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New Year's Eve Devotional

Anonymous ID:Y+9yxj5u Sun 01 Jan 2023 07:24:18 No.16786652 View View Reply Original Report

Reader: “The Word became flesh . . . ”

Response: “ . . . and dwelt among us.”

Scripture: Philippians 2:6-8

Though he was God,

he did not think of equality with God

as something to cling to.

Instead, he gave up his divine privileges;

he took the humble position of a slave

and was born as a human being.

When he appeared in human form,

he humbled himself in obedience to God

and died a criminal’s death on a cross.

Anonymous

Anonymous ID:Y+9yxj5u Sun 01 Jan 2023 07:24:49 No.16786654 Report

Quoted By:

Some thoughts:

Have you ever come across a story or recounting of an event that was so utterly fantastic that you said this cannot possibly be true? This recounting is truly beyond reason. No one could have imagined this actually happening! The birth of Jesus Christ was just such an event, the only one of its kind since the existence of time. He “appeared in human form.” You have undoubtedly heard or read this verse so many times. There is not another faith, no religious system, no group of prophets or enlightened individuals who claims a God in human flesh. Jesus’ claim is 100% God and 100% human being. He is not half and half. He does not morph back and forth between the two natures. He was not a prophet with magical powers nor simply a great moral teacher. He is the only God who has gained the victory over sin, death, and the powers of darkness.

No other religious belief system, including modern Judaism, acknowledges the problem of original sin. God the Father certainly did. Jesus did. Not only did he become human, he lived among us in our sinful world. The word John uses in his gospel is “tabernacle,” just like the Tabernacle in the Old Testament dwelt in the midst of God’s people. Not only did he live with his people, he gave himself for them and for his creation. God’s becoming Incarnate was the confirmation that we could not have communed with God through any human effort. That perspective was God’s, not ours. Sadly, many religious systems continue to seek some form of connecting to a god through personal striving.

In contrast, the birth of Jesus was the human flesh and blood action of God who greatly loves his people and his creation and chooses to bring them back to himself, to provide a way home, so that they again might enjoy him forever. No one but God could ever have thought up this fantastic story. History truly is his remarkable, astounding, and glorious story.

Anonymous

Anonymous ID:Y+9yxj5u Sun 01 Jan 2023 07:25:16 No.16786656 Report

Quoted By:

Music: “Joy to the World” Voctave Don’t miss this!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?...

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, though you are God, you did not think of equality with God as something you chose to use to your advantage. Instead, you gave up your divine privileges and took the humble position of a slave and were born as a human being. When you appeared as a baby, (I can’t imagine the adjustment that was), you humbled yourself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross for people that rejected and hated you. I greatly rejoice that God elevated you to the place of highest honor in all creation and gave you the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus, your name, every knee is going to bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue will confess that you are Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Amen and amen!

Anonymous

Anonymous ID:Y+9yxj5u Sun 01 Jan 2023 07:26:07 No.16786658 Report

Quoted By:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1nziWgvOPj4

Anonymous

Anonymous ID:z1R9Xdwq Sun 01 Jan 2023 08:14:59 No.16786732 Report

Quoted By:

>>16786652

I think Christianity is a really beautiful religion but I can't bring myself to align with it's modern incarnation. That might change as I get older and understand it better, I don't know.
I can't accept that Christianity is the be all and end all regarding the mystery of the world. I think it's at best one expression of a divine truth.

I also think if God is real, skeptics would have a valuable place in his order. If he is real, how could my urge to seek truth outside the confines of organised religion originate outside of or conflict with his designs? If he is real, any journey undertaken in good faith with the aim of knowing and appreciating the world better must eventually lead to a better understanding of God, right?

It's hard for me to see how a generous god, whose designs and understandings encompass the whole world, would be mad over the exact formulation of his being in human understanding. If I don't worship him the right way, if I don't call him the right term - why would he be concerned with being gratified that way a human would?
As far as I'm concerned worship of the world, of God's design, is near identical with worship of the hypothetical essential spirit that created it - God. Of course in that case it's still possible to get the wrong *idea* about the world, in minute ways or sweeping fundamental ways. So then I guess what separates from a Christian is faith? I love the world but I don't know God. If he were real I would want to know him better, for now I'm content with trying to know the world.

Of course, I understand in many interpretations of Christianity God *is* jealous, petty and demanding. In many he is not the total of the world's will, and more than - he is lord over things called 'good' while either an adversary or human failure encompass evil.
I find most of those forms hard to understand even on a basic level. Why would God's will decree such arbitrary things?

idk

been reading to read more Simone Weil, any fans?

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