Winter Snow

I was talking to a friend last week and I asked her the common, "Did you guys have a good Christmas?"  Her response, "The best ever."  The simple answer stopped me in my tracks and I thought ... me too!  It really was a great holiday season.  Maybe for the first time ever, I feel like I really worshipped the Savior.  I thought more about what it meant that the CREATOR of the universe came as a baby with ten tiny fingers and ten tiny toes.  I had always thought about the humility that it took for Him to endure the cross, but never the humility that it took for Him to come as a babe. The first time I heard this song below, I was overwhelmed with the grace and majesty of Jesus.  

I took down most of our decorations yesterday.  I must admit that normally I am ready to get everything back in the box and get back to "normal."  But this year was different!  I didn't want to pull down the Christmas Cards from my kitchen cabinets and putting our gingerbread nativity in the trash was not easy. I have loved having these ever visible reminders of the season all around my house, but as I carried the last box to the garage, I reminded myself that the worship of who Jesus is doesn't stop now that the boxes are put away!  This year I am challenged to experience the same feeling of worship January through November.

What lessons did you learn this Christmas season?

25 Days of Christmas: Merry Christmas

Have you stopped to read the scriptural account of the birth of Jesus today?

Luke 2

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[a] 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.

 21 On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived

25 Days of Christmas: Behold the Lamb

We are over half way through our 25 Days of Christmas series!  Most of it has gone according to the plan I had put together with a few curve balls thrown in.  Today is one of those curve balls.  Last week at the women's Bible Study I attend through my church, we were asked to bring something to share in regards to the Christmas season.  My new friend Brittany shared with us from a post she had put up on her blog several years ago.  I was BLOWN away by this information.  Oh, how marvelous and thorough and complete the mind and plan of God is!

Behold the Lamb- Brittany Bonner

The prophet Micah foretold the birthplace for the coming Messiah seven hundred years before the birth of Jesus Christ. Micah said that the Messiah would be born in the little insignificant village near Jerusalem called Bethlehem. The actual location of the birthplace of Jesus Christ is also found in the prophecy of Micah, the location was Migdal Eder which in Hebrew is the “tower of the flock”.

“And you, O tower of the flock, hill of the daughter of Zion, to you shall it come, the former dominion shall come, the kingdom of the daughter of Jerusalem.” Micah 4:8 “But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose origin is from of old, from ancient days.” Micah 5:2

Migdal Eder, the tower of the flock mentioned in Micah 4:8, is the watchtower where the priestly shepherds would watch over their flocks in the shepherd's fields there at Bethlehem.

This tower is where they would watch over their flock from the second story and where they birthed the newborn lambs in the lower portion of the two story tower there in the fields of Bethlehem. In the lower portion of this watchtower that the birthing of the lambs would take place, ewes were brought to give birth to the lambs. In this shelter the priests would bring in the ewes which were about to lamb for protection.

The shepherds would wrap the newborn lambs in swaddling clothes to protect the body of the lambs, keeping the new lambs without spot or blemish, they would then be laid in a manger until they had calmed down.

These were not just any flock and herd.

Migdal Eder was the watchtower that guarded the Temple flocks that were being raised to serve as sacrificial animals in the Temple. The shepherds who kept them were men who were specifically trained for this royal task. They were educated in what an animal, that was to be sacrificed, had to be and it was their job to make sure that none of the animals were hurt, damaged, or blemished.” These special lambs came from a unique flock which were designated for sacrifice at the temple in Jerusalem.

These lambs would be offered as sacrifice at the Temple just four miles away in Jerusalem.

With the establishment of Temple worship in Jerusalem, the fields outside of Bethlehem became the place where this special group of shepherds raised the lambs that were sacrificed in the Temple. Being themselves under special Rabbinical care, they would strictly maintain a ceremonially clean stable for a birthing place. The Tower of the Flock was used for birthing ewes, and the surround fields were where these shepherds grazed their flocks. These shepherds customarily kept their flocks outdoors twenty-four hours a day every day of the year, but brought the ewes in to deliver their lambs where they could be carefully cared for.

It was to this place that Joseph took Mary. It was in this special stable at “Migdal Eder” that Christ was born!

The "swaddling clothes" that wrapped the lambs was also used to wrap the Lord Jesus.

These priestly shepherds in their fields near Bethlehem on that Christmas Eve knew where to go to find the newborn Messiah, Jesus Christ. He would be found where the angel had told them, wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a manger in the lower floor of the tower of the flock, Migdal Eder

Luke 2:8-18 records that there were shepherds in the fields keeping watch over their sheep by night.

“And in that region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night … And the angel said to them, ‘Be not afraid: for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all the people; for to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.’” Luke 2:8,10,11

These shepherds were none other but the shepherds from “Migdal Eder”. The angels told the shepherds that they would find the Babe wrapped in "swaddling clothes and lying in a manger." There was no need for the angels to give these shepherds directions to the birth place because they already knew. These were the men who raised sacrificial lambs that were sacrificed in the Temple. When the angelic announcement came, they knew exactly where to go, as Luke 2 indicates, for the sign of a manger could only mean their manger at the tower of the flock!

Migdal Eder at Bethlehem is the perfect place for Christ to be born. He was born in the very birthplace where tens of thousands of lambs, which had been sacrificed to prefigure Him, were born. God promised it, pictured it and performed it at Migdal Eder.

It all fits together, for that's the place the place where sacrificial lambs were born!

The Lamb born at Migdal Eder was the Lamb to be sacrificed to take away the sin of the world.

You see our Lord Jesus was born in Bethlehem where all sacrificial lambs were born, and our Lord Jesus died in Jerusalem where all sacrificial lambs were killed.

John the Baptist proclaimed of Jesus,

"Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world." John 1:29

Jesus is presented in the Bible as being “in type” as a sacrificial lamb. It was not by chance but by choice that Christ identified His death with the time of the observance of the Passover.

Peter spoke of our redemption as wrought by the

"Precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot" 1 Pet. 1:19

and Paul told us that

"Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us" 1 Cor. 5:7

Even the first fulfilled type by which Christ is to be revealed in Heaven is as the Lamb (Rev. 5:6-13). The baby grew up! He grew into a man to fulfill the plan for our salvation. He grew up to be the advocate, the intercessor, the "one mediator between man and God, the man Christ Jesus." (1 John 2:1, Heb 7:25, 1 Tim 2:5) He grew up so that He could die, thereby offering a perfect, sinless life in sacrifice for our sins. He grew up to be raised from the dead, conquering death and instilling a living hope of eternal life in all who come to Him. He grew up so that he might become “the source of eternal salvation." (Heb 5:9)

I'm glad that Jesus was born. But I rejoice even more in the life He lived, the death He died, and the accomplishment of His resurrection! While the world remembers a baby in a feeding trough, let our remembrance of His death help us to look to the Man, the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ throughout the year.

Behold, the Lamb.

For Brittany's complete sources, see this link.

How Does The Jerusalem Council Apply To Me?

Acts 15 and the Jerusalem Council ... when you first read it, you will probably respond like I always have that it was a problem that isn’t really relevant to me.  After all, I really have never given a single thought to believing that circumcision is necessary for salvation.  But as you dig into the passage you see that the issue at hand goes much deeper than circumcision and it is actually very relevant to life today and central to maintaining the integrity of the doctrine of justification.

What was the heart of the problem at the Jerusalem Council? Pride ... and it manifested itself in two different ways.  

The Loss of Stature

The Jewish Christians were terrified at the thought of the new Gentile believers destroying the traditions that had characterized their faith and their families for centuries.  I wonder if they were even terrified at the thought of even including the Gentiles at all ... that somehow by including the Gentiles they wouldn’t be as special or set apart.

Do you hold the traditions of your faith so hight that you are unwilling to accept new believers who may look different into your circle?

The Loss of Control

The Jewish Christians felt that if the new Gentile believers weren’t circumcised then they were not truly believers of Christ. This thought implies that Jesus and His atoning sacrifice on the cross wasn’t enough to pay the penalty of our sins and that somehow something more was needed.  This too is prevalent in our culture and if I am honest I can say that it is even prevalent in my life at times.  We may say that we don’t believe in a works based gospel and that works aren’t required for our salvation, but so often that is not what we live and the gospel that we impose on others. Recognizing our sin and our separation from a Holy God and then repentance and acceptance of Jesus’ work on the cross is enough for salvation and for entry into the family of God. No other requirement is necessary for that salvation.  Church ordinances, membership, or traditions aren’t necessary for salvation.  Jesus’ work on the cross is enough.  When we put ourselves in this position where we are striving and working to meet some bar or level of achievement we are pridefully saying that the work of Jesus isn’t enough.  You are powerless to save yourself ... there is no work you can do.

What gospel are you living out in your life? Is it the true gospel of “salvation by grace alone through faith in Jesus Christ alone” or does your life reflect a Jesus (+) gospel.

Justification

Justification.  Such a big intimidating word yet it can be the most beautiful word you have ever heard if you are a believer in Jesus Christ.  The doctrine of justification is the heart of what the gospel is.  Our position in Christ and our relationship to Christ hinges on this doctrine.  Simply, justification means that salvation is by faith alone in Christ alone through grace alone.  

Who are we?

Our flesh nature is nasty and sinful.  One of my favorite passages to remind myself exactly what my flesh can look like and who I am apart from Jesus Christ is Romans 3.  Apart from Jesus Christ, we are dead in our sins.

10 As it is written:

   “There is no one righteous, not even one;
 11 there is no one who understands;
   there is no one who seeks God.
12 All have turned away,
   they have together become worthless;
there is no one who does good,
   not even one.”
13 “Their throats are open graves;
   their tongues practice deceit.”
“The poison of vipers is on their lips.”
 14 “Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.”
15 “Their feet are swift to shed blood;
 16 ruin and misery mark their ways,
17 and the way of peace they do not know.”
 18 “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

This passage reminds us that NO ONE is good.  Who we are in our flesh isn’t pretty.  I talked about what this looks like in my life in part of my testimony, The Good Girl Syndrome.  

Who is Jesus?

Jesus is the second person of the Trinity.  Fully God and fully man, He was born of a virgin and lived a sinless life while on earth.  He died on a cross where He bore the full weight of the sin of mankind in order to pay the penalty that is required for sin. He was resurrected on the third day and then ascended into heaven where He sits at the right hand of the Father.

Why is justification necessary?

God is Holy and can not tolerate sin. In our sinful state, we can not enter the presence of God.  We can not have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ here on earth nor can we spend eternity in heaven with Him.  Sin separates us.  Jesus’ work on the cross removes the barrier and Christ’s righteousness is imputed (transferred) to the sinner.  Because of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, a sinner is declared righteous in the sight of God.

How are you justified?

A believer is justified when they are drawn to faith by the Holy Spirit.  They recognize their separation from God and their need for a Savior and in repentance confess this sin and need.

When does justification occur?

A sinner is justified once at conversion and does not have to “earn” God’s favor.  Once a believer is declared “not guilty” and “now righteous,” it is a complete work.  It is common for our flesh to want to feel like we have to work for or earn the work of justification, but when we do that, we diminish Christ’s work on the cross.  Tomorrow’s post will look further into this temptation as we look at Acts 15 and the Jerusalem Council.

Have you come to the point in your life where you believe that being aware of your sin and separation from God, you have repented of your sin and believed that by grace alone through faith in Jesus Christ alone you can be declared righteous in the eyes of God?

Good Girl Syndrome

Senior Year of High School

As we begin this blog journey together, I wanted to share with you a very important step in my journey. In some silly way, I think I have been jealous or envious of others who had these great testimonies to share (or at least they seemed great to me). You hear testimonies of radical conversions where people are delivered from sin and bondage like drug addictions, broken homes, etc. Mine always seemed much less dramatic.

Most of my life, I have been known as a “good girl.” You know what I mean ... I didn't go to parties in high school. I never got in trouble with my parents for staying out too late or breaking a curfew. As a matter of fact, I don't think I even had a curfew! I didn't even taste alcohol until college when I had a stretch of a couple of weeks that I decided I wanted to be wild, which wasn't even that wild! I have never had the urge to do drugs—I wouldn't even know what marijuana smelled like if it was right in front of me. I have never used foul language as a part of my vocabulary. I saved myself for marriage. I could go on, but I think you get the picture. I have been the "good girl" in my mind, to those in my circle of influence and according to the world's standard. The “good girl,” that is, until God began to show me otherwise. Several events in my life combined with a study of the book of Romans sent that "good girl" facade crashing down around me like a ton of bricks.

Junior year of College

Romans 3:10-18 says, "There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one. Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit. The poison of vipers is on their lips. Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness. Their feet are swift to shed blood; ruin and misery mark their ways, and they way of peace they do not know. There is no fear of God before their eyes." 

Four times in that passage it is says that no one is good! It doesn't say that no one is good except for those that have been a "good girl" according to the world's standards. It says that according to the only standard that matters, God's, no one is good. Which means that Lindsay Ramsey is not a "good girl." According to God's standards, I am the chief of sinners I am "full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, slanderous, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless" (Romans 1:29-31). 

On my own and apart from the Lord Jesus, I am all those horrible things mentioned in that passage, or I am capable of being them. When I look past the "big things" and look at my depraved nature ... I have hurt a friend, I have desperately wanted what someone else had, I have been prideful, I have not trusted God, I have not been submissive to my husband, I have desired my own will about His, I have lied. My nature is depraved ... having no good in it.

If that was bad enough, then comes the sucker punch to the stomach: "You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things" (Romans 2:1). 

This is when it all came together, not only have I wrongly put myself on a pedestal thinking I am a "good girl,” but I have sometimes silently, sometimes verbally, judged others and their sin while not recognizing the sin in my own life. Instead of the judgment that I wanted to hand down in my "good girl" facade, I should have been driven to my knees in repentance for my own sin and then praised the Lord Jesus that by His grace even as a depraved sinner I have responded to the gospel in faith, and I am able to stand before Him clothed in His righteousness. "This righteousness comes from God through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe" (Romans 3:23).

And to think, I have lived most of my life as a Christian thinking that I didn’t have much of a testimony because my story didn’t include a drug addiction, broken home, abuse, or some other “awful” thing.