The Advent Series: Freedom Thru Christ

Galatians 4:4-5 ^{New Living Translation}

“… when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children.”

                 The Jews had been waiting for a very long time, wondering when their Messiah would come.  A messiah is a savior or liberator by definition.  The Jews were seeking liberation from their Roman oppressors at the time of Jesus.  Little did they realize that when their Messiah came they would reject him because their limited understanding would not allow them to see God’s plan. Their shortsightedness was our gain, which is what the Lord knew would happen all along.  God set the time for Christ’s arrival.  It was a time when his promises would be fully realized.

                 Christ was born under the Law and thus was obligated to fulfill it.  He could then identify with sinners of whom he was sent to save.  The liberation that the Messiah would provide was from the curse of sin.  The problem of Rome would correct itself over the course of time.  The much bigger problem was sin, not oppression.  Once a soul is rescued from its’ sinful state then the spirit is set free.  It is no different than healing a body of a physical ailment only to leave that same body under the bondage of sin.  That only means that a healthy body with an entombed soul would be cast into hell.  It is the spirit set free that enjoys true freedom and is open to enter heaven for all eternity.

                 Because Christ came we are set free if we accept God’s gracious gift purchased for us thru the blood shed on our behalf.  We are not set free just because we believe, we must be changed or like a pig that returns to its muddy pen, we will go right back to our sinful ways.  The Advent Season is a season of freedom, joy, and hope for our eternity.  We have been blood bought and just like God’s everlasting, unconditional love for us, that fact will never, ever change.  It’s what we do with that news that makes all the difference in the world.  Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resources: The Reformation Study Bible, the Life Application Study Bible, and the American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language.

The Advent Series: God’s Word Became Flesh

John 1:14 _{New Living Translation}

“So the Word became human¹ and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness.² And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.”

                 These two verses clear something up that was a bit of a contentious thing among John’s contemporaries.  Did the Word of God only appear to be human or did it in fact literally take on the form of man, actually becoming flesh and blood like other created beings?  It was now clear, the Christ child was indeed made of human flesh and not simply giving off the appearance of being human.  Christ took on the full nature of a human being and dwelt among us. 

                 The word dwelt, which is used in other respected translations, means quite literally “to pitch one’s tent”.  This appears to be a reference to the Temple, which was a large tent that held the Shekinah glory or divine presence of Almighty God.  Christ was wholly God and wholly man.

                 As modern day believers, we must fully accept and comprehend what took place approximately 2000 years ago.  God became one of us to present his plan for living and salvation from our current spiritual state.  He lived among us, giving us an example of how we are to live.  He taught, prayed, and healed, ministering to all who would come to him. Then he willingly allowed himself to be severely beaten and murdered for our sake.  Christ did this all for the sake of God’s plan to save those who could not save themselves. 

                 Christmas is a special time of year.  There are gifts exchanged, fellowship had, families coming together and decorations galore. There could be a holiday without Christ, but there can be no salvation without the birth of the Savior. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resources:  The Reformation Study Bible and The Life Application Study Bible.

¹ In the Greek it reads “became flesh”.

² Some translations say instead, “He was full of grace and truth”.

The Advent Series: The Spirit’s Role

Matthew 1:18

“This is how Jesus the Messiah was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But before the marriage took place, while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit.” ^{[New Living Translation]}

                 Being betrothed to someone back in Jesus day was not the same as being married to them in that they would not have been intimate yet.  So when Mary was still a virgin she became pregnant by the Holy Spirit.  An Angel of the Lord told Mary that she had been chosen to carry and deliver the Son of God.  Think of how Joseph must have felt.  He was prepared to send her away in secret so as not to cause Mary embarrassment.  An angel visited Joseph as well to explain what was happening and directed him regarding how things needed to transpire.  Joseph, who was hedging at first, was understanding and obedient once the situation had been explained to him.

                 My main focus today is on the Holy Spirit.  If God’s Holy Spirit can form a child in a mother’s womb without the introduction of any bodily fluids to impregnate the woman than what on earth can he NOT do?  This is just another case in scripture that shows we are dealing with a miracle working God.  There is nothing the Lord cannot do if he decides within the parameters of his will to do it.  God knows exactly how everything needs to work out even when we do not.  He knows the time frame he has chosen to use.  He is a God of order, not of chaos, so everything is done with exact precision.  Man may ‘fly by the seat of their pants’ occasionally, but God is always in complete control of events that we only contemplate.

                 The Advent Season is in honor of many things related to Almighty God and one of the preeminent persons to be honored and revered is the person of the Holy Spirit; one 3rd of the Holy Trinity.  Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resource:  The Life Application Study Bible, Tyndale House Publishers.

The Advent Series: The Root of Jesse

Isaiah 11:10 [original Greek translation from the Septuagint]¹

“In that day the root of Jesse will come, and he will rule over the Gentiles. They will place their hopes on him.”

                 Jesus was known as the ‘root of Jesse’. He was along the lineage of David who was a son of Jesse; therefore when Paul quotes this verse to the Roman believers in Romans 15:12-13 he refers to Jesus as ‘the heir to the throne of David’.  Jesus was to be the Savior of God’s Chosen people, the Jews, but they were stiff-necked and disobedient and rejected their Messiah because of how he came and who he became.  Due to the Jews rejection God opened the door of salvation to the Gentiles².  This is spoken of in Romans 11:11-31.  The reason for this explanation to the church in Rome was because even though its members were mostly Jewish it also contained a great many Gentiles. 

                 The Advent Season is one when Christians throughout the world focus on the coming of the Christ child.  Without Christ’s coming into this dark and sinful world there would be no redemption for man, no forgiveness offered, no grace extended, no mercy given.  In faith we believe, and that faith turns to trust which blossoms into hope. The Gentiles placed all their hopes on Jesus Christ.  Something new had been introduced to them and by their acceptance were now part of the family of God.

                 The phrase ‘rule over’ makes it seem like we are God’s subjects.  Rather than being his subjects to do His bidding whether we like it or not, we voluntarily pledge allegiance to the Lamb that was slain from the foundations of the earth. That Lamb is Jesus.  God has no desire to have robotic subjects.  He instead wishes us to allow him to be Lord of our life.  This is because only the One who created us can know what we are truly capable of.  We are to become willing servants for his sake and for his glory.  Jesus came to set us free from our sins so that we might reach the highest potential possible for the Lord.  Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resource: The Life Application Study Bible, Tyndale House Publishers.

¹ The Septuagint is the Greek translation of the Old Testament.

² A Gentile is any individual who is not a Jew.

The Advent Series: The Gifts

Matthew 2:1-2

“Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, ‘Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.’"

                 Bethlehem was a small town situated roughly 5 miles south of Jerusalem. It sits on a ridge over 2,000 feet above sea level and is the birthplace of our Savior.  We already know that shepherds were on their way to visit the infant said to be the King of the Jews.  Here we read that magi, led by a star as the shepherds were, came to see the baby Jesus.  Magi were known as ‘sages’; men revered for their great wisdom and judgment.  Perhaps they came together or perhaps they came from separately from different countries, but it doesn’t matter for their reason for coming was singular, to pay honor and respect to the infant Jesus. 

                 Since the magi were coming to worship Jesus they bore expensive gifts in acknowledgment of the future king.  The gifts are seen as symbols of Christ’s identity and what he was expected to accomplish in his life.  The gift of gold symbolized royalty, for Christ was sent to be the king over God’s people.  Frankincense* was offered as a gift honoring his deity.  Myrrh** was a spice used to anoint a body for burial after death.

                 Everything is done for a reason and everything that took place from the beginning of time was choreographed to bring about the result that the Lord knew needed to take place.  God knew what he was doing back then and knows what he is doing now.  Never doubt God or his ability to provide for you everything you are in need of. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

The Living Translation has been used in this devotional.

Resource: The Life Application Study Bible, Tyndale House Publishers.

HISTORICAL NOTE: The land of Israel was divided into 4 political districts & several lesser territories. Judea was to the south, Samaria in the middle, Galilee to the north and Idumea to the southwest.  Bethlehem of Judea (also called Judah – Matt 2:6) had been prophesied as the Messiah’s birthplace (Micah 5:2). Jerusalem was also in Judea & was the seat of government for Herod the Great, king over all four political districts. 

* An aromatic gum resin obtained from African and Asian trees of the genus Boswellia, used as incense and in perfumes.

 

** An aromatic, bitter gum resin obtained from certain Arabian and E African woody plants and used chiefly in making incense and perfumes.

The Advent Series: The Census

Luke 2:1

“At that time the Roman emperor, Augustus, decreed that a census* should be taken throughout the Roman Empire.”

             Roman general Pompey had captured Jerusalem approximately 60 years prior to the birth of Christ.  During the years since that day Judea had become more and more subdued to the point where they were now completely under the rule of Rome and therefore a part of the Roman Empire.  Emperor Caesar Augustus asked that a census be taken for the purpose of properly taxing all its citizens, of which the Jews were now part. The tax that was to be paid by the Jews was their first act of servitude to the Roman Government.  Is it any wonder that the Jews, God’s Chosen Ones, were crying out for the coming of their Messiah.

                 There is a stark contrast between the baby Jesus and what the Jews were expecting, not to mention the comparison of a mere infant to the largest Empire in the world at that time. God had sent his Son in the form of an infant to reveal to the world the difference between how the Lord sees and does things and how man does.  The Jews sought a warrior king for a Messiah who would come and smite the Romans, thus eliminating them and their rule over the Jewish people.  God didn’t quite see it that way.  The contrast between their desire and reality was so great that they rejected God’s path to eternal life thru faith in his Son.  That opened the door to all non-Jews, otherwise known as Gentiles, to have forgiveness for all their accumulated sins. 

                 The Advent Season takes on a whole new meaning to those who have placed their unwavering faith and trust in Almighty God. Live a life that honors the Lord each day and know that Christ came to die for you that you might truly live. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Note:  New Living Translation used.

Resources:  The Life Application Study Bible; The Matthew Henry Commentary of the Bible & The Reformation Study Bible.

* In ancient Rome, a count of the citizens and an evaluation of their property for taxation purposes.

The Advent Series: Immanuel, God with us

NOTE: This being the Advent season on the church calendar I will embark on a series of Advent related devotionals up thru Christmas day.

 

Isaiah 7:14

“All right then, the Lord himself will give you the sign. Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel (which means ‘God is with us’).”

The Hebrew word for virgin was defined as a young woman of marrying age, while the Greek translation of the Old Testament (called the Septuagint*).  The Greek meaning is more specifically referred to as a ‘virgin’. Those living in Jesus day knew Isaiah was referring to the Virgin Mary who bore God’s Son.

             The name Immanuel (or Emmanuel) conveyed God’s promise to save, bless, and protect His children.  He is with all of us who have placed our undying, uncompromising faith and trust in him.  The Lord provides all our needs (not our wants, but our needs) according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19).  The mature Christian slowly learns the value of that which God provides for them and ceases to desire that which is of no eternal value and frivolous in nature. 

             This verse in Isaiah is a prophecy regarding the birth of our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.  It is thru him and him alone that we must be saved so that we might spend eternity with our God.  Unlike some religions, there are not many roads up the mountain to God but only one way to fellowship with him and that way is to embrace Christ as the Savior and Lord of your life.  This is a choice everyone must make among the myriad of less important choices we make each day.  Choose wisely this day whom you will serve. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

RESOURCE: The New Living Translation; Tyndale House Publishers.

* Phonetic pronunciation – sep-two-a-gin-t.  The Greek text of the Old Testament was written in approximately 150 B.C.