Bonnie J Martin

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50/50 Shot

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I don’t know why, when created-being serpent was formed, he was allowed to wreak havoc in Eden. He didn’t get to choose the forbidden for us. He didn’t have a say in the choice that was made. He made an offer and we chose. He lied. He spoke against the very thing the Creator had warned against.

Heart racing, knowing the situation was going against the very thing we were told to avoid. Don’t do it. It will not have the consequences you expect. The consequences will be harsh. You will have to live with them for the rest of your life. One wrong choice will bring a lifetime of heartache. Blood rushing through her ears as she reached up from all the beauty and goodness God had placed in and around her and she touched darkness. She felt it and saw it and smelled it and tasted it, hearing the lies and ignoring the cry of God.

God saw it happening. He had given her free-reign to go and do whatever her heart desired. Run free. Uninhibited. No fear. No hiding. The ability to choose whatever was pleasing to her. And in that moment she chose to turn away from God. In that moment, she died to the lavishing love of her Creator.

Afraid and naked, hiding in the trees from the One who sees and knows everything, heart still racing, the consequences begin. Separation from Creator. Attempting to hide shame from the very One who told you not to do it.

We chose the forbidden over the best. Decided to take the offering, believing the lies from someone other than the One who has always provided the best options, extravagant abundance, unending grace, ceaseless mercy.

With all the love that has and will ever exist, God, looked and created and breathed life into us, into you, into me, into Adam and Eve, and decided to let us decide. Free-will. The choice to choose. Desiring relationship, perfect fellowship, dwelling in perfect harmony, united, He desired us. Wanted us to choose Him.

He offered Adam and Eve the perfect home. He lavished them with luxury. They had everything furnished for them. No striving. No struggles. No disease. No tight joints. No skin conditions. The perfect temp all the time. The most comfortable place ever.

But they thought He was holding something back from them. And He was. Death and separation. He held back the hurting and disease. He kept them from struggles. Until they wanted more than His perfect provision.

And they chose the dangling fruit touted to give wisdom. Despite their perfect position as benefactors of the Most High, they chose the path leading to strife and struggle.

Two choices. You have a 50/50 shot. Go right or go left. Go up or go down. Choose good or bad. Want the perfect temp or burning hot? Choose eternal peace or eternal turmoil. Choose fellowship or division. Choose oneness or separation. Grace or enmity. Mercy or justice.

And our choice now is no different than Eve’s. No different than Adam’s. Choose the low road where the slithering serpent slips into darkness and entices us to follow with promises of pleasure and prosperity that will lead to ruin.

Or, instead, choose the Way. He brings peace. Fellowship. Freedom. Grace. Mercy. Sanctification. Salvation. Eternal life, not eternal death. Atonement from the dividing, separating choices we make. Still desiring perfect fellowship with His creation, He gave the solution to the separation. He bridged the gap and gave a Way back from the fall.

But it is our choice. He won’t force us to choose Jesus. He lovingly holds out His hand and offers to pull us up out of the mud and muck. He offers cleansing better than any exfoliator on the market. Robes whiter than your grandmother’s sheets. He offers the fellowship that we turn away from in sin. He covers our sin with the blood of Jesus. Placing on Him every sin that has ever and will ever be confessed.

Our choice.

No Separation

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For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39 (NASB)

This passage does not stand alone. No single passage from the Bible stands alone. Many passages before and many passages after. Passages leading to salvation. Passages paving The Way to eternal fellowship with God. Passages displaying the desire of the Father to provide The Way, which is His love.

To separate this passage alone would deny the very words contained therein. And so it is with those who believe. No separation for those who believe. The whole story reveals the need for a Savior and our tendency to try our own path of destruction.

Move back up the page in chapter 8.

You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. Romans 8:9 (NASB)

To receive the Spirit of God is to receive God as Creator, Christ as Savior, Holy Spirit as Teacher. Receive love. If you receive it, it can’t be taken away. If you genuinely, sincerely receive it and it is sealed in you, nothing can separate it from you. Nothing.

Sit here for a minute. Consider this. Recognizing the need for Christ. Recognizing sin in your life and the need to turn away from it. Recognizing the sin removed not by your actions but by the actions of Christ. Accepting the gift of forgiveness. 

Have you been there? Have you accepted the gift of salvation?

If you have, there is no separation for you from the love of God.

If you haven’t, will you accept the love of God? Will you drop to your knees and give yourself to Him? He created you. He knows you. He just wants you to know Him. And the only way to know Him is through the gift Christ offers to redeem you from sin. 

So there is separation. There is separation called sin. Sin separates you from the love of God. But giving it to Christ removes that separation. Accepting His redemption separates you from sin.

May I encourage you to recognize His love for you today? Will you freely accept His gift of forgiveness? Will you invite Him into your life and live wholly for Him?

If you have, share it.

Be Still and Know

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““Cease striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.””
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭46‬:‭10‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬

Silent night. Turned loud with angel voices.

Busy shepherds hurrying to find the barn. Not the one for their sheep but the one for their Shepherd.

Moms and dads and grands and aunts and uncles and sisters and brothers rushing and hoping that the gift is good enough. It isn’t because there is only One that is.

Wrapping presents. Furiously shopping until the very last minute to fulfill all the list. Nestle the packages under, around, on branches of the tree. Presents that will be unwrapped like the unwrapping of the Savior before He hung on that tree.

Silent night. All is calm. The moon shines bright. The stars twinkle. The earth is still.

Hold your breath. Can you hear the cry of the Baby? Not yet? Then be still. He will make Himself known.

He is exalted.

Find space for Him. Be still and know Him.

Merciful Savior

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Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:14-16 (NASB)

Flesh draped Jesus. Perfect Son of God. Full of mercy. Giver of grace. Creator. Savior. Helper. Friend. 

He faced the same junk we do. He cut teeth. Potty-trained. Navigated social injustices. Felt the sting of slaps. Faced ridicule from His family. Tempted in every way. But He didn’t allow temptation to overtake Him. He didn’t sin.

Not exactly what you think about for a Christmas theme. Consider His life. This innocent, helpless Child came to save sinners. He brought the perfect gift through His mercy and grace. A gift we could never repay. No wrapping is elaborate enough to match the mercy-wrapped Christmas Child.

In the wretched condition of our hearts and minds, He stepped in. Desiring us to turn to Him. Coming close to us, near. Walking the same walk we walk. Touching, feeling, seeing, smelling, tasting, hearing but uncompromising. Steady. Righteous. Unwavering.

He reaches out to us. He rescues us. He restores us to Himself. He redeems.

Keeping our eyes fixed on Him, He makes the way for us. Stripping all tightly wrapped temptation away. He stripped Himself down to a Child and offered us what no one else could. The perfect, blameless sacrifice to take our sins. His perfect Christmas gift.

Gifts

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The very presence of the Holy Child was the greatest gift ever. EVER! His gift ushered in THE WAY to the Father. His gift brought eternal hope. His gift was fellowship with Him. His gift was the only sacrifice that could save our souls. 

But we continue giving gifts. Small tokens of affection bestowed upon those that hold special places in our lives. Cost, unimportant. Action, more important.

The gift of the Messiah wasn’t the only gift brought to Bethlehem over 2,000 years ago. Magi saw the star and knew its meaning for all mankind. This wasn’t just any star. This star led the way to Jesus. They were wise to follow it.

After hearing the king, they went their way; and the star, which they had seen in the east, went on before them until it came and stood over the place where the Child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. After coming into the house they saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell to the ground and worshiped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned by God in a dream not to return to Herod, the magi left for their own country by another way. Matthew 2:9-12 (NASB)

Have you ever had an experience when you just couldn’t believe you were there at just the right moment and became amazed at what you just witnessed? Words can’t properly express the amazement you feel? Overcome by a sense of awe, silence envelops you. Wide-eyed wonder. Jaw-dropping. You don’t know whether to fall on your face or scream at the top of your lungs with hands in the air. Suspended in time.

I imagine that is how the magi felt. Their lives were devoted to studying stars and nature. The earth and sky were their textbook. They knew what to look for. They made it a practice to be prepared. Only distance stood in their way and they shortened that by taking action to get to where they needed to be to witness and worship.

The star led the way. And they followed.

Mary standing there in her normal apron, fixing supper. Lamps lit. Flour smeared on her forehead from where she tried to push an errant strand of hair from her face. Jesus, not sure how old he was when they arrived, but, Jesus, playing with blocks of wood from Joseph’s shop under Mary’s feet. Jesus sitting on the floor with big baby eyes and little fingers and toes learning what it is like to be human. Joseph just out back cutting wood.

Elaborately dressed easterners show up at the house. Probably a pretty big party. I wonder if Mary started counting heads and cups of flour. Camels and attendants and wise men. Carrying precious gifts. Flooding the humble dwelling with magnificence. Again, Mary, wondering how all these people will fit in her house. Well, it was already full with Magnificence, but the worldly grandeur entered with fine spices and precious metal. Costly gifts. The entourage was impressive. They had just left the king and to have audience with him would not have been common. And the uncommon visitors flooded their small space.

Upon arriving they fell to their faces in worship. On the floor where tiny baby toes wiggled. Baby giggles heard over the sight in His space. His fingers grasping the fingers of the travelers. The travelers bowing low and timid, desperately wanting to stare into His deep eyes to behold all of Him. That was why they had to be there. They traveled far to worship. They traveled far to bring gifts. They traveled far to bring their gift of worship.

Their gifts, provisions for the Savior.

How often in your life have you been able to see Jesus face to face? What would you do to get there? What gifts would you present to Him? How will you recognize and respond to the gift of Him?

A man of the Pharisees

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Intrigue plagued his thoughts stealing his sleep. The Man had made a scene in the temple that day and His words pierced the soul. The images and words were on repeat in his mind. He couldn’t let them go. Who was this Man? He had to know.

Under cover of night, darting in dark places, he navigates the streets of the city. Everyone knows where the Man is staying. Word of His every move was the buzz of the time. A true viral sensation.

He has studied the Man. Not just the recent events that has caused the excitement, but he has studied the Man his whole life. He studied the prophets. He studied the lineage. He studied for knowing and recognizing when this Man showed up. Is this really the Man God? Is this really the Messiah?

Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews; this man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You have come from God as a teacher; for no one can do these signs that You do unless * God is with him.” John 3:1-2 (NASB)

Obviously! The words. The mannerisms. The nature of His very being indicated this was not just another man. God doesn’t hide. But He does desire to be sought out. Nicodemus sought out the Man that night. He was drawn to Him. He knew where to find Him. I wonder if he had heard of that night the shepherds still remember? It was a few decades ago, but history lingers in the mind with some stories.

In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night, And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. “This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.” When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, “Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us.” So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger. When they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child. And all who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds. Luke 2:8-18 (NASB)

This was one of those stories you just don’t forget. It was another night under darkness but illuminated in a most unusual way. Angels. And lots of them. Worshiping. I wonder if the sheep stayed in place for the urgency of the shepherds seeking the Child.

Like the shepherds, Nicodemus was seeking to know the Messiah. He had prepared. He expected the advent. He didn’t necessarily expect it to unfold in his lifetime. But was this it? Is the Man Word made flesh?

The private conversation between Nicodemus and Jesus led to a proclamation for the ages. Try searching for the most common Bible verse. I will wait here while you do.

Better yet, let me help you.

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. John 3:16 (NASB)

He gave Nicodemus the keys. The answer. The very gift of eternal life. Himself. But did Nicodemus accept?

Nicodemus, who had first come to Him by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds weight. So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen wrappings with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews. John 19:39-40 (NASB)

The weight of the spices didn’t compare to the weight of the moment. His studies of the prophets being fulfilled before his eyes. The press on his chest too great to bear. He had met the Messiah early in His ministry on land. He kept up with the events of those years. He followed from a distance. 

He had to close the gap. He had to draw close one last time. The earthly vessel that had wrapped the Messiah had to be wrapped and laid to rest. In his priestly garb, he approached the shredded Man bearing the finest spices he could locate. Healing spices. The wounds were abundant. So he helped lay Him in the tomb.

I wonder if Jesus’ words were on repeat again in his mind? I wonder if he was the first one to memorize John 3:16? I wonder if the very night the words were spoken to him, if he returned through dark streets to write the words under the light of a lamp. He didn’t forget them.

He returned to the Man. He returned to seek Him as He was laid to rest. 

I don’t know the rest of the story of Nicodemus. I am not a Bible scholar. But I do know there are lessons to be learned from the interactions recorded about him.

He was intrigued by the Man. It caused him to seek Him out when it was not acceptable for him to do so.

He questioned some stuff. What did it mean to be born again? Did he learn that to die to self and sin was to be born of the Spirit believing the One True Son?

He was a seeker. He wanted more of what he had studied his whole life. He wanted more of the Messiah.

He took action. When, again inappropriate for his position, the messy task of picking up the slaughtered Lamb needed to be done, he was there. Even His closest followers weren’t on scene for this task. Their worlds had been shaken and they were left with wobbly knees. But not Nicodemus.

I don’t know but the Father does. I want to think Nicodemus believed. I want to think Nicodemus believed the Christmas story. That he believed the story told for all of time of the Savior of the world coming as a Child, born of a virgin, ransom for all sinners, all people, Redeemer. Messiah.

Humble Mother

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She was so young. But He knew her long before she was born. And she had been getting to know Him her whole life. She didn’t know He would choose her with the most precious gift of His Son.

She knew what the prophets had said about this Child. She knew the journey she faced would not be easy. She knew the One she held in her womb was more than her Child, He was her Master. How do you birth and raise your Master?

Mary was trusted with this position. Her alone. The strength given to her through the power of God held her heart together. She knew what her Son faced. But she welcomed the position of being His mother. She welcomed the trials in rejoicing for the Savior of the world.

“For He has had regard for the humble state of His bondslave; For behold, from this time on all generations will count me blessed. Luke 1:48 (NASB)

She accepted the accusations from her people. She faced their doubt with faith in God. While her body held her Savior, God held her. 

She accepted the provisions of God and trusted Him. He provided Joseph to walk beside her on this journey. He provided Elizabeth to encourage her in the position of being mother to the Savior. He provided a humble birthplace that was made radiant with the Gift from heaven. He provided confidence for her to trust Him.

She didn’t shy away from the task at hand. There was no walking away from it. She embraced the moments fully aware of her position of lowliness and honor. Oh, to be chosen to be the mother of Jesus!

Gifting Grace

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How much severer punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled under foot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace? Hebrews 10:29 (NAS)

You may think this a strange verse to consider in the midst of Christmas season. For so long, I looked at this verse as a standard to which I could not achieve. My imperfect self could not possibly deserve that which was poured out and split open in a perfect covenant. But to not accept it?

Look at it again.

Start at the end.

Grace. That one gift wrapped up and placed in the perfect spot on the tree. Sufficient for all who seek it. Not to be worked for and achieved but a gift so precious only the best wrapping was used. The finest, in fact. Then, when that perfect wrapping was beat down the Spirit remained. Reminding of the grace so precious, for those that choose to accept it.

Google “define grace” and you will find two definitions before coming to the one referred to in this verse: (in Christian belief) the free and unmerited favor of God, as manifested in the salvation of sinners and the bestowal of blessings.

Believing in the free and unmerited favor of God.

Receiving the free and unmerited favor of God.

Understanding without the blood of the covenant there is no sanctification.

Knowing that being a sinner requires the free and unmerited favor through which the blood of the covenant sanctifies.

And you only have to accept it. No work required just acceptance.

Understanding the grace is not earned. Grace cannot be purchased. The price was paid.

The gift given.

Acceptance is the recognition that, as a sinner, the Son of God gave the gift that keeps on giving. Even when that old sinfulness pops up and rears its ugly head: GRACE.

Choosing to live in the grace offered by the perfect gift honors that Gift. Accepting that gift over and over. Continually looking for that gift. Embracing that gift.

Getting back to the beginning of this verse, to trample that gift, to grind that gift into the dirt, to set it aside and ignore it, to refuse acceptance of the continual presence of grace, to deny the free and unmerited favor……..

Deserving of severe punishment.

A free gift is yours this Christmas season. Wrapped in a blanket. Laid in a feeding trough. Will you honor and accept it?