My Meditations for Christmas 2012

John 18:37

...to this end was I born...

Christ's Humanity

He presented pure humanity to God.

He brought manhood to heaven.

...for this cause came I into the world...

Christ's Deity

He presented perfect Deity to man.

He brought Godhood to earth.

The Conception in the Womb

...was I born...

* He Who inhabits eternity (Isaiah 57:15) dwelt in space (Matthew 1:20; Luke 1:31) and time (Matthew 2:2).

The Coming into the World

...came I into the world...

* Only Christ could come into the world (contrast with John 16:21 - everyone else was born into it) because He existed before the foundation of the world with the Father (John 16:28).

* The Father sent and Christ came willingly (contrast John 3:17 with John 3:19; 1 John 4:9 with Hebrews 10:5).

* The usage of the phrase "into the world" is mainly found in John's gospel and mainly describes Christ either coming or being sent into the world which is no surprise as John's emphasis is the Son of God who existed from the beginning (John 1:1-3).

The Characteristic of the Witness

...that I should bear witness unto the truth...

* Christ is the truth (John 14:6)

* Christ is full of truth (John 1:14)

* Christ manifests the truth (John 8:40,45 - words; Psalm 33:4 - works)

The Challenge for the Willing

Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.

* Are you of the truth?

* Are you hearing His voice (John 10:27; Revelation 3:20 contrast with Song of Solomon 5:2-3)?

The Church in Ephesians

The Church as:
* The Body (Eph 1:23) - living relationship
* The Building (Eph 2:21) - lasting relationship
* The Bride (Eph 5:32) - loving relationship

- J.J. Stubbs

The Calling (Ephesians 4:1)

Ephesians 1:18 - His calling
Ephesians 4:4 - Hopeful calling
Philippians 3:14 - High calling
2 Timothy 1:9 - Holy calling
Hebrews 3:1 - Heavenly calling

Outline of Ephesians

Eph 1:1 - 3:21 (Doctrine)
In Christ - position
Eph 4:1 - 6:24 (Direction)
In the Lord - responsibility

Christian Wealth (Eph 1:1 - 3:21)
Christian Walk (Eph 4:1 - 5:33)
Christian Warfare (Eph 6:1-24)

Eph 1:1-23 - The Blessing (Devotedness)
Eph 2:1-22 - The Building (Holiness)
Eph 3:1-21 - The Bounty (Witness)
Eph 4:1-32 - The Body (Preparedness)
Eph 5:1-33 - The Bride (Thoughtfulness)
Eph 6:1-24 - The Battle (Faithfulness)
(the last one is borrowed from a source I cannot remember)

7 Walks in Ephesians

Eph 2:2 - Worldly Walk (Course of this world)
Eph 2:10 - Working Walk (Creation unto good works)
Eph 4:1 - Worthy Walk (Calling of the saints)
Eph 4:17 - Wayward Walk (Carelessness of their mind)
Eph 5:2 - Warm Walk (Compassion of the Christ)
Eph 5:8 - Well-lit Walk (Children of the light)
Eph 5:15 - Wise Walk (Carefulness of the wise)

Behold...(John 19)

John 19:5 - Behold the man!
cf. Zech 6:12
Loftiness of Christ
The Sinless Man

John 19:14 - Behold your King!
cf. Zech 9:9
Lowliness of Christ
The Sovereign Monarch

John 19:26,27 - Behold thy son! Behold thy mother!
Loveliness of Christ
The Sympathetic Master

Fate of the Faithful

Righteousness Reviled (Rev 13:15)
Righteousness Rewarded (Rev 19:8)
Righteousness Reigns (Rev 20:4)
Righteousness Resides (Rev 21:3)

Pictures of Christ from the Flock

The Lamb - His Suffering
Revelations 5:6 - a Lamb as it had been slain
Isaiah 53:7 - as a lamb to the slaughter

The Sheep - His Submission 
Isaiah 53:7 - as a sheep before her shearers

The Ram - His Strength
Genesis 22:13 - a ram caught in a thicket by his horns

Worship in Revelation 4

Rev 4:8-9
The four beasts did not stop their worship. They gave glory and honour and thanks to Him that sat on the throne.

Rev 4:10
The 24 elders did not stand there wilfully. They fell down before Him that sat on the throne.

Rev 4:10
The 24 elders did not savour their wreaths. They cast them before the throne.

Descriptions of Grace in Ephesians

The Glory of His grace (Ephesians 1:6)
We see the Person of the Beloved.
We enjoy Acceptance.

The Riches of His grace (Ephesians 1:7)
We see the Price of His Blood.
We enjoy Forgiveness.

The Exceeding Riches of His grace (Ephesians 2:7)
We see the Pleasantness of His Behavior.
We enjoy Kindness.

Beneath Thy Cross

Am I a stone, and not a sheep,
That I can stand, O Christ, beneath thy cross,
To number drop by drop Thy Blood's slow loss,
And yet not weep?

Not so those women loved
Who with exceeding grief lamented Thee;
Not so fallen Peter weeping bitterly;
Not so the thief was moved;

Not so the Sun and Moon
Which hid their faces in a starless sky,
A horror of great darkness at broad noon--
I, only I.

Yet give not o'er,
But seek Thy sheep, true Shepherd of the flock;
Greater than Moses, turn and look once more
And smite a rock. 

Christina Georgina Rossetti (1830-1894) 

Matthew - The King's Person

Matthew 1 - Birth of the King
The Son of David, The Son of Abraham (Matt 1:1)
Greatness: He is God (Matt 1:23)
Grace: He is God with us (Matt 1:23)

Matthew 2 - Bethlehem of Judaea
The Son out of Egypt (Matt 2:15)
Greatness: He is worshipped as one born King (Matt 2:2)
Grace: He subjects Himself to the care of earthly parents (Matt 2:14-15)

Matthew 3 - Baptism of repentance
The Son of the Father (Matt 3:17)
Greatness: He is the Lord for whom John prepared the way (Matt 3:3)
Grace: He subjects Himself to being baptised by John (Matt 3:15) 

Matthew 4 - Beginning of the ministry
The Son of God (Matt 4:3, 6)
Greatness: He is in control of everything He created (Matt 4:24)
Grace: He subjects Himself to being tempted by His creation (Matt 4:1)

Outline of Matthew

The King's Person (Matt 1:1 - 4:25)
The King's Principles (Matt 5:1 - 7:29)
The King's Power (Matt 8:1 - 12:50)
The King's Programme (Matt 13:1 - 23:39)
The King's Prophecies (Matt 24:1 - 25:46)
The King's Passion (Matt 26:1 - 28:20)

* This outline is borrowed but I can't remember its source.

Resting

Once my hands were always trying, 
Trying hard to do my best; 
Now my heart is sweetly trusting,
And my soul is all at rest.


Once my brain was always planning,
And my heart, with cares oppressed;
Now I trust the Lord to lead me, 
And my life is all at rest. 

Once my life was full of effort,
Now 'tis full of joy and zest;
Since I took His yoke upon me,
Jesus gives to me His rest. 

A. B. Simpson

Ruth 4:11-17

The Benediction (Ruth 4:11-12)
* vs. 11 - Glory given to a stranger (comp. Eph 2:5)
* vs. 12 - Grace shown to a sinner (comp. Eph 2:6)

The Birth (Ruth 4:13)

The Blessings (Ruth 4:14-15)
* Christ is the Restorer of our life (He saves us - Heb 7:25)
* Christ is the nourisher of our old age (He sustains us - Jude 24)

The Bosom (Ruth 4:16)

The Baby (Ruth 4:17)
* Obed means service or worship. So appropriate that the result of redemption is service and worship.

Ruth Chapter 4

1 Cor 1:30-31

Boaz is a beautiful picture of Christ as our Redeemer.

Our Redeemer is:

Willing

·          Ruth 4:6 - The nearer kinsman said he cannot redeem when in actual fact, he will not because he was afraid it would mar his own inheritance.

·          The Lord Jesus is willing to redeem us (compare with Matt 8:2-3; John 10:18 and contrast with 2 Pet 3:9).

Able

·          Ruth 4:9-10 - We see that Boaz was able to redeem all including Ruth.

·          In Ruth 2:1, Boaz is described as “a mighty man of wealth” or “a man of good standing”. The description would include wealth, virtue and strength (Strong’s).

·          The Lord Jesus is able to redeem us (Eph 2:4 – wealth; 1 Pet 1:19 – virtue; Heb 7:25 & Jude 24 – strength).

Sacrificial

·          When we compare Ruth 4:6 and Ruth 4:10, we see that Boaz was not concerned about his own inheritance nor was he concerned about his reputation for redeeming a Moabitess.

·          The Lord Jesus is sacrificial to redeem us (2 Cor 8:9; Phil 2:6-7; Jn 10:11).

Gracious

·          The 5 occurrences of the description “Ruth the Moabitess” in the book is not by accident. In Ruth 4:10 we see that Boaz emphasizes the roots of the woman he is taking to wife. He is gracious towards the one who is condemned (c.f. Deut 23:3).

·          The Lord Jesus is gracious to redeem us (Eph 1:6; 2:5-7; 3:8).

Ruth Chapter 3

The Counsel (Ruth 3:1-4)
The Compliance (Ruth 3:5-7)
The Consequence (Ruth 3:8-18)

There are things we can learn regarding our behaviour when we come into the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ from Ruth being in the presence of Boaz:
The preparation to enter into the presence (Ruth 3:3)
The punctuality when entering into the presence (Ruth 3:3)
The place when entered into the presence (Ruth 3:4)
The purity when enjoying the presence (Ruth 3:5-14)
The provision from entering into the presence (Ruth 3:15-17)
The promise when exiting the presence (Ruth 3:18)

Two items of clothing found in the chapter:
Boaz's 'skirt' (Ruth 3:9) - speaks of protection, promise, possesion (cf. Ezekiel 16:8)
Ruth's shawl (Ruth 3:15) - speaks of provision

Ruth Chapter 2

Ruth in the Family (Ruth 2:1-3; 18-23) - Dutiful
Courteous (Ruth 2:2, 9) - she is respectful
Conscientious (Ruth 2:2) - she is responsible
Compassionate (Ruth 2:18, 23) - she is reassuring
Compliant (Ruth 2:22-23; 3:5) - she is reliable

Ruth in the Field (Ruth 2:4-17) - Diligent
Hardworking (Ruth 2:7, 17)
Humble (Ruth 2:7, 10, 13)

Boaz in the Field (a picture of Christ)
Personal (Ruth 2:4-5) - He recognizes his workers and spots Ruth
Protects (Ruth 2:9, 15-16) - He charges his workers and protects Ruth
Provides (Ruth 2:9, 14-17) - He commands his workers and provides for Ruth

Ruth's Sacrifice

Ruth forsakes the following to devote herself to the true and living God:
- Comfort of a family's presence/provision (Ruth 1:8)
- Consolation of a future prospect (Ruth 1:9)
- Companionship of a familiar people (Ruth 1:15)

Ruth's Decision (Ruth 1:16-17)

Ruth’s Direction:

“whither thou goest, I will go” in answer to Ruth 1:8 “Go, return each to her mother’s house”

Ruth’s Dwelling:

“where thou lodgest, I will lodge” in answer to Ruth 1:9 “The LORD grant that you may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband”

Ruth’s Demography:

“thy people shall be my people” in answer to Ruth 1:15 “thy sister in law is gone back unto her people”

Ruth’s Deity:

“thy God my God” in answer to Ruth 1:15 “and unto her gods”

·

Ruth’s Destiny:

“Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried”

Ruth’s Determination:

“the Lord do so to me, and more also, if ought death part thee and me”

Ruth Chapter 1

The Departure (Ruth 1:1-2)
The Deaths (Ruth 1:3-5)
The Debate (Ruth 1:6-15)
The Decision (Ruth 1:16-18)
The Declaration (Ruth 1:19-22)

Outline of Ruth

A Returning, the Lord's Government (Ruth 1)
A Reaping, the Lord's Grace (Ruth 2)
A Resting, the Lord's Goodness (Ruth 3)
A Redeeming, the Lord's Glory (Ruth 4)

Everlasting Love

Did He love me when I lay
Dead in trespasses and sins!
Is there, then, no time, no day
Where this wondrous love begins?
No! The Lord who died for thee
Loved thee from eternity.

Doth He love me even now,
Though my faith and hope are dim?
Will He still regard His vow
When I've broken faith with Him?
Yes! He loves thee still the same
As when thou didst love His name.

Will He love me all the way,
'Spite my wayward, selfish will?
O, if I again should stray - 
Tell me, will He love me still?
Yes! Thy failures can but prove
His eternal, changeless love.

Lord, how long I've striven in vain,
Resting not on Love Divine!
Now I know it doth remain
Changeless 'spite each change of mine.
Perfect, peerless, deathless, free
Is Thy love, O Lord, to me.

William Blane

New Year

O, year by year we well may be
Deep exercised in soul to see
Just what is chaff and what is wheat,
As valued at the judgment seat!

Look DOWN into the deep dark pit,
Whence we were digged - O think of it!
Look BACK - we only render praise
For grace attending all our ways.

Look OUT upon the fields so white-
The gladsome harvest just in sight!
Look UP - the objects of God's love
Are fed with manna from above.

Look ON - for glory is in view,
And Jesus waits to welcome you!
But do not ever look WITHIN,
Upon the wretched source of sin.

How bright the coming days would be,
If only souls from self were free,
And had the mind and heart absorbed
With CHRIST alone - their glorious Lord!

E.J.C.

Thoughts for the New Year

A lot happens during the first month (Abib) of the Jewish religious calendar. Three feast out of seven takes place in the first month and from these feasts, we can take a few things to heart as we enter into a brand new year.

The Passover (Exodus 12:1-14; Leviticus 23:4-5)
- A reflection of the past occurs
The Sufficiency of Christ in our lives (Exodus 12:4-6; 1 Corinthians 5:7)
We reflect on the year that has passed and ask ourselves, have we found Christ to be sufficient?

The Feast of Unleavened Bread (Exodus 12:15-20; Leviticus 23:6-8)
- A renewal for the future occurs
The Separation of Christ from sin (Leviticus 2:4-5,11)
We renew our walk for the year to come and ask ourselves, have we become more Christ-like?

The Feast of Firstfruits (Leviticus 23:9-14)
- A returning in the present occurs
The Satisfaction Christ brought the Father (1 Corinthians 15:20)
We return to the Lord what is rightfully His and ask ourselves, have we pleased the Father the way Christ did?