Captivated by Christ

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We deck our halls with boughs of holly; we purchase a few gifts to give those we love; and we prepare food - all in anticipation of one singular event. ​​ Christmas. ​​ Literally, Christ’s Mass. ​​ This is a special day set aside in many cultures and traditions to celebrate the Messiah or The Anointed One - Jesus. ​​ Preparation indeed! ​​ I can think of no better thing to celebrate than Jesus! ​​ 

But what about our heart? ​​ How much time, effort and concentration is placed on preparing our heart to seek out the word of God? ​​ Why​​ do​​ you celebrate Christmas? ​​ Your home may look like it is ready for something special; the tree is up and decorated, the stockings are hung by the chimney with care. ​​​​ How about your heart, your soul​​ – it is​​ captivated​​ by Christ? ​​ 

In Malachi 3:1, the coming of the Christ was foretold. ​​ The messenger, John the Baptist, was to prepare the way for the Messiah.

Malachi 3:1 "Behold, I am going to send My messenger, and he will clear the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple; and the messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight, behold, He is coming," says the LORD of hosts.

And … it happened just like God said it would! ​​ 

Luke​​ 1:13 But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your petition has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will give him the name John.

Luke​​ 1:76 "And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go on​​ BEFORE THE LORD TO PREPARE HIS WAYS;

John​​ 1:29 The next day he *saw Jesus coming to him, and *said, "Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!

Jesus​​ was born to this earth, 100% God, 100% man. ​​ He willingly laid aside His deity to be born, suffer, and die; to fulfill His Father’s plan of redemption. ​​ God purposed this plan because He loves us. ​​ And we have a promise –

He will come again. ​​ It will happen just like God says!

Acts​​ 5:31 "He is the one whom God exalted to His right hand as a Prince and a Savior, to grant repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.

Hebrews 9:28 so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, shall appear a second time for salvation without [reference to] sin, to those who eagerly await Him.

What a glorious day that will be for those whose hearts have been​​ prepared! ​​ Think upon the effort, time, and energy you are putting into the preparation of your soul for the return of Christ. ​​​​ Does the Gospel fill you with wonder and delight?

You may have heard the term ‘refiner’s fire’. ​​ One website says,​​ “A​​ refiner's​​ fire​​ does not consume completely like the​​ fire​​ of an incinerator.​​ ​​ A​​ refiner's​​ fire​​ refines.​​ ​​ It purifies.​​ ​​ It melts down the bar of silver or gold, separates out the impurities that ruin its value, burns them up, and leaves the silver and gold intact.​​ (desiringgod.org)

The earth​​ and its inhabitants​​ will be purified, the dross swept away, leaving only absolute holiness to stand before God.

Malachi​​ 3:3 "And He will sit as a smelter and purifier of silver, and He will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, so that they may present to the LORD offerings in righteousness.

Proverbs​​ 17:3 The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold,​​ but the LORD tests hearts.

Consider. ​​​​ When the decorations are taken down,​​ the​​ gifts have been opened,​​ the​​ celebrations have ceased,​​ and friends and family have left, what​​ will​​ remain, what​​ will be left?  ​​​​ Will your​​ heart​​ and soul​​ continue in​​ its diligent​​ preparation for Jesus to​​ return? ​​ Or is the ‘reason for the season’ put away in a box until the same time next year?​​ 

I pray​​ hours and hours of preparation will continue to polish my heart as I yield to God’s refining fire from within. ​​ Let​​ each of us celebrate Jesus continually as we ready for His return! ​​ It will happen.

Luke​​ 21:36 "But keep on the alert at all times, praying in order that you may have strength to escape all these things that are about to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man."

Christ's return

Revelation​​ 22:7 "And behold, I am coming quickly.​​ ​​ Blessed is he who heeds the words of the prophecy of this book."

The most precious gift you can give to Jesus is your​​ heart;​​ the most valuable gift you can give to those you love is the​​ Truth of the Gospel. ​​​​ 

December 25th​​ will come whether you are fully prepared or not; Jesus was born according to scripture, some were ready to receive Him, some were not.

Christ will return again according to the scripture –​​ is your heart prepared? ​​​​ 

 

 

Author: Sharyn Balogh

You know it's difficult to write about yourself. The most important fact I can disclose is that I'm saved by God's grace through faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. My desire is to live a life honoring to God in response for the gift of salvation I've been given. This is so much easier said than done! I struggle daily with right choices, right words, right thoughts, and right actions. My best and only defense against sin is the power of God in me and for that I am inexpressibly thankful. I have three amazing grown-up children who have responded to God's call in their lives along with their spouses. One of the great joys of my life is knowing my children and their families strive to serve and follow God. My grandchildren are another wonderful joy in my life! My husband and I are blessed with four beautiful grandchildren to date with another expected very soon on September 12th. We also are thankful for the comforting knowledge that an additional three of our grandchildren, a set of twins at three months gestation and a little boy, Isaac, at four and a half months gestation, are in our Savior's presence. I have attended the same church since the day my eyes were opened to Truth over thirty years ago. How fortunate it is to have been led by God’s hand immediately to a church body that follows the Bible, no man-made doctrines, just the Word clear and strong. My husband is my best friend, my confidant, my encourager, and I still can't believe how blessed I am by his example of love and generosity towards everyone around him. He is God-fearing, compassionate, and kind and I have learned so much from him. I am a daughter to my almost 92 year-old mother, sister to three brothers, a wife, mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, aunt, great-aunt, neighbor and friend. That means, whomever is reading this, we probably have something in common! I love every unique role I have been placed in. I'm frequently stretched and sometimes feel like silly putty that wants to bounce right back into my comfort zone. My greatest ambition is to be a follower of Jesus; a light that shines for Him at all times, in all circumstances. So, there it is, a bit about me. I guess I was able to write about myself after all! However, my existence cannot be defined without Jesus Christ, my Lord and my Savior. His love has permeated my life to His glory and my eternal thankfulness.