The Black Friday Special that Changed History

I've had a few Black Friday adventures. They were fun because I was with family, but the crowds and the rush were completely overwhelming to me. Today, I'm staying home.

This morning, I'm pondering the Black Friday Special that changed history: A Messiah for 30 pieces of silver. 

It's a sobering thought, and one we'd do well to remember as we head into the shopping frenzy that, all too often, fills the Advent season.

During this season, we celebrate the nativity of our Lord, the moment in history when God Almighty, King of Heaven and Earth, slipped into a coat of flesh and delivered Himself to the most unlikely of parents, in the most unlikely of places.

He arrived with His face set like flint toward His own Black Friday, and He never lost sight of it for even an instant. 

Let's decide now to keep our eyes on the real reason for Christmas as we make our way through the next few weeks. Let's remember that the cooing baby in the manger matters only because of the suffering Son of God on the cross and the empty tomb that followed.

We can honor Christ as we celebrate the Christmas season, but only if we make a conscious decision to do so. Today, let's fix our eyes on the empty tomb, and celebrate the One who loved us so much that He came as a baby and didn't stop until the tomb was empty and His people were free. 

Joy to the World! The Lord has come!

Let earth receive her King!

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The Road to Bethlehem advent book is available on Amazon: The Road to Bethlehem (Kindle version is only 99 cents. Paperback is $6.00)

In case you missed yesterday's blog post, here's the link: Choosing Thanksgiving and Counting My Blessings
#blackfridayspecial #advent #Jesus

The fragrance

The pocket-sized bottle of hand sanitizer was just right for carrying with me to work today. The fragrance was some form of peach and it had a lovely aroma. Between seeing patients and battling fits of coughing, I was using the sanitizer constantly. I noticed one of the employees walking behind me to my office and assumed she was bringing papers to sign. Nope. She was following the aroma of the hand sanitizer. "You smell wonderful! What is that fragrance?" she asked. "The hand sanitizer?" I asked with a laugh. She made a note of the fragrance name for her next trip to the mall as I squirted a little into her hand. 

For the rest of the day, every time I applied the sanitizer, I thought about how the fragrance had followed me through the halls of the office. I'm glad the fragrance following me was a pleasant one! 

Paul, in his letter to the Corinthians, describes the "fragrance of Christ " that believers should exude. I like the way the Message says it:

"Through us, he brings knowledge of Christ. Everywhere we go, people breathe in the exquisite fragrance. Because of Christ, we give off a sweet scent rising to God, which is recognized by those on the way of salvation—an aroma redolent with life."

              (2 Corinthians 2:14-15MSG)

It's really nice to have a sweet-smelling perfume (or hand sanitizer) but how much better to give off the sweet aroma of life and the exquisite fragrance of Christ!  That's the fragrance I want. How about you? What fragrance do you leave in your wake?

Setting the oppressed free (Luke 4:18)

"The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He anointed Me to preach the gospel to... set free those who are oppressed, (Luke 4:18 NASB)

An earlier version of the NASB used the word "downtrodden". There is a clear distinction here between those who are captive and those who are oppressed. Those who are oppressed are weighted down, or pressed down, by something, often by society. Possible oppressors include financial responsibilities and debt, unfair laws or customs, prejudice, and demonic temptation. Oppressors usually have some sort of authority over the oppressed. In demonic oppression, that authority is generally gained by the conscious sin of the oppressed. 

Here is the good news. Jesus came to set the downtrodden and oppressed free from their oppressors. Because He was given all authority in heaven and earth by God Himself (Matt 28:18), He has authority over all other sources of power, over all oppressors. 

Perhaps you or your loved ones are experiencing the kind of spiritual oppression that constantly accuses of sin, fills you with doubt and uncertainty, or overwhelms you with fear and anxiety. That is the very thing from which Jesus came to free you. Today, pray that we and our loved ones can be set free from all oppression by the power of Jesus and that we can stay free for the rest of our lives.