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From James 1, with a few thoughts:
The one who simply hears [the message] and does nothing about it is like a man catching the reflection of his own face in a mirror. He sees himself, it is true, but he goes on with whatever he was doing without the slightest recollection of what sort of person he saw in the mirror. This is one of those times where a metaphor is so immediately memorable, so “picturable,” that there’s a danger we’ll not internalize its literal meaning. So, what is James saying to us? That the “word of the Gospel” is meant to be the place in which we see ourselves, come to see the change God is effecting in us, and constantly check-in for reminders and “re-reminders” of His view… of us! In essence, it is a constant reflection of the very face of Jesus. And, as Paul has it, in 2 Corinthians 3, the more we gaze on this mirror—and live out the ways we see that Face in its reflection—the more we see our own faces looking like Jesus. In fact, that’s the heart of how James continues in the next verse: But the one who looks into the perfect mirror of God’s law, the law of liberty (and freedom), and makes a habit of so doing, is not the one who sees and forgets. He puts that law into practice and he wins true blessedness. (James 1:23-25) So, according to James, what are our two necessary actions? Simply: To gaze upon Jesus and to do as He does. Or, I’ll put it to you this way: Only those receiving a constant love tend to constantly love. Only those enjoying the joy of the Lord tend to impart joy. Only those at-peace with the heart of God tend to spread peace. Only those so grateful for the long-suffering patience of God are persistently, steadfastly patient with others. Only those enrapt by His kindness find the gear to be and to live likewise. Only those receiving of HIS goodness tend toward activities of constant goodness. Only those full of faith tend to, in the end, live a life that’s faithful. Only those knowing the gentle heart of God prize the heart of gentleness. And, only those coming under the direct control of God tend toward the beginnings of self-control. Do you see what I did there? Do you see what’s in the mirror? It’s the ways we receive the fruits of the Spirit—the literal inner life and personality of Jesus—that defines how we put into practice, by that Spirit, those very same fruits. We receive… and we then give away. A rhythm of experience and of offering. What a way to live in our New Year!
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"I do believe that the very angels have never wondered but once and that has been incessantly ever since they first beheld it. They never cease to tell the astonishing story, and to tell it with increasing astonishment too, that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was born of the Virgin Mary, and became a man. Is he not rightly called Wonderful? Infinite, and an infant—eternal, and yet born of a woman—Almighty, and yet hanging on a woman's breast—supporting the universe, and yet needing to be carried in a mother's arms—king of angels, and yet the reputed son of Joseph—heir of all things and yet the carpenter's despised son. Wonderful art thou O Jesus, and that shall be thy name for ever." Charles Spurgeon
From a sermon 1858 A Christmas Carol
In the bleak midwinter, frosty wind made moan, Earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone; Snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow, In the bleak midwinter, long ago. Our God, Heaven cannot hold Him, nor earth sustain; Heaven and earth shall flee away when He comes to reign. In the bleak midwinter a stable place sufficed The Lord God Almighty, Jesus Christ. Enough for Him, whom cherubim, worship night and day, Breastful of milk, and a mangerful of hay; Enough for Him, whom angels fall before, The ox and ass and camel which adore. Angels and archangels may have gathered there, Cherubim and seraphim thronged the air; But His mother only, in her maiden bliss, Worshipped the beloved with a kiss. What can I give Him, poor as I am? If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb; If I were a Wise Man, I would do my part; Yet what I can I give Him: give my heart. Christina Rossetti c. 1872 “My heart is overflowing with praise of my Lord, my soul is full of joy in God my Savior. For he has chosen to notice me, his humble servant and, after this, all the people who ever shall be will call me the happiest of women! The one who can do all things has done great things for me—oh, holy is his Name! Truly, his mercy rests on those who fear him in every generation. He has shown the strength of his arm, he has swept away the high and mighty. He has set kings down from their thrones and lifted up the humble. He has satisfied the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away with empty hands. Yes, he has helped Israel, his child: he has remembered the mercy that he promised to our forefathers, to Abraham and his sons for evermore!” (Luke 1:46-55, Phillips)
As we spend these next eighteen days meditating on the grandeur of the Incarnation, let me challenge us to mirror the posture of the mother of Jesus: OVERFLOWING with praise! FULL of joy! DELIGHTING to be noticed! HUMBLY serving! HAPPY with the heart’s true joy! EXULTING in His goodness! REVELING in His mercy! WATCHING IN WONDER all He can do! LIVING-INTO His plans! SATISFIED with His provision! ACCEPTING His help! REMEMBERING how He remembers EVERY SINGLE promise He’s promised! Never forget: WE are the ones privileged to SHOW THE WORLD that Christmas is, in fact, REALITY! At Anchor this week, rather than going back through, and teaching back through, many of the same words/phrases as occur in Matthew 6's similar "Do not be anxious" teaching, I wanted our group to hear Jesus’ argument a little more "philosophically." You see, if you trace His words in this section from the end to the beginning, you start to realize how He’s built His logic on a heavenly-spiritual logic. Every thought follows so beautifully, so invitingly, one to another.
Back to front, consider what He says: - Your heart will be where your treasure is stored, thus - Store your treasure where moth and thief can’t tamper with it, meaning - In Heaven, where time is endless and values utterly changeless--in fact, - Learn to live like money hardly matters at all… because - Do you realize? You and I have already been given the entirety of a Kingdom! meaning - Fear nothing. Fear no one. Because - We will be given what we need in this Kingdom, because - Our Father always knows exactly what we need… and - He’d hate to see His sons and daughter frittering away their lives like the people who don’t know His heart… so - We must do business with our anxiety—stare it right in the face… so that - We set out hearts not on mere food and drink… because - If He has been faithful up-till-now, can’t we trust, today and forever, that His faithfulness will continue? For remember: - What He has done, He can do again… and - He is mindful down to the most minute detail… and - If we’re honest, do we actually believe—do we actually want to believe?—that we can somehow “make our own way” through these lives of ours? Or better: - Wouldn’t it be lovely to think our Heavenly Father loves us, and knows us better, than making life a mere fending-for-ourselves? Instead, - What if it is Him who has always fed us, and - Planned for our futures, and - Given us the minds and bodies and skills to participate in His heavenly-earthly plans? What if - Our lives are meant to mean more than their mere sustenance? Yes! - What if our body is more than clothing, our life more important than its feeding--for this reason: - That, we are being fed and clothed, we are invited not to be bothered… by - The One who tells us to worry about nothing. Why? - Because… He is… HE IS!… and He is with us… not just “back then”… but now… and forevermore. - Because He personally knows the pushes and pulls of money, work, time, stress, fear--and yet still, boldly, says to us: - “Do not worry about life.” - “You must not live in a state of anxiety.” - “Your Heavenly Father knows you need these things.” - “Don’t be afraid, you tiny flock!” Why? - Because “Your Father plans to give you… …the KINGDOM!” |
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Colorado Springs, Colorado, U.S.A.
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