Advent 2 - Mighty God - Isaiah 9:6

What do you want God for? Before Pentecost the disciples thought they had the ultimate tool to get what they wanted. Jesus could do anything and if they could get him to behave according to their plans and wishes, meeting their needs and fixing their problems, making them powerful and successful-wow! It is the twisted attempt to make the Mighty God your servant. The 'prosperity gospel' is the same twisted / distorted message today. God will make you rich, healthy, successful if you know how to manipulate His promises and use His name. The real gospel picture is the Mighty God becoming a baby. Vulnerable, helpless, powerless-dependent on a Jewish teenager and her young husband. The real gospel is the Mighty God taking a towel and washing the feet of a group of ragamuffins, among whom sits the betrayer. The real gospel is the Mighty God laying down his life via the cross to open a new and living way to the heart of the Father. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is not about God making me rich and powerful, but about God making me like His Son. The Mighty God is about heart transformation. Isaiah states this in 1:18-though your sins be as scarlet, they will be white as snow. A stain so deep no human effort or agent can remove, only the blood of the Mighty God. What do you want God for? The words of Thomas Chisholms' hymn, 'O To Be Like Thee' should reflect our heart's desire. He is able! •O to be like Thee! blessed Redeemer; This is my constant longing and prayer; Gladly I’ll forfeit all of earth’s treasures, Jesus, Thy perfect likeness to wear. •O to be like Thee! O to be like Thee! Blessed Redeemer, pure as Thou art; Come in Thy sweetness, come in Thy fullness; Stamp Thine own image deep on my heart.

Advent 1 : The Little Guys

The Eternal King of Glory steps out of eternity into time and the first stop on the trip is a stable with no name parents and angels breaking the news to a group of no name shepherds. Nobodies in that culture. People with no voice, and no clout. In the opinions of men, they didn't count-but they counted with Almighty God. The Great Shepherd reveals himself to the lowest and the least. Jesus did not come to win an election. He did not come to hold an office or get a title. The shepherds whose report would have been looked at with question and rejection. Joseph and Mary whose story was ridiculous. Later on in the story the empty tomb is first witnessed by the women. Again, the Lord is not trying to impress, He is not trying to convince or make His case. Beyond the rise and fall of the powerful and mighty of men stands the person of Jesus Christ, whose Kingdom is without end. Two cheers for the little guys. Praise God for having no concern for human labels-He looks at the heart. He lives to transform the heart of man into His temple. Paul captures this concept in 1 Corinthians 1...not many of us were/are. Christ is the wisdom and power of God and the shepherds had enough faith to believe it; even as they knelt before a baby boy. On this first Sunday of Advent, three cheers for the little guys and gals. Whosoever will may come...