God Incarnate

Everyone loves a baby. During the Christmas season, we are especially aware that God sent His Word to us in just such a form.

God sent His Word to Mary through an angel and she responded, Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word. (Lk. 1:38a RSV) Jesus was conceived when Mary opened her heart to receive.

The sweet baby—God Incarnate—came for the express purpose of wooing and winning sinful people. And God continues to send forth His Word through revelation of the person called Jesus. He waits for our response and He rejoices when His truth and life are conceived in the hearts of people who open their hearts to receive.

Originally published December 18, 1981.

God Is Looking at Us?

The Bible tells us the Lord, looks on all the inhabitants of the earth. (Ps. 33:14b NKJV)

Are we happy that God is looking at us? Are we so sure of His love—and so sure of His ability to help us—that we rejoice in His care? Or do we resent His attention? Do we try to suppress the true motives of our heart? Do we think of Him as a taskmaster who robs us of fun?

These are important questions. When we try to hide motives, even from ourselves, we do not fool God. He understands us better than we understand ourselves. He knows all about anything and everything we might try to hide.

But He does not look at us because He is a taskmaster who insists we meet certain obligations. He does it as the one who offers forgiveness and salvation. He does it because He is our source of joy. The psalmist explains, Our soul waits for the Lord; He is our help and our shield. For our heart shall rejoice in Him, because we have trusted in His holy name. (v. 20,21)

Originally published March 27, 1992.

I Will Betroth You

We understand God best in human terms. So even before Jesus came as a man, the Old Testament prophets portrayed God in a number of familiar human roles—as a Father, a Potter, a Vinedresser, a Shepherd, etc.

Perhaps the most poignant role is that of Husband. The image portrays God’s desire for a love relationship with people who make a covenant with Him—and His sorrow when they desert Him for other gods.

God asked the prophet Hosea to dramatize the image of a husband forsaken by his wife when He told Hosea to marry Gomer. Hosea married her—but like the Israelites who deserted God for idols, Gomer deserted Hosea for other men. Then God moved upon Hosea to proclaim both judgment and restoration.

First, the judgment: I will hedge up your way with thorns, and wall her in . . . She will chase her lovers, but not overtake them . . . . (Hos. 2:6a & c NKJV)

Then the restoration: I will allure her . . . and speak comfort . . . in that day . . . you will call Me, “My Husband,” and no longer call Me “My Master.” (v. 14a & c,16b)

We ache for Hosea when we read the story—and for the wayward Gomer as well. We also receive understanding of God’s ache when we reject Him. God’s heart longs for His people. He says, I will betroth you . . . I will betroth you to Me in faithfulness. . . . (v. 19a,20)

Originally published March 13, 1987.
Picture: City park, Havre, MT, 2009. Photo by Solveig.