As the rain and snow

“Rejoice greatly! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he,[and] humble.” An angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.’” “You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Zechariah 9:9; Matthew 1:20-21; John 8:32,36; 14:6

“The grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” 1 Timothy 1:14-15

Anyone who has witnessed a baby’s arrival into the world recognizes the robust will and utter miracle of a tiny life being pushed into its new world, and the amazing helplessness that is then reality for this one utterly dependent on its mother in the womb. The starkness of Jesus’s birth to His young mother is a beautiful backdrop of the power He embodied to unleash grace to all mankind and set sinners free unto eternal life. This babe in a feeding trough? The agent of salvation in a manger? A king in a crude shelter in swaddling cloths? Yes!

And this is no dichotomy. Jesus, while ‘above and beyond’ all creatures, “for whom and by whom all things exist,” willfully became one of us as our brother to be able to bear the penalty of our sin. “Though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” “He had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.” (Philippians 2:6-8; Hebrews 2:10-17)

“Mild he lays his glory by,
born that we no more may die,
born to raise us from the earth,
born to give us second birth.  

Hark! the herald angels sing,
‘Glory to the newborn King!'”  ~Charles Wesley (1739) with George Whitefield (1714-1770)

This Savior has come into our earthly mangers to save us, to give us daily power over words that bite, attitudes that muddy the atmosphere, criticisms and superior airs that demean. He came to lift us from shame and regret that impede our progress, despair that weighs down the heart, disappointment in unfulfilled dreams, and tight fists of self-interest that cripple our fruitfulness. He came as truth to set us free from uncertain belief, distorted thinking, insecurity, confusion.

Lord on high, may the lowliness of Your manger stoke humble gratitude and ever lift my sights to glorify You as King of kings.

“O LORD, our LORD,
    how majestic is your name in all the earth!
You have set your glory above the heavens.

“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. For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your 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 yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our 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, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall.” 2 Peter 1:3-10 

Reading this passage I am stoked by a chug-a-chug, chug-a-chug train sound, steady rhythm of moving, moving, moving ahead. There are many components to our growing in godliness, and we are urged to make every effort to keep on, put the right pieces together, continue on track, and reject what is false and ruinous while adding good upon good.

The Christian life is a relentless pursuit of godliness as we appropriate all God has given us in our salvation. We navigate through false teaching, destructive heresies, temptations to sensuality and greed, and every time we say no and plug ahead in virtue, we build spiritual strength and progress further. We are tested, as Noah was, by lonely faith, by having to stand alone on the side of truth against the crowd, and the Lord bolsters our character and understanding. We may be blasphemed along with our Savior when we deny revelry, but learn to stand firm and steady. We are trained by practice to discern false boasts, and what true freedom won in Christ means. We persist in diligently applying what we know to be true from God’s promises in scripture and from His marvelous working in our personal experience. Every bit of energy invested partaking of the divine nature builds holiness and godliness. (2 Peter 2:1-3,5,10,12-14,18-19; 3:2,11)

So where will my efforts be spent today? Will I get distracted by pieces of sparkle and temporary pleasure, weighed down by doubt and self-interest, or will I decide, first thing, to make every effort to heed God’s call to glory and excellence? How will I act, where will I add, what will I supplement, to assure I am moving ahead in His divine power on His track of sanctification?

Lord, while You tarry, keep me diligent in appropriating Your character and growing in Your grace and knowledge. Stir me up, and keep me stirring up my comrades in faith, to steadfastly partake of and add to everything divine You have given. Ever increase Your qualities in us that bear and multiply eternal fruit, so You are glorified now and for eternity! (2 Peter 3:1,14,18)

“Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, ‘Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.’ But the Lord answered her, ‘Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.'” “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life —is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.” Luke 10:38-42; 1 John 2:15-17

I was jolted a few days ago as I drove by a yard, struck by the splash of holiday decor. While every imaginable color and shape and expression played with my eyes as I scoped out the “Where’s Jesus?” scene, I finally located the manger. Ah, He is there!

I could not help but think of all the distractions toying with our celebration of the birth of the Christ child, and how I want to be like Mary. All sparkle and frivolity and gift elves and yummies aside, where is my real treasure this Christmas?

With the lure of savoring holiday delicacies, will we take time to taste and be satisfied with our Lord? (Psalm 34:8; 81:16)

Beyond the banter of sales slogans and jingle bells, have we quieted our hearts to contemplate the meaning of Silent Night? Is all calm and bright in our soul? If not, is there someone with whom we need to reckon to be able to sleep in heavenly peace?

In the midst of listing and shopping and wrapping, and even the joy of giving, are we deeply thankful for the greatest gift we have in Jesus, our salvation? (2 Corinthians 9:15; James 1:17)

As we take time to adorn our homes and tables and bodies with gleam and festivity, do we take time to consider the hidden person of the heart? Would we put on the Lord Jesus Christ and dress in His attributes? (Romans 13:14; Colossians 3:12-14; 1 Peter 3:4)

If my life were a yard, could those driving by or stopping to look and chat see Jesus?

Lord Jesus, may I always choose the good portion of being with You, and share that good portion with an anxious, frenzied world. In my every encounter, may Your heavenly peace and the pure light of Your holy, tender, and mild love radiate redeeming grace through my actions and demeanor.

“So Ahab sent to all the people of Israel and gathered the prophets together at Mount Carmel. And Elijah came near to all the people and said, ‘How long will you go limping between two different opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.’ And the people did not answer him a word… And they took the bull that was given them, and they prepared it and called upon the name of Baal from morning until noon, saying, ‘O Baal, answer us!’ But there was no voice, and no one answered. And they limped around the altar that they had made… And as midday passed, they raved on until the time of the offering of the oblation, but there was no voice. No one answered; no one paid attention.” “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other.” “The one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind... He is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.”1 Kings 18:20-21,26,29; Matthew 6:24; James 1:6,8

I heard someone talk recently about an “energy reader,” a fortune teller who spoke of situations in a woman’s life she apparently could not have known, save for this client’s “energy” revealing them. Intrigued, this person became a believer– nearly. Drawn, but skeptical, she limped between two feelings, and therefore two opinions, unconvinced, but not wanting to let go of the possibility. Elijah exposes the Baal worshipers for a similar devotion.

Divided interest, and allegiance, breeds weak living. No solid foundation, no doctrine, no hold, only slippery clinging to (at least) two sides, with no firm grip on either. We might fear missing out on the possibility of one side’s promises, while being nervous to lose the other’s loyalty and acceptance. Dancing around in the middle limbo, we find only fickle partners and miss God’s music altogether. No certain voice answers.

Our only security is in the Rock, Jesus. He is God, and we can follow Him. There is no Rock like our God, and He can be implicitly trusted. There may be other look-alikes or sound-alikes, but none is true. We can test every teaching against His word, every promise against His character. We can bring every requirement for acceptance to His cross, every need to His throne of grace. When we limp along without aim or assurance, we will languish in fruitfulness and purpose. But when align with our Lord, even if we are the only one in a given situation, we will hold fast, our foundation firm and unshakable. (1 Samuel 2:2; Matthew 7:24-27; Hebrews 4:14-16)

Where do I flirt with falsehood and waffle between two masters? Where am I limping ineffectively, and would I ask God to show me why? Are there areas in my life where I resist God’s truth because it conflicts with my comfort or pleasures? “No more let sins and sorrows grow, nor thorns infest the ground!” (Isaac Watts 1719)

Joy to the world! You, Lord, have come, and You are true! May all I believe, promote, and do, be wholehearted, grounded in truth and for Your glory. (1 Corinthians 10:31; Colossians 3:23)

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.  In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it… The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.” John 1:1-5,9-13

The Light of the world laid aside His heavenly glory to enter our earthly world as flesh. His light is unable to be overcome, and in itself, overcomes the darkness of every believing heart. Are we mesmerized and gratefully blinded?

Lighting a candle at the dinner table brings a sense of focus, calm, serenity, closeness. Light dispels fear. Insects are drawn at night to light. We stumble in darkness and grope for light in an unfamiliar room, in a quandary, for understanding in confusion, for enough knowledge to make decisions and plans. Light is life-giving indeed, and comes to us in Jesus and His living word for the taking. Yet even as we take and receive, it is God in His grace Who, by His will, pursues and catches and overtakes us. It is a majestic mystery.

The effects of light have everything to do with its source and characteristics. Life-giving. Exposing truth. Showing the way. Availing comfort. Permeating warmth. Raising in growth. Unquenchable. Unavoidable. Irresistible. What prevents our sidling up to the heavenly Light?

When I am born into a new day, do I seek the Light of the world? When I face a crossroads, do I ask for specific light from His word? Where am I loving darknesses of pleasure, gossip, philosophy, intrigue, or entertainment, more than I love light? Are there secrets I treasure, resentments I nurture, falsehoods I foster, that I fear being illuminated? His warm light can overcome every ounce of rebellion, soften every hard edge, burn away all grit and dross. (Psalm 119:105; Proverbs 6:20-23; John 3:19-21; 8:12)

“Hail the heaven-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Sun of Righteousness!
Light and life to all he brings,
risen with healing in his wings.
Mild he lays his glory by,
born that we no more may die,
born to raise us from the earth,
born to give us second birth.

Hark! the herald angels sing,
‘Glory to the newborn King!'”  ~Charles Wesley (1739) with George Whitefield (1714-1770)

Prince of Peace, rule my heart and mind! Sun of Righteousness, blaze bright in me! May all of me shine Your life and light, for the sake of Your glory and fame.

“And I lifted my eyes and saw, and behold, a man with a measuring line in his hand! Then I said, ‘Where are you going?’ And he said to me, ‘To measure Jerusalem, to see what is its width and what is its length.’ And behold, the angel who talked with me came forward, and another angel came forward to meet him and said to him, ‘Run, say to that young man, “Jerusalem shall be inhabited as villages without walls, because of the multitude of people and livestock in it.  And I will be to her a wall of fire all around, declares the Lord, and I will be the glory in her midst.”‘

“Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion, for behold, I come and I will dwell in your midst, declares the Lord.  And many nations shall join themselves to the Lord in that day, and shall be my people. And I will dwell in your midst, and you shall know that the Lord of hosts has sent me to you. And the Lord will inherit Judah as his portion in the holy land, and will again choose Jerusalem. Be silent, all flesh, before the Lord, for he has roused himself from his holy dwelling.” Zechariah 2:1-5,10-13

It takes looking up to see how God measures things and to comprehend His perspective. We use numbers and rulers and clocks and calendars, almighty infinite God uses souls and fire and glory and forever. He thinks and acts on a whole different plane than we, and invites us to look up to understand, marvel, and rejoice.

 

We can get fixed on standards we want others to meet in order to be part of our world, and erect and measure walls whose boundaries we do not want crossed. Behavior, political persuasion, and personal style become our measuring lines, and can trip us up from welcoming those God chooses. But God steps in and says, ‘I define the boundaries. My presence is what counts, and My glory burns through all of your manmade resistances and prejudices to blaze brilliantly among My people.’ (1 Samuel 16:7)

We make plans and ask for things and want want want according to our timetable and methods. We long for dreams to be fulfilled, for resolution, reconciliation, salvation, healing, and God says, ‘My time is best and never late, and my ways are perfect. Trust Me to carry out My plans.’ “With the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.” (Deuteronomy 32:4; Proverbs 16:9; 2 Peter 3:8)

We dwell on our past, or that of others, and say no mercy can reach deep enough to remove the sin and regret, and God says, “For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.” (Psalm 103:11-12)

We see physical structures, and fixate on the here and now; the Lord Jesus sees His living Body, and invites us to faith eternal. (John 2:19-22)

Lord on high, silence my earthly thinking and mold me to Your spiritual dimensions. Help me measure my days by Your presence in my midst, and rejoice.

 

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.  In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.  For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.” John 1:1-5,9-14,16

This passage shines with the majesty and mystery of Jesus, the Word made flesh. With God from the beginning, one with God and Creator of all, Light personified, He came to be received. Yet many received Him not. Those who do believe are born into His family, becoming His children forever, yet even this receiving is an act of His will and power. It is His arms, not ours, that take us on Himself and into His everlasting life. All is grace, grace upon irresistible grace that we cannot fathom but gratefully accept.

To be named as God’s child? Is there a greater gift, a more meaningful adoption, a stronger security? And this belonging is all of His grace, unbreakable, unshakable grace that entered the earth at Christmas, reached out on earth through healing hands and powerful interactions, that poured out in effectual cleansing from the cross, that embraces us for eternity when we receive Jesus into our life.

How can it be? Amazing grace! Wide grace! Uplifting grace! Limitless grace! Grace that pierces through despair and sorrow, grace that energizes the weak, grace that heals the broken-hearted, grace that teaches the way to go, grace that convicts of sin, grace that redeems our folly, grace that renews heart and mind, grace that unifies the divided, grace that leads us home.

“Joy to the world! The Lord is come:
let earth receive her King;
let ev’ry heart prepare him room,
and heav’n and nature sing!”  ~Isaac Watts (1719)

Good Savior, Your fullness cannot be stopped or quenched, and I bow in humble awe at its abundance to me. May I ever and joyfully sing of Your grace, allow its purifying work in my life, and spread it generously to others. Prepare my heart daily to acknowledge and lift high Your grace, and every heart to make room for its marvelous work and glory.

“O Lord, how long shall I cry for help? Are you not from everlasting, O Lord my God, my Holy One?.. 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. And the Lord answered me: ‘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. The righteous shall live by his faith… For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.‘

“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,
yet I will rejoice in the Lord;
    I will take joy in the God of my salvation.
God, the Lord, is my strength;
    he makes my feet like the deer’s;
    he makes me tread on my high places.” Habakkuk 1:2,12; 2:1-4,14; 3:17-19

The short book of Habakkuk is a beautiful window into the musings of a godly prophet with his God. Habakkuk observes God using wicked nations to punish His people, and wonders at His mysterious, offensive ways in fulfilling His good purposes. In his wrestling, he turns his eyes from the present violence to the transcendent everlasting One. He climbs to his watchpost to watch and wait. It is here the Lord reveals Himself and builds His prophet’s faith.

When am I am tempted to question God’s justice, or the tangle of His ways in a family or circumstances, will I climb the tower too? When my time plan for completion of assignments and fulfillment of dreams gets off kilter, am I willing to readjust and align with the Lord? It is understandable to have questions, to take what we know of God and wonder when it does not line up with what we would assume, but this is our opportunity to cry out to Him, to allow Him to lift our heads and take the long, eternal view. This is our chance to ask, ‘is there more to this picture?’ and submit, ‘make me willing to wait on Your time.’ His ways are so much higher than ours, yet in grace He allows us to glimpse His promises and trust Him for their fulfillment. (Deuteronomy 32:49-50; Isaiah 55:8-9)

We will not see in this life the consummation of all God’s good plans, but part of the joy and mystery of faith is believing the One Who promises, and carrying His view through all our days. (Hebrews 11:13; Revelation 22:4-7,12)

“Born thy people to deliver,
born a child and yet a King,
born to reign in us forever,
now thy gracious kingdom bring.
By thine own eternal spirit
rule in all our hearts alone;
by thine all sufficient merit,
raise us to thy glorious throne.”  ~ Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus, Charles Wesley (1707-1788)

Come, Lord Jesus! And until that day, keep me watching and seizing life from Your vantage point, and increase my faith! (Luke 17:5; Revelation 22:20)

“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light. The true light, which gives light to everyone,.. was in the world, yet the world did not know him.

“And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, ‘Who are you?’ He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, ‘I am not the Christ. I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, “Make straight the way of the Lord,” as the prophet Isaiah said. I baptize with water, but among you stands one,.. the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.‘ The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, ‘Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.’ The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples, and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, ‘Behold, the Lamb of God!’ The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus.” John 1:5-10,19-20,23,26-27,29,31,34-37

From before he was conceived, John the Baptist was foretold to be a witness to Jesus, and his life reflected that prophesy in wonderful clarity. (Luke 1:14-17)

He who was sent by God was on his mission and was never dissuaded from it. When given opportunity to claim some notoriety and credit, he identified himself as only a voice- don’t look at me, behold the Lamb. His purpose was to proclaim, and that he did in word and deed. He also made clear his aim, to point people to Jesus the Light, the Lamb, the Son of God, in order to know Him, to believe and have life and salvation in His name. John’s witness was pure, the proof of a Savior he knew, and proved in the power of changed lives: those who heard his testimony turned and followed Jesus.

If I know Jesus, His light burns in me and shines through me to a dark world. I, too, am called to proclaim. Is the voice of my life clear? Is there anything I do with words or in action to diminish clarity, to steal the tiniest bit of His glory for myself? Do I try to be more than a voice, to be noticed with the greats, to take over receiving a little affection, attention, or applause? (Matthew 5:14-16)

Not all will receive, not all will understand; the way may be lonely, and some may even mock. But we are called by God to prepare the Lord’s way, to point others to Him, and He is the One to whom we are accountable. John was imprisoned and ultimately killed for the truth he spoke, yet many believed for eternity. He who exalted Jesus won His commendation, and that is all that matters. (Matthew 3:1-4; 11:11; 14:3-11)

Lord, make me like John, intent on reflecting You and boldly witnessing of Your truth to the world.