When I Don't Accept His Gift

"And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous..."

1 John 2:1

I was reading 1 John this morning and came across the above gem. Advocate. I wanted to know the full meaning of that word, so I looked up the Greek definition. This is where anyone who's followed my blog for awhile can shake their head and say, "There she goes again." Yes. I love words. And definitions. And particularly words with rich, deep definitions. It's like searching for buried treasure. So, let's go digging! :)

Parakletos - advocate, helper, aid, assistant, comforter, pleader, counsel for defense, intercessor, called to one's aid

Isn't that rich?! And let me tell you a secret. You probably already knew that Greek word. John, the beloved disciple of Jesus, was the only one who used that word in the New Testament, both in John and in 1 John. In John, he uses it to describe the Holy Spirit. What are some of the most common names of the Holy Spirit? The Helper. The Comforter. You've heard that, right? Well then, you already knew the word. Yes, you have my full permission to go do a celebratory dance. We need to celebrate the little things, right? So, go. Dance it up. 

You back? See. That was fun, wasn't it? Now, even though you're super smart and already knew a Greek word, I want you to look at that definition again. But this time, read it like you've never heard it before. Allow the Lord to amaze you by what He's promised to be for us.

Jesus is your Parakletos.

Your advocate.

Your helper.

Your intercessor.

Your comforter.

Your assistance and aid.

Your counselor.

I was struck by what a gift I've been given in Jesus. And how little I expect Him to be what He's promised.

You see, this word "parakletos" is just one title of our God. Think of the hundreds of other names in Scripture. Bread of Life. All-Sufficient One. Beloved. Captain and King. Good Shepherd. Righteousness. Everlasting Father. The list goes on and on. All this in Christ. 

But how often do I run to Him to be my Helper when I'm struggling? Or seek my Counselor when I don't know His will in a decision? Or keep my eyes on the Shepherd when plodding through a day?

Oftentimes, I don't need a Helper, because I've already gushed my problem to my closest friends.

I don't seek the Counselor, because I've sought the latest self-help books and websites. 

I can't keep my eyes on the Shepherd, because I'm too busy running my own life.

It's sad, but true. How has my thinking become so backward?

I want to be a wife someday. (I know it seems like I've jumped ship and abandoned any thought flow I had. Just stick with me and I promise this will make sense in thirty seconds.) I want to be the best wife ever. (Go ahead and roll your eyes. I don't mind.) I want to be my hubby's eager helpmate, passionate lover, best friend, greatest encourager, and closest confidante. 

But what if six months into marriage, he started spending most of his free time with his buddies instead of me? And what if he no longer asked my advice, but depended on his boss? What if - what if he no longer found delight in my body, but turned to the fake reality of pornographic images?

Is my marriage analogy starting to make sense now?

"Sure," my husband could say, "I might not be the perfect guy, but I wake up and kiss my wife every morning, provide for her financially, and spend fifteen minutes or so of quality time with her, explaining the errands I need her to run and the chores that need taken care of. Oh, and I say 'please' and 'thank you', like, all the time. I don't see what her issue is." 

Ugh, this hurts. How do I slip back into that mindset so often, when it's SO ugly? I've been given the greatest Gift this world has ever known - and I'm disinterested? 

Oh friends, do you see Him? 

• The One who joyfully agreed to go through one of the cruelest forms of torture and endure the full penalty of His Father's wrath for you, before an atom had ever been created. 
• The One who single-handedly defeated all the powers of hell and sin and death combined and is right now Lord. Over. All.
• The One who watched your entrance onto the grand stage of life, seeking you out in love, as you turned your back on Him. 
• The One who's heart has been beating with this consuming, unconditional love for you, even in your moments of deepest rebellion and darkest shame.
• The One who found you at the worst, led you to the cross, and showed you His adoption papers. 
• The One who bids you to run confidently, boldly, excitedly into His throne room, because you're covered in His very righteousness.
• The One who knows all the lies the Enemy keeps whispering, all the shame he keeps replaying in your head and bellows over it all, "That child is Mine." 
• The One who provided His very life and power to you, so that you don't have to "stick out" this holiness thing yourself. 
• The One who is now waiting for you and looks with anticipation for the day He gets to enjoy uninterrupted communion with you forever. 
• The One whose name is Jesus. 

Let's not seek lesser things, friends. Let's not allow other things to satisfy and tear us away from the Best. Let's not walk around like spiritual paupers, when we're filthy, filthy rich.

Let's accept the Gift.

Singing through December~ Song #4

Can you believe that we only have 5 more days until Christmas? Exciting, isn't it?!

"But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons."

Galatians 4:4-5

Photo Credit: The Nativity Story

Let me first say, that it was really hard to pick out a song for today. I already know the last song I'll be posting, but I still have so many Christmas "favorites" that it was hard to choose just one for today.

This is a pretty new Christmas song, at least for me. I heard this for the first time a couple months ago and was brought to tears. It's so beautiful and worshipful! Praise the Lord...we have a Savior! 

Enjoy the song! Let me know what you think and if you have anymore favorites! I've been greatly enjoying all of your suggestions! Thank you so much for taking the time to share!

Hmm, my baby

Heaven sent You to me

All the world's been praying

Who will save?

But who am I?

That here tonight

I hold the One

Who'll bring us life

Hallelujah, we've been found

A child is born to save us now

Hallelujah, light has come

A Savior who will set us free

A promise for those who believe

Do You hear the angels

Sing for You, my baby?

Men and kings have

Come to bow to You

But here in my arms

So close to me

The son of God

Now all can see

Hallelujah, we've been found

A child is born to save us now

Hallelujah, light has come

A Savior set us free

So praise to God on high

He has heard our cry

Singing through December~ Song #1

"For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; and the government will rest on His shoulders; and His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace."

Isaiah 9:6

Hallelujah! What a precious Savior we have to worship this Christmas! And what a special privilege we have to worship Him in song! Christmas songs are such a blessing, aren't they?! There are so many beautiful songs that glorify our Lord and turn our hearts to Him!

Immanuel: God with us.

As Christians, Christmas is about Christ. We have the privilege of using this special time of year to remember and celebrate God becoming man (a baby) for us. 

And this Christ-child deserves our worship. 

This December, I'm doing a blogpost series called Singing through December. Every 5 days, I'll post a new Christmas song. That means I'll be sharing my 5 favorites with you (not in any specific ranking order).

 I would love for you to join me! Comment under each post and share a link of your 5 favorite Christ-honoring Christmas songs. There are so many wonderful songs, it's hard to choose just 5...which is why I'm so excited for you to share your favorites as well.

My hope and prayer is that this will be a precious time of encouraging one another with songs that lift up and exalt our Savior this Christmas! 

So, here we go. Song #1 for Singing through December is....

Be Born In Me by Francesca Battistelli

This is a fairly new song, but the words are so beautiful. Be Born in Me is written from Mary's standpoint and gives a challenging example of the surrendered heart we must have as Christ's followers. Our Lord calls us to different trials in life, but we must each surrender our will to His and be able to say, "Not my will, but Yours be done!" 

I hope you're encouraged by this song!

So...what's one of your favorite Christmas songs?

Our Sun and Shield

This morning, I was reading Psalm 84 and came across a verse I had read hundreds of times before.

"For the Lord God is a sun and shield..." Psalm 84:11a

Even though I had read that little phrase in the past, I had never truly stopped to ponder what that meant. God is a sun? and a shield?

So, I broke them up and did a little word study.

Sun: The sun is radiant, awe-inspiring, and beyond our physical comprehension. The sun gives light, just as God gives light to His children, revealing His ways, and exposing the darkness within us. The Lord grants to us the warmth and comfort of His presence, just as the sun gives us the heat we need to survive. But here is my main point. The sun is a blazing ball of pure gas, undiluted by any solid or liquid form of anything. So God, in all His splendid, blazing holiness cannot stand any spot of sin in His presence; it is simply impossible, for He would be defying His very nature of perfection.

Okay, keep that in mind.

Shield: For me at least, the Lord as our shield is a common picture that comes to mind. He rescues us from the flaming darts of the enemy and has secured a way for victory in every temptation. But today, I was reminded of another aspect for the word. It is the picture of Christ shielding us, not only from the enemy, but the very wrath of God Almighty.

Remember the picture of the sun. Before the spotless, blazing holiness of God, our sin and rebellion demand justice. The holy wrath of God was aimed at us, His disobedient, creation...until Christ stepped in as our shield.

As I was thinking about all this today, an allegory came to mind. It gave me a glimpse of Christ's sacrifice in a way I hadn't pictured before.

"There I was, face-down on the dry, sandy dirt, awaiting what I deserved. How was this happening to me? I had been so happy here, on the Road to Hell, living for myself, not once caring about God's laws. Why should I have feared God or had anything to do with Him? He only made life miserable, I had heard. Why would I have wanted to live for Him, denying myself and enslaved to some God who demanded all of me?

That day, I had arrived at the entrance to some desert, just having come out of Vanity Fair. I had had an exciting time at the fair and was reminiscing on the memories, until I saw the sign; the sign that welcomed me to the very place I should have steered far away from. It read in big black letters, "The Desert of Holiness: Sinners Shall Be Judged By Almighty God."

I joked to myself about the so-called "justice of God", flippantly daring God to strike me down, while boasting that I would be the first sinner to cross the Desert of Holiness and come out alive. Confidently, I strolled through the gate, telling myself that even if there was a God, I didn't need to worry. Those Christians had always told me He was a God of love. Surely then, He wouldn't judge me for being a sinner. Would He?

As I continued along the way, the sweat from the intense heat poured down my face. On the side of the path stood another sign, smaller yet in the same bold lettering: "Repent! Only the blood of Christ can save you!"

The blood of Christ?! I scoffed to myself. "I don't need Christ!" I shouted to the heavens, "I can save myself!" My voice echoed through the sandy mountains and taunted me as it rang out, "I can save myself! I can save myself!"

Suddenly, a Voice shook the heavens. "There is none righteous, not even one; there is none who understands; there is none who seeks for God; all have turned aside, together they have become useless; there is none who does good, not even one."

For a moment the Voice paused, allowing the sound of my throbbing heart to drum in my ears. He began again.

"You have turned aside from Me, My little creation. I formed you with My hands, wrought you in the deep, but all you have done is rebelled and sinned against Me, your holy God. I am a Righteous Judge, and your innumerable sins demand complete and total justice. You deserve My wrath, My absolute, perfect wrath; you deserve no love, no goodness from Me."

There I was, face-down on the dry, sandy dirt, awaiting what I deserved. How was this happening to me? As questions raced through my mind, I shielded my eyes from the blinding light that penetrated my very core, exposing all the evil deeds of darkness that I had willfully allowed and participated in. He was right. I deserved every bit of His wrath; I had done nothing but spite Him every day of my life. I was a filthy wretch and didn't deserve to live. Knowing the verdict, I prepared to die under the weight of the wrath of God.

But then, it happened. Instead of feeling the wrath of God, I felt the weight of Someone kneeling over me, His arms surrounding me, encompassing me with His soothing Presence. I felt a warm breath on my ear, as another Voice, similar to the first, whispered to me, "No, you don't deserve My love or goodness, but My Father has chosen you. I have come so that you may have life. You will be Mine."

My mind was pulsing. Who was this? Was this Jesus Christ, the very One I had disdained and scoffed at? If so, what was He doing? Without a moment's warning, the sky turned black. The ground shook and I buried my face back into my hands. The first Voice shook again from heaven declaring, "You, like a sheep, have gone astray, you have turned to your own way; but I, the Lord, will cause your iniquity to fall on Him."

I turned my head, as much as I could with the weight of Christ still leaning over me. But as I saw the sky out of the corner of my eyes, I was horrified. The heavens had completely changed; they were now opened, looking like mighty curtains. Giant arrows entitled "the wrath of God" were poised in my direction. Weapons of metal, they dripped with burning poison and were tipped with balls of fire. My heart stopped at the sight of them.

The whir of the arrows sounded, as they were released from the mighty bows of heaven. I paused, expecting the pain, but instead only hearing a loud groan behind me. Christ's last words pounded in my mind, "You will be Mine."

Something wet and sticky ran down my face. I struggled to wipe it off with my hand. It was then that I realized what it was.

Blood. His blood.

The gravity of everything overwhelmed me. The words of that second sign, which had lined the desert's path, flashed across my mind. "Only the blood of Christ can save you."

I was a wretched sinner before God Almighty, deserving His full wrath and justice. Yet, at the moment of my punishment, Jesus Christ, the perfect Son of God, had wrapped His arms around me and became my shield, taking the complete wrath of God upon Himself...

...for me. He had given His perfect, sinless life for my wretched, vile one? Questions flooded my mind, but a victorious cry slashed through the silence.

"It is finished!"

The debt had been paid?! My sin was gone?! The wrath of God had been removed?! Tears filled my eyes as the blood continued seeping down my face. And as it did, I knew I was being changed. A new life was entering my body and my old heart and mind were dying underneath the flow of that precious life.

My Savior stood, strong and mighty, joyful and glorious. Sitting up, I turned around and for the first time, beheld my majestic Lord.

I was overwhelmed. How could I do anything but fall face down in His holy presence? "O Lord," I cried, "forgive me! I have lived a life of sin and rebellion against You. I only deserve Your wrath..."

"My little child," He called as He extended His hand, "Rise and come near. My blood has washed you clean. Here," at this, He held out a resplendent robe of the purest white, "this is the robe of My righteousness. I have purchased you; you are Mine. No longer are you a slave to sin, but an adopted child of the King of Kings."

As He covered me in His robe, He stepped back to admire me.

"Yes, you are ready," He beamed, taking my hand.

"Come, let me introduce you to your Father...."

"And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest. But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved). For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them."
~Ephesians 2:1-5, 10