Because He Is In Our Midst - Day 90 Through the Bible

Trashformation Art by Rolf Homquist / Photography by Michelle Williams for Rolf Holmquist Website -  Burnsville, NC  - Taking reclaimed tobacco barnwood and found objects - usually discarded "trash"- to build works of beauty - the touch of the master's hand.

HE IS RISEN!  "We serve a risen Savior.  He's in the world today!"

Because the LORD is in our Midst:  (Deuteronomy 23 and 24)  The "hard" laws continue - 613 of them in addition to the 10 commandments.  The overriding purpose of these laws was for men to be holy in order to fellowship with Holy God.  These were the tutor / the schoolmaster to show us our sin, our inability to live up to each and every letter of the law, our need for the Mediator to justify us by faith rather than by the law. (Gal 3:24)  These regulations were so comprehensive and inclusive in all areas of life that one even dealt with the removal of bodily waste.  The reason:  "For the LORD your God walks in the midst of your camp...to deliver you...; therefore your camp shall be holy, that He may see no unclean thing among you, and turn away from you."

Remember / Carefully Heed / Do / Teach (Deuteronomy 24, Psalm 39 and Proverbs 13) - Have you noticed how often this command is given in both the OT and the NT?  A cursory counting of the word in this short chapter alone yielded 3 commands to "remember."  "Remember what the LORD your God did"....and twice to "remember that you were a slave in Egypt, and the LORD your God redeemed you from there."  Remember who we were, where we were. Then the other consistent commands to carefully heed, do, and teach what we have learned in Scripture. Psalm 39: "I will guard my ways...will restrain my mouth before the wicked.:  LORD, make me to know (teach me) my end, the measure of my days."  Prov. 13:  "A wise son heeds his father's instruction (teach)...he who guards his mouth preserves his life."

The Touch of the Master's Hand - There is a well-loved poem that I once presented in a district-wide declamation competition with this title.  My teacher had warned me it went beyond the allotted time limit, and if I didn't make her suggested cuts I would be disqualified.  I didn't, and was, but even at that young age I thought the message was too important.  Even then I had the heart of a lay evangelist and regret that my life did not give more honor to that calling.  I was also preaching to the choir in that year and place long ago.  But this IS the transforming message of this Holy Week:  Knowing Jesus changes our lives now and for eternity.

My Lesson/Application: When we are caught in the middle day between Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday - when the tragedy has occurred, all dreams, promises and hope are gone, and Resurrection Day seems to never come - it is only the touch of Jesus, His opening our eyes as He reveals Scripture to us, His walking with us and talking with us - that is our only hope, our only restoration.  I think many of the people touched by Jesus felt this way - the desperate parents pleading with Him to touch or restore life to their children, to give healing to their own wrecked bodies and lives, to grant freedom from the bondage of demons.  They felt this, they knew this, and He honored their faith - not always as they expected.  The healed blind man was kicked out of the synagogue - outcast by His culture.  The disciples would all face horrible deaths as a result of this faith or left deserted on a lone island.  Their rewards would be later.  But His touch, His coming into their lives had changed them forever.  Jesus said:  "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.  I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."  We, as believers, have been given a new garment (ref to Rev 3:4)...the garment of salvation...pure and clean.  We now are under no condemnation  - not of the law, not of our sins. (Rom 8:1).  We have partaken of the bread and cup of the New Covenant, the broken body and the sacrificial, atoning blood of our Lord and Savior. (Matt 26:28 and Luke 22:20)  We are new creations in Jesus Christ.  The old is gone.  The new has come! (2 Cor. 5:17) Because He lives, we can face tomorrow...and eternity.

The Touch of the Masters Hand

Twas battered and scarred, and the auctioneer 
thought it scarcely worth his while to waste much time on the old violin, 
but held it up with a smile; "What am I bidden, good folks," he cried,
"Who'll start the bidding for me?" "A dollar, a dollar"; then two!" "Only 
two? Two dollars, and who'll make it three? Three dollars, once; three
 dollars twice; going for three.." 

But no, from the room, far back, a 
gray-haired man came forward and picked up the bow; Then, wiping the dust
 from the old violin, and tightening the loose strings, he played a melody pure and sweet as caroling angel sings.

 The music ceased, and the auctioneer, with a voice that was quiet and low, 
said; "What am I bid for the old violin?" And he held it up with the bow.
 A thousand dollars, and who'll make it two? Two thousand! And who'll make 
it three? Three thousand, once, three thousand, twice, and going and
 gone," said he. The people cheered, but some of them cried, "We do not 
quite understand what changed its worth." Swift came the reply: "The touch
 of a master's hand."



And many a man with life out of tune, and battered and scarred with sin,
 is auctioned cheap to the thoughtless crowd, much like the old violin.  A
"mess of pottage," a glass of wine; a game - and he travels on. "He is 
going" once, and "going twice, he's going and almost gone." But the Master
 comes, and the foolish crowd never can quite understand the worth of a soul
 and the change that's wrought by the touch of the Master's hand.

Myra 'Brooks' Welch

Because He Lives - Gaither Vocal Band by Masombahiny

Launching Out Into the Deep---Day 89 Through the Bible

                                             Balsam Lake, in Jackson County, can be accessed from 
                                                          the Blue Ridge Parkway and is one of many tranquil lakes
                                                            to be enjoyed  in Western NC. The Parkway intersects
                                                                        with Hwy. 80, not far from Mt. Celo Church.


In Luke 5:1, we read, "the multitude pressed about Him to hear the word of God".  There was something about Jesus that drew people to Him. There was a difference between Jesus and the religious leaders of the day.  Jesus was not there to lay guilt on them (John 3:17), neither to take advantage of them.  Jesus' motives were pure--He had no ulterior purposes.  This was attractive and refreshing for the multitudes. Before we can share the gospel with someone, earning their respect to do so is paramount.  We cannot come across as belonging to the status quo and expect to be heard.  We can always look to Jesus' example as a template for a Christian life.  He respected people, took time for them, and was gentle even when He was suffering.  Love does not fail people and Jesus was love come in the flesh.

Here in Luke, we see Jesus "borrowing" Simon Peter's boat so that He could teach the people who were gathered to hear Him.  His voice would carry across the water and they would be able to see Him from the shore.  Jesus blessed Peter and the fishermen with an astonishing catch of fish following the use of his boat. (Generosity and appreciation tend to be the exception in our present culture, however, both are attractive.)  When Jesus told them to "launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch, Peter pointed out they had fished all night and caught nothing.  To their great surprise they caught so many fish their nets began to break.  The other boat came to help out and both boats were filled with fish to the point of beginning to sink.  When Peter saw it, "he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!"

We are experiencing coming to know the Lord in this daily Bible study.  There has never been a life that could equal the life Jesus lived.  While He attracted attention He would also become the source of  controversy that has continued until this day.  Multitudes continue to be drawn to His message.  As Jesus' disciples today, may we live in obedience to Him so that our light shines and we earn the respect of those who are in dire need of hearing the gospel.  May we stand in awe as we draw closer to the God of the Bible and may we be "astonished" at what we learn, preparing ourselves to "catch men", as we continue "launching out into the deep". 

Good Friday - Good? Day 88 Through the Bible

 The Dogwood tree is the State Tree of North Carolina.  "Tradition holds that the wood for the cross came from the dogwood tree, which at one time grew tall and broad but was later stunted by Jesus so it would never be used for that purpose again.  Christian symbolism through the ages has alluded to the cross-like pattern of the blossom with the rusty dot at the end of each petal symbolizing a nail, the red fruit drops of blood, the stamens the crown of thorns." Wild Dogwood grow all over the mountains surrounding Mt. Celo Church in Western North Carolina.

The Ultimate Paradox, The Upside-Down Religion:  Why is this called "Good Friday"?  All hope seemed to be lost.  How could God allow this to happen?  Wasn't there another way to atone for our sins? How does this tie into today's readings?

My Lessons / Applications:  This, I think, encapsulates much of what we have been studying.  It is, at its essence once again, God's perspective vs. the world's perspective.  What the world calls good, God does not.  What the world sees as evil, God sees as necessary.  Remember the commanded annihilation of ALL living things that breathe in the cities which God gave the Israelites in the Promised Land? (Deut. 20:16)  We cannot understand this with our finite minds, given our present cultural mindset.  This is the mind of the Almighty God of creation and of eternity - not of finite, fallible man.  When Israel did not follow these "hard" commands, they suffered the consequences for generations, and continue to do so even to this day.  This is prophecy again and again in many ways:  "Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!" (Isaiah 5:20)  Man - without knowledge of God and the entirety of Scripture -  sees this "Good Friday" as evil, dark and bitter.  It is - from a human perspective temporally.  The necessity of this blood sacrifice of His Beloved Son was a "crash on the heart of God as well - costing Him everything but given freely for us" (Spurgeon).  We can only partially see and understand with the limited human mind this that is clearly taught throughout Scripture - that for centuries God has been moving sinful humanity to this point of redemption to enable us to enter our eternal Promised Land - with the greatest sacrifice paid by Holy God - out of love for us - to give His only Beloved Son as a sacrifice - Holy, Pure, Undefiled Divinity standing in the gap for you, for me - that we might spend eternity in fellowship with Holy God.  There is no greater good, no greater sacrifice, no greater love, no greater Savior, no greater God.  From what was originally called "God's Friday" many possessing Christians have come to understand in heart, soul, and spirit as now being "Good Friday" - the greatest evil done for the greatest good for mankind by our loving, merciful God and His Promised Messiah.  Human history pivoted on this memorial day.  But an even greater day is coming in our study...the resurrection of our Savior, our Lord Jesus Christ...and then another, the ascension of our Lord to sit at the right hand of God - to make intercession for us...always...and then another: (1 Cor. 50-58)

"Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed— in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.”

The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord." 

Jesus said (Luke 4:43)  I must preach the kingdom of God to the other cities also, because for this purpose I have been sent."  "Peace be to you!  As the Father sent me, I now send you." (John 20:21)  Again, we have been given our Great Commission.

 (Charles Stanley's Life Principle for Today:  The Awareness of God's Presence Energizes our Work." (Deut 20:1)  

The Word of God--Owning It!---Day 87 Through the Bible

                                              Experiencing the Word of God might be compared to 
                                                                      experiencing the beauty of God's Creation.
                                It seems we can never get enough of either--we can never get enough of God!


God knew Israel would one day seek to have a king like the nations around them.  He gave instructions in Deuteronomy 17, as to how they were to choose their king.  As king, their leader was instructed by God to “write for himself a copy of this law in a book”.  “And it shall be with him, and he shall read it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the Lord his God”.  God goes on to list the blessings that are to follow.

While we may not be “kings”, this scripture remains profitable for us (2 Tim. 3:16).  I have found it beneficial to write out verses and passages of scripture from time to time. God wanted the king, and He wants us to “own” the scriptures. When we "own" something we are involved with it.  When we “own” a project, a house, a car, etc., it becomes personal and we become involved with it.  Hopefully, we are coming to “own” this daily Bible study:  we are eager to open the Bible, we take note of thoughts that are triggered by certain verses, we visualize passages, we find ourselves meditating on what we've read, we apply it to personal situations in our lives.  We are “learning to fear the Lord”.  God allows us the freedom to take it to the depths we choose.

This study is teaching us to be attentive to what God says and brings us an awareness of how He feels about things. God is being revealed to us--we are coming to "know" God!  Studying God's Word also brings us to a humble state of mind.  (The word "presumptuous" is mentioned a couple of times in today's scriptures.) We also come to understand how superior God’s thoughts are to how we think.  As we are learning the extent of God’s love for us we are less likely to turn aside from His way.  As we read about the contrast between the righteous and the wicked, we may consider people’s lives we have known that verify the truth of God’s Word. 

Jesus’ example is priceless for us.  The power of truth is revealed in Luke 4.  The account of Jesus’ battle with the “father of lies” sets the precedent for our own spiritual battles, in knowing and quoting scripture in times of trial and temptation.  May we faithfully study God's Word and become skilled in using the spiritual lessons God is teaching us.  

Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart:  for I am called by thy name, O Lord God of hosts.  Jeremiah 15:16

The Old Testament Revealed in the New - Day 86 Through the Bible

Photos: Fresh Organic Produce - Farmers Market; Our Middle School Drama Department's 2011 State Overall Best Actor and Actress, Mountain Heritage High School Eco-Club Students rafting down the South Toe River, Toe River Arts Council Chamber Ensemble and Toe River Community Chorus, OakMoon Farm and Creamery local handcrafted goat cheeses, Ayles Creek - all from the area around Mt. Celo Church.

Parallelism Between the OT and NT Commands - After wars where God called for the destruction of the wicked people around them, now God calls for the proper care within His people and in relation to other nations.  Moses and John the Baptist give similar commands - to bear good fruit, to be blessed: 1) be just 2) be merciful to the poor among you 3) be forgiving of a long debt/ the Lord's release (from debt or sin) 4) remember what God has done for you.  The Deuteronomy reading is filled with portents for America today:  1) "You shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow; you shall reign over many nations, but they shall not reign over you" (15:6).  The promised consequence of this:  God's blessing. 2) "You shall appoint judges and officers...and they shall judge the people with just judgment.  You shall not pervert justice; you shall not show partiality, nor take a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and twists the words of the righteous.  You shall follow what is altogether just (16:18-20)  The consequence of this:  "that you may live and inherit the land which the LORD your God is giving you.

Reflection:  Augustine of Hippo said, "The Old (Testament) is in the New (Testament) revealed, the New is in the Old concealed."  We are without excuse.

Psalm and Proverb Readings with a Warning for the Righteous:  Not all will appreciate and honor this righteous living called for in Deuteronomy and Luke.  Psalm 37:30-36 warns:  "The mouth of the righteous speaks wisdom and justice...has the law of God in his heart...none of his steps shall slide.  BUT..the wicked watches the righteous and seeks to slay him.  Promise:  the Lord will not leave the righteous in the hands of the wicked or condemn him when he is judged".  Our Call:  1) "Wait on the LORD; 2) Keep His way.  Promise:  He shall exalt us to inherit the land; we will see the wicked cut off.  Proverbs 12:17-19: He who speaks truth declares righteousness...promoting health...shall be established forever, but a false witness, deceit...like the piercing of the sword...is but for a moment."

John and Jesus - I used to skip over or just skim the list of lineages in the Bible.  Now I understand how important this remembrance is to God - just as He commands us to remember Him, he remembers us.  These are no longer just arbitrary listings, but these names are now keys opening up rooms in our minds that hold the miraculous stories of interventions of God in the lives of ordinary men and women - to bring us into a relationship with Him.  And...each name leads to the next corridor and life story and the next...bringing us to this great culminating moment in God's Plan - the new Elijah preparing the way for His beloved Son.  The bold, no-nonsense Forerunner begins his fade from popularity to "decreasing self" so that Christ may increase (John 3:30).  When asked if he was the Christ, John replied:  "I indeed baptize you with water, but One mightier that I is coming, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose.  He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire."

My Lessons / Applications:  Jesus said that no man born of woman was greater than John the Baptist (Matt. 11:11).  Yet this man of God, having such a great following in his day, humbled himself totally to the will of God - giving all glory and honor to Jesus - and even giving his life in order to stand firmly, speak boldly of the truth of God - even to a king.  Do I do this?  Do God's messengers today (the ministers, evangelists, laymen and women) build up Christ or self or family?  Am I willing to bear the cost of discipleship for His name and His glory?

"It is, perhaps, one of the hardest struggles of the Christian life to learn this sentence- "Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto Thy name be glory."

-   Charles Spurgeon

Treasure the Lord Your God!---Day 85 Through the Bible

                                 Roan Mountain offers an opportunity to "stand on the edge of the world".
                                                     The view of the mountains and valleys below is breath taking.  
                              Roan Mountain borders NC and TN and is located less than an hour from Mt. Celo Church. 
                                  
The word "accountability" is written all over today's readings in Deuteronomy.  In fact, I counted the word "you" 40 times in chapter 13, and again, 40 times in chapter 14.  Amazing!  God evidently wants us to be involved in our relationship with Him.  His love for us has the potential for being the catalyst that inspires us to "hold fast to Him" (Deut.13:4).  As the Apostle John says in I John 4:19, "We love him, because He first loved us". We are the children of the Lord our God, His chosen people, a special treasure (Deut.14).  If we could only grasp how much we mean to God our Father and how great His love is for us, it could change our lives!  He has spelled out His love for us in a book called The Holy Bible.

God sees the dangers of being enticed away from Him.  He is jealous over us, knowing He is the only true God--there is no other besides Him (Mark 12:32).  We are living in a time that showcases the results of turning away from God, of tolerating sin, of consenting to evil, and of compromising our values. However, even though we live in such a culture, we are accountable to God for the way we live before Him.  God tells us that where sin is concerned, we are not to "pity", "spare", or "conceal" anything that separates us from Him.  He desires to show mercy toward us, have compassion on us and bless us. However, we must see evil as He sees it and not build up a tolerance for it.  We are to humble ourselves, seek His forgiveness, and turn from our wicked ways (2 Chronicles 7:14), in order to receive the healing we need.  God wants to bless us!

We get a glimpse of what God wants for His people in an annual festival called the Feast of Tabernacles.  Israel was instructed by God to faithfully save a tenth of their increase (in addition to their tithe for God's work) and take their families once a year to the place God would chose, and there enjoy for themselves, this tithe.  If they had been blessed abundantly and it would be difficult to carry their tithe, God allowed them to change it into money.  They were instructed to spend this money "for whatever your heart desires".  What a blessing (and fun) to take a tenth of your income and spend it all in a seven day period for whatever you desire!  This was a blessing for them from God, and they were to rejoice before the Lord with their families during this festival.  Also, every third year, they were to save a tithe that would go to the Levites, the strangers, the fatherless, and the widows, among them.  The reason for this?  "That the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hand which you do" (Deut.14:28-29), also see Malachi 3:10).

In Luke, we read the story of Simeon and Anna, and see God's Providence and perfect timing demonstrated here.  God blessed Simeon as well as Anna. I have a puzzle that depicts Simeon holding baby Jesus in his arms.  I can imagine the joy this godly man must have felt as he held this baby, perhaps with tears streaming down his wrinkled face, recognizing he was holding "the Consolation of Israel"!  Dr. Stanley gives this comment: "the old soldier foresaw that the greatest battle of all time would be faced, fought, and won by this tiny child.  There he stood, breathing the breath of Christ, whole in the arms of God".  This passage about Simeon is not as well known as the rest of the Christmas story, however, it touches a chord in my heart as no other passage of Scripture does.

We are being offered "a great salvation" (Hebrews 2:3)!  May God open our eyes to His power and His greatness, and help us come to know and understand who He is.  May we come to realize what we are being offered by the very Creator of the Universe, and what a tremendous gift has been purchased for each of us by the death and resurrection of God's Son!  May we rejoice in living holy lives before Him and "hold fast to Him" as we live out our lives with a sense of accountability to God in a culture that has lost its way. 

"Preach the gospel at all times and when necessary use words"--St. Francis of Assisi.

A Life Committed to God - Day 84 Through the Bible in a Year

"The Monet Award" - Each spring the Toe River Arts Council hosts an en plein air juried event around our hometown and on the historic town square.  

The Call: A Life Committed to God - Deuteronomy 11 and 12: God calls us to commit to Him in both the OT and NT readings today. Note the importance of repetitive commands:  "take heed to yourself (4 times in these two chapters)...lest your heart be deceived... that you are not ensnared..., that you do not forget....that you do all I command you."  Also repeated numerous times: "obey, do, keep, bind, teach follow... My commandments."  The Israelites had not and were not remembering or following these warnings.  Moses chastises them:  "You shall not do as we are doing here today - every man doing whatever is right in his own eyes." (12:8)  As the OT warns about the necessity of the life committed to God, the NT reading illustrates this ideal life.  

Joseph: Example of a Man Committed to God  - Luke 2: Yesterday we looked at the committed lives of "righteous" Elizabeth and Zacharias - of the the tribe of Levi - and the blessing of the birth of their son, God's chosen forerunner of Christ, John the Baptist.  Today's committed lives are from the tribe of Judah.  We have spoken about the humble, obedient life of Mary who chose to honor God - disregarding what man should think. Today, Dr. Charles Stanley looks more closely at the life of Joseph, a committed man of God.  What were Joseph's godly traits?  "1) Concerned for others before himself - for his betrothed and her reputation, not his own,  2) Sensitive to the Holy Spirit's leading - heart, ears, and will attuned to the voice of God, 3) Valuing God's plan above what others might think of him. 4) Accepting of God's guidance (both regarding the birth and the flight to Egypt).  Joseph, a humble man, honored God by obeying His Word, by remaining consistent and content, by being reliable in following God regardless of the personal costs" - the essence of a life committed to God.

 My Lesson / Application  Two words from today's lessons seem to sum up where we have gone wrong and what we are lacking.  We have erred in allowing ourselves to be deceived by the world's philosophy - in following it rather than God's Word - in honoring men rather than God.  We are lacking commitment to God in personal, family and corporate life.  Our families are disintegrating, our churches lack godly power, and our institutions are rife with corruption. May God have mercy on us, and may we no longer "do as we are doing here today - every man doing whatever is right in his own eyes."  If it is true that at each pivotal point in the church's history there has been a clarion call of God for certain of His people to arise, I emphatically believe that trumpet call today is for a new, powerful rising of the men of God - for God, for the church, for the family, for our nation, for the world - before it is too late.

The more the Gospel progresses and the closer we come to the end of the age, the more aggressive the enemy becomes. Sadly, many Christians are unaware that a battle is raging all around them, and they have not reported for duty. - David Jeremiah

The Chosen / The Messenger / The Mission - Day 83 Through the Bible

The Empty Bowl  - This grassroots effort to demonstrate the power of one to alleviate world hunger was begun by local artists, Bob and Lisa Hartom, who now live in our hometown of Burnsville.  Local churches or organizations provide homemade soups and bread, and local artists handcraft bowls for the event.  The purchaser of the meal takes home the bowl as a reminder that we can each make a difference in helping/serving others.  This nonprofit is now at global venues and has raised millions of dollars for relief of hunger locally and worldwide.

The Chosen / The Mission / The Warning / The Requirement: OT-(Deuteronomy 9 and 10) Moses is still preparing the Israelites, God's chosen people, for their mission.  They are to go in and possess the land - with cities that are "great and fortified" and with people that are "great and tall" - of legendary strength.  But God (those 2 great words of the Bible)... has promised... He will go before them, He will destroy and bring the enemy down so that they will be able to drive the people out of the Promised Land.  God reminds the Israelites that He, the LORD their God, has chosen them out of all the people of the earth - not because of their righteousness or uprightness but because of the wickedness of the people in the land. God tells the Israelites they have been rebellious, have not believed Him, nor obeyed Him, have turned aside quickly to idolatry and sin, and have been a stubborn, stiff-necked people whom He would have destroyed many times had Moses not stood in the gap to pray for them.  So God warns them..."understand this...do not say because of my righteousness the LORD has brought me in to possess the land."  Not so...anything but.  God tells His people that this is what He requires of them in the Promised Land (10:12-14):  1) Fear the Lord your God; 2) Walk in all His ways; 3) Love Him;

4) Serve the LORD with all your heart and with all your soul; 5) Keep the commandments of the LORD and His statutes which I commanded you today for your good."

Fast Forward to Last Prophet and Prophecy: The sinful, disobedient history of the nation Israel continues in the Promised Land.  A remnant, as always, remains.  Malachi prophesies of a future hope (Malachi 3: 1): "Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before Me.  And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple, even the Messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight.  Behold, He is coming," says the LORD of hosts.  He also sounds a dire warning (Malachi 4): "For behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven, and all the proud, yes, all who do wickedly will be stubble.  But to you who fear My name, The Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing in His wings...Remember the Law of Moses, My servant...Behold, I will send you Elijah the Prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD."

SILENCE FOR 400 YEARS - The Intertestamental Period 

The Chosen / The Messenger / The Mission: NT-(Luke 1:57-80)  "Righteous" Elizabeth and Zacharias (Luke 1:6) - of the priestly tribe of Levi - are awaiting the birth of their promised son. The angel Gabriel had told them to call the son, John.  This time Zacharias, who was struck mute for not believing the angel about the birth, now stands against the people who want to call the son after his father.  His belief and obedience release him from his months-long speechlessness, and he begins to prophesy about his own son and praise God.  He quotes the prophet Malachi and God's miraculous intervention on behalf of His people once again - despite our continuing disobedience: "Blessed is the Lord God of Israel, for He has visited and redeemed His people and has raised up a horn of salvation for us...as He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets...and you, child (the chosen), will be called the prophet of the Highest (the messenger)...for you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways, to give knowledge of salvation to His people by the remission of their sins" (the mission)...John the Baptist has been born.

My Lesson and Reflection:  Will I, will we - the church - continue the pattern of sin and disobedience throughout human history despite all of these interventions by God on our behalf?  Will we, are we, part of the believing remnant impacting the world for God and His kingdom?  How has God's ultimate intervention - sending His Beloved Son to die for our sins (the New Covenant sealed by His blood) - transformed my life, the life of the church?

From today's Sunday School Lesson: 'A missionary went to China to evangelize the people, told them of this Man who cared more for others than Himself.  They said, "Yes, we know.  He used to live here."  Thinking they misunderstood, the missionary continued telling how this Man healed many people and even died for them.  Once again, the natives said, "Yes, we know that too.  He used to live here."  They then took the missionary to a grave at the edge of the village where a medical missionary who had lived among them and brought the good news of salvation to them was buried.  He had loved them and healed their diseases; but in so doing, he had contracted one of those diseases and died while showing God's love to them."'  Reflection  Am I "so embodying the life and ministry of Jesus that when Christ's life is described, people will think of me because of my love and the selfless service I perform in the name of Jesus?"'

Napoleon once said this about Christ: "Alexander, Caesar, Charlemagne, and I myself, have founded great empires.  But upon what did these creations of our genius depend?  Upon force.  Jesus alone founded His empire upon love, and to this day millions will die for Him."' (Bible Expositor and Illuminator: "The Privilege of Serving" (Luke 22:14-30) for March 24, 2013, pgs. 54,55)