From Isaiah 9:6: “For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon His shoulders; and He is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
That is the mystery which is rich in divine grace to sinners: wherein by a wonderful exchange our sins are no longer ours but Christ’s and the righteousness of Christ is not Christ’s but ours.
From 2 Corinthians 5:20-21: “So we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making His appeal through us; we entreat you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake He made Him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.”
To walk by faith does not mean to stop thinking. Acting foolishly or thoughtlessly, expecting God to bail you out if things go amiss, isn’t faith at all. It is presumption.
From Hebrews 11:6: “And without faith it is impossible to please God, for whoever would approach Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him.”
Christ is like a river that is continually flowing. There are always fresh supplies of water coming from the fountain-head, so that a man may live by it and be supplied with water all his life.
From Romans 8:38-39: “For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Central Ohio received its first snowfall of the winter on the night of November 30. The transforming seasons always remind me of how our Lord transforms our lives, faith, and hope. May His grace and peace lead you on your journey.
There are times when we simply don’t feel like praying–and that is when we need to pray the most.
From Psalm 32:6-7: “Therefore let all who are faithful offer prayer to you; at a time of distress, the rush of mighty waters shall not reach them. You are a hiding place for me; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with glad cries of deliverance.”
Autumn fills with sounds of cheering fans and the excitement of Friday night high school football games. We pick up the action with play-by-play announcer “Cato the Cat” Johnson as he calls the final seconds of the game between the undefeated Valley High Bulldogs and the lowly Vernon High Bengals.
Welcome back football fans as the undefeated Valley High Bulldogs are poised to garner their 10th division championship in a row. The winless Bengals of Vernon High have put up an incredible fight against overwhelming odds tonight, but their time in the limelight is about to be extinguished by the mighty Bulldogs.
The Bulldogs are poised to add to their lead with the score at 7-2. The stingy Bengals have only yielded one score, and its defense has scored their only points with a safety back in the first quarter.
From the Bengals’ five-yard line, the Bulldogs are facing a second down and goal. They line up in their favorite power run formation. The ball is snapped. But wait . . . fumble!
The Bengals have recovered! Oh my, what a turn of events. However, the Bulldogs still hold the lead, and the game clock only shows enough time for one more play.
The Bengals face nearly the entire length of the football field—95 yards to be exact. With only one more play, it appears their woeful season will end on another sour note. At least the marching band has performed quite well this season.
The Bengals line up in a spread formation. The Bulldogs’ defense sets up in a prevent mode. They only need to stop the Bengals here, and their string of championship crowns will continue.
The ball is snapped. Instead of passing, the Bengals hand the ball off to their speedy halfback Kurt Warner. With a power sweep to the right, the Bengals are pushing the ball up the sideline. There is a phalanx of blockers in front of Warner.
Only two players stand between the Bengals and a touchdown. One blocker takes out a defender, and Warner fakes left and hustles right, leaving the last tackler humbled on the ground.
Nelson is on his way . . . to the 30, the 20, the 10 . . . touchdown!
The Bengals score, and the game is over. Vernon High 8, Valley High 7.
Oh my football fans! We have seen an incredible finish for the ages.
Life isn’t always as basic as a seemingly simple high school football game. Just as Vernon High comes into the game as a hapless underdog, Jesus Christ is perceived to be a loser and an underdog when he is taken to Calvary and a cruel Cross. Football fans underestimate the resolve of the Bengals, just as people underestimate Christ’s real purpose.
The Vernon High team experiences an unbelievable moment, but it pales in comparison to the stunning moment when Jesus’ followers find the empty tomb.
From Psalm 80:1-3: “Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph like a flock! You who are enthroned upon the cherubim, shine forth before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh. Stir up your might, and come to save us! Restore us, O God; let your face shine, that we may be saved.”
The Christian season of Advent begins with this final Sunday of November. For myself, this will bring a time of meditation and prayer . . . filled with the hope, peace, joy, and love of Christ, the Messiah.
