A Life Worthy

…Mighty God,  (Isaiah 9:6)

We’re almost there. Only two days out from the “Sleep in Heavenly Peace” part.

So where’s the peace?

As we get closer to Christmas, all kinds of emotions are getting stirred up.  Although we would like to say it’s all about the birth of our Savior, the fact is this can be a really crazy time.  Perhaps you are rushing to wrap—or get—or think of—those last gifts.  Maybe you are frantically trying to get ready to travel—tickets, luggage, ohnowhatdowedowiththedogwhilewe’regone.  Could be you’re preparing to receive guests into your nightmare of a house—good luck with that.

Or you’re moving.

Or someone you love is sick.

Or you’re broke.

Or things are just falling apart.

I mean, I’d love to say I’m focused on what’s ahead, but there’s so much that was supposed to get done this year that still hasn’t been done. Goals I haven’t reached, projects I haven’t completed, promises I haven’t fulfilled, garages I haven’t cleaned.

Oy, you should see my garage.

Does that resonate with you? Even a little?

If it does, well, I am humbled that you’ve taken the time to read this.  Since you have, make the most of the moment.  Let the words soak in:

He is Mighty God.

Read it again.  Go on.

Now, say it out loud.

This King we serve, this Lord we love, this Savior we celebrate is fully capable of meeting the challenges of our day, be they mundane or monstrous.

And he will love us, no matter what our garages look like.

Because we are his beloved.

Because we are his, Beloved.

Happy Monday

…and the government will be on his shoulders. (Isaiah 9:6)

Here’s the thing with governments—they’re generally made up of people. And, well, I hate to tell you this, but people tend toward selfishness and greed.

I just heard a bubble burst out there…sorry.

The United States has a system of government known as a Representative Democracy, aka a republic. This is a strong, just, and efficient method of governance that works flawlessly, except when people are ignorant, selfish, cruel, or lazy.

Oh.

Same holds true for Communism, aristocracies, feudal societies, even theocracies.  On paper, they look great.  It’s when you add the people that things go wonky.

Frankly, the best, strongest, most efficient form of government is a benevolent dictatorship.  The problem with this, of course, is that you can guarantee the dictator part, but not the benevolent bit.

Yet.

But guess what, Beloved?  The day will come when we will have an absolute monarch, a king of kings, who will rule with complete authority over all nations.  His reign will be perfect, unhampered by greed, unsullied by sin.  He will know what’s best, want what’s best, do what’s best.

He will be what’s best.

Even so, come Lord Jesus.

Happy Thursday, Beloved

He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes,

or decide by what he hears with his ears,

but with righteousness he will judge the needy,

with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth.

He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth;

with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked.

Righteousness will be his belt 

and faithfulness the sash around his waist (Isaiah 11:3-5).

Our leaders…

meh.

Oh, I’m sure there are some in leadership who are trying their best to do the job wisely and well, but overall I am unimpressed.  I look at the upper echelons of power and I see corruption and narcissism and a fundamental refusal to submit to truth. And this comes from both sides of the proverbial aisle.

It disgusts me.

It frustrates me.

It frightens me.

Then, I read this passage, and peace washes over my spirit.

Go ahead, reread it–I’ll wait…

…

See what I mean?

Even so, come Lord Jesus.

Happy Tuesday, Beloved

A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit (Isaiah 11:1).

A stump is dead.

It’s kind of the epitome of dead.

And yet, to quote Miracle Max, sometimes it’s “only mostly dead.”

Sometimes, new life will break out of the stump.

The line of David was dead–stump dead.

Israel was done.

But God wasn’t.

Come, Lord Jesus!

Happy Friday, Beloved of Christ.

In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind (John 1:4).

Through him all things were made…

Even us.

That life that was breathed into Adam, that spark that separates us from all other creation…

That’s from Jesus.

At the cross, he gave his life to redeem us. But at creation, he gave of his life to bring us life.

Perhaps that is why accepting Christ feels so much like coming home.

Breathe deeply today, Beloved.

Happy Wednesday