Advent Words Day 27 ~ Word

Day 27: 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

As much as I love the traditional detailed Christmas story in Luke’s gospel, I also love how John shares the Christmas story – the story of the incarnation – God became man. The Word became flesh. This is the great mystery and wonder and truth of Christmas! God took on human flesh, becoming fully like us, and dwelled among us.

In these opening verses John tells us so much about who Jesus is:

He is eternal – with God from the beginning.

He is divine – the Word was God.

He is Creator – through him all things were made and in him was life.

In the beginning God spoke Creation into being. “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Genesis 1:1. Throughout the Creation story in Genesis we are told that God spoke words and from those words the created things came into existence. God spoke and it was done.

Now God speaks to us through His Son, the Word become flesh.

“In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.” Hebrews 1:1-3

John continues in his gospel:

“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

The Word became flesh and dwelled among us, he became the promise of Isaiah 9:2 – Immanuel, God with us, God dwelling among us, God eternally present with us and in us.

And John also tells us that Jesus is God’s glory revealed. God in human flesh made visible and fully known. In his first letter John gives further testimony to who the Word is:

“That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us.” 1 John 1:1-2

Jesus is the one who is life, the source of life, and the one who reveals life. He is the Word of God – both a person and the message of God. The revelation of God, fully human and fully divine.

Today is the last word in the Advent Words Challenge. Feel free to continue to share you creative response on social media using #adventwords2021 or in the Words Challenge Facebook Group.  

Thank you for joining me through the Advent season and have a Merry Christmas!

Advent Words Day 26 ~ Immanuel

Day 26: Immanuel

"All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”- which means “God with us”. Matthew 1:22-23

 

"And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God." Revelation 21:3

 

Advent is a season that reminds us that what we long for down deep is God’s presence with us. We wait and we long and we look for it.  From the beginning of Matthew's Gospel through the New Testament until we reach its end in Revelation, the Incarnation - God came down to us - is the fulfillment of God's promise of His presence with us.

 

In fact, the story of the whole Bible is about God wanting to dwell with His people. From the beginning God created a place where He could be present with His people. In Genesis 3:8, it says that God would walk in the Garden of Eden among Adam and Eve. But then sin separated them, and us, from God. From that point on God's presence was found in His holy temple or tabernacle (Exodus 25:8 Deuteronomy 12:4-14). Later in history the Jewish Rabbi's would refer to the temple or tabernacle as the "Shikinah Glory". Shikinah coming from the Hebrew word for dwelling.

 

Ultimately though, God had a still greater plan to dwell with and be present with His people. He promised one who would be born and called Immanuel - God with us.

 

“Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.” Isaiah 7:14

 

Matthew tells us that the one promised is Jesus (Matthew 1:23). John goes even deeper saying that God through Jesus "became flesh and made his dwelling among us" (John 1:14). The Greek word John used for dwelling is skenoo which means tabernacle or dwelling.  So, John literally says that God "tabernacled" among us through the incarnation of His Son.

 

Through faith in Jesus Christ and the sacrifice He made for us on the cross, we have the promise of God's presence with us forever.

 

“But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ...In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.” Ephesians 2:13, 21-22

 

Through Jesus Christ God not only dwells with us, but He dwells in us through His Spirit.

“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth.”  John 14:16-17

 

“On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.” John 14:20

 

“You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.” Romans 8:9-11

 

God's people, collectively as the church and individually, are now the dwelling place of God, His tabernacle!

“Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst?” 1 Corinthians 3:16

 

“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?” 1 Corinthians 6:19

 

We are yet promised an even greater presence with God in the New Jerusalem. John paints a picture of that heavenly dwelling with God.

“And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.” Revelation 21:3

 

“I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp.” Revelation 21:22-23

 

Glory to God in the highest ~ Immanuel has come! God is with us!

Share how you express today's word on social media using #adventwords2021. You can also share in the Words Challenge Facebook Group. 

Advent Words Day 25 ~ Messiah

Day 25: Messiah

“But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” John 20:31

Near the end of his gospel, the Apostle John states very clearly his purpose for writing his gospel: that those who read it “may believe that Jesus is the Messiah”. John, throughout his gospel, has laid out the life and teachings of Jesus Christ, and wants to make sure his readers are very clear on what they believe. He wants to make sure that they understand the truth about who Jesus is and that they understand fully what results from believing in Him. Jesus Christ is the Messiah, the Son of God, and believing in Him – in His name, the Messiah – brings believers life, abundant and eternal life.

Let’s make sure we understand as well. What exactly does it mean that Jesus is the Messiah? The Greek word used in this verse is actually ‘Christos’, which is Christ. The word Christ in Greek means “the anointed one”. The word Messiah comes from the Hebrew word for anointed one ‘mashiach’. So, Messiah and Christ are both synonymous for the anointed One. In our culture we often think of Christ as the second part of Jesus’s name – Jesus Christ. But it is actually a title, Jesus the Christ – Jesus the Anointed One, the Christ, the Messiah.

 

Why is Jesus called the Messiah? Throughout the Old Testament, and more specifically by the Prophets, God promised to send a king, one who would be anointed by God to deliver his people. Over time the Hebrew people began to anticipate that this Messiah would be a king who would bring military and political domination that would free them from bondage and rule by foreign nations.

 

Isaiah’s prophecy of the Messiah describes his purpose and ministry:

 

“The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,
    because the Lord has anointed me
    to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
    to proclaim freedom for the captives
    and release from darkness for the prisoners,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor
    and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn.” Isaiah 61:1-2

In Luke chapter 4:14-21, we see Jesus stand in the temple and read this same passage from Isaiah 61, announcing that he is the One of whom these words are spoken.

“Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” Luke 4:21

God anointed Jesus as the Christ, the Messiah. Jesus, as the Messiah, fulfilled Israel’s anticipation of an anointed One who would deliver them. Jesus would spend his ministry giving the disciples the true understanding of the Messiah’s rule, to deliver us from our sins.

John also points out that Jesus, the Messiah, is the Son of God, the personal presence of God in our midst, and that our belief in Him brings life. The Messiah’s purpose was to bring life to God’s people. Life is one of the main themes in the gospel of John. John points out throughout his gospel that in Jesus Christ we have life:

Abundant life in Christ in this present age. Life that is full of meaning and purpose. Life that contains joy and peace and love. Life that is unburdened by the weight of guilt and shame over sin.

“I have come that they may have life and have it to the full.” John 10:10

Spiritual life through Christ. Life filled with the Holy Spirit.

“Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit.” John 3:5

“Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6

Eternal life with Christ.

“Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” John 17:3

“Everyone who believes may have eternal life in him. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:15-16

 “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.” John 11:25-26

We, who believe in the name, have life in, though, and with Jesus Christ, the Messiah.

Share how you express today's word on social media using #adventwords2021. You can also share in the Words Challenge Facebook Group. 

Advent Words Day 24 ~ Light

Day 24: Light

"The people walking in darkness

    have seen a great light;

on those living in the land of deep darkness

    a light has dawned."

Isaiah 9:2

A light has dawned.

Long ago Isaiah prophesied that there would be a Messiah who would come and open the eyes of those living in darkness and bring them into the light. Those who are spiritually blind would be able to see. When the apostle John spoke of the incarnation in his gospel, he proclaimed:

“The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.” John 1:9

John and the other gospel writers point to Jesus Christ as the one who is the light, the one who spiritually illuminates. Earlier in his gospel John had said that in Jesus was life and “that life was the light of men” (John 1:4). Jesus himself said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12)

Light illuminates, it reveals. At my church we have a Christmas Eve service that ends in candlelight. The room is darkened as we sing Silent Night, slowly as the candles we are holding are lit, the room begins to brighten until it is fully shining by the end of the song. We who are Christ followers, “children of light” (1 Thessalonians 5:5), are also called to be light, to imitate Christ with our words and our deeds and reveal Christ to those around us.

“…let your light shone before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:16

Light came into the world in the beginning when God spoke and said, “Let there be light” (Genesis 1:3). Light and life came into our lives with the incarnation of Christ, the light of the world. God’s presence is the everlasting light of the redeemed in heaven,

“The city [the New Jerusalem] does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of gives it light. and the Lamb is its lamp.” Revelation 21:23

“Advent is not about pretending darkness is not real; it is about knowing that light always overcomes darkness (Isaiah 9:2; Matthew 4:16) and that in the New Heavens and New Earth the light of Christ perpetually shines (Revelation 21:22ff). Advent reminds us that perfect love drives out all fear (1 John 4:18). Advent invites us to begin life anew by turning our backs on the darkness and welcoming the coming light, in hope, peace, love, and joy…we are a people who constantly look to the east in a hope-filled search for light. Advent shapes us into people of hope, love, joy, and peace. We look for the holy in the ordinary, we are in search of Emmanuel—God with us. We are followers of the Messiah who spoke light into the universe and then used the light of stars and angels to proclaim his presence in a manger.” Rev. Dr. Greg Mamula

Because the light of the world has dawned on us, we use candles to guide us through the four Sundays of Advent until we come to Christmas, when we light the Christ candle. Jesus is the light of the world!

Share how you express today's word on social media using #adventwords2021. You can also share in the Words Challenge Facebook Group. 

Advent Words Day 16 ~ Peace

Day 16: Peace

"For to us a child is born,
    to us a son is given,
    and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
    Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the greatness of his government and peace
    there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne
    and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
    with justice and righteousness
    from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the Lord Almighty
    will accomplish this."

Isaiah 9:6-7

The Prophet Isaiah pointed God’s people to look ahead to a time when God would bring His people a Messiah, A Savior who would be light and joy, who would release them from bondage and suffering. (Isaiah 9:1-5) This Messiah would be a child born, a son given to the people, who would reign on David’s throne. Isaiah says this Messiah will bear the titles of Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace. It is this last title we look at today, the Prince of Peace.

Peace in the Hebrew language of the Bible is shalom. While we tend to think of peace as the absence of war or conflict, or a sense of calm and quiet, shalom is a sense of well-being and fulfillment that comes from God and is dependent on His presence. Shalom is wholeness, prosperity, security, and fullness of life that only comes as a result of a restored relationship with God. Shalom is reconciliation. It is the restoration of what is broken and painful in the world – our separation from God because of sin.

The prophet Micah also looked to the Messiah, a king who would “be their peace.” (Micah 5:5) Ephesians tells us that the prophecy spoken of by Micah has come to pass in the person of Jesus Christ ..."He himself is our peace." (Ephesians 2:14) Jesus is the instrument of our reconciliation with God. He is our peace.

“Remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace.” Ephesians 2:12-14

“For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation.” Colossians 1:19-22

In pointing to the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy that a child would be born who would be the Prince of Peace, the angels sang at Jesus’ birth, proclaiming,

“Glory to God in the highest heaven,
    and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” Luke 2:14

God’s favor rests on those who put their faith in Jesus Christ, the Messiah.

“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand.” Romans 5:1-2.

To those who are justified through faith in Christ, Jesus promised not only the peace of reconciliation with God, but that He would be with them always, giving them an abiding peace.

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” John 14:27

Our world has been full of tragedy, despair, conflict, death, and suffering, especially over the past few years. For many it can seem like there is no hope. But God wants us to know His peace in the midst of all of this. To know, that despite all that is going on, all that is going wrong in the world around us, His peace brings us comfort, because His peace is eternal. His peace withstands the trials and hard times we face. His peace brings us into the loving arms of Jesus who will wipe every tear, who will comfort every hurt, who will restore the broken hearted, who will fill you with His love and grace, and who will give you His Spirit to provide you with peace through prayer. True peace comes from knowing, "It is well with my soul".

If you do not feel you have peace with God, then please read the passages I spoke of above that show the way to peace with God through Christ. Pray over them. Then ask Jesus for His forgiveness of your sin. Read Acts 10:43 and Romans 10:9-10 for more. Accept His gift of forgiveness for your sins. Do this and know that you have peace with God and let this Advent season be a time of celebration for His goodness, mercy, and grace in your life.

“Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.” 2 Thessalonians 3:16

Share how you express today's word on social media using #adventwords2021. You can also share in the Words Challenge Facebook Group.

 

Advent Word 2021: Coming Soon!

 Advent Words 2021: Coming Soon!

We are just a few weeks away from the Advent season. This is my sixth year hosting the Advent Words Challenge and I have been thinking a lot about how to proceed this year. I had a number of new ideas, but then a few weeks ago I was studying for my weekly Bible study, and a passage was cross-referenced that I am very familiar with. Only this time when I read it I noticed that both of the Advents of Christ were referenced. Somehow I had never noticed this before even though I have studied the passage many times. That passage was Titus 2:11-14.

"For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good."

It's not a traditional Advent or Christmas passage, but I really like that we see Christ's first Advent, "the grace of God has appeared" and His second Advent, "the glorious appearing of our Great God and Savior, Jesus Christ". This is what the Advent Season is all about! Too often in our present day, we tend to focus mainly on the first Advent, the birth of Christ. But the Advent season is a call for us to both look back and look forward. We look back and connect with the longing for the Messiah the Israelites had, rejoicing in the Incarnation, and looking forward we connect with our own longing for the Messiah's return - the second Advent. And in between the two Advents - grace to glory - we must connect with God's call on how His people are to live out the life of Christ in this present age.

For the Advent Words Challenge we will spend the first half of the Advent season digging into Titus 2:11-14 and explore the Advent words we find within it. Words such as appear, grace, salvation, hope, wait, glory, Savior. etc. Then for the last half of the challenge we will look at some of the more traditional Advent and Christmas words and passages.

I enjoy having a separate journal for each year's challenge, so I made a new journal to create in for this year. I ended up miscalculating the number of pages I needed and now have double the amount! So, I may end up putting study notes in the back.

I decided to play some more with the painted paper torn collage style I have been doing recently, and have begun making background pages.

I hope you will join me this year. The Advent Words Challenges are meant to be done in community. I so enjoy seeing how people interpret the words and Scripture passages into various creative expresssions - art journaling, collage, photography, poetry, digital art, etc. And I enjoy the conversation and study insights in the Words Challenge Facebook group.

In the next few weeks I will post a calendar with the words and Scripture passages. Here's how it will work and how you can join along:

• I will post daily Bible study devotions, along with how I responded creatively, on this blog each day beginning on November 28 through December 24. You can follow this blog by email or there will be daily links to the posts in the Words Challenge Facebook group
• Respond with whatever creative practice you choose: art journaling, mixed media art, scrapbook, photography, digital art, poetry, creative writing, calligraphy - any way you choose! As you take in the Scripture and devotions into your heart and mind, let it sink even deeper as you practice creatively with your hands.
• Join the Words Challenge Facebook group where you can share your art and ideas and join the conversation through the Advent season and beyond.  I host a number of Words Challenges throughout the year. 
• Share on Instagram and other social media with the hashtag #adventwords2021.
• In the weeks before the Advent season begins reflect and prepare: choose the creative form you will use for your daily practice. Make or buy a journal that fits your creative form.