Abundant Grace

Wednesday, December 9, 2015

Turmoil or Peace?

“Woe to those who rely on horses, who trust in chariots.” Isaiah 31:1

Is this really an Advent passage? Well, the entire Bible speaks of Jesus, so yes. What did the angels announce that night long ago? “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men.” What is one of the names of Christ in Isaiah 9? “His name shall be called the Prince of Peace.”

It seems that the Advent season can be disrupted by Satan as he spreads his hatred abroad in our world and causes alarm in our hearts. What is our response? We think we need more horses and chariots. What we need is more of the Prince of Peace. We need to be confident of His care. We need to share His hope and peace with a hopeless world wracked by turmoil. Let’s make our Advent purpose to be spreading the love and peace of Christ to our neighbors and our world. The lost can have their chariots. We have the God who made the horses.

Dear Father, Let our hearts be confident in the hope and peace of Christ. Amen.

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Tuesday, December 8, 2015

God is Ready to Meet with Us Each Day

“In quietness and confidence shall be your strength.” Isaiah 30:15

Is there really such a thing as quietness during the holiday season? Work parties, friend parties, family parties, shopping, more shopping, baking, wrapping, trimming, oh, and everything else, can make a hectic time out of a peaceful season. But wait! God says to be quiet. In the psalms He says, “Be still and know that I am God.” In the busiest time it is most important to take a quiet time.

Jesus was the busiest person on earth, yet He took time each day to be quiet with His Father. Imagine trying to plan His schedule. There would not be enough time slots on a daily calendar to fit it all in. Yet each day He took quiet time to be with His Father. Are we confident that if we stop all the hustle and meet with Him that He will be there to meet with us? If so we can really spend a few quality minutes with Him each day and be strengthened for all the other stuff that comes along.

Dear Father, Thank You that You are there to meet with us each day. Amen.

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Monday, December 7, 2015

Keeping Advent Alive in January and July

“These people draw near with their mouths and honor Me with their lips, but have removed their hearts far from Me.” Isaiah 29:13

What better time of year to show everyone how devoted we are to God than Christmas? Church pews are filled for one month. Songs of praise and thanksgiving are poured out to the infant Jesus and His lowly birth. There is a wonderful drawing near to God and honoring Him with our lips. It truly is wonderful. But beyond the 25^th of December is the heart that sang His praises during Advent still worshipping Christ with similar devotion?

Absolutely no one can judge that except God and the person involved. But Jesus noted that this was a problem even in His day. To express that problem He quoted Isaiah. Isaiah says that lip service and love is far different than heart service and love. As we are renewed in our joy of Christ during the Advent season, let us ask God to help us keep alive the fire all year long.

Dear Father, Remind us in January and July to still express the devotion we give You during this Advent season. Amen.

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Friday, December 4, 2015

Two Certainties

“Your covenant with death will be annulled, and your agreement with death will not stand.” Isaiah 28:18

In Isaiah 26 God gave the blessed promise that those who died in Christ will live. Today He offers a different message. As Isaiah had promised eternal life to all who by faith were God’s children, he also announced that anyone who made a pact with the devil was going to be sorely disappointed. Humanism teaches that man is just a part of nature that exists and then doesn’t exist anymore. Death is the end of all things so just don’t worry about it. Anything related to the hereafter is just the product of religious delusion.

God wholeheartedly disagrees. Such false doctrines as humanism are simply a pact made by fools with the devil himself. God says that such a pact will not succeed. We cannot ignore the reality of the future by simply declaring it null and void. God doesn’t and neither can we. Through Jesus Christ, however, God does offer the guarantee of eternal life to all who believe in Him.

Dear Father, Protect us from foolishly believing in lies of the devil. Amen.

The Friday Benediction

Until Monday, my friends, may the good God envelop you with His grace; may you prove the common confession of faith, “I believe in the holy Christian church and in the fellowship of the saints”, and may you be enriched with joy and hope as you exercise that confession this weekend. Amen

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Thursday, December 3, 2015

God's Standard of Judgement

“I will make justice the measuring line and righteousness the plummet.” Isaiah 28:17

While Isaiah 28:16 spoke mostly of the action and result of the Christ’s First Advent, this next verse reveals His Second Advent. His First Advent brought promise of forgiveness and grace to all who would believe. His First Advent revealed Christ in His humiliation, the suffering servant. Through obedience to His Father’s plan, Christ offered Himself willingly to suffering and death so that humanity might be saved and spared God’s judgment.

In Christ’s Second Advent He comes as mighty King, Lord of lords who will sit on His judgment throne and judge the nations and all the people in them. What will be His standard of judgment? Justice and Righteousness! God offered His Son that we might be saved. If we reject that salvation we have rejected all hope and justice for our sins will be our end. Christ has fulfilled the satisfaction of righteousness and all who are in Him are declared righteous. Christ’s Second Advent will appear and the only question is, will you be ready?

Dear Father, Thank You for giving us the readiness to face the Second Advent. Amen.

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Wednesday, December 2, 2015

A Sure Foundation

“Behold, I lay in Zion a stone for a foundation, a tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation.” Isaiah 28:16

Way back in the seventh century a well versed believer wrote a beautiful hymn. It is taken from today’s passage. “Christ is made the sure foundation, Christ the head and cornerstone, chosen of the Lord and precious, binding all the Church in one.” I love this hymn a lot and often find myself just bursting out in song as the words tumble through my mind. This hymn is a blessed reminder of the Advent message.

In I John we find this simple verse: “The Father sent the Son to be the Savior of the world.” God has sent His Son to be the foundation stone of redemption. He is not just any foundation, He is a sure foundation. He came at the first advent to die for mankind that all who believe in Him might have a sure and precious foundation for all eternity. What a wonderful vision Isaiah relates to us of God’s redemption story.

Dear Father, Help us daily to stand on the firm foundation of Christ. Amen.

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Tuesday, December 1, 2015

The Dead in Christ Shall Live

“Your dead shall live.” Isaiah 26:19

This verse is a wonderful Advent promise. Death reigned from Adam to Christ. But, Christ died and rose again and death was defeated! Oh, our bodies will wear out and pass from the scene of this earth, but we who believe in Jesus Christ as God’s Son, the Lamb of God sacrificed for us, will still be alive and in the presence of Christ in heaven. For the people who belong to God through Jesus Christ, these people, His people, the dead shall live.

Because of the first advent of Jesus Christ we have the blessed hope of eternal life. But that isn’t the end. Christ is coming again. There will be a second advent. He will come in the clouds and every eye shall see Him. The record books of all humanity will be opened and those found in the Book of Life shall, in brand new bodies, be alive with Him forever more. This Advent season rejoice in the blessed promises of both the First and Second Advent of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Dear Father, We praise You for the assurance that Your dead shall live. Amen.