MORAL COMPASS

.

MORAL COMPASS

In God's eyes we are all equal. But sin makes us unequal. As Christians, we are not better people, just unequal. Forgiven. Because we either believe and live like Jesus has redeemed us or we don't. And if we do, then He is our moral compass. And if we don't, our moral compass never stops spinning...no direction of right and wrong. That is the difference.

The problem is our culture has so muddied the reality of sin that we have gotten used to the darkness...not unlike dusk when the darkness gradually creeps in and we just accept it. If intended to reflect the nature of God, man is to be judged not by how he compares to other humans, but how he measures up to the Divine Standard. And remember God loves us for who we are, not for what we do. He also loves us as we are, not as we should be. We need to stop trying to measure up and start resting in the arms of His love. That doesn’t mean we don’t continue to live in a sinful state. Come on, if we’re honest with ourselves we still sin. What it does mean is that we must admit (confess) our sin, continually walk in forgiveness, and stop condemning ourselves! Romans 2:4 - “Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?” Oh the blessed mercy of God!

Here’s a prophetic verse, written about 600 years BC, that expresses God’s mercy and love in such a powerful way that expressed the heart of God back then, and was fulfilled in Christ Jesus: Zephaniah 3:17 — “For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.” Did you get that?!!! Yes…He’s alive. God’s not dead or some figment of some religious nut’s imagination! He takes delight in you…unconditionally! We should never fear coming to Him no matter how dirty we think our souls may be. He rejoices over you  and me with joyful songs! It’s as if God is singing love songs to us! Unfathomable but true! Crazy? No. Relentless? Yes! That is my Jesus! All proven over 2000 years ago on the cross of Calvary.

"For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him." (John 3:16-17) If we really believe in Him, we will surrender to His compass. And that, my friend, is neither political or religious.

WITH US IS GOD!

Emmanuel: The name means “God with us.” But the unusual and emphatic position of the words making up the name show it should be understood, “WITH US is God!”

Thus, the name Emmanuel captures the awe and wonder of the incarnation, and the unimaginable fact that the God of the universe entered the stream of time to become one with us.

So often we hear from people that it is such a magical season...and I agree. 

There is a wonder, a joy, a hope, and a peace...and it blazes a trail through all that that is tarnished, sorrowful, hopeless, and turbulent. 

What really hurts is that our culture tries to sweep the truth under the rug of tolerance.

But on the day we celebrate Jesus' birthday, on the birthday of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, on this day that He should be recognized and honored for his coming into the world....He hardly enters our minds at all. 

It’s all about the bottom line...we go through the parade of Christmas dressed in a costume of materialism. 

But I love how Brennan Manning balances this: 

“Once a year the Christmas season strikes both the sacred and the secular spheres of life with a sledgehammer force:  suddenly Jesus Christ is everywhere.

           

For approximately one month His presence is inescapable.  You may accept him or reject him, affirm Him or deny him, but you cannot ignore him.  Of course He is proclaimed in speech, song, and symbol in all the Christian circles.  But he rides every red-nosed reindeer, lurks behind every cabbage patch doll, and resonates in the most desacralized “season’s greetings” and “happy holidays.”  Remotely or proximately He is toasted in every cup of Christmas cheer.  Each sprig of holly is a hint of his holiness, each cluster of mistletoe a sign he is here.

For those who claim His name, Christmas heralds this luminous truth:  The God of Jesus Christ is our absolute future.  Such is the deeply hopeful character of this sacred season.  By God’s free doing in Bethlehem, nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus.  Light, life and love are on our side.”

Emmanuel: With us is God. Merry CHRISTmas.