by Steven NguyenIn those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. –Luke 2:1-7 The past couple of weeks has been the Advent season. This season could mean a couple of things for you. This could be the season in which you are frantically realizing that you have not budgeted enough for Christmas gifts. Or this season has snuck up on you and these very words are creating anxiety within you to buy Christmas presents. This season could mean peppermint bark, peppermint mocha from Starbucks, Christmas lights and Mariah Carey’s Christmas album. Which I may or may not be listen to and dancing in my seat while writing this devotional. This season could be tough for you for you may have lost a loved one this year or family is not the place where it is easy to be around.
Wherever you find yourself this Advent season I want to remind you that the Lord loves you and this season shows that God is faithful and whatever He has promised within the Scriptures He will accomplish. Advent is defined as the arrival of a notable person, thing, or event. The first season of the Christian church year, leading up to Christmas and including the four preceding’s Sundays. Or also defined within the Christian Church as the coming or second coming of Christ. I want us to stop for a couple of seconds and I want you think of a time where you looked forward to an event for an extended length of time. What were you feeling as you were feeling when you were in this time of waiting? How did it feel when the waiting season was finally over? As we are currently within the Church era of the Lord’s salvation story, which is in-between Jesus’ resurrection and His second coming, we can look at the Old Testament and see that the nation of Israel was longing for this promised Savior of the world in Jesus Christ. We know that in Genesis 3 that sin enters the world and the consequence for sin is death. Yet, God didn’t leave us there, He promises a Savior. Generation after generation this message was passed along that a Savior of the world is coming from the line of David, to reconcile all things back to Himself. The prophets of the Lord who spoke to the nation of Israel has declared and heralded the news that a Savior is coming to deliver. Year after year, generation after generation, this news of deliverance of a Savior from the Lord has been declared and God goes silent for four hundred and fifty years. That silence was then broken in the town of Bethlehem by the cries of the Savior being born of a virgin woman named Mary. Jesus Christ both fully God and fully human came to do what we couldn’t do, defeat sin for all who would believe in Jesus Christ for their salvation from sin and death and would no longer be separated from the Lord. This longing and expectation that the nation of Israel had for the coming Savior of Jesus Christ should mark us today as His church for His second coming. This should mark us as the people of God who are living here on earth, in-between Jesus’ resurrection and Jesus’ second coming. My prayer is that we would consider this as we can see looking back at the Old Testament and see that everything that the Lord had spoken through the prophets about Jesus Christ has been fulfilled the way that God has said He would fulfill and do. We can see that God is full of compassion and He saw His people in their desperation for help and sent Jesus Christ to save those who would repent of their sin and trust in Jesus Christ for salvation. We can see that He is faithful to fulfill His promises and has done everything that He said He would do as we look back at the Old Testament and history. With His faithfulness looking back we know looking forward that we can believe and trust that He is coming back again.
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By Nick Parsons Opening Scripture: John 13:31-38 Proverbs 29:25: Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe. Below are some examples of why people pleasing are a trap: 1. People pleasing cause us to miss God’s purpose in our lives. We’ll get caught up fulfilling other people’s purpose instead of God’s plan for ours. (1 Thessalonians 2:4-5) 2. It keeps us from growing in our faith. We give people authority over God. You begin to ask yourselves, “Whose opinion matters more to me, people or God?” (John 5:43-44) 3. It will lead me to sin because we have a desire to please and cave to the temptation of peer pressure. (Exodus 23:2) 4. It causes hypocrisy in our lives. We begin to wear different masks hiding behind things such as appearance, performance, and status. Integrity is more important that popularity. (2 Corinthians 10:18, Galatians 1:10) 5. It silences my witness to share the Truth about Jesus. Our desire to fit in keeps a lot of us quiet. (John 7:12-13, John 12:42-43) Here are some truths: 1. God did not come to please everyone. The Bible has plenty of stories which the nation of Israel, the Jews, Pharisees, Sadducees, and Teachers of the Law, thought God would be pleased with them and bless them as being “righteous” because of their so called “obedience” in keeping the commands of the Law. 2. What seems so important now is only temporary. We realize that certain things today won’t matter when we switch our thinking to an eternal mindset. (1 John 2:17, Romans 12:2) 3. Learn to live for an audience of one – The Lord. People pleasing is a form of idolatry. We replace God with our job, money, relationships, spouse, fame and so on. (John 5:30) 4. One day we will give an account for our lives. Remember when evaluating your heart, are you wanting God’s approval or this person’s approval. (Luke 9:26) 5. God gives you the power in your “Yes’” and “No’s”. When you understand how God calls you to guard your heart, you can begin to take control of your life in healthy boundaries, physically, emotionally, and mentally. (2 Timothy 1:7, Proverbs 4:23) 6. God shaped you to be you and not someone else. God uniquely created us individually with our own appearance, gifts, and talents so that we may continue to grow in Him and share the Gospel of Jesus Christ. (Psalm 139:13-18, John 15:16) After Peter’s denial something changed. Something died. It was a conversion-like moment for Peter, a turning point. Peter’s own bold confidence and strength were killed. Peter failed. He knew that all too well. He ran from the crowd that arrested Jesus. He did not stand up and acknowledge Jesus as his friend or master. He denied even knowing him. He couldn’t even say his Master’s name when he made those denials. But Peter still nurses his terrible shame. So he returns to the familiar, to forget the past, and to seek out a living, doing what he is comfortable with. That first night back on the water, they catch nothing. Sounds familiar, almost too familiar. He is hard at work an entire night, with nothing to show for it.Failed as a disciple. Failing at fishing. Peter must have felt awful… all over again. Nothing good is coming Peter’s way. How can he go on living like this? How can he carry on? Peter needed Jesus to graciously reach out to him. Not to confront or rebuke him. Peter needs Jesus to rehabilitate him, to forgive him, to make him new again…, and again…, and again. Later as Jesus reveals himself, after His resurrection, to Peter and to the rest of the disciples,Jesus turns to Peter and asks him, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me?” “Simon son of John, do you truly love me?” “Simon son of John, do you truly love me?” Peter responds, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” [Frustrated] “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Each answer is the same. You know it Lord. You know it. You know I love you. The last question hits hard. It digs deep. Peter is hurt. I don’t feel it right now, but you know it! Lord, please help me overcome my unbelief. Jesus tenderly reaches out to this wounded, hurt, afraid child. Who has gone through the worst couple of weeks of his life? Peter made the biggest blunder of his life. Now he faces the man he offended. The one he denied. The one he rejected! Peter couldn’t talk. Peter was unable to go to Jesus. Jesus had to come to him. We are no different. When life’s biggest mistakes occur, we find it almost impossible to go to the person we offended. We are more likely to hide it. Tuck it away deep down where no one else can find it. Peter needed Jesus. He knew it all to well after stumbling and failing. But Jesus confirms him in his new labor. Feed my lambs. Care for my sheep. Be a pastor. Be a shepherd. Faithfully serve Christ through the church. Peter must not look to himself or to his inner strength and abilities. No. He had to humble himself before Christ. Looking to him for help and direction. We need to do the same. Peter takes up his cross, follows Christ, and becomes the rock Jesus spoke of. Peter leaves his fishing boats and tackle and gear behind, for good. He goes to Jerusalem. He goes to preach and to lead and feed and nurture the tender flock of Christ followers. They need to receive the word of comfort, grace, and encouragement. Let’s now take a look at Peter’s revival. Closing Scripture: Acts 5:17-29 Resources: How To Escape the People Pleaser Trap with Rick Warren
www.crcna.org/resources/church-resources/reading-sermons/peter-restored |
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