Why Christmas is so important: Week 1

Reading for today: Genesis 3:1-15 (Click on the passage to read online.)

“He shall bruise your head.” ~ Genesis 3:15

As the sun set on the last day of creation, God saw all that he had created and it was good. Man, woman, everything in perfect communion.

But then, just pages into humanity’s history, something went terribly wrong. The devil started talking, interrupting perfection. Out of his mouth, the first lie was spoken. And overwhelmed by the conflicting words, the first woman believes the lie. She believes the lie instead of the truth of God’s word.

And then she speaks the lie to the first man. And he believes it. And with each lie spoken, the perfect communion that God had created quickly collapses, leaving the creation naked, vulnerable, and afraid.

But even as the first lie is spoken, the first promise is made. “I will restore humanity to myself,” God says to the devil. “And when I do, your lie will be forever crushed. It will be crushed by the offspring – the seed of woman.”

Why is Christmas so important? It is the day God’s spoken promise was born. Jesus was the word of God made into the offspring of woman. He is the truth and the final combatant of the devil and his lies. And his entire life was dedicated to the restoration of humanity to their God.

Dear God, Your truth is our salvation. Thank you for Christmas, the day your truth became real in the person of Jesus. Amen.

As you go about your week, think about the following passages and what they say about the importance of Jesus. (Click on the passages to read online.)

Day 2: John 1:1-5; John 14:6

Day 3: Isaiah 9:6-7

Day 4: Galatians 4:4-7

Day 5: Romans 16:20; Revelation 12:9

 

 

 

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And be thankful

Reading for today: Luke 17:11-19 (Click on the passage to read online.)

“And be thankful.” ~Colossians 3:15

allyouhavetogive.com

 

Why do we thank people? Why do we teach our children to say thank you?

If your answer pertains mostly to social etiquette, think of the original question in this way: What are we inadvertently saying when we don’t thank?

From a Biblical perspective, thankfulness is more than just social etiquette. Thankfulness is a position toward God. It is synonymous with worshipping, praising, blessing, acknowledging, remembering, and humbling ourselves before God. Thankfulness is our proper response to God’s generous and abundant love. Biblical thankfulness is unique in that it is also our proper response to the circumstances he allows in our lives – whether good or bad.

Thankfulness is also a sign of faith. In our reading for today, ten outcast lepers cry out to Jesus for healing. Jesus tells them to “go and show” themselves to the priests. (This was to verify they were healed and could join regular society once again.)

These lepers must have believed Jesus could heal them, because they were willing to follow Jesus directives and head out before anything actually happened. Luke says, “As they went they were cleansed.” The miracle happened in-transit.

But one of the men, a foreigner and the least likely to associate with Jesus, returned to thank Jesus. Why? Do you think he was simply following his mother’s rules of social etiquette? No way. Even if he was, he was breaking other social etiquette rules. He was yelling, he was praising God, and then he threw himself at Jesus feet and thanked him. His position towards God was true thankfulness and Jesus blessed him saying, “Your faith has made you well.”

Dear God, Give us thankful and humble hearts to remember you and to praise you. Amen.

As we enjoy Thanksgiving this week, use this time to check your position toward God.

Read the following passages and make a list of words or concepts that help to define true thankfulness. (Click on each passage to read online.)

Day 2: Deuteronomy 8:1-10; 17-18

Day 3: Psalm 100

Day 4: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18; Philippians 4:6

Day 5: 2 Corinthians 9:10-12; Colossians 3:12-17

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The secret of life

Reading for today: Matthew 19:16-30  (Click on the passage to read online.)

“With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

~ Matthew 19:26

You have suspected for some time now that there is more to this life. You have felt it. You’ve seen it between the lines. Maybe you’ve seen it in the birth of a child. Maybe after a mountain climb as you reached the peak and turned around. Maybe you saw it in something or someone else. You just can’t put your finger on it. Is it peace? Is it an afterlife? Is it something bigger than you? Is it a legacy? What more is there?

And if there is more to this life, than don’t we need to discover it? Don’t we need to do something to unravel the mystery? And once we unravel the mystery, don’t we need to start working to achieve it?

When God created the world, perfection and eternity were a part of our nature. But ever since sin and brokenness entered in and dissolved our perfection and damaged our eternity, we have been striving to get it back. We are looking for something more because there is more. We strive for perfection and for goodness in ourselves and in others. We yearn for eternity, for oneness and peace with our creator and with others. But so far, we have had difficulty achieving it.

In our reading for today, a young, wealthy, religious man has been working hard at achieving what was lost. But he senses there is something more he needs to do to achieve it. And he believes that Jesus can tell him the answer.

So the young man asks, “What good deed must I do to have eternal life?” And Jesus, after a short conversation with the man, answers the heart of the question directly, “If you want to achieve eternal life, then be perfect and follow me.”

And with that shocking answer, the man sadly walks away, not waiting or asking for Jesus’ explanation or his help. (This very successful and very religious man has seemingly been turned away and the disciples are beginning to realize they can’t measure up either.) They anxiously voice, “This is madness! Who can possibly be saved?”

“Exactly,” says Jesus. “No one can.” No one, by their own deeds, by their own resourcefulness, by their own merit can get back that part of their nature that’s missing. No one. Jesus says, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” The answer to the rich, young man and the disciples’ question is not a to-do list, but a person. Jesus.

Jesus was perfect so that we could become perfect and find peace with our creator again. He conquered death so that we could live eternally with God. He achieved what we could not. He is the mystery unraveled. And he is not just the answer to the question: what’s more to life, he is life itself.

Dear God, As we struggle in this imperfect life, give us faith in a perfect Jesus. Amen.

As you go about your week, think about the following passages and what they say about the importance of Jesus. (Click on each passage to read online.)

Easter Morning by He Qi

Day 2: John 14:1-6

Day 3: 2 Corinthians 5:17-21

Day 4: Acts 16:25-34

Day 5: Romans 3:22-28

 

 

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First in line

Reading for today: Matthew 20:20-28 (The reading is linked here.)

“Even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” ~ Matthew 20:28

When I was a kid, my family occasionally attended our church’s summer camp. Every evening as the dinner bell would ring, I used to watch the campers race to be the first in line. One of the chief counselors, Pastor Hintze, would sometimes yell out in a booming voice, “The first shall be last and the last shall be first!” And when he did, it was expected that the entire dinner line would about-face, making those who arrived late, the first to eat, and those who had won the coveted first spots in line, the last to eat.

Of course, everyone thought this was either wildly hilarious (those in the back) or grossly unfair (those in the front). And you never knew when Hintze would call out for the switch. But no matter whether he called for it or not, in the end, everyone got to eat.

In our reading for today, two disciples and their mother ask Jesus to be the first in line in his kingdom. An audacious request considering the last thing Jesus had shared with them was his upcoming execution. “Hey Jesus, since you are about ready to die, can we have first dibs on your power?” Essentially, they heard the dinner bell ring and they were racing to the front.

Jesus responded with grace and patience. “Do you think you can handle what I am about to do?” “Absolutely,” they respond. (They had apparently forgotten about Jesus’ prediction of being condemned, mocked, flogged, and executed.) He tells the two men and the rest of his disciples, that they would indeed share in his power. But on his terms.

Jesus’ terms for being great in his kingdom are quite simple: whoever wants to be great, must serve; whoever wants to be first, must serve. The first shall be last and the last shall be first.

Our greatness in God’s kingdom involves putting others before ourselves, serving those around us, and making sure that as we line up, everyone around us has a chance to eat.

Dear God, Thank you for your Son, Jesus, who taught us true greatness. Give us a servant heart. Amen.

 

As you go about your week, think about the following passages and what they say about the definition and purpose of greatness in God’s kingdom. (Click on each passage to read online.)

Day 2: Matthew 18:1-5; 10-14

Day 3: Matthew 19:16-30

Day 4: Matthew 20:1-16

Day 5: 1 Peter 4:7-11

 

 

 

 

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Rebranding Cupoverflowing

Thanks to all of you who have followed our ministry over the years. As we begin to settle down in our new place of ministry, we are ready to REBRAND this blogsite.

It’s been on my heart to create a weekly devotional that you could receive directly in your inbox. As Toby and I discussed possible blog titles and options, he said, “Why don’t you just use Cupoverflowing?” And so here we are.

Starting on Monday, Cupoverflowing will become a weekly devotional site. Same name, same people, same address – new look and purpose!

My hope is that this site will give you opportunity to touch base with God, grow in your faith, and encourage you in your service to others. If you already follow this blog, welcome back!

If you are new, and would love to receive a little encouragement in your inbox Monday mornings, click on the “sign me up” button on the right-hand side of the screen.

God’s blessings! See you on Monday!

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