Favor with God

Meditations for the Season of Christmas 

December 27, 2024

Favor with God

Jesus grew in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and all the people.

Luke 2:52

Luke 2:41-52

Today’s reading tells the story of twelve-year-old Jesus in the Temple in Jerusalem. The way Luke tells the story has an interesting similarity to another story Luke will tell: the two disciples on the road to Emmaus in chapter twenty-four. In both stories, there is a period of three days where Jesus was ‘lost’ and then found again. In both stories Jesus used an imperative to explain what happened: “I must be in my Father’s house”; “the Messiah would have to suffer all these things.” From Jesus’ perspective in both stories, he is not the one who is lost; he is just doing what was necessary for the Messiah to do.

Jesus’ perspective creates a dichotomy for me. On one hand, I know from the Apostle Paul that nothing can separate me from Christ, because Christ lives in me. (Romans 8:35-39 & Colossians 1:27) But on the other hand, from Luke’s account, Jesus is going to be doing what Jesus needs to do, and it is possible that I might lose sight of him.

Yesterday’s reading about baby Jesus being dedicated to the Lord ended with the affirmation that Jesus “was filled with wisdom, and God’s favor was on him.” (v40) Today’s reading ends with a similar affirmation: “Jesus grew in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and all the people.” (v52) Do you know that it is God’s will for us that such affirmations apply to our lives?

My Takeaway: What if I do lose sight of Jesus? I can rest in the knowledge that he can be found again. I just must look in the right place, which for me is at the Altar receiving Holy Communion.

Sē’lah                                                                                         

My book on prayer,

First Think, Then Pray

is now available on Amazon Kindle.

 

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

 

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com.

 

Copyright © 2024 by Alex M. Knight

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

He Is Light

Meditations for the Season of Christmas 

December 26, 2024

He Is Light

Simeon was there. He took the child in his arms and praised God, saying, “Sovereign Lord, now let your servant die in peace, as you have promised. I have seen your salvation, which you have prepared for all people. He is a light to reveal God to the nations, and he is the glory of your people Israel!”

Luke 2:28-32

Read: Luke 2: 21-40

Luke has done something most story tellers try hard not to do. He’s pretty much told us how the story is going to end, and we’re not quite through the first two chapters. It doesn’t look like he’s leaving much room for suspense. Why does Luke seem to give away the ending? I think it’s because he knows his first readers would be overwhelmed by the ending, so he is preparing them for the shock.

Like Simeon, many of Luke’s readers had been looking for God to redeem Israel. Unlike Simeon, their expectation of God’s way of redemption was completely different than what God was beginning to reveal through the births of John and Jesus. Today’s reading is a reminder to guard against thinking I know what, when and how God is going to act. God’s ways are not my ways, and if I allow myself to become rigid in my expectations, I’ll become like the many in Israel who missed the Messiah, because they were intently looking for something else.

One temptation that snares many in our time is the temptation to think that what God did in Christ, he did just for me. Sometimes we’re told to take John 3:16 and substitute the words ‘world’ and ‘everyone’ with ‘me’ and ‘I’. Yes, Christ is my salvation, but he’s not mine alone. At least twelve times in the first two chapters, Luke makes clear that God is at work in the lives of his people; not just Mary, Joseph, Elizabeth and Zachariah, but all of Israel. And, not just Israel; there are also several references to what God is doing for all the nations, all the world, through these miracle births. I am convinced that a major portion of being transformed by the renewing of my mind is in learning to think in terms of Kingdom values, in terms of inclusivity.

God’s Kingdom is revealed by bringing diverse people together. There are the young, Mary and Joseph; and the older, Elizabeth and Zachariah; and older still, Simeon and Anna. There are the well-off, Mary & Joseph (the gifts of the Magi made them so); and the poor, the shepherds. There are the people of God (the Church) and other people we didn’t know were included by God, the Magi.

My Takeaway: The births of John and Jesus have brought a very diverse people together for worship and fellowship. Do our worshiping communities reflect such diversity?

Sē’lah                                                                                         

My book on prayer,

First Think, Then Pray

is now available on Amazon Kindle.

 

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

 

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com.

 

Copyright © 2024 by Alex M. Knight

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

 

Merry Christmas

Meditations for the Season of Christmas 

December 25, 2024

Merry Christmas

And you will recognize him by this sign:

You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.”

Luke 2:12

Read: Luke 2:1-20

Sometimes when I was throwing toys for my dogs to fetch, they would lose sight of the toy. I’ll try to point to the toy, but instead of looking where I am pointing, the dogs look at my finger. They get focused on the sign and miss where the sign is pointing.

Sometimes people make the same mistake. At Christmas time, as we look at all the signs, the symbols of Christmas, we may miss where the Lord is leading us. Consider the manger. Luke mentions the manger three times in this passage. Luke says Mary laid Jesus in a manger; the angels told the shepherds they would find the newborn Messiah in a manger; and the shepherds went to Bethlehem and found the baby Jesus lying in a manger, just as they had been told.

The manger, which was not made of wood but of carved stone, was a feeding trough. There is some symbolism at work here. Jesus begins his life in a feeding trough in Bethlehem. The name Bethlehem means city of bread. Jesus will be known as the bread of life. At the last supper, Jesus takes bread and breaks it and tells his followers the bread is his body.

Mary laid Jesus in a manger. The angels announce to the shepherds that the Messiah has been born, and if they go to Bethlehem, they will find the Messiah lying in a manger. That’s where they found him. When they knew they had found the Messiah, they shared the news of their encounter with the angels with Mary and Joseph – and any others who would listen. Mary and Joseph were blessed to receive yet another confirmation that God was at work in their lives.

My Takeaway: Thus, the manger is a sign pointing the way for the shepherds to find the Messiah. The manger, a feeding trough, is also a sign pointing to Jesus’ ultimate gift: “Take, eat, this is my body given for you. 

Sē’lah                                                                                         

My book on prayer,

First Think, Then Pray

is now available on Amazon Kindle.

 

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

 

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com.

 

Copyright © 2024 by Alex M. Knight

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

 

The Magnificat

Meditations for Seeking the Life in Christ

The Season of Advent

December 24, 2024

The Magnificat

Mary responded, “Oh, how my soul praises the Lord.

     How my spirit rejoices in God my Savior!

Luke 1:46-47

Read Luke 1:46-56

Almost every word of Mary’s beautiful song is a quotation of scripture. Elizabeth’s child is John the Baptist, and his preaching will echo Mary’s song.

Mary and Elizabeth are far from naïve. There is yet much pain and sorrow in their lives. Why then could they speak with such excitement and joy about a child who then was still thirty weeks from birth? I believe they could celebrate with such uninhibited joy because, as I noted yesterday, they knew they were participating in God’s plan of salvation. In their reading of the scriptures, they met the God of Creation who is the Holy One, the Powerful One, the Faithful One, the Merciful One, and the One who is Love for all His creation. When they realized God was literally moving within them to fulfill his promises, their spirits responded with words of reverence and joy, the words of scripture.

When I read Mary’s song, I think of that most beautiful sonnet, Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s Sonnet XLIII. It begins “How do I love thee? Let me count the ways. I love thee to the depth and breadth and height My soul can reach . . .”

I believe an appropriate Advent practice for us is to write our own sonnet for Jesus. Our sonnet may begin with the words, “How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.” Then we can fill in the remaining lines with the many ways, grounded in scripture, we have experienced God our Savior.

My Takeaway: I’ve never written poetry, so this will be a poem that only Jesus could love. But it will be my expression of love for the One who set me free from sin and death.

Sē’lah                                                                                         

My book on prayer,

First Think, Then Pray

is now available on Amazon Kindle.

 

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

 

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com.

 

Copyright © 2024 by Alex M. Knight

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Mary Visits Elizabeth

Meditations for Seeking the Life in Christ

The Season of Advent

December 23, 2024

Mary Visits Elizabeth

At the sound of Mary’s greeting, Elizabeth’s child leaped within her,

and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.

Luke 1:41

Read Luke 1:39-45

Mary and Elizabeth model for us the life of faith when God’s people are filled with His Holy Spirit. From their words and actions, it is clear Mary and Elizabeth immersed themselves in Holy Scripture. In the psalms and the writings of the prophets, they found God’s compassion and mercy. In the Word of God, they found hope in the promises of God. Mary and Elizabeth knew they were participating in God’s plan of salvation; they realized God was literally moving within them to fulfill his promises.

The American culture has undergone significant upheavals in my lifetime. The church, as I know it, has drifted further and further away from her first love. (See Revelation 2:1-7) Jesus and John were conceived under, and led by the power of the Holy Spirit. Their parents were filled with the Holy Spirit. Jesus said I will need to depend on the Holy Spirit because apart from him, I can do nothing. (John 15:5) God has given us His Holy Spirit to guide our lives, and to empower us to live the life in Christ. The same power that led Mary and Elizabeth, Jesus and John, is here for God’s children today.

My Takeaway: “I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 1:19-20).

Hallelujah! It is so good not to be alone.

Sē’lah                                                                                         

My book on prayer,

First Think, Then Pray

is now available on Amazon Kindle.

 

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

 

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com.

 

Copyright © 2024 by Alex M. Knight

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

 

The Birth of Jesus the Messiah

Meditations for Seeking the Life in Christ

The Season of Advent 

December 20, 2024

The Birth of Jesus the Messiah

When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded

and took Mary as his wife.

Matthew 1:24

Read Matthew 1: 18-25

When Joseph learned Mary was pregnant, he had several choices. He could have had used his knowledge of Jewish law to have Mary killed, or shamed as he publicly divorced her. However, he chose none of those options. He chose not to harm Mary, not to abuse, expose, shame, ridicule, or demean her value and dignity. He chose to protect her. Where did he get such a notion that was so counter-cultural to his times?

Joseph’s response to Mary’s pregnancy reminds me of a line from a song:

“So when you don't understand

When you don't see His plan

When you can't trace His hand

Trust His heart.”

Cynthia Clawson - Trust His Heart

When Joseph could not see God’s hand in the circumstance of Mary’s pregnancy, Joseph trusted God’s heart. Joseph responded by trusting the nature and character of God. Joseph revealed his trust when he responded to an angel of the Lord’s appearance to him in a dream, “When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded and took Mary as his wife” (Matthew 1:24).

My Takeaway: More wisdom from Cynthia’s song:

He sees the master plan

And He holds our future in His hand

So don't live as those who have no hope

All our hope is found in Him

Sē’lah                                                                                         

My book on prayer,

First Think, Then Pray

is now available on Amazon Kindle.

 

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

 

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com.

 

Copyright © 2024 by Alex M. Knight

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

 

The Ancestors of Jesus the Messiah

Meditations for Seeking the Life in Christ

The Season of Advent 

December 19, 2024

The Ancestors of Jesus the Messiah

This is a record of the ancestors of Jesus the Messiah,

a descendant of David and of Abraham

Matthew 1:1

Read Matthew 1:1-17

This opening passage of Matthew’s Gospel is so much more than a list of names.

The Greek text begins verse one with the “book of the genesis” of Jesus. In the second passage, beginning at verse 18, when speaking of the birth of Jesus, the Greek text reads the “genesis” of Jesus. The literal meaning of genesis is “beginning.” Matthew understood Jesus as initiating a new creation. Thus, to understand the world, we don’t look to politicians in Washington or to the universities. We look to Jesus who is supreme over all creation. Everything was created through him and for him. Jesus holds all creation together. (see Colossians 1:15-20)

Matthew is considered the most Jewish of the Gospels. In Jewish tradition, only males were included in genealogy, yet Matthew includes four women. And these four women, Tamar, Rahab, Ruth and Bathsheba, all have Gentile connections. Yes, Jesus was beginning a new creation, and it was, and is, altogether different than the world Jesus was born into, and the world that exists today.

The genealogy also includes prostitutes, adulterers, murderers, and idolaters. Through these imperfect people, God was able to preserve His promises and prepare the way for His Messiah. May I never, ever forget that nothing is impossible for my God, and that God uses everything in my life for His good of transforming me to become like Jesus. (Romans 8:28-29)   

My Takeaway: The hardest part, for me, of making the life in Christ my way of life, is unlearning the ways of my culture and opening myself to God working in me, giving me the desire and the power to do what pleases him. (Philippians 2:13)

Sē’lah                                                                                         

My book on prayer,

First Think, Then Pray

is now available on Amazon Kindle.

 

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

 

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com.

 

Copyright © 2024 by Alex M. Knight

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.