A Stumbler's Walk | IS CHRISTMAS OVER ?

For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. - Galatians 5:1 

A friend and I played what's your favorite Christmas song? yesterday. The list was too long, and we couldn't agree on some: I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas almost had us parting ways.

We did, however agree on most; and near the top of both lists, O Come, O Come Emmanuel. The song comes out of the Dark Ages and is rich in depth, meaning and emotion.

From the seldom sung third stanza:

O come, Thou Day-Spring, come and cheer

Our spirits by Thine advent here

Disperse the gloomy clouds of night

And death's dark shadows put to flight.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel

Shall come to thee, O Israel.

It is Christmas night as I write this. It strikes me that this night is the most silent of the season - presents opened, meals eaten, hugs given, family parted. Now quietness, silence. And a time to reflect.

As a child I used to be very sad at this time. Christmas was over. The magic ended for another year. But that is not the case. Christmas is not really over, because Christmas is actually about beginnings.

Christ came for a reason. He did not step into this earth to give us nativity scenes (or plays). He did not come to be reminisced in song or story. The incarnation is not the story of what was. Christmas is about what is.

Christ came to set us free! He came to put death's dark shadows to flight. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel - God is with us!

And you are free. 
I am free. 
The gloomy clouds of night dispersed. 
Because the story does not end in a manger.

God, thank you for beginnings. 

For now...
D

A Stumbler's Walk | EMMANUEL

But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father! 

- Galatians 4:4-6

I still look forward to Christmas, just as I did growing up. I love the season, the vibe - with the lights, the decorations, the music, even the busyness. I like the crescendo of Christmas Eve and Christmas morning. It was mysterious and wonderful as a child. And the wonder hasn't worn off.

Human history also has crescendos. The greatest occurred - maybe I should say, began - when God stepped into time and space in a far off land, and, of all things, as a baby in a humble stable.

"When the fullness of time had come," Paul writes. Mary's pregnancy and the pregnancy of time coincided. Then the crescendo: Emmanuel - God with us!

He split time in two. 

We may now say BCE (Before Common Era) instead of BC (Before Christ), and CE (Common Era) rather than AD ("Anno Domini" - Year of our Lord). But politically-correct terms cannot dull the crescendo.

The cymbals of eternity roared… 

Voices of angel choirs bounced off the stars...

Shepherds gasped...

Heaven thundered

Hell shuddered

Wise men journeyed

A baby cried.

Emmanuel - God with us!

With us to redeem us…

With us to free us…

With us to call us his children… (In Aramaic, "Abba" is a term of endearment meaning "Daddy.")

Yes, I still love Christmas. 

O come, O come, Emmanuel.

God, be my Emmanuel.

Have a Blessed Christmas! For now...

D

A Stumbler's Walk | THE DAY BEFORE THE DAY BEFORE CHRISTMAS

The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 

- John 1:9

I love Christmas Eve. I always have.

At one time it was the anticipation of sleigh bells, red noses in the night sky and clandestine visits that left the remnants of strategically placed cookies. Later, Christmas Eve became about stressed late night assembly and construction projects, and overeating (or careful disposal of) said cookies.

Christmas Eve has taken on a more reflective tone in later years. Perhaps more on that later... all this really has little to do with the thought precipitating this quick post.

What about Christmas Eve Eve.... The day before the day before Christmas?

Thinking back a score of millennia, the day before the day before Christmas wasn't so festive. It was a stressful day of dusty journey for a pregnant couple. (We men like to say it that way, but we really do know differently!) It lead to a night of little and restless sleep, either along the side of the road  - with another travel day ahead - or in a cave housing smelly, flatulating animals.

The day before the day before Christmas was difficult. It was a day with not much hope. It was a day that seemed darkness and dankness would be the forever norms.

The difficulties of life-journey can bring a heavy fog to hope and expectation. Especially on the day before the day before Christmas.

But light is coming. He is coming.

Wise men are mobilizing in the East. Stars are about to burst through the velvet of night where stars have never burst before. Angel choirs are putting the last touches on heavenly choruses and shining up halos for a shepherd audience.

It is dark on the day before the day before Christmas. But light is coming. He is coming.

The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world... 

In him is life, and life is the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, 

and the darkness cannot overcome it. 

- John 1:9,4-5

Light of the world, shine on me this day before the day before.

For now...

D

A Stumbler's Walk | PRAYING FOR YOU

John 17 - Jesus' High Priestly Prayer

If you could choose anyone to pray for you, with you, about the most important thing you are praying for, who would it be? Whom would you choose? 

How would it make you feel to know Billy Graham had been praying for you? One better; how would it make you feel to know Jesus is praying for you?

He is. Now.

In John 17 Jesus prays for his followers - both those present (in that upper room) and those to come. In other words, us. The writer of the book of Hebrews further states that Jesus, "…lives to make intercession (prays) for us," (Hebrews 7:25).

Jesus whispers your name and mine into the ear of the Father on a daily basis. And what does Jesus pray for us? I'm guessing the list is endless, but from John 17 we see…

He is praying for our protection (vv.12-15). Are you facing circumstances that produce fear? Jesus prays specifically for our protection from evil. Additionally, he promises his presence with us. Where he is, fear cannot survive.

He is praying for our sanctification (vv.16-19). Transformation has a beginning point - when we say yes to Jesus. However, ongoing transformation - what the Bible calls sanctification - is a lifetime process. Christ prays for the changing of our character to more reflect his love and goodness.

He is praying for our unity (vv.21-23). Jesus said in John 14 that his followers would be known by their love for one another. Christians are known for a lot of things in our culture today. If love is not first on the list, we have a skewed understanding of Christ's message.

He is praying for our perseverance (vv.24-26). Hang on… hang in… don't let go. James writes, "…you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything, (James 1:3-4, NIV). The hallmark of spiritual maturity is not giftedness. Many immature Christians are incredibly gifted, and sadly, often see their lives derail. Perseverance, also translated "Steadfastness," is a better indicator of maturity in Christ. As the old hymn states: 

"My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus blood and righteousness…

On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand…"

God, it both encourages and humbles me to know that Christ intercedes for me.

For now...
D

A Stumbler's Walk | GUIDE

When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth... - John 16:13

Years ago I heard a sermon based on a concept called The Principle of the Path. The primary theme was that our direction determines our destination. Wrong direction is not a big deal two steps down the path. It becomes more of an ordeal 20 steps out… 200 steps… 2,000… and on.

Most of us would like to examine the path God has laid out for us. Frankly, we want to know God's will (for us) beforehand, but often just to see if it is something really desire. We would like to peer through time-enhanced binoculars down a straight, clean, obstacle free and neatly paved road that leads us to our hopes and dreams.

That is probably not going to happen.

God reveals his unique will for us as we take steps of commitment down the path. God doesn't reveal his plan for us as an option to be chosen. Instead we choose life in him and he leads from there. Commitment precedes clarity. And often the clarity is for just the next step. (At least I need to read that last sentence a few times. You?)

What Jesus does promise is that the Holy Spirit, whom he calls The Helper, will guide us in truth. In other words, he will give light to the path. Maybe more accurately, The Helper gives light to us, so we can walk the path. As Jesus said, he guides us in truth. The Psalmist writes, "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path," (Psalm 119:105). So the Spirit of Truth - another name for this Helper - illuminates the Truth of God's word, always leading us to the TRUTH, who is Jesus.

Your direction determines your destination. It is never too late to ask The Guide to direct you. Maybe you left the path many steps ago. It is OK. He knows the way.

The ancient Chinese proverb states the journey of 1,000 miles begins with the first step. In the same way, the destination of your life is determined by the direction of your steps. And the journey is not so much about your last step - whether it be a good one or bad. Nor is it about the next step. Your journey and mine is about this step. Take it! God promises to guide.

God, may your Holy Spirit be my guide.

For now...

D

A Stumbler's Walk | BEAR HUG

By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit... - John 15:8

What does God want from us? What does he want for us?

Is it God's desire that we score touchdowns and then point to the sky? Maybe. Does he want us to move to a third-world country and pour ourselves out for the poor? Possibly. Is his goal that we are wealthy and healthy and influential, giving him the credit? Could be.

God's unique plan for each us of us is just that, unique. It is usually something to be discovered one step at a time… one curtain pulled back at a time… one act of obedience at a time. Often God's unique plan for each of us is clearest in retrospect.

However, God has a plan for us that we can know; unequivocally and without doubt. God desires that we bear fruit. "What kind of fruit," we may ask? Paul gives some insight into spiritual fruit - true fruit: "The fruit of the Spirit," he writes, is, "…love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control…" (Galatians 5:22-23).

God's unique plan for each of us is realized as we live by faith, according to what we already know. This is biblical obedience.

So what is our part? How can we live out God's unique plan? Well, Jesus says that he is the vine and we are the branches - branches he designed to be fruit-bearing. Our job is to "abide" in him. The word abide can be translated, remain, persevere" or to be true. As we cling to Jesus, he makes us fruitful. Often, we don't even really notice it happening.

We often say things like, "I am seeking God's plan for my life." (Too much pressure!) A moment ago I wrote that God's unique plan is often clearest in retrospect. That may sound negative and frustrating. It is however, incredibly comforting. We don't have to see into the future - and good thing, because we don't have the ability. (And probably would be scared spitless if we really could!)

Simply abide.

Abiding is not passive. That's at best a misunderstanding and at worst a cop-out. Abiding is an active bear hug. (It gets even better!) What we discover, is though we think we are the bear-huggers in this abiding, we are the bear-hugged!

"Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing" (John 15:5).

God, I abide in you… (please bear-hug me).

For now...

D

A Stumbler's Walk | HE IS...

I am the way, and the truth, and the life... - John 14:6

Our name says a lot about us. What we call ourselves says even more.

Prior to going to Pharaoh to demand release of the Hebrew people, Moses asked God his name. God responded, "I Am Who (that) I Am." In the nearly unpronounceable and untranslatable Hebrew word "YHWH" (known as the Tetragrammaton) God reveals that he IS, has always BEEN, and will always BE. (And my attempt is but a weak description - to dive a little deeper I suggest http://solidjoys.desiringgod.org/…/d…/10-things-yahweh-means)

Thomas asked Jesus a question on the night of Jesus' betrayal, and just before all hell broke loose (literally). "Lord… how can we know the way?" Jesus responded, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life." A bit later Jesus asks, "Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me…?).

Jesus asks us the same today.

Jesus makes what scholars call "Seven Emphatic 'I Am' Statements" recorded in John's gospel. It is clear in the gospels that Jesus claimed to be the Son of God (and therefore God) in the flesh. It was for this reason that the religious establishment of the day was so incensed and ultimately had him killed. (Their plan, but ultimately God's.)

For example: "So the Jews (religious leaders) said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?” Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I Am.” So they picked up stones to throw at him…" (John 8:58-59).

(But my purpose here is not to convince you of Jesus' claims. It is instead, to draw some personal strength from them.)

The "I Am" statements of Christ - and what they mean to us.:

"I am the bread of life…" (John 6: 35, 48) - Jesus (and he only) provides what truly sustains us. He is both provider and provision.

"I am the light of the world…" (John 8: 12, 9:5) - Jesus is the true light that drives darkness out of our lives and provides illumination to live according to the plans and purposes God has for us.

"I am the door…" (John 10:9) - As we see also in 14:6, Jesus is the only intermediary between God and man. He gives us entrance into the presence of the Father.

"I am the good shepherd…" (John 10:11) - He cares for his sheep (can you say "bah?"). He protects and disciplines. He provides. He loves his sheep.

"I am the resurrection and the life…" (John 11:25) - Ask Lazarus, death is not the end. Jesus is life and he is the giver of life.

"I am the way, and the truth, and the life…" (John 14:6) - In many ways this statement sums up all the rest. There is no error to Jesus' path or guidance. There is nothing false in his character. There is no smell of decay in the life he offers.

"I am the true vine…" (John 15:1) - Jesus sustains us. (I realize that's redundant, but think about this; God's blessings and provision for us is also redundant - in other words, it is super-abundant!) He is the provider of everything we are and need. And when we cling to him, we live fruitful lives that glorify the Father.

So much more can be said about the I Am. Rather than continuing on, I'll simply ask this question… What is it that we need? I Am IS (that) for us!

God, thank you for the I Am… that is everything to me.

For now...
D