I Celebrate the Day

Every since Adam and Eve rebelled, God has seen His fair share of heartaches and heartbreaks. God has seen His people oppressed by the Egyptians and later by the Babylonians. His people and many of His chosen leaders continually turned their backs on Him. Half of the kings of Judah and Isreal led the Israelites away from God and into destructive behaviors.

I can picture God with a heavy heart sitting Jesus down, like a father would a son getting ready to have a very serious conversation, and telling His beloved son, "This rebellion has gone on far too long. I have continually intervened on their behalf and they continue to rebel against Me....But I will never give op on My people. It is time, my Son, to truly set people free." I can picture Jesus giving His Father a hug, the type of embrace you would give someone that is getting ready to go on a long journey, and Jesus saying, with nervousness in His throat but confidence in His heart, "Let's do it!"

We read in Luke 4:16-22 that Jesus shows up at the local synagogue in Nazereth - the scroll of the prophet Isaiah is handed to Him and Jesus reads Isaiah 61:1;

"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for He has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, and that the time of the Lord’s favor has come." Then He said, "The Scripture you’ve just heard has been fulfilled this very day!" What could this mean?

Bring Good News to the poor: Many times when we think of this verse we think of the poor financially, but I always look at this verse differently thinking of the poor in spirit, spiritually bankrupt, having a void. So I decided to see what the word poor meant and it means, people in a vulnerable position, persecuted and oppressed. That is what all of us are without Jesus.

Captives released: Common sense tells us that Jesus did not just come for those in prison but for those in bondage in their addictions, destructive behaviors, or even bad religious habits. Anything that keeps you from God, He came to set you free from it.

Blind: Obviously we are not all physically blind. Many of us will see perfectly our whole lives, but Jesus says He wants us all to come out of our darkness and into the light.

Oppressed: Those who carry heavy burdens, those being abused, not just physically but emotionally, verbally, spiritually - by the world and its influences. Physical and mental distress.

Lord's favor: God's goodness even though we don't deserve it.

These verses apply to all of us. We hear all the time "Jesus came to die for you." But this Christmas remember...He was also BORN for you!

Check out this video...this song says it better than anything I have ever heard!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vUjfN7cpv3o

Merry Christmas!!

Be blessed,
Steve

Two Paths

"You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate.
The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it."
Matthew 7:13-14

The image of two paths is common in Judaism. Analogies like the one we read here usually stand for two roads leading to either paradise or hell. One path looks rugged, the other appears smooth. We all get to this crossroad...

The narrow road is like the wedding feast in Matthew 22, where God sends out invitations not once, not twice but three times to come to His Son's wedding feast. We have all received this invitation. We stand at the crossroad and wonder is it worth it to get to the Father's house? The narrow road looks difficult, but you start down the path.

You are told that the sacrifice you are making is great.
The bruises you receive penetrate deep into your muscles to the point that you start to limp.
You constantly have to stop and stretch your back, legs and arms.
There are places to rest and put up your feet but those moments seem few and far between.
Your vision gets blurred and many times you lose your focus.
They tell you to never look back but it is easier said than done.
You have to always be alert because danger is near.
You hear voices in the woods telling you to give in and give up.
Some compare the journey to a fight, some to a battle.
Some say you can start to breed doubt.
The journey is long and tiresome and you wonder if you even chose the right path.

You hear how the other path is easier, even carefree.
They tell you the greatest temptation isn't the rugged path or the constant fighting, but wondering if you chose the right way.
That is when you start questioning everything and you feel the doubt.
You hear of this feast and how it is worth the trek but at times you wonder if maybe there is an easier route to this house.
You wonder if maybe the two paths connect to the same house. You hear rumors that all paths lead there.
So why not take the one with less cuts and bruises?
But you also hear the wounds of those on the smooth road aren't as visible but they run much deeper, even piercing the heart.
It is easy to convince yourself that those on the other path are better off, even happier.
Those who take the narrow path, well the majority, seem defeated, unjoyful and lack self-confidence.

But in John 14:6 Jesus said;
“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me."

Those who take the narrow road may get beat up. But we forget the good things that God does. God chose you - you did not choose Him. God intervened and destroyed my life - but now I have a peace that passes understanding.

So you stand at the crossroad of the two paths and count the cost. Deep down you know there is only one way and being welcomed to the feast will be well worth it, because many are called but few are chosen.

Be blessed,
Steve