And a new one to come! This year has gone by incredibly fast, filled with its ups and downs. I've laughed harder and cried more this year than years prior. I've experienced much growth in my walk with Christ. Growth through times filled with blessings and joy, and though times of pain and hardships. I've made new friends and re-connected with old ones. I've seen what real love looks like, and how beautifully a love story can be shaped when left in the more-than-capable hands of God. I've learned the importance of having a thankful heart, mind, and attitude. I've come to see what it means to be accepting, and to remain committed even when the easiest option was to just give up.
As this year comes to a close and a new one opens up, I look forward to what is to come. To what 2012 has to bring. There will be good times and there will be bad times. There will be laughter and there will be tears. There will be joys and gladness, and there will be pain and sorrow. Events that seemed random in the past will be given new meaning, and new, puzzling events will unfold. Blessings will come, and so will challenges. But despite this ever shifting and changing walk of life, I can stand firm knowing one thing will remain: God. Jesus Christ. My personal savior and lord. Who He was is who He is; and who He is He always will be. He will always remain the same. His love will never change. His great love will always remain great. His infinite mercy will always remain infinite. His unfathomable grace will always remain unfathomable.
Thank you Lord for this past year. Thank you for how you have richly blessed me. Thank you for how you have molded me and shaped me. Molding me and shaping me into what you want me to be. Removing the dross, so that I may reflect you like pure silver reflects the image of the silver smith. Thank you for the challenges. Thank you for how you have stretched me. Thank you for the pain and the hardships. The pain and hardships have shown me just how much I need you and cannot live life without you. That the things and passions of this world cannot sustain me or fill me. Only you can fill that empty void inside of me. Lord, I thank you for the challenges and blessings that are to come. For the growth of old, and the birth of new relationships. For new opportunities to reach the lost. For events to unfold according to your good and perfect will. Lord, I thank you for your love. For your great, infinite, unfathomable love. For how you love me despite all the wrong that I do. For how you draw near to me, even when I push you away. For how you lift me up when I fall down. For how you have rescued this life from the pit. For dieing for me on that cruel, lonely, burdensome cross, even while I was still a sinner. For how I have been redeemed and purchased by the blood of your son. For how I can enter your glorious presence, white as snow, for you see Christ and not my sin. Lord, I am thankful that though this life is fleeting, though this life quickly fades, that there is more to life than this. That death is not the end of the adventure, but the beginning of a newer and greater one. A new life, in a new heaven, and a new earth, forever. Lord, I cannot possibly fathom what that day will look like, but I am confident that day will come. And I am confident that when I am finally in your arms, I will look up and see, that love has a face. Thank you Lord. Thank you.
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Friday, December 16, 2011
A tail of two banquet halls
Packed to the brim, the banquet hall was filled with guests chattering boisterously over plates filled with sumptuous food. I sat amongst the guests, digging into my own plate. The savory food and smooth drink livened the taste buds, an excellent meal. The flavor exploded onto the tongue, and a warm, euphoric feeling washed over me.
Our hosted entered the scene. Tall and proud, adorned with splendor and dressed like a king, he sauntered about the room watching the guests, a smirk upon his regal face. He carried himself with authority, though with a very arrogant air about him. A few acknowledged his presence, most continued to eat.
The atmosphere was energetic and hectic. The guests ate in haste as though time was short, as though this was their last meal. Hidden beneath all the energy and the noise was a sense of fear, though few seemed aware. The energetic, boisterous atmosphere was artificial, fake. At first I was not aware, for this sense was clouded by a false sense of liveliness and vitality. But as time wore in, I was slowly roused to my situation.
It started with a noise. A faint noise at that, but a noise none the less. It was a rumbling. A low rumbling. At first I couldn't place it, but the horrible truth soon became evident. It came from me. This food, though savory, and this drink, though smooth did not fill. I took another bite. I felt the lump go down my throat. It went down, down, down... then... nothing. More rumbling, this time louder. I took some of the drink. It too did not satisfy; the liquid simply evaporating before bringing any real nourishment. The rumbling was becoming audible. As this revelation dawned on me, I became aware of a new sound. The same rumbling, though it did not come from me, but from the guest sitting next to me. This guest, however, was not aware of his present state. More rumbling, this time from the guest on my other side. Another horrible truth began to dawn on me. The noise within this banquet all was not talking at all, but a rumbling, growling sound coming from the empty stomachs of all the guests. This noise, overwhelming and overpowering, filled me with dread and despair. Who could save me from this banquet hall of death!
When all seemed hopeless, and fear threaten to overcome me, I began to feel a new presence. This presence, contrary to the atmosphere of the hall, was filled with life. This presence brought hope amidst the despair. This presence, even just being present, began to fill me like none of the food I had been eating could. The presence whispered my name. It called out to me. The voice was tender and kind. It was as gentile as a cool breeze on a warm summers day, as freshly washed linens. Somewhere, deep in my heart, I had known all along that this presence was there, calling out to me. I had been simply ignoring it all along. As I was about to get up, I hesitated. Staring directly at me was my host. Gone was his smile. In its place was a slight frown, a quizzical expression. I felt a touch of doubt. How could I leave behind what I have always known? I sat down, defeated. I cried and wept. The presence called out again. I tried to ignore it, but it was persistent. I knew it could offer so much more, something much better than what I had. But I was afraid.
A hand touched my shoulder. "Come", the presence said. It took me by the hand and I got to my feet. It lead me away from the hall toward an unseen door. The host of the hall glared furiously, but was powerless to act. The presence lead me through the door to another hall. A different banquet hall. This hall too was filled with guests. But unlike the guests at the other hall, these guests were not controlled by fear. These guests were filled with joy and life.The guests welcomed me gladly and offered me a seat at the table.
I sat down and took the food and drink that had been prepared for me. This food and drink, like the other banquet hall, was also savory and smooth. But unlike the other hall, this food truly satisfies, and the drink truly nourishes. As I ate, I was filled. Filled with new life and energy. Here, I was truly satisfied.
The host for this hall entered the room. Unlike the host from the other hall, this man was dressed in a simple bright white robe, but had the unmistakable air of a true, noble king. A warm, inviting smile adorned this host's face. He looked upon his guests with love in his eyes and served them whenever there was need. He would talk with the guests, and knew each by name.
The atmosphere here was warm and inviting. The guests here were relaxed and calm. Not a trace of fear could be found. Their eyes held their host in reverent awe.
It was then that I heard another voice. It called out to me. It flowed like velvet, and was sly and cunning. It reminded me of what I had, what I was missing. It called me, invited me back. I turned and looked toward the source. It was the host from the other banquet hall. He stood at the door, though he could not enter the hall. He accused the guests, calling them fakes and hypocrites. He denounced the food, calling it tasteless and unsatisfying. Though his arms were open wide and inviting, and though his words smooth and convincing, his eyes held nothing but hatred and deceit.
Confusion, doubt, and fear swept over me like a dark cloud blocks out the sun. As tears filled my eyes, I felt the hand of the presence from before on my shoulders. I looked up and saw this presence had a face, the host of the banquet hall. He showed me his pierced hands. He showed me his pierced side. He told me he had redeemed me. He told me that he had bought me. He told me that I had been adopted into his family, that I was his son. That I no longer needed to live in fear.
I was faced with a choice. To return to what I had always known. To return to the former way of life. To return to food that could not fill, and to drink that could not satisfy. To return to that banquet hall filled with death and decay. Or to remain where I belonged. To remain in this newness of life. To remain where the food truly fills, and where the drink truly satisfies. To remain in the banquet hall of life, where I was the son of the host.
The first banquet hall represents the world, and its host is Satan. The father of lies. The accuser. The roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. The thief who comes to steal, to kill, to destroy. The food and drink represents all the things the world has to offer: money, wealth, fame, power, pleasure. Things that satisfy for a moment, but never truly fill. The guests here are those who inwardly fear the coming wrath of the day of judgment but are oblivious to the fate that awaits them and have buried the truth under a mountain of lies.
The second banquet hall represents the kingdom of God, and its host is Jesus Christ. The way, the truth, and the life. The good Shepard. The one who has come to give us life that we may live it to the full. The one who has purchased us with his blood that we may be sons and daughters of God. The food and drink here represents the body and blood of Christ. The body broken for us on the cross, dieing in our place. The blood shed for us for the complete forgiveness of all our sins. The guests here are the sons and daughters of God. Those who do not fear death, for they know they have an eternal home in heaven.
We are all eating at one banquet hall or the other. We are all guests of ether the hall of sin and death, or the hall of truth and life. Now ask yourself this question: where am I? Think about it.
Our hosted entered the scene. Tall and proud, adorned with splendor and dressed like a king, he sauntered about the room watching the guests, a smirk upon his regal face. He carried himself with authority, though with a very arrogant air about him. A few acknowledged his presence, most continued to eat.
The atmosphere was energetic and hectic. The guests ate in haste as though time was short, as though this was their last meal. Hidden beneath all the energy and the noise was a sense of fear, though few seemed aware. The energetic, boisterous atmosphere was artificial, fake. At first I was not aware, for this sense was clouded by a false sense of liveliness and vitality. But as time wore in, I was slowly roused to my situation.
It started with a noise. A faint noise at that, but a noise none the less. It was a rumbling. A low rumbling. At first I couldn't place it, but the horrible truth soon became evident. It came from me. This food, though savory, and this drink, though smooth did not fill. I took another bite. I felt the lump go down my throat. It went down, down, down... then... nothing. More rumbling, this time louder. I took some of the drink. It too did not satisfy; the liquid simply evaporating before bringing any real nourishment. The rumbling was becoming audible. As this revelation dawned on me, I became aware of a new sound. The same rumbling, though it did not come from me, but from the guest sitting next to me. This guest, however, was not aware of his present state. More rumbling, this time from the guest on my other side. Another horrible truth began to dawn on me. The noise within this banquet all was not talking at all, but a rumbling, growling sound coming from the empty stomachs of all the guests. This noise, overwhelming and overpowering, filled me with dread and despair. Who could save me from this banquet hall of death!
When all seemed hopeless, and fear threaten to overcome me, I began to feel a new presence. This presence, contrary to the atmosphere of the hall, was filled with life. This presence brought hope amidst the despair. This presence, even just being present, began to fill me like none of the food I had been eating could. The presence whispered my name. It called out to me. The voice was tender and kind. It was as gentile as a cool breeze on a warm summers day, as freshly washed linens. Somewhere, deep in my heart, I had known all along that this presence was there, calling out to me. I had been simply ignoring it all along. As I was about to get up, I hesitated. Staring directly at me was my host. Gone was his smile. In its place was a slight frown, a quizzical expression. I felt a touch of doubt. How could I leave behind what I have always known? I sat down, defeated. I cried and wept. The presence called out again. I tried to ignore it, but it was persistent. I knew it could offer so much more, something much better than what I had. But I was afraid.
A hand touched my shoulder. "Come", the presence said. It took me by the hand and I got to my feet. It lead me away from the hall toward an unseen door. The host of the hall glared furiously, but was powerless to act. The presence lead me through the door to another hall. A different banquet hall. This hall too was filled with guests. But unlike the guests at the other hall, these guests were not controlled by fear. These guests were filled with joy and life.The guests welcomed me gladly and offered me a seat at the table.
I sat down and took the food and drink that had been prepared for me. This food and drink, like the other banquet hall, was also savory and smooth. But unlike the other hall, this food truly satisfies, and the drink truly nourishes. As I ate, I was filled. Filled with new life and energy. Here, I was truly satisfied.
The host for this hall entered the room. Unlike the host from the other hall, this man was dressed in a simple bright white robe, but had the unmistakable air of a true, noble king. A warm, inviting smile adorned this host's face. He looked upon his guests with love in his eyes and served them whenever there was need. He would talk with the guests, and knew each by name.
The atmosphere here was warm and inviting. The guests here were relaxed and calm. Not a trace of fear could be found. Their eyes held their host in reverent awe.
It was then that I heard another voice. It called out to me. It flowed like velvet, and was sly and cunning. It reminded me of what I had, what I was missing. It called me, invited me back. I turned and looked toward the source. It was the host from the other banquet hall. He stood at the door, though he could not enter the hall. He accused the guests, calling them fakes and hypocrites. He denounced the food, calling it tasteless and unsatisfying. Though his arms were open wide and inviting, and though his words smooth and convincing, his eyes held nothing but hatred and deceit.
Confusion, doubt, and fear swept over me like a dark cloud blocks out the sun. As tears filled my eyes, I felt the hand of the presence from before on my shoulders. I looked up and saw this presence had a face, the host of the banquet hall. He showed me his pierced hands. He showed me his pierced side. He told me he had redeemed me. He told me that he had bought me. He told me that I had been adopted into his family, that I was his son. That I no longer needed to live in fear.
I was faced with a choice. To return to what I had always known. To return to the former way of life. To return to food that could not fill, and to drink that could not satisfy. To return to that banquet hall filled with death and decay. Or to remain where I belonged. To remain in this newness of life. To remain where the food truly fills, and where the drink truly satisfies. To remain in the banquet hall of life, where I was the son of the host.
The first banquet hall represents the world, and its host is Satan. The father of lies. The accuser. The roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. The thief who comes to steal, to kill, to destroy. The food and drink represents all the things the world has to offer: money, wealth, fame, power, pleasure. Things that satisfy for a moment, but never truly fill. The guests here are those who inwardly fear the coming wrath of the day of judgment but are oblivious to the fate that awaits them and have buried the truth under a mountain of lies.
The second banquet hall represents the kingdom of God, and its host is Jesus Christ. The way, the truth, and the life. The good Shepard. The one who has come to give us life that we may live it to the full. The one who has purchased us with his blood that we may be sons and daughters of God. The food and drink here represents the body and blood of Christ. The body broken for us on the cross, dieing in our place. The blood shed for us for the complete forgiveness of all our sins. The guests here are the sons and daughters of God. Those who do not fear death, for they know they have an eternal home in heaven.
We are all eating at one banquet hall or the other. We are all guests of ether the hall of sin and death, or the hall of truth and life. Now ask yourself this question: where am I? Think about it.
Saturday, December 10, 2011
Don't forget the reason for the season!
Hate to burst your bubble, but Christmas isn't all about Santa Clause. It isn't about all the busyness of shopping and gift giving. It isn't about setting up the tree. It isn't about putting up the christmas lights. It isn't about the presents. It isn't even about spending time with family. While those things are all well and good, they don't fully capture the reason for the season. So what is Christmas about? The real meaning of Christmas is found in the very name of the season: Christ. The birth of our Savior and Lord! I know it's a well known passage that's been beaten into our skulls since our Sunday School years, but Luke 2:1-20 reminds us of the true meaning of Christmas:
8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
15 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.
The key verse here is verse 11. "Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord." Think about that. No really. Think about that. Ponder that. This person who was born is a Savior. A savior for who? A savior for us! For you, and me! To save us from what? What is he savior for? Our sin! The whole reason Jesus came was to seek and save what was lost. He came to give his life as a ransom for many. He came to die on the most cruel, painful, cursed, torture device of the day: the cross. He came to die to redeem us from our sins. His blood covers our sins! He came not only to be a payment for our sin, but to save us from our sin. To give us a new life. A life to be lived in the full. A life to be lived for Christ. He is the Messiah! The chosen one! The promised one! This plan was put in place long before the foundations of the world. Already in the beginning of Genesis, his coming is foretold. And he is the Lord. A lord was one who had authority. One who was to be obeyed. One who gave orders that were expected to be followed. Jesus is our Lord. After he rose from the grave, he ascended into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. His work was done. He was given all authority in heaven and on earth. Jesus is our King. Obedience is not an option. Unfortunately many "Christians" today have left this part out. They recognize Jesus as Savior, and stop there. As long as we read the bible and say some prayers and go to Church on occasion we are good, right? Wrong! Jesus tells us that if we love him, we will obey his commands. An his command is simply this: to love others has he has loved us. To serve others as he has served us. To serve with unconditional, agape love. To go out into this world, building into the lives of people, guiding them as they grow in the Lord, and teaching them to do what we did for them to others. This is our calling. That is why we are here. Seems hard right? Yes, it is hard. I certainly don't do a good job of it at times. But there is hope! Jesus reminds us that apart from him we can do nothing. Our efforts come to nothing without him. The strength to follow these commands could never come from us. So what are we to do? We are to allow Christ to first work in our lives. Transforming us. Shaping us. Molding us into what He wants us to be. To submit to him and his authority. And as this process is taking place, he will be able to work through us. His love will fill our lives, and over flow, and flood the lives of others around us. He will work in the lives of others around us. He changes lives, not us. We just need to be faithful in submission to him. In living for him.
This is what Christmas is all about. This is the reason for the season. The coming of Christ and what that means for our lives. So for this year, next year, and all the years to come, put Christ into your Christmas, and into your life.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~This is Christmas~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
By Kutless
Do you find it hard to sleep til' night,
Resting by the Christmas lights?
Could there be something you forgot?
Beyond the bows, and mistletoes,
The tree with presents wrapped below,
There's more to this than you had ever thought?
Have we lost the reason that we celebrate each year?
Chorus:
What is Christmas?
If there never was a Savior wrapped in a manger.
What is Christmas without Christ?
Remember how the story goes,
God's gift was wrapped in swaddling clothes,
Beneath the star, one great and holy night.
The shepherds heard the angels sing,
The wise man brought an offering,
Peace on Earth began in Bethelethm
Have we lost the reason that we celebrate each year?
Chorus:
What is Christmas?
If there never was a Savior wrapped in a manger.
What is Christmas?
If the angels never sang 'Glory to the new born king?'
What is Christmas without Christ?
There'd be no gloria
In excelsis deo
Gloria
In excelsis deo
What is Christmas?
If there never was a Savior wrapped in a manger.
What is Christmas without Christ?
This is Christmas,
It’s all about the Savior wrapped in a manger.
This is Christmas,
Because of Jesus Christ!
This is Christmas,
Because of Christ!
Because of Christ!
The Birth of Jesus
1 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register. 4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
15 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.
The key verse here is verse 11. "Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord." Think about that. No really. Think about that. Ponder that. This person who was born is a Savior. A savior for who? A savior for us! For you, and me! To save us from what? What is he savior for? Our sin! The whole reason Jesus came was to seek and save what was lost. He came to give his life as a ransom for many. He came to die on the most cruel, painful, cursed, torture device of the day: the cross. He came to die to redeem us from our sins. His blood covers our sins! He came not only to be a payment for our sin, but to save us from our sin. To give us a new life. A life to be lived in the full. A life to be lived for Christ. He is the Messiah! The chosen one! The promised one! This plan was put in place long before the foundations of the world. Already in the beginning of Genesis, his coming is foretold. And he is the Lord. A lord was one who had authority. One who was to be obeyed. One who gave orders that were expected to be followed. Jesus is our Lord. After he rose from the grave, he ascended into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. His work was done. He was given all authority in heaven and on earth. Jesus is our King. Obedience is not an option. Unfortunately many "Christians" today have left this part out. They recognize Jesus as Savior, and stop there. As long as we read the bible and say some prayers and go to Church on occasion we are good, right? Wrong! Jesus tells us that if we love him, we will obey his commands. An his command is simply this: to love others has he has loved us. To serve others as he has served us. To serve with unconditional, agape love. To go out into this world, building into the lives of people, guiding them as they grow in the Lord, and teaching them to do what we did for them to others. This is our calling. That is why we are here. Seems hard right? Yes, it is hard. I certainly don't do a good job of it at times. But there is hope! Jesus reminds us that apart from him we can do nothing. Our efforts come to nothing without him. The strength to follow these commands could never come from us. So what are we to do? We are to allow Christ to first work in our lives. Transforming us. Shaping us. Molding us into what He wants us to be. To submit to him and his authority. And as this process is taking place, he will be able to work through us. His love will fill our lives, and over flow, and flood the lives of others around us. He will work in the lives of others around us. He changes lives, not us. We just need to be faithful in submission to him. In living for him.
This is what Christmas is all about. This is the reason for the season. The coming of Christ and what that means for our lives. So for this year, next year, and all the years to come, put Christ into your Christmas, and into your life.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~This is Christmas~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
By Kutless
Do you find it hard to sleep til' night,
Resting by the Christmas lights?
Could there be something you forgot?
Beyond the bows, and mistletoes,
The tree with presents wrapped below,
There's more to this than you had ever thought?
Have we lost the reason that we celebrate each year?
Chorus:
What is Christmas?
If there never was a Savior wrapped in a manger.
What is Christmas without Christ?
Remember how the story goes,
God's gift was wrapped in swaddling clothes,
Beneath the star, one great and holy night.
The shepherds heard the angels sing,
The wise man brought an offering,
Peace on Earth began in Bethelethm
Have we lost the reason that we celebrate each year?
Chorus:
What is Christmas?
If there never was a Savior wrapped in a manger.
What is Christmas?
If the angels never sang 'Glory to the new born king?'
What is Christmas without Christ?
There'd be no gloria
In excelsis deo
Gloria
In excelsis deo
What is Christmas?
If there never was a Savior wrapped in a manger.
What is Christmas without Christ?
This is Christmas,
It’s all about the Savior wrapped in a manger.
This is Christmas,
Because of Jesus Christ!
This is Christmas,
Because of Christ!
Because of Christ!
Sunday, December 4, 2011
What's your Ebenezer?
I remember growing up singing the hymn "Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing" in church on Sundays. While it's an excellent hymn, I've always been baffled when singing the second verse which says: "Here I raise mine Ebenezer; hither by thy help I’m come..." What is an Ebenezer? While it might be a bit humorous to imagine lifting up Ebenezer Scrooge, that's not what's being talked about. So what exactly is an Ebenezer? The term comes from 1 Samuel 7:12 which states:
"Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying, 'Thus far the Lord has helped us.'"
The word Ebenezer, literally translated, means "stone of help". Israel had just won a great victory over the Philistines. God had showed up big time. "The Lord thundered with load thunder against the Philistines and threw then into such a panic that they were routed before the Israelites" (1 Samuel 7:10). This stone was named "Ebenezer" to remind the Israelites of what God had done for them at this event. This wasn't the first time that something was named in remembrance of an event that had occurred. In Genesis 28:10-19, Jacob has his well known dream where he sees a stairway to heaven and God standing at the top. Jacob wakes up from this dream he exclaims, "How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven" (vs. 17). He then takes the stone he had been using as a pillow, puts oil on it, and named the place Bethel, which means "house of God". This was to serve for future generations as a reminder of the event that had taken place there.
On May 1st, 2011, I was baptized as a believer at South Church in Lansing Michigan. On a table in my apartment, I have a picture setup with me and a few others who were also baptized on that day. To me, baptism signifies the washing away of the old self, and the putting on of the new self. "The old has gone, and the new has come!" (2 Corinthians 5:17). It signifies that I have died to self, no longer seeking to live for myself or my selfish desires, and that I have been made alive in Christ, to live for Him and His purposes. "What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may
increase? By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any
longer? Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ
Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him
through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised
from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new
life" (Romans 6:1-4). It signifies that as I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live but Christ lives in me. This life that I now live shale be lived by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me (Galatians 2:20). That picture serves as my Ebenezer, reminding me of what God has done for me at the cross and the new life I have been called to live.
We all have gone through difficult times. We have all faced hardships and trials. We have all been at the point in our lives when we have wondered when we would make it through this season of tribulation. But we have all made it through those times. God had lead us through. God had reminded us of what He had done for us at the cross. God had showed us that He is still every bit as powerful of a God as He was in bible times. Never forget what God has done for you. Never forget that God has brought you through previous storms in life. Never forget the message of the cross. Never forget that God is still God and that He has unlimited power and blessings at His disposal. Never forget that He has called you to live for so much more than any plans, any goals, any aspirations you may have. Never forget.
What's your Ebenezer?
Reference:
http://www.revneal.org/Writings/whatsan.htm
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Come, thou fount of every blessing,
Tune my heart to sing thy grace;
Streams of mercy, never ceasing,
Call for songs of loudest praise.
Teach me some melodious sonnet,
Sung by flaming tongues above.
Praise the mount! I’m fixed upon it,
Mount of thy redeeming love.
Here I raise my Ebenezer;
Tune my heart to sing thy grace;
Streams of mercy, never ceasing,
Call for songs of loudest praise.
Teach me some melodious sonnet,
Sung by flaming tongues above.
Praise the mount! I’m fixed upon it,
Mount of thy redeeming love.
Here I raise my Ebenezer;
Here by thy great help I’ve come;
And I hope, by thy good pleasure,
Safely to arrive at home.
Jesus sought me when a stranger,
Wandering from the fold of God;
He, to rescue me from danger,
Interposed His precious blood.
O to grace how great a debtor
Daily I’m constrained to be!
Let thy goodness, like a fetter,
Bind my wandering heart to thee.
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,
Prone to leave the God I love;
Here’s my heart, O take and seal it,
Seal it for thy courts above.
And I hope, by thy good pleasure,
Safely to arrive at home.
Jesus sought me when a stranger,
Wandering from the fold of God;
He, to rescue me from danger,
Interposed His precious blood.
O to grace how great a debtor
Daily I’m constrained to be!
Let thy goodness, like a fetter,
Bind my wandering heart to thee.
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,
Prone to leave the God I love;
Here’s my heart, O take and seal it,
Seal it for thy courts above.
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