To God be the glory…

 

Waking this morning with thoughts of Jesus born two thousand plus years ago, I wondered what He would say to me today. It is not a surprise that He gives instruction about living for Him until He comes, and then ending with the promises that He will return. I think of those who mock that promise. Don’t they know that thus far God has kept every promise He makes? He said His Messiah would come the first time and change lives — and He did.

Today I repeat His words and write “to those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ: May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.” (2 Peter 1:1–2) Isn’t this what Christmas is all about? Jesus came so we could know God, experience His grace, be at peace with Him, and receive His righteousness — multiplied beyond our wildest dreams!

His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. (2 Peter 1:3–4)

This Christmas I know more clearly what the gift of this Christ-child looks like unwrapped. He does in me all that is promised so that I can: 

Make every effort to supplement my faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are mine and are increasing, they keep me from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of my Lord Jesus Christ. For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. Therefore, be all the more diligent to confirm my calling and election, for if I practice these qualities I will never fall. (2 Peter 1:5–10, personalized)

I know that the Word of God is not written just by men, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. (2 Peter 1:20–21) I also know that false prophets also exist and bring in destructive lies that deny Christ. Even though this means judgment for them, many follow sensuality and the true way is blasphemed. Their greed exploits God’s people with false words, but thankfully, the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials. 

My part is to recognize how these false ideas can entangle and defile me, and be watching out for them and for those scoffers who exist. They follow their own sinful desires and mock the idea that Jesus will come again. They forget that what God has already done to judge the world with a flood and that He will judge it again with fire. He is not slow to fulfill this promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward all, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. 

Jesus will return. At that time, the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. (2 Peter 3:9–13)

PRAY: Jesus, these are hard thoughts on this day of celebrating Your first coming, but I’m thankful for all reminders to not be carried away with the error of lawless people and lose my stability and faith in You. Instead, You keep giving me the gift of grace and deeper knowledge of You, my Lord and Savior. To You be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.

God can…

Some mornings I start the day with a bit of food and the daily crossword puzzle. This morning I saw a clue with an answer never seen before in a crossword. The clue was “Gospel star” and the answer was “Jesus.” A few minutes later, I opened my Bible and the verse for today was this:

Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven: “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” (John 12:28)

This warmed my heart. May His name be glorified to all puzzle people. This also prompted a question: What else has God done that He promises to do again? Or even never again? 
The OT speaks often of the ‘again’ words from the Lord, first about the flood and then about what He will do again and again to discipline His people:

“… the Lord said in his heart, “I will never again curse the ground because of man, for the intention of man’s heart is evil from his youth. Neither will I ever again strike down every living creature as I have done. . . . I establish my covenant with you, that never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of the flood, and never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth. . . . I will remember my covenant that is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh. And the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh. (Genesis 8:21; 9:11; 15)

Other verses are conditional:

And if in spite of this you will not listen to me, then I will discipline you again sevenfold for your sins. (Leviticus 26:18)
If you are not careful to do all the words of this law that are written in this book, that you may fear this glorious and awesome name, the LORD your God, then the LORD will bring on you and your offspring extraordinary afflictions, afflictions severe and lasting, and sicknesses grievous and lasting. And he will bring upon you again all the diseases of Egypt, of which you were afraid, and they shall cling to you. Every sickness also and every affliction that is not recorded in the book of this law, the LORD will bring upon you, until you are destroyed. (Deuteronomy 28:58-61)
When all these things come upon you, the blessing and the curse, which I have set before you, and you call them to mind among all the nations where the LORD your God has driven you, and return to the LORD your God, you and your children, and obey his voice in all that I command you today, with all your heart and with all your soul, then the LORD your God will restore your fortunes and have mercy on you, and he will gather you again from all the peoples where the LORD your God has scattered you. (Deuteronomy 30:1-3)

Even so, many positive words from God are about restoring His people again and again as they repented of their sin. For example: Manasseh “prayed to him, and God was moved by his entreaty and heard his plea and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the Lord was God.” (2 Chronicles 33:13) This theme often appears in the Psalms:

You who have made me see many troubles and calamities will revive me again; from the depths of the earth you will bring me up again. You will increase my greatness and comfort me again. (Psalm 71:20–21)

God often speaks to His people: “The Lord spoke to me again.” (Isaiah 8:5) He also tells us what He will do:

I will again do wonderful things with this people, with wonder upon wonder; and the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the discernment of their discerning men shall be hidden.” (Isaiah 29:14)
And after I have plucked them up, I will again have compassion on them, and I will bring them again each to his heritage and each to his land. (Jeremiah 12:15)

In the NT, Jesus also spoke and still does:

And he left there and went to the region of Judea and beyond the Jordan, and crowds gathered to him again. And again, as was his custom, he taught them. (Mark 10:1)
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. . . . So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you. . . . Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” (John 14;3; 16:22; 20:21)

Paul spoke of Jesus’ power to also save us in danger: “He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again.” (2 Corinthians 1:10)

PRAY: Jesus, You are consistent. What You do can be done again. Nothing can stop You from repeating or keeping Your promises. This assurance settles my heart and makes me feel ‘hugged’ — again and again.