5 words till Christmas... scandalous...

Scandalous... an Advent word... you may not have associated with Christmas... but it's there...

Beginning with Mary...
and the scandal of a pregnant "virgin"...
immaculate conception...
Right...! 
Who was buying that one...

Well... her fiance did...
Joseph went right on and married her...
the scandal being one of two...
the baby was his...
or he was an idiot...!

This little scandal in the community was remembered a long time...
the people of Nazareth even brought it back up when Jesus began his ministry...

...and coming to his hometown [Jesus] taught them in their synagogue,

so that they were astonished, and said, "Where did this man get this wisdom

and these mighty works? Is not this the carpenter's son? Is not his mother

called Mary?..." And they took offense at him.

Matthew 13:54-55, 57 ESV

Scandals are remembered...

whether true or false...

they stick with a person a long time...

Scandalous...

From our twenty-first century hindsight...

we see another scandal...

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 2:7 ESV

No room in the inn...

for a laboring young mother...?

No room in the world...

for the Son of God to be born...?!

Scandalous...

The greatest scandal in the Christmas story... one we often overlook...

was stirred up by the wise men... who came searching for the newborn King...

When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him;

and assembling the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them

where the Christ was to be born. They told him, "In Bethlehem of Judea,

for so it is written in the prophet... Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly

and ascertained from them what time the star appeared. And he sent them to

Bethlehem, saying, "Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have

found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him."

Matthew 2:3-5, 7-8 ESV

Liar...!

After the wise men worshiped...

they were warned in a dream not to return to Herod...

And Joseph was warned too...

Rise... flee to Egypt...

because a scandalous atrocity was about to take place...

Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men,

became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem

and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time

that he had ascertained from the wise men. Then was fulfilled what was spoken

by the prophet Jeremiah: "A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and loud lamentation,

Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be comforted,

because they were no more."

Matthew 2:16-18 ESV

Not the kind of Christmas story we tell our kids 'round the tree on Christmas Eve... but there it is...

Not to mention the prophetic Word concerning its happening...

a story which stirs doubt in the hearts of Believers...

How could He let this happen...? only save His own Son...?

Scandalous...

But the truth of the matter is...

by saving His own Son...

He made the way to save ALL...!

Jesus came as the Lamb of God...

to take away the sins of the world...

the whole world... not just a select few...

His life ended with a scandalous trial...

conducted by the leaders of His church...

the trial led to a scandalous execution...

authorized by a governor who found no guilt in Him...

Scandalous...

Then He rose from the dead...

another scandal... for those who refuse to believe...

Who stole the body...?! Where is He hidden...?!

Scandalous...

Reading this morning... I found reference to Jesus's genealogy as recorded by Matthew... it echoes the scandals found in Jesus's family tree...

Here, then, you have moral outsiders --- adulterers, adulteresses, incestuous relationships, prostitutes. Indeed we are reminded that even the prominent male ancestors --- Judah and David --- were moral failures. You also have cultural outsiders, racial outsiders, and gender outsiders. The Law of Moses excluded these people from the presence of God, and yet they are all publicly acknowledged as the ancestors of Jesus.

---Timothy Keller, Hidden Christmas

There is no scandal which excludes you from the love and salvation of God in Christ Jesus... no scandal so great you will be excluded from His family... if you believe...

He died a scandalous death... for all our scandals...

The greatest scandal... the only one which excludes us from His salvation...
is the scandal of unbelief... rejection of the Creator... and His Son who came to save...

For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature,

have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world,

in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.

For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God

or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking,

and their foolish hearts were darkened.

Romans 1:20-21 ESV

Scandalous...

rest... the way of salvation...

For thus said the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel,

"In returning and rest you shall be saved;

in quietness and in trust shall be your strength."

But you were unwilling...

Isaiah 30:15 ESV

Rest... it's the way of salvation...

Returning to Him through repentance...

recognizing there is no way to save ourselves...

resting in His work... His way... His Word...

is the way we are saved...

But we... won't... have it...

For the most part... mankind is unwilling...

we should be able to work things out ourselves...

in our own strength...

our own righteousness...

our own way...

Pride refuses to let us rest... and be saved...

But He tells us...

In returning... and rest... you shall be saved...

There is no other way...

wait on Him... Titus 2:11-14...

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people,

training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions,

and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age,

waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God

and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us

from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own

possession who are zealous for good works.

Titus 2:11-14 ESV

God's grace... Jesus...

appeared to bring salvation for ALL people...

only not all receive it...

God's grace... Jesus...

trains us...

to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions...

to live self-controlled... upright... godly lives...

now... in this present age...

not in the time to come...

This is the way we wait for our hope... Jesus... to appear...

It may sound like a lot...

the training...

the waiting...

the denying of self...

NOW...

until you consider...

He gave Himself...

on the cross...

for our redemption...

He paid a high price...

a painful... excruciating... death...

to purify us... for Himself...

to make us His own possession...

people zealous... for good works...

just like Him...

Is it really too much to ask...?

to renounce the flesh...?

all those things that lead to death...?

and wait for Him...? 

NOW...?

zealous... fervent... eager... for good works...?

Just this evening...

before writing...

I found myself wimping out....

tired... fleshly... 

not zealous... eager... or fervent...

about finishing up the good works...

He has for me today...

I found myself forgetting...

the first love...

the love and wonder...

of Him finding any use for me at all...

and now in this season...

where He's finding so much use for me...

I can't do it without Him...

I'm whining...

instead of rejoicing...

looking for ways out...

instead of eagerness to serve...

Pathetic...

that's what I am today...

But by His grace...

His mercy...

I remember...

the wonder...

of serving Him...

His faithfulness to provide...

what's needed to complete...

to finish what He's started...

Restore to me the joy of your salvation,

and uphold me with a willing spirit.

Psalm 51:12 ESV

Lord... forgive me for my lack of zeal...

fill me afresh with the wonder You can find any use for me...

restore joy... provide a willing spirit...

You have done so much for me... and I've so little time...

to do for You...

I choose to wait on You... as You call me to...

Amen...

wait on Him... Micah 7:5-7...

Put no trust in a neighbor; have no confidence in a friend;

guard the doors of your mouth from her who lies in your arms;

for the son treats the father with contempt,

the daughter rises up against her mother,

the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law;

a man's enemies are the men of his own house.

But as for me, I will look to the Lord;

I will wait for the God of my salvation;

my God will hear me.

Micah 7:5-7 ESV

Who is worth waiting on... hoping in...?

Not your neighbor...

your friend...

your spouse...

your children...

your in-laws...

only God...

God alone delivers...

God alone is faithful...

Every person in your life will eventually let you down...

no person can save you...

Too often we put our trust in others...

trust which rightly belongs to God...

When He is our hope...

the One on which we wait...

we save ourselves a lot of grief...

For years... I found myself putting hope in my husband...

waiting on him... to keep me safe and secure...

looking to him... to make me content...

Finally God revealed this as idolatry...

He will never allow us to find security and peace in a person...

because He is the only One to fill that place in our lives...

Consider who you are waiting on... hoping in...

if it's a person in your life... let it go...

love them... bless them...

but don't put your hope in them...

Turn to God to fill the role of Savior... 

Confidant... 

Friend... 

in your life...

He's waiting for you... to wait on Him...

wait on Him... Isaiah 33:2...

O Lord, be gracious to us; we wait for you.

Be our arm every morning, our salvation in time of trouble.

Isaiah 33:2 ESV

Those who wait on the Lord...

know they need His grace...

His support...

His salvation...

With this self-knowledge of need...

comes an expectation grace...

The psalmist cries...

O Lord... be gracious to us...

we wait for You...

The psalmist reveals his knowledge of the Lord's grace...

His heart for the poor and needy...

Who is like the Lord our God, who is seated on high,

who looks far down on the heavens and the earth?

He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap,

to make them sit with princes, with the princes of his people.

Psalm 113:5-8 ESV

The Lord is gracious to those who know their poverty... their need... apart from Him...

For those with such knowledge of the Lord...

a cry of confidence is heard...

O Lord... be gracious... I wait for You...

in need of Your strength each morning...

in need of Your salvation each trouble-filled day...

Do you know you are poor and needy apart from Him...?

How confident are you of His grace in your life...?

wait on Him... Isaiah 25:8-9...

He will swallow up death forever;

and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces,

and the reproach of his people he will take away

from all the earth, for the Lord has spoken.

It will be said on that day, "Behold, this is our God;

we have waited for him, that he might save us.

This is the Lord; we have waited for him;

let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation."

Isaiah 25:8-9 ESV

What do these verses tell us about waiting on Him...?

He is worth the wait...!

He will swallow up death FOREVER...!

He will wipe away tears from ALL faces...

He will take away the reproach... the disgrace... of His people...

We know this because... He... has... spoken...

"For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven

and do not return there but water the earth,

making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower

and bread to the eater, so shall my word be

that goes out of my mouth; it shall not return to me empty,

but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,

and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it. ..."

Isaiah 55:10-11 ESV

Just as surely as the rain causes crops to grow...

and the watchmen know the sun will rise...

we can know... He will... do what He says...

The One on whom we wait... will save us...

Behold...! His Word is sure...

rejoice in the waiting...

be glad during the delays...

because... He... will...

wait on Him... Psalm 25:4-5...

Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths.

Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation;

for you I wait all the day long.

Psalm 25:4-5 ESV

The God of our salvation...

He is the One worth waiting on...

He makes known His ways... 

teaches His paths...

leads us in truth...

Wait on Him...

with a teachable heart...

and you won't be led astray...

His Lordship...

It is altogether doubtful whether any man can be saved who comes to Christ for His help but with no intention of obeying Him, for Christ's saviourhood is forever united to His lordship.

---A.W. Tozer, Evenings With Tozer

To claim Him as Lord...
is to choose obedience...

Tozer goes so far as to say...
without obedience...
salvation is doubtful...

Twice in the last week... a verse from Deuteronomy... came to my attention...

Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds;

tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them

on your foreheads.

Deuteronomy 11:18

One reference was in the context of hypocrisy... and the practice of Pharisees carrying out this command literally...

Everything they do is done for people to see: They make their phylacteries wide and their tassels on their garments long. (Matt. 23:5)

Phylacteries were leather boxes containing bits of parchment inscribed with Scripture verses. It was a response to the Old Testament verses, found in Deuteronomy, about binding God's Word to one's arms and foreheads. The real meaning, of course, is for us to bury his Word in our hearts so we can carry it with us everywhere we go.

---Kyle Idleman, The End of Me

Reading these words... the picture came...
to tie the Lord's Word on your hands...
means to let His Word live through your hands...

Binding His Word to your forehead...
the invasion of His Word into your thought life...
transforming your thinking...
therefore your actions...
your life...

The Pharisees... whom Idleman uses as an example of hypocrisy... wanted people to see the Word tied to their hands... bound to their foreheads... living one life on the outside... and another on the inside...

Jesus called these men whitewashed tombs... dead men walking...

"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!

For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly

appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people's bones

and all uncleanness. So you also outwardly appear righteous

to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. ..."

Matthew 23:27-28 ESV

To receive Christ...

is to receive Him as Lord...

To receive Him as Lord...

is to surrender your will...

die to self...

and in turn...

receive eternal life...

If He is Lord... we live for Him...

with integrity... purity...

the same on the outside... as the inside...

Are you wearing His Word...? or living it...?

Lord... help me to live Your Word both inside and out...

continue to move me toward integrity and purity...

twenty-five days...

Today... the countdown begins...
twenty-five days... till Christmas...

And I wonder... how should I prepare...
when preparations have yet to begin...?

The thought comes...
bring twenty-five days of His Word...
that which reveals Him...
His coming...
His gospel...
His return...

The first promise of His coming...
found in Genesis... after the Fall...

The Lord God said to the serpent,

"Because you have done this...

I will put enmity between you and the woman,

and between your offspring and her offspring;

he shall bruise your head,

and you shall bruise his heel."

Genesis 3:14-15 ESV

The serpent... satan... brought the lie of temptation into the world...

sin followed... along with death... separation from God...

He said... her offspring... shall bruise his head...

a death blow... to the one who opened the door to death...

Jesus... offspring of Eve...

His Father... God...

His mother... woman...

Yes... His coming was planned from the beginning...

even before the foundations of the world...

God chose him as your ransom long before the world began,

but he has now revealed him to you in these last days.

Through Christ you have come to trust in God.

1 Peter 1:20-21 NLT

He knew we would need a Savior...

He knew He would send His Son...

He knew... even before... it all began...

Heavenly Father... God-Three-In-One...

help me to come to a greater understanding...

of Your great love over the coming days...

Love that creates... knowing a sacrifice would have to be made...

Note... this is one of those things... started by faith... the whisper of an idea... I don't have a plan... don't know where it's going... trusting Him to provide the Word... each... day...

now that's different...

You know... I probably knew it already... but to hear it said the way it was said... made it much more clear...

Salvation is about getting God in man.

---Adrian Rogers

Salvation is not about getting man into heaven...
it's about getting God in man...

Now that's different...

"... Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit

by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, 

unless you abide in me. ..."

John 15:4 ESV

To abide in Jesus... is to have Him in you...

the only way to bear fruit for His Kingdom...

the only way of salvation...

"... If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away

like a branch and withers; and the branches gathered,

thrown into the fire, and burned. ..."

John 15:6 ESV

To argue... convince... reason... a person into believing is not possible... only God... by making the Way through faith... can He enter into a person...

Just think about it...

it's different...

a wonder of the season... stooping low...

I wonder... at His stooping low...

The Creator... against whom we rebelled...

He came to make us great...

You give me your shield of victory;

you stoop down to make me great.

2Samuel 22:36

His infinite... 

power... 

majesty... 

sovereignty... 

compressed... into a baby boy...

...[He] emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant,

being born in the likeness of men. 

Philippians 2:7 ESV

And I wonder... at this Love... stooping low... to make the lowly... great...

A morning's devotional... reminds me...

Above all, look up to Jesus Christ your Intercessor, and ask yourself, while He pleads, can your Father deal ungraciously with you? If He remembers even sparrows, will He forget one of the least of His poor children?

---Charles Spurgeon, Morning and Evening

But this time of year... I say... look down... into the manger where He stooped... making Himself a poor child...

How can the Father deal ungraciously...? When He sent His only Son... to be poor with you...? to be poor for you...?

His crucifixion... became His shield of victory... over sin... and death...

A shield... He offers to us... to you... and me...

And being found in human form,

he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death,

even death on a cross.

Philippians 2:8 ESV

A wonder... this stooping low...

Perhaps we should consider... stooping low... for someone this season... laying down our own life... out of love... to lift them up... make them great...?

Father God... don't let me miss an opportunity... to stoop low... 

this season... and reveal the wonder of Your love... to another...

love is patient...

Reminded of a much needed lesson...

Love is patient...

1Corinthians 13:4

Tempted by impatience... I remember His patience...

His long-suffering grace... bearing the agony... retaining the affection...

...God demonstrates his own love for us in this:

While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 4:8

Choosing... to love like Him... patiently...

...our Lord's patience means salvation...

2Peter 3:7

saved by His mercy...

The reading through of Leviticus has me considering His mercy... and the magnitude of His grace through Jesus... and the provision of blood for atonement... for forgiveness...

For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it for you on the altar to make atonement for your souls, for it is the blood that makes atonement by the life.

Leviticus 17:11 ESV

All the blood in the tabernacle... a foreshadowing of what was to come... the perfect sacrifice... to end all sacrifices...

God presented [Christ Jesus] as a sacrifice of atonement,

through faith in his blood.

Romans 3:25

Each of us... in Christ... should greatly identify with Isaac... and his trek up the hill with his father Abraham...

Isaac carried the means for offering a sacrifice... the wood... the fire... the only thing missing... the offering...

"...but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?"

Genesis 22:7 ESV

Abraham... the father of the faithful... told his son whom he had been commanded to sacrifice... "God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering..."

Yet... Isaac found himself bound to the wood... a knife to his throat... about to die at the hand of his father... when a voice said...

"Abraham, Abraham!... Do not lay your hand on the boy..."

Genesis 22:11-12 ESV

Imagine Isaac's relief... his joy... his wonder... at the ram in the bushes... provided for his salvation...

We too... should recognize the provision God made for us... saving us from judgment... and the shedding of our own blood... for our own sins...

We too... should breathe a sigh of relief... a grateful prayer... and offer an obedient heart... to the One who took our place... who saved us by grace...

Jesus... the ultimate Lamb of God... the final sacrifice... the One who came to take away the sins of the world... because of His mercy...

But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy...

Titus 3:4-5 ESV

Saved... by... His... mercy...

Do you see it...?

Do you know it...?

Are you grateful for it...?

Father God... help me to more fully comprehend... 

Your mercy that saves... and the provision You've made... 

so I may live my life... in grateful obedience... for Your glory...

This week's readings for The Journey...

Monday                      Leviticus 20

Tuesday                      Leviticus 21-22

Wednesday                 Leviticus 23

Thursday                     Leviticus 24:1 - 25:22

Friday                         Leviticus 25:23-55

why i need Jesus... (and you do too...)

Why do I need Jesus...?

My obedience is not trustworthy...

It came like an epiphany this morning...

Reading more... on His work... and ours...

How do you beat sin? We beat sin only by pressing into Jesus, knowing Him, and chasing Him. There is grace upon grace to be had in Him. So much grace, you can't use it all up. If we broken people will come to Christ in faith, we will receive an infinite supply of grace. This is why we pursue Christ above all --- because He is more than enough. He will always be enough.

---Mark Chandler, To Live is Christ to Die is Gain

Our work... pursue Him in relationship... not in obedience...

I see that... and know that... 

My obedience comes from a place that longs to please...

But I've put too much stock in it... depended on it as a barometer... of my love for Him... His for me... how I'm doing with Him in relationship...

This morning... it's just so clear...

My obedience is not trustworthy...

His is...

He puts no stock in my obedience...

Only His...

His obedience alone... the basis of our relationship...

His obedience born out of love... 

Love for His Father... 

Love for His creation...

The call to obedience is purely about entering into relationship with Him... coming to know Him... in and through His Word... coming to know Him... through His continued work in the world... coming to know His ways...

There's freedom... in this epiphany... 

I'm a sinner... 

He knows it...

My obedience will continue to fall short... continue to fail...

He took care of that...

His acceptance of me... my salvation... His love for me... is not dependent on me...

It's all Him...

A simple message given Saturday... at worship... focused on communion...

He took the bread...

He blessed the bread...

He broke the bread...

He gave the bread...

The bread... Himself... 

He took the mission willingly...

He blessed His Father with obedience...

He allowed Himself to be broken... 

So He could be given... to a broken world...

He took... He blessed... He broke... He gave...

And I see how He took me... and you...

He blessed us in the choosing... even though we were already broken... 

He broke our bondage to sin...

So we might give Him our lives... for His use...

Not because we are great at obedience... not because we are trustworthy... not because He needs us... but because He is great at obedience... He is trustworthy... and we need Him...

Hallelujah...!

It is not about me... only Him...

Obedience... I'm going to stop counting on mine... no longer let failure put a veil between me and Him... no longer allow the enemy to accuse...

Because now I KNOW... my obedience is not trustworthy...

He's not counting on it... and neither am I...!

I obey... because I want to know Him...

Amen...

Christ has set us free to live a free life.

So take your stand! Never again let anyone

put a harness of slavery on you.

Galatians 5:1 Msg

waiting... like Jesus...

The thoughts came yesterday... folding laundry... thinking about one who struggles...

As a Believer... where is Jesus... when we sin...?

He never leaves us... or forsakes us...
There is nowhere... we can go from His presence...
By His Spirit... He lives in us...
We are His temple...

Where is Jesus... when we sin...?

With us...
Beside us...
In us...

Every sin... He takes as His...
He bore... bears... them all...
His blood... our justification...
Every sin... increases the costly suffering... born on the cross...

He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree,

so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness;

by his wounds you have been healed.

1 Peter 2:24 

Then today... not in my usual way... I turned on the TV while eating breakfast... surfing channels... I came to a man... sharing his testimony...

This man... unbelieving... pursuing the world's promises for fulfillment... found them empty... he then began seeking that which is Greater... open to Truth... he came to a moment of decision...

At the moment of his salvation... he heard God say...

I've been here all along... waiting... I'm so glad you've come...

Even for the unbeliever... He is waiting...

For ALL created beings... He waits... not wanting anyone to perish...

He died for all sins...

A reminder... He's waiting on those I love... He's there with them... in all... through all... and He calls me to wait... with Him...

The recurrent Psalm... it challenges... and calls... again...

On God alone, O my soul, wait in silence,

for my hope is from Him.

Psalm 62:5 ESV

Lord... help me wait with You... on You...

Teach me to wait... like You...

[Related fare...

pondering... Psalm 62...

practicing... Psalm 62...  ]

mighty to save...

Greater is the One in me...
than the one in the world...

He is the Light...
that destroys the darkness...

The Savior who breaks...
the bonds of sin and death...

Stoops down... in mercy and compassion...
to redeem His lost creation...

So great is His love...
Mighty to save...

For as high as the heavens are above the earth,

so great is his love for those who fear him;

as far as the east is from the west,

so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

As a father has compassion on his children,

so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him;

for he knows how we are formed,

he remembers that we are dust.

Psalm 103:11-14

active Word...

Take the helmet of salvation and

the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Ephesians 6:17

I noticed it yesterday... but didn't take time to think it through...

Yesterday... felt rushed... stressed... too much to do... and it all didn't get done...

And yesterday's post... a struggle...

Today began... much the same way... but God would not let it remain...

The current treadmill read... The Bondage Breaker... is coming to an end... and the author offers a guide... Steps to Freedom in Christ... at the close of the book...

In my pragmatic way... (time on the treadmill coming to a close...) thought... I'll just walk through the first step today... and take the rest a step a day... because time felt pressed... beginning step one... did not have to mean going all the way... today...

So I started... and an hour and a half or so later... found myself in the kitchen... wrung clean... and decompressed...

Taking the steps... to freedom... through prayer... delving into...

Counterfeit vs Real...

Deception vs Truth...

Bitterness vs Forgiveness...

Rebellion vs Submission...

Pride vs Humility...

Bondage vs Freedom...

Curses vs Blessings...

changed my day... and I believe... my life...

And before this particular walk... the connection between... helmet and sword... was beginning to come into focus...

Take the helmet of salvation and

the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Ephesians 6:17

But here is what I see now... the helmet of salvation... and... the sword of the Spirit... the Word... must be taken together... I'm not sure one does much good without the other...

It is only through the Word... the Word made flesh... that we have any hope of salvation... deliverance... freedom... any helmet to put on...

It is the Word... that saves... 

The deception of the enemy... demolished only by the truth of the Word...

It is often noted that the sword is the only offensive piece of equipment listed here. While that is true, its offensive characteristic is that it represents the word of God... The fact that Paul uses the word for the short rather than the long sword suggests hand-to-hand combat.

---The IVP New Testament Commentary Series: Ephesians

The fight is up close... and personal... the enemy in our space... in our face... with his lies...

Over and over.... in The Bondage Breaker... the Word is used as the foundation... for steps to freedom...

In switching defense to offense, Paul also changes the grammar of his expression. Unlike the previous genitive expressions, where shield = faith and helmet = salvation, sword does not equal the Spirit. (Paul will go on to say that the sword of the Spirit equals the word of God.) The phrase "of the Spirit" means that the Holy Spirit is both the source of God's word, and the one who gives effectiveness to its cutting edge (see John 16:8-11).

--- The College Press NIV Commentary: Galatians & Ephesians

Spirit-wielded Word... cuts to the truth... and brings freedom...

The Holy Spirit guides us to the Word we need... for whatever battle... we are waging...

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

Ephesians 6:18

Paul concludes the listed pieces of armor... with instruction on how to wield the Word... Spirit-led prayer... all kinds... for self... and all the saints...

The Word reveals the truth of who we are in Him... and how much He loves all... and longs for all to be freed from sin...

The lies that oppress... enslave... and lead to sin... can be broken... destroyed... by the Spirit empowered Word of truth...

Get the Word active in your life...
Learn it...
Know it...
Pray it...
All at the leading... of the Spirit...

Dear heavenly Father, I come to you as Your child, bought out of slavery to sin by the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. You are the Lord of the universe and the Lord of my life. I submit my body to You as an instrument of righteousness, a living and holy sacrifice that I may glorify You in my body. I now ask You to fill me with the Holy Spirit. I commit myself to the renewing of my mind in order to prove that Your will is good, acceptable, and perfect for me. All this I pray in the name and authority of the risen Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

--- Neil Anderson, Closing prayer of the Steps to Freedom in Christ 

Related fare:

active duty...

active truth...

active righteousness...

active gospel...

active faith...
active salvation... 

active salvation...

Put on God's whole armor [the armor of a heavy-armed soldier which God supplies], that you may be able successfully to stand up against [all] the strategies and deceits of the devil.

Ephesians 6:11 Amp

We've been working our way through the whole armor of God... considering how to take an active role in our defense against the darkness... God wouldn't have supplied us with armor... if He didn't expect us to enter the battle... passivity is not an option...

The next piece of armor... the helmet of salvation....

Take the helmet of salvation...

Ephesians 6:17

take... in Greek... dechomai... meaning... to take with the hand... receive... grant access to... to take upon one's self... 

The helmet of salvation... is something we must receive... and in the taking... implies the wearing...

For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Thessalonians 5:9

helmet... a covering... made to protect the head... common items even today... for football... or motorcycles...

The mind is essential for life and coordination; the head is vulnerable to lethal or incapacitating blows. Thus the soldier needs a helmet...

---The IVP New Testament Commentary Series: Ephesians 

salvation... deliverance from the power and effects of sin... liberation from ignorance or illusion... preservation from destruction or failure... deliverance from danger or difficulty...

Take the helmet of salvation...

Receive... cover your head... mind... thoughts... with the deliverance... saving grace... found in Jesus...

"...Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved."

Acts 4:12 NIV

Our head... the seat of our brain... the center of thought... reason... will... a vulnerable place... when it comes to spiritual warfare...

The enemy... lies... accuses... fosters unbelief... making our mind... the battlefield... a place in dire need of defense...

Satan is currently... and temporarily... the prince of the world... the one who determines its current pattern... way... 

Do not conform to the pattern of this world,

but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.

Romans 12:2 NIV

The Word warns us not to conform to the world's way... but be transformed... by the renewing of our mind... then you will be able to test... approve... what God's will is... His good... pleasing... perfect will...

The salvation message... enables us to disregard... the blows of the enemy... that which has the potential to... incapacitate... stun... confuse...

Take control of your thought life... 

 ...take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

2 Corinthians 10:5

Filter all... through the helmet of salvation... every thought... considered from the perspective of the cross...

Thoughts about you...

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith --- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God ---

Ephesians 2:8

Thoughts about others...

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise,

as some understand slowness.

He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish,

but everyone to come to repentance.

2 Peter 3:9

Thoughts about how to live...

For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age...

Titus 2:11-12

Salvation... and its message... protect us from the lies... accusations... and deceptions... of the enemy...

Begin to transform your mind... through active... thoughts... of salvation...

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble,

whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely,

whatever is admirable --- if anything is excellent

or praiseworthy --- think about such things.

Philippians 4:8

Related fare...

active duty...

active truth...

active righteousness...

active gospel...

active faith...

thursday...

The Thursday... before... Good Friday...

a call to watch... The Passion...

the night of Jesus's arrest...

the time... when darkness reigned...

Then Jesus said to the chief priests,

the officers of the temple guard,

and the elders, who had come for him,

"... this is your hour --- when darkness reigns."

Luke 22:52-53

An emotional experience... the watching... a spiritual discipline...

Emotions... seen... journaled...

Anger... the chief priests and temple guard...

Anguish... Jesus at Gethsemane...

Assuredness... Jesus facing arrest...

Confusion... Peter... if he was not to fight... what was he to do?

Innocent... Jesus... He broke no temple law... He was the fulfillment of the Law...

Scorn... Jesus... He scorned the shame... 

Sadness... heartache... Jesus... for the priests...

Arrogance... the chief priests...

Liars... the chief priests...

Power struggle... Pilate... vs... the priests...

Fear... Pilate... facing civil unrest...

Brutal... the guards who scourged Jesus...

Love... Mary... His mother... who stood by...

Perseverance... Jesus...

Devotion... the women... John...

Obedient... a Son...

"...The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life --- only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father."

John 10:17-18

This... the Son... we are to follow...

A hard lesson... in... obedience...

waking thoughts on Christmas eve... what Christmas means to me...

The Word became flesh...

 and made his dwelling among us... 

The Word... 

by whom...

and through whom...

and for whom... all was created...

The One who said...

and it was...

The One not bound...

by time...

or space...

infinite in majesty and glory...

emptied Himself...

and entered a virgin womb...

He experienced life...

as His own creation...

Author... entering the story... a two-dimensional character... ink on paper...

Potter... entering the inanimate... clay on wheel...

From the first division of cells...

He... Creator... lived life...

conception...

birth...

death...

The Divine...

Father... Son... Spirit...

showed the way...

The way we were meant to live...

from the beginning...

In community with Him...

The Son... this baby Jesus...

lived at the direction of the Father...

by way of the Spirit...

never his own will... but God's alone...

The same relationship we were created to have with Him...

until the Fall... the one rule... the one law... 

broken...

The law that broke relationship with a holy God...

The law that birthed pain...

and sin...

and death...

into a world that was good...

The reason the Son came...

Emmanuel...

God with us...

He came to restore...

redeem...

repair...

what was lost...

The one thing we... His beloved...

were created for...

relationship with Him...

God... Almighty... Glorious... Uncontainable...

emptied Himself...

into a dark... lost... world...

A world where He was born in a barn...

and laid in a feed trough...

A world where His own...

did not recognize Him... 

even when He healed...

freed...

raised...

A world who rejected...

beat...

spit on...

crucified...

though He was without sin...

The Son... He became flesh...

made His dwelling among us...

sacrificed Himself...

to bring ultimate...

restoration...

healing...

life... everlasting...

...by His wounds... 

we are healed...

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A second thought...

I love when He breaks into my waking thoughts...speaks to me in that moment before... full consciousness... speaking thoughts that stay with me throughout the day...

I pray... that He will speak to you... this holy-day Season... speak of His Son... and His love for you... 

Merry Christmas...