Advent 2, Peace: in the in-between times

But Jesus’ life can never be destroyed

Hebrews 7:2, 16-17 The name Melchizedek means “king of justice,” and king of Salem means “king of peace.” … Jesus became a priest by the power of a life that cannot be destroyed. And the psalmist [Psalm 110:4] pointed this out when he prophesied, “You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.”

Luke 2:28, 32 Simeon took the baby Jesus in his arms and praised God, saying: … “He is a light to reveal God to the nations.”

Image by my friend Carol Amidi: https://www.carolamidi.net/

Justice?

Peace?

Jesus embracing both, revealing God to the nations?

Where is God in all that’s going on around us? What is he doing? What is his bigger plan?

How can we live from a center of peace, especially when there is chaos and calamity every day in the news and sometimes around us and maybe even in our own lived or family experience?

I would love to know your response to this question. Please take a minute to respond. I’m pondering this question this Advent whenever my mind isn’t occupied by other things. I’d love to profit from your input!

Meanwhile, here’s the link again to the Advent ABC playlist.

Advent ABC: A to Z, Alpha and Omega

Isaiah 46:9-10, Revelation 1:8 I alone am God! I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, “My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure.” … “I am the Alpha and the Omega—the beginning and the end,” says the Lord. “I am the one who is, who always was, and who is still to come—the Almighty One.”

We’ve reached the end of the alphabet, but not the end of worshiping Jesus for the variegated tapestry of who he is that we learn from Isaiah. We can circle back to the beginning and celebrate him each of the remaining days of Christmas (until January 6) and for the rest of the new year. Here’s the link again for the Advent ABC playlist, which you can find as well on the home page of ButGod.blog.

Dave and I are traveling tomorrow. I’ll see you back on this blog in February.

Happy New Year!

Alpha and Omega, Gaither Vocal Band

Sanctuary/Alpha and Omega, Israel Houghton and New Breed

Advent ABC: eXalted Yahweh (Lord)

Isaiah 52:13, Acts 2:33 See, my servant will prosper; he will be highly exalted. … Now Jesus is exalted to the place of highest honor in heaven, at God’s right hand.

When Jesus appeared in human form,

he humbled himself in obedience to God

and died a criminal’s death on a cross.

Therefore, God exalted him to the place of highest honor

and gave him the name above all other names,

that at the name of Jesus …

every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,

to the glory of God the Father.

Philippians 2:7-11

Exalted (Yahweh), Chris Tomlin

Advent ABC: Word

Isaiah 40:8, 21; John 1:14 The Word of our God stands forever. … Haven’t you heard? Don’t you understand? Are you deaf to the Word of God—the Word he gave before the world began? … The Word became human and made his home among us, full of unfailing love and faithfulness.

In the beginning, the Word already existed.

The Word was with God, and the Word was God.

He existed in the beginning with God.

God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him.

The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought life to everyone.

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.

John 1:1-4

Adore, Chris Tomlin

Advent ABC: Upholder

Isaiah 41:10, Colossians 1:16-17 Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. … I will strengthen you and help you. I will uphold you with my victorious right hand. … Everything was created through Christ and for him. He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together.

It’s an interesting juxtaposition, considering Jesus as the Upholder and sustainer of all creation and of our individual lives just as we remember his decision to confine himself to a woman’s womb, to take on all that it means to be human, to limit himself to time and space, to choose dependence on imperfect parents. This mystery, I think, can only be addressed through poetry.

Descent, by Luci Shaw

Down he came from up,
and in from out,
and here from there.
A long leap,
an incandescent fall
from magnificent
to naked, frail, small,
through space,
between stars,
into our chill night air,
shrunk, in infant grace,
to our damp, cramped
earthy place
among all
the shivering sheep.

And now, after all,
there he lies,
fast asleep.

He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands, sung by the Tennessee Gospel Choir

Advent ABC: Truth

Isaiah 11:5, 16:5, Revelation 19:11 (John 17:19) The Branch will wear righteousness like a belt and truth like an undergarment. … He will rule with mercy and truth. … [Jesus] was named Faithful and True.

Jesus can only speak truth. Because that’s who he is (John 14:6).

Our enemy, the devil, can only speak lies. Because that’s who he is (John 8:44).

Holy Spirit, give us the discernment to listen to the right voice (John 14:17).

[Jesus said] Dig deep and lay your foundation on solid rock (Luke 6:48, Isaiah 28:16).

Shutterstock: Andrey Yurlov

Truth I’m Standing On, Leanna Crawford

Advent ABC: Shepherd

Isaiah 40:11 (49:9-10) The Lord will feed his flock like a shepherd. He will carry the lambs in his arms, holding them close to his heart. He will gently lead the mother sheep with their young.

Karis was ten. We were in Detroit for surgery on her intestine. The rest of our family was at home in São Paulo, Brazil. (I learned later that eight-year-old Rachel had started a fire in the kitchen trying to cook for her siblings while Dave was out. A neighbor “happened” by, put out the fire, took my children to her house to feed them, and later had words with their father. But that’s another story…)

Before she was taken through the double doors into the surgery suite, I overheard Karis tell a new friend at the hospital that she wasn’t afraid, for herself or for me, because of Isaiah 40:11. The Holy Spirit shot that assurance straight into my heart, puncturing an expanding balloon of worry. Every time I hear Jesus referred to as Shepherd, I flash back to that precious moment.

Our Brazilian friend Roseli painted this for Rachel.

Turn to your Shepherd, the Guardian of your souls … The Lamb on the throne will be your Shepherd. He will lead you to springs of life-giving water and wipe every tear from your eyes (1 Peter 2:25, Revelation 7:17).

The Lord’s My Shepherd, Stuart Townend

Advent ABC: Ruler

Isaiah 9:6-7, Romans 9:5 (Isaiah 32:16, 40:10, 51:6, 60:17-18, Matthew 2:6, Ephesians 1:21-22) The government will rest on his shoulders. … His government and its peace will never end. He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity. … Christ is God, the one who rules over everything and is worthy of eternal praise! Amen.

Jesus’s entire life as recorded in the Gospels shows us his authority: over illness, death, the wind and waves, the enemy, Satan (who is called the ruler of this world), the traditions of people, and on and on. In his last conversation with his followers he said, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth” (Matthew 28:18). He didn’t then say, “Now destroy the Romans.” He said, “teach everyone to obey the commands I have given you,” chief among them the command to love (John 13:34-35).

I think it’s easy to forget that Jesus’s Kingdom is not of this world. He wants to rule our hearts. He said, “The Kingdom of God is within you” (Luke 17:21). He told Pilate, “My Kingdom is not an earthly kingdom. If it were, my followers would fight …” Paul wrote, “The Kingdom of God … is living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.”

Jesus also said the Kingdom belongs to those who are like children (Matthew 19:14), so for fun on this first day of winter, let’s listen to a children’s song.

Jesus is the King, Ben Sams

Mary, Did You Know, by Mark Lowry

Advent ABC: Quiet Place

Isaiah 28:12, 30:15 (Mark 6:31) God has told his people, “Here is a place of rest; let the weary rest here. This is a place of quiet rest. … Only in returning to me and resting in me will you be saved. In quietness and confidence is your strength.”

Shutterstock: Mashosh

During Elijah’s struggle with anger and depression, three violent events drove the prophet into a cave on Mt. Sinai: a mighty windstorm, an earthquake, and fire. After that God spoke to Elijah in a still, small voice (1 Kings 19). This story has inspired dozens of artists, famous and less well known. This is one of the latter. Interesting that Elijah had to face so much before he was able to hear God speak to him. And it’s interesting that through the entire period of his suffering, God was present with him and caring for him.

Do you take time to access the Quiet Place, God’s heart, so you can hear him speak to you?

In these tumultuous and busy days, taking time to be still and rest in his strength and sovereignty and wisdom and grace, and receive his quiet direction, is more important than ever.

A Quiet Place/Near to the Heart of God, sung by Alessandra Sorace

Advent ABC: Prince of Peace

Isaiah 9:6 For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

I’m thinking of Jesus bringing peace in two contexts today. Remember Simon and Garfunkel’s song “7 O’Clock News”? It was released in 1966. Have we made any progress since then? Any efforts I can make toward peace in the world, like joining the “Stop the War” demonstration in Pittsburgh this afternoon, seem so tiny. Yet I can join you and you can join me in praying for men to open their hearts to the Prince of Peace.

Shutterstock: Grand Warszawski

The other level is my own heart, my own small sphere, inviting him into the spaces of struggle there.

These songs address these two levels.

Prince of Peace, Hillsong https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kc0DKzPdv44

Prince of Peace, Celtic Worship https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfr1FaqWQ0E