The Personal God of Advent

by Ricky Chelette, Executive Director

Unpack the decorations, prepare the pageant schedules, and research holiday bible studies, Christmas is once again upon us. Although it can be easy to become lost in all the holiday preparations, the centuries old tradition of Advent helps to prepare us—with great anticipation—to celebrate the coming of our savior, Jesus.

However, for some Christians, Advent—or the weeks of spiritual reflection leading up to Christmas day—can simply become part of the seasonal rhythm. As a result, we often think little of the wonder of what happened on that day in Bethlehem some 2,000 years ago. Though we often depict the event with great fanfare, major pageantry, and lots of glitz and glamour, the occasion was likely not anything like our portrayals. Despite the austere setting, this one moment when God took on human form literally changed everything, for every person, from the first day of creation to the end of time.

While on a recent trip to Italy with my wife, I was struck with a new appreciation for this personal component of the advent. As we entered grand cathedrals and basilicas hundreds of years old, I was in awe of their grandeur, splendor, and beauty; however, I was equally perplexed by how the architects felt that their creation represented the God of the Bible. In every church we visited, the altar was always separated from the people, seemingly “off limits” to common man. Priests, nuns, and other clergy might have access to such “holy places,” but the common man or women simply entering the church could only look longingly at these “holy spots” from afar.

I must admit, I love the grandeur of these bigger-than-life churches. The architecture, the craftsmanship, the attention to detail, the beautiful narrative of divinity revealed in every nook and cranny, stirs my affections for my God. I sense the awe and wonder of the greatness of our God in such places, a greatness and magnificence that is often not seen in modern churches. Yet, I simultaneously sensed the separation that the room communicated. I even felt a bit of fear and mystery about a God who was ultimately unknowable and unapproachable. Unfortunately, I think that is how many people view God. However, Christmas shows us something very different.

Luke records the announcement of Jesus’ arrival by the angels when he writes, “But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid! For behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: Today in the City of David a Savior has been born to you. He is Christ the Lord! And this will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.’” (Luke 2:10-12, ESV)

Do you see the beauty of this revelation? Unlike every other religion in the world, our God does not remove Himself from His people, nor remain inattentive to their needs, hurts, pains, and desires. Because of the work of Jesus on our behalf, God is not walled off behind some gate, or removed from us on some distant altar. He came, instead, as a little, helpless, completely dependent infant. Is there any more beautiful and approachable human than an infant? No one is threatened by an infant, endangered by an infant, or refused by an infant. Infants draw people to them with utter innocence, beauty, and vulnerability. They bid the world, “come, draw near!”

The message of Christmas is that the God of the cosmos “made his dwelling among us.” Our God is approachable. He wants to dwell in the hearts and lives of those who will trust in His work on the cross, those that know He has reconciled them to Himself through the sacrifice of Christ.

If you think God is aloof to your needs, unaware of your hurts and desires, or far too concerned with the cosmos to be interested in you, Christmas comes as a great reminder that the God we worship is near. He is waiting for you. He is as approachable as that baby Jesus born not in a castle, but a manger. He is not removed from our life; He dwells among us. He is not distant, but near. He is Jesus. God with us.

Take advantage of Advent to reflect on how you are experiencing Jesus. Do you feel He is with you? Have you given thought to him as an infant? He is waiting, ready and able to help you with grace and mercy in your time of need.

No Longer Accused

By Bonnie Scasta, Women’s Ministry Director

“1 Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him. 2 And the Lord said to Satan, ‘The Lord rebuke you, O Satan! The Lord who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is not this a brand plucked from the fire?’ 3 Now Joshua was standing before the angel, clothed with filthy garments. 4 And the angel said to those who were standing before him, ‘Remove the filthy garments from him.’ And to him he said, ‘Behold, I have taken your iniquity away from you, and I will clothe you with pure vestments.’ 5 And I said, ‘Let them put a clean turban on his head.’ So they put a clean turban on his head and clothed him with garments....” Zechariah 3:1-6

This narrative begins with Joshua, the high priest, standing before the Lord. Satan enters ready to accuse God’s man. The passage does not indicate the specifics of the accusations that Satan intends to spew forth, but I am sure we can relate. What would the charges be if it were you or I standing before the Lord? Pride? Sexual immorality? Greed? Idolatry? Lust? Would the enemy say you are unloved? Unwanted, unseen, less than, or alone?

Most of us resonate with some if not all of these. We feel attack by charges like these all the time—charges which can be intensified by the harsh words or actions of others. What’s more, we believe these things to be true of ourselves and operate as if we were condemned.

God’s response to Joshua brings hope for anyone struggling under accusations like these. These verses show that God rebukes the enemy for us. He does not tell the enemy that Joshua has not sinned or that his good outweighs his bad. The Lord rebukes the enemy because He has chosen Jerusalem, chosen Joshua and plucked him from the fire. If our trust is in Jesus, then we too are chosen. We too are snatched from this destruction, protected from the attacks of the enemy.

Not only are we chosen and the accusations rebuked, but the Lord also makes us clean, as he made Joshua clean. The high priest is standing before the Lord and Satan, with filthy clothes that mirror the filth of his sin. Joshua, however, is not hiding in shame or trying to clean himself up on his own. He stands before the Lord as he is, and the Lord calls him clean. He commands the angels to take off those filthy clothes and replace them white robes that evidence his righteousness.

This is a picture of the gospel, reminding us that no matter how dark our deeds, thoughts, or desires may be, there is hope in Jesus, who took on all our sins on the cross. All the debt our sin incurred is paid for by Jesus’ death on the cross. There is no wrath or condemnation left for us. He snatched us up and chose us just like Joshua.

Faith in Him not only removes our guilt, but also places Christ’s perfection upon us. We too get clean robes through Jesus. Now when God looks at us, He sees, not the condemnation of Satan, but Christ’s obedience. As the Father looks on Christ with perfect delight, He now looks on believers with complete love. Because of this great love, we can and should walk in the freedom that we are no longer defined or tainted by our sin. We are no longer condemned. We are redeemed!

What accusations have you readily agreed with, rather than actively rebuking them? Are you hiding in shame because you know you stand before the Lord, filthy from your sin? Will you trust in Christ to remove these accusations, believing you are clean before him and walk in the freedom He provides?

Overcoming Sin

By Ricky Chelette, Executive Director

I wish I hated sin more than I do.  The fact is I like sin… at least sometimes. The reason sin appeals to me so much is that it always appears to meet a supposedly real need while masking a legitimate need with a quick pleasure. Let’s be honest.  If sin were not pleasurable—at least in the moment—we would never do it.

Yet sin kills. The Bible is very clear on this: “For the wages of sin is death” (Rom. 6:23).  And earlier in the same book we read, “… because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man…” (Rom 5:17).   To put it bluntly, when we sin, something dies. Every time. Always. Sin kills.

But how do we overcome sin? Is victory even possible when we are bound to bodies of flesh that war against our spirit?  Even the apostle Paul seems to battle this endless war with the flesh when he wrote, “who will deliver me from this body of death?” (Rom. 7:24)

The writer of Hebrews gives us hope.  He encouraged his readers to walk in the Lord and know who they were in Christ and what Christ had done for them. In chapter 10 he gives them three simple truths that we would do well to apply in our battle plan with sin: 

1. 10:22 – Draw near to God.  “Let us draw near to God with a true heart in full assurance of faith”.  When we feel the urge to sin we do not need to run from God; instead, we should run to Him.  We need to understand that He, as a loving heavenly Father, is willing to receive us in our struggle and empower us to overcome our momentary battle.  If we run to Him, we will be reminded of who He is and who we are as His sons and daughters. When we believe who we are, we act in accordance with that belief.
2. 10:23 – Hold on to hope.  “Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful”. And what is that hope? The truth that the resurrection has empowered us to overcome the sin in this world.  The truth that Jesus is sufficient to meet the needs of our heart.  The truth that we will not always battle sin, Satan is defeated, Jesus is coming, and God is faithful.  As we look to these truths we are empowered and encouraged to live lives worthy of our relationship and identification with our Father.
3. 10:23-24a – Encourage others in community. “Let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some”.  Sin is always about me. It is never concerned with the needs of others, but is rather consumed with personal pleasure, and the satisfaction and cessation of pain. The writer of Hebrews knew that if we lift our eyes off of self and on to others who have hurts, needs, and struggles of their own, we will quickly find our own obsession with comfort giving way to the good of serving others.

How are you at running to God with your sin?  Is your view of God as Father such that you know He is not out to condemn you, but to love you and call you to be more than you think you can be?  

Do you find yourself overly focused on the now instead of the not yet?  Are you hopeful for the future? God has more for you.  He is preparing a day when you will be transformed and no longer bound by this sin-inclined body (1 Cor 15:53). 

Are you actively involved in a body of believers?  Are you serving in that body or  are you simply  attending to see what you can get from the group?  Seek ways to actively invest in your community. Serve those less fortunate than yourself. Use your gifts, talents, and abilities to make the lives of others better.  

When we put these principles into practice, sin is overcome, death is conquered, and we live the abundant life Christ died to secure for you and me!

Is God At Work?

by Bonnie Scasta, Women's Ministry Director

At that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps, and I will punish the men who are complacent, those who say in their hearts, ‘The Lord will not do good, nor will he do ill.

-Zephaniah 1:12

Zephaniah begins his prophesy with a litany of sin committed by the people.  These sins, if not repented of, will result in God’s judgment.  The above verse attests to the complete nature of this list for God Himself searches Jerusalem for those whose hearts are far from Him.  Specifically, He looks for those who believed him to be an aloof, inactive participant in our world.  This perspective calls into question God’s agency, his ability to bring blessing or curse.  While it could be easy to quickly brush past this verse, I think that many of us can view God in this very way.

I will admit it can be hard at times to believe that God will bring blessing into our lives.  Life can be painful and it can feel like God is completely inactive.  Circumstances do not always turn out the way we hope or dream and many of our struggles manifest in such palpable ways that it causes us to think that they will never get any easier.  The battle can be hard, but we have to believe in the hope we have in the gospel, that God will bring about full redemption for His people.

However, complacency is not only thinking that God will not bless, but also that He will not do ill.  This is the belief that God will not bring punishment, discipline, or consequences for our sin.  This thinking says that sin can be managed, hidden, or present in our lives without any negative effects.  James 1:15 is clear that our unchecked desires birth sin and sin brings forth death. 

So, do you believe the Lord is going to do good for you?  Do you believe that He blesses His children?  Do you take your hopes and desires to Him trusting He will hear you and give you the desires of your heart?

But, do you also believe your sin has life altering consequences?  Do you know that you will be held accountable for every sin in your life? Are you concerned about the way your sin effects not only you, but those around you?

Understanding that our sin brings forth death can and should be alarming, but our hope is found in our perfect Savior, Jesus Christ.  Zephaniah even later alludes to this at the end of the prophecy when he says that one day “The Lord [will take] away the judgments against you.”  Zephaniah placed his hope in God, knowing that He would one day provide some way to completely remove his sin.  Jesus is that way for all who believe.  He took on the punishment for our sin, and then places His perfect righteousness on us as we put our trust in Him.  He wants us to see the weight of our sin so that we will see our need for a Savior and run to Him for rescue.

Are you struggling to believe the Lord will act in your life?  Ask the Lord to look into those dark places in your heart and to reveal your unbelief.  Ask Him to show you where you do not believe He will bless you.  Ask Him to reveal to you your sin with the full weight of its consequences.  Then confess and repent so that you can receive His great grace today.