"Strengthen the Feeble Hands, Steady the Knees That Give Way."
Salvation
Before the Manger—The Garden
Dec 14th
The little baby boy cooing so mildly in the manger made of weakness and nakedness and poverty a crown. The Son of Man, the Son of God, smiling so sweetly in the manger affirmed that He had not forgotten His promises.
But before the manger—the Garden.
Our need arose in the Garden of Eden and was soothed in the Manger. Our weakness and our helpless condition begged His mercy and He did not despise our need. It was our cry He uttered at birth, and our pain He came to bear. It was we who were naked and poor—so the Son of God joined us in our misery.
Beyond the romantic sentimentality of ribbons and bows, beyond those things we want and will not get, we know and believe that God has come to be—with us. That makes all the difference on Christmas Day.
But before the manger—the Garden.
For in the Garden the human drama took a turn for the worse. In the Garden it became all too obvious that the works of our hands yield death. In the Garden our nakedness was exposed and our wickedness made known. In the Garden our sins cried out to a loving God and in His love More >
Your Old Suitors
Nov 18th
Jesus’ proposal to us was made before jeering crowds On a lonely hill under a darkened sky For all to see.
He was naked, beaten and bruised Nailed to a cross which tore into his back Thirsty and longing for rest
It was in this public setting under these circumstances That He proclaimed his love for us.
His was a public confession How is it possible That we should alone know him in private And confess him in secret When it has cost him so much Why should it cost you so little And how will others know That we are no longer, “Available.” How will they know that our beloved has offered to make us His bride How will our other suitors, our former sin-mates Learn of our new relationship How shall they learn to fear transgressing that trust How shall we the hand and the foot, How shall we rejoice if what we proclaim Is behind the back and undercover
And how should those who do not know our love Come to recognize their need
If Jesus’ proposal to us was public How can your acceptance remain private? It cannot, it should not, and if it has Perhaps this is why your old More >
