Summary - One way we choose to live that misses life with God is living life for God. The older son in Jesus' parable of the lost son is the poster child for living life this way. Obedience, performance, fulfilling your responsibilities as the foundation for relationship with God, instead of living in the presence of and with our Father who loves us... no matter what. When we receive that love, we will be motivated and empowered to then live for God, but not as the foundation of our lives.
Emmanuel God With Us
God has always looked to be with humanity. From the Garden of Eden through the times and lives of Abraham, David, the old testament prophets to when Jesus came God had been working and promising for an even closer relationship. Through the work of Jesus and the presence of the Holy Spirit, Christians are a God-indwelt people. So whatever you are going through, you can know God is with you or you can surrender to Jesus and experience His presence.
O Come, O Come Emmanuel
Christmas is an opportunity to reflect on the amazing event of Jesus coming into a broken world to bring healing, hope and joy. It was always God’s plan to come in this way and as sure as we are that Jesus lived, we are sure He is coming again. Jesus came, is present today through His Spirit and will come again. What will we do in response to this?
O Holy Night
O Holy Night was a favourite Christmas song by the abolitionist movement because of it’s 3rd verse speaking of God’s command to love and God’s heart to break the chains of the oppressed. This theme resonates with Mary’s song found in Luke 1. Mary saw God was at work on not only her behalf, but for all people oppressed by others. With the announcement of the Messiah being born, Mary saw God as faithful Saviour.
You Need Christmas, Christmas #3
Jesus came to save people from their sins. We often settle in thinking that Jesus came to save us of our sins. There is a big difference, and if we are settling, we are missing out on more of the abundant life Jesus came to bring to all who would follow Him.
God Needed Christmas, Christmas #2
We don’t often think about Christmas from God’s perspective. Why did God see becoming human as worthwhile doing? What is God looking to communicate to us through coming as an ‘infant lowly’? Why did God need Christmas to fulfill His plan for humanity?
The World Needed Christmas, #1
Great events don’t happen in a vacuum. They are great events because things led up to that moment in time. The birth of Jesus didn’t just happen from God’s plan and perspective. God had been making promises to not just His people, but to the world that Christmas fulfilled. We look back and see the fulfillment. Those before looked forward wondering when God was going to act. We can be encouraged that when it may seem to us God isn’t at work, He still is … because He promised.