Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
We continue our journey in this new Church year as we look at Micah 6: 8 He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?
Today we begin the week of "Celebrate Week 2:Be Fruitful". We see that message of John the Baptist to the Pharisees and Sadducees "Bear Fruit in keeping with repentance" in Matthew 3:8. We are encouraged to "be a chip off the old block" as we discussed last week, as we got ready for the advent (coming or appearing) of the Christ. We recognize from Holy Scripture that we who belong to the Lord and have our identity in the Father and are obedient because of who we are in Christ, then we will be Fruitful and we will reflect HIS Love into the world.
This is why we are looking at the truth of "Chesed" which is the Hebrew word here in Micah 6:8.
Biblical scholars have often complained that the word חֶסֶד
in the Hebrew Bible is difficult to translate into English, because it
really has no precise equivalent in our language. English versions
usually try to represent it with such words as "loving-kindness,"
"mercy," "steadfast love," and sometimes "loyalty," but the full meaning
of the word cannot be conveyed without an explanation.
"Chesed" is the covenant language of God with HIS people. It is undeserved mercy, Grace etc.. It is really beyond our comprehension and yet we are told to "do justice" and "Love Mercy." It is inconceivable for us to truly LOVE as Christ LOVED us. We only make poor attempts but if you have been following our Celebrate Devotion you were just encouraged to live HOLY lives in Righteousness as a witness to Christ and God's love for us in waiting for HIS return as it says in 2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. In the Gospel lesson and our Old Testament Lesson from Isa 11 we see that the Lord has been our example and the KINGDOM that John and our Lord invites us to be part of is glorious. We are invited as New Testament believers to know the Spirit of the Lord is upon us and in us. We get to experience the wisdom and understanding, counsel and might, knowledge and fear of the Lord. This is the prayer that we use in the Confirmation Service.
Today we will look at the idea that even though we can never fulfill or truly on our own show forth "Chesed" Love, we are encouraged to strive to LOVE in a sacrificial way. The way of Jesus who showed us "Chesed" Love shows us how to seek after the LOVE of God so that we will be people known for showing Grace and Love with joy as we "Bear Fruit in keeping with repentance!" We do this because we have been Baptized with Fire and we are righteous because our God sees Jesus in US and forgives us our sins and cleanses us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:8-9). It is, as I heard in the musical play "One Sleepy Night," because of Love that Jesus was born in the manger of Bethlehem, lived his life as the Son of Mary and died on the Cross for us because of CHESED LOVE! He rose again to prove that HE has victory over Sin, Death and the Devil and can do what HE says HE will do.
Our desire this Advent Season to do Acts of Piety and Acts of Mercy are our attempt to emulate the "Chesed" Love of God toward us HIS Children and share this light with the world. May we be fruitful and repentant. May we LOVE as HE HAS LOVED US!
Love is the reason for Christmas! We use the phrase "KNOW CHRIST and MAKE HIM KNOWN!" to define our mission. It means we have the "Yaddah" intimate knowledge of Christ and we share what this means as we Belong to HIM, Believe in HIM and Desire to Become MORE LIKE HIM. May we take this time when the world is singing, speaking and sharing the Christ of Bethlehem to help HIS LOVE to be made known to ALL!
Love in Christ,
Pastor Bryan
