Now Is The Time...of Redemption

"In the time of My favor I heard you,
and in the day of salvation I helped you.

I tell you, now is the time of God's favor,

now is the day of salvation."

- 2 Corinthians 6:1-2

Lighting the Way - Advent Part 3

Dear Friend,

Christmas is a time for giving gifts to those we love and care about, helping out those in need, and an overall season of joy and hope at the end of a year filled with difficulties, challenges, opportunities, and change. This year, more than ever, many people are struggling to just meet the needs of their own familes as they are feeling the stress of their diminishing finances and the overall "tightening of the belt" as the economy is putting the squeeze on them.

A key headliner in recent years has been the issue of "debt". Our nation is drowning in an insurmountable sea of debt, while the government attempts to use pail and shovel bailouts to save this sinking ship. While on a larger scale there seems to be a proverbial "hole in the bottom of the bucket," there are individual households realizing the importance of becoming debt-free.

The current focus our ever-increasing monetary debt brings to mind an even greater personal debt we could never repay - the debt of our sinfulness. There is only One Who can (and Who has!) fulfill the requirements of our debt. "For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect" (1 Peter 1:18-19).

The Scriptures exhort us to remain debt-free, and even speaks of the seventh year, as well as the Year of Jubilee, as a time to cancel debts and to set slaves free (reference Leviticus 25:10; Deuteronomy 15:1-6). There is one area, however, where we are instructed to keep outstanding debts: "Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law" (Romans 13:8). It is this debt that we will be held accountable for (reference Matthew 25:31-46). His judgment is coming..."the ax is at the root of the trees"..."His winnowing fork is in His hand"....are we prepared for the harvest...it is coming soon!

"The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber,

because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.

The night is nearly over; the day is almost here.

So let us put aside our deeds of darkness

and put on the armor of light."

(Romans 13:11-12)

Continue to Light the Way...see the Advent devotional below.

Grace and Peace,

Traci Alexander

Trumpet and Torch Ministries

www.trumpetandtorch.org

Advent Devotional:

"I have come to bring fire on the earth,

and how I wish it were already kindled!

But I have a baptism to undergo,

and how distressed I am until it is completed!

Do you think I came to bring peace on earth?

No, I tell you, but division."

(Luke 12:49)

Lighting the Way - He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire - Matthew 3: 7-12

The first coming of Jesus Christ brought with it conflict. "Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword" (Matthew 10:34). This seems to be a far cry from the Christmas message: "Peace on earth, good will toward men". While it is true that He is the Prince of Peace, and His coming was meant to restore peace between God and man, it is inevitable that His purposes of salvation, forgiveness of sins, and eternal life would bring division to a world filled with sin, darkness, and death.

Our redemption (the deliverance and freedom from the penalty of sin by the payment of a ransom) was only made possible through the substitutionary death of Christ. The baptism He went through on our behalf was one of suffering and death; He gave His life to release us from the bondage of sin and death. "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: 'Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.' He redeemed us in order that the blessings given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit" (Galatians 3:13-14).

Jesus said, "Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?" (Mark10:38b). When it was time for the third cup of the Passover feast - the Cup of Redemption - Jesus picked up the cup, knowing full well that He would soon take this "chalice of death and of God's wrath" from the hand of the Father to fulfill His mission, and said, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood" (Luke 22:20). Each year Jewish families would look upon this cup sitting at the place set for Elijah, mindful of his ministry of redemption and judgment, and remember God's redemption of Israel from bondage in Egypt. On this day, the Lord picked up his cup and declared a new covenant that would be for the redemption of all mankind through His blood. "This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time', declares the LORD. ' I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people" (Jeremiah 31:33).

Jesus said, "You will drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with" (Mark 10:39b). When Jesus had given thanks for the cup He gave it to His disciples and told them to drink of it (reference Matthew 26:27). Believers today partake of this same cup as a symbol and memorial of the Lord's great sacrifice and our call to share in His suffering. We are called to walk the path He prepared for us, and share His gospel message of grace with a world in lost in darkness and sin, until He returns and, with His second coming, brings the final and complete redemption. "At that time you will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near" (Luke 21:27-28).

As we light the third candle of Advent, the Shepherd candle, symbolizing the obedient response of the shepherds who heard the angelic announcement and went out with joy to share what they had seen, may we be ever mindful, as ambassadors of Light and Truth, to spread the gospel message, like fire, until the whole earth is full of His glory.

"Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel,

because He has come and has redeemed His people.

He has raised up a horn of salvation for us

in the house of His servant David."

(Luke 1:68-69)

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