Tuesday, December 5, 2017

Advent 2017 Day 3

“Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them.” Job 1:6

There are things around us that we cannot see. Some people do not accept this to be true because the idea of invisible reality is too much. Most of us lean in this direction, though we do not like to admit it.

We are, generally, cynical people who barely trust our own senses. Scrooge inspires us when he attributes Marley's Ghost to underdone potato above truth. Down in, though, we fear that we're wrong. We worry about shades and specters, the paranormal and the supernatural.

These scare us because we cannot see them. What we cannot see, we do not understand. What we do not understand, we will never control. Fear is often that: the human response to lacking control.

Yet Jesus is King of the Spiritual World as well as the visible, material one. His time here demonstrated that, as stories of casting out demons and stifling unclean spirits show. Even before Christmas, Job's story shows that angels and demons answer to Him. The time since His Ascension shows the spiritual realm still answers to His Word.

Approaching the manger, it is hard to imagine that this small child rules anything, much less the unseen realms. Scripture does not tell us He abdicated the throne, only that He emptied His glory to put on flesh.

Today, consider this: all the minor and major things that have happened to put you where you are, these are in His control. The powers that work for and against good in this world, they answer to Him.

Is it any wonder that the angels celebrated His birth? Whether they sing or say, joy is the theme of their exaltation that night. He was born, not just King of Humanity, but their King as well.

It is the opposite of weakness to come before this baby in worship and reverence. Even the strong know when help is needed, when their strength is overmatched. Be strong enough to admit your fears, your terrors to Him. Let the King in the hay be your Guide and Protector against that which you do not understand.

Scripture passage for the day: John 1:4-5 (NIV)

“In him was life,

and that life was the light of all mankind.

The light shines in the darkness,

and the darkness has not overcome it.”

Hymn for the day: Hark the Herald Angels Sing

Prayer: My Lord and My God, I do not understand all that that I see, much less the things that I do not see. I ask Your help in this, that I will trust that You control the many that are for us, against those set against us. Help my faith to grow and strengthen my defense against the evil ones. Let the Word of God be the strong sword I need, as I stand for You, Jesus, in whose name I pray. Amen.

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