(This recording was made at a retirement home 12/22. It's the same sermon I'll use on 12/24 in our Christmas Eve service.)
God
with us. Immanuel.
Together
Forever
What
kind of God is this?
Patient
beyond measure - promising Ahaz his blessing again and again
Holy
Able
to give that holiness to his people, to us, and make us ascend his
holy hill
Working
miracles - bringing his miracle child Jesus to be born at just the
right time and in just the right place
Creating
life
Isn’t
this fearful? The holiness of God ought to make us fear and tremble.
God’s
goodness should show us our failure.
God’s
love shows us that we are not love.
God’s
mercy reminds us that we don’t show mercy.
This
is the kind of God who makes us want to run and hide. Our sin has
separated us from God.
all
the other religions of the world - try to earn the way back into a
deity’s good favor
Christianity
confesses God has loved us when we were not worthy.
We
build biblical theology on this event, the incarnation, the time when
God becomes man
like
us except without sin
to
understand us
so
we can understand him
full
of grace and truth
full
of love for us who do not deserve it
full
of mercy, as we need mercy
full
of forgiveness
How
do we respond?
I’d
like to think we respond well, in faith and gratitude
So
often that is not the case
We
respond by repenting and praying
Lord,
God with us, Immanuel, you have broken into our world. Break into our
lives. Make us bring you honor, make us reflect your care for us. Use
us in your work of changing this world.
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