Tag Archives: Bethlehem

Room for God?

29 Monday Oct 2018

Posted by in Bible, Devotionals, Psalm 10, Psalms

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Reading: Psalm 10
Verses 1-4
Why, LORD, do you stand far off?
Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?
In his arrogance the wicked man hunts down the weak,
who are caught in the schemes he devises.
He boasts about the cravings of his heart;
he blesses the greedy and reviles the LORD.
In his pride the wicked man does not seek him;
in all his thoughts there is no room for God (NIV).

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Maple tree in Grey Nuns Park, Orleans, ON — photo by David Kitz

Reflection
As I write these thoughts on Psalm 10, outside my window an early bit of snow is drifting down, and appropriate or not, my mind skips ahead to our upcoming rendezvous with Christmas. Ah, Christmas! I love the significance of the season—time spent with family and thoughts of a babe in a manger.

But for many what a mangled wreck—what a gross distortion—this celebration of Christ’s birth has become. For millions of people, this commercial bonanza is completely devoid of any spiritual meaning. It is nothing more than a buying and selling frenzy—a pursuit of trinkets signifying nothing—nothing of eternal value.

In this psalm we see the deceptive signs—the misdirected signs of that season. Through clever advertising and marketing schemes we too were hunted down by the top-level merchandisers of this world. Perhaps you too will be caught in the schemes they devise. Rather than being a season where we seek the LORD, we too can fall into a trap. We can find ourselves boasting about the cravings of our heart. As the Psalmist says, we bless the greedy and in so doing, we revile the LORD.

The words of the Psalmist ring true, “In his pride the wicked man does not seek him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God.” 

No room for God… in today’s world? In a perverse way it seems rather appropriate. There was no room for God in Bethlehem on the night Jesus was born. No room for God… no room for the Maker and Savior of the universe! That sounds insane, but then it seems we live in a world gone mad.

For you and me, it doesn’t have to be that way. While there was no room for God incarnate in Bethlehem, the magi were busy seeking Him. They were hungry to know more about this Redeemer of Israel and they crossed deserts to reach Him. They came to bow down and worship that babe in a manger.

Regardless of the season, or the season of our lives, you and I can set our hearts to be God seekers. In the days ahead, let’s set our hearts to seek after the LORD.

Response: Jesus, I seek after you. Open my eyes to see you at work today. You are not distant from me in time or space. Show up in my world today. I wait expectantly for you. Amen.

Your Turn: Have you seen Jesus in others? How can you seek God throughout the week? What would seeking God look like for you?

The Time Came for the Baby to be Born

24 Sunday Dec 2017

Posted by in Bible, Christmas, Psalms

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I will praise Him!

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Winter wonders and Christmas greetings — photo courtesy of Donald Adam

 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

(Luke 4:4-7, NIV)

The Rescue Mission

28 Thursday Sep 2017

Posted by in Bible, Devotionals, Psalm 40, Psalms

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Reading:                                     Psalm 40

For the director of music. Of David. A psalm.
(Verses 1-5)
I waited patiently for the LORD;
he turned to me and heard my cry.
He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire;
he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.
He put a new song in my mouth,
a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear the LORD
and put their trust in him.
Blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD,
who does not look to the proud,
to those who turn aside to false gods.
Many, LORD my God, are the wonders you have done,
the things you planned for us.
None can compare with you;
were I to speak and tell of your deeds,
they would be too many to declare (NIV).

Reflection
Psalm 40 begins as a testimony of David. We do not know at which point in his life David penned this psalm, but it is clear that David was speaking from personal experience. Many times this shepherd of Israel waited patiently for the LORD; on numerous occasions he cried out to the LORD. The remarkable truth is that despite all his troubles, David can testify the LORD “turned to me and heard my cry.”

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He leads me in green pastures, Bruce Peninsula — photo by David Kitz 

Is that your testimony too? Have you been rescued by the LORD? Has He heard your cry and lifted you out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire? I am continually amazed at how the LORD stoops down to the level of humanity. The high and lofty LORD of Hosts, seated in the heavens stoops down to rescue the likes of me.

And it’s not as though I deserve to be rescued. In most instances, the mud and the mire in which I am stuck is mud and mire that I have produced. All too often I fall into the slimy pit that I have dug. Why should God rescue me? By my own devices I have gotten myself into this mess. But when I call to Him, the LORD hears my voice and stoops to rescue me. God did it for David three thousand years ago and He is still doing it today. Two thousand years ago, God came to the city of David. He stepped into the mud and the mire of a Bethlehem stable. He came on a rescue mission that extends to you and me. Jesus was born to lift us from the dung into heights of heaven.

With David I can testify, “Many, LORD my God, are the wonders you have done, the things you planned for us. None can compare with you; were I to speak and tell of your deeds, they would be too many to declare.”

Response: LORD God, I thank you for Jesus. I am thankful that I can put my complete trust in you. I am rescued by your amazing grace not by my effort. When I fall, you lift me up. Hallelujah! Amen.

Your Turn: Has the God who stoops down rescued you?

Christmas in June?

06 Tuesday Jun 2017

Posted by in Psalm 10, Psalms

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Reading:                                          Psalm 10

Verses 1-4
Why, LORD, do you stand far off?
Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?
In his arrogance the wicked man hunts down the weak,
who are caught in the schemes he devises.
He boasts about the cravings of his heart;
he blesses the greedy and reviles the LORD.
In his pride the wicked man does not seek him;
in all his thoughts there is no room for God (NIV).

Reflection

As I write these thoughts on Psalm 10, we are a long way from Christmas. But there is a line in today’s reading that has me thinking about the Christmas season.

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Take time to seek God — photo by David Kitz

The author of this psalm is describing the heart of those who are far from God. “In his pride the wicked man does not seek him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God.”

For many the celebration of Christ’s birth has become nothing more than a commercial bonanza completely devoid of any spiritual meaning. For them it is nothing more than a buying and selling frenzy—a pursuit of trinkets signifying nothing—nothing of eternal value.

No matter the season, we too can fall into a trap. Rather than seeking the LORD, we can find ourselves boasting about the cravings of our heart. As the psalmist says, we bless the greedy and in so doing, we revile the LORD.

No room for God… in today’s world? In a perverse way it seems rather appropriate. There was no room for God in Bethlehem on the night Jesus was born. No room for God… no room for the Maker and Savior of the universe! That sounds insane, but then it seems we live in a world gone mad.

For you and me, it doesn’t have to be that way. While there was no room for God incarnate in Bethlehem, the magi were busy seeking Him. Regardless of the season, you and I can set our hearts to be God seekers.

Response: Jesus, I seek after you. Open my eyes to see you at work today. Show up in my world today. I wait expectantly for you. Amen.

Your Turn: Have you seen Jesus in others? How can you seek God this week?

Magi From the East Came to Bethlehem

31 Saturday Dec 2016

Posted by in Christmas, Psalms

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I will praise Him!

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They saw the star — photo by David Kitz

 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.

(Matthew 2:10-12 NIV)

She gave birth to her firstborn

24 Saturday Dec 2016

Posted by in Christmas, Psalms

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I will praise Him!

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It Came Upon a Midnight Clear — photo by David Kitz

 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

(Luke 2:4-7, NIV)

 

(My regular Psalms devotional posts will resume on Monday, December 26th.)

Advent: The King is Coming

19 Monday Dec 2016

Posted by in Advent, Psalms

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I will praise Him!

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Saskatchewan sunset — photo by David Kitz

“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
though you are small among the clans of Judah,
out of you will come for me
one who will be ruler over Israel,
whose origins are from of old,
from ancient times.”
He will stand and shepherd his flock
in the strength of the Lord,
in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God.
And they will live securely, for then his greatness
will reach to the ends of the earth.

(Micah 5:2, 4 NIV)

(In a departure from the norm, I will be doing brief Advent scripture quotes throughout this week leading up to Christmas. My regular Psalms devotional posts will resume on December 26th.)

Filled with Wonder

28 Monday Dec 2015

Posted by in Monday Meditation, Psalms

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Because of your great mercy, I come to your house, LORD, and I am filled with wonder as I bow down to worship at your holy temple (Psalm 5:7, CEV)

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Von Trapp Estate Northern Vermont —Photo by David Kitz

Reflection

This week’s I Love the Psalms theme is worship.

God’s mercy is a magnate. It draws us to worship Him. It drew the wise men from afar to the little town of Bethlehem where they worshiped a baby born in a stable. They too were filled with wonder as they bowed to worship before God—God templed in the flesh of an infant.

Take some time to bow down and worship before Him today.

Response: LORD God, thank you for showing me great mercy in the face of Jesus Christ. I am filled with wonder. I worship you.

Your Turn: What draws you to worship?

Are your ears open?

29 Monday Dec 2014

Posted by in Psalm 40, Psalms

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Reading:                                      Psalm 40

 (Verses 6-10)

Sacrifice and offering you did not desire—     

but my ears you have opened—     

burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not require.

Then I said, “Here I am, I have come—     

it is written about me in the scroll.

I desire to do your will, my God; your law is within my heart.”

 I proclaim your saving acts in the great assembly;     

I do not seal my lips, Lord, as you know.

I do not hide your righteousness in my heart;     

I speak of your faithfulness and your saving help.

I do not conceal your love and your faithfulness     

from the great assembly. (NIV)

 Reflection

The first half of today’s psalm reading is quoted directly in Hebrews 10:5-7. The writer of the Book of Hebrews saw Jesus as the prophetic fulfillment of this passage. Jesus became the necessary sacrifice for the sins of the world. When God came to earth in bodily form as the babe of Bethlehem, He came clothed in humanity. Jesus came with his ears wide open to the voice of his heavenly Father. He came to do His Father’s will. For Jesus the Father’s will meant going to the whipping post and climbing the hill of Golgotha to die in agony on the cross. That was the sacrifice the Father desired.

Gatineau Park -- David Kitz

Gatineau Park — David Kitz

Has God opened your ears to His voice? Have you loved God until it hurt? It hurt Jesus to do His Father’s will. If we are Jesus’ disciples, should we expect better treatment than our Master? Often what we hear preached is a sugar-coated gospel that asks little of us. Jesus asked his disciples for their lives. He said, “Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it” (Matthew 10:37-39).

Have you lost your life for the sake of Jesus? Now, that’s a high calling with a steep price attached.

Are your ears open to God’s calling? There are times when I don’t want to hear God’s voice. That’s why I don’t seek Him in prayer. He may tell me something I don’t want to hear. All too often, I am His reluctant servant. I would rather do my will than His will. He must change my desires. My desires must become His desires. Only then can I serve with joy. Jesus’ desire was always to do his Father’s will. From an early age he was about his Father’s business, fulfilling His Father’s plan for His life.

Whose plan are you following?

Response: LORD God, help me to truly hear and obey your voice. I want to be your disciple, Lord Jesus. Thank you for your great sacrifice by which you purchased my redemption. Amen.

Your Turn: Have you heard God’s voice and walked away? He doesn’t give up easily. He renews His call.

No Room for God?

10 Tuesday Dec 2013

Posted by in Psalm 10, Psalms

≈ 3 Comments

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Reading: Psalm 10

(Verses 1-11)

Why, LORD, do you stand far off?
Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?
In his arrogance the wicked man hunts down the weak,
who are caught in the schemes he devises.
He boasts about the cravings of his heart;
he blesses the greedy and reviles the LORD.
In his pride the wicked man does not seek him;
in all his thoughts there is no room for God (NIV).

2018-03-09

Earl winter snowfall — photo by David Kitz

 Reflection
As I write these thoughts on Psalm 10, outside my window snow is drifting down and ready or not, we are rapidly careening toward a rendezvous with Christmas. Ah, Christmas! What a mangled wreck—what a gross distortion—this celebration of Christ’s birth has become. For many this commercial bonanza is completely void of any spiritual meaning. It is nothing more than a buying and selling frenzy—a pursuit of trinkets signifying nothing.

In this psalm we see the signs of the season. Through clever advertising and marketing schemes we too are hunted down by the top-level merchants of this world. We are caught in the schemes they devise. Rather than being a season where we seek the LORD, we fall into a trap. We can find ourselves boasting about the cravings of our heart. As the Psalmist says, we bless the greedy and in so doing, we revile the LORD.

The words of the Psalmist ring true, “In his pride the wicked man does not seek him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God.”

No room for God… In a perverse way it seems rather appropriate. There was no room for God in Bethlehem on the night Jesus was born. No room for God… no room for the Maker and Saviour of the universe! For you and me, it doesn’t have to be that way. While there was no room for God incarnate in Bethlehem, the magi were busy seeking Him. Set your heart to be a God seeker this Christmas season.

Response: Jesus, I seek after you. Open my eyes to see you today. I wait expectantly for you. Amen.

Your Turn: Have you seen Jesus in others? How can you seek God this week?