God’s Precious Gift
December 24, 2005
Reading: Romans 6:15-23
Bonus Reading: St. John 1
“Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift.” ~ II Corinthians 9:15
I read recently about one of the Roman emperors, who gave an unexpected and expensive present to a friend. But when the ruler’s friend saw the gift, he reportedly said, “This is too much for me to receive.” The emperor replied, “But it is not too much for me to give.”
When we think about all our sinfulness and rebellion, God’s “indescribable gift” (II Corinthians 9:15) of forgiveness through Jesus Christ seems too much for us poor sinners to receive. God is so rich in mercy, though, that it’s not too much for Him to give. Certainly in this time of joy and gift-giving, this is something worth considering. This is the “pearl of great price” that Jesus taught about - something worth everything else we have - and more.
Someone has said, “The kindest thing that God ever did was to become a man.” What magnificent and unimaginable glory Christ left behind, to put on our flesh and live at our level -only to suffer utter humiliation - for the sole purpose of offering us the riches of salvation and joys of Heaven! Until we see Him, face to face, we will never be able to understand it completely, although Scripture gives us a clue: “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” It’s tough to grasp the truth - that when we receive His gift, we claim an eternal inheritance as adopted children of God. What an honor. What a privilege. What an overwhelming and life-changing epiphany this can be. But, at the same time, once we realize how completely unmerited it is, we share the sentiment the emperor’s friend expressed. How could we receive it - except by remembering how limitless God’s love for us is - and then, seeking Him and His purpose in our lives?
Who can estimate the preciousness of God’s gift of salvation through His Son the Lord Jesus? All we can do now and throughout eternity is to fall down in adoration before our Lord, praising Him for a salvation so wondrous and so free! Oh come, let us adore Him!
In the wonder of this holy season, may we all take some quiet time before our Heavenly Father and thank Him for that very best of gifts He sent us, as we commemorate the Nativity of our Lord, tonight and tomorrow. And may God arise among us all year long - Emmanuel!
For your meditation and quiet time: Praise is the language of a heart set free.
By Grace,
Chip+
Can’t Fool God
December 14, 2005
Isaiah 29:13 & John 4:23-24 & James 2:18
“Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts.” ~ Psalm 51:6
What sin did our Lord Jesus condemn more than any other sin? Hypocrisy - especially the flagrant, self-congratulatory kind practiced by the religious leaders of His day. These were men who thought they could fool God with their outward actions, while concealing hearts that were hard and uninterested in what God truly wanted - earnest, heartfelt devotion reflected in changed lives. (Read the second lesson above.) They did not have a desire for truth in their inward parts.
I think the best punctuation to this was in a convocation address delivered by Luther Smith, a professor at Emory University’s Candler School of Theology, where he warned against the danger of “faking it” - pretending a faith we don’t really have. He cited a bumper sticker that read, “Jesus is coming. Look busy.” What insight!
Strangely enough, the religious actors among us think they’re fooling people and hope they’re fooling God when they are, in reality, just fooling themselves. After all, although someone might get by with deceiving those around them, no one can realistically expect to spoof the God of the Universe. But then, let’s be honest with ourselves. Could there be a little of this in our own lives? Ouch - that’s gonna leave a mark!
Without question, we. of course, might be able to look busy - putting on the outward appearance of working for the Kingdom, but we can’t deceive God about our faith, our character, or our service. Like the Pharisees, whom Jesus denounced in our lesson, we could appear to be sincerely religious - living by a rule of life. But the Lord knows if our profession is merely a facade without saving trust or genuine devotion. In short, beloved, He knows our hearts. This begs a good question for our Advent devotional time - when we look at ourselves in light of His Second Coming, when we will see Him face-to-face.
Are we a churchgoing version of the people Jesus declaimed? Do we have earnest and heartfelt faith that yields good works and the Fruit of the Spirit - or are we “filling our God square,” looking good on the outside, when, all the while, our hearts are far from Him? Are we depending on our good works to gain entrance into Heaven - or is our faith like that of the Protestant Reformation - founded on the Five Solas:
Solus Christus (Christ Alone)
Sola Scriptura (Scripture Alone)
Sola Gratia (Grace Alone)
Sola Fide (Faith Alone) and
Soli Deo Gloria (To God Alone Be the Glory)?
As we seek the inspiration of God the Holy Ghost in our Advent devotions this week, may we meditate on this thought: is God’s glory our first motivation in worship and daily life? Do we want truth in our inward parts?
May God arise in all our lives before Him!
Grace and peace,
Chip+
The Rev. CB “Chip” Harper
Rector, All Saints Anglican Church
Soul Goal
December 10, 2005
What will a man give in exchange for his soul? –Matthew 16:26
I recently read a story about a lady named Rose Martin. Rose was an original owner of a Chevrolet Corvair and she loved that car. The low-slung, rear-engine vehicle was a popular model in the 1960s, until consumer advocate Ralph Nader pronounced it a casket on wheels, owing to it’s now-infamous tendency to roll over in low speed maneuvers. Rose, however, ignored the warnings and drove her Corvair around her hometown in Rhode Island for 36 years. She kept it functioning - no matter what the cost. So, when she died in May 1998, her relatives and friends were not surprised by her desire to be buried in her cherished white Chevy. (One of those things that make you say, “Hmmmm!”)
Most of us don’t feel that sentimental about our cars (imagine that!). However, some us, like Rose, may ignore the warnings that are readily apparent, and hold on to our own preferences, even if though it’s costly. At our life’s end, though, these choices will be judged - to our credit, or detriment - before our God. Instead of insisting on what suits our flesh, then, we need to be concerned with choosing courses to benefit our undying souls (Matthew 16:26). It’s easy to get distracted by the World around us - and to misalign our priorities.
The rich man in Jesus’ parable had not been concerned about his soul and where he would spend eternity. Then one day God said to him, “Fool! This night your soul will be required of you” (Luke 12:20). He was caught up in his own life and interests to the exclusion of his spiritual welfare. His Corvair had rolled over - and he was caught unprepared.
The all-important issue: Are we headed for Heaven and eternity with our Lord or eternal separation from God and all that is good? What is the goal for our souls?
HOW TO BE SURE OF HEAVEN:
Admit that we don’t deserve heaven (Romans 3:23).
Believe that Jesus is our only hope (John 3:16; 14:6).
Put our personal faith in Christ (John 1:12; Romans 6:23).
For Advent prayer and meditation: What we go after here determines where we go hereafter.
Grace and peace,
Chip+
Do We Lose Touch?
December 3, 2005
“I looked on all the works that my hands had done . . . and indeed all was vanity and grasping for the wind.” ~ Ecclesiastes 2:11
A number of years ago in Rochester, New York, 30 people competed in a charity fundraiser called a Touch-A-Thon. A new car was to be given to the person who could touch a red spot on the car for the longest time, not counting the 15-minute breaks that were allowed every 4 hours.
After four days, one man and one woman were left. But then the woman reached into her purse for a fingernail file and took her hand off the car. She lost touch and lost the prize. Oops!
King Solomon, the author of Ecclesiastes, also tells about losing touch - but in his case, he forfeited something of inestimable value. He had started out well by living for God, but then he began seeking personal profit, self-aggrandizement and pleasure. As he surveyed his wealth and his fame, it dawned on him that in reaching out for those things, he had let go of his contact with God, his true source of meaning and lasting happiness. No wonder he wrote “indeed all was vanity!” His case reminds me very much of the protagonist in the famous film Citizen Kane. The famous work, considered by many to be the definite cinematic masterpiece, is a complex theme of a spiritually-failed man who lives a tragic, if epic story of a ‘rags-to-riches’ child who inherited a fortune, was taken away from his humble surroundings and his father and mother. Raised by a banker, Kane became a fabulously wealthy, arrogant, and energetic newspaperman. He made his reputation as the generous, idealistic champion of the underprivileged, and set his egotistical mind on a political career, until those political dreams were shattered by the public exposure of his ill-advised ‘love-nest’ affair with a singer. Kane’s life was corrupted and ultimately self-destructed by a lust to fulfill the American dream of success, fame, wealth, power and immortality. After two failed marriages and a transformation into a morose, grotesque, and tyrannical monster, his final days were spent alone and unhappy before his death in a reclusive refuge of his own making - an ominous castle filled with innumerable possessions he acquired in an attempt to compensate for his life’s emptiness. Certainly, this underscores Solomon’s experience. A life full of success is nothing without the Pearl of Great Price who provides us the peace and perspective to enjoy it.
In this Advent season, we can examine ourselves by asking the Lord to show us in prayer if we are justifying what we do - or don’t do - while not realizing that we may no longer be living in close fellowship with the Lord? Do we need to stop worrying about trivial things and reestablish our contact with eternal values through repentance and faith? Good questions for our prayer closets in quiet time with the Father.
Our Father went to great lengths to provide us means to fellowship with Him - why would we ever choose to lose touch with Him?
Thought for meditation: If we walk with God, we’ll be out of step with the World.
By grace,
Chip+
