Proverbs 16:9–Plans Established by God

Proverbs 16:9–"The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps."

2014 is upon us, a new year has arrived full of potential and promise.  My prayer for you this year is that you would see God's awesome blessings in your life and that you would see Him establish your heart's desire this year.  That is why this verse seems so appropriate today, New Year's Day.  Even the best laid plans require the Lord's input for success.  Because of this, I don't think that we can overemphasize the necessity for prayer as we consider and develop our goals for 2014.  For only through God will we be blessed!

John 16:33–He Has Overcome the World

John 16:33–"I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace.  In the world you will have trouble.  But take heart, I have overcome the world."

This statement comes right after Jesus has again prophesied His impending death.  Understanding this context adds a certain amount of girth to Jesus' assertion.  The heart of His affirmation is that there is a peace that He offers, a definitive and otherworldly peace.  But this peace is based on what Jesus has done, or more accurately to this verse, this peace is based upon what He is about to do.  But there is so much application here for us too.  There is so much comfort to be found here for us, that whenever we would we would face trial and tribulation that may come from evil, we know that we too can find comfort in Christ and peace in what He has done.

Praise be to God!

John 14:1–Let Not Your Hearts Be Troubled: Believe

John 14:1–"Let not your hearts be troubled.  Believe in God; believe also in me."

This begins Jesus' final message to His disciples in John, culminating in the High Priestly Prayer (John 17).  It comes at the beginning of this long discourse that Jesus, after prophesying His death again, comforts His disciples with this.  In this statement, Jesus desires to console His disciples–and us too!–indicating that overcoming trouble and trepidation is not a matter of trying harder or feeling better: it is about believing in God and also in Jesus.  Think about this as we prepare for 2014.

Matt. 11:28–Jesus Gives Rest

Matthew 11:28–"Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."

This is quite a statement for Jesus to make.  Jesus does not say that He knows where those who are heavy burdened may find rest, as if He were going to point them to a special vacation resort or something.  He doesn't say that this rest is about a place or an action at all.  No, He says that He will give people rest.  In no mean or ambiguous terms, Jesus is claiming to be the true source of rest to any and all that would come to Him.  Again, this is quite a statement!

Can He give rest to us?  Does He? Do we believe Him?  

This seems to be a good place to end this particular dialogue, simply putting forth these questions for us to ponder.  Yes, Jesus is the true source of rest; yes, if we come to Him in faith He gives us this rest; and yes, He gives this rest to all who would come to Him.

Let us think about that when we feel labored and heavy laden!

Psalm 103:1–Bless the Lord

Psalm 103:1–"Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name!"

Amen!  That's about all I can say in response to reading this verse. Yes, this is a statement of worship. And yes, it is poetic.  But more than that, this is a prayer; a request that God would grant us a heart and soul that wouldst utterly desire to worship His name.  In truth, this is a central component to the Christian message: that God would transform us in such a way that every part of us would sing out in absolute praise and adoration to His name.

This should be our own prayer, too!

Bless the Lord!

Luke 2:11-A Son Is Born

Luke 2:11-"For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord."

The very heart of Christmas is summarized in this verse.  That on this day, Christmas day, we celebrate one simple, historical fact: a son was born in Bethlehem, who claimed, among many things, to be the Christ, God's very Som and foreordained Savior of mankind.  If there were an irreducible theological reality of Christmas it would be that we are commemorating and celebrating the birth of Jesus the Messiah whose exacting purpose was to save mankind from sin.  Let us place this at the centre of Christmas.  Amen!

Luke 2:6-7–The Birth Occurs

Luke 2:6-7–"And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth.  And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn."

As has been noted many times before, there are so many wonderful elements to the Christmas narrative, from the prophesies fulfilled to the angels singing.  But the heart of the message comes down to this basic element: the birth of a king in the lowliest of settings.  We should not forget the juxtaposition of this, that God Himself condescended to human form: the King became a servant.  This is the very essence of the Christmas message and we should remember it!