Category: God’s attributes revealed

God is Established-what about you?

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The characteristic of God that I’m looked at today is God being established. Established from our English dictionary means something or someone who is accepted or recognized by many people, like customs or traditions, or successful for a long period of time and widely known, like an author, company or credentials of experts, or growing or flourishing successfully, like a plant, and it is used in connection with church or religion being established. As I look at these definitions, God being established actually fits each type of definition but in the ultimate sense. He is beyond acceptance by just a few as scripture tells us that even the rocks cry out proclaiming Him as God. He will not be denied being known. He is eternal and constantly causing us to grow in Him.

Psalm 93:1-2 “The Lord reigns; he is robed in majesty;
    the Lord is robed; he has put on strength as his belt.
Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved.
2 Your throne is established from of old;
    you are from everlasting.” Here we see both God’s eternal reign as established and its immovable quality!

Psalm 103:19 “The Lord has established his throne in the heavens,
    and his kingdom rules over all.” This psalm tells us where He reigns- the extent of His kingdom includes both heaven and earth as all are under His rule!

Isaiah 33:5-6 “The Lord is exalted, for he dwells on high;
    he will fill Zion with justice and righteousness,
6 and he will be the stability of your times,
    abundance of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge;
    the fear of the Lord is Zion’s treasure.” Isaiah tells us that the Lord’s established kingdom is one where justice and righteousness reign, it is stable and there is salvation, wisdom and knowledge available in Him. What a wonderful place!

God’s kingdom is established and His reign is eternal, however, like other attribute or characteristics of God He desires to share some of it with us. David was called ‘a man after God’s own heart’ Acts 13:22 “After removing Saul, he made David their king. God testified concerning him: ‘I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.’ God established his kingly lineage for all eternity. Jesus was to come from his line. 2 Samuel 7:15-17 “ but my steadfast love will not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away from before you. 16 And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever.’” 17 In accordance with all these words, and in accordance with all this vision, Nathan spoke to David.” Many of the later kings did not follow God, but God was faithful to his promise to David and Abraham that ‘all people’ will be blessed by them through the Messiah. Jesus’ lineage is recorded in Matthew 1. When God establishes something, it is done and we can count on it through eternity!

Besides David’s line, God also establishes each of us! When we know Jesus, we belong to Him and Psalm 37:23 will definitely apply to us. “The steps of a man are established by the Lord, when he delights in his way;” Are you striving to walk with Jesus each day and obey His ways? Then be encouraged as you are established by God and He is taking delight in you!! Paul and Peter go on to tell us that knowing Jesus allows us to be established in our faith and rooted and built up in Him! The result will be thanksgiving. 2 Corinthians 2:6-7 “ Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, 7 rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.” Peter wants us to accept our place with Jesus and be secure in the knowledge that God has done this work in us and will continue to do it each day! 2 Peter 1:11-12 “For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 12 Therefore I intend always to remind you of these qualities, though you know them and are established in the truth that you have.”

I rejoice in the idea that my faith in Jesus establishes me with God for eternity!!! Because Christ died on the cross and rose from the dead, I am established by Him and with Him for all eternity. Rejoice with me today in this truth and seek to let His established light within you shine for others to see!

Linda

God is Strong

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One of the most wonderful characteristics of our Lord is His Strength. As I meditated upon this characteristic of God, I saw that His strength is His alone as Almighty, Sovereign God and also that like other characteristics He desires to give His strength to us who believe in Him.

His Alone- Job 36: 5 “Behold, God is mighty, and does not despise any; he is mighty in strength of understanding.” 1 Corinthians 1:25 “For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.” By His actions of Creation, judgment, and intervention in the plans of men over the generations we see His power and strength displayed.

His to pass on and share with us- this is preciously described in multiple ways in scripture. Moses proclaims his strength to lead the people comes from the Lord and He praises Him for it. Exodus 15:2 “The Lord is my strength and my song,
    and he has become my salvation; this is my God, and I will praise him, my father’s God, and I will exalt him.”

David proclaims his dependance upon God many times in the Psalms. Psalm 28:7-8 “The Lord is my strength and my shield;
    in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him.” Psalm 28:8 “The Lord is the strength of his people; he is the saving refuge of his anointed.” Psalm 46:1 “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” Psalm 73:261 “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” I love reading these passages as it reminds me that I am not doing what I’m doing in my own strength!

Nehemiah reminds the people as they desire to celebrate where their strength to accomplish God’s work came from. Nehemiah 8:10  Then he said to them, “Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

Isaiah gives us a No Fear message in Isaiah 41:10. “Fear not, for I am with you;
    be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you,
    I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” We are not to rely upon our own strength but lean into God as His righteous right hand = Jesus will always be there for us and with us!

Micah also points us to Jesus who will be our shepherd and guide and give us His strength for living! Micah 5:4 “And he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth.”

In the New Testament, the apostles often point us to how God uses His strength to enable us to live and work for Him. Acts 14:22 “strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.” He strengthens our very souls!

Ephesians 6:10 “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.” He gives us a portion of His might to sustain us in the trials of life.

Peter who knew the strengthening and restoration of Jesus first hand tell us in 1 Peter 5:10 “And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.”

Because Christ died on the cross and rose from the dead, I can depend upon the strength of the Lord to see me through the trials and temptations of daily living as He alone can restore, confirm and establish me!

May your day be filled with His strength and power!

Linda

God is Judge, NO Fear for the Believer

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One of the attributes of God that we don’t like to think about is that God is judge. When we think of judgement we often think of all the things we have done wrong- like being a criminal receives judgement. However, judgement is part of God’s plan and is ALWAYS fair and impartial as God is a just Judge. Psalm 9:7-8 “But the Lord sits enthroned forever;
    he has established his throne for justice,
8 and he judges the world with righteousness;
    he judges the peoples with uprightness.” God as creator has to position of judge over all mankind. We are assured that He will judge with righteousness. Psalm 145:17 goes on to add that his judgement includes kindness. “The Lord is righteous in all his ways and kind in all his works.”

We are also told by Isaiah and James that God is our king and savior. Isaiah 33:22 “For the Lord is our judge; the Lord is our lawgiver; the Lord is our king; he will save us.” James 4:12 “There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?”

How do we reconcile Judge with compassion and judgement? Isaiah 30:18 and Jeremiah 9:24 help us in our thinking. “Therefore the Lord waits to be gracious to you,
    and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you.
For the Lord is a God of justice;
    blessed are all those who wait for him.” and Jeremiah 9:24 “but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.” Unlike man, God is both compassionate and just as well a impartial. We cannot be those things but God can!

We know that God hates sin and will judge the sinner. 1 John 1:9 gives us a way back into God’s graces though faith in Jesus and His work on the cross. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Confession and repentance are essential to receiving God’s forgiveness of our sins. It is why Jesus came to reconcile us to God and provide a way. Romans 5:10 puts it this way, “For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.”

So what of judgement for the Christian believer who knows the forgiveness and reconciliation of Christ? We can lean on the grace and mercy of our impartial God. We will not be judged for our sins, as our sins are forgiven, but we will be held accountable for what we have done for Him in our lives. Romans 3:19 describes the judgment of the unbeliever as they are under the law of God.
“Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God.” We who know Christ are under the law of grace!! Ephesians 2:8-9 “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” Thank you Jesus for your provision of grace and mercy!

Because Christ died on the cross and rose from the dead, I am freed from God’s judgement and live under His grace and mercy! What a wonderful provision this is and lifts the burden of guilt and shame that we bear for our sins. Keep short accounts with God and daily ask His forgiveness for until we are in heaven with Him we live in a world filled with sin and its temptations. Look to Jesus and walk with Him each day!

Linda

Life- it comes from God in all ways!

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One of the attributes of God we don’t often think about is Life. God is ldfe and the source of all life. He created life as we know it along with the heavens and the earth. Remember the Garden of Eden where Adam and Eve dwelt and communed with God? He created a tree of life within the garden. Genesis 2:9 “And out of the ground the Lord God made to spring up every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.” Adam and Eve were instructed by God concerning these trees:  Genesis 2:16-17 “And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, 17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” When Adam and Eve ate from the tree of good and evil they were banished from the garden so that they could not eat from the tree of life and then be condemned to live forever in their sinful state. God mercifully protected them as He had a plan for their return to Him.

Today we can partake of the tree of life though faith in Jesus, faith in His redeeming work on the cross. John 11:25-26 “Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” God did not want to leave us helpless and lost. His plan of redemption restores us to the life, His life within us. John gives us several other passages that confirm this truth that life now comes through Jesus. John 1:3-4 “All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men.” John 3:36 “ Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.” John 14:6 “ Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Jesus provides life and a pathway out of sin described in Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Thank you Jesus!!

We can expand our thoughts of life to include each aspect of life and see it comes from Him. The pathways of life are in Him. Psalm 16:11 “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” Psalm 36:9 “For with you is the fountain of life; in your light do we see light.” David saw this aspect of God’s character and relied upon Him. Psalm 54:4 “Behold, God is my helper; the Lord is the upholder of my life.” David realized that all life comes from God and that God upholds us.

Because Christ died on the cross and rose from the dead, I can have life in God and with God while still here on earth- in this life He has given me. Praise God for His glorious provision and plan for you and me! I pray that the thought of God as life gives you hope and strength for what you are facing today.

Linda

God as Our Guide, YES!

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One of my favorite verses is Isaiah 58:11. A friend pointed me to this verse and it sooths my soul as it speaks of God as our constant Guide in life. “And the Lord will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places
    and make your bones strong;
and you shall be like a watered garden,
    like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.” I love the image and truth that His guidance leads me to places where He will fulfill my needs in spite of my circumstances and that I will perceive my existence as that of a well-watered garden. A well watered garden is one that is loved and cared for, nurtured in and out of season. My God treats me like that! God being my guide in life is one of the most profound characteristics of God. He takes a personal interest in His creation = that is me and you!

Here are some other verses that speak of God’s guidance in our lives. Psalm 25:4-5 “Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. 5 Lead me in your truth and teach me,
    for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long.” As our guide, God teaches us and gives salvation to which my response is to patiently wait on God’s timing. Sometimes, not so patiently, but we know that God’s ways are not our ways and that His timing is different than ours. He sees the whole picture and knows where things are headed and in what order things need to happen. Psalm 32:8 adds another perspective, “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.” We can be assured that God is watching and knows what is happening in our lives! Psalm 48:14 adds another assurance to God’s guidance. “that this is God, our God forever and ever. He will guide us forever.” We may not understand God’s timing but we can know that it is eternal and He will never stop being our guide.

Those verses were all from the Old Testament but God continues His role as guide in the New Testament. Jesus is our guide. He spoke of himself in the gospels and showed us ways to God that we could follow. He gave us 7 ‘I AM’s in the book of John, revealing aspects of himself that show His heart, love and guidance in our lives. John 6:35 “Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.” John 8:12 “Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 10:9 “I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.” John 10:11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” John 11:25 “Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live,” John 14:6 “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 15:5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” In these 7 I AM statements Jesus revealed himself in direct ways to guide us to Him so that we can abide in Him in faith. Which of these is most meaningful to you?

God also revealed Himself in the person of the Holy Spirit after Jesus’ return to heaven. Jesus told us about this in John 16:13 “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.”

Guide is an extremely important character trait for us to see in God. He assures us of this in both the Old and New Testaments and lets us know that it will continue until the end of time. God is forever and all His character attributes endure forever. Because Christ died on the cross and rose from the dead, I can be assured that God will guide me though His Word and Spirit until I come home to Him. I can rely upon Him and look to Him for guidance 24/7. Thanks be to God!

Linda

God’s Unending Grace

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Amazingly enough, during my 6 weeks of blogging during Lent I did not write about God’s grace. It touches so many aspects of His character and is so very precious to every believer. The Bible is filled with references to this phenomena known as God’s grace. There are many aspects to it and books have been written on it. Here is a brief glimpse into the importance and meaning of God’s Gracious character. By definition God’s grace is God’s kindness to those who do not deserve it. God is slow to anger and longs to forgive his people. His grace in salvation powerfully reaches out to us and makes us alive in Christ when we were dead in sin. God shows grace to all people- life, sunshine, rain, music, talents, etc. as good gifts even to people who do not love Him. God wants all mankind to have look at His grace and this is what is called common grace. All of us get to experience some of the goodness of our God.

How many times have good things happened you did not expect and were purely from the hand of God due to His grace? God owns his grace and can give it as He sees fit. Exodus 33:19 “And he said, “I will make all my goodness pass before you and will proclaim before you my name ‘The Lord.’ And I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy.” We can’t tell God- Hey! it is time for some grace. No, He give is as He sees fit, in His place and His time. I do believe that someday we will see how each piece of His grace He bestowed upon us fits perfectly with what we needed right then.

One of the most beautiful blessings is given in Numbers 6:22-25 “The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 23 “Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, Thus you shall bless the people of Israel: you shall say to them, 24 The Lord bless you and keep you;
25 the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; 26 the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.” Often pastors use this blessing to send people out for the week as it gives comfort, hope and assurance that God will be with us and will be gracious each and every day. We just need to look for it and He will show us His grace!

David often pleaded with God to bestow His grace upon him. When he was troubled, he sought God’s kindness, even though he knew he did not deserve it. Psalm 25:16-18 “Turn to me and be gracious to me,
    for I am lonely and afflicted. 17 The troubles of my heart are enlarged;
    bring me out of my distresses.18 Consider my affliction and my trouble,
    and forgive all my sins.” We too can call upon God’s gracious character and see His grace upon our lives. God loves to hear from us and will listen and respond to those who are sincere. However, God is not a cosmic bell boy just waiting for us to call. God always responds to our cries but not always in the way we think He should. We have to trust Him on this.

The New Testament speaks of God’s grace being fully revealed in the person of Jesus Christ. John 1:16-17 “ For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.” That grace also bring us to Jesus and allows us to be saved. Ephesians 2:8-9 “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” We did nothing to deserve God’s rescue of us. We did not earn it at all. God saved us because of His great love for us as He tell us in John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” His saving us through sending Jesus to redeem us was pure Grace on His part!

One of my favorite verses is 2 Corinthians 12:9. It speaks to me of the great grace of God and how I can rely upon His grace to give me all that I need in every situation. “But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” God’s grace is unending, deep, fathomless and pure. He has more to give than I will ever need-hence sufficient. That means no matter what the circumstances we face, He alone is enough to meet our needs. I don’t need to worry that I might use up God’s grace as His grace, like His character is limitless. He can meet my needs if I lean into Him and look to Him for that sustaining power only He can provide through His grace

Because Christ died on the cross and rose from the dead, I can know and receive God’s grace in my life that brings fullness and assurance to each and every day. May it be so for you too!

Linda

Christmas Blessings for You!

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Merry Christmas! I found this Christmas Blessing while blogging year and really loved the sentiments it contained. May you know the blessings of Peace that Jesus brings, John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” May you see your Hope in Him, 1 Peter 3:15 “but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,” May you feel the Sprit of His Love, 1 John 3:23 “And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us.” May you have the Comfort of Faith in Jesus, 2 Corinthians 1:3 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort.”

All of these gifts complete the circle of our Advent Wreath as we light the Christ candle on Christmas Eve or morning proclaiming His birth. May you find His Love, Comfort, Hope and Peace in Jesus. May you rejoice in the arrival of Jesus and claim the JOY God has for you.

Linda

4th Sunday of Advent-2023 It’s Christmas eve

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On this 4th Sunday before Christmas, we light the peace candle. The candle we lit on the First Sunday of Advent was the prophecy candle which symbolized the hope the coming Messiah brings to mankind. The second was the Bethlehem candle which reminded us of Mary and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem. The third candle symbolized the Shepherd’s joy at the birth of the Messiah. Today we light the Angel candle symbolizing the message given to the angels which was one of “Peace on Earth, Good Will Towards Men.” Because today is Christmas Eve we will also light the final white center candle which speaks of the arrival of the Messiah, the Christ child.

Rejoice today as you worship and sing carols. Ponder the blessings of hope, joy and peace that come to us because of God’s mercy and grace in sending Jesus as our Savior. Here is Psalm 130 which speaks of our cries to God for mercy as we realize our own sin. The answer rests with the Lord and His mercy towards us in sending Jesus.

From the depths of despair, O Lord,
    I call for your help.
2 Hear my cry, O Lord.
    Pay attention to my prayer.

3 Lord, if you kept a record of our sins,
    who, O Lord, could ever survive?
4 But you offer forgiveness,
    that we might learn to fear you.

5 I am counting on the Lord;
    yes, I am counting on him.
    I have put my hope in his word.
6 I long for the Lord
    more than sentries long for the dawn,
    yes, more than sentries long for the dawn.

7 O Israel, hope in the Lord;
    for with the Lord there is unfailing love.
    His redemption overflows.
8 He himself will redeem Israel
    from every kind of sin.

Thank you Lord for your unfailing mercy and love. Thank you for sending Jesus to redeem me from every kind of sin. Thank you Lord that You have everything under your control. I will trust in You.

Merry Christmas!

Linda

An Encounter with the Living God

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Today we see the shepherds actions following the appearance of the angels and their announcement of Messiah’s birth. Luke 2:15-20

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” 16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

How do you react to having a story, message or expectation confirmed? The shepherds were forever changed as they had seen God incarnate. They were praising and glorifying God, telling everyone they could find. Having your faith confirmed or bolstered is an exhilarating experience that continues in your heart and mind as your life goes on. You are forever changed as faith takes hold of your very being. Knowing and encountering Jesus does that to a person. He changes your very being and comes to dwell within you. That is an additional meaning to “God with us.” Paul describes this phenomena in Romans 8:9 “You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ.” and he continues in verse 11 “And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.”

Where do you see God in this scene? God appeared through the angels and drew the shepherds to Bethlehem to encounter His son. God draws us too as He wants us to see and meet Jesus for ourselves. God confirmed His words as they saw exactly what God said they would. God keeps His promises. An encounter with Jesus will change a person! Mary was changed as she soaked in all the events. I’m sure the shepherds told others continually of their own encounter with God’s messengers and His message to them. This would have confirmed her faith and what she herself had been told by the angel. God’s effect on the shepherds shows His power and might. His transforming power and sovereignty. 

Will you be open to God’s transformation this Christmas? Look with faith upon the manger this year and seek a personal encounter with Jesus. He will transform you, guarenteed!

Linda

Shepherds take a Walk towards Jesus

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What would be your reaction to the appearance of the angels and the multitude of heavenly hosts praising God in the middle of your work day? Amazement, curiosity, hope, awe, or all of these? We can only imagine what these humble shepherds experienced and felt. The Bible records part of their reaction in Luke 2:14-15.

“Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” 15 So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.”

The shepherds knew this was a momentous occasion and that God was pleased. God desired to bring peace and goodwill to all mankind through this babe, His Son. Their interest was piqued about the child. So they decided to leave their flocks and go into Bethlehem and find this child. 

Having been to Bethlehem the distance from the fields at that time to the place where Christ was born was not very far. Shepherds grazed their flocks in the fields adjacent to the town. Their journey probably took less than an hour so they knew they would not be leaving their flocks for very long to go and see this child that the Lord had announced to them. Trusting God they took this journey of faith to see this long foretold Messiah sent from God to save them.

Where do you see God in this scene? The heavenly host of angels proclaim God’s glory and power. He alone could cause angels to appear and announce the arrival of His Son. We also see personal God who comes to individuals bring hope and purpose. God gave the shepherds a desire to visit and see for themselves this marvelous event. We see this in our own lives repeatedly. God has a hand in events in our lives and causes us to be surprised, filled with hope and wonder at His power. Likewise, He is personal to each of us and provides those nudges to do the right thing, be surprised at life, and filled with hope in Jesus.

May you be surprised anew this season and see Jesus as God draws you to himself.

Linda