Look inside this book.Where the Bush is Burning: A Daily Devotional by [Thomas Tice]

Tag: I John 3
Christ Manifested

Christ Manifested

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He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.   

I John 3:8   

For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.  

Luke 2:11-12  

How did Christ manifest Himself to the world? The second part of our text tells us. The speakers are the angels who announced His birth. The audience is the shepherds who were working close to Bethlehem. The first part of our text speaks of His overarching purpose. The second part tells us the manner of His appearance.  The manner is important to our understanding of His mission. Humanity had originally interacted with the devil resulting in the transgression of God’s command. Thus, the work of the devil was to destroy humanity, the handiwork of God. God had both a purpose and plan to destroy this work of destruction. This is where the incarnation of Christ became important. In order to destroy the destructive work of the devil, Christ became a man, the God-Man, and began living a perfect life as a true human. The purpose was to reverse the carnage brought to humanity by Adam’s sin. Thus the incarnation was critical to the success of the entire operation. We have chosen to celebrate it at this time of year, not because the time is important, but because the event is. 

Our Wise and Sovereign God, 
we rejoice that You do all things well. 
We praise You that You have sent Your Son into the world, 
to destroy the works of the devil.  

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning
For This Purpose

For This Purpose

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He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. 

I John 3:8 

Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. 

 John 12:31 

Why did Christ come into the world? There are many reasons we can cite. One of the salient reasons was that He might destroy the works of the devil. How is that so? If we go back to the original appearance of the devil in the garb of the serpent in Genesis 3, we observe his work. There, he began by casting doubts upon what God had said and purposefully lured Eve toward her destruction by disobeying God’s command. Adam followed suit. Thus began the decline and destruction of humanity. Satan’s intention was to destroy God’s Creation. This was, and continues to be, his work. So much of what we see throughout history demonstrates his dedication to this destruction. Humanity, in the fallen condition in which we naturally exist, is a willing partner to these activities. Thus, lust, greed, hatred, envy, murder, theft, cruelty, and oppression are rampant. Christ came to destroy those things and the effects of them. To that purpose He dedicated Himself in life and in death. He intends and will accomplish a thorough-going destruction of those works. When He was about to go to the cross, He said as much, ‘now the ruler of the world is cast out.’ 

Our Victorious, Living Christ, 
we rejoice that You will defeat all of Your enemies. 
We praise You that You will   
destroy the work of the devil. 

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning

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