This Is What the Sovereign LORD Says!

Meditations for the Season of Advent

December 9, 2022

This Is What the Sovereign LORD Says!

The people to whom I am sending you are obstinate and stubborn.

Say to them,

‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says.’

Ezekiel 2:4 

Ezekiel recorded the words of God to Israel many thousands of years ago, but they can just as easily be His words to me today. I am very much in need of the Holy Spirit coming to me, repeatedly, and reporting to me, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says!’

I need this remedial training because it is so difficult to completely overcome the ways of my past that are so deeply ingrained within me. And I am not alone. I recall my wife, Cheryl, sharing with me an incident when she was driving her mother to the store. At the time, her mother had been widowed for about a year. Cheryl’s father had been quite successful in life and had provided well for his family. Cheryl’s mother was completely debt free and had a substantial income in her retirement. As they drove toward the store, Cheryl’s mother turned to her and asked, “Do you think I can afford to buy a new pair of house slippers?” Given her financial standing, her question seemed absurd. Given she had been raised in poverty during the Great Depression, her question made perfect sense. The experiences of our past deeply shape our perspective on today.

I have noted in previous meditations that we live in a culture that emphasizes awareness of emotions and feelings. Our culture teaches a person to act on their feelings. When you follow this path, your feelings will become your beliefs about yourself and your world. Keep on this path, and your beliefs that were born from your feelings will become the core of who you think you are. The experiences of our past deeply shape our feelings about today. Therefore, we need the Holy Spirit reminding us of the truth of God. We can choose to turn from our past and its influential feelings and turn to God’s Word. When we chose God’s Word, we will see that the world’s culture has told us a pack of lies about who we are, and who God is, and we will learn that God, in Christ Jesus, is telling us the truth.

Truth:

We are the beloved of God, with whom He is delighted

and upon whom His favor rests.

My Takeaway: The virgin conceived a child who we know as Immanuel, God with us.  Immanuel is the way, the truth, and the life, This Is what the Sovereign LORD Says! (John 14:6)

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.

 

Copyright © 2022 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.

Contemplative at Christmas

Meditations for the Season of Advent

December 8, 2022

Contemplative at Christmas

Now this is eternal life:

that they know you, the only true God,

and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.

John 17:3 

The very center, the very heart of the Christian life is Jesus. All that we are as Christians, all that we hope to be as the children of God, is hidden within the person of Jesus. As Christian mystics, that is, persons who have experienced something of Christ, people who have tasted the grace of God, we are now people who are ruled by thirst: our thirst for more of Christ.

Thomas Merton, a mystic who has gone before us, said that we learn to pray by praying. The very center, the very heart of prayer for a mystic, is in responding to God’s call, “Be still, and know that I am God!” (Psalm 46:10a). As we still ourselves before our God, we can immerse ourselves in His forgiveness, reconciliation and love that flow from Jesus. As we surrender our lives to the one who loved us and gave himself for us, we can accept our acceptance.

“Sometimes at that moment a wave of light breaks into our darkness, and it is as though a voice were saying: "You are accepted. You are accepted, accepted by that which is greater than you. Simply accept the fact that you are accepted." If that happens to us, we experience grace. After such an experience, we may not be better than before, we may not believe more than before. But everything is transformed" (Paul Tillich).

I invite you to make time for two devotional journeys this Advent season. First, come quietly before “The light (that) shines in the darkness” (John 1:5) and accept that you have been accepted by that which is greater than you. Open your heart, and let this truth embed himself deeply within you.

Secondly, on another day, as you draw still before your God, read Colossians 1:15-20, and contemplate the supremacy of the one you thirst for, the one who desperately wants you to affirm: “I am my beloved’s, and his desire is for me” (Song of Solomon 7:10 NRSV).

My Takeaway: Enjoy being contemplative at Christmas; everything will be transformed!

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.

 

Copyright © 2022 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.

Practice the Presence

Meditations for the Season of Advent

December 7, 2022

Practice the Presence

In (Christ) and through faith in (Christ)

 we may approach God with freedom and confidence

Ephesians 3:12 (NIV) 

One of the saints in the unseen cloud of witnesses that surrounds us (Hebrews 12:1) once noted, “Let nothing disturb you, let nothing frighten you. All things are passing. God alone remains.” (Therese of Lisieux, 1873-97) To live this way is to practice your faith in Christ Jesus as you bear witness to the freedom he has won for you. The practice of faith is about letting the truth of God inspire your heart and then transform your life. When the truth of God becomes incarnational, it takes on new life within you as you live your faith in Christ. The theologian Maurice Blondel said, “If you want to know what a person really believes, don’t listen to what he says but watch what he does.”

The practice of faith verifies to the world around us what we really believe about Jesus. In this Advent season, I want to take Blondel’s words to heart. I want to slow down, to pause and reflect on how my actions and my words reflect my heart’s devotion to Christ. Before I voice an opinion on the issues facing our culture, I want to first turn to Jesus and ask him, “Lord, what is your view on this?” Wherever I may be, my desire is to remain firmly fixed on the ultimate reality of my life, Christ Jesus. Brother Lawrence called this practicing the presence of Christ within us.

My Takeaway: The bottom line is simple. It doesn’t matter one bit what I say on these pages about what I believe about God in Christ Jesus. What matters is how my beliefs shape all my life, my actions as well as my thoughts. God is at work forming Christ in me and establishing my beliefs through my study of His Word, and especially as I receive the sacrament of Holy Communion.

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.

 

Copyright © 2022 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.

Where The Name of Christ Has Never Been Heard

Meditations for the Season of Advent 

December 6, 2022

Where The Name of Christ Has Never Been Heard

My ambition has always been to preach the Good News where the name of Christ has never been heard, rather than where a church has already been started by someone else.

Romans 15:20

Read: Romans 15:14-24

It has been my experience that pastoral and lay leadership of churches can be divided into three broad categories. The first is a caretaker ministry. The goal is to keep the church doors open, to continue in the form and substance that the church has practiced for generations. The second is an entrepreneurial ministry. The pastor and staff attend many seminars and conferences to discern the latest trends and techniques in ministry and bring them home to try out on their congregation. The third ministry is Christ-centered, and Christ-empowered, all for Jesus. In this ministry, the pastor casts a vision based on what Christ has revealed to the pastor when they had a holy encounter.

The Apostle Paul had a holy encounter with Christ when he was on the road to Damascus. Christ gave Paul a vision and a heart for the Gentiles, and Paul never deviated from the course Christ set for him.

My Takeaway: During my pastoral ministry, and in my ministry today, it was and now is my heart’s desire to be Christ-centered, and Christ-empowered, all for Jesus. As I read today of Paul’s passion, I am convinced now, more than ever, authentic Christian ministry is Christ-centered, and Christ-empowered, all for Jesus. And this Christ-centered, Christ-empowered, all-for-Jesus Ministry is not at all limited to those called to preach or pastor. I believe every person who calls upon the name of Jesus for salvation, is called to their own Christ-centered, Christ-empowered, all-for-Jesus Ministry.

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.

 

Copyright © 2022 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.

Like the King, We Trust in the Lord

Meditations for the Season of Advent

December 5, 2022

Like the King, We Trust in the Lord

For the king trusts in the Lord. The unfailing love of the Most High will keep him from stumbling.

Psalm 21:7 

This psalm can be understood as being fulfilled by Jesus in his epic battle against sin and death. The climax of this battle was on the Cross where Jesus encountered the full wrath of the forces of evil. But God is stronger than evil, and Jesus’ resurrection destroyed the power of evil to bind God’s children with a yoke of sin and death. Hallelujah!

Although the power of evil has been broken, the forces of evil still wage war against God’s people and God’s creation. Unlike the beliefs of some conservatives who are calling for Christian Nationalism, I do not believe the Christian church is called as the Divine Army used by God to execute judgment upon the sinfulness and idolatry of others. As the followers of Jesus, we look to Jesus, who fulfilled the Old Covenant and ushered in the New Covenant, to show us how to respond to the forces of evil. Having the same mind as Christ (see Philippians 2:5-11), we go into our world armed with truth, righteousness, the gospel of peace, faith, salvation, the word of God, and prayer (Ephesians 6:12-18).

My Takeaway: The king in Psalm 21 affirmed that as he trusted in the Lord: “the unfailing love of the Most High will keep him from stumbling.” The writer of Hebrews gives us a similar assurance in Hebrews 12:1-2, “. . . let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith.”

Amen!

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.

 

Copyright © 2022 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 Peace of Christ

Meditations for the Season of Advent 

December 2, 2022

The Peace of Christ

Mercy, peace and love be yours in abundance.

Jude 1:2

The word peace is used almost one hundred times in the New Testament. We encounter this word quite often in the Advent and Christmas seasons. Scripture teaches we have peace with God because of what Christ has done. Scripture teaches us to live in peace with one another. Scripture teaches us we can cast our anxieties onto God, and receive in exchange the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding. Recently I came across a statement that made me realize I have much yet to accomplish in plumbing the depths of what God wants us to understand and experience in His peace.

The statement I read is this:

“Nothing discourages me, not even discouragement.”

Eugène Ionesco 

This observation points to the truth of God’s purpose that we overcome despair by living in the reality of His peace, love, and wholeness. Ionesco’s observation also points to the dichotomy in the Christian life. When the scriptures speak of a peace that surpasses all understanding, they are also speaking of a peace that few Christians experience. After all, Ionesco was a poet, so perhaps he was taking a rather large poetic license in his observation.

Or perhaps he was pointing to the experience of peace God desperately wants all His children to know. We can reach out for this peace by first remembering that God always does the heavy lifting for us. When we are in that place where faith seems well beyond our measure, we can recall the words of Jesus: “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God” (Mark 10:27). Jesus may have died on the cross, but he didn’t stay dead.

When I begin to think that Ionesco’s observation may be just pie in the sky, I recall the words of Miles Stanford: “To be disappointed is to have believed in yourself.” If that is true, and I believe it is, then it is also just as true that to be discouraged is to have believed in yourself.

My takeaway: The bottom line for me is remembering to fix my eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of my faith (Hebrews 12:2). When I do, I can take a nice bite of Ionesco’s pie in the sky.

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.

 

Copyright © 2022 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.

Nothing to Lose

Meditations for the Season of Advent 

December 1, 2022

Nothing to Lose

“Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel,

    because he has come to his people and redeemed them.”

Luke 1:68 

A wise person once noted, “The Christian never loses, because he has nothing to lose.” Ponder that notion for a moment. I’m smiling as I read that statement because I remember a time when I considered myself down and out, having lost all that I once had and thought defined me. I recall muttering, “Lord, what about my reputation?” I then heard the still small voice of God, “What reputation would that be, son?” Of course! If I truly believed, “For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God,” I had no reputation to lose. (Colossians 3:3)

The life in Christ is completely counter-intuitive, especially when expectations are fueled by our secular culture. Contrary to the popular proclamations of some, Christ was not poor so that we can be rich, he was not mocked so that we can be honored, and he was not laughed at so we can be lauded. The seasons of Advent and Christmas are our celebration of God completely ignoring conventional expectations!

Nathanael spoke for all of Israel when he rhetorically asked, “Can anything good come from that place?” (Nazareth) That the Savior of Israel was born into rags in a cave was beyond the comprehension of the Pharisees and scribes. Maybe the simple-minded shepherds could be deceived, but not so for those well-versed in the law. Do you see the principle the religious people applied to the birth of Christ? It is the same principle that causes so many to stumble today: Jesus, we will follow you if you meet our expectations. The trouble with living by our own expectations is that we have everything to lose and not much to gain.

Only a handful of folks came to celebrate our Savior’s birth. Years later, after many thousands of people had been taught, healed, fed, and blessed by Jesus, only a handful showed up for his execution and burial. So it goes when you spend your life ignoring conventional expectations.

My Takeaway: Even so, I want to be counted among the handful known as the fully-devoted followers of the counter-intuitive Messiah.

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.

 

Copyright © 2022 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.