Advent, rejoicing with joy

“Worshiping Jesus means joyfully ascribing authority and dignity to Christ with sacrificial gifts.

 

When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.

MATTHEW 2:10, ESV

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

 

Three wise men

 

 

“Worshiping Jesus means joyfully ascribing authority and dignity to Christ with sacrificial gifts.

We ascribe (credit, attribute, attach) to him. We don’t add to him.

God is not served by human hands as though he needed anything (Acts 17:25).”

John Piper

 

 

Excerpted from

The Dawning of Indestructible Joy

Daily Readings for Advent by John Piper

Listen to a short introduction from Dr. John Piper here, where you can download a  free digital copy (the link below is an affiliate to support this blog)

Why we need the wisest gifts this Christmas

The four Gospels- Matthew, Mark, Luke, John- relate the life of Jesus, but only Matthew and Luke tell the story of his birth and their versions differ. Luke tells about the trip to Bethlehem and the shepherds’ visit. Matthew misses the Bethlehem journey and the shepherds, but from him we meet the wise men- the…

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Advent, giving in love

The meaning of Christmas is the celebration of this love. “God so loved . . .”
And wonder of wonders, God gives this costly love to an undeserving world of sinners, like us.

 

“For God loved the world in this way: He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.

John 3:16 HCSB, Holman Christian Standard Bible

John 3:16
“For God so loved the world, that he gave His Son”

 

Meditate on that this Advent. It was a very costly love. A very powerful love. A very rugged, painful love.

The meaning of Christmas is the celebration of this love. “God so loved . . .”

And wonder of wonders, God gives this costly love to an undeserving world of sinners, like us.”

John Piper

 

Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville Tennessee. All rights reserved.

Excerpted from

The Dawning of Indestructible Joy

Daily Readings for Advent by John Piper

Listen to a short introduction from Dr. John Piper here, where you can download a free digital copy. (above is an affiliate link)

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