Faithful on Fridays Blog

Mothers experience a vast array of emotions regarding their children. Mary, Jesus’ mother, was no different. She was promised a miraculous conception of a son who’ll be great and called the Son of God eternally reigning as King of His kingdom. Mary gratefully accepted the assignment, however, she had no indication that her acceptance would be excruciatingly painful; she’s only a teenager, how could she?

Her emotional response, called the Magnificat, begins with this statement from the depth of her heart:

My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior. Luke 1:46

After Jesus’ birth shepherds recounted their own angelic visitation declaring His glory and shalom to His favored ones on the earth,

… but Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. Luke 2:19

Mary opened a treasure box in her mind when she remembered everything that had happened. As a teenager I’d be overwhelmed, but it seems Mary quietly meditated on all the ‘good words’ that were spoken over her baby and it’s not over yet. Jewish families were required, within about 40 days, to present new babies for dedication at the Temple. As they entered, the Holy Spirit arranged a specified time to encounter an older, godly man who was filled with the Spirit (Luke 2:22-35): Simeon. He took the Child Jesus, the Lord’s Christ, in his arms and blessed Him for this privilege; he can now die peacefully. 

As Simeon prophesied over Jesus, Joseph and Mary were awestruck, more promises about her baby, and then he turned to Mary to warn her of the future. She must add these words to her treasure box as well; her baby is a ‘sign’ to prove the predestination of many to spiritually fall or rise but He will also face opposition. It will be so bad for her Son that it’ll feel like a dagger has pierced her heart. A young woman full of hope and excitement about her new baby and now there’s suffering ahead as well? She’d better put those emotionally charged words in the bottom of her box.

They probably stayed in Bethlehem about two years during which the worshipping magi brought gifts including myrrh: bitterness. Mary’s name, derived from this prophetic word, pointed to bitter suffering for her. It was then that Herod began his oppositional search for her Son and murdered many male children. Thankfully, Joseph and Mary escaped to Egypt for safety. 

The emotions found in Mary’s heart are no different than ours since we desire what’s best for our kids too. As parents we must open the treasure boxes in our hearts as well, trusting God like Mary, to bring about His promises to us. 

 After Jesus’ suffering, death, and resurrection we find Mary one last time, present with other believers in the upper room (Acts 1:14) receiving strength from prayer. Never underestimate the power of gathering and praying with other believers trusting God with your children: It’s not over yet.

Be Perfect

Does anyone else struggle with Jesus’ command from the Sermon on the Mount,

You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. Matthew 5:48 ESV

In the midst of explaining how to live in the kingdom of God, being salt and light to the world, heart-attitudes of the Ten Commandments, and showing love to the difficult people in your life, Jesus makes this command: be perfect.

I checked other translations and all use the same word: perfect. It would benefit us to understand what Jesus, Paul, Peter, John, and the Hebrews author are really saying as they carefully chose this word. 

Telos, that’s the Greek word or a form of it the writers chose to instruct us in kingdom living, however, can we possibly live a perfect life? If Jesus commanded, not just suggested it, then we can assume it’s possible. But how?

Telos is easier to understand if we think of an old pirate’s handheld telescope. The kind that gradually extends, one stage at a time, until it’s full strength is reached. The view from far away is brought closer, one stage at a time, until it’s clear. The final phase is completed because the aim or goal is now clear. 

Our Heavenly Father has a goal line for us, kingdom living, and sees it perfectly with a divine telescope, therefore, Jesus commands us to see life through His lens, not ours. Often when our life is going in the wrong direction, we’re confused, our prayers aren’t answered, and we forget that God has the goal in view and our job is to continue walking in His direction. 

… but whoever keeps His word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in Him: whoever says he abides in Him ought to walk in the same way in which He walked. 1 John 2:5-6 ESV

If our aim is to be like Jesus, that’s effective evangelism by the way, then it’s necessary to keep kingdom principles in mind: His timing, higher purposes, and alignment. We want our prayers answered yesterday but God has timing, telos, a complete picture and the fulfillment in view. That kind of relationship with God, sharing the same perspective, points others to Jesus without preaching a single sermon.

I in them and You in Me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that You sent Me and loved them even as You loved Me. John 17:23 ESV

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:2 ESV

The Spirit was sent to help us understand the ways and will of the Father as if we’re gradually seeing our life from His viewpoint, through His lens, until we see the complete picture: so be perfect, as your life comes into alignment.

‘O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie, above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by.’

This little sleepy village, just south of Jerusalem with no place for Him in the inn, was the birthplace of Jesus, and also where a myriad of angels declared to some shepherds that the Messiah was born today. Why did God choose this town? Possibly because the Messiah was from the bloodline of Ruth, Boaz, and King David, all Bethlehemites, but is there more to the story?

We can trace this town back to the prophet Micah (5:1-5) who spoke God’s word declaring a future military action using words like troops, siege, rods to strike, and an enemy poised against God’s chosen people. Sounds like war, right? It is. The hidden nugget in the name Bethlehem is that it’s meaning isn’t simply ‘house of bread’ like many of us know, but also ‘place of war’. God gave us the name of the birthplace of a Ruler in Israel, sent by Him, to make a powerful military stand but also to shepherd His people. The drawing of the battle lines for this future, eternal king would begin in Bethlehem.

‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a Ruler who will shepherd My people Israel.’ Matthew 2:6

The reigning king of Jesus’ day, Herod, had a foreboding sense of this coming kingly dominion for in his search for the Christchild he executed many Jewish babies hoping Israel’s king would be among them. That meant war. Later, the Pharisees searched for ways to kill Jesus as the battle continued. It wasn’t coincidental that Messiah was named the Captain of the hosts or armies of heaven and a Man of War (Ex. 15) who began His battle for souls in Bethlehem: a place of war.

As we meditate on the first advent of Christ let’s not forget there’s second advent, when He’ll look like a warring king (Rev. 19:11-16) not a Christchild but a Commander in Chief seated on a white horse ready to ‘make war’. His eyes like fire, crowned with many crowns, a blood-soaked robed, a sword proceeding from His mouth, and a rod of iron in His hand: that’s our King. His armies will be alongside Him ready to battle,

The armies of heaven, dressed in the finest of pure white linen, followed Him on white horses. Revelation 19:14 

After the birth Simeon, a Spiritfilled man (Luke 2:25-35), received a revelation as he blessed the Son of God and spoke to Mary, Jesus’ mother. 

“This Child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.” Luke 2:34-35

Bethlehem, the ‘house of bread’ was also a ‘place of war’. 

Separation- Part Three

God’s about separating, as seen in previous messages, but He’s also about union; always remember that mystery: He wants a union for His Son: a Bride.

“Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. Ephesians 5:31-32 

When God separated woman from man there was a plan to bring them back together in a physical and intimate way; its true with God as well since His plan was always to be united with His people. 

I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word, that they may all be one, just as You, Father, are in Me, and I in you, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You have sent Me. John 17:20-21 

God’s original plan still progressed even though sin had made a separation. Mankind was temporarily forced apart from God, He divided nations and dispersed them, but out of that dispersal came one man, Abraham, to continue the Plan. 

The lower story of separation is also one of holiness: the meanings are identical. God, separated from the people by a veil, set apart Aaron as High Priest and instructed him to separate as well:

You are to distinguish between the holy and the common, and between the unclean and the clean. Leviticus 10:10 

Every picture painted in the lower story of the Old Testament finds its upper story, the spiritual truth, in Christ. Jesus’ death on the cross opened the way for that original union with God to be experienced once again.

For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf. Hebrews 9:24 

The promises we have in Christ are what drives us to now live holy lives. Sinless? No, separated, different from the world; it’s actually a form of worship.

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:1-2 

When you are ‘in Christ’ you are not perfect or sinless but your position is. You are allowed entrance to stand before God in righteousness that was gifted to you by Jesus Christ. That’s how you stand now, today. 

… even as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him in love. Ephesians 1:4 

Dare to be different, living separated and yet in union. 

As we travel the US visiting National Parks my husband and I have learned to pay close attention to the ‘brown signs’; they direct our way so we don’t miss our turns. God has ‘brown signs’ too, they signal promises, gaining our attention, and direct our way so we don’t miss our final destination: reunited with God. Some of these signs are fulfilled and others remain waiting for fulfillment, but all give us reassurance of our salvation.

The first sign is found ‘in the beginning’ when God spoke to Satan regarding the coming of His Offspring,

“And I will put enmity (hostility) between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; He will crush your head, and you will strike His heel.” Genesis 3:15

That Offspring (or Holy Seed) was the coming Messiah who crushed the devil with His death and resurrection on our behalf. There was also the sign of a Seed or Offspring of Abraham (Gen. 12:7),

Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his Offspring. It does not say, “And to offsprings,” referring to many, but referring to One, “And to your Offspring,” who is Christ. Galatians 3:16 

As we recognize these signs we’ll always be pointed in the right direction as we see with David’s sign,

When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your Offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish His kingdom. 2 Samuel 7:12 

God was very clear over many generations, prophecies, and signs that He intended to enter into our world as a Holy Seed,

Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel. Isaiah 7:14

If you’re not convinced that Jesus is the Seed or Son of God who fulfilled these prophecies there are more.

I will tell of the decree: The Lord said to Me, “You are My Son; today I have begotten You.” Psalm 2:7 This verse is quoted twice in Hebrews (1:5, 5:5)!

Now when you hear the familiar passages read during Christmas you have assurance that the signs are there leading you to Christ: your final destination.

“Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. Matthew 1:18

“And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus … The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the Child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God.” Luke 1:31, 35

I hope these meditations gain your attention helping you recognize the ‘reason for the season’: the fulfilled prophecies and ‘brown signs’ directing you to Jesus.

Separation- Part Two

As Gen. 1 continues we find God separating again (vs. 6-10); light had become distinct from darkness and now two realms were spoken into existence by the Word of God: heaven and earth. 

Interestingly, the Hebrew word for heaven means to press down or spread out (Ps. 136:1-9); God stretched out an extended place of union to fellowship with His very best work, His masterpiece: mankind.

‘Heaven’ is the same word as a wedding canopy: chupa. God’s Son will have a Bride and a marriage … soon, but not yet. Even though that Divine Plan has not reached its climax, Jesus is returning from that place of union with His Father to receive His Bride. Heaven and earth will be joined together again on That Day and there will be no need for the lower and upper story: We will dwell in the upper story with our heavenly Bridegroom for eternity.

God has an eternal purpose for believers, in fact, He set apart boundaries in His creation to remind us of that truth. When you look at the horizon you can literally see the separation of heaven and earth. The Greek word horizo means that God has designated limits that are set apart for His purposes: we call it providence. 

Since I’ve introduced Hebrew and Greek words, how about Latin? The word providence is a two-part word: pro and video. Video, as you can imagine, means to see, hence, to see before (pro). God not only saw before time but His purpose was clear throughout all creation: He wanted a people who were set apart for Him. Pro-video is also where we get the word provide. He has a distinct plan, with divine purpose, for all who will follow Him and He’ll provide all we need to fulfill it. 

For those whom He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son … And those whom He predestined He also called, and those whom He called He also justified, and those whom He justified He also glorified. Romans 8:29a, 30 ESV

When mankind sinned another separation occurred. God is an all-consuming fire and any sin in His presence would burn, therefore, God set Himself apart from us until the final sacrifice, Jesus, was provided: 

Abraham said, “God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.” Genesis 22:8a ESV

The whole idea of separation is a marvel to me. The truth that God, out of extreme love, predestined a place and a people for Himself, knowing we would mess it up, continued the Plan. It’s truly a miracle, a wonder, incomprehensible that Jesus would participate in the divine plan of His Father knowing the process: the cross and separation from His Father. When we embrace Jesus,

You can be sure of this: The Lord set apart the godly for Himself. The Lord will answer when I call to Him. Psalms 4:3 NLT

Now that’s Good News.

Should Christians care about ancient, Jewish prophecy? Well, God’s chosen people were promised a Messiah coming to bring freedom by crushing Satan’s head (Gen. 3:15). The resounding question was, “When would He come?” The prophets were given words from God to encourage and comfort with ‘signs’ to watch for. Remember, Advent means coming … His first and second appearances on earth.

“Look! I am sending My messenger, and he will prepare the way before Me. Then the Lord you are seeking will suddenly come to His Temple. The Messenger of the Covenant, whom you look for so eagerly, is surely coming,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.” Malachi 3:1

Suffering persecution under Roman rule, Jewish prophecies gave His people hope of the arrival of their Messiah along with ‘signs’ as evidence. Two messengers, one getting the people ready and the other would seal the deal. John the Baptizer was the first messenger preaching the baptism of repentance and forgiveness of sins with Jesus Christ as the second sign and Messenger who would come suddenly, fulfill prophecy, enter the Temple, and finally ratify the New Covenant with His blood. 

Did John and the people recognize these signs? 

“Are You the One who is to come, or shall we look for another?” Matthew 11:3

Jesus answered John’s question from prison by telling him to recognize the signs of His ministry as proof: the blind see, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news preached to them. Jesus further verified the ancient prophecy of Malachi:

This is he (John) of whom it is written, ‘Behold, I send My messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you.’ Matthew 11:10

“Behold, I send My messenger (John) before your face, who will prepare your way, the voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make His paths straight,’ Mark 1:2b-3 

Prophecies of the first coming of Messiah, the Christ, were confirmed with signs and recorded for us, as Christians, to strengthen our belief that we are also the children of Abraham (Gal. 3:7-9). Paul teaches in Eph. 2:11-22 that Jews and Gentiles are one body in Christ, the Messiah. We are to remember that truth of being ‘one new man’, Jew and Gentile, since we were both reconciled with God by the blood of Christ Jesus. 

Are ancient, Jewish prophecies important to Christians? They should be since they were designed by God to give us hope of His Second Coming as well. The angel Gabriel told John’s father Zechariah, “Every one will be fulfilled in it’s time (Luke 1:20).” That still holds true today as we watch for ‘signs’ of His Return. Malachi also speaks of His Second Coming,

But who can endure the day of His coming, and who can stand when He appears? Malachi 3:2a

Those who have repented and been forgiven by Christ as John preached.

Introduction to Separation 

In the beginning … a great way to start a story. It creates time, beginning and ending, a setting, and eventually characters; that’s how scripture begins in Gen. 1:1. God, the Trinity, had a plan with a purpose: a Bride for His Son. If there was going to be a marriage, then there had to be a place to dwell and the ability to procreate: earth was separated from all other planets to be that place.

However, that chosen place was without form, void, and dark. That’s the lower story. God needed to separate light from darkness. Isn’t that true in the upper story as well? Mankind also begins life in spiritual darkness and moves into light by faith in the Savior of the World. 

“… I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12 

God declared that light was good (Gen. 1:4), therefore, darkness must be bad. It’s not by accident that time passes (vs. 5) from evening (darkness) to morning (light); it’s the upper story.

… God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with Him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. 1 John 1:5-7 

Since light is good and darkness is obviously bad God needed to separate them from each other for His purposes, therefore, separation is a distinction. 

When we trust in Christ to cleanse us from our sin we have stepped into the upper story of distinction: light from darkness. We’re no longer living like the world but are spiritually separated from it: not looking like, acting like, or thinking like the world. That’s true separation.

God desired time so He created the rotation and revolution of our planet, on the other hand, He desired a Bride for His Son to last eternally; she would be outside of time. This may seem like a paradox, a contradiction, but as we travel this line of thinking we’ll see that it’s not: it’s the upper story.

A place and eventually a people, that was God’s plan for heaven and earth, and both needed separation:

… ‘You shall inherit their land, and I will give it to you to possess, a land flowing with milk and honey.’ I am the Lord your God, who has separated you from the peoples.

You shall be holy to Me, for I the Lord am holy and have separated you from the peoples, that you should be Mine. Leviticus 20:24, 26 

Allow me to stretch you across the face of the deep (Gen.1: 2) in this series as the Holy Spirit gives us the light of revelation (Luke 2:32) in the face of Jesus Christ (2 Cor. 4:6).

Joy to the world, the Lord has come;

Let earth receive her King!

I’m sure you recognize that carol sung around the world at Christmastime but have you ever considered the ‘why’ of it’s popularity? The early, 4^th century Church, understood the need for a season of remembering, meditating, and thanking God for His two comings: they entitled it Advent. Two comings? Isn’t this just about Christmas, Jesus was born in Bethlehem? Apparently the early Church realized His first and second comings were equally valuable for celebration; the word advent actually means ‘coming’ or appearance. Yes, Jesus came as a baby born in Bethlehem, but also, there’s a second coming and on That Day He’ll reappear as the King: Let earth receive her King! 

The decision of the circular wreath surrounded with evergreen and four candles proved to be a perfect visual for believers to reflect on our continuous, unending, and eternal life we have in Christ. It also reminds us of a victor’s crown given to honor winners of contests or conquests: we see it as the Nike (overcomers) crown of eternal life.

… if you remain faithful even when facing death, I will give you the crown of life. Revelation 2:10 

That encouraging word will strengthen any believer in Jesus Christ when they’re enduring times of trouble, sickness, or even death: it’s our promise of immortality with Him: we literally never die.

Adding the candles directs our focus to light as the first one is lit and increases by one each of the four weeks. It reminds us that Jesus, the light of the world, imparted His light to us and we become His ‘lights to the world’ shining more brightly as our faith increases.

The second coming or advent of Christ will be very different from His first as an infant, a humble man, and finally, a suffering servant. He will arrive on the scene as the King of all nations eager to reunite with His Bride: the Church! We long for That Day, eagerly waiting for His appearance:

Then I saw heaven opened, and a white horse was standing there. Its Rider was named Faithful and True, for He judges fairly and wages a righteous war. His eyes were like flames of fire, and on His head were many crowns. A name was written on Him that no one understood except Himself. On His robe at His thigh was written this title: King of all kings and Lord of all Lords. Revelation 19:11-12, 16 

The circular wreath of evergreen branches and the four candles increasing our light every week of Advent should give you great comfort regardless of what’s happening around you. He’s Immanuel, God with us, inviting you into His Presence to fill you with everything needed for His kind of life.

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14