Love Comes Near Bible study - December 24 Read Matthew 2:19-23 Write John 1:46 John 1:46 - "Nathanael said to him, 'Can anything good come out of Nazareth?' Philip said to him, 'Come and see.'" "Expect the unexpected when it comes to God's story. The entire telling of Jesus' birth has been marked by radical humility. The Savior of the world comes to us as a baby, born in a stable. His humble beginning is followed now by a humble upbringing, in a town despised by men. "John 1:46 is spoken by a skeptical Nathanael, after his friend Philip told him they had found the one 'Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the pro- phets also wrote...' (John 1:45) "Nazareth was small and insignificant. There's no way anything worthwhile could come out of that place. Everybody knows that. "Jesus example of humility is for us to follow. Radical humility. Humbling our- selves in a way that the world takes notice. Humbling ourselves in a way that leaves no room for personal praise, but only a reason to give God praise." --- "What is your greatest testament to a life of humility? How have you seen God work through humble circumstances?" Easton's Bible Dictionary says this about humility: "HUMILITY "A prominent Christian grace (Rom. 12:3; 15:17, 18; 1 Cor. 3:5-7; 2 Cor. 3:5; Phil. 4:11-13). It is a state of mind well pleasing to God (1 Pet. 3:4); it preserves the soul in tranquillity (Ps. 69:32, 33), and makes us patient under trials (Job 1:22)." Romans 12:3 - "For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of yourself more highly than you ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned." Romans 15:17,18 - "In Christ Jesus, then, I have reason to boast of my work for God. 18For I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished£ through me to win obedience from the Gentiles, by word and deed, ..." 1 Cor. 3:5-7 - "What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you came to believe, as the Lord assigned to each. 6I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. 7So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth." 2 Cor. 3:5 - "Not that we are competent of ourselves to claim any- thing as coming from us; our competence is from God,..." Phil. 4:11-13 - "Not that I am referring to being in need; for I have learned to be content with whatever I have. 12I know what it is to have little, and I know what it is to have plenty. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being well-fed and of going hungry, of having plenty and of being in need. 13I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." 1 Pet. 3:4 - "rather, let your adornment be the inner self with the lasting beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in God's sight." Ps. 69:32, 33 - "Let the oppressed see it and be glad; you who seek God, let your hearts revive. 33 For the LORD hears the needy, and does not despise his own that are in bonds." Job 1:22 - "In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong- doing." "Christ has set us an example of humility (Phil. 2:6-8). We should be led thereto by a remembrance of our sins (Lam. 3:39), and by the thought that it is the way to honour (Prov. 16:18), and that the greatest promises are made to the humble (Ps. 147:6; Isa. 57:15; 66:2; 1 Pet. 5:5). It is a 'great paradox in Christianity that it makes humility the avenue to glory.'" ----- I have seen God work through humble circumstances in the humility that Jack Heffelfinger showed me in rescuing me from the psychiatric ward in early 1982 and helping me get a job as a computer programmer for Central United Methodist Church. Many days he would take time out from his work and come and visit me and take me up to the little chapel and pray silently with me. He was never boastful, and he let me learn about MS-Basic while I was on the job, and gave me encouragement to write a program for church contributions. Things I didn't know I had in me. ----- "How can you practically seek to humble yourself in a world that screams of self praise and promotion?" I am one to be critical of myself, and very rarely find myself praising my- self I think. I don't know. The fact that the world is always promoting, promoting, promoting through vast commercialism has been something that has troubled me for years. I even sometimes cringe when I see people com- mercialize the promotion of Jesus Christ, even though Jesus seems to be someone who is helpful to know: His principles, teachings, and love and his own humility, teaching that the greatest are those who seek to serve. I am not one to praise God by great tumult and shouting praise, and I have found myself sometimes shy in singing praise to God, though it feels good to sing the old hymns. I like to worship God quietly. Prayer-closet kind of worship. ----- Love Comes Near "Fill in the blank: I could never _______kill." "Impossible circumstances, inadequate education, insurmountable odds. There's no excuse or justification too difficult for God. Overcoming the impossible is His sweet spot." ----- "How are the odds stacked against you in the pursuit of your dreams? List them out, then say a prayer and acknowledge that these obstacles are no match for God." * My low self-esteem * My lack of really having any dreams to pursue, other than having a peace- ful and prosperous life, with the love of Jamie and my love to her. * My just not caring for myself properly. "Remember the angel's words to Mary? Read Luke 1:37" Luke 1:37 -- "'For nothing will be impossible with God.'" "He can bring forth life from a virgin and open a barren womb. He can lead Wise Men with a star in the sky and direct the decisions of kings. He can cause an explosion of celebration in the sky and make the greatest of the least. "Nothing is impossible with God. Not one thing."