December 19

John 19:38-42

[38] After these things Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took away his body. [39] Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds in weight. [40] So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews. [41] Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. [42] So because of the Jewish day of Preparation, since the tomb was close at hand, they laid Jesus there.

Revelation 16

[1] Then I heard a loud voice from the temple telling the seven angels, “Go and pour out on the earth the seven bowls of the wrath of God.”

[2] So the first angel went and poured out his bowl on the earth, and harmful and painful sores came upon the people who bore the mark of the beast and worshiped its image.

[3] The second angel poured out his bowl into the sea, and it became like the blood of a corpse, and every living thing died that was in the sea.

[4] The third angel poured out his bowl into the rivers and the springs of water, and they became blood. [5] And I heard the angel in charge of the waters say, 

    “Just are you, O Holy One, who is and who was,

        for you brought these judgments. 

    [6] For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets,

        and you have given them blood to drink.

    It is what they deserve!”

    [7] And I heard the altar saying, 

    “Yes, Lord God the Almighty,

        true and just are your judgments!”

    [8] The fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and it was allowed to scorch people with fire. [9] They were scorched by the fierce heat, and they cursed the name of God who had power over these plagues. They did not repent and give him glory.

[10] The fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and its kingdom was plunged into darkness. People gnawed their tongues in anguish [11] and cursed the God of heaven for their pain and sores. They did not repent of their deeds.

[12] The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up, to prepare the way for the kings from the east. [13] And I saw, coming out of the mouth of the dragon and out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits like frogs. [14] For they are demonic spirits, performing signs, who go abroad to the kings of the whole world, to assemble them for battle on the great day of God the Almighty. [15] (“Behold, I am coming like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake, keeping his garments on, that he may not go about naked and be seen exposed!”) [16] And they assembled them at the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon.

[17] The seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple, from the throne, saying, “It is done!” [18] And there were flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, and a great earthquake such as there had never been since man was on the earth, so great was that earthquake. [19] The great city was split into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell, and God remembered Babylon the great, to make her drain the cup of the wine of the fury of his wrath. [20] And every island fled away, and no mountains were to be found. [21] And great hailstones, about one hundred pounds each, fell from heaven on people; and they cursed God for the plague of the hail, because the plague was so severe.

Job 38:1-21

[1] Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind and said:

    [2] “Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge? 

    [3] Dress for action like a man;

        I will question you, and you make it known to me.

    [4] “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?

        Tell me, if you have understanding. 

    [5] Who determined its measurements—surely you know!

        Or who stretched the line upon it? 

    [6] On what were its bases sunk,

        or who laid its cornerstone, 

    [7] when the morning stars sang together

        and all the sons of God shouted for joy?

    [8] “Or who shut in the sea with doors

        when it burst out from the womb, 

    [9] when I made clouds its garment

        and thick darkness its swaddling band, 

    [10] and prescribed limits for it

        and set bars and doors, 

    [11] and said, ‘Thus far shall you come, and no farther,

        and here shall your proud waves be stayed’?

    [12] “Have you commanded the morning since your days began,

        and caused the dawn to know its place, 

    [13] that it might take hold of the skirts of the earth,

        and the wicked be shaken out of it? 

    [14] It is changed like clay under the seal,

        and its features stand out like a garment. 

    [15] From the wicked their light is withheld,

        and their uplifted arm is broken.

    [16] “Have you entered into the springs of the sea,

        or walked in the recesses of the deep? 

    [17] Have the gates of death been revealed to you,

        or have you seen the gates of deep darkness? 

    [18] Have you comprehended the expanse of the earth?

        Declare, if you know all this.

    [19] “Where is the way to the dwelling of light,

        and where is the place of darkness, 

    [20] that you may take it to its territory

        and that you may discern the paths to its home? 

    [21] You know, for you were born then,

        and the number of your days is great!

Zephaniah 1

[1] The word of the LORD that came to Zephaniah the son of Cushi, son of Gedaliah, son of Amariah, son of Hezekiah, in the days of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah.

    [2] “I will utterly sweep away everything

        from the face of the earth,” declares the LORD. 

    [3] “I will sweep away man and beast;

        I will sweep away the birds of the heavens

        and the fish of the sea,

    and the rubble with the wicked.

        I will cut off mankind

        from the face of the earth,” declares the LORD. 

    [4] “I will stretch out my hand against Judah

        and against all the inhabitants of Jerusalem;

    and I will cut off from this place the remnant of Baal

        and the name of the idolatrous priests along with the priests, 

    [5] those who bow down on the roofs

        to the host of the heavens,

    those who bow down and swear to the LORD

        and yet swear by Milcom, 

    [6] those who have turned back from following the LORD,

        who do not seek the LORD or inquire of him.”

    [7] Be silent before the Lord GOD!

        For the day of the LORD is near;

    the LORD has prepared a sacrifice

        and consecrated his guests. 

    [8] And on the day of the LORD’s sacrifice—

    “I will punish the officials and the king’s sons

        and all who array themselves in foreign attire. 

    [9] On that day I will punish

        everyone who leaps over the threshold,

    and those who fill their master’s house

        with violence and fraud.

    [10] “On that day,” declares the LORD,

        “a cry will be heard from the Fish Gate,

    a wail from the Second Quarter,

        a loud crash from the hills. 

    [11] Wail, O inhabitants of the Mortar!

        For all the traders are no more;

        all who weigh out silver are cut off. 

    [12] At that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps,

        and I will punish the men

    who are complacent,

        those who say in their hearts,

    ‘The LORD will not do good,

        nor will he do ill.’ 

    [13] Their goods shall be plundered,

        and their houses laid waste.

    Though they build houses,

        they shall not inhabit them;

    though they plant vineyards,

        they shall not drink wine from them.”

    [14] The great day of the LORD is near,

        near and hastening fast;

    the sound of the day of the LORD is bitter;

        the mighty man cries aloud there. 

    [15] A day of wrath is that day,

        a day of distress and anguish,

    a day of ruin and devastation,

        a day of darkness and gloom,

    a day of clouds and thick darkness, 

    [16]     a day of trumpet blast and battle cry

    against the fortified cities

        and against the lofty battlements.

    [17] I will bring distress on mankind,

        so that they shall walk like the blind,

        because they have sinned against the LORD;

    their blood shall be poured out like dust,

        and their flesh like dung. 

    [18] Neither their silver nor their gold

        shall be able to deliver them

        on the day of the wrath of the LORD.

    In the fire of his jealousy,

        all the earth shall be consumed;

    for a full and sudden end

        he will make of all the inhabitants of the earth.

Zephaniah 2

    [1] Gather together, yes, gather,

        O shameless nation, 

    [2] before the decree takes effect

        —before the day passes away like chaff—

    before there comes upon you

        the burning anger of the LORD,

    before there comes upon you

        the day of the anger of the LORD. 

    [3] Seek the LORD, all you humble of the land,

        who do his just commands;

    seek righteousness; seek humility;

        perhaps you may be hidden

        on the day of the anger of the LORD. 

    [4] For Gaza shall be deserted,

        and Ashkelon shall become a desolation;

    Ashdod’s people shall be driven out at noon,

        and Ekron shall be uprooted.

    [5] Woe to you inhabitants of the seacoast,

        you nation of the Cherethites!

    The word of the LORD is against you,

        O Canaan, land of the Philistines;

        and I will destroy you until no inhabitant is left. 

    [6] And you, O seacoast, shall be pastures,

        with meadows for shepherds

        and folds for flocks. 

    [7] The seacoast shall become the possession

        of the remnant of the house of Judah,

        on which they shall graze,

    and in the houses of Ashkelon

        they shall lie down at evening.

    For the LORD their God will be mindful of them

        and restore their fortunes.

    [8] “I have heard the taunts of Moab

        and the revilings of the Ammonites,

    how they have taunted my people

        and made boasts against their territory. 

    [9] Therefore, as I live,” declares the LORD of hosts,

        the God of Israel,

    “Moab shall become like Sodom,

        and the Ammonites like Gomorrah,

    a land possessed by nettles and salt pits,

        and a waste forever.

    The remnant of my people shall plunder them,

        and the survivors of my nation shall possess them.” 

    [10] This shall be their lot in return for their pride,

        because they taunted and boasted

        against the people of the LORD of hosts. 

    [11] The LORD will be awesome against them;

        for he will famish all the gods of the earth,

    and to him shall bow down,

        each in its place,

        all the lands of the nations.

    [12] You also, O Cushites,

        shall be slain by my sword.

    [13] And he will stretch out his hand against the north

        and destroy Assyria,

    and he will make Nineveh a desolation,

        a dry waste like the desert. 

    [14] Herds shall lie down in her midst,

        all kinds of beasts;

    even the owl and the hedgehog

        shall lodge in her capitals;

    a voice shall hoot in the window;

        devastation will be on the threshold;

        for her cedar work will be laid bare. 

    [15] This is the exultant city

        that lived securely,

    that said in her heart,

        “I am, and there is no one else.”

    What a desolation she has become,

        a lair for wild beasts!

    Everyone who passes by her

        hisses and shakes his fist.

Christmas Is for Freedom

Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. (Hebrews 2:14–15)

Jesus became man because what was needed was the death of a man who was more than man. The incarnation was God’s locking himself into death row.

Christ did not risk death. He chose death. He embraced it. That is precisely why he came: “not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45).

No wonder Satan tried to turn Jesus from the cross — in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1–11) and in the mouth of Peter (Matthew 16:21–23)! The cross was Satan’s destruction. How did Jesus destroy him?

Hebrews 2:14 says that Satan has “the power of death.” That means Satan has the ability to make death fearful. “The power of death” is the power that holds men in bondage through fear of death. It is the power to keep men in sin so that death comes as a dreadful thing.

But Jesus stripped Satan of this power. He disarmed him. He molded a breastplate of righteousness for us that makes us immune to the devil’s condemnation. How did he do this?

By his death, Jesus wiped away all our sins. And a person without sin cannot be condemned by Satan. Forgiven, we are finally indestructible. Satan’s plan was to destroy God’s rule by condemning God’s followers in God’s own courtroom. But now, in Christ, there is no condemnation. Satan’s treason is aborted. His cosmic treachery is foiled. “His rage we can endure, for, lo, his doom is sure.” The cross has run him through. And he will gasp his last before long.

Christmas is for freedom. Freedom from the fear of death.

Jesus took our nature in Bethlehem, to die our death in Jerusalem — all that we might be fearless in our city today. Yes, fearless. Because if the biggest threat to my joy is gone, then why should I fret over the little ones? How can you say (really!), “Well, I’m not afraid to die but I’m afraid to lose my job”? No. No. Think!

If death (I said, death! — no pulse, cold, gone!) if death is no longer a fear, we’re free, really free. Free to take any risk under the sun for Christ and for love. No more enslavement to anxiety.

If the Son has set you free, you shall be free, indeed!

John Piper 

A Love That Serves

 

“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself.” 

EPHESIANS 5:25-28

 

PONDER THIS

The Lord Jesus is a leader who serves. Jesus washed His disciples’ feet. He was their Lord and Master. He had the place and position over them, yet He humbled Himself to serve and encouraged His disciples to do the same. He said in John 13:13-14, “You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.” Jesus, the Lord and Master, set the example of servant-hearted love.

You are to love sacrificially. Too often, our version of love is looking for how someone else can love us. We are looking for how we can receive. But Jesus showed us a different way, a love that is marked by sacrifice. There’s nothing too precious for me to give up for my wife, except my relationship with God. She is my highest love on this Earth apart from the Lord. Jesus gave Himself up for the Church.

How have you seen someone display sacrificial love? What was special and unique about that?

How have you extended sacrificial love to someone else? Is this a regular practice for you? Why or why not?

PRACTICE THIS

Love someone sacrificially today without expecting anything in return.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

December 18

John 19:28-37

[28] After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), “I thirst.” [29] A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth. [30] When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

[31] Since it was the day of Preparation, and so that the bodies would not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken and that they might be taken away. [32] So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first, and of the other who had been crucified with him. [33] But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. [34] But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water. [35] He who saw it has borne witness—his testimony is true, and he knows that he is telling the truth—that you also may believe. [36] For these things took place that the Scripture might be fulfilled: “Not one of his bones will be broken.” [37] And again another Scripture says, “They will look on him whom they have pierced.”

Revelation 15

[1] Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and amazing, seven angels with seven plagues, which are the last, for with them the wrath of God is finished.

[2] And I saw what appeared to be a sea of glass mingled with fire—and also those who had conquered the beast and its image and the number of its name, standing beside the sea of glass with harps of God in their hands. [3] And they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, 

    “Great and amazing are your deeds,

        O Lord God the Almighty!

    Just and true are your ways,

        O King of the nations! 

    [4] Who will not fear, O Lord,

        and glorify your name?

    For you alone are holy.

        All nations will come

        and worship you,

    for your righteous acts have been revealed.”

    [5] After this I looked, and the sanctuary of the tent of witness in heaven was opened, [6] and out of the sanctuary came the seven angels with the seven plagues, clothed in pure, bright linen, with golden sashes around their chests. [7] And one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God who lives forever and ever, [8] and the sanctuary was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from his power, and no one could enter the sanctuary until the seven plagues of the seven angels were finished.

Job 37

    [1] “At this also my heart trembles

        and leaps out of its place. 

    [2] Keep listening to the thunder of his voice

        and the rumbling that comes from his mouth. 

    [3] Under the whole heaven he lets it go,

        and his lightning to the corners of the earth. 

    [4] After it his voice roars;

        he thunders with his majestic voice,

        and he does not restrain the lightnings when his voice is heard. 

    [5] God thunders wondrously with his voice;

        he does great things that we cannot comprehend. 

    [6] For to the snow he says, ‘Fall on the earth,’

        likewise to the downpour, his mighty downpour. 

    [7] He seals up the hand of every man,

        that all men whom he made may know it. 

    [8] Then the beasts go into their lairs,

        and remain in their dens. 

    [9] From its chamber comes the whirlwind,

        and cold from the scattering winds. 

    [10] By the breath of God ice is given,

        and the broad waters are frozen fast. 

    [11] He loads the thick cloud with moisture;

        the clouds scatter his lightning. 

    [12] They turn around and around by his guidance,

        to accomplish all that he commands them

        on the face of the habitable world. 

    [13] Whether for correction or for his land

        or for love, he causes it to happen.

    [14] “Hear this, O Job;

        stop and consider the wondrous works of God. 

    [15] Do you know how God lays his command upon them

        and causes the lightning of his cloud to shine? 

    [16] Do you know the balancings of the clouds,

        the wondrous works of him who is perfect in knowledge, 

    [17] you whose garments are hot

        when the earth is still because of the south wind? 

    [18] Can you, like him, spread out the skies,

        hard as a cast metal mirror? 

    [19] Teach us what we shall say to him;

        we cannot draw up our case because of darkness. 

    [20] Shall it be told him that I would speak?

        Did a man ever wish that he would be swallowed up?

    [21] “And now no one looks on the light

        when it is bright in the skies,

        when the wind has passed and cleared them. 

    [22] Out of the north comes golden splendor;

        God is clothed with awesome majesty. 

    [23] The Almighty—we cannot find him;

        he is great in power;

        justice and abundant righteousness he will not violate. 

    [24] Therefore men fear him;

        he does not regard any who are wise in their own conceit.”

Habakkuk 1

[1] The oracle that Habakkuk the prophet saw.

    [2] O LORD, how long shall I cry for help,

        and you will not hear?

    Or cry to you “Violence!”

        and you will not save? 

    [3] Why do you make me see iniquity,

        and why do you idly look at wrong?

    Destruction and violence are before me;

        strife and contention arise. 

    [4] So the law is paralyzed,

        and justice never goes forth.

    For the wicked surround the righteous;

        so justice goes forth perverted.

    [5] “Look among the nations, and see;

        wonder and be astounded.

    For I am doing a work in your days

        that you would not believe if told. 

    [6] For behold, I am raising up the Chaldeans,

        that bitter and hasty nation,

    who march through the breadth of the earth,

        to seize dwellings not their own. 

    [7] They are dreaded and fearsome;

        their justice and dignity go forth from themselves. 

    [8] Their horses are swifter than leopards,

        more fierce than the evening wolves;

        their horsemen press proudly on.

    Their horsemen come from afar;

        they fly like an eagle swift to devour. 

    [9] They all come for violence,

        all their faces forward.

        They gather captives like sand. 

    [10] At kings they scoff,

        and at rulers they laugh.

    They laugh at every fortress,

        for they pile up earth and take it. 

    [11] Then they sweep by like the wind and go on,

        guilty men, whose own might is their god!”

    [12] Are you not from everlasting,

        O LORD my God, my Holy One?

        We shall not die.

    O LORD, you have ordained them as a judgment,

        and you, O Rock, have established them for reproof. 

    [13] You who are of purer eyes than to see evil

        and cannot look at wrong,

    why do you idly look at traitors

        and remain silent when the wicked swallows up

        the man more righteous than he? 

    [14] You make mankind like the fish of the sea,

        like crawling things that have no ruler. 

    [15] He brings all of them up with a hook;

        he drags them out with his net;

    he gathers them in his dragnet;

        so he rejoices and is glad. 

    [16] Therefore he sacrifices to his net

        and makes offerings to his dragnet;

    for by them he lives in luxury,

        and his food is rich. 

    [17] Is he then to keep on emptying his net

        and mercilessly killing nations forever?

Habakkuk 2

    [1] I will take my stand at my watchpost

        and station myself on the tower,

    and look out to see what he will say to me,

        and what I will answer concerning my complaint.

[2] And the LORD answered me:

    “Write the vision;

        make it plain on tablets,

        so he may run who reads it. 

    [3] For still the vision awaits its appointed time;

        it hastens to the end—it will not lie.

    If it seems slow, wait for it;

        it will surely come; it will not delay.

    [4] “Behold, his soul is puffed up; it is not upright within him,

        but the righteous shall live by his faith.

    [5] “Moreover, wine is a traitor,

        an arrogant man who is never at rest.

    His greed is as wide as Sheol;

        like death he has never enough.

    He gathers for himself all nations

        and collects as his own all peoples.”

    [6] Shall not all these take up their taunt against him, with scoffing and riddles for him, and say, 

    “Woe to him who heaps up what is not his own—

        for how long?—

        and loads himself with pledges!” 

    [7] Will not your debtors suddenly arise,

        and those awake who will make you tremble?

        Then you will be spoil for them. 

    [8] Because you have plundered many nations,

        all the remnant of the peoples shall plunder you,

    for the blood of man and violence to the earth,

        to cities and all who dwell in them.

    [9] “Woe to him who gets evil gain for his house,

        to set his nest on high,

        to be safe from the reach of harm! 

    [10] You have devised shame for your house

        by cutting off many peoples;

        you have forfeited your life. 

    [11] For the stone will cry out from the wall,

        and the beam from the woodwork respond.

    [12] “Woe to him who builds a town with blood

        and founds a city on iniquity! 

    [13] Behold, is it not from the LORD of hosts

        that peoples labor merely for fire,

        and nations weary themselves for nothing? 

    [14] For the earth will be filled

        with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD

        as the waters cover the sea.

    [15] “Woe to him who makes his neighbors drink—

        you pour out your wrath and make them drunk,

        in order to gaze at their nakedness! 

    [16] You will have your fill of shame instead of glory.

        Drink, yourself, and show your uncircumcision!

    The cup in the LORD’s right hand

        will come around to you,

        and utter shame will come upon your glory! 

    [17] The violence done to Lebanon will overwhelm you,

        as will the destruction of the beasts that terrified them,

    for the blood of man and violence to the earth,

        to cities and all who dwell in them.

    [18] “What profit is an idol

        when its maker has shaped it,

        a metal image, a teacher of lies?

    For its maker trusts in his own creation

        when he makes speechless idols! 

    [19] Woe to him who says to a wooden thing, Awake;

        to a silent stone, Arise!

    Can this teach?

    Behold, it is overlaid with gold and silver,

        and there is no breath at all in it. 

    [20] But the LORD is in his holy temple;

        let all the earth keep silence before him.”

Habakkuk 3

[1] A prayer of Habakkuk the prophet, according to Shigionoth.

    [2] O LORD, I have heard the report of you,

        and your work, O LORD, do I fear.

    In the midst of the years revive it;

        in the midst of the years make it known;

        in wrath remember mercy. 

    [3] God came from Teman,

        and the Holy One from Mount Paran. Selah

    His splendor covered the heavens,

        and the earth was full of his praise. 

    [4] His brightness was like the light;

        rays flashed from his hand;

        and there he veiled his power. 

    [5] Before him went pestilence,

        and plague followed at his heels. 

    [6] He stood and measured the earth;

        he looked and shook the nations;

    then the eternal mountains were scattered;

        the everlasting hills sank low.

        His were the everlasting ways. 

    [7] I saw the tents of Cushan in affliction;

        the curtains of the land of Midian did tremble. 

    [8] Was your wrath against the rivers, O LORD?

        Was your anger against the rivers,

        or your indignation against the sea,

    when you rode on your horses,

        on your chariot of salvation? 

    [9] You stripped the sheath from your bow,

        calling for many arrows. Selah

        You split the earth with rivers. 

    [10] The mountains saw you and writhed;

        the raging waters swept on;

    the deep gave forth its voice;

        it lifted its hands on high. 

    [11] The sun and moon stood still in their place

        at the light of your arrows as they sped,

        at the flash of your glittering spear. 

    [12] You marched through the earth in fury;

        you threshed the nations in anger. 

    [13] You went out for the salvation of your people,

        for the salvation of your anointed.

    You crushed the head of the house of the wicked,

        laying him bare from thigh to neck. Selah 

    [14] You pierced with his own arrows the heads of his warriors,

        who came like a whirlwind to scatter me,

        rejoicing as if to devour the poor in secret. 

    [15] You trampled the sea with your horses,

        the surging of mighty waters.

    [16] I hear, and my body trembles;

        my lips quiver at the sound;

    rottenness enters into my bones;

        my legs tremble beneath me.

    Yet I will quietly wait for the day of trouble

        to come upon people who invade us.

    [17] Though the fig tree should not blossom,

        nor fruit be on the vines,

    the produce of the olive fail

        and the fields yield no food,

    the flock be cut off from the fold

        and there be no herd in the stalls, 

    [18] yet I will rejoice in the LORD;

        I will take joy in the God of my salvation. 

    [19] GOD, the Lord, is my strength;

        he makes my feet like the deer’s;

        he makes me tread on my high places.

    To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments.

The Christmas Model for Missions

“As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.” (John 17:18)

Christmas is a model for missions. Missions is a mirror of Christmas. As I, so you.

For example, danger. Christ came to his own and his own received him not. So you also. They plotted against him. So you. He had no permanent home. So you. They trumped up false charges against him. So you. They whipped and mocked him. So you. He died after three years of ministry. So you.

But there is a worse danger than any of these which Jesus escaped. So you!!

In the mid-16th century the missionary Francis Xavier (1506–1552), wrote to Father Perez of Malacca (today part of Malaysia) about the perils of his mission to China. He said,

The danger of all dangers would be to lose trust and confidence in the mercy of God. . . . To distrust him would be a far more terrible thing than any physical evil which all the enemies of God put together could inflict on us, for without God’s permission neither the devils nor their human ministers could hinder us in the slightest degree.

The greatest danger a missionary faces is not death but to distrust the mercy of God. If that danger is avoided, then all other dangers lose their sting.

In the end God makes every dagger a scepter in our hand. As J.W. Alexander says, “Each instant of present labor is to be graciously repaid with a million ages of glory.”

Christ escaped this danger — the danger of distrusting God. Therefore God has highly exalted him! As he, so you.

Remember this Advent that Christmas is a model for missions. As I, so you. And that mission means danger. And the greatest danger is distrusting God’s mercy. Succumb to this and all is lost. Conquer here and nothing can harm you for a million ages.

John Piper 

Remain Under What God Has Put Over Us

“So David restrained his servants with these words, and did not allow them to rise against Saul. And Saul got up from the cave and went on his way. David also arose afterward, went out of the cave, and called out to Saul, saying, ‘My lord the king!’ And when Saul looked behind him, David stooped with his face to the earth, and bowed down. And David said to Saul: ‘Why do you listen to the words of men who say, “Indeed David seeks your harm”?’ 1 SAMUEL 24:7-9

 
PONDER THIS

Some think, “You’ve got to rebel. You’ve got to stand up for yourself. If you don’t do that, you’re a weakling!” No, you’re not. You’re strong. David’s greatest victory was the victory he won over self when he submitted to his authorities, and for that reason, God made him Israel’s greatest king.

What Saul did was wrong, but David understood the principle of kingdom authority. Therefore, David learned to rule with great power and great authority. Like David, we also need to recognize kingdom authority. We are to humble ourselves even when we feel like we need to stand up and make a point.

Many of us have a spirit of rebellion. So, while we may grudgingly submit to the authorities God has put over us, we are standing up on the inside. God wants His people to live with kingdom authority, but we will never be over the things God has put under us until we are willing to get under the things God has put over us.

What authority figures do you have a hard time listening to right now? Why?
What can you do when you struggle to listen to the people in authority over you? How can God help in those times?

PRACTICE THIS

Pray for the leaders in authority over you. Ask God to guide them and help them in their leadership.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers