Get ready to start a journey…a journey through the pages of the Bible and the pages of your life.
Asaph was discouraged. Even though he was the leader of one of King David’s three Levitical choirs, even though he was serving the Lord, Asaph “was envious of the arrogant when [he] saw the prosperity of the wicked.” But then he gained an eternal perspective. In contrast to the temporary gains of the “wicked,” Asaph noted “The God Advantage.” Let’s consider four benefits found in today’s passage.
The systems of the world are built around power and control. Nations go to war to gain land, resources, and domination. Organizations intimidate opponents to manipulate and wield their authority. Individuals demonstrate their influence over others to show who’s the boss. Jesus, however, turned the tables.
Isn’t a Christian supposed to be “aw shucks” humble? Aren’t believers meant to hide in a corner and not let the right hand know what the left hand is doing? Aren’t believers expected to refrain from showing off? Not according to Jesus.
The other night, I went through the house and turned on every light. Then I built big black boxes and put one over each light to stymie the glow. My work was done. I had turned the lights on and then covered them over so their glow could not be seen. You say, “Ridiculous!” That’s exactly what Jesus said.
Light dispels darkness. Light cuts through the obscurity and makes its presence known. Sorry for the double negative, but light cannot not be light. Its property defines its existence.
Salt, a mineral vital to life, is unlike anything else. It has a distinct taste, which is imparted to anything with which it is mixed. It is used as a seasoning and a preservative. Salt makes an impact! Even a little salt sprinkled in a bowl of soup or on a pile of fries changes the taste of the food.
When the Light arrived in the darkness, the heavenly Father sent his Son to the back of the line. The Light of the world, the eternal God in the flesh, received no breaks and no advantages. After an unseemly pregnancy and a hard journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem, the fullness of time had come. And…there was no room for Jesus.
The proverb says, “The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; he turns it wherever he will” (Proverbs 21:1). God is sovereign over all, orchestrating the events of world history. We see this vividly demonstrated when it was time for Jesus to come.
They are called “The Silent Years.” During the four hundred long years between the last book of the Old Testament and the coming of Jesus, there were no prophets, angels delivering messages, or word from God. Then…at just the right time…
Tiny hands waving about uncontrollably. A shrill cry piercing the damp air of a borrowed cave. A mother’s peaceful smile. A mysterious smile on the face of her husband, who helped deliver a miracle. And the Word became flesh: God confined to an infant.
John the Baptist made his days count. He lived life “plain and simple”–camel hair clothes and a leather belt; roasted locusts (surely, he didn’t eat them raw) and wild honey to eat. But what impresses me most is that John the Baptist was a man who knew his purpose. He was on earth to prepare the world for Jesus, and he never wavered. He lived with a spiritual focus. Isn’t that the kind of life you want to live?
The Christmas story seems so peaceful and silent night-ish. A baby is born and laid in a manger. But this was no ordinary birth and no ordinary baby. The old prophet Simeon noted that this child would cause the rise and fall of many.