STEPPING OUT OF THE DARKNESS

Part of a Series: Preparing the Way

by Steve Dunn

Israel had long lived in darkness—far too long.  They lived under an oppressive, occupying power.  Their own leadership—both political and religious—had been installed by Rome and were willing participants in its tyranny.  Some out of fear, some out of economic advantage, some out of their own desire for power, some out of a limited and even secularized view of God.

Although they were chosen people, the pattern of sinfulness had created a self-fulfilling prophecy of disfavor with the very God upon whose love they needed.  But help was on the way.  Help in the person of a child, born in insignificant circumstances and unexpected surroundings.  A child whose arrival had been proclaimed long before in the words of a prophet named Isaiah.

“The people walking in darkness have seen a great light … For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given.” – Isaiah 9:2, 6

The Voice translation expresses this in words we can all understand.

The people who had been living in darkness

    have seen a great light.

The light of life has shined on those who dwelt

    in the shadowy darkness of death.

And You, God, will make it happen. You bolstered the nation,

    making it great again. You have saturated it with joy.

Everyone in it is full of delight in Your presence,

    like the joy they experience at the harvest,

    like the thrill of dividing up the spoils of war.

    There will be a new time, a fresh start.

Hope of all hopes, dream of our dreams,

    a child is born, sweet-breathed; a son is given to us: a living gift.

And even now, with tiny features and dewy hair, He is great.

    The power of leadership, and the weight of authority, will rest on His shoulders.

His name? His name we’ll know in many ways—

    He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

Dear Father everlasting, ever-present never-failing,

    Master of Wholeness, Prince of Peace.

His leadership will bring such prosperity as you’ve never seen before—

    sustainable peace for all time.

This child: God’s promise to David—a throne forever, among us,

    to restore sound leadership that cannot be perverted or shaken.

He will ensure justice without fail and absolute equity. Always.

    The intense passion of the Eternal, Commander of heavenly armies,

    will carry this to completion. Isaiah 9.2, 6-7

When God arrives on the scene, in a clear and unmistakable way—in the person of a child whose name is called Jesus. “There will be a new time, a fresh start. Hope of all hopes, dream of our dreams,

    a child is born, sweet-breathed; a son is given to us: a living gift.”

In Advent we focus on Preparing the Way—preparing ourselves for his coming so we can prepare others.

Darkness has a way of creeping back into our lives, even those of us who follow Jesus.

But the way of stepping out of the darkness is to fix our eyes on Jesus.  To realize that Jesus has come. To realize he dwells among us shining his great light of hope.  To step into the light who is Jesus.

© 2018  by Stephen L. Dunn.  You have permission to reprint this provided it is unchanged, proper authorship is cited, it is in a publication not for sale, and a link is provided to this site or to www.drstevedunn.com. For all other uses, contact Steve at sdunnpastor@gmail.com 

WHERE WILL THEY SEE JESUS?

BY STEVE DUNN

"They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. "Sir," they said, "we would like to see Jesus." = John 12:21

Recently I came across this little vignette on-line.  "This morning, Jocelyn took a little Bible I have. She opened it, flipping page after page. She looked up at me and said, "Mom, I know this is the Bible. I know Jesus is in here. I am looking for his picture."

Every day there are people who are looking for Jesus.  Some out of need.  Some out of curiosity.  Some out of a desire to meet the One that so many of us call Savior.  Some out of s desperate need for a Savior.

Where will they see Jesus?

They might see him in the Bible, if they know to open it.

They might see him in a vision, but that is rare and would be unlikely.

There was a day in history that they could walk up to a disciple named Philip and then be ushered into his physical presence.  But that day has passed.

No, God intends people to see Jesus in the lives that our surrendered to his will and are living according to His purpose.

Just as God revealed himself to the world through taking on flesh--what we call the Incarnation; he continues to use incarnation to let people see him.

Only that incarnation is in us.

When people see your life, hear your words, experience your embrace, observe your actions--do they see Jesus?

That's what God intends.  Is that what you are doing?

FALSE HUMILITY

BY STEVE DUNN

"Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor." - James 4:10 New Living Translation

I was greatly blessed by the sermon. The preacher had reflected deeply on the passage, he had framed his point in a clear and compelling key phrase.  His content reflected a respect for the Bible from which he had drawn the truth.  He had challenged me directly and yet had left me with a sense of what could happen if I let God help shape my response. He would have made his homiletic professor proud.

Then he blew it.

"I really appreciated today's message and thank you for sharing it."

"The Lord did it, not me," was his smiling response.

The response may have been ecclesiastically correct but it rang with false humility.  He acted as if he had nothing to do with its design and its delivery.  I found myself walking away thinking, he wasn't truthful.  It was enough to make me wonder about the truth of his content, as well.  Was he really speaking from the mind of Christ to deliver a message to God's beloved?

We sometimes make a mockery of humility by acting as if we are simply spiritual automatons, puppets of the Almighty.

God works in and through us.  He has blessed us with gifts and passions, experiences and understandings.  He empowers us for fruitfulness.  What He requires of us is commitment and obedience.  In other words, God works in us and through us.

That's the reality that is at the heart of true humility.   It is rooted in the authenticity of genuine relationship with Him. The preacher would have been more authentic (and therefore more helpful to me) if his answer had been, "Thank you, I tried to do my best with what God gave me." I would have someone who was submitted to the God Who had gifted him instead of making it sound like he was just a mouthpiece.

 

GOD IS MY MAKER

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.- Psalm 139:14

BY STEVE DUNN

My body ain't what it used to be.  It's never been the sleek, buff guy in GQ and I'll never make anyone's "most attractive men" list (except for my wife Dianne's).  The hair is greyer and thinner.  Some of my teeth have now gone to be with Jesus.  My feet are downright ugly--even my doctor says so.  And today I took a tumble and badly twisted an ankle.  I just got clumsy coming off a step and went down before I could even put out a hand to stop.  (Did I mention the state of my reflexes?)

But our  body is not who we are?

My mind has always been sharp, my analytical skills finely honed.  I have mastered extemporaneous speaking.  I am known for my creativity and intellectual intensity.

But our mind is not who we are?

Yes, the complexity of our body's designs and the human mind is an awesome thing when it is functioning properly.  These are two factors that always remind me of the Intelligent Design that put me together, and knowing that the Master Designer has created even better versions simply affirms the divinity that shapes humanity and the world.  

Although God is perfect, I am vividly aware of my imperfection.  I love what is written on Ruth Graham's tombstone:

“Under Construction: Thank you for your patience.” 

 
Yet my imperfection does not change the wonder of who I am.  I am a person created by the Living God--and then created anew out his unconditional love and amazing grace--so that I can live according to His purpose.  And that purpose is the Good News that we all belong to God and have a part of the wondrous work He is doing to redeem humankind, and to demonstrate people living in this time that there is "a more perfect way" that He will empower them to live/

(C) 2013 by Stephen Dunn

GOD'S MATH

BY STEVE DUNN 

Reading: Luke 2.18-20

  When I was in high school they introduced something called “the new math.” At that point it was from a parallel universe. For my math teacher, Mr. Iams, who was nearing retirement after teaching mathematics for 40 years, it was “math from another planet.” The concept was good. It was trying to help us rethink the way we approached the science of mathematics so that we would be better prepared for the intricacies of the future that would be computers, space travel, and a burgeoning electronics industry. And at that point, the internet was more a concept than a reality—certainly not the life-dominating reality that it is the second decade of the 21st century. 

 Most of us struggled with this new math because we had lived too long with the old math. Our minds found it difficult to wrap around those concepts, let alone do something practical with them. In fact, more than once some of us said, “Do we really need to do it this way?” 

By now most of us are familiar with the Christmas story, of how a virgin conceived by the Holy Spirit so that she might carry the Very Son of God in her womb, of how a cousin in her older age gave birth to the messenger who would prepare the way for the Savior’s message and ministry.

And then there are the improbable events recorded in Luke 2.8-20: There were sheepherders camping in the neighborhood. They had set night watches over their sheep. Suddenly, God’s angel stood among them and God’s glory blazed around them. They were terrified. The angel said, “Don’t be afraid. I’m here to announce a great and joyful event that is meant for everybody, worldwide: A Savior has just been born in David’s town, a Savior who is Messiah and Master. This is what you’re to look for: a baby wrapped in a blanket and lying in a manger.” At once the angel was joined by a huge angelic choir singing God’s praises: Glory to God in the heavenly heights, Peace to all men and women on earth who please him. As the angel choir withdrew into heaven, the sheepherders talked it over. “Let’s get over to Bethlehem as fast as we can and see for ourselves what God has revealed to us.” They left, running, and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger. Seeing was believing. They told everyone they met what the angels had said about this child. All who heard the sheepherders were impressed. Mary kept all these things to herself, holding them dear, deep within herself. The sheepherders returned and let loose, glorifying and praising God for everything they had heard and seen. It turned out exactly the way they’d been told! – THE MESSAGE TRANSLATION 

The world would find such an entry for the King of Kings totally out of its frame of understanding. Even today, 2000 years since that moment in history, more than one person would confess, “This does not compute.” Kings come from kings and power comes from the end of a gun. The strong win and the weak—well, they just get walked over. Confession and repentance do not add up in a “pull yourself up by your own bootstraps world.” And that whole virgin thing—it is impossible! Yet the way to eternally living in the Kingdom of God is through humbling yourself and taking on the form of a servant. To gain your life you must give it up. A teenage mother, a backwater town like Bethlehem, a baby born into the poverty of a manger—what can be more humble. 

But in God’s math, what that brings is more precious than anything else in the whole world. © by Steve Dunn

LIVING AT PEACE

Reading: "If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone." - Romans 12:8

Many years ago Dianne and I had the great privilege of attending the Billy Graham School of Evangelism in Lake Louise, Alberta, Canada. The School itself was housed at the Chateau Lake Louise, a magnificent five-star hotel next to pristine Moraine Lake, fed by a glacier.

One afternoon, the two of us and our friend George Reser decided to hike out to the glacier.  This was November. The path, which was quite narrow and snow-covered was not easy-going.  On one side of the path was a fairly steep drop into the icy waters of the lake.  The other side, a mountain side with more ice, a little brush, snow, and nothing to invite anything but a veteran climber to tackle it.  I was the epitome of the word novice.

That region was inhabited by some magnificent creatures, the Rocky Mountain Goat.  Bigger than a man, strong, somewhat gruff-looking, agile and sure-footed.  They really are an awesome part of God's animal kingdom.

As I reached midpoint on the trail, now as narrow as two feet placed sided-by-side and even more perilously close the the frigid lake waters, I saw one of these creatures heading straight down the path towards me.  I quickly began to assess my situation and had no desire to meet the goat head-on.  Between us perched next to the path was a large boulder.  I moved to it, stepped off the path (on the upward slope) and hid behind it.  I figured I'd let him pass before I continued on.

I waited, and waited, and waited.  No animal passed by. Finally I crept towards the front of the boulder and stuck my head out to see what had happened.  And my face greeted the goat's face on the other side of the rock looking at me, engaged in the same investigation.  Sizing m up, the goat perked up, then turned and went straight up the steep hillside to higher ground.

The goat saw no reason to challenge me on the path, or maybe just took pitty on this two-legged mountain novice.

In a world of confrontation, demanding of our rights, asserting ourselves, and just plain belligerance; we are reminded that such attitudes and the actions that result are often in conflict with God's purposes and inflict unnecessary pain on the persons we cross paths with crossly.

Maybe it's time for us to re-embrace Paul's counsel and find God-honoring ways to live at peace with people.

(c) 2012 BY STEPHEN L DUNN 

MUTUAL SUBMISSION

Text: Ephesians 5:21

“Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.” 

     It was late in the afternoon.  I had stopped at the grocery store on the way home from the church to pick up some items Dianne needed to prepare dinner for our family.  In line in front of me was a mother, well-dressed, probably a professional of some sort.  With her were two children, each with something electronic in their hands. Each looking the image of bored affluence. 

     It was still early enough that a retired man was bagging groceries.  It was late enough in his shift, however, that he was obviously tired; but still trying to conscientiously do his work.  Mom observed his condition and so she said to her children, “Help the man with the groceries.”

     The girl just rolled her eyes in noncompliance and the boy responded, “That’s his job” and went back to his video game. 

     Mom paused a moment and then said to the bagger, “Step away, sir.  My kids will finish bagging those groceries.”  I wanted to cheer this mother’s actions out loud.  She knew pampered arrogance when she saw it and she was not going to let it take any deeper root in her kids.

     On the essential doctrines of the New Testament in found in Ephesians 5:21.  It is called mutual submission.  It is found at a pivot point between teaching Jews and Gentiles to work together in the kingdom of God and specific instructions about dealing with our relationships in Christ-like ways.  Unity does not come from agreeing to be agreeable or committing to working together for a common goal.  The unity Paul describes goes much, much deeper.

     In some translations submission is translated serve.  The lesson is clear, the heart of God is a servant’s heart.  And the motivation and measure for mutual submission is a direct outgrowth not from being agreeable or cooperative, but out of reverence for Christ.  Mutual submission is a direct outgrowth of the work of Christ found in Philippians 2.1-11.  “If we have any encouragement in Christ,”  i.e., if what Christ has done for you makes any difference in your life “each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others” (verse 4).  Our attitude should mirror that of Christ, “who being in the very nature God … made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant …” (verse 6).

     Our sense of entitlement, to deserving service and feeling exempt from serving is a foundation for sin in human relationships.  The corrective?  “Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.”

© 2011 by Stephen L Dunn

LOVING PEOPLE - REALLY LOVING THEM

Reading: Luke 10:25-28

One of the great scandals of contemporary Christianity is what Craig Groeschel calls “Christian Atheism.” This is where we say we believe something and then live like we do not believe it. The lawyer of Luke 10:25-28 stands up and asks the quintessential question of a seeker, “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” At the end of the chain of discussion Jesus leads the man to the answer. “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ In fact, Jesus punctuates it with, “Do this and you shall live.”

Even non-Christians know, and many practice, the latter half of that commandment. We call it the Golden Rule.

But for many persons, including many Christians, there is more intellectual assent than real life application. We know we should practice it, and we do … up to a point.

Up to the point when….

Demonstrating that love requires us to sacrifice a significant amount of time.

Loving them requires us to wade into the mess in which they find themselves living where we might get messy, too.

Loving them calls us to sacrifice something precious rather than what is convenient or superfluous.

Loving them demands us to see them as persons for whom Christ died rather than simply objects of our good works.

Loving them is met with rejection or contempt.

I am reminded that God loved a world where people were His enemies.

He loved a world that killed his prophets and dishonored His holiness.

He loved a world where people keep asking, no, demanding His help and then squandering the blessing.

He loved a world that He knew would crucify Jesus.

Love, genuine God-inspired and empowered love is unconditional and incarnational and sacrificial.

Any less is not really love. It is a counterfeit.

(C) 2011 by Stephen L Dunn

Originally posted at EASTER PEOPLE

CROSS BEARERS

Each of us has a cross to bear. It's not a punishment.
It is a part of God's design.
It is not simply a burden to weigh us down, it is an instrument of purpose.
Our cross is a reflection of our identification with Christ.
Bearing our cross allows us to be a part of what God is doing.
The original cross was an instrument of death, a symbol of shame.
Christ turned it into an instrument of new life, a symbol of greater love.
As you enter these final days of the Lenten season may you once again embrace
your cross. May you embrace it in obedience and love.
And may you follow Jesus.

WHY ARE WE SMILING?

What do you see in a smile? Mischief? Joy? Sheer delight?

The heart of God is best expressed in the smiles of His people? Of all the persons on the planet, Christians have the best reason to be content, joyful, delighted. In a world where God is often out of sight and out of mind, Christians know for a fact one of life's best kept secrets - that God loves us, that Christ died for us, and that nothing can separate us from that love. When the rest of the world is deadly serious and even discouraged by troubles that constantly beset us, Christians know that this life is not all there is and that these difficulties do not ultimately define us. Christians can even smile in adversity because they have found the "peace the passes all understanding" (Philippians 4).

The world may have its jokes at the expense of Christians, but in the end only those who have placed their lives in the loving care of God have a reason to smile.

WIGGLE ROOM

"It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter into heaven." - Matthew 19.24

People in Jesus day believed that wealthy people were spiritually better than the rest of the folk. One of the reasons was alms-giving. It was one of the responsibilities taught by the Pharisees as incumbent upon all Jews. You built your resume as a righteous man by systematically giving to the poor and rich people could give more. In addition, many of the sacrifices required in the Temple and other activities of devotion came more easily to the wealthy than the poor - because they had the resources of both time and of money. Poorer people might enjoy God's favor, what their entrance into the kingdom of heaven was more problematic.

Jesus said, "No, you have it wrong." It is precisely our material possessions and earthly position that make faithfulness to God difficult. We have more to give up in order to be obedient, sacrificial, trusting and under God's control and that "more" urges us not to let go.

A camel was a cumbersome animal when it was asked to do anything but glide across the desert. And when it carried a load on its back,it became even more awkward. The discipline, the control, the work needed to fit oneself through a small gate was a sight of hilarious proportions - and some times there was just not enough room to "wiggle through."

The more complicated the life -- complicated by possessions, personal priorities, etc. - the more difficult it is to give yourself away for Jesus' sake. There's an old proverb that says, "Cleanliness is next to godliness." In reality, simplicity is what is really next to godliness.

CELEBRATIONS

A few days ago Dianne and I unexpectedly joined a celebration. We were taking a brief vacation to the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. No special agenda, just a quiet getaway together before the hectic intensity of Thanksgiving, Advent, and Christmas. Thanks to some nice gifts for Pastor Appreciation Sunday, we booked an inexpensive room (read "off season rates") at the Hampton Inn at Woodstock, Virginia. Only 180 miles from home in the midst of some magnificent mountains and ripe with Civil War history (I am a Stonewall Jackson fan and Dianne thrives on museums.) Hampton Inns have often been the place to which we retreat--great service, comfortable rooms, an early breakfast (for early rising Steve).

The Hampton Inn at Woodstock proved to be a brand new hotel, and its staff was especially sharp, friendly, and helpful. That night we discovered that the next night was the hotel's official grand opening. (In fact, we met the owner, a Lancaster County native named Lefever--who invited us personally). Great food, lots of people, horse and buggy rides. The guests included people from the community, the families of the employees and owner, contractors. A festive evening. Even though we were peripheral to the celebation, we were warmly welcomed and enjoyed a memorable time.

We are less than 2 weeks from Thanksgiving, a civil holiday in the US; and Christmas, a Christian holiday that has been embraced by the culture as a time of good will and good works. Dianne and I, like many of you, will be a part of those celebrations, too. Yet because we are Christians, we will not be peripheral participants--especially to the Christmas celebration. For Christmas is the celebration of the greatest news that anyone on Planet Earth ever received. That God in His grace had come in the flesh to redeem His people from their sin. In just the right time, when we were powerless (and clueless), God acted out of the richness of His love to end the separation of sin that left His people lost and without hope.

Others will celebrate Christmas for their reasons. We can neither control that nor condemn that. We just need to celebrate Christmas for Christ's reasons, for we are the people of Christ.

MORNING HOPE

Reading: Psalm 5:3

Last Sunday I was returning from breakfast to the church. It was balmy morning. When I had driven to the restaurant it was still dark and the trip was made difficult by a thick, low-hanging fog. The sun was up on that return journey. The fog was still present but the sunlight had begun to pierce it. But the horizon above that ground fog revealed a magnificent sunrise. Al-though it was an October Sunday morning, it made me think of an Easter morning.

Easter morning is always a powerful reminder of the hope that God brings—hope often clouded over by our everyday sin—but hope that is present nonetheless. The reminder of that hope is revealed in the Empty Tomb at dawn.

That Sunday morning my thoughts went to the words of David, “In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice: in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation.” Morning is the time to set our mind on God and surrender our lives to His guidance and care. Morning is the time to remember the hope in which we live—and then begin living that day in that hope.
The devotional is published on behalf of the Church of God of Landisville and its friends. © 2009 by Stephen L Dunn. All rights reserved. Email subscription matters should be sent to www.coglandisville@ coglandisville.org. Direct communication with Steve to sdunnpastor@coglandisville.org. You can subscribe by blog by registering as a follower at www.drstevesdevotional.blogspot.com.

THERE IS JOY IN JESUS

"There is Joy in Jesus"
Reading: Philippians 4.2-11

Why is this man laughing?

Because he's Jesus. He is Jesus the Joy-Bringer.

Ironically, His joy comes from sacrifice--from serving. His joy comes from investing His life in giving others a new life. His joy is rooted in an unconditional love that surrenders temporary happiness for ultimate significance.

Where does YOUR joy come from?

DEARLY BELOVED

"Dearly Beloved"
Reading: Colossians 3.13

I had a very unique experience a couple of weeks ago. I performed a wedding ceremony at the Tuesday night rehearsal of our Worship Band. Carl, our drummer, married Carol; his second marriage, her first. What was unique was not the location or surroundings, it was the reason. They have a formal ceremony and reception planned for June--the big event and its party. But before that time arrives, Carol's lease ran out. It was not possible to move back to her parents' home--but Carol and Carl did not want to move in together before the wedding. They did not consider it appropriate to their Christian faith to "live together" for 7-8 weeks before their marriage was consecrated.

As a pastor, I need to tell you that this is indeed a unique attitude. Many people live together these days, sometimes years before getting married. I know some pastors who require them to move out before and until the ceremony occurs. I have always considered this a legalistic charade that really honors no one, just as I believe "living together" is not as committed as saying "I do" before God and the witnesses. I'm just glad when couples decide to make the commitment real and get married--finally!

A marriage is a sacred covenant. It is a covenant between a man and a woman made before God. It is a covenant with God as well. A covenant says as much about the covenant-maker as the one who receives the blessings of that covenant. A Christian marriage is a "setting apart" of two people for the purpose of making a new family--a one flesh relationship where the love of God is manifested in a special way. A relationship that should take on the character of the One Who first loved us and Whose love makes the marriage relationship possible. In a morally confused world, a marriage that is committed to reflecting the character of Christ can bring great praise to God. But the heart of a Christian marriage is rooted in what you believe about God and the sacredness of your relationship with Him.

Somehow saying that nothing about our relationship with God should reflect badly on God is indeed a unique attitude. Whether married or single, our actions, our decisions, do reflect upon God if we are known as God's people.

This devotional is published on behalf of the Church of God of Landisville and its friends. (C) 2009 by Stephen L Dunn. All rights reserved.