Mary Visits Elizabeth

 Advent Meditations

December 21, 2020

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

<><  <><  <><  <><

(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.

 

Copyright © 2020 by Alex M. Knight

 

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

 Advent Meditations

December 18, 2020

The Birth of Jesus the Messiah

When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord commandedand 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 to not harm Mary, to not 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

<><  <><  <><  <><

(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 © 2020 by Alex M. Knight

 

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

Advent Meditations

December 17, 2020

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

<><  <><  <><  <><

(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 © 2020 by Alex M. Knight

 

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.

Messengers from John the Baptist

 Advent Meditations

December 16, 2020

Messengers from John the Baptist

“And blessed is anyone who takes no offense at me.”

Luke 7:23 (NRSV)

Read Luke 7:18b-23

John sent his disciples to meet with Jesus because his faith in Jesus as the Messiah was wavering. John was worried that he was wrong about Jesus because Jesus was not meeting his expectations of the Messiah.

Miles Stanford wrote, “To be disappointed is to have believed in yourself.” (The Principals of Spiritual Growth) I first read that statement thirty years ago, and I am still pondering it. Perhaps John the Baptist had believed in his own sense of discernment about God’s promised Messiah and in his jail cell was having second thoughts. (An excellent book about John’s struggle is The Prisoner in the Third Cell by Gene Edwards. I first read it about twenty-five years ago, and reread it for the umpteenth time last month.)

There are times when Jesus does not meet my expectations. I confess that there are times when I am impatient with the ways of God. I wish God moved faster to answer prayers, punish injustice and renew the face of the earth. When anxiety tries to rule my life, I realize I have been trusting in my own discernment of the times. I have found Jesus’ words to Peter very comforting:

“You are blessed, Simon son of John, because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being.”

Matthew 16:17

My Takeaway: It was God who revealed to Peter that Jesus was the Messiah. Paul teaches us that God speaks to our spirit to affirm we are his children. (Romans 8:16) It is God who revealed Jesus the Christ to me and who affirms to me I am His child. It is God who will give me the discernment to understand the times in which we live.

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 © 2020 by Alex M. Knight

 

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.

 

Parable of the Two Sons

 Advent Meditations

December 15, 2020

Parable of the Two Sons

For John the Baptist came and showed you the right way to live, but you didn’t believe him, while tax collectors and prostitutes did. And even when you saw this happening, you refused to believe him and repent of your sins.

Matthew 21:32

Read Matthew 21:28-32

Jesus didn’t answer the religious leaders directly about his authority displayed in the Temple. But he continued to engage those leaders with this parable. In Jesus’ initial response to the leaders, he asked them their opinion of John the Baptist. In his explanation of his parable, Jesus again brings up John. Jesus paints a stunning image; tax collectors and prostitutes repented their sins, were baptized, and changed the way they had been living by producing appropriate fruits of repentance. Yet this was not enough for the religious leaders to give glory to God, examine their own lives and repent and seek God’s forgiveness.

There is a huge temptation to judge the religious leaders for their pride and being just so dense they could not see God working in their midst. Yet, if I am honest with myself, I too stumble over my pride, and I am too slow to examine my own life.

My Takeaway: As I noted on November 23^rd, forgiveness, cleansing, renewal and restoration are the natural rhythm of life for those seeking the life in Christ as their way of life. I invite you to join me in praying Psalm 139:23-24,

Search me, O God, and know my heart;

    test me and know my anxious thoughts.

Point out anything in me that offends you,

    and lead me along the path of everlasting life.

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.

 

Copyright © 2020 by Alex M. Knight

 

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 Authority of Jesus Challenged

 Advent Meditations

December 14, 2020

The Authority of Jesus Challenged

When Jesus returned to the Temple and began teaching, the leading priests and elders came up to him. They demanded, “By what authority are you doing all these things? Who gave you the right?”

Matthew 21:23

Read Matthew 21:23-27

What things?

Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey and the people shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! (verse 9 NRSV)

Then as Jesus arrived in the Temple area, in a fit of fury, he drove out all the people buying and selling animals for sacrifice.

Then the blind and the lame came to him in the Temple, and he healed them, and the children in the Temple shouted, “Praise God for the Son of David.”

What authority?

Jesus doesn’t answer the religious leader’s question, but we know. By the same authority when,

“(Jesus) woke up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” Then the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm” (Mark 4:39 NRSV).

“When (Jesus) had said this, he cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!”  The dead man came out . . .” (John 11:43-44 NRSV).

“Jesus said to the paralyzed man, “Be encouraged, my child! Your sins are forgiven.” Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!” And the man jumped up and went home!” (Matthew 9:1-8)

My Takeaway: On the First Sunday in Advent, Jesus said, “Heaven and earth will disappear, but my words will never disappear” (Mark 13:31). We remember “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever” (Hebrews 13:8).

I know there are places in my life where I need Jesus to speak his words of forgiveness, healing and hope. How about you?

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 © 2020 by Alex M. Knight

 

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.

Results

Advent Meditations

December 11, 2020

Results

“But wisdom is shown to be right by its results.”

Matthew 11:19b

Read Matthew 11:16-19

Jesus ends his discussion about John the Baptist with a comparison of his ministry and John’s ministry by using a children’s game. Of John, who was austere and always serious, Jesus said, “. . . so we played funeral songs, and you didn’t mourn.” That is, John preached repentance for the Kingdom of God, and the people did not respond. Oh, some, maybe even many, did respond, for a while. Ultimately, the people went on with their life, and the powerful killed John.

Of his own ministry, Jesus said, “. . . ‘We played wedding songs, and you didn’t dance.” Jesus’ ministry contrasts with John’s as Jesus feasts and drinks and was a friend of tax collectors and other sinners. As with John, the people did not respond. Oh, some did respond for a while, but ultimately the powerful killed Jesus.

So, what are the results that reveal wisdom? Jesus answer to John’s disciples are the results: “. . . the blind see, the lame walk, those with leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, and the Good News is being preached to the poor.” (Matthew 11:5)

My Takeaway: Today we see all sorts of contrasting styles in ministry. Some people meet in an informal manner, cups of coffee in hand and the speaker in an untucked shirt. Others gather in pomp and circumstance, clergy adorned in robes and colorful paraments throughout their sanctuary. These styles are all well and good if wisdom is being shown by its results: are disciples being made, is the Good News being preached to the poor?

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.

 

Copyright © 2020 by Alex M. Knight

 

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.