The Pilgrim Path---John 1: 14—18

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’”) For from his fulness we have all received, grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.

THE WORD AMONG US…

Many years ago, in a distant land far from here, I received a call from a ruling elder about considering a “move” to come to his church. Now, please do not think me crass or insensitive to the LORD---I thought a few minutes as we talked---and told him I really did not think his place was suited to me or my family. I laughed--- and told him that I had driven through that part of West Texas a few years earlier---and would have found it incredibly difficult to attempt to live there. Hey, he laughed too! He was originally from Pennsylvania---he understood, but he had called Midland home for almost 40 years. Another afternoon, I received a call from an elder at the First Presbyterian Church of Kosciusko, Mississippi (lovely town---beautiful church). He felt sure I would be interested in talking with their pulpit committee. I made his job easy. I had no interest at all. Some years later, when I was quite over wrought, over worked, and inattentive---right before a group meeting---this ruling elder called me (from Florida). Seems one of my favorite professor friends from seminary thought I would be a good match for his church. Well, when you are barely doing what you are “doing” where you are---it is no time to start talking to other people about a transition. ALL THAT, to say this: The LORD Jesus Christ was faced with a sin cursed world of moral rebels that needed redemption---at the cost of His Life---He did not flinch. He came. No hesitation. No reluctance. No desire for any place else. He came…Advent…with a heart full of love…

Love is a verb. It acts. It does what is necessary…

From John Owen: It is the gladness of the heart of Christ, the joy of his soul, to take poor sinners into this relation with himself. He rejoiced in the thoughts of it from eternity, and always expresses the greatest willingness to undergo the hard task required to do it. Because of his love, he gave himself for the church, despising the shame, enduring the cross, that he might enjoy his bride; that he might be for her, and she for him…

From Sinclair Ferguson: He came face to face with us, taking our nature so that he might speak to us. As the Nicene Creed, an ancient statement of faith affirms, “For us and for our salvation he came down.” Whatever gifts you may have, love always means that you come down. It means you use those gifts for the good of others, not to make yourself feel good. It means that you are willing to do things that are uncomfortable or inconvenient for you, or go unnoticed. For “If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.” If so, I am not like Jesus. And ultimately, love is being like Jesus. It silences all noisy gongs, clanging cymbals and self-amplification systems. Real love always comes down. We know this because Love came down at Christmas.

Will you be prepared “to do” what is necessary for the souls of people---because You love them?

PRAYER

Love through me, Love of God;

There is no love in me.

O Fire of love, light thou the love

That burns perpetually.

Flow through me, Peace of God;

Calm River, flow until

No wind can blow, no current stir

A ripple of self-will.

Shine through me, Joy of God;

Make me like thy clear air

That thou dost pour thy colors through,

As though it were not there.

O blessed Love of God,

That all may taste and see

How good thou art, once more I pray:

Love through me---even me.

Amy Carmichael (1867—1951)

Grace and Peace in Jesus, the Only Redeemer of broken and wretched souls, Pastor Jason