glory of God – Be Still…

John 1:1-14 – The Word and The Light

This is one of my favorite Christmas texts that seems to become richer in meaning with each passing year. Who is the Word? Jesus is who we recognize here. Feel the thrill when you picture Jesus so active in creation. There is such an intimacy at work as we meet our Savior as also the light who created us. We know Jesus’ humanity, but here we see clearly his divinity.

God’s design and purpose for each of us is so perfect. We are the ones who mess it up when we choose our own way. Even those who could have personally met Jesus when he walked the earth, rejected him. What a tragic loss for them and for anyone who denies Jesus as Lord of their lives. Continue reading “John 1:1-14 – The Word and The Light”

Job 38:1-41 – God Answers Job!

Read Job 38:1-41

Don’t rush past verse 1. “Then the Lord answered Job.” There is a lot of power packed into these words. The word “then” stops us in our tracks as if someone just turned on the light so we can finally see. How climactic! After all the time Job longed to hear from God, God now speaks and tells Job to “Brace yourself.” Hold on and get ready to be wowed!

The whole book of Job hinges on this moment of truth. God’s words are important, but the simple fact that God answers from the whirlwind is huge! It proves God is always present with us, listening to our prayers. After the last 35+ chapters, we’ve heard from Job and his friends, all spinning their wheels, spouting off misguided theology while trying to figure out what is happening. Continue reading “Job 38:1-41 – God Answers Job!”

Ezekiel 43:1-12 – A Vision Within a Vision

Read Ezekiel 43:1-12

Ezekiel returns to the beginning of his tour of the temple only to see God’s glory revealed. The message I take away here was to be given to the people of Israel to expose their sinfulness, call for holiness, and point them toward the promise of being with God forever in his kingdom.

This is a key passage in the book of Ezekiel for us to ponder. We have a vision within a vision. While Ezekiel is still in this place he has been taken to, he is now taken into the inner court where he sees yet another vision of God taking possession of this temple. Continue reading “Ezekiel 43:1-12 – A Vision Within a Vision”

2 Chronicles 5:2-14 – The Ark Arrives

Read 2 Chronicles 5:2-14

It’s passages like this that make even my heart sing! The palpability of worship truly inspires. We know moving the Ark of the Covenant is serious business to be done in just the right way prescribed by God. Rather than fear, the people rejoiced.

With the temple construction complete, it was time to move God’s presence back in. Only after the arrival of the Ark could the temple be truly finished. The work King David had initiated was fulfilled. In readings to follow, Solomon will pray and dedicate the space. For now, we’ll focus on worship!

Advent ? Isaiah 9:1-2 -Hope

Read Isaiah 9:1-2

Our Advent preparations are heading into the home stretch. It’s time to take a deep breath and prepare for the final frantic moments yet to come. Why do we try to pack so much into such a short period of time? There’s traveling, cookie baking, card sending, concert attending, rehearsing, decorating, wrapping gifts, carol singing–I’ve got to be forgetting something! Yes — hoping in Christ!

Isaiah’s prophecy speaks loudly to us as well. We can surely identify with living in a “time of darkness and despair,” too. Anytime God is absent from a conversation or a decision or an event, the potential for darkness exists. Isaiah’s message brings hope to those living in darkness when he says, “will not go on forever.”