MAC KIRK

 The Holy Child  Luke 2:15-21    The Child is the reason for the season.  I have seen that  , " Jesus is the reason for the season",  and that sums it up well.  But it has to be unpacked so we can know more as the Shepherds " made known abroad the saying (the words spoken orig.) which was told them concerning the Child." 2:17 1. I note first that Mary " was treasuring (kept) up these things, and pondered them in her heart." 2:19 She pondered and the word is " Origin from sun and balló Definition to throw together, hence to discuss, consider, meet with NASB Translation confer (1), conversing (1), helped (1), meet (1), met (1), pondering " from Biblehub.com She discussed and treasured these things about the Child. "Treasured is suntereo to keep close, preserve Usage: I preserve, keep safe, keep in mind, keep close." ( Again Biblehub.com) ---Can this be our attitude as well to those things of the Angels, heaven, the Babe's birth, the S...

 Merry Christmas.  Dec 25, 2022     Our world is spinning is it not? Wars, inflation, anger about politics or you name it...?  It seems we did not really learn the lessons of Advent.  People seem quick to judge, and criticize when really all we are really trying to do is be thoughtful and helpful.  Advent was about stopping and listening to God and ourselves as well as others, instead of going off on others with undue words and thoughtless harm....if I can put it that way.    Today's Gospel in Luke reminded me that fear is a part of being just who we are as people ---even people of God.  The orig language in Luke 2:9 says, " And an angel of the Lord stood by them ( shepherds), and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and                                                              ...

 I John 5:13-17  " In the Sunshine"   I remember in Science in grade school,  we were told to put a plant in the dark, and also one in the sunlight.  Which one grew?  The one in the light!  The Christian who is sure of their spiritual state is like the plant in the sunshine.  They will grow, and will have many benefits flow from their assurance in God. 1.  This was John's purpose in writing this letter.  5:13 Assurance of eternal life.  " These things I have written to you, in order that you may know that you have eternal life, you who are believing in the name of the Son of God" He ends the letter by telling us why he wrote us at all.  That we may know.   Definition: know- be aware, behold, consider, perceive Usage: I know, remember, appreciate.  Biblehub.com John wrote his Gospel 20:31 " these have been written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life i...

 I John 5:6-12 Witnesses to Christ & What Does it Mean to Believe? I have been reading again slowly through The Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan.  Let me share one portion that relates to our faith in Christ for eternal life: " Ignorant- I think of God and heaven. Christian- So do the devils and the damned souls. Ign- My heart is a good one. Ch- But how do you prove that? Ig-It comforts me in hopes of heaven. Ch- That may be through its deceifulness; for a man's heart may minister comfort to him in the hopes of that thing, for which he has yet no ground to hope... Who told thee that thy heart and life agree together? Ig- My heart tells me so Ch- Except the Word of God bears witness...other testimony is of no value. ---It goes for several pages, but it appears Ignorance has never trusted in Christ for salvation, and he sees no relation to his life in how he lives it.  This got me thinking. How many of us may know the truths of Scripture and good theology, but we have ...

 I John 5:1-5   Born of God and believing results in Faith, love and obedience As we continue through Advent,  means "coming"---the weeks before the birth of the Christ Child, it is a time of preparation and self-examination.  We are not very good at this really.  It may need a lot of quiet, turning off our devices and talking with a trusted confidant about our lack of love and compassion for others rooted in God's Word.  John has a comment for us in his letter about this whole area of not going with the flow of the world: " The real link between the three tests is seen to be the new birth. Faith, love and obedience are the natural growth which follows a birth from above..."  John R. W. Stott , The Epistles of John I John 5:1 "Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God." ( the fact is that the verb tense in the original language betrays the true meaning here.....present tense- action in the believes word ; perfect tense in the is ...