Facet of Christ (Day 79)
He was born in Bethlehem. Out of the way, backwoods Bethlehem. We are freed to live and serve in obscurity. We don’t need the spotlight. He didn’t. (Phil. 2.3-9) Dane Ortlund 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant,[c] being born in the likeness of
Facet of Christ (Day 78)
His blazing wrath upon the impenitent is matched by his gentle embrace of the penitent. Neither dilutes the other. He is not a one-dimensional Christ. (Rev. 19.15-16; 1 Pet. 5.10-11) Dane Ortlund 15 From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. 16 On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords. (Revelations 19:15-16) 10 And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all
Facet of Christ (Day 77)
His promised second coming means that I will give an account for every word spoken against others, and others will give an account for every word spoken against me. All will be put right. (Heb. 4.13) Dane Ortlund 13 And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account. (Hebrews 4:13)
Facet of Christ (Day 76)
He is the perfect and final Judge—utterly fair, and all-knowing. Every verdict will be just right. We do not need to take justice into our own hands. (2 Tim. 4.1) Dane Ortlund I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: (2 Timothy 4:1)
Meditation for Preparation – Aug 18th
Church Planting Read: John 12:20-26 20 Now among those who went up to worship at the feast were some Greeks. 21 So these came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and asked him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” 22 Philip went and told Andrew; Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. 23 And Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. 25 Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for
Facet of Christ (Day 75)
He is the perfect and final Sage, or wise man, depicting wisdom in both his life and his words. He is the book of Proverbs walking around on two legs. (Prov. 8.22-31) Dane Ortlund 22 “The Lord possessed me at the beginning of his work, the first of his acts of old. 23 Ages ago I was set up, at the first, before the beginning of the earth. 24 When there were no depths I was brought forth, when there were no springs abounding with water. 25 Before the mountains had been shaped, before the hills, I was brought forth, 26 before he had made the earth with its
Facet of Christ (Day 74)
He is the perfect and final Prophet, speaking truth with laser-like accuracy. (John 6.14) Dane Ortlund 14 When the people saw the sign that he had done, they said, “This is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world!” (John 6:14)
Facet of Christ (Day 73)
He is the perfect and final King, representing God to the people. (Rev. 17.14) Dane Ortlund 14 They will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful.” (Revelation 17:14)
Facet of Christ (Day 72)
He is the perfect and final Priest, representing the people to God. (Heb. 2.17, 18) Dane Ortlund 17 Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. 18 For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted. (Hebrews 2:17,18)
Facet of Christ (Day 71)
Not only Scripture, either: Every heart-stabbing poem, every story of redemption, every novel or film that evokes longings and makes the tears flow— it all points to him. He is the closure for every human longing. (Phil. 3.8, 9) Dane Ortlund 8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through
