Advent Words: Z is for Zeal

Z is for Zeal

"The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this." Isaiah 9:7

Zeal is not a word that is used often in the present day. Its dictionary meaning is dedication, strong interest, or intense enthusiasm. We may use the word passion in its place. In a religious sense it means devotion to God. The Hebrew meaning of the word used for zeal is ardor or jealousy and has the picture of intense fervor, passion, or emotion. At the end of Isiah 9:1-7, after having described the coming Messiah's character and reign, it says "the zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this."

Throughout the Bible we are told of God's unfailing love for His people and His faithfulness in doing what He has promised He will do. God promised a Messiah, a just King who would redeem His people. Commentator Bob Utley, says that the zeal of God "is the guarantee of its reality". God the Father's intense love and devotion for His people is the motivation for Him to fulfill His promise.

Today we celebrate the fulfillment of that promise in the birth of Jesus Christ. Love came to earth. God's zeal and commitment to fulfill His promise of the Messiah seeks a zealous, passionate, and obedient response: Our devotion to His Son.

On the night of his birth an angel declared that our Savior, Christ the Lord, had been born. A host of angels made a zealous response:

Glory to God in the highest,

and on earth peace to men

on whom His favor rests!

Luke 2:14

Merry Christmas!

Our Advent journey ends today. Thank you for journeying through this season with me. May you know His Presence and His blessings today and in the year ahead. May Christ be alive in your heart and in your life in fresh and new ways in the coming year.  

Next weekend Valerie Sjodin, Bernice Hopper and I will share our plans for an inspirational project in 2019 that will take place in the Living Your Word of the Year Facebook Group. Watch my blog for the introduction to this 2019 project.

Share your creative response to the Advent Words challenge in our private Facebook group  Join here:   https://www.facebook.com/groups/Wordschallengegroup/

Share  on Instagram and other social media with the hashtag #adventwords2018.

Check out my Pinterest board for this challenge and see some of the wonderful and diverse creativity of Advent Words 2018 participants. https://www.pinterest.com/marynbtol/advent-words-2018-challenge/

Advent Words: X is for Xenos

X is for Xenos

Today's passages are Matthew 2:1-12 and Ephesians 2:12-19.

The word xenos is a Greek word that means alien, stranger, or foreigner. It can also mean host and hospitable. Today's passages give us two examples of xenos in the Bible.

First, we have the part of Matthew's Christmas story that highlights the Magi, also known as the three wise men. Matthew tells us that these three wise men were foreigners from the east, believed to be from Persia or even the Orient. The Magi were known to be scholars of astronomy and religious prophecies, and may have been Gentiles. So Matthew begins the story of Jesus' birth with a visit from foreign unbelievers who followed a bright star in search of answers to ancient prophecies of a king who would be born to the Jews. God led them to the promised king - the Christ child - by a star.

Three times in this passage, Matthew 2:1-12, the word worship is used. First, in verse 2, we are told that these wise men came specifically to find and worship the one "born king of the Jews". It is amazing that these men from a foreign land would come with the purpose of worshiping Jesus! It also seems to be a message to God's purpose and plan, as we see at the end of Matthew's Gospel that Jesus' last words to his disciples are His commission to "go and make disciples of all nations" (Matthew 28:19). Both at the beginning and the end of Matthew's Gospel he makes it clear that God's sending of the Messiah is for all the nations.

The second time the word worship is used is in verse 8, where King Herod falsely says he will worship this baby king if the Magi return and tell him where the baby can be found. King Herod feels his reign is threatened by the news of this baby king, but God intervenes and sends an angel to speak to the wise men to return to their home by a different route

Thirdly, in verses 10-11, we see that when they came to the place where the star was overhead, they were overjoyed! They had found the baby king, the Messiah, and they "bowed down and worshiped him" and presented Him with gifts. These foreigners had no doubt who Jesus was.

"Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker!" Psalm 95:6

A second place xenos is used shows that we also, were once considered foreigners in God's kingdom. Paul makes it clear in Ephesians 2:12-19, that those who are separated from Christ, described as those "without hope and without God", are foreigners to the covenants of the promise, God's blessings. But that "in Christ" a foreigner is brought near to God - reconciled - through the blood of Christ. In Christ, we have peace with God and we become a part of God's family! We join the Magi and bow down before the Christ King and worship Him!

Today is the fourth Sunday of Advent. Today we light the Candle of Love. My collage for the fourth Sunday will be on tomorrow's post.

Share your creative response to the Advent Words challenge in our private Facebook group  Join here:   https://www.facebook.com/groups/Wordschallengegroup/

If you belong to the Everyday Journal group that I co-lead with Valerie Sjodin and Bernice Hopper, Advent Words will be our theme for December.

Share on Instagram and other social media with the hashtag #adventwords2018.

Check out my Pinterest board for this challenge and see some of the wonderful and diverse creativity of Advent Words 2018 participants. https://www.pinterest.com/marynbtol/advent-words-2018-challenge/

Advent Words: W is for Word

W is for Word

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind."

John 1:1-4

"The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth."

John 1:14

"If Advent is the season of waiting, Christmas is the season of wonder." 

Bobby Gross, Living the Christian Year

We are now just days away from Christmas, our sense of waiting begins to turn into a sense of awe and wonder. At the center of it is the mystery of the incarnation ~ the Word became flesh. This is the great mystery and wonder and truth of Christmas. God took on human form and lived among us, and thus became fully like us. He understands us. The author of the book of Hebrews tells us that the incarnation  means that Jesus is able to sympathize with our weaknesses (Hebrews 4:15), because He was tempted in every way He is able to  "help those who are being tempted" (Hebrews 2:18). Jesus was fully human. 

Yet He was also fully divine, fully God. John tells us that "In the beginning was the Word" - Jesus. The Word existed before time. He was with God. He was distinct from God, yet He was fully God. John goes on to tell us in verses 3 and 4 that Jesus, the Word, is the source of life and light.

"His life, manifest in the incarnation, is our light...He himself is the presence of God's own life and light and He makes that life and light available to human beings." Rodney Whitacre

Jesus, the Word, reveals God's glory to us. He reveals God's grace. He reveals God's truth. In His incarnation He reveals to us who God is. 

In His humanity He does not give up His divinity. Paul tells us in Philippians that Jesus willingly laid it aside and submitted humbly to becoming a man. In this He submitted to the Father's will. 

"In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

Who, being in very nature God,

    did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;

rather, he made himself nothing

    by taking the very nature of a servant,

    being made in human likeness.

And being found in appearance as a man,

    he humbled himself

    by becoming obedient to death—

        even death on a cross!

Therefore God exalted him to the highest place

    and gave him the name that is above every name,

that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,

    in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,

    to the glory of God the Father."

Philippians 2:5-11

The Word became flesh and lived among us ~ He was fully human and fully God. He was the fulfillment of the promise of Immanuel ~ God with us! This is the wonder of Christmas!

Share your creative response to the Advent Words challenge in our private Facebook group  Join here:   https://www.facebook.com/groups/Wordschallengegroup/

If you belong to the Everyday Journal group that I co-lead with Valerie Sjodin and Bernice Hopper, Advent Words will be our theme for December.

Share on Instagram and other social media with the hashtag #adventwords2018.

Check out my Pinterest board for this challenge and see some of the wonderful and diverse creativity of Advent Words 2018 participants. https://www.pinterest.com/marynbtol/advent-words-2018-challenge/

Advent Words: U is for Unto

U is for Unto

"For to us a child is born,

  to us a son is given;

and the government shall be upon his shoulder,

    and his name shall be called

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Of the increase of his government and of peace

    there will be no end,

on the throne of David and over his kingdom,

    to establish it and to uphold it

with justice and with righteousness

    from this time forth and forevermore.

The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this."  Isaiah 9:6-7

Unto us a child is born...a son is given...He shall be called:

Wonderful Counselor

Mighty God

Everlasting Father

Prince of Peace

Isaiah looked far into the future to a time when a child would be born who would be king forevermore. Charles Wesley captured Israel's hope for the promised birth of the One who would be Israel's hope and consolation in his Advent hymn Come Thou Long Expected Jesus. In this hymn Wesley brought together the Old Testament promise of the Messiah and the New Testament story of a baby who was also a king and "the hope of all the earth".

Come, Thou long-expected Jesus, born to set Thy people free; 
from our fears and sins release us; let us find our rest in Thee. 

Israel's strength and consolation, hope of all the earth Thou art; 
dear desire of every nation, joy of every longing heart. 

Born Thy people to deliver, born a child, and yet a King, 
born to reign in us forever, now Thy gracious kingdom bring. 

By Thine own eternal Spirit rule in all our hearts alone; 
by Thine own sufficient merit, raise us to Thy glorious throne. 

There is a repetition throughout this hymn which highlights the purpose and mission of this promised baby-king. Throughout this song the word “born” reveals the purpose of the incarnation of Jesus: 

Born to set thy people free… 

Born thy people to deliver, 

Born a child, and yet a king, 

Born to reign in us forever… 

In Matthew's Gospel we are told this Messiah, this King who would rule “with Justice and righteousness”, was found in Bethlehem: “After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” Matthew 2:1-2 

The Bible makes it clear that Jesus came “to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:28; Mark 10:45; 1 Timothy 2:6) The Israelites expected a Messiah who would free them from slavery, bondage and oppression. 

But God had a greater plan; The Messiah would free men from the bondage of sin and death. “For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.” Hebrews 9:15 

Paul explains this even more in Galatians: “So also, when we were underage, we were in slavery under the elemental spiritual forces of the world. But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.” Galatians 4:3-7 

Jesus Christ, The Messiah, would also fulfill the promise of the New Covenant: “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. Then you will live in the land I gave your ancestors; you will be my people, and I will be your God.” Ezekiel 36:26-28 

In Christ this promise extends beyond the Israelites to include the Gentiles: “I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness— the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the Lord’s people. To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” Colossians 1:25-27 

Jesus Christ, the Messiah, the King of glory was born “to reign in us forever.” This hymn connects us personally to the joy of the season. Unto us a child is born and He shall be called our Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. In Christ we experience freedom from fear and sin, we find our rest in Him, He is our strength and consolation, our hope and our joy.

Share your creative response to the Advent Words challenge in our private Facebook group  Join here:   https://www.facebook.com/groups/Wordschallengegroup/

If you belong to the Everyday Journal group that I co-lead with Valerie Sjodin and Bernice Hopper, Advent Words will be our theme for December.

Share on Instagram and other social media with the hashtag #adventwords2018.

Check out my Pinterest board for this challenge and see some of the wonderful and diverse creativity of Advent Words 2018 participants. https://www.pinterest.com/marynbtol/advent-words-2018-challenge/

Advent Words: T is for Tidings

T is for Tidings

"How beautiful on the mountains

    are the feet of those who bring good news,

who proclaim peace,

    who bring good tidings,

    who proclaim salvation,

who say to Zion,

    “Your God reigns!” " 
Isaiah 52:7

"And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

“Glory to God in the highest heaven,

    and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”  
Luke 2:8-14

A "tiding" is an announcement or a piece of news that is favorable. It is a good message to be shared. The thing about a tiding or message is that it needs a messenger in order for it to be shared. Both Isaiah and Luke point out the messengers that bring good tidings in our passages today.

Isaiah says that those who bring good tidings have beautiful feet. The NIV study notes tell us that in ancient times during battle, a messenger would run from the scene of the battle to bring news of the outcome to the waiting king and people. Isaiah notes that when the message is good, then the feet of the one who brings it are beautiful. In Isaiah's proclamation of deliverance in Isaiah 52:7, he says that the announced good news is one of peace, good tidings and salvation. 

A similar message would ring out in praise on the night of Jesus' birth. The angel proclaims "good news of great joy that will be for all people" (Luke 2:10). A heavenly host of angels respond to the glad tidings with praise to God:

“Glory to God in the highest heaven,

    and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”  Luke 2:14

Both spread the same message of good tidings: Our God reigns! The happy news that Jesus Christ the Savior has come to earth is a message of God's glory and our peace.

"The coming of this child will be the greatest revelation of the glory of God even among the heights of heaven, and the coming of this child will bring peace to God’s people—who will one day fill the whole earth with righteousness and peace." ~  John Piper

"The story of the world meeting Jesus in the flesh is a story of the world finding their full joy in God." ~Marshall Segal

God's good tidings are Joy to the World!

Joy to the world, the Lord is come !

Share your creative response to the Advent Words challenge in our private Facebook group  Join here:   https://www.facebook.com/groups/Wordschallengegroup/

If you belong to the Everyday Journal group that I co-lead with Valerie Sjodin and Bernice Hopper, Advent Words will be our theme for December.

Share on Instagram and other social media with the hashtag #adventwords2018.

Check out my Pinterest board for this challenge and see some of the wonderful and diverse creativity of Advent Words 2018 participants. https://www.pinterest.com/marynbtol/advent-words-2018-challenge/

Advent Words: S is for Salvation

S is for Salvation

"The Lord will lay bare his holy arm
    in the sight of all the nations,
and all the ends of the earth will see
    the salvation of our God."  Isaiah 52:10

"She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus,because he will save his people from their sins.”  Matthew 1:21

"And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High;
    for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him,
to give his people the knowledge of salvation
    through the forgiveness of their sins,
because of the tender mercy of our God,
    by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven
to shine on those living in darkness
    and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the path of peace.” Luke 1:76-79

The advent of Christ is God's plan for salvation. In fact, the whole Advent story - the promises made and fulfilled through the birth of Christ - is the story of God bringing salvation to His people.

God had long promised the people of Israel full redemption for their sins:

"Israel, put your hope in the Lord,

    for with the Lord is unfailing love

    and with him is full redemption.

He himself will redeem Israel

    from all their sins." Psalm 130:7-8

When He spoke to Mary and Joseph through His angel, He made it clear that their son was the culmination of this promise. "...And you are to give him the name Jesus,because he will save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21). In this simple message the angel provides the hope of the world. In Hebrew, Jesus' name is Yeshua, which means Yahweh saves or Yahweh brings salvation. Jesus is God's salvation! He is our savior, redeemer!

Zechariah was aware of this good news when he sang God's praise over the birth of his son, John the Baptist. John was called by God to prepare the way before Jesus, "to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins" (Luke 1:77). John would call people to repent of their sins and believe that Jesus was the One sent to redeem mankind from sin. He would point them to the One who brings God's salvation.

Advent is a season of preparing us and pointing us to see the advent of Yahweh, the one who brings salvation!

Valerie Sjodin inspired me to make the Hebrew letters,.

Share your creative response to the Advent Words challenge in our private Facebook group  Join here:   https://www.facebook.com/groups/Wordschallengegroup/

If you belong to the Everyday Journal group that I co-lead with Valerie Sjodin and Bernice Hopper, Advent Words will be our theme for December.

Share on Instagram and other social media with the hashtag #adventwords2018.

Check out my Pinterest board for this challenge and see some of the wonderful and diverse creativity of Advent Words 2018 participants. https://www.pinterest.com/marynbtol/advent-words-2018-challenge/