The House You're Building

  Introduction :  All over the world, no matter what culture or time period, traditions are part of the human experience.  Anticipating a gathering of friends and family, food, music, rest, and joy is something we all need.  The God who created us designed and implanted this desire into humanity and guided His people to memorialize His story of rescue with them.  As we continue our broad survey of Exodus, this week’s section of the book is as familiar as the plagues to most readers-the Passover and the Israelites escape from Egypt as they cross the Red Sea.     Not only did God establish these rituals to remind His people of His great power and holiness, He established them as a symbol for His people today.  The Passover commemorated the Israelites escape from death, the blood on the door signaled the angel to pass over their home, the Unleavened bread gathered in haste as they left quickly. Our exodus from the slavery of ...

  During advent season, many pastors retell the Christmas story to their congregants.  It is a blessing to hear afresh the narrative of how our Lord came to earth, answering the long-awaited hopes of His people.  After 400 years of silence, the angels sang praise of His immanent arrival to shepherds.  One my favorite decorations I set up is the nativity.  I’ve collected pieces over the years that visually express how the story unfolds in the synoptic gospels.   This year, I’m reflecting on a more distant part of the Christmas story, the one that started in Genesis 3, where our ancestors ate of a tree in disobedience and sin entered the world.  The curse was upon the earth and humanity has suffered in sin ever since.  Genesis 3:15 predicts the enmity between humankind and its oppressor to end when the Offspring will come who will crush his head, rendering the snake, one symbol of Satan found in scripture, ineffective....

[17] Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. [18] They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. [19] They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. [20] But that is not the way you learned Christ!—[21] assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, [22] to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, [23] and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, [24] and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.   [25] Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. [26] Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go...

14  For this reason I bow my knees before the Father,  15  from whom every family [ c ]  in heaven and on earth is named, 16  that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being,  17  so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love,  18  may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19  and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. 20  Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us,  21  to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.    Ephesians 3:14-21 (ESV)   One of the ...

7  Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God's grace, which was given me by the working of his power.  8  To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,  9  and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in [ b ]  God, who created all things,  10  so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. 11  This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord,  12  in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him.  13  So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory. Ephesians 3:7-13 (ESV)   It’s ...