Friday, December 30, 2005

At Christmas - One Greater Than Moses Has Come

"Today's Devotion" For December 30, 2005

Read: Hebrews 3:1-6; Deuteronomy 34:1-12

AT CHRISTMAS - ONE GREATER THAN MOSES HAS COME

"Jesus has been found worthy of greater honor than Moses, just as the builder of a house has greater honor than the house itself." (Hebrews 3:3)

As the "Holy Days" are winding down for this year we are on the verge of another year, chronologically the year 2006 Anno Domini (or, if you're a secularist - Common Era). Christmas is five days past, as is the beginning of Hanukkah, which is eight days long. Among some in the African American community the celebration of African heritage called Kwanzaa is also in its fifth of seven days. When Sunday morning shines brightly in two more days, we'll be greeting that New Year of 2006. For many it will mean, psychologically, that they've left behind the problems of the old year and can start anew. For others the New Year symbolizes new opportunities and challenges. For still others the New Year doesn't look too rosy or bright - they can see only gloom and doom on the horizon.

Our celebration of the solemn feast of Christmas as the people of God has filled us with hope, joy, peace, and praise. We've been reminded once more, as we gathered for worship and praise, the exchanging of gifts, the family meals and gatherings, and the visits of loved ones, that God in His infinite love and mercy became one of us in the person of Jesus Christ so that He might redeem us to Himself. We've been reminded that Christ's coming into the world was a direct result of our Sin and the power that it had over God's creation. We've been reminded that Jesus was the fulfillment of all of God's promises to Israel that He would send a Savior to "save His people from their sins" (Mt. 1:21). We've been reminded, by the power of God's Word and Spirit, that "in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. Through Him all things were made...The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us..." (Jn. 1:1-3a, 14a).

God became Man and lived among us. He became Jesus, the Christ. He came in fulfillment of God's promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The history of Israel is filled with pictures of God saving His people from their sins. His patient forbearance and forgiveness are seen everywhere in the Scriptures as God acted in the lives of His chosen people. Foremost among all the leaders and all the prophets of Israel stand Moses. As we note from Deuteronomy 34:12 that until Jesus came "no one (had shown) the mighty power or performed the awesome deeds that Moses did in the sight of all Israel." Moses carried out his mission from God to care for God's people - His household - which he did faithfully. But Moses didn't build "the house" of God; he was appointed steward over it. It is Jesus, as we note in Hebrews, who is both the Word through Whom all things were made and the faithful Son over God's house - the full and rightful heir of God's estate.

As we leave the solemn feast of Christmas behind for another year and enter into a New Year, we do so with the hope and comfort that Jesus is our Savior from Sin and the Lord of lord and King of kings. Entering into a New Year with new challenges and opportunities for service, we rejoice because, in Christ, we belong to the household of faith - the Body of Christ. He is our Head. He is our hope. He is our peace. He is our joy. He is our salvation. He is the solid foundation of our lives and faith. Along with Him we are declared, by faith, to be heirs with Him of God's eternal kingdom. In this knowledge and faith, we leave behind the solemn feast of Christmas and begin a New Year of service to God and others in Jesus' name. We step forward in faith as forgiven sinners filled with God's peace and the eagerness to share His love and forgiveness in Christ with the world. In truth, at Christmas, One greater than Moses has come.

Prayer: Father, You have brought me to the end of another year filled with challenges, fears, and opportunities. Your grace has abounded to me and Your forgiveness and love surrounded me every moment of each day. As I recall the "mighty deeds" of Moses, Your servant and prophet to Your people, I'm reminded that as great as he was as a leader of Your children, he was still a sinner who disobeyed You and failed to enter the Promised Land. At the same time, You have again reminded me that Jesus is greater than Moses. According to Your promises He came to be my Savior and Lord. He is an architect of the Universe, yet He became a human being for me and lived in perfect obedience to Your Law and Will in my place. He did what even Moses couldn't do - live a sinless life and suffer and die to "take away the Sin of the world." Fill my heart and life with hope and peace in Jesus as I enter this New Year. Guide me to live for Him and to be a powerful, courageous, and faithful witness of Him in this New Year. Hear my prayer, gracious Father, for Jesus' sake. Amen.
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--Pastor Boeck

Copyright @2005 Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.

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