Chris Tomlinson's Blog: Crave Something More, page 2

Day 14: God’s Work At Christmas

The English have the 12 days of Christmas in song.  The high churches have the 24 (ish) days of advent.  Here at Crave Something More, I’ll be writing a series called the “21 Days of CSM Christmas.”  Starting December 5 and finishing on Christmas Day, I will write once a day about all things Christmas, in the hopes that we will all continue to see Jesus as the greatest satisfaction to our soul’s deepest cravings.

Day 14:  God’s Work At Christmas

Our small group met this past week and talked about the Christmas story from the perspective of each of the characters in the story.  What was it like for the shepherds to receive the angel, and witness the multitude, and go see the Savior child?  How must it have felt for Mary, or Elizabeth, to become pregnant the way they became pregnant, and to deal with all of the consequences of that in their own lives?

It was a really interesting discussion, and we tried our best to ground our thoughts in what the Bible does say about each person. But out of all the characters we did discuss, the one we left out was God Himself.

It’s difficult to think about what it might have been like for God at the coming of His Son, because His being outside of time (as our eternal God) and a God inside of time (as Jesus taking on flesh) make these kinds of statements difficult (and complicated).  But perhaps we can make some observations about God’s supreme role in Christmas and reflect on the delight He must have had in telling this best of stories.

So here are four, among hundreds, of the things God was working out at the first Christmas.

God planned Christmas long ago.  Revelation 13:8 tells us of a book of life, a book which contains names that were written before the world even began, names that reflected God’s people.  God knew He would send His Son into this world to redeem those whose names were in this book of life, and He planned beforehand how to do it, so there must have been some sense of anticipation, insofar as we can say a timeless God “anticipates” things.
God foretold Christmas.  Not only did God plan the incarnation, but He told His people about it.  Genesis 3:15 tells us of the coming seed who would bruise the head of the devil.  Isaiah 7:14 promises the virgin’s son, a son who would be “God with us.”  There must be a certain kind of delight in planning this amazing story—another in telling it so others can anticipate it as well.
God worked out the story of Christmas in triunity. The Father was about the business of sending—sending the Son into the world, sending His Spirit to come upon Mary, overshadowing her with power, and sending angels to help people prepare for, recognize, and embrace the coming of the Divine Son in a way no one would have expected.  The love shared between the Father, Son, and Spirit was not greater or less at any time in history, but each must have felt a certain sense of excitement at the revealing of this great mystery in the cleverest of ways.
God brought Himself glory through the Christmas story.  Our God, who delights in using the weak to shame the strong in this world, and the foolish to shame the wise, sent His angels to first proclaim this Good News to shepherds.  And after the news is shared, a multitude of angels appear who sang “Glory to God in the highest!”  And the shepherds went on to praising and glorifying God themselves.  God’s delight in His glory, and His sharing with us in this delight, is the gift we celebrate this Christmas—the gift of a Son who would show us exactly what God is like, a Son whom we can worship, and relate to, and accept, and love.

May we anticipate the joy of this Christmas in some small measure of the way God “anticipated” the joy of the first Christmas, and may we continue to find our greatest joy in Him!

For the rest of the 21 Days of Crave Something More Christmas, go here.

Day 14: God's Work At Christmas

The English have the 12 days of Christmas in song.  The high churches have the 24 (ish) days of advent.  Here at Crave Something More, I'll be writing a series called the "21 Days of CSM Christmas."  Starting December 5 and finishing on Christmas Day, I will write once a day about all things Christmas, in the hopes that we will all continue to see Jesus as the greatest satisfaction to our soul's deepest cravings.

Day 14:  God's Work At Christmas

Our small group met this past week and talked about the Christmas story from the perspective of each of the characters in the story.  What was it like for the shepherds to receive the angel, and witness the multitude, and go see the Savior child?  How must it have felt for Mary, or Elizabeth, to become pregnant the way they became pregnant, and to deal with all of the consequences of that in their own lives?

It was a really interesting discussion, and we tried our best to ground our thoughts in what the Bible does say about each person. But out of all the characters we did discuss, the one we left out was God Himself.

It's difficult to think about what it might have been like for God at the coming of His Son, because His being outside of time (as our eternal God) and a God inside of time (as Jesus taking on flesh) make these kinds of statements difficult (and complicated).  But perhaps we can make some observations about God's supreme role in Christmas and reflect on the delight He must have had in telling this best of stories.

So here are four, among hundreds, of the things God was working out at the first Christmas.

God planned Christmas long ago.  Revelation 13:8 tells us of a book of life, a book which contains names that were written before the world even began, names that reflected God's people.  God knew He would send His Son into this world to redeem those whose names were in this book of life, and He planned beforehand how to do it, so there must have been some sense of anticipation, insofar as we can say a timeless God "anticipates" things.
God foretold Christmas.  Not only did God plan the incarnation, but He told His people about it.  Genesis 3:15 tells us of the coming seed who would bruise the head of the devil.  Isaiah 7:14 promises the virgin's son, a son who would be "God with us."  There must be a certain kind of delight in planning this amazing story—another in telling it so others can anticipate it as well.
God worked out the story of Christmas in triunity. The Father was about the business of sending—sending the Son into the world, sending His Spirit to come upon Mary, overshadowing her with power, and sending angels to help people prepare for, recognize, and embrace the coming of the Divine Son in a way no one would have expected.  The love shared between the Father, Son, and Spirit was not greater or less at any time in history, but each must have felt a certain sense of excitement at the revealing of this great mystery in the cleverest of ways.
God brought Himself glory through the Christmas story.  Our God, who delights in using the weak to shame the strong in this world, and the foolish to shame the wise, sent His angels to first proclaim this Good News to shepherds.  And after the news is shared, a multitude of angels appear who sang "Glory to God in the highest!"  And the shepherds went on to praising and glorifying God themselves.  God's delight in His glory, and His sharing with us in this delight, is the gift we celebrate this Christmas—the gift of a Son who would show us exactly what God is like, a Son whom we can worship, and relate to, and accept, and love.

May we anticipate the joy of this Christmas in some small measure of the way God "anticipated" the joy of the first Christmas, and may we continue to find our greatest joy in Him!

For the rest of the 21 Days of Crave Something More Christmas, go here.

God's Work At Christmas

The English have the 12 days of Christmas in song.  The high churches have the 24 (ish) days of advent.  Here at Crave Something More, I'll be writing a series called the "21 Days of CSM Christmas."  Starting December 5 and finishing on Christmas Day, I will write once a day about all things Christmas, in the hopes that we will all continue to see Jesus as the greatest satisfaction to our soul's deepest cravings.

Day 11:  God's Work At Christmas

Our small group met this past week and talked about the Christmas story from the perspective of each of the characters in the story.  What was it like for the shepherds to receive the angel, and witness the multitude, and go see the Savior child?  How must it have felt for Mary, or Elizabeth, to become pregnant the way they became pregnant, and to deal with all of the consequences of that in their own lives?

It was a really interesting discussion, and we tried our best to ground our thoughts in what the Bible does say about each person. But out of all the characters we did discuss, the one we left out was God Himself.

It's difficult to think about what it might have been like for God at the coming of His Son, because His being outside of time (as our eternal God) and a God inside of time (as Jesus taking on flesh) make these kinds of statements difficult (and complicated).  But perhaps we can make some observations about God's supreme role in Christmas and reflect on the delight He must have had in telling this best of stories.

So here are four, among hundreds, of the things God was working out at the first Christmas.

God planned Christmas long ago.  Revelation 13:8 tells us of a book of life, a book which contains names that were written before the world even began, names that reflected God's people.  God knew He would send His Son into this world to redeem those whose names were in this book of life, and He planned beforehand how to do it, so there must have been some sense of anticipation, insofar as we can say a timeless God "anticipates" things.
God foretold Christmas.  Not only did God plan the incarnation, but He told His people about it.  Genesis 3:15 tells us of the coming seed who would bruise the head of the devil.  Isaiah 7:14 promises the virgin's son, a son who would be "God with us."  There must be a certain kind of delight in planning this amazing story—another in telling it so others can anticipate it as well.
God worked out the story of Christmas in triunity. The Father was about the business of sending—sending the Son into the world, sending His Spirit to come upon Mary, overshadowing her with power, and sending angels to help people prepare for, recognize, and embrace the coming of the Divine Son in a way no one would have expected.  The love shared between the Father, Son, and Spirit was not greater or less at any time in history, but each must have felt a certain sense of excitement at the revealing of this great mystery in the cleverest of ways.
God brought Himself glory through the Christmas story.  Our God, who delights in using the weak to shame the strong in this world, and the foolish to shame the wise, sent His angels to first proclaim this Good News to shepherds.  And after the news is shared, a multitude of angels appear who sang "Glory to God in the highest!"  And the shepherds went on to praising and glorifying God themselves.  God's delight in His glory, and His sharing with us in this delight, is the gift we celebrate this Christmas—the gift of a Son who would show us exactly what God is like, a Son whom we can worship, and relate to, and accept, and love.

May we anticipate the joy of this Christmas in some small measure of the way God "anticipated" the joy of the first Christmas, and may we continue to find our greatest joy in Him!

For the rest of the 21 Days of Crave Something More Christmas, go here.

Days 11-13: “Too Busy” This Christmas

The English have the 12 days of Christmas in song.  The high churches have the 24 (ish) days of advent.  Here at Crave Something More, I’ll be writing a series called the “21 Days of CSM Christmas.”  Starting December 5 and finishing on Christmas Day, I will write once a day about all things Christmas, in the hopes that we will all continue to see Jesus as the greatest satisfaction to our soul’s deepest cravings.

Days 11-13:  “Too Busy” This Christmas

Above, you’ll notice that I said I would be writing once a day about all things Christmas. Well, I didn’t write anything the past two days.  I could tell you I was busy, but that’s kind of the point.

Each December, we fight against the busyness of the Christmas season, knowing the purpose of it all is to celebrate the birth of Christ but still finding ourselves caught up in decorating, finishing work for the year, baking, buying presents, hosting parties, going to parties, hosting family, and all sorts of other things.  We’re victims of our own desires, but there’s a deeper desire with all feel for the One who ultimately satisfies.

Being “too busy” to write when I said I would write is one thing; being “too busy” to be with Jesus is another.  No minute is better spent on anything other than reflecting on, talking to, praising, or being with, in faith, the Spirit of Christ who dwells in us.  In a profound way, we can shop with Jesus, bake with Jesus, write with Jesus, pray to the Father with Jesus, read the word with Jesus, or do any of a hundred other things with Him.  His Spirit is already with us; our joy is in realizing this, believing it by faith, walking in His power, and orienting our hearts and minds towards Him as we go about our days.

If Christmas is approaching too quickly for you, realize that His burden is light, in His arms is rest, and in His presence is fullness of joy.  Go to Him in the busyness, and you will find a place of quiet in the most hectic of seasons.

For the rest of the 21 Days of Crave Something More Christmas, go here.

Days 11-13: "Too Busy" This Christmas

The English have the 12 days of Christmas in song.  The high churches have the 24 (ish) days of advent.  Here at Crave Something More, I'll be writing a series called the "21 Days of CSM Christmas."  Starting December 5 and finishing on Christmas Day, I will write once a day about all things Christmas, in the hopes that we will all continue to see Jesus as the greatest satisfaction to our soul's deepest cravings.

Days 11-13:  "Too Busy" This Christmas

Above, you'll notice that I said I would be writing once a day about all things Christmas. Well, I didn't write anything the past two days.  I could tell you I was busy, but that's kind of the point.

Each December, we fight against the busyness of the Christmas season, knowing the purpose of it all is to celebrate the birth of Christ but still finding ourselves caught up in decorating, finishing work for the year, baking, buying presents, hosting parties, going to parties, hosting family, and all sorts of other things.  We're victims of our own desires, but there's a deeper desire with all feel for the One who ultimately satisfies.

Being "too busy" to write when I said I would write is one thing; being "too busy" to be with Jesus is another.  No minute is better spent on anything other than reflecting on, talking to, praising, or being with, in faith, the Spirit of Christ who dwells in us.  In a profound way, we can shop with Jesus, bake with Jesus, write with Jesus, pray to the Father with Jesus, read the word with Jesus, or do any of a hundred other things with Him.  His Spirit is already with us; our joy is in realizing this, believing it by faith, walking in His power, and orienting our hearts and minds towards Him as we go about our days.

If Christmas is approaching too quickly for you, realize that His burden is light, in His arms is rest, and in His presence is fullness of joy.  Go to Him in the busyness, and you will find a place of quiet in the most hectic of seasons.

For the rest of the 21 Days of Crave Something More Christmas, go here.

Day 10: A Christmas Acronym

The English have the 12 days of Christmas in song.  The high churches have the 24 (ish) days of advent.  Here at Crave Something More, I'll be writing a series called the "21 Days of CSM Christmas."  Starting December 5 and finishing on Christmas Day, I will write once a day about all things Christmas, in the hopes that we will all continue to see Jesus as the greatest satisfaction to our soul's deepest cravings.

Day 10:  A Christmas Acronym

If acronyms can work for the Psalmist, why can't we try one? Here's a shot at a Christmas acronym.

Christ

Has

Risen

In

Splendor

To

Make

All*

Sons**

Wait, that's really more of an Easter acronym.  How about:

Eternal

Alpha

Sent

To

Emancipate

Rebels

That's a little more like Christmas.  We don't often think of Easter at Christmas, but the incarnation, and the crucifixion, and the resurrection, and the ascension are four strands of the cord given to us by God for our redemption from sin, emancipation from slavery, resurrection in glory, and eternal life with the One for whom all things exist.

Be thankful this Christmas that Jesus came into this world in the most remarkable fashion, and when you think of the Christmas child, think of the Man who would one day stretch out his hands so we might be His, and He ours.

For the rest of the 21 Days of Crave Something More Christmas, go here.

*All, meaning all who believe.

**And daughters.

Day 9: Thank God For Theophilus

The English have the 12 days of Christmas in song.  The high churches have the 24 (ish) days of advent.  Here at Crave Something More, I'll be writing a series called the "21 Days of CSM Christmas."  Starting December 5 and finishing on Christmas Day, I will write once a day about all things Christmas, in the hopes that we will all continue to see Jesus as the greatest satisfaction to our soul's deepest cravings.

Day 9:  Thank God for Theophilus

Thank God for Theophilus.  Without Theophilus, and without his friendship with Luke, we might not have known this Christmas, among many other things:

God's answer to the long-suffering prayer of Zechariah and Elizabeth
The fascinating similarities, and the differing results, between Zechariah's and Mary's questions to Gabriel
John the Baptist being moved by the Spirit in the womb
Mary's gentle, faith-filled, God-glorifying prayer
The classic lines from every Christmas play, childrens' voices echoing the beauty of Scripture ("In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus…")
The creative hand of God in bringing Jesus' parents to the city of David
The inspiring account of the angel's proclamation of the birth of Jesus to shepherds
The sweet prophecies of Simeon and Anna, whose hearts longed to see the day of the coming of their salvation
The jaw-dropping, heart-aching picture of the Son of God lying in a manger

Of course, the gospel of Luke is the revelation of God, by God, through Luke, so that we might "have certainty concerning the things [we] have been taught."  And God could have told us these things another way.  But He saw fit to give us this great gospel, these marvelous stories, and for that, I am grateful.

As we thank God this Christmas for Jesus, and family, and friends, and blessings, and comfort, and peace, let's also thank Him for giving us His word, the word that shows us what our great God is like, and points us to the Reason we celebrate this season.

For the rest of the 21 Days of Crave Something More Christmas, go here.

Day 8: The Christmas Lion

The English have the 12 days of Christmas in song.  The high churches have the 24 (ish) days of advent.  Here at Crave Something More, I'll be writing a series called the "21 Days of CSM Christmas."  Starting December 5 and finishing on Christmas Day, I will write once a day about all things Christmas, in the hopes that we will all continue to see Jesus as the greatest satisfaction to our soul's deepest cravings.

Day 8:  The Christmas Lion

Our lives are filled with ten thousand moments that define the people we are and the kind of life we are leading.  But there also a precious few moments that can transcend all the others.  These highlights, for better or for worse, tell the story of our lives, in ebbs and flows of blessing and loss, of acts of righteousness and works of sin.  And these highlights are often how we are known, and how we are remembered.

The Bible is full of men and women whom we remember, some for their great acts of faith in believing God, and others for their great acts of wickedness in going their own way.  As we read these stories, it's easy to elevate these men and women to something greater than human—because they knew God and experienced God in ways we haven't, or so we think.  And sometimes it's easy to denigrate them as well, because the Bible pulls no punches in recording their biggest failures and sins.

But many of these saints give me hope.  Judah is one of them.  This is the hope of Judah:

Born the fourth son of Leah (the less favored wife) (Genesis 29:35)
Followed his father back to their home, the promised land given to their grandfather, Abraham, by God (31:17-18)
Conspired to kill his brother, Joseph (37:18)
Saved Joseph's life (by suggesting to his brothers that they sell Joseph rather than kill him) (37:26-27)
Lied to his father about Joseph's death (37:32)
Raised two sons who were killed by God for their wickedness (38:7, 10)
Failed to keep his promise to his daughter-in-law, Tamar (38:14)
Slept with and impregnated Tamar, who was disguised as a cult prostitute (38:18, 21)
Threatened to kill his daughter-in-law, Tamar, over her immorality (38:24)
Confessed his sin in public, proclaiming Tamar as more righteous than he (38:26)
Led his brothers into repentance before Joseph, who was governing Egypt (44:14-17)
Offered himself as a captive to Joseph in the place of his brother (44:33)
Led his family into the land of Goshen, the place of provision for them by God (46:28)
Chosen by God to be the royal line of Jesus, the coming Messiah, who would receive obedience from all the peoples of the world (49:10)

Following along Judah's story is like storming along a mountain trail.  There are breathtaking peaks and somber valleys.  But as flawed as Judah was, he had his moments of great obedience to God.  And more importantly, God used Judah for His purposes.  And that's our great hope.

We know we do not merit salvation.  We may be tempted to grovel before God, castigating ourselves as sinners who deserve no mercy.  But sons and daughters, who have been brought into the family of God because of the love of their Father, do no grovel.  They stand, with awe and humility, because of the great work God has done for them and in them.

This is the hope of Christmas.  That Jesus, the Lion of Judah, the Christmas Lion, is the revelation and glory of God given to us so that we might be called sons and daughters of the Most High God.  If you are struggling with sin, or are in deep fellowship with Jesus right now, stand with me this Christmas in awe and humility before our God, who planned these things long ago, and is working good for us and in us, so that all the peoples of the world would find the blessings of obedience to this great King.

For the rest of the 21 Days of Crave Something More Christmas, go here.

Day 7: This Christmas, Give Me Jesus

The English have the 12 days of Christmas in song.  The high churches have the 24 (ish) days of advent.  Here at Crave Something More, I'll be writing a series called the "21 Days of CSM Christmas."  Starting December 5 and finishing on Christmas Day, I will write once a day about all things Christmas, in the hopes that we will all continue to see Jesus as the greatest satisfaction to our soul's deepest cravings.

Day 7:  This Christmas, Give Me Jesus

Tonight, I went to my buddy Dan's birthday party, and we spent part of the evening singing worship songs, and the guys played this one song I had not heard before called Give Me Jesus.  It's not a Christmas song, but it might as well be.

Let the simplicity of these lyrics magnify the simplicity of Jesus' love for us, a love that surpasses all human knowledge, but a love even we can understand.  There's great glory in this kind of love.

Give Me Jesus

In the morning, when I rise

In the morning, when I rise

In the morning, when I rise

Give me Jesus

Give me Jesus

Give me Jesus

You can have all this world

Just give me Jesus

When I am alone

When I am alone

Oh, when I am alone

Give me Jesus

Give me Jesus

Give me Jesus

You can have all this world

Just give me Jesus

Give me Jesus

When I come to die

When I come to die

Oh, when I come to die

Give me Jesus

Give me Jesus

Give me Jesus

You can have all this world

Just give me Jesus

Here is Jeremy Camp singing this beautiful song:

Be encouraged this Christmas to say:  You can have all the good things of this world—just give me Jesus.

*If you cannot see the video on RSS or email, you can do so by clicking through the post title.

For the rest of the 21 Days of Crave Something More Christmas, go here.

Day 6: Beautiful Christmas Gifts

The English have the 12 days of Christmas in song.  The high churches have the 24 (ish) days of advent.  Here at Crave Something More, I'll be writing a series called the "21 Days of CSM Christmas."  Starting December 5 and finishing on Christmas Day, I will write once a day about all things Christmas, in the hopes that we will all continue to see Jesus as the greatest satisfaction to our soul's deepest cravings.

Day 6:  Beautiful Christmas Gifts

We know this:  Christmas is about giving.  "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life."  Jesus was the greatest of gifts.  But God still gives gifts today.

He gave Christopher Duffey, born premature, blind, and autistic, and adopted at 15 months, the gift of singing.

And He gave us the gift of Christopher Duffey.  Enjoy.

HT:  Justin Taylor; John Knight

For the rest of the 21 Days of Crave Something More Christmas, go here.