A Light in the Window

December 31, 2014

A Light in the Window

Blessed are those who wash their robes. They will be permitted to enter through the gates of the city and eat the fruit from the tree of life.

Revelation 21:14

Our end-of-the-year ritual is to take stock of this last year, make necessary adjustments, and set our sails for the coming New Year. Many people will be discouraged by their lack of moral or spiritual progress. From others, you may hear the sigh of disappointment because financial or career success didn’t meet their expectations. Still others will feel their mood for New Year’s celebrations drawn down by relationship concerns.

Wherever you find yourself as the New Year begins to unfold in your life, one essential thing remains true. “In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness” (John 1:1, 14a). Whether you are dashing through life unabated by circumstances, or you are limping slowly and unsure of your next step, you are not alone. The One who became flesh is dashing, and limping with you, step-by-step.

You may be preparing to cross the finish line of life with arms outstretched like an Olympic runner, or you may be struggling to the line bruised, battered and bloodied by life.  Either way, as you hold your head up, you will see a light in the window of God’s Mansion, with a sign on the door, “Welcome Home My Beloved.”

I pray this eternal truth will guide your New Year’s resolutions: Your Heavenly Father in head-over-heels, passionately in love with you. You are His beloved child, with whom He is delighted and upon whom His favor rests.

Sē’lah

<><  <><  <><  <><

(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. The BLOG is also available on Amazon Kindle, by subscription.

Publications by Alex M. Knight:

·        Seeking the Life in Christ, Meditations on the New Testament and Psalms has been published and is now available at Amazon.com in paperback and Kindle.

·        The second edition of  First Think – Then Pray is available on Amazon Kindle.

·        Meditations on The Story of My Life as told by Jesus Christ has been released as an e-book on Amazon Kindle.

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188.

I Want to Know Christ

December 30, 2014

I Want to Know Christ

On his robe at his thigh was written this title:

King of all kings and Lord of all lords.

Revelation 19:16

When the first century disciples of Jesus tell their story, two themes are very clear to me. First, Jesus was the One. From their perspective, it was impossible to believe anyone could be equal to Jesus. It was inconceivable to them that a prophet or messiah greater than Jesus would come after him. It was not necessary to wait for God to send someone else. Jesus was everything. Jesus fulfilled all of God’s promises, all of the messianic prophesies. If anyone is to judge the world it must be Jesus. If anyone is the Messiah, King, and Lord, how could it be anyone other than Jesus?

Secondly, their faith in Jesus was so profound, they willingly put at risk everything they held dear for the cause of Christ Jesus and his coming Kingdom.

It is an impossible leap of faith to bestow Messiah, King, and Lord on a casual acquaintance. It is a doubly impossible leap of faith to put yourself, and all you hold dear at risk for someone you have only heard bits and pieces about. My mission for 2015 is to go deeper in Christ. I want to know what the first century followers of Jesus knew:

“I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death, so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead!” (Philippians 3:10-11).

Sē’lah

<><  <><  <><  <><

(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. The BLOG is also available on Amazon Kindle, by subscription.

Publications by Alex M. Knight:

·        Seeking the Life in Christ, Meditations on the New Testament and Psalms has been published and is now available at Amazon.com in paperback and Kindle.

·        The second edition of  First Think – Then Pray is available on Amazon Kindle.

·        Meditations on The Story of My Life as told by Jesus Christ has been released as an e-book on Amazon Kindle.

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188.

Coming in Glory

December 29, 2014

Coming in Glory

And when Christ, who is your life,

is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory.

Colossians 3:4

The purpose of the Christian season of Advent is to prepare us for the coming again of Jesus in glory. The foundation of our hope in his Second Coming was his birth in Bethlehem. During the Season of Christmas, twelve days from December 25 to January 6, we reflect on the truth that in Christ, God entered human history and identified fully with the human condition. We recall the Apostle John’s magnificent statement, "So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son" (John 1:14).

Christmas arouses hope in Jesus’ coming again in glory to establish God’s Kingdom on earth. I’ve found something that I believe will help me remain close to this hope throughout the coming year. Our church has a very large Prayer Labyrinth that we set up in the fellowship hall during Advent and Lent. Sometimes it is helpful to carry something with you as you walk the labyrinth. This Advent I took my old and worn Pocket Prayer Book, but it was too dark to read, so I picked up a little bronze token of a six pointed star with this prayer, taken from Matthew 2:6, engraved on one side: “O Bethlehem, from you shall come forth one who will be king.” I can carry this prayer with me in my pocket.

Every time I reach in my pocket and feel the star I’ll remember my prayer walk, and I’ll remember the one who will be king. I’ll also remember that when Christ, who is my life, is revealed to the whole world, I will share in all his glory.

Sē’lah

<><  <><  <><  <><

(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. The BLOG is also available on Amazon Kindle, by subscription.

Publications by Alex M. Knight:

·        Seeking the Life in Christ, Meditations on the New Testament and Psalms has been published and is now available at Amazon.com in paperback and Kindle.

·        The second edition of  First Think – Then Pray is available on Amazon Kindle.

·        Meditations on The Story of My Life as told by Jesus Christ has been released as an e-book on Amazon Kindle.

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188.

L’ENCHANTÉ

December 26, 2014

L’ENCHANTÉ

To whom can you compare God?

    What image can you find to resemble him?

Isaiah 40:18

There is a beautiful story recounted every Christmas in the forest of Provence in southern France.  It’s about the four shepherds who came to Bethlehem to see the child.  One brought eggs, another brought bread and cheese, the third brought wine.  And the fourth brought nothing at all. People called him L’Enchanté. 

The first three shepherds chatted with Mary and Joseph, commenting on how well Mary looked, how cozy was the cave and how handsomely Joseph had appointed it, what a beautiful starlit night it was!  They congratulated the proud parents, presented them with their gifts and assured them that if they needed anything else, they had only to ask.

Finally someone asked, “Where is L’Enchanté?”  They searched high and low, up and down, inside and out.  Finally, someone peeked through the blanket hung against the draft, into the crèche. There, kneeling at the crib, was L’Enchanté. – the Enchanted one. Like a flag or a flame taking the direction of the wind, he had taken the direction of love. Through the entire night, he stayed in adoration, whispering, “Jesu, Jesu, Jesu – Jesus, Jesus, Jesus.” (Brennan Manning, The Relentless Tenderness of Jesus, Revell, 2004)

Find time today, the second of the twelve days of Christmas, to light a solitary candle. In quietness, gaze upon the simple candle and allow your heart to become enchanted with “Jesu, Jesu, Jesu – Jesus, Jesus, Jesus.”

Sē’lah

<><  <><  <><  <><

(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. The BLOG is also available on Amazon Kindle, by subscription.

Publications by Alex M. Knight:

·        Seeking the Life in Christ, Meditations on the New Testament and Psalms has been published and is now available at Amazon.com in paperback and Kindle.

·        The second edition of  First Think – Then Pray is available on Amazon Kindle.

·        Meditations on The Story of My Life as told by Jesus Christ has been released as an e-book on Amazon Kindle.

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188.