“Mary said,
‘My soul magnifies the Lord,
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.
For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
for he who is mighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.
And his mercy is for those who fear him
from generation to generation.
He has shown strength with his arm;
he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts;
he has brought down the mighty from their thrones
and exalted those of humble estate;
he has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel,
in remembrance of his mercy,
as he spoke to our fathers,
to Abraham and to his offspring forever.’” [1]
The Christian Faith is marked by joy, joy that is evident in the hymns that are loved and which are integral to worship offered by the Lord’s people. The joy that marks the lives of those who follow the Christ is not extinguished by opposition or persecution. Oh, we resent those who attempt to extirpate the Faith, and none of us are eager to experience the wrath of the mighty who occupy this fallen world, but we are secure in the knowledge that God loves us and that He will never leave us. For us, the words of Scripture are a source of hope and comfort. We have received the promise, “[God] has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’ So we can confidently say,
‘The Lord is my helper;
I will not fear;
What can man do to me?’”
[HEBREWS 13: 5b-6]
Our text in this hour is the hymn known as the Magnificat within church liturgies; it is the spontaneous praise that Mary spoke when she was greeted by her older cousin, Elizabeth. Elizabeth’s paean had blessed Mary, realising that God was using this young girl to bear His Son into the world. Early in the words of praise Mary offered up was the acknowledgement that her spirit rejoiced in God, whom she confessed to be her Saviour.
A review of the words Mary spoke after Elizabeth had pronounced a blessing on her will encourage believers, equipping us to find joy in the goodness of our Lord as we prepare for the concluding days of this Advent Season. My prayer is that as we focus on the joy of this season, we will not neglect the possibility that the joy we experience will characterise our lives for the entirety of the coming year and beyond.
GOD EXCITES OUR EMOTIONS —
“My soul magnifies the Lord,
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.”
[LUKE 1:46a-47]
The young mother-to-be heard the words spoken by her cousin, and she responded in the way that those who know the Lord respond to this day—she glorified the Lord God. Let’s clarify that the Faith of Christ the Lord is not defined by our emotions, but this does not mean that His presence does not excite our emotions.
Where Christ reigns, joy marks the life. Christians are known as a joyful people. Our hymnody reflects our joy. Other religions have dirges, have chants, but the Faith of Christ the Risen Lord is marked by psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs. His people are noted for singing and making melody to the Lord with the heart. Paul describes what occurred when the saints gathered as he wrote the Church of God in Corinth. The Apostle noted, “When you gather, everyone has a psalm, teaching, revelation, other language, or interpretation” [1 CORINTHIANS 14:26b ISV]. Services in the early churches were participatory, with all participating in the service; and music was central to all that was done. Surely, this was a reflection of the joy.
I recall a missionary who had returned from Angola and was delivering a message to a pastoral meeting here in Canada. That missionary showed a film that made a great impression on me. The people who had gathered for worship were impoverished by our standards. They had trekked, in some instances, for more than fifty kilometers just to share in a service of worship. Among those present that day in a congregation that appeared to number a couple of hundred people, were a startling number that had suffered horrible wounds from the mines buried and strewn about that land.
What especially struck me was the joy when the leader of the service announced collection of an offering. Everyone rose and began to laugh and praise the Lord. Then, each person came down the aisle, a dirt path between the rough-hewn pews where they had been seated. As they brought their gifts, they danced—DANCED!—lifting up whatever it was that they had brought to share. One might have a single coin to bring, but she danced and rejoiced that she had a coin. Another might have two chickens bound with a thong to keep them from running away. Yet, he lifted the birds in the air and laughed that he had chickens to share. The birds would shortly be prepared for a meal in which all present would share following the service. Another man had a goat to give, and another woman had some cloth that she could give—it made no difference what was offered, all alike were joyful and excited at the opportunity to worship. That is the Faith! That is the impact of Christ in the life of His people. It touched my heart in no small measure because it reminded me of receiving the offerings in a black congregation in the Oak Cliff section of Dallas as each member brought what was to be offered one-by-one.
What I witnessed in that film of a meeting of impoverished saints in Angola, and what I witnessed while worshipping with a black congregation in Dallas is something that I have witnessed in a measure in churches throughout British Columbia and Alberta. Whenever the people of God meet, they are marked as a joyous people. And when God’s people have opportunity to share with others, they do so with joy. Oh, I suppose there will likely be a curmudgeon who scowls and refuses to lift his voice in joyous song, but the vast majority of the saints are marked by joy as they gather to serve the Lord.
I’m not suggesting that we need clowns in the pulpit or that we need balloons and ribbons attached to the pews. I’m not suggesting that the preacher should serve as a comedian in an attempt to generate smiles. I am saying, quite plainly, that when we meet with the Risen Christ, it will be impossible to avoid having our emotions excited. I’m always struck by the response of two disciples who met the Risen Christ without realising who He was. Here is the story as Doctor Luke tells it.
“That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. And he said to them, ‘What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?’ And they stood still, looking sad. Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, ‘Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?’ And he said to them, ‘What things?’ And they said to him, ‘Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened. Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning, and when they did not find his body, they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see.’ And he said to them, ‘O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?’ And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.
“So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He acted as if he were going farther, but they urged him strongly, saying, ‘Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent.’ So he went in to stay with them. When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight. They said to each other, ‘Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures’” [LUKE 24:13-32]?
Talk about stirring your emotions! Meet the Risen Saviour and you’ll discover what excitement means! The reason our youth come to our services at 10:30 sharp and leave at 12:20 dull is that they didn’t meet the Living Christ! The reason some of us are able to leave without much enthusiasm about the Faith is that we are not part of the Fellowship of the Burning Heart. Those saints who have met the Risen Saviour can’t be quiet. They are forced by their own hearts to tell somebody what happened!
We read that these two disciples, despite the lateness of the hour, jumped up and rushed back to Jerusalem, hurrying through the growing darkness. Doctor Luke writes, “They rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. And they found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, saying ‘The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!’ Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread” [LUKE 24:33-35].
These two disciples couldn’t help themselves; they had to tell somebody! They didn’t guess that Jesus might have conquered death—they had met Him, the Risen Saviour. They knew He was alive! They had witnessed Him as He taught them what the Scriptures said concerning Him. And they had known He was risen from the dead because He had sat with them during the mundane act of sharing a meal. They had found themselves strangely moved as He communed with them.
In the same way, when you and I cease merely going through the motions of life and actually meet the Risen Lord of Glory we’ll look for someone to whom we can tell what happened! The excitement we will experience at that time will not be something we generate by singing a dreamy chorus twenty-seven times, it won’t be because the lights were dimmed and we were asked to shut our eyes and imagine standing before the throne of God, the excitement we will experience when we meet the Saviour will be because our emotions are stirred because He is God and we have been in His presence. We will have been in the presence of the True and Living God. Our excitement will be spontaneous, unplanned, even unexpected, but it will be real.
When these two men arrived at the house where the eleven were staying, they must have had difficulty telling what had happened, for we read that all those in the house were telling how the Lord had appeared to Peter. You can almost see the chaotic scene as thirteen men, and however many women were present with them, were all speaking at once, each excitedly telling again what they had witnessed. Those who had actually seen the Risen Saviour must have exhausted themselves attempting to recall every detail of what had occurred, telling and retelling what they had witnessed. And those who had not yet met the Risen Lord must have experienced a yearning to meet Him as had those who were excitedly telling and retelling what they had witnessed. What is evident in reading of this event is that the hearts of each of them was burning with excitement. They couldn’t be silent; they had to tell somebody!
During this Advent Season, I’m challenging those who are followers of the Risen Saviour to perform a radical act. I’m challenging each one who knows Christ as Master over his or her life to prepare for the service this coming week. Of course, next Sunday is Christmas Day. We’ve built to a crescendo as we moved steadily toward that day. I know that many of us will have family present to share the day. However, I’m challenging the people of God to prepare to meet for worship on that day. We say we are celebrating the birth of the Saviour, and how can we actually celebrate His birth if we are not present where He meets with His people.
I’m challenging followers of the Risen Lord of Glory to come together on Christmas Day, and not merely for a church service. I’m challenging each follower of Christ to invest time each day during this coming week asking the Master to bless our meeting with the knowledge of His presence. I’m challenging each one who follows the Christ to invest time daily asking specifically that He would excite our emotions as we gather to meet Him this coming Sunday.
Then, when we meet for worship, enter into the House of the Lord expecting to meet Him, the One Whose birth we celebrate. Come into His House in anticipation that you will meet the Living Saviour. Let us covenant in our hearts that we will meet and know His resurrection power on the day we celebrate His birth. Amen.
GOD INTERVENES TO BLESS HIS PEOPLE —
“My soul magnifies the Lord,
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.
For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
for he who is mighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.
And his mercy is for those who fear him
from generation to generation.
He has shown strength with his arm;
he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts;
he has brought down the mighty from their thrones
and exalted those of humble estate;
he has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel,
in remembrance of his mercy.”
[LUKE 1:46a-54]
You will perhaps remember the passage in which Paul is giving attention to the way in which God reveals His care for His beloved people. In that passage, the Apostle writes, “I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
“Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified” [ROMANS 8:18-30].
No doubt you do remember those words which Paul dictated. Without doubt these words have encouraged the followers of Christ throughout the centuries. In light of Mary’s hymn of praise, consider what Paul wrote after he had spoken of God’s help for us. “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us” [ROMANS 8:31]? Who, indeed, can be against us? If, as the Psalmist states, our times are in God’s hands, there is no foe that can knock us out of the running for Heaven. People may hurt us in time, but we are secure for all eternity. Thus, there is no enemy that can prevail against us [see PSALM 31:15]. The child of God need never tremble at the rage exhibited by those of this dying world when they inveigh against the Lord. God is for us! And make no mistake, the world does rage against the follower of Christ the Risen Lord.
It is one thing for us to note that Mary praised the Lord. Undoubtedly, we have each frequently engaged our hearts in offering praise to the Lord, exalting His Name and glorifying Him. Perhaps we lifted our voice in song, or perhaps we spoke of the goodness and the mercy of God as we rejoiced in His might and His majesty. It is a certainty that each one who is a follower of the Risen Saviour has praised Him, and perhaps praises Him on a continual basis. What is often forgotten when we think of praising the Lord is that we don’t simply glorify our God mindlessly or without reason. Behind our exultation is the certainty of His love, confidence in His goodness, and conviction that His power is demonstrated on our behalf. In the text for our study today, we see that Mary was exalting the Lord, and she had particular reason for doing so as she lifted her voice in praise.
To be sure, Mary had no way of knowing all that the birth of this child would mean for her or for the whole of mankind, but she knew with certainty at that moment that there was a God Who was watching over her. This young girl could not have known at that moment how her heart would be pierced when she saw her child crucified. She could not have known the confusion she would experience when her children—sons and daughters born after this Child was born—would refuse to believe in the One Whom she was soon to bear into the world. She could not know of the times when her own children would seek to seize her firstborn to take Him away, declaring that He was out of His mind. But neither could she know how fulfilled she would be because this child she was now carrying would conquer death to give life and light to many.
What Mary did know, and what she confessed in this magnificent paean of praise, was that the God Who reigns on high was at work, and she recognised that He was working in the world because He was working in her life. Mary’s confession holds true for each of us. If we are followers of the Son of God, we must know that God reigns on high and He does work, especially working for our good. This knowledge calls to mind the words Jesus spoke, “My Father is working until now, and I am working” [JOHN 5:17].
Here is a truth that must be acknowledged: there is nothing in you, nothing in your makeup, nothing in your life, that could ever make God love you. If you received what you deserve, God would condemn you to eternal banishment from His presence. And yet, if you are a follower of the Risen Saviour, God has already worked effectively in your life to deliver you from judgement, bringing you into His family. From the point at which He saved you, the Lord has been working in your life. And He will continue that work until the Day of Christ. Remember that the Apostle has spoken of this truth when he wrote the saints in Philippi. “I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ” [PHILIPPIANS 1:6].
Perhaps we should take a moment to think about what it means when I speak of God intervening to bless His people. I am fully aware that there exists a weird genre of thought among some professed followers of the Master that is prepared to argue that we will never have a problem if we have enough faith. This bizarre teaching has become popular among some who claim to follow the Saviour. These benighted souls attempt to promote the idea that if the Christian ever experiences difficulties or passes through trials, it is his own fault because he didn’t have enough faith. The teaching is nothing less than a religious fairy tale. Those who buy into this despicable teaching are at best willingly deceived, and at worse deluded. This strange teaching has gained popularity in our day, primarily among people who are focused on the material aspects of contemporary life.
I recall a dear friend who united with the congregation I was pastoring at that time. One Sunday I was unable to deliver the message I had planned because of severe laryngitis. I had no voice, and my throat was raw. This dear lady phoned to let me know that she was praying for me. However, as she spoke, she stated that I just needed to rebuke the laryngitis in the Name of the Lord. She anthropomorphised the illness, or attributed it to demonic powers, implying that my faith wasn’t sufficient to gain victory.
It was only a week later that she phoned to let me know that she wouldn’t be in church on Sunday since she had a serious head cold accompanied by a raw throat. I simply said to her, “Just rebuke that cold in the Name of the Lord.”
Her response at that time was given in a pleading tone. “Oh, Pastor, please don’t make fun of me.” Her response provided opportunity to remind her of the Word given through the Apostle, who taught us, “Every test that you have experienced is the kind that normally comes to people” [1 CORINTHIANS 10:13a GNT]. I know that the test, or the temptation, that is in view is not restricted to the effects of a virus, but the effects of that virus are surely included in the statement given. Not every pain, not every ache, not every reversal of fortune that we face is something unusual and out of the ordinary.
We are exceptionally foolish if we imagine that we will be spared trials or that we will avoid problems because we follow the Risen Saviour. The opposite is more likely to be the experience of the one who comes to faith in the Son of God. Being twice-born will expose the one who follows the Saviour to opposition both from those energised by the wicked one and from the demonic powers themselves.
Have you never read the words which Peter provides? “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name. For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? And
‘If the righteous is scarcely saved,
what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?’
Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good” [1 PETER 4:12-19].
Why should it be surprising that the one who follows the Saviour would be attacked? We know that such attacks find their genesis in the rage of the evil one who has been cast out of the heavenly places. This is likely what is in view when we read what the Revelator has written in the Apocalypse. John has written, “Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, ‘Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death. Therefore, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short’” [REVELATION 12:7-12]! Many who appear enraged are not even aware that their fury is instigated and inflamed by the devil Himself. They cannot help themselves!
Again, we witness the words that the Apostle of Love wrote in his first missive. John was writing to urge us as followers of the Risen Lord to love one another. In order to emphasise this necessity, John contrasted what is expected of us with the acts of those who are lost. “This is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. We should not be like Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his brother’s righteous. Do not be surprised, brothers, that the world hates you. We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death” [1 JOHN 3:11-14].
Focus on THE THIRTEENTH VERSE where we read, “Do not be surprised, brothers, that the world hates you.” The world does not love you. Those in this world system may tolerate you, but they do not love you. And this is especially true if you are striving to honour God, living for Him and for His glory.
Though the world is not enthused at your love for the Saviour, you are blessed. Perhaps you recall the blessing pronounced early in the ministry Jesus conducted, when He said, “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you” [MATTHEW 5:11-12].
Again, Jesus pronounced this blessing on those who stand up for Him in the face of rejection. “Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you and revile you and spurn your name as evil, on account of the Son of Man! Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for so their fathers did to the prophets” [LUKE 6:22-23].
These blessings lie before us who follow the Master, but we do not always see them now. Indeed, in this respect we walk by faith and not by sight, knowing that these blessings are promised. However, the present blessing is the confidence that God is at work on our behalf to ensure that we have confidence that He loves us, certainty that what He has promised He will do. We are given the blessing of certainty that the promises of our Father are sure.
This brings me to consider the blessing that is ours now because we are standing firm in Christ the Lord and in opposition to the world. Only a moment ago, we saw the benediction that was pronounced by the Apostle to the Jews. Recall how Peter has said, “If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you” [1 PETER 4:14].
The Lord our God is blessing His people now, encouraging them and enabling them to stand firm against all the wickedness that comes against each one because of their love for the Saviour. He fills us with hope, and the hope He gives builds courage. And one great blessing that we too often forget is the presence of the Spirit of Christ living in us, empowering us to fulfil His will. And, according to Peter’s prophecy, the Spirit fills us with God’s glory as we anticipate the fulfillment of His promises. Amen.
GOD REMEMBERS HIS PROMISES —
“My soul magnifies the Lord,
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.
For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
for he who is mighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.
And his mercy is for those who fear him
from generation to generation.
He has shown strength with his arm;
he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts;
he has brought down the mighty from their thrones
and exalted those of humble estate;
he has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel,
in remembrance of his mercy,
as he spoke to our fathers,
to Abraham and to his offspring forever.”
[LUKE 1:46a-55]
One of the great designations by which God chooses to identity Himself to mankind is, “God, Who never lies” [see TITUS 1:2]. When Balak was compelled by the intervention of the Spirit of God to testify against those who would do Israel harm, he was forced to say,
“God is not man, that he should lie,
or a son of man, that he should change his mind.
Has he said, and will he not do it?
Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?”
[NUMBERS 23:19]
When God speaks, He will do what He has said He will do. Of this we are confident.
In this Advent Season, one great thought stands out in my estimate to encourage all people—the promises of God are sure. The Lord fulfils every promise. As we read the Scriptures we will see the promises of God repeated. When we have determined that a promise has no restrictions that would preclude us from appropriating that promise, we are wise to seize the promise for ourselves. God cannot lie, and His promises are sure. And that should encourage each one who seeks to honour the Lord God.
The promises of God belong to His people, and we should rejoice as we seize His promises, making each one our own. Surely, this is the thought that guided the hymn writer when he wrote,
More about Jesus in His Word, holding communion with my Lord,
Hearing His voice in ev’ry line, making each faithful saying mine. [2]
During this Advent Season we have focused on the revelation of graces that mark the life of those who know and walk with the Saviour, Jesus Who came to give His life for us. We witnessed the hope that His coming promises. We saw also the peace and the love that are ours in Christ the Lord. Today, we have focused on the joy that is ours in our Saviour, Jesus the Son of God. These rich gifts are given to each one who follows Him.
When we think of the hope that is ours in Christ, and the promise of that hope, perhaps we turn our thoughts to the words the Apostle wrote as he instructed the saints in Thessalonica. Paul wrote, “Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word” [2 THESSALONIANS 2:16-17]. Christ gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace.
Again, we witness Paul as he opens his missive to Timothy, testifying to the hope that is ours in Christ Jesus. The Apostle has written, “Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope” [1 TIMOTHY 1:1].
We are promised peace in Christ our Lord. After He was raised from the dead, Jesus appeared to His disciples, testifying to them, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you” [JOHN 20:21].
In his Letter to the Christians living in Rome, Paul testified, “Since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” [ROMANS 5:1]. Peace with God is our rich gift to comfort and to strengthen.
You will note that Paul pronounced a blessing as he wrote each letter that would be included in the New Testament. For instance, we see him opening his missive to the Philippians, “Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” [PHILIPPIANS 1:2]. This is the standard greeting in every missive Paul wrote. [3]
Hope, peace, and love are rich gifts offered to all with the coming of the Son of God. And today, we have focused on the joy that is promised when Christ reigns over us. Paul has testified, “I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” [ROMANS 8:38-39].
Later in that same letter, Paul will encourage those who follow the Risen Lord, reminding us that, “The kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” [ROMANS 14:17].
In one of his earliest missives written to the Christians in Salonica, Paul rejoiced because those Christians served as an example to all who follow Christ. He wrote, “You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit, so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia” [1 THESSALONIANS 1:6-7].
When we speak of the work that the Spirit of Christ performs in us we must remember the revelation that is given when the Apostle informs Christians, “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law” [GALATIANS 5:22-23]. All this is ours in Christ Jesus our Lord. These precious gifts are ours to appropriate at all times. And what better time to take to ourselves these gifts that are ours than during this Advent Season.
The Spirit of Christ offers to each one who will receive Him, the precious gifts that are offered as you receive Christ Jesus as Master over your life. God says, “If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ believing in your heart that He has been raised from the dead, you will be saved. With the heart, one believes and has a right standing before the Father, and with the mouth one openly agrees with God and is forever set free” [see ROMANS 10:9-10].
The offer is simplified when God promises, “Everyone who calls on the Name of the Lord shall be saved.” This Christmastide, you can be set free from sin, set free from condemnation, set free from judgement, set free to be all that you were created to be. This offer is extended to you offered through Jesus, God’s Son, Whose birth we celebrate at this season. Amen.
[1] Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2016. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
[2] Eliza Edmunds Hewitt, “More About Jesus,” 1887
[3] See ROMANS 1:7; 1 CORINTHIANS 1:3; 2 CORINTHIANS 1:2; GALATIANS 1:3; EPHESIANS 1:2; 1 THESSALONIANS 1:1; 2 THESSALONIANS 1:2; 1 TIMOTHY 1:2; 2 TIMOTHY 1:2; TITUS 1:4; PHILEMON 3
