No. I haven't completely lost my mind. Yes. I realize that we are at the end of May and not at the end of December.
So, what's up with this Merry Christmas thing? And, what does Happy Birthday to the Bride have to do with it?
Pentecost.
Oh, you want a more complete explanation.
We have just celebrated a special day in the Christian year. The Day of Pentecost. This is the day when the Holy Spirit, the Counselor Jesus promised, descended upon the disciples gathered in the upper room. Miracles were seen that day! The sound of a rushing mighty wind was heard, but there was no rushing mighty wind. Tonues of fire floated about the room and rested upon the head of each disciple, but no one suffered injury. People spoke in languages they did not know. Words that were spoken in one language were heard in a different language, the native language if the hearer. Because these words were proclaiming the Good News of Jesus Christ, more than three thousand souls were saved in a matter of minutes!
The Church has traditionally understood the Day of Pentecost as the birthday of the Church. Tradition also teaches us that the Church is the Bride of Christ. Ergo, Happy Birthday to the Bride!
Ok. The Merry Christmas thing might be a stretch, but here is what I am thinking.
At Christmastime, we celebrate the Incarnation, or the inbreaking of Christ into human history as a human being. One of the names he goes by during that season is Emmanuel. The word Emmanuel means "God with us."
As Emmanuel - God with us - Jesus promised to be with us always, even to the end of the age. Yet, Jesus departed by ascending to heaven to sit at the right hand of God the Father. If Jesus is in heaven, then how can he be with us?
Enter the Holy Spirit.
As the third person of the Triune God (God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit), the Holy Spirit is the presence of God with us. "God with us!" Emmanuel!
Merry Christmas!
Be blessed,
Pastor Mark
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Thursday, May 10, 2012
In the Presence of My Enemies
The twenty-third Psalm is perhaps the most well-known and most beloved of any Scripture in the Bible. It starts out declaring that God takes care of his people; he is their Shepherd. The Shepherd provides food (green pastures), drink (quiet waters), and life (he restores my soul). The Shepherd guides us where we need to go (he guides me in paths of righteousness), and protects us through even the worst of circumstances (even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me). Then at the end we have more comforting words: "Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever." Is it any wonder that this is an all-time favorite passage of Scripture?
Just before the end, however, something strange happens. The Shepherd prepares a table before me with all the goodness of life; there is more goodness than I can take in (my cup overflows)! But notice who is there with me. My enemies!
My enemies!? What are they doing there? I don't want to sit at the table with all my enemies hovering over me, bearing down on me! My enemies (other people, stressful situations, my own attitudes, etc.) want to harm me; they make me stress out, they make me angry and depressed, they take away the joy of life! I want to get away from my enemies, not sit down at the table with them!
The psalm seems to be indicating that we will not always be able to get away from our enemies. What it also indicates is that when we are seated at God's table, our enemies have no power over us! They cannot harm us! They cannot stress us out. They cannot make us angry. They cannot make us act hatefully. They cannot depress us. They cannot take away our joy!
When we are seated at God's table, the Shepherd's table, the Lord's table. Kinda makes me think about Holy Communion. It also makes me think about the fellowship I enjoy by being around other people who belong to God.
Are your enemies getting the upper hand over you? Are you seated at the Lord's table? Are you spending enough time with the Lord and with his people?
Something to think about.
Be Blessed
Pastor Mark
Just before the end, however, something strange happens. The Shepherd prepares a table before me with all the goodness of life; there is more goodness than I can take in (my cup overflows)! But notice who is there with me. My enemies!
My enemies!? What are they doing there? I don't want to sit at the table with all my enemies hovering over me, bearing down on me! My enemies (other people, stressful situations, my own attitudes, etc.) want to harm me; they make me stress out, they make me angry and depressed, they take away the joy of life! I want to get away from my enemies, not sit down at the table with them!
The psalm seems to be indicating that we will not always be able to get away from our enemies. What it also indicates is that when we are seated at God's table, our enemies have no power over us! They cannot harm us! They cannot stress us out. They cannot make us angry. They cannot make us act hatefully. They cannot depress us. They cannot take away our joy!
When we are seated at God's table, the Shepherd's table, the Lord's table. Kinda makes me think about Holy Communion. It also makes me think about the fellowship I enjoy by being around other people who belong to God.
Are your enemies getting the upper hand over you? Are you seated at the Lord's table? Are you spending enough time with the Lord and with his people?
Something to think about.
Be Blessed
Pastor Mark
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