“Because a great door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many who oppose me” (1 Corinthians 16:9).

The Apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthians that he would remain with the Ephesians until Pentecost before making his way to Corinth because God was at work. But look at the very next thing the Apostle Paul says – “and there are many who oppose me.”

Effective work for God – Many who oppose me.

These go hand in hand.

Why would anyone oppose God’s work? Why wouldn’t everyone want God’s will to be done?

Wherever and whenever God is at work, the devil is working hard to discourage, dissuade, and oppose God.

When we are living in a way that is already out of step with God’s will, the devil only needs to watch. The devil doesn’t need to engage. We’re already doing the devil’s work fine all on our own.

It’s when we join in God’s work, it’s when we obey God and his will that the devil starts to ply his trade.

Whenever God is at work, God is at work through God’s people.

Guess how the devil goes to work. Yup. He uses people. The sad reality is that the devil doesn’t only use people outside the church. The New Testament tells that the most dangerous ones are those who are in the church. They use spiritual language to confuse and get their way.

So, if you find that God’s plan for your life is facing some opposition? Good! Keep up the good work! Keep seeking God’s will and God’s purpose for your life. Opposition is to be expected, but don’t let that get you down. In fact, use that as inspiration. You’re on the right track! Keep going!

“Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord” (Luke 2:10-11).

Good news…
Great joy…
For all the people…

I love that. Who doesn’t like good news? Who doesn’t like joy? That’s why Christmas is beloved by so many people. You don’t even have to be a Christ-follower to love Christmas. In fact, most of the people celebrating Christmas are far from following Christ.

Luke tells us the source of “good news” of “great joy” for “all the people” – to you, a “Savior” is born. He is the “Messiah,” the “Lord.”

• Savior – Jesus is born in order to die on the cross to assuage the wrath of a holy God
• Messiah – Jesus is the anointed one, the one set apart to be born in order to die
• Lord – Jesus is Lord for he has purchased the eternal lives of those he saves

Christmas isn’t just a time to make us feel cozy and warm about family and friends. At the heart of the Christmas story is the truth that sinners are deserving of God’s wrath and judgment. But because God loves sinners, because God could not imagine an eternity without us in it, God sent his own Son to bear the brunt of God’s wrath on the cross and in hell. So that, all who receive Jesus as Lord and Savior will rise with Christ and be given eternal life.

That is the reason for the “good news” of “great joy” for “all the people.” This is great news for all sinners for we have a Savior!

Thank you, God.

Merry Christmas!

Don’t let Jesus’ gentleness fool you.

Indeed, at Christmas, we celebrate Christ coming in the form of a baby. And because we see Jesus as a baby, we think of him as harmless.

Don’t be fooled by appearances.

While at Christmas we celebrate the coming of Jesus as a baby in the manger, Christians await a second coming where Jesus will come as he is – the King.

The following is taken from “Once a Day: 25 Days of Advent”, and is a fantastic reminder of this reality:

Jesus’ greatness now reaches to the ends of the earth. And those who know him recognize him as faithful and true, one who has not taken his position by force (like so many earthly kings have), but who was chosen from before the beginning of time. And starting that day in Israel, the king first came as a baby, born into the line of Jewish nobility (because it was from among the Israelites that God had decreed a king would come), and yet from a long line of sinful people so he could identify with us and so that we would choose him too. This was the first time he came, not with force, but with the gentleness of an infant.

But the second time will be different. The second time, it will be sudden, and no one will miss it. Almighty God will open the gate of heaven, and Jesus will burst forth as a king, riding triumphant on a white stallion (not a donkey this time), with the armies of heaven following. Our great conquering king will destroy his enemies once and for all, waging and winning a holy war and ruling over all his people. Then he will reveal to a world that has rejected him that he truly is KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. He will be absolutely sovereign over all people — the lost and the saved — and every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess that he is who we accept and claim that he is — Jesus, Christ, Lord.

Are you ready to meet your King?