Things New and Old

Ancient truths revealed in the Scriptures are often forgotten, disbelieved or distorted, and therefore lost in the passage of time. Such ancient truths when rediscovered and relearned are 'new' additions to the treasury of ancient truths.

Christ showed many new things to the disciples, things prophesied by the prophets of old but hijacked and perverted by the elders and their traditions, but which Christ reclaimed and returned to His people.

Many things taught by the Apostles of Christ have been perverted or substituted over the centuries. Such fundamental doctrines like salvation by grace and justification have been hijacked and perverted and repudiated by sincere Christians. These doctrines need to be reclaimed and restored to God's people.

There are things both new and old here. "Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things" 2Ti 2:7.

Monday, December 21, 2015

Behold those lowly village shepherds...

And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them,
and the glory of the Lord shone round about them:
and they were sore afraid.

Behold those lowly village shepherds...
Luke 2
9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.
16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.
17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.
18 And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.
19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.
20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

Consider the responses of the lowly village shepherds to the glad tidings the Lord had made known to them. Are you of their kindred? They wholeheartedly believed the glad tidings brought to them. Initially they were overcame by the majestic appearance of the angels but once they recovered from that they sprang into action.

- "Let us NOW go even unto Bethlehem..." there was this sense of urgency to meet the new born Saviour, Christ the Lord. To them, everything else can wait. To many, it is "what's the rush. Christ can wait!"

- "Let us go to see this thing which IS COME TO PASS..." The Saviour, Christ the Lord, whom they had been expecting has finally arrived. These simple village folks were expecting their Messiah, foretold by the prophets! They must see for themselves this wonderful fulfillment!

- "Let us see the thing which the Lord hath made known to us." To them, it is the Lord Himself who had made known the glad tidings to us, though it was delivered through the angel of the Lord.

- "And they came with haste..." They rushed from the field to the inn. How earnest and eager they were to meet their Saviour. There was full moon - in the middle of the month of Tishri - adiding them.

- "And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying..." They were eye-witnesses. They not only believed what the Lord has made known to them, they actually witnessed the truth of it, and they bore witness to what they had seen!

- "The shepherds... glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them." The lowly shepherds rejoiced in the great honour the Lord God of heaven had bestowed upon them; they glory in the coming of the Saviour, Christ the Lord; and praise God for the fulfillment of the great promise.

What is your reaction to the glad tidings brought to you?
- Are you like these lowly shepherds?
- Or are you like Herod the king and his fellow urbanites of Jerusalem, of New York, London, Putrajaya, or Timbaktu?
- "When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him."

Matthew 2
1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,
2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.
3 When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.

Are you TROUBLED by glad tidings concerning the Saviour, Christ the Lord, the King of the Jews? 
Little kings are indeed troubled by the coming of the King of kings!
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