God is Near (Devotional): Day Four

Read John 1:1-14 and Hebrews 1:1-3

This season is an opportunity for us to celebrate the gospel and consider the great lengths Christ endured to make us his own. For Christians, this season means something that other religions cannot understand and cultural nostalgia cannot replace. Every religion and man-made system tells men to climb a mountain to a god, paradise, nirvana, gain, or wisdom. They view the mountain as something transcendent and satisfying. But the glory of Christmas — the glory of the Christian gospel — is that God, who is above all, even the highest mountains of human performance, came down to us.

The incarnation of Jesus Christ brings down to men what men could not attain. In all his unreachable glory, infinite separate from sinners, holiness, and unapproachability, God came to us in human form. This coming is the beauty of that grace we talked about yesterday. In Christ, we see the fullness of God and the fullness of man in one person. This makes the Lord Jesus Christ the only Mediator between God and man.

If Christ is not fully God, how can he truly represent the character of God? And if not fully man, how does he represent us completely? Christmas is miraculous, because God and man are united forever in the Mediator. Because of His atoning work on the cross, Heaven and Earth can sing with joy because He has brought God and man together. God is satisfied in Christ's perfect sacrifice. When we are united to His Son by faith, His satisfaction extends to us as well.

In John 1, we read that the Word, God the Son, became flesh and dwelt among us. We also read in Hebrews 1 that even in our likeness, Jesus is still fully God. He is not a disinterested deity, but the God who came to us in love and passion.

Come every heart that longs
Join in the joyful song
Hope has appeared
God is near

I invite you this Christmas to join in the joyful song – even if joining in means making some personal changes. Listen no more to the voices that tell you to climb impossible mountains to reach God and His satisfaction. You cannot do it. Instead, take your longings to Jesus and give him all the glory – he has appeared as our Savior. He has done it. God is near.

God is Near (Devotional): Day Three

Read Galatians 3:19-29

In the Old Testament we see that the promise of salvation would come as a Seed, part of a lineage. But when the fullness of time had come, the Seed would extend family rights to strangers. In Genesis 22 Abraham received the promise that from his family line would come a Seed of salvation, and all the nations of the earth would be blessed by it. This Seed would make a new family from all nations and peoples. In fact, Paul tells us that this Seed is Jesus (Galatians 3) and that through the grace of Christ, God makes legitimate heirs in his family, regardless of worldly status. We see a grand Christmas truth in the coming and working of Christ: God saves all kinds of people.

Come, all you broken and poor
Come, leave your riches he is more
Come, see the beauty of the Lord
God is near.

God’s redemption does not depend on your family name or social standing. Jesus saves sinners of all kinds. In Christ, he unites a “people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation” (Revelation 5:9). The joy of Christmas does not rest on who we are but who Christ is. Jesus brings sinners to God and by his blood (Romans 5:1) and includes all kinds of people into his family.

In God’s nearness, we see that the purpose of his grace is not found in our lowest and worst or our greatest and most praised. Are you broken and poor? Are you striving to be enough? Do you think this world can fulfill you? Do you think you are too low for God? Do you think you’re not the right “type” of person to be saved? That is not looking with the eyes of faith. By God’s unmerited favor through confidence in him, sinners can come and behold him.

Our adoration of Jesus is profound and joyful when we draw from the inexhaustible fountains of his free grace. Our love moves from selfish to devoted when God’s grace has awakened our hearts to new life. Our hope becomes secure when we realize that salvation is all of God. Our perspective sharpens when we understand that God did not choose people just like us, but people from all extents of humanity. Our souls can be at rest knowing God began and will complete the work of making us his people.

This Christmas, let this truth of who Jesus came to be help you pray for the lost. Trust that God can even save the person you see as very distant from him. Give thanks to God that he made you part of his family.

God is Near (Devotional): Day Two

Read Matthew 1:18-23

On that Christmas night, Mary labored to give birth to God in flesh. Joseph naturally felt responsible for providing shelter and stability. Yet, this carpenter could not build provisions quick enough. Jesus was coming. Joseph had been trusting God for months that this baby was the Messiah. As we read in Matthew, the angel gave Joseph instructions for how to lead his family. First, he was not to fear taking Mary as his wife. Second, he was to embrace Jesus as his family. Joseph owned the responsibility of marrying his expecting fiancée and naming her son, the way a Hebrew father would do. Joseph had true Christmas hope, because he trusted that God’s salvation in Jesus was the greatest treasure in life.

The virgin birth with Joseph’s aid
Beheld the Son of God as babe
With longing eyes they looked upon
The people’s hope, the Holy One

Hope is the desire or expectation for a certain thing to happen. It believes something is concrete and absolute. Joseph wasn't hopeful that God would remove his difficulties in his journey. His concrete hope was that God’s salvation was ultimately greater than his difficulties.

Maybe you’ve had a tough year, faced loss, are overworked, or feel misunderstood. Or maybe, you know someone who needs encouragement right now. Our hope this Christmas is the Holy One who has come to deal with sin, the root of all our problems, by showing us grace in the cross of Christ. Think about that truth… First the Holy Creator and Judge has made himself accessible to be “with us” in every experience. And second, he has dealt with the penalty, power, and presence of sin by the blood of his cross. 

We live in a world hoping in false saviors and promoting temporary happiness. But Jesus has come to give everlasting life and contentment. Jesus is the path to authentic living! What a thing to hope in! This Christmas week, opportunities abound for us to share the hope of Jesus. Enrich this season with the truth that God is with us and for us! May longing eyes look upon him.

God is Near (Devotional): Day One

Read Isaiah 7

Judah (Israel’s Southern Kingdom) was threatened by plans of invasion from Assyria and the Northern Kingdom. Caught in the political fracture were many powerless people. Wickedness infused itself into the culture of Israel. Because of this, Isaiah trembled in his vision of the Lord, saying, “I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips.” We read later, the hearts in Judah were shaken “as the trees of the forest shake before the wind.” These powerless people had great need for redemption.

Isaiah prophesied to Ahaz that a sign of redemption would come — the virgin would conceive and bear a son, and call him “Immanuel.” Even though Judah eventually suffered invasion, Immanuel was a lasting hope for the powerless. Matthew 1:22-23 tells us that Immanuel was born among shepherds, the poor, and the displaced. He was born when the inn was full and the roads were filled with those who had no place to sleep. This was a divine embrace of humility.

The shepherds watched another night
The beggar found his sleep outside
And with them, in the stable laid
The richest love on Christmas Day

Immanuel was not just with us in proximity; he was with us in every respect of our likeness. He was worthy of all the earth’s riches, but chose the lowest estate. In his lowly birth, we can see the boundless reach of his love. His compassion shows that God chooses nearness to the powerless, poor, infringed, and vulnerable. In a real physical sense, God loves these people. What limit should such compassion have in our lives, if we have his mind (Phil 2:5)?

Lastly, his humility shows us a greater powerlessness in us, regardless of status, possessions, or influence. We are all powerless under sin. We sin by nature and are guilty of rebellion against God. Therefore, we need grace to lift us from the spiritual slums and place us into a kingdom where justice rules by mercy. We need a Savior because we have no power to deliver ourselves from sin. Though born among lowly men, Christ ultimately laid in that manger for powerless sinners: to “save his people from their sins” (Matt 1:21).

Our decorations, readings, calendars, and carols are all open doors to praise Immanuel and tell of his salvation to the powerless. May we all look to him by faith.

What is Christian Songwriting?

It has been said that where you find Christians, you inevitably will find them singing. Our songs have filled royal halls and mud huts. Our songs do not have to adhere to certain styles. They are found all over the world, expressing diversity in the kingdom of God. Yet, for all our songs to be Christian, they must birth from something the common man does not have. They are more than songs for the rising charts. The Bible tells us so…

A Gift of God’s Grace

There are many parts of the body of Christ, many members, and many gifts. Paul expresses this truth to the Corinthians, as he tells them how important it is to recognize spiritual gifts in one another and to use the gifts that God has given to build up the church (1 Cor 12:4, 12-26). The ability to take the truths of scripture and form songs that God’s people can sing is truly of grace. It is an ability, empowered by God (12:6). The New Testament tells us in multiple places that the music and singing of the church is to be used as a spiritual blessing from God to encourage and mature the body of Christ (Col 3:16).

Fueled by the Word

As I’ve mentioned, scripture must inform our songwriting. In our flesh, we are tempted to write songs based on experience and our finite ideas of God. It is displeasing to ascribe the glory due to God in a manner we prefer. I too have learned this and am thankful for his patience throughout my ministry. The gift of songwriting comes through faithful interaction with the Scriptures. If you’re wanting to write a song, draw from the well of truth. We expand and grow the gift by filling our minds with the Word and experiencing renewal in our thinking and working.

A Ministry to God’s People

The songs of the church not only present truth but teach it. Writing is a tool of grace in you, but also through you. Some people are called to sing songs that are not accessible for a congregation. However, if you write for the church to sing with you, consider how you might lead them. When sitting down to draft a melody, we do not write as entertainers, but leaders and servants to help God’s people sing! Our songs can encourage, heal, restore, and build up the lives of God’s saints.

We serve and lead the bride of Christ in order to honor and worship the Bridegroom. If you have a passion to write music for your local church, I encourage you to stay steeped in Scripture, remembering it is all from God, for his people, for his glory!