December 9, 2023

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE READING:

“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” (James 1.27)

“Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, turn and tear you to pieces.” (Matthew 7.6)

TODAY’S REFLECTION ON GOD’S WORD:

Let me offer this additional reflection on this one verse concerning Jesus’ follow-up to His teaching on “do not judge as the measure you use shall become the measure used to judge you.” And this we must believe, though we are saved by grace upon our profession of faith (in word and deed) that Jesus of Nazareth is indeed the Christ of God and the Messiah of those who profess to be Yahweh Elohim’s people, we shall still be judged on the Last Day. Do not think we shall escape that truth. Remembering that “on the Last Day when Christ shall appear before all the earth and every person will bow their knee to His appearance and confess ‘Lord, Lord‘,” not everyone will be recognized as true believers. Mighty ones of God, there is a far cry difference between confession and profession. Confession is the statement of recognizing the wrong which we do and the broken we are. It is also the statement of fact that all else we have attempted in order to overcome the wrong and the brokenness, nothing has sufficed nor will suffice save for the grace of God made known to us by the righteousness of Jesus of Nazareth who is Savior, Christ and Messiah. Profession is the statement which moves beyond a confession and steps boldly into repentance, humility and desires the reconciliation which can only come by believing in one’s heart, mind, body and soul that Jesus of Nazareth is Messiah, Christ and Savior. Our profession of faith becomes exactly that: our “profession.” It is the work of living righteously in an unrighteous world as if we were already dwelling in the righteous world which is being prepared for us in Heaven to come on earth on the Day of Final Reckoning. In the twinkling of an eye we shall be swept up, not knowing when that moment shall come, in equally in a twinkling of an eye, though not in the same moment, we shall be called to gather together in the Kingdom of God on the New Earth in the New Jerusalem. But, there will be that moment when we all shall approach the throne, the Judgment Seat, where Jesus the Christ has been given the duty of filling. There will be no excuse that can be offered there by humankind saying “This is not fair, this is not just, this is not right.” They may even, though we are not told so in Scripture, make a plea to Yahweh Elohim for mercy as did the Rich Man to Abraham as he saw from the true Pit of Despair the righteousness of God which had been offered him to be and to do. The answer would be the same if that were the case in the future “There is a vast gulf now fixed between us that cannot be reached across.” No, in that moment, every one will stand before Jesus the Christ who is Son of God and Son of Man having put off the Robe of Glory to put on the robe of humanity and dwell on earth among us. He experienced birth, life and death in all its heights and depths and plains. He journeyed through rivers of emotions, valleys of death, heights of glory and all parts and points in between. He offered the wisdom of the ages concerning the nature, character and desire of God to redeem those who were lost. He accepted full responsibility to be the ultimate sacrifice for all sins and sinners past, present and future so that we might stand confidently (not arrogantly) before that very throne and know we shall be rewarded not on our own merit but on His alone who died for us that we might live for Him.

THIS IS THE TRUE MESSAGE AND CELEBRATION OF CHRISTMAS.

But, the reality of that moment of judgment is the discernment of Jesus who will sit upon that solitary and pivotal throne with all the nations before Him as the earth is His footstool. With both a glad and broken heart, His discernment will know who believes and who does not, who speaks the truth and who tells the lie, who is saved and who has rejected salvation as the Holy Spirit has born witness throughout all time. This, mighty ones of God, is the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit which He has warned is the unforgiveable sin and from which there is no salvation nor redemption. We will have judged ourselves by our fielty and fidelity to be the children of God joined with Jesus the Christ who has made it possible for us to be one with Him for all eternity. “This is the measure by which we shall be judged as it is the measure by which we have judged others to the truth we believe is true.” And hear the fullness of that measure in the days of Jesus on that last day. No, I am not speaking of “The Last Day” which is yet to come. I am speaking of those last twenty-four hours of the “special Sabbath” of which John wrote in his gospel when Jesus had gathered with His disciples and others in the Upper Room to celebrate the Passover with a Seder feast. Hear the truth of Judas Kerioth who thus cast what was sacred (himself and Jesus) to the dogs of Rome and the Temple leadership. His own faulty desire to bring Jesus into the light of his own understanding of Messiah was used by God who knew this moment would come led Jesus to the necessity of the cross for the salvation of His people. He took all the messages, wisdom teachings and miraculous evidences like pearls and cast them before the swine of nations who mocked God. And Jesus spoke this to them all before that moment in time. He spoke to the disciples including Judas Kerioth. He spoke to the Romans who had placed centurions all around and spies to listen for treason, insurrection and rebellion. He spoke to the Temple leaders who sent priests, rabbis and members of the Pharisees to test, challenge and bring witness against Him. Jesus saw them all as lost and treated them the same with hope, mercy, grace, love and a desire that they would confess their failure and profession to pursue all righteousness. But, they did not: not Judas, not Rome and not the Temple leadership.

So, now in this world why would we continue to do the same? We are called to bear witness to the lost, the disenfranchised, the ones who have lost hope and bring them the Good News of a Great Joy: Jesus was born in Bethlehem, reborn in Jerusalem and will bring us to live as those truly born again on the Last Day at His glorious Appearing. We are to be as Jesus instructed His disciples for ministry. That is: Go first to those who should know and bear witness that Jesus is the only way, truth and life. If they do not accept you or Me, then shake the dust off your feet and move on. You may do so with sorrow, remorse and regret; but move on. Move on to those who do not yet know the truth and sow the seed of hope that it may grow in them and produce a great harvest. Teach them all I have commanded and given you. Baptize them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Show them the Iove of God from you as I have shown you God’s love. Practice My presence in their midst and commit to maturing their faith with your gifts which I have given you by My Holy Spirit.” If we do not do this and focus only on those who have committed themselves to unbelieving then we will be torn apart and crushed underfoot. And Jesus said it would happen because we bear His name and His authority in the world. Unbelievers will always be this way but there will be many more who will believe and receive that greatest gift of all: Jesus Christ who is live eternal in the presence of Almighty God.

THIS IS THE TRUE MESSAGE AND CELEBRATION OF CHRISTMAS.

PRAYER IN LIGHT OF GOD’S WORD:

Father, You have revealed to us best in Jesus the Christ. By Him and Him alone shall we gain this eternal life and our place in eternal rest, living for You always. Show us more and by Your Holy Spirit instruct us in the way we should go, the truth we should reveal and the life we shall live with you forever. In Jesus’ name, we pray. AMEN.