Based on “Foolish Wisdom” by Pastor Dave Folkerts; 10/31-11/1/09,
Message #DF143; Daily Devotional #2 -“Emmanuel, God with Us”
Preparing the Soil (Introduction): For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. (1 Corinthians 1:18) “Think about it. We worship a poor, homeless man, born out of wedlock from a small rural town, who was sentenced to death.” (Pastor Dave Folkerts) Jesus could have come to this earth in any form He chose. He is God. He could have been a wealthy man, dressed in lavish robes and jewels, if He wanted to be. He could have given wealth to the poor, solving all their earthly problems, rather than ministering to them with love and compassion. The world awaited His arrival, expecting a Messiah with the grandeur of Solomon, but receiving a carpenter instead. He might have been more popular with the masses had He chosen to appear as a King rather than a pauper. He could have made a grand entrance, delivering His message of salvation and immediately ascending back into heaven if He chose to. Why did He come to us in a form that the world has always shunned? We rarely think beyond the sacrifices Jesus made at the cross. In truth, His sacrifices began long before He went to the cross (Philippians
2:5-8).
Planting and Watering the Seed (Growth): Jesus came to this world to deliver a message of Salvation and to teach us that the ways of the world are not God’s ways. Jesus is God in human form and by example, showed us the truth about the God we worship. Contrary to what Satan would lead us to believe, Jesus showed us that our God is not a God who rules the earth with vengeance and wrath, but a God who has given forgiveness and love beyond human expectations. He taught us that true greatness comes when we serve, that our greatest gains come when we give, and that true life comes when we die to ourselves (Mark 8:35). We are taught by His example that our God values us even when we are at our weakest. He loves us when our bodies are at their frailest. When our hearts have turned away from Him and when we are committing the most evil acts that man can commit, He reaches out to us to offer us forgiveness. He sees us when we are at our worst and yet loves us anyway. He gives compassion to those from whom the world would turn away its eyes. He brings peace and rest to the weary and desperate. In one of His greatest displays of humility and love, He brought a towel and basin to wash the feet of the disciples who confessed that they were not worthy to serve Him (John 13:5).
Harvesting the Crop (Action/Response): Many of us have turned away from God when we have had turmoil and anguish in our lives. We have blamed God for the way our lives have turned out, when we have made bad choices and given in to the deceptions of this world. Do you want to know the truth about God? Take a good look at Jesus and His life here on earth. He is Emmanuel, God with us. He turned the world upside down for us. His message is one of pure love. He is our Lord. He could have easily used His power to force us into submission, yet instead He ministered to the poor, the ill, and the weary. He never sinned, yet He gave His life for us who sin. The world teaches us to let no one control our lives but easily gives in to the control that Satan holds. When we take a close look at the example Jesus set for us, it is not difficult to choose. There are only two choices. We can choose the world of evil and deception, stockpiling the “things” of this world, or we can give up the things of this world, take up our cross, and follow Jesus (Mark 8:34).
Cultivating (Additional Reading): Isaiah 29:14; 1 Corinthians 2:14
No comments:
Post a Comment