Advent devotional - John the Gymnast

"And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb." Luke 1:41

Proximity to Jesus was a big deal when he walked the Earth. Scholars and others within earshot of his preaching listened in speechless wonder. People climbed trees to see his face in a crowd and tore roofs off of houses in pursuit of his healing power. The mere brush of his robe could end a chronic illness.

Although the gospel writers aptly assigned him the title of "Baptist", John's in utero acrobatics in the presence of Mary and Jesus deserve at least a bullet on his spiritual resume. His "leap" in verse 41 may not seem like an extraordinary detail until Luke underscores it with a second mention in verse 44 as a leap "of joy". Even as a six month old fetus, John was apparently instructing us in the character of praise.

Let us be reminded of our own proximity to Jesus as we anticipate the celebration of his birth. John was no nearer to him than we are now. Through the soul-encompassing work of God the Spirit, God the Son occupies your very heart. With every dollar we spend this season let us remember the price he paid to draw us close. With every gift we receive let us give thanks for the gift of our future presence with him in glory. Feel the joy and peace that energizes us when he is the focus of our praise.

Like John the Gymnast, we have every reason to leap.

Advent Devotional - The Privileged

"The LORD has taken away your punishment, he has turned back your enemy. The LORD, the King of Israel, is with you; never again will you fear any harm."  - Zephaniah 3:15

For two and a half chapters, the prophet Zephaniah spews a blast of verbal flame.  Judgment, destruction, and horrific disaster await Israel and all its neighbors in response to their idolatry and pride - a vivid backdrop that makes the encouraging words of 3:15 all the more soothing to our frightened ears.  How the faithful remnant must have clung to this promise that the LORD would be with them and restore them.

What they would have given to be us.  Imagine if they were able to look back to a point in history when this promise was ultimately fulfilled. Consider their amazement upon reading of a baby king, born in poverty, who would be revealed as God himself come to Earth.  How cut to the heart they would be to hear the detailed account of how He took away their punishment by taking it upon himself.  What praise would fill their hearts as they beheld, with newfound clarity, a love so extreme as to blow away all previously-held notions of power and might.

Sisters and brothers, consider how privileged you are to have heard this story of King Jesus. He will be with you forever.

More than Zombies - Reflection on Ezekiel 37

Let's face it, Ezekiel's vision of the valley of dry bones in Chapter 37 is downright spooky.  Placed by God in a virtual sea of human skeletal remains, Ezekiel witnesses a gory reconstruction of bones, tendons, flesh, and skin in response to his prophesying, complete with "bone rattling" sound effects.  And then the bodies all lay there, not breathing, which strikes me as even creepier than when they were just dry bones.  But God, the Grave Robber (credit to Pastor Derek Baker for that one), is not finished.  At his command, breath of life blows in from the four winds and brings this vast army to its feet, brimming with vitality.

Such was his dramatically stated promise to Israel and to us, his church.  Living our lives apart from God, we are as good as dead.  But as we put our trust in him, God the Holy Spirit breathes life into us, filling us with a power that decisively triumphs over the deadly effects of sin.  Even as we agonize over that destructive habit that drags us down, that grudge that fills us with unrighteous anger, those words that we wish we hadn't said, and the constant reminders of sin and death all around us, we are nonetheless comforted and strengthened deep down by his presence.