken place; a new life has come.

So let our resolve in 2022 be continuous growth in Christ. Let us not be complacent. Satan, our adversary, is always lurking, waiting to pounce like a “roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8). Knowing our identification in Christ is important to our renewed union with him.