Luke 2:51-52 "Then he returned to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them; and his mother stored all these things in her heart. So Jesus grew both in height and in wisdom, and he was loved by God and by all who knew him."
Jesus and his family visit Jerusalem for Passover and he decides to pull a "Home Alone" move and disappear on his parents. They look everywhere for him, and end up finding him teaching in the temple! Amazing! Afterwards, they return to Nazareth and the text tells us that Jesus obeys his parents and begins to grow in "height and wisdom." This is one of the only descriptions we have of Jesus as a boy.
I think it's important to understand Jesus' humanity. It's important for me to understand that he was once a young man and he too had to obey his parents, and grow up! Jesus as a young man, had to keep growing. He wasn't just "born with it." He had to grow up, mature, and learn. So if Jesus had to study, obey, learn, and be disciplined, so do I! How am I doing in that area? Am I reading enough? Am I SOAPing enough? Am I continuing to grow as a person and as a follower of Jesus. To follow Jesus, means I must continually grow and learn. Today I will learn something!
Dear Jesus, help me follow your example and grow in wisdom and faith today. Amen.
Friday, December 28, 2012
Monday, December 24, 2012
Not Fairies
2,000 years ago, angels appeared to Joseph, Mary, and a group of shepherds to announce the coming birth of Jesus. These are awesome stories we share each Christmas. And as we are focused on the baby Jesus-he is the main character after all-I think we forget about the angels a bit. Angels show up a lot in the Bible. And most of the time their initial words to the humans they have appeared to is, "Do not be afraid." I think they say this because they actually see an angel!
You see, you and I have this mental image of angels as being sweet, cheerful, and mild mannered babies, armed with wings and harps. They would never become upset or aggressive. It's not their nature. They certainly would never intimidate or scare anyone. That wouldn't be very "angelic" of them. But that's not who we see in the Bible.
Over and over again, angels show up and say "Do not be afraid." Why do they say this? Why do they feel compelled upon each trip to earth to calm their listeners? I imagine it's because the humans they encounter are freaked out! They are scared. They have just seen a supernatural creature that is capable of enforcing God's orders. That's a big moment!
I think angels are some tough customers! The way I see it is, they have three main jobs-worshipping God, delivering messages to silly humans, and fighting in a never ending cosmic battle against demons. I think fighting against demons might toughen one up a bit. I don't see angels as passive, weak, or humble creatures. They are not fairies. They are strong. I have a hunch they have a bit of a mean streak in them too. That's not to say they are hateful or evil in any way, but you have to have a bit of a mean streak if you day in and day out have to battle Satan's army.
My point is this, whatever it is we face, whatever it is we may be experiencing or going through today, be mindful that we have angels on our side. We don't have fairies on our side. We don't have flying babies with harps! We have mighty angels with God as their general. What can't they handle? What can't we face with them on our side? Oh and we have Jesus too. I think we win. No matter the circumstances, no matter the situation, we win. Our army is bigger. Merry Christmas!
You see, you and I have this mental image of angels as being sweet, cheerful, and mild mannered babies, armed with wings and harps. They would never become upset or aggressive. It's not their nature. They certainly would never intimidate or scare anyone. That wouldn't be very "angelic" of them. But that's not who we see in the Bible.
Over and over again, angels show up and say "Do not be afraid." Why do they say this? Why do they feel compelled upon each trip to earth to calm their listeners? I imagine it's because the humans they encounter are freaked out! They are scared. They have just seen a supernatural creature that is capable of enforcing God's orders. That's a big moment!
I think angels are some tough customers! The way I see it is, they have three main jobs-worshipping God, delivering messages to silly humans, and fighting in a never ending cosmic battle against demons. I think fighting against demons might toughen one up a bit. I don't see angels as passive, weak, or humble creatures. They are not fairies. They are strong. I have a hunch they have a bit of a mean streak in them too. That's not to say they are hateful or evil in any way, but you have to have a bit of a mean streak if you day in and day out have to battle Satan's army.
My point is this, whatever it is we face, whatever it is we may be experiencing or going through today, be mindful that we have angels on our side. We don't have fairies on our side. We don't have flying babies with harps! We have mighty angels with God as their general. What can't they handle? What can't we face with them on our side? Oh and we have Jesus too. I think we win. No matter the circumstances, no matter the situation, we win. Our army is bigger. Merry Christmas!
Friday, December 14, 2012
Jars of Clay
2 Corinthians 4:7 "But this precious treasure -- this light and power that now shine within us -- is held in perishable containers, that is, in our weak bodies. So everyone can see that our glorious power is from God and is not our own."
In the first century, treasures were kept in unattractive, and simple jars made of clay. These jars had little value or worth themselves so they did not attract attention to their contents. Paul suggests to the Christian Corinthians that they are like these clay jars. They may be unattractive to the world and never have any wealth themselves, BUT their contents are worth more than gold! And that's exactly how it ought to be. Their contents (Jesus) is what forms their true identity. The jar should not detract from what's inside.
I too am a jar made of clay. I may have days where I am pressed on every side, crushed, and even hunted down as Paul says, but what I have inside is all that really matters. So when I am down, and when I feel discouraged, I must remember that there is "glorious power" within me. On the days when I feel like I am worth nothing more than a cracked and used clay jar, I must remember my identity is not found in the jar, but in Christ! How can I let Christ shine through me today? How can I allow people so see Jesus instead of the jar?
Dear Jesus, help me remember that my life is all about you, and not the jar. Amen!
In the first century, treasures were kept in unattractive, and simple jars made of clay. These jars had little value or worth themselves so they did not attract attention to their contents. Paul suggests to the Christian Corinthians that they are like these clay jars. They may be unattractive to the world and never have any wealth themselves, BUT their contents are worth more than gold! And that's exactly how it ought to be. Their contents (Jesus) is what forms their true identity. The jar should not detract from what's inside.
I too am a jar made of clay. I may have days where I am pressed on every side, crushed, and even hunted down as Paul says, but what I have inside is all that really matters. So when I am down, and when I feel discouraged, I must remember that there is "glorious power" within me. On the days when I feel like I am worth nothing more than a cracked and used clay jar, I must remember my identity is not found in the jar, but in Christ! How can I let Christ shine through me today? How can I allow people so see Jesus instead of the jar?
Dear Jesus, help me remember that my life is all about you, and not the jar. Amen!
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