We are at Ezekiel 8ff.
Let’s go!
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The time right after all the Christmas fun and festivities; gifts, family, food, and time-off is over. The mountaintop and been scaled; now back to the valleys of life!
A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be comforted, because they are no more.
Matthew 2:18
In our texts today we discuss a horrific event just a few years into the birth of Jesus – His family fleeing to Egypt and the slaughter of male children two and under in the region of Bethlehem.
It is hard to fathom the pain and anguish!
Wasn’t the coming of Jesus supposed to bring forth “joy for all people?!” Wasn’t it to usher in blessings instead of curses like these? Wasn’t He to being life instead of death?
We ask questions like this now, too.
If we are believers in the King of kings and Lord of lords, why is life such a mess? Why am I such a mess?
Of course we know the answer: although Jesus conquered sin, death, and the Devil, they are still in this world and with us until Jesus returns. Although they are still enemies, they are defeated, but still inflict as much pain and anguish as they can.
Rather than focus on the pain and suffering, we focus on the Savior who is victorious over them and confidently cry “Abba! Father!” to the Almighty who hears and loves us. When bogged down in the cesspool and sin, we are attached to the One who saves and sanctifies.
Let us enter the valleys of life as we scaled the mountaintop of Christmas – with joy and confidence, knowing who we worship – the newborn King!
Scriptures
- Galatians 4:4-7
- Jeremiah 31:15-17
- Matthew 2:13-23
- Psalm 111
We are at Ezekiel 7:14ff.
Let’s go!
Tonight is the culmination of our series, “Coming Home for Christmas.” It all comes down to this. To HIM; born for us!
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
May the Lord bless your celebration of the birth of the Savior, Jesus: our Light Who leads us to our everlasting Home!
We are at Ezekiel 6:8ff.
Let’s go!
Family is frustrating!
A part of every big holiday seasons like Christmas is the gathering of family. It is one of the main things people are most axious about – positively and negatively.
I have blotted out your transgressions like a cloud and your sins like mist; return to Me, for I have redeemed you.
Isaiah 44:22
With loved ones come intimacy and irritation; jockularity and judgement; love and loathing; valuation and vexation.
Often the season itself is overshadowed by the familial dynamics at play – even to the point of perhaps minimizing or avoiding the gathering altogether.
Sin affects relationships and this is felt more with those we are closest to than anyone else.
This goes all the way back to the Fall in the Garden. The loving, intimate relationship we had with God (and Adam and Eve to each other) was perfect and a blessing in every way. Nothing was difficult. Nothing was hurtful. Nothing was dysfunctional.
A sin broke our relationship with God and mars all our relationships with each other.
But God wasn’t content with that. He doesn’t want a Home or relatiojnship that is broken. So He sent Jesus to obliderate oppresion; rule in righteousness; comfort the crushed; save from sins; redeem relationships; bridge the broken; love the lost; heal the Home.
Christmas is a time to celebrate that in the Chirst Child of Jesus, our relationship with God and others are restored and we have a heavenly Home to look forward to where there will never be brokenness again.
That is something to look forward to!
Thank You, Lord!
Scriptures
- Isaiah 66:18-23
I have blotted out your transgressions like a cloud and your sins like mist; return to Me, for I have redeemed you.
Isaiah 44:22
Home is where the heart is. It’s where we are comfortable; familiar; at ease. When something is comfy we think of it also as “homey.”
This is probably reflected more during the Christmas season than any other time in songs like “There’s no place like home for the holidays” and “I’ll be home for Christmas.”
But for the Christian, “Home” is often misunderstood. Our home isn’t here. Our Home is with our Lord and other believers in the New Creation.
Isaiah gives us a glimpse of this in Isaiah 55:1-5.
When we long for home, we should be longing for our heavenly Home. We should be looking forward to our Father’s House, which has many rooms which Jesus is preparing for us (John 14:2-3).
And we get to picture and long for this Home because of what Jesus – the child-King coming for us – on the cross and through the empty tomb.
Looking to Him, we see our Home.
There is no place like it!
Thank you, Lord!
Scriptures
- Isaiah 55:1-5
We are at Ezekiel 5:5ff.
Let’s go!
I have blotted out your transgressions like a cloud and your sins like mist; return to Me, for I have redeemed you.
Isaiah 44:22
Leaving home can be tough. Leaving for school, or work, or even vacation can be difficult. This is especially true when leaving when leaving either is because you must go somewhere you don’t want, or to do something that is difficult, or perhaps isn’t even by choice.
Isaiah was letting Israel know that they would be leaving their home – their Promised Land – and be taken into exile because of their rebellion and sin. They would have to leave the safety, the security, and the comfort of their home and life because they choose (constantly) to worship other gods, live other ways, and follow other paths than God’s.
This, of course, wasn’t entirely new. We see that this pattern happened in other places in Scripture as well – all the way back to Adam and Eve, who had to leave their home in the Garden of Eden because of their rebellion and sin.
But there is another One – promised back to Adam and Eve, prophesied in Isaiah, and fulfilled in Jesus – who would leave His heavenly Home willingly to cover our rebellions and sins, so that we could be with Him in His Home forever!
Our rebellions and sin meant exile for us from God and our home. Jesus exited His throne and home to save us from our sin and open His home to us forever.
Amazing!
Scriptures
- Isaiah 11:1-10
We are at Ezekiel 5ff.
Let’s go!
Many parents have likely said something to this effect at one time or another.
I have blotted out your transgressions like a cloud and your sins like mist; return to Me, for I have redeemed you.
Isaiah 44:22
And yet we live under God’s reign yet often do not follow His rules.
The Israelites didn’t either. And the consequences would be a devastating exile and loss of the Temple, worship, and God’s presence.
Because Jesus has come and fulfilled all of God’s rules on our behalf, we who believe in Him need not worry about the loss of God’s presence or love, but we are still under the rules of His “house” and domain. We are to remove our evil ways and cease to do them; learning instead to do good, seek justice, correct oppression, bring justice to the fatherless, and plead the widows cause. We are to love one another and not live in the ways of darkness but put on the armor of light instead.
These are the good, life-giving rules of God’s house and, as long we are His children, we are to live by them. Not out of fear, but out of love. Not as an option but as our motivation.
Jesus has saved us and we, out of the joy and gratitude of our hearts, get to live under Him and His kingdom in righteousness, innocence, and blessedness. Our joyful duty being to love, serve, and obey Him every way we can.
Our God reigns! And through Jesus, we get to live in that reign under Him and His good and gracious rules.
Praise God!
Scriptures
- Isaiah 1:1-4
- Isaiah 1:16-17
- Romans 13:8-14
We are at Ezekiel 4ff.
Let’s go!
