December 1
“If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land; but if you refuse and rebel, you shall be eaten by the sword; for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”” (Isaiah 1:19–20, ESV)
During a tenuous time in the history of Israel, the prophet Isaiah stepped onto the scene. He was called by God in the days when powerful armies were building up their weapons in lands not too far away from Jerusalem. In those days, the leaders of Israel and Judah sought to protect themselves not by the power of God but through military alliances, political machinations, and by playing off rival nations against one another. At the time, I’m sure the powerful elite thought they were being savvy. But the prophet Isaiah, sent by God, saw the foolishness of the endeavor. If Israel and Judah were not willing to follow God’s word through those difficult times, they would not fare well in the looming wars between rival superpowers: Assyria, Babylon, and Egypt.
In the present, there are still rival superpowers. There are still leaders who choose to make waves through military alliances, political machinations, and regional influences. There are people in Hollywood who push secular agendas, believing they are modern and progressive. In Europe, financial games are being played over Brexit. Regional conflicts have blown up in places like Sweden, Italy, Germany, France, England, the United States, and many other places over war refugees and immigration. In the United States, Republicans and Democrats demonize each other for political clout. Social media and mainstream media play their games as well, blowing people and situations completely out of proportion for profit and to influence public opinion. In a way, you could say that the tenuous time of Isaiah six centuries before Christ is no different from today. Nations and leaders still want to play their political and social games without any thought of being faithful to God. People still push their selfish agendas for profit. The word of God is set aside as irrelevant. Because of this, the warning of Isaiah in the scripture for today carries much weight and validity. We should heed Isaiah’s words, given from God. They apply to us as much today as they did to the people of Judah way back then.
Not long ago, I sat down to a meal with a Christian man who was involved in politics. He had been elected to office multiple times and was widely revered in the community. He had a good deal of political clout, and his years of work with local political groups cemented his influence in that area. While sitting next to each other at a wedding reception, he spoke to me about politics in his area. He asked my opinion on different social matters that were being hyped in the papers. I could see that he loved people and politics. However, I also could see that politics had eroded his faith. When I asked about the plight of several homeless families in the neighborhood, he talked about increasing taxes. When we spoke about recent job losses and the struggles of families due to a plant closing, he talked about the importance of drawing in big business and the benefits to rebuilding the center of the city. The more we talked, the more I realized that for every issue, he had a political answer. He didn’t personally help poor people. He didn’t reach out directly to the families of those who had lost their jobs or homes due to the closing of the plant. Instead of promoting Christian love and remaining a faithful servant to God, he was faithful to his political party and promoted big business and social programs. Despite the fact that this man had grown up in the church, participated in years of Sunday School lessons and went to worship at Christmas and Easter, he now cares more about politics and business than being faithful and obedient to God. Don’t ever assume you are immune to follow a similar secular lifestyle. Power and money and status can easily sweep you far away from God Almighty.
When Isaiah spoke to the leaders of Judah in the scripture for today, he began with the word, “if”. This word involves a choice. “If” Judah did one thing, they would be faithful. “If” they did another, they would fail God. On the one hand, Isaiah mentioned that if the people were “willing and obedient” to God in making their decisions on what to do in those tenuous times, God would bless the land with “good”. However, if Judah “refused and rebelled”, they would die by the sword. Isaiah didn’t just speak for himself. He made it clear that this warning came from God. “The mouth of the Lord had spoken” (Isaiah 1:20).
From Isaiah’s words, you can see that the people of Judah had to choose a path between opposites. Either they would be willing and obedient to follow God and God’s word instead of being influenced by the political and social voices of the day; or they would refuse God’s warning and rebel against God. Sometimes, you must take a side in life. Either you obey God or rebel against HIM. It’s as simple as that. The opposite of obedience to God is rebelling against God. When you choose to follow the hype of this world instead of following God, you will always pay a price. In the days of Isaiah, failure to follow God meant the country would face “the sword”, war. Today, failure to follow God in your life will cause God’s protection and provision to be lost. You will be on your own in a sea of social and political sharks.
Isaiah issued a warning directly from God in his day. I’m issuing the same warning to you today. Don’t minimize God’s influence in your life by following the trends and popular opinions of the world. Don’t jeopardize your faith by following the voices of those who seek to manipulate situations for their own personal gain. Don’t let anything in life take the place of God’s word. Don’t let leaders or dollars silence your faith.
Isaiah issued a warning to the people of his day. They did not heed that warning and thus suffered a devastating war. Whenever you set aside true faith in order to follow the secular political and social trends of the day, you will ultimately suffer loss as well.
Is there some place in your life where your faith remains on the sidelines instead of influencing your actions? Are you “willing and obedient” in the eyes of God, or do are you being lured away from true faith? So much depends on how you answer such questions…..
In the present, there are still rival superpowers. There are still leaders who choose to make waves through military alliances, political machinations, and regional influences. There are people in Hollywood who push secular agendas, believing they are modern and progressive. In Europe, financial games are being played over Brexit. Regional conflicts have blown up in places like Sweden, Italy, Germany, France, England, the United States, and many other places over war refugees and immigration. In the United States, Republicans and Democrats demonize each other for political clout. Social media and mainstream media play their games as well, blowing people and situations completely out of proportion for profit and to influence public opinion. In a way, you could say that the tenuous time of Isaiah six centuries before Christ is no different from today. Nations and leaders still want to play their political and social games without any thought of being faithful to God. People still push their selfish agendas for profit. The word of God is set aside as irrelevant. Because of this, the warning of Isaiah in the scripture for today carries much weight and validity. We should heed Isaiah’s words, given from God. They apply to us as much today as they did to the people of Judah way back then.
Not long ago, I sat down to a meal with a Christian man who was involved in politics. He had been elected to office multiple times and was widely revered in the community. He had a good deal of political clout, and his years of work with local political groups cemented his influence in that area. While sitting next to each other at a wedding reception, he spoke to me about politics in his area. He asked my opinion on different social matters that were being hyped in the papers. I could see that he loved people and politics. However, I also could see that politics had eroded his faith. When I asked about the plight of several homeless families in the neighborhood, he talked about increasing taxes. When we spoke about recent job losses and the struggles of families due to a plant closing, he talked about the importance of drawing in big business and the benefits to rebuilding the center of the city. The more we talked, the more I realized that for every issue, he had a political answer. He didn’t personally help poor people. He didn’t reach out directly to the families of those who had lost their jobs or homes due to the closing of the plant. Instead of promoting Christian love and remaining a faithful servant to God, he was faithful to his political party and promoted big business and social programs. Despite the fact that this man had grown up in the church, participated in years of Sunday School lessons and went to worship at Christmas and Easter, he now cares more about politics and business than being faithful and obedient to God. Don’t ever assume you are immune to follow a similar secular lifestyle. Power and money and status can easily sweep you far away from God Almighty.
When Isaiah spoke to the leaders of Judah in the scripture for today, he began with the word, “if”. This word involves a choice. “If” Judah did one thing, they would be faithful. “If” they did another, they would fail God. On the one hand, Isaiah mentioned that if the people were “willing and obedient” to God in making their decisions on what to do in those tenuous times, God would bless the land with “good”. However, if Judah “refused and rebelled”, they would die by the sword. Isaiah didn’t just speak for himself. He made it clear that this warning came from God. “The mouth of the Lord had spoken” (Isaiah 1:20).
From Isaiah’s words, you can see that the people of Judah had to choose a path between opposites. Either they would be willing and obedient to follow God and God’s word instead of being influenced by the political and social voices of the day; or they would refuse God’s warning and rebel against God. Sometimes, you must take a side in life. Either you obey God or rebel against HIM. It’s as simple as that. The opposite of obedience to God is rebelling against God. When you choose to follow the hype of this world instead of following God, you will always pay a price. In the days of Isaiah, failure to follow God meant the country would face “the sword”, war. Today, failure to follow God in your life will cause God’s protection and provision to be lost. You will be on your own in a sea of social and political sharks.
Isaiah issued a warning directly from God in his day. I’m issuing the same warning to you today. Don’t minimize God’s influence in your life by following the trends and popular opinions of the world. Don’t jeopardize your faith by following the voices of those who seek to manipulate situations for their own personal gain. Don’t let anything in life take the place of God’s word. Don’t let leaders or dollars silence your faith.
Isaiah issued a warning to the people of his day. They did not heed that warning and thus suffered a devastating war. Whenever you set aside true faith in order to follow the secular political and social trends of the day, you will ultimately suffer loss as well.
Is there some place in your life where your faith remains on the sidelines instead of influencing your actions? Are you “willing and obedient” in the eyes of God, or do are you being lured away from true faith? So much depends on how you answer such questions…..
December 3
“Then came one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name; and seeing him, he fell at his feet, and besought him, saying, “My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well, and live.” And he went with him. And a great crowd followed him and thronged about him. And there was a woman who had had a flow of blood for twelve years, and who had suffered much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was no better but rather grew worse. She had heard the reports about Jesus, and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his garment. For she said, “If I touch even his garments, I shall be made well.” And immediately the hemorrhage ceased; and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease.” (Mark 5:22–29, RSV)
Life is not predictable. It does not always go according to plan. You may set out to complete one project but get waylaid by an emergency. While taking steps toward a goal, you might find yourself having to set aside that goal to attend to a problem. The holidays can, in and of themselves, waylay your best laid plans. While shopping for a perfect gift for your spouse, the store may be out of stock. You will need to make other plans. A blizzard can wreak havoc on a work deadline. A family emergency might alter your vacation. Interruptions can make your day go from smooth to impossible. New stressors can shake up your calm. The best laid plans are sometimes not what God has in mind for your day.
Even Jesus had interruptions and complications added to His day! The above scripture is a perfect example. In Mark 5:22, Jesus was approached by Jairus, a well-regarded Jewish leader. Jairus was one of the few Jewish leaders who showed Jesus respect and honor. He came to Jesus, even falling at Jesus’ feet, and asked Jesus to save his daughter from death (Mark 5:22-23). Jesus made arrangements to go with Jairus, to heal his daughter. That’s not quite what happened. Jesus’ plans were interrupted.
As the crowds gathered to go watch Jesus heal the young girl, a woman “who had suffered much under many physicians” took an opportunity to touch Jesus. She believed in her heart that if she did this, she could be healed. With true faith, she touched the hem of Jesus’ garment. In an instant, she was healed. Immediately, Jesus stopped the procession and questioned what had happened. He knew a healing had occurred. It was unexpected. It was not planned for. It stopped the whole procession. It caused Jesus to be late to the healing of Jairus’ daughter.
As Jesus’ plans were being changed and waylaid, our Lord did not respond with anger or angst. He didn’t lash out at those responsible for the change of plans. He didn’t get stressed and tense. He simply went where He was needed. He stopped the procession and inquired about the healing. There wasn’t a big fuss. Everything occurred just as God the Father intended. Jesus Healed both the woman and Jairus’ daughter in the perfect time.
When your plans are changed by outside factors, how do you respond? Do you fuss and fume? Do you get upset? What if God has decided to change your plans for an important reason? Sometimes, we don’t know what God has planned, but human arrangements are often not in line with God’s timing!
During a crazy six-week period of my life, I was at wits end. I had seven funerals in those six weeks! It was also Lent! I figured that during that six weeks, I had planned and executed more than 20 services, written and performed 20 sermons, visited the hospitals with those who were sick and dying, and ran myself ragged. After the seventh funeral service, I was very tired. I stepped into my office to pray. After praying, I felt at peace again. When life got crazy, my prayer time brought me back to center and eased my soul. The prayers relieved me of my stress and helped me step away from the busy-ness.
A woman from the congregation who helped with all seven funerals stopped in to talk. I could see she was frazzled. She told me, “I’m so tired of the funerals! I can’t get my work done at home. I am thinking of quitting as head of the committee that takes care of the meals.”
Seeing the stress all over her face, I asked her a simple question, “When have you taken the time to pray and just have alone time with God?”
She looked at me, thought for a few moments, and then smiled. She said, “You got me, Pastor! I’ve been so busy that I haven’t had time to think about praying. I think the stress of these deaths has me all shaken up.”
I gave her a hug and said, “Take time to let your soul catch up with your body. We can talk next week after you’ve spent time with God in prayer.” That talk never happened. It didn’t need to. When she spent time with God, she too felt renewed. The stress of all the changes in plans brought about by all the deaths and funerals faded away. God and members of the congregation were thankful for all her work. She was doing exactly what God needed her to do.
Life will always shake up your best-laid plans. Your Lord will sometimes need you to be ready when HIS interruptions take place. Do you get so stressed out when your plans go off the rails that God can’t work through you? Do you get irritable when things don’t pan out as you expect? Realize, especially during the holiday season, that God often does amazing things outside the convenience of your calendar! Miracles can happen if you just roll with the changes God makes!
Even Jesus had interruptions and complications added to His day! The above scripture is a perfect example. In Mark 5:22, Jesus was approached by Jairus, a well-regarded Jewish leader. Jairus was one of the few Jewish leaders who showed Jesus respect and honor. He came to Jesus, even falling at Jesus’ feet, and asked Jesus to save his daughter from death (Mark 5:22-23). Jesus made arrangements to go with Jairus, to heal his daughter. That’s not quite what happened. Jesus’ plans were interrupted.
As the crowds gathered to go watch Jesus heal the young girl, a woman “who had suffered much under many physicians” took an opportunity to touch Jesus. She believed in her heart that if she did this, she could be healed. With true faith, she touched the hem of Jesus’ garment. In an instant, she was healed. Immediately, Jesus stopped the procession and questioned what had happened. He knew a healing had occurred. It was unexpected. It was not planned for. It stopped the whole procession. It caused Jesus to be late to the healing of Jairus’ daughter.
As Jesus’ plans were being changed and waylaid, our Lord did not respond with anger or angst. He didn’t lash out at those responsible for the change of plans. He didn’t get stressed and tense. He simply went where He was needed. He stopped the procession and inquired about the healing. There wasn’t a big fuss. Everything occurred just as God the Father intended. Jesus Healed both the woman and Jairus’ daughter in the perfect time.
When your plans are changed by outside factors, how do you respond? Do you fuss and fume? Do you get upset? What if God has decided to change your plans for an important reason? Sometimes, we don’t know what God has planned, but human arrangements are often not in line with God’s timing!
During a crazy six-week period of my life, I was at wits end. I had seven funerals in those six weeks! It was also Lent! I figured that during that six weeks, I had planned and executed more than 20 services, written and performed 20 sermons, visited the hospitals with those who were sick and dying, and ran myself ragged. After the seventh funeral service, I was very tired. I stepped into my office to pray. After praying, I felt at peace again. When life got crazy, my prayer time brought me back to center and eased my soul. The prayers relieved me of my stress and helped me step away from the busy-ness.
A woman from the congregation who helped with all seven funerals stopped in to talk. I could see she was frazzled. She told me, “I’m so tired of the funerals! I can’t get my work done at home. I am thinking of quitting as head of the committee that takes care of the meals.”
Seeing the stress all over her face, I asked her a simple question, “When have you taken the time to pray and just have alone time with God?”
She looked at me, thought for a few moments, and then smiled. She said, “You got me, Pastor! I’ve been so busy that I haven’t had time to think about praying. I think the stress of these deaths has me all shaken up.”
I gave her a hug and said, “Take time to let your soul catch up with your body. We can talk next week after you’ve spent time with God in prayer.” That talk never happened. It didn’t need to. When she spent time with God, she too felt renewed. The stress of all the changes in plans brought about by all the deaths and funerals faded away. God and members of the congregation were thankful for all her work. She was doing exactly what God needed her to do.
Life will always shake up your best-laid plans. Your Lord will sometimes need you to be ready when HIS interruptions take place. Do you get so stressed out when your plans go off the rails that God can’t work through you? Do you get irritable when things don’t pan out as you expect? Realize, especially during the holiday season, that God often does amazing things outside the convenience of your calendar! Miracles can happen if you just roll with the changes God makes!
December 6
“In these days he went out to the mountain to pray, and all night he continued in prayer to God.” (Luke 6:12, ESV)
“In a letter to his friends, hymn writer Wendell P. Loveless related this story: One evening a speaker who was visiting the United States wanted to make a telephone call. He entered a phone booth but found it to be different from those in his own country. It was beginning to get dark, so he had difficulty finding the number in the directory. He noticed that there was a light in the ceiling, but he didn't know how to turn it on. As he tried again to find the number in the fading twilight, a passerby noted his plight and said, "Sir, if you want to turn the light on, you have to shut the door." To the visitor's amazement and satisfaction, when he closed the door, the booth was filled with light. He soon located the number and completed the call.
In a similar way, when we draw aside in a quiet place to pray, we must block out our busy world and open our hearts to the Father. Our darkened world of disappointments and trials will then be illuminated. We will enter into communion with God, we will sense His presence, and we will be assured of His provision for us. Our Lord often went to be alone with the Heavenly Father. Sometimes it was after a busy day of preaching and healing. At other times, it was before making a major decision.” (From “Our Daily Bread”). Jesus knew the value of going off to a lonely place or retiring to a quiet place to pray. Before significant times in your life, it is crucial to go have a long talk with God in a quiet place.
In the days of Jesus’ early ministry, He traveled alone. Some Christians have forgotten that very fact. After Jesus was filled by the Holy Spirit and began His ministry, it was some time before He chose the disciples. In Luke 6:12, the scripture chosen for today, Jesus went on a mountain to pray. There “He continued in prayer to God” all night. Why did Jesus pick that night to pray many long hours? The very next day was to be crucial for His ministry. On the morning after this long prayer time with God the Father, Jesus began to seek out His disciples. I’m convinced that the choice of disciples was THE main topic of discussion between Jesus and God the Father the night before. The first thing Jesus did the very next day was to search for the disciples who would so define His ministry.
I have discovered that long prayers and quiet time for meditation before a major decision in life is not only biblical, but a common practice of Jesus Himself. It was something that Jesus did in order to clarify His steps and plan for what was to come. On the night before His crucifixion, where was Jesus? He had retired with His disciples to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray. This prayer time before a significant moment in life defined Jesus’ ministry. Does it define your relationship with God?
At a crucial time in life, people respond differently. Some will go off on a drinking binge. Others will go on a spending spree. The nervous in Denver might eat a marijuana brownie or smoke some pot, as it is legal there. A more social person might spend time with family or friends. Some will spend the last night tossing and turning in bed, unable to let go of all the possibilities and fears and insecurities intruding into their thoughts. Even among Christians, very few take the time for a long talk with God. What is crazy to me are the Christians facing a life and death surgery who check their living wills and pack and check their life insurance programs, but do not spend a good deal of time talking with God in prayer!
The next time you have a significant event looming in your life, set aside some prayer time with your Heavenly Father. With your next big decision, direct your steps by first taking time to pray in quiet with the Lord. If Jesus considered a long prayer in a quiet place as crucial before making big decisions, I’m sure you will benefit from it as well. Maybe putting a little light from God on your situation will make things a whole lot easier to see!
In a similar way, when we draw aside in a quiet place to pray, we must block out our busy world and open our hearts to the Father. Our darkened world of disappointments and trials will then be illuminated. We will enter into communion with God, we will sense His presence, and we will be assured of His provision for us. Our Lord often went to be alone with the Heavenly Father. Sometimes it was after a busy day of preaching and healing. At other times, it was before making a major decision.” (From “Our Daily Bread”). Jesus knew the value of going off to a lonely place or retiring to a quiet place to pray. Before significant times in your life, it is crucial to go have a long talk with God in a quiet place.
In the days of Jesus’ early ministry, He traveled alone. Some Christians have forgotten that very fact. After Jesus was filled by the Holy Spirit and began His ministry, it was some time before He chose the disciples. In Luke 6:12, the scripture chosen for today, Jesus went on a mountain to pray. There “He continued in prayer to God” all night. Why did Jesus pick that night to pray many long hours? The very next day was to be crucial for His ministry. On the morning after this long prayer time with God the Father, Jesus began to seek out His disciples. I’m convinced that the choice of disciples was THE main topic of discussion between Jesus and God the Father the night before. The first thing Jesus did the very next day was to search for the disciples who would so define His ministry.
I have discovered that long prayers and quiet time for meditation before a major decision in life is not only biblical, but a common practice of Jesus Himself. It was something that Jesus did in order to clarify His steps and plan for what was to come. On the night before His crucifixion, where was Jesus? He had retired with His disciples to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray. This prayer time before a significant moment in life defined Jesus’ ministry. Does it define your relationship with God?
At a crucial time in life, people respond differently. Some will go off on a drinking binge. Others will go on a spending spree. The nervous in Denver might eat a marijuana brownie or smoke some pot, as it is legal there. A more social person might spend time with family or friends. Some will spend the last night tossing and turning in bed, unable to let go of all the possibilities and fears and insecurities intruding into their thoughts. Even among Christians, very few take the time for a long talk with God. What is crazy to me are the Christians facing a life and death surgery who check their living wills and pack and check their life insurance programs, but do not spend a good deal of time talking with God in prayer!
The next time you have a significant event looming in your life, set aside some prayer time with your Heavenly Father. With your next big decision, direct your steps by first taking time to pray in quiet with the Lord. If Jesus considered a long prayer in a quiet place as crucial before making big decisions, I’m sure you will benefit from it as well. Maybe putting a little light from God on your situation will make things a whole lot easier to see!
December 9
“But he [Jesus] replied, “I must preach the Good News of the Kingdom of God in other towns, too, because that is why I was sent.””
(Luke 4:43, NLT)
(Luke 4:43, NLT)
I was sitting with a woman in an outer office of a medical clinic. The specialist was due at any moment. Her husband couldn’t be there. She didn’t want her children to hear the news, especially when it dealt with cancer. Two weeks previous, she had surgery at the hospital to remove a mass in her abdomen. The surgeon said the mass could be precancerous or cancerous. Biopsies had not been able to confirm the prognosis. Finally, the surgeon came in. He immediately walked to her and held her hand. He knelt down and said, “The news is good. There was no cancer in the entire mass. You will not have to go through any treatment. Now, go home and have a good Christmas.” The woman started to tear up, then sob. I walked her to the waiting area, where she immediately fell apart. From the week after Thanksgiving when she had the surgery, she had been holding fear, worry, and so much more inside. It poured out from her in that outer office, complete with many tears. It was a good day for good news.
I have been with people who have received bad news. It often comes with hurt, pain, and so many negatives. From a cancer diagnosis to an affair, from the loss of a job to the death of a child, I have seen the destruction that is caused by bad news. On the other hand, I’ve also seen what good news did to a person. In the case of the woman in the paragraph above, after her good news, she spent weeks seemingly walking on air. Her Christmas was highly memorable. The moments with her family were more precious than ever before. Good news puts the mind at rest, heals the soul, eases the stress, and so much more. Doctors have told me that good news can flood the body with good hormones and healthful chemicals. Bad news usually has the opposite effect.
Today’s scripture is a quote from Jesus about “the Good News of the Kingdom of God” (Luke 4:43). In this verse, Jesus makes clear that He was sent from heaven to preach this “Good News” throughout the land. The reason why many Bibles capitalize the words, “Good News”, is because some translations insert the word “Gospel” instead of Good News. That’s because the word “Gospel” means “Good News”. When Jesus preached the gospel, he was giving good news of God’s Kingdom to all those who would hear. His message from Heaven was that God wanted to save the lost, heal the hurting, and bring good news to the poor (See Luke 7:22). The message of the New Testament Gospel was that God wanted to reach out to Israel and beyond. God wanted to bring the healing and joyful news of forgiveness and grace, love and hope, to all creation. It doesn’t matter if you were lost or poor, sick or alone, who your parents were or how you have failed, God wants a relationship with you. God wants to be a part of your life. God wants to bring joy to your soul and peace to your heart. That’s good news!
So, if Jesus was sent to bring good news to the world, why do so many people view the gospel or church or faith as such a negative thing? The gospel message was meant to be a saving grace not a downer. It was meant to bring people to a peaceful place, not to sadness and self-deprecation. The good news for you today is that God loves you dearly. God wants you to feel whole. Your faith should be uplifting and joyful. Your time with God should be the height of your day. Sadly, many Christians have forgotten the “good news” of Jesus. Some focus more on church rules or tradition than on the saving grace of God. Some worship services seem more like funerals than celebrations. I hope your life is constantly blessed by the good news of the grace of God!
Harry Emerson Fosdick once wrote that “people have themselves enough religion to make themselves miserable”. You see, religious traditions often make people miserable. Catholic and Protestant religions caused wars in Ireland and France, England and many other places. Many religious practices were often man-made inventions that would not bring peace to the soul. The good news of the gospel, however, was meant to do just the opposite. A true relationship with God should be uplifting and powerful, not soulless and defeating.
Recently, I spoke to a Roman Catholic woman about her faith. I asked her what brings her the most joy in her church life. Her response was shockingly dreadful: “I don’t think I would characterize anything about my Catholic faith as joyful.” From her response, it seems to me that her faith is caught in a rut. The service of the mass is mere ritual. The sermons have become moralizing to her. Her view of faith is more obligatory than hopeful. I fear she is not experiencing the “good news” of the gospel.
There are many Christians who practice a boring, sad, negative, and ritualistic form of Christianity. Jesus never wanted this to be the crux of the gospel. Where the gospel was meant to be good news, religion and the secular world have watered-down and destroyed the purpose of Jesus’ life. If you want to know if your faith is “the real deal”, there is a test you can give yourself. If your faith in God is born of ritual and obligation, it is probably religion. If your faith in God is all about the good news of salvation and the freeing grace of God in Christ, chances are your belief is the uplifting and powerful force God meant it to be.
How much good news is in your relationship with God lately? When was the last time the good news of the gospel brought you to joyful tears?
I have been with people who have received bad news. It often comes with hurt, pain, and so many negatives. From a cancer diagnosis to an affair, from the loss of a job to the death of a child, I have seen the destruction that is caused by bad news. On the other hand, I’ve also seen what good news did to a person. In the case of the woman in the paragraph above, after her good news, she spent weeks seemingly walking on air. Her Christmas was highly memorable. The moments with her family were more precious than ever before. Good news puts the mind at rest, heals the soul, eases the stress, and so much more. Doctors have told me that good news can flood the body with good hormones and healthful chemicals. Bad news usually has the opposite effect.
Today’s scripture is a quote from Jesus about “the Good News of the Kingdom of God” (Luke 4:43). In this verse, Jesus makes clear that He was sent from heaven to preach this “Good News” throughout the land. The reason why many Bibles capitalize the words, “Good News”, is because some translations insert the word “Gospel” instead of Good News. That’s because the word “Gospel” means “Good News”. When Jesus preached the gospel, he was giving good news of God’s Kingdom to all those who would hear. His message from Heaven was that God wanted to save the lost, heal the hurting, and bring good news to the poor (See Luke 7:22). The message of the New Testament Gospel was that God wanted to reach out to Israel and beyond. God wanted to bring the healing and joyful news of forgiveness and grace, love and hope, to all creation. It doesn’t matter if you were lost or poor, sick or alone, who your parents were or how you have failed, God wants a relationship with you. God wants to be a part of your life. God wants to bring joy to your soul and peace to your heart. That’s good news!
So, if Jesus was sent to bring good news to the world, why do so many people view the gospel or church or faith as such a negative thing? The gospel message was meant to be a saving grace not a downer. It was meant to bring people to a peaceful place, not to sadness and self-deprecation. The good news for you today is that God loves you dearly. God wants you to feel whole. Your faith should be uplifting and joyful. Your time with God should be the height of your day. Sadly, many Christians have forgotten the “good news” of Jesus. Some focus more on church rules or tradition than on the saving grace of God. Some worship services seem more like funerals than celebrations. I hope your life is constantly blessed by the good news of the grace of God!
Harry Emerson Fosdick once wrote that “people have themselves enough religion to make themselves miserable”. You see, religious traditions often make people miserable. Catholic and Protestant religions caused wars in Ireland and France, England and many other places. Many religious practices were often man-made inventions that would not bring peace to the soul. The good news of the gospel, however, was meant to do just the opposite. A true relationship with God should be uplifting and powerful, not soulless and defeating.
Recently, I spoke to a Roman Catholic woman about her faith. I asked her what brings her the most joy in her church life. Her response was shockingly dreadful: “I don’t think I would characterize anything about my Catholic faith as joyful.” From her response, it seems to me that her faith is caught in a rut. The service of the mass is mere ritual. The sermons have become moralizing to her. Her view of faith is more obligatory than hopeful. I fear she is not experiencing the “good news” of the gospel.
There are many Christians who practice a boring, sad, negative, and ritualistic form of Christianity. Jesus never wanted this to be the crux of the gospel. Where the gospel was meant to be good news, religion and the secular world have watered-down and destroyed the purpose of Jesus’ life. If you want to know if your faith is “the real deal”, there is a test you can give yourself. If your faith in God is born of ritual and obligation, it is probably religion. If your faith in God is all about the good news of salvation and the freeing grace of God in Christ, chances are your belief is the uplifting and powerful force God meant it to be.
How much good news is in your relationship with God lately? When was the last time the good news of the gospel brought you to joyful tears?
December 11
“No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.” (John 15:15, ESV)
C. Raymond Beran wrote the following explanation of a friend. “What is a friend? Friends are people with whom you dare to be yourself. Your soul can be naked with them. They ask you to put on nothing, only to be what you are. You do not have to be on your guard. You can say what you think, as long as it is genuinely you. Friends understand those contradictions in your nature that lead others to misjudge you. With them you breathe freely. You can avow your little vanities and envies and hates and vicious sparks, your meannesses and absurdities, and in opening them up to friends, they are lost, dissolved on the white ocean of their loyalty. They understand. You do not have to be careful. They like you. They are like fire that purges to the bone. They understand. You can weep with them, sing with them, laugh with them, pray with them. Through it all--and underneath--they see, know, and love you. A friend? What is a friend? Just one, I repeat, with whom you dare to be yourself.” (“Bits and Pieces”, September 19, 1991, pp. 3-4)
I never really thought of a friend as someone “with whom you dare to be yourself”, but it is essentially an honest definition. Did you know that Jesus considered His disciples to be His friends? Our scripture for today reaffirms this truth. However, the scripture for today also explains why Jesus considered the disciples as friends. Not only could Jesus be Himself around them, they also could be real around Him. Why? They accepted Him for who He was. They loved Him.
In John 15:15, Jesus said that the disciples were no longer His servants. He was no longer going to be their “master” only. Jesus said, “I have called you friends…”. What changed in the relationship between Jesus and the disciples to make them friends? That is also explained in John 15:15. Jesus explained that what He heard from God the Father, he “made known” to the disciples. For Jesus, a friend was not a person who just knew Him. A friend was someone who understood what Jesus was doing, His purpose, His mission. It was someone who understood Jesus’ relationship with God the Father. It was someone who understood the reasons behind Jesus’ ministry. It was a person who made a conscious decision and dared to accept Jesus’ mission and ministry from God the Father.
Are you a friend to Jesus? Have you allowed Jesus to “make known” His mission and ministry? Do you have a real relationship with Jesus, or just know about Him. It is different to know about someone and to know someone personally.
C. Raymond Beran defined a true friend as one “with whom you dare to be yourself”. Would your relationship with God be so defined? Do you dare to be yourself with God? Are you honest with God? Do you share your intimate secrets with the Almighty, opening your soul and allowing for mutual trust? Do you know about God, or do you have a relationship with God? It makes a big difference.
I hope some day you can claim a friendship with Jesus. I don’t want Jesus to only be master of your world. I pray you take the next step in your relationship and dare to be yourself with the Almighty. That takes deep commitment and trust. Are you up to it?
I never really thought of a friend as someone “with whom you dare to be yourself”, but it is essentially an honest definition. Did you know that Jesus considered His disciples to be His friends? Our scripture for today reaffirms this truth. However, the scripture for today also explains why Jesus considered the disciples as friends. Not only could Jesus be Himself around them, they also could be real around Him. Why? They accepted Him for who He was. They loved Him.
In John 15:15, Jesus said that the disciples were no longer His servants. He was no longer going to be their “master” only. Jesus said, “I have called you friends…”. What changed in the relationship between Jesus and the disciples to make them friends? That is also explained in John 15:15. Jesus explained that what He heard from God the Father, he “made known” to the disciples. For Jesus, a friend was not a person who just knew Him. A friend was someone who understood what Jesus was doing, His purpose, His mission. It was someone who understood Jesus’ relationship with God the Father. It was someone who understood the reasons behind Jesus’ ministry. It was a person who made a conscious decision and dared to accept Jesus’ mission and ministry from God the Father.
Are you a friend to Jesus? Have you allowed Jesus to “make known” His mission and ministry? Do you have a real relationship with Jesus, or just know about Him. It is different to know about someone and to know someone personally.
C. Raymond Beran defined a true friend as one “with whom you dare to be yourself”. Would your relationship with God be so defined? Do you dare to be yourself with God? Are you honest with God? Do you share your intimate secrets with the Almighty, opening your soul and allowing for mutual trust? Do you know about God, or do you have a relationship with God? It makes a big difference.
I hope some day you can claim a friendship with Jesus. I don’t want Jesus to only be master of your world. I pray you take the next step in your relationship and dare to be yourself with the Almighty. That takes deep commitment and trust. Are you up to it?
December 13
“Two of the men who had explored the land, Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, tore their clothing. They said to all the people of Israel, “The land we traveled through and explored is a wonderful land! And if the Lord is pleased with us, he will bring us safely into that land and give it to us… Do not rebel against the Lord, and don’t be afraid of the people of the land…” But the whole community began to talk about stoning Joshua and Caleb.” (Numbers 14:6–10, NLT)
“In 1844 a medical doctor named Ignas Phillip Semmelweis, who was assistant director at the Vienna Maternity Hospital, suggested to the doctors that the high rate of death of patients and new babies was due to the fact that the doctors attending them were carrying infections from the diseased and dead people whom they had previously touched. Semmelweis ordered doctors to wash their hands with soap and water and rinse them in a strong chemical before examining their patients. He tried to get doctors to wear clean clothes and he battled for clean wards. However, the majority of doctors disagreed with Semmelweis and they deliberately disobeyed his orders. In the late nineteenth century, on the basis of the work by Semmelweis, Joseph Lister began soaking surgery instruments, the operating table, his hands, and the patients with carbolic acid. The results were astonishing. What was previously risky surgery thereafter became routine. However, the majority of doctors criticized his work also. Today we know that Lister and Semmelweis were right; the majority of doctors in their day were wrong. Just because the majority believe one thing does not necessarily mean it is true.” (Sermonillustrations.com)
The scripture for today from the book of Numbers reaffirms that a majority of people, even God-fearing people, can indeed be wrong. Their faith can be misguided. Their insights about God may be incorrect. It is very important that you never follow the crowd in your walk with God. At times, that crowd could be going against God’s will. Joshua and Caleb were great warriors in the time of Moses. They were strong and faithful leaders. They were sent ahead to scout out the promised land. Despite that fact that a majority of the other scouts suggested that Israel back away from taking over the promised land, Joshua and Caleb believed God would help them to take the Promised Land for their own. It was “a wonderful land”, filled with blessing (Numbers 14:7). The Lord God wished the people of Israel to settle in that land. To fail to take over the land would be to “rebel against the Lord” (Numbers 14:9). Rather than listening to these two faithful warriors, the people of Israel followed the majority. They did not trust God’s provenance. They even went so far as to advocate stoning Joshua and Caleb (Numbers 14:10).
It is never easy to go against a crowd. It is also tempting to follow along with the people around you. Joshua and Caleb knew that the Lord God desired the people of Israel to settle in the Promised Land. The majority of the Israelites believed the land of Canaan was too fraught with dangers. The majority listened to their fears and ten of the twelve scouts. They considered stoning Joshua and Caleb, who went against the opinion of the majority. For their sin, that majority of the people of Israel died in the wilderness. God preserved the lives of Joshua and Caleb and allowed them to settle in the Promised Land.
When you go against a majority of people in any situation, it can be hazardous. Even people of faith can become critical and even cruel when the majority goes against the will of God. It is important that no matter what the majority of others believe that you learn to follow the will of God. It may be unpopular or even dangerous at times, but it is crucial for your faith.
God blessed Joshua and Caleb for their faith. God punished the majority who thought they were right. To God, it doesn’t matter if you are in the majority or minority. What matters to God is true faith and a deep commitment to God’s plan and word. All else is secondary.
If you decide to go along with the powers that be in your life, just know that may place you at times opposition to God. Make sure you always look to God to figure which road you take and which side you will be on.
The scripture for today from the book of Numbers reaffirms that a majority of people, even God-fearing people, can indeed be wrong. Their faith can be misguided. Their insights about God may be incorrect. It is very important that you never follow the crowd in your walk with God. At times, that crowd could be going against God’s will. Joshua and Caleb were great warriors in the time of Moses. They were strong and faithful leaders. They were sent ahead to scout out the promised land. Despite that fact that a majority of the other scouts suggested that Israel back away from taking over the promised land, Joshua and Caleb believed God would help them to take the Promised Land for their own. It was “a wonderful land”, filled with blessing (Numbers 14:7). The Lord God wished the people of Israel to settle in that land. To fail to take over the land would be to “rebel against the Lord” (Numbers 14:9). Rather than listening to these two faithful warriors, the people of Israel followed the majority. They did not trust God’s provenance. They even went so far as to advocate stoning Joshua and Caleb (Numbers 14:10).
It is never easy to go against a crowd. It is also tempting to follow along with the people around you. Joshua and Caleb knew that the Lord God desired the people of Israel to settle in the Promised Land. The majority of the Israelites believed the land of Canaan was too fraught with dangers. The majority listened to their fears and ten of the twelve scouts. They considered stoning Joshua and Caleb, who went against the opinion of the majority. For their sin, that majority of the people of Israel died in the wilderness. God preserved the lives of Joshua and Caleb and allowed them to settle in the Promised Land.
When you go against a majority of people in any situation, it can be hazardous. Even people of faith can become critical and even cruel when the majority goes against the will of God. It is important that no matter what the majority of others believe that you learn to follow the will of God. It may be unpopular or even dangerous at times, but it is crucial for your faith.
God blessed Joshua and Caleb for their faith. God punished the majority who thought they were right. To God, it doesn’t matter if you are in the majority or minority. What matters to God is true faith and a deep commitment to God’s plan and word. All else is secondary.
If you decide to go along with the powers that be in your life, just know that may place you at times opposition to God. Make sure you always look to God to figure which road you take and which side you will be on.
December 15
“Say to them, ‘This is the nation whose people will not obey the Lord their God and who refuse to be taught. Truth has vanished from among them; it is no longer heard on their lips.” (Jeremiah 7:28, NLT)
“For centuries people believed that Aristotle was right when he said that the heavier an object, the faster it would fall to earth. Aristotle was regarded as the greatest thinker of all time, and surely he would not be wrong.
Anyone, of course, could have taken two objects, one heavy and one light, and dropped them from a great height to see whether or not the heavier object landed first. But no one did until nearly 2,000 years after Aristotle's death. In 1589 Galileo summoned learned professors to the base of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Then he went to the top and pushed off a ten- pound and a one-pound weight. Both landed at the same instant. The power of belief was so strong, however, that the professors denied their eyesight. They continued to say Aristotle was right.” (“Bits and Pieces, January 9, 1992, pp. 22-23).
Human beings can see the truth before their eyes but still deny it. The truth can be exhibited beyond a doubt, and still they will not believe. Some of the greatest scientific discoveries were once denied as lies. When planes first flew, many denied the stories as tales. When jets first flew the skies, world leaders had to be convinced of their existence. Truth can be so difficult for some people to believe. Especially, the truth about God.
A man I know asked for prayers for healing. When his cancer disappeared overnight, he refused to believe God had any part in the miracle. When wisemen following a star came to ask Herod for directions to the newborn Christ, Herod didn’t believe the news. To hedge his bets, though, he asked the wisemen to inform him if the story predicted by prophets had come to pass (Matthew 2). I could give you thousands of stories from history and my own life of God’s actions in our world. In many of those situations, there were people who refused to believe God had any part. They refused to believe the truth of what had happened.
I have also found that the more people trust and believe in human reason and human justifications, the more they are not willing to believe in God. Even when God does a miracle, they will not believe it. They refuse to believe God is active in our universe. They will search high and low for an explanation, but only if it doesn’t involve God.
Recently, Egyptian chariot wheels were found in the Red Sea. In the book of Exodus, it tells that Pharaoh’s chariots and armies were drowned in the Red Sea when they pursued the Israelites (Exodus 14). Rather than accept that the Exodus story was true, several scientists claimed that the chariot wheels must have fallen off an Egyptian barge! Even though there is no proof for this, the scientists adamantly oppose the truth behind the story in Exodus.
In the scripture chosen for today from Jeremiah 7, the prophet Jeremiah is told to chastise the people of Israel for their sin. God informed Jeremiah that despite God’s continued provision, the people of Israel “would not obey the Lord their God”. They “refused to be taught” about God’s deeds. What comes next in the scripture is interesting. When the people of Israel rejected God, “truth vanished from among them”. The people ended up lying to themselves and others. I have found this to be true throughout history. When people rejected God, lies became normal. The truth was denied, hidden, or twisted. Even today, science is often twisted for political purposes or hidden agendas. While science should deal with facts and truth, facts are subjected to opinions, findings are manipulated to match a particular point of view. This didn’t only happen to Galileo. This happens in many places even today. It might happen with you.
At some time in your life, you may deny or reject the truth. How well do you deal with the truth when it bumps up against your reality? Are you quick to deny the truth about another person because of your own bias? When someone tells you the truth, are you apt to fight it rather than listen? Consider well the warning from the prophet Jeremiah in the scripture for today. Don’t let God’s truth disappear from your world. Fight for it. Otherwise, lies will reign supreme.
Anyone, of course, could have taken two objects, one heavy and one light, and dropped them from a great height to see whether or not the heavier object landed first. But no one did until nearly 2,000 years after Aristotle's death. In 1589 Galileo summoned learned professors to the base of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Then he went to the top and pushed off a ten- pound and a one-pound weight. Both landed at the same instant. The power of belief was so strong, however, that the professors denied their eyesight. They continued to say Aristotle was right.” (“Bits and Pieces, January 9, 1992, pp. 22-23).
Human beings can see the truth before their eyes but still deny it. The truth can be exhibited beyond a doubt, and still they will not believe. Some of the greatest scientific discoveries were once denied as lies. When planes first flew, many denied the stories as tales. When jets first flew the skies, world leaders had to be convinced of their existence. Truth can be so difficult for some people to believe. Especially, the truth about God.
A man I know asked for prayers for healing. When his cancer disappeared overnight, he refused to believe God had any part in the miracle. When wisemen following a star came to ask Herod for directions to the newborn Christ, Herod didn’t believe the news. To hedge his bets, though, he asked the wisemen to inform him if the story predicted by prophets had come to pass (Matthew 2). I could give you thousands of stories from history and my own life of God’s actions in our world. In many of those situations, there were people who refused to believe God had any part. They refused to believe the truth of what had happened.
I have also found that the more people trust and believe in human reason and human justifications, the more they are not willing to believe in God. Even when God does a miracle, they will not believe it. They refuse to believe God is active in our universe. They will search high and low for an explanation, but only if it doesn’t involve God.
Recently, Egyptian chariot wheels were found in the Red Sea. In the book of Exodus, it tells that Pharaoh’s chariots and armies were drowned in the Red Sea when they pursued the Israelites (Exodus 14). Rather than accept that the Exodus story was true, several scientists claimed that the chariot wheels must have fallen off an Egyptian barge! Even though there is no proof for this, the scientists adamantly oppose the truth behind the story in Exodus.
In the scripture chosen for today from Jeremiah 7, the prophet Jeremiah is told to chastise the people of Israel for their sin. God informed Jeremiah that despite God’s continued provision, the people of Israel “would not obey the Lord their God”. They “refused to be taught” about God’s deeds. What comes next in the scripture is interesting. When the people of Israel rejected God, “truth vanished from among them”. The people ended up lying to themselves and others. I have found this to be true throughout history. When people rejected God, lies became normal. The truth was denied, hidden, or twisted. Even today, science is often twisted for political purposes or hidden agendas. While science should deal with facts and truth, facts are subjected to opinions, findings are manipulated to match a particular point of view. This didn’t only happen to Galileo. This happens in many places even today. It might happen with you.
At some time in your life, you may deny or reject the truth. How well do you deal with the truth when it bumps up against your reality? Are you quick to deny the truth about another person because of your own bias? When someone tells you the truth, are you apt to fight it rather than listen? Consider well the warning from the prophet Jeremiah in the scripture for today. Don’t let God’s truth disappear from your world. Fight for it. Otherwise, lies will reign supreme.
December 17
“For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope.”
(Jeremiah 29:11, NRSV)
(Jeremiah 29:11, NRSV)
Recently, I read about promises that God gives in scripture from 10,000 Sermon Illustrations. I have included these for you to check out. These promises from God include:
1. God’s presence—Heb. 13:5
2. God’s protection—Gen 15:1
3. God’s power—Isa 41:10
4. God’s provision—Isa 41:10
5. God’s leading—John 10:4
6. God’s purposes—Jer. 29:11
7. God’s rest—Matt. 11:28
8. God’s cleansing—I John 1:9
9. God’s goodness—Psalm 84:11
10. God’s faithfulness—I Sam. 12:22
11. God’s guidance—Psalm 25:9
12. God’s wise plan—Rom. 8:28
For today, let’s focus on Promise #6 in the list from above. It notes that God’s promises are based on God’s purpose for you. At first this seems unclear, until you delve into the scripture from Jeremiah also listed. From Jeremiah 29:11, we are told by the prophet that God “surely” has “plans for your welfare and not for harm”. These plans give you “a future” and “hope”. Did you know that God has “plans” or “purposes” for your life? Did you know that you were brought into this world under a plan of God? Have you figured out yet what God’s plan has been?
Jordan was born to a very dysfunctional family. Her mother most certainly had psychological problems that went undiagnosed. These problems caused Jordan’s mother to be depressed, moody, overbearing, and heavy-handed with her children. To cope, Jordan often hid in her room or found activities to occupy her time outside the home. Jordan also sought out boys in her teen years. She used sex and drinking to distract her from her terrible home life. This led Jordan to make some big mistakes in her life. She got pregnant at a young age, was married and divorced within a couple of years, and then she bounced from dead end job to dead end job. When she was thirty-two, Jordan realized that she was turning into her mother. Jordan decided it was time to find a purpose for her life, a real purpose with meaning.
A Christian friend urged Jordan to visit her church. There, Jordan felt a spiritual warmth that felt “right”. She began to attend adult Bible classes. She joined a few groups in her church, but especially enjoyed a small group that did mission projects coinciding with their themed Bible Studies. Jordan found that she loved helping others. She enjoyed the comradery of friends who banded together to help others through mission. Jordan had found a place and purpose for her life.
If you talk to Jordan now, twenty years later, she will share with you something very telling. I have written down for you what she told me: “My life growing up was filled with no real home. My family was so messed up that I just didn’t feel like staying home. I floated through life, never really finding my place in it. I tried alcohol when young. I tried drugs in my late teen years. I tried sex from the age of fourteen. But I never felt like I belonged anywhere. Nothing ever gave me “peace”. Then, God found me. Now, I have a church home that brings me joy. My faithful friends keep me centered. I also look forward to my Heavenly home. That is where my heart really resides. God is my real Father. Jesus is my Savior. My soul is no longer thirsty for something. My missions give my life meaning. Most days I think that I was created to be a missionary to needy people in my hometown. Isn’t that crazy? Me, a missionary!”
It is a beautiful thing when a person finds their God-given purpose and meaning for life. It brought tears to my eyes to meet Jordan and hear her story. I hope you can “surely know” God’s purpose and plans for your life. Knowing that calling and following through on it will be the two most important parts of your life's journey. Seeking it is extremely meaningful. Keeping close to God throughout will bring you “a future with hope” and a peace with God that is greater than anything you can imagine without it (Philippians 4:7).
1. God’s presence—Heb. 13:5
2. God’s protection—Gen 15:1
3. God’s power—Isa 41:10
4. God’s provision—Isa 41:10
5. God’s leading—John 10:4
6. God’s purposes—Jer. 29:11
7. God’s rest—Matt. 11:28
8. God’s cleansing—I John 1:9
9. God’s goodness—Psalm 84:11
10. God’s faithfulness—I Sam. 12:22
11. God’s guidance—Psalm 25:9
12. God’s wise plan—Rom. 8:28
For today, let’s focus on Promise #6 in the list from above. It notes that God’s promises are based on God’s purpose for you. At first this seems unclear, until you delve into the scripture from Jeremiah also listed. From Jeremiah 29:11, we are told by the prophet that God “surely” has “plans for your welfare and not for harm”. These plans give you “a future” and “hope”. Did you know that God has “plans” or “purposes” for your life? Did you know that you were brought into this world under a plan of God? Have you figured out yet what God’s plan has been?
Jordan was born to a very dysfunctional family. Her mother most certainly had psychological problems that went undiagnosed. These problems caused Jordan’s mother to be depressed, moody, overbearing, and heavy-handed with her children. To cope, Jordan often hid in her room or found activities to occupy her time outside the home. Jordan also sought out boys in her teen years. She used sex and drinking to distract her from her terrible home life. This led Jordan to make some big mistakes in her life. She got pregnant at a young age, was married and divorced within a couple of years, and then she bounced from dead end job to dead end job. When she was thirty-two, Jordan realized that she was turning into her mother. Jordan decided it was time to find a purpose for her life, a real purpose with meaning.
A Christian friend urged Jordan to visit her church. There, Jordan felt a spiritual warmth that felt “right”. She began to attend adult Bible classes. She joined a few groups in her church, but especially enjoyed a small group that did mission projects coinciding with their themed Bible Studies. Jordan found that she loved helping others. She enjoyed the comradery of friends who banded together to help others through mission. Jordan had found a place and purpose for her life.
If you talk to Jordan now, twenty years later, she will share with you something very telling. I have written down for you what she told me: “My life growing up was filled with no real home. My family was so messed up that I just didn’t feel like staying home. I floated through life, never really finding my place in it. I tried alcohol when young. I tried drugs in my late teen years. I tried sex from the age of fourteen. But I never felt like I belonged anywhere. Nothing ever gave me “peace”. Then, God found me. Now, I have a church home that brings me joy. My faithful friends keep me centered. I also look forward to my Heavenly home. That is where my heart really resides. God is my real Father. Jesus is my Savior. My soul is no longer thirsty for something. My missions give my life meaning. Most days I think that I was created to be a missionary to needy people in my hometown. Isn’t that crazy? Me, a missionary!”
It is a beautiful thing when a person finds their God-given purpose and meaning for life. It brought tears to my eyes to meet Jordan and hear her story. I hope you can “surely know” God’s purpose and plans for your life. Knowing that calling and following through on it will be the two most important parts of your life's journey. Seeking it is extremely meaningful. Keeping close to God throughout will bring you “a future with hope” and a peace with God that is greater than anything you can imagine without it (Philippians 4:7).
December 19
“...throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception.” (Ephesians 4:22, NLT)
“What happened to the great city of Ephesus? Often mentioned in the New Testament, it was one of the cultural and commercial centers of its day. Located at the mouth of the Cayster River, it was noted for its bustling harbors, its broad avenues, its gymnasiums, its baths, its huge amphitheater, and especially its magnificent Temple of Diana. What happened to bring about its gradual decline until its harbor was no longer crowded with ships and the city was no longer a flourishing metropolis?
Was it smitten by plagues, destroyed by enemies, or demolished by earthquakes? No, silt was the reason for its downfall—silent and non-violent silt. Over the years, fine sedimentary particles slowly filled up the harbor, separating the city from the economic life of the sea traders.
Little evil practices, little acts of disobedience may seem harmless. But let the silt of sin gradually accumulate, and we will find ourselves far from God. Life will become a spiritual ruin. In the book of Hebrews, we are warned of the danger of “the deceitfulness of sin” (3:13). James said that the attractive pleasures of sin are really a mask covering death (1:15). God forbid that we let the silt of sin accumulate in our lives! – VCG” (Our Daily Bread, September 24, 1998)
Just as silt can build up in a septic system or river slowly, but over time can ruin the septic system or river flow, sin can over time seep in and slowly destroy a good soul. Sin can creep in a life so gradually, that it can day by day twist one’s thoughts and corrupt one’s view of life. The soul slowly pulls away from God. Throughout this process, the person slowly retreats from true faith.
One church I was called to preach at was mired in controversy. To make themselves look good in the community and to other churches, they never cleaned out their rolls. Even when a member had not attended in twenty years, they were still kept on the rolls of the church as an active member. When it came time to hire a new Pastor, the congregation claimed they had a membership of over five hundred members. It sounded impressive, until you looked at their attendance on Sunday. It was a paltry sixty people on average. Slowly, over the years, that congregation kept people on the membership rolls to make others think they were a large and popular church. However, it was all a facade. The truth was that they were lying to themselves about their real membership and health. They were a dying church but refused to believe it.
Over time, small incremental changes can bring about good things in a believer’s life. If you take small steps closer to God, over time you will find your connection with God ever stronger. However, if you allow yourself to do deceitful little sinful practices, this can slowly erode your relationship with God.
In the Christian movie, “Flywheel”, the erosion of a Christian life is given clear explanation. This movie details the life of a Christian man who enjoys selling cars at a dealership. His little deceitful practices with customers in order to make a buck were eating away at his soul. After a real conviction, he decided to change the way his dealership operates. It’s a great movie that emphasizes the danger of little deceitful practices and how they can erode a relationship with God.
Ephesians 4:22 urges the true believer to “throw off” any old sinful practice. If not, it will lead to deception. It will lead to lust. It will lead to corruption. The Greek word for corruption here implies a moral degradation over time. Corruption usually doesn’t occur quickly. It is a gradual decline in morality or spiritual purity. Like the silt of a river can clog the waterway, corruption can slowly block your spiritual joy. It can choke your enjoyment in life. It can slowly erode your peace.
Are there little lies you tell yourself or others? Are there little indulgences that you afford yourself about which God is not happy? Are there little wrongs that you do often enough that you have become immune to their effect on your spiritual life? Don’t let sin erode your love for God. Don’t let spiritual silt clog up your soul. A cleansing of your soul may be needed if the silt of something unhealthy has clogged your spiritual connection with God.
Was it smitten by plagues, destroyed by enemies, or demolished by earthquakes? No, silt was the reason for its downfall—silent and non-violent silt. Over the years, fine sedimentary particles slowly filled up the harbor, separating the city from the economic life of the sea traders.
Little evil practices, little acts of disobedience may seem harmless. But let the silt of sin gradually accumulate, and we will find ourselves far from God. Life will become a spiritual ruin. In the book of Hebrews, we are warned of the danger of “the deceitfulness of sin” (3:13). James said that the attractive pleasures of sin are really a mask covering death (1:15). God forbid that we let the silt of sin accumulate in our lives! – VCG” (Our Daily Bread, September 24, 1998)
Just as silt can build up in a septic system or river slowly, but over time can ruin the septic system or river flow, sin can over time seep in and slowly destroy a good soul. Sin can creep in a life so gradually, that it can day by day twist one’s thoughts and corrupt one’s view of life. The soul slowly pulls away from God. Throughout this process, the person slowly retreats from true faith.
One church I was called to preach at was mired in controversy. To make themselves look good in the community and to other churches, they never cleaned out their rolls. Even when a member had not attended in twenty years, they were still kept on the rolls of the church as an active member. When it came time to hire a new Pastor, the congregation claimed they had a membership of over five hundred members. It sounded impressive, until you looked at their attendance on Sunday. It was a paltry sixty people on average. Slowly, over the years, that congregation kept people on the membership rolls to make others think they were a large and popular church. However, it was all a facade. The truth was that they were lying to themselves about their real membership and health. They were a dying church but refused to believe it.
Over time, small incremental changes can bring about good things in a believer’s life. If you take small steps closer to God, over time you will find your connection with God ever stronger. However, if you allow yourself to do deceitful little sinful practices, this can slowly erode your relationship with God.
In the Christian movie, “Flywheel”, the erosion of a Christian life is given clear explanation. This movie details the life of a Christian man who enjoys selling cars at a dealership. His little deceitful practices with customers in order to make a buck were eating away at his soul. After a real conviction, he decided to change the way his dealership operates. It’s a great movie that emphasizes the danger of little deceitful practices and how they can erode a relationship with God.
Ephesians 4:22 urges the true believer to “throw off” any old sinful practice. If not, it will lead to deception. It will lead to lust. It will lead to corruption. The Greek word for corruption here implies a moral degradation over time. Corruption usually doesn’t occur quickly. It is a gradual decline in morality or spiritual purity. Like the silt of a river can clog the waterway, corruption can slowly block your spiritual joy. It can choke your enjoyment in life. It can slowly erode your peace.
Are there little lies you tell yourself or others? Are there little indulgences that you afford yourself about which God is not happy? Are there little wrongs that you do often enough that you have become immune to their effect on your spiritual life? Don’t let sin erode your love for God. Don’t let spiritual silt clog up your soul. A cleansing of your soul may be needed if the silt of something unhealthy has clogged your spiritual connection with God.
December 21
“For it is not an enemy who taunts me— then I could bear it; it is not an adversary who deals insolently with me— then I could hide from him. But it is you, a man, my equal, my companion, my familiar friend. We used to take sweet counsel together; within God’s house we walked in the throng.” (Psalm 55:12–14, ESV)
"Despite the mind-numbing brutality of the Joseph Stalin regime in the Soviet Union, his propaganda machine did its job well. Many Russians hailed him as a hero and a savior, including a young schoolgirl who was chosen to greet Stalin on one occasion.
Years later, this woman recalled Stalin taking her onto his lap, smiling like a loving father. She was starry-eyed, and she cherished the moment for many years. Only later did she learn that during this period, Stalin had her parents arrested and sent to the labor camps, never to be seen again." (Today in the Word, October, 1997, p. 36.)
As you read the story of Stalin and the young schoolgirl, you might think to yourself how cruelty is a scourge in our world. You might frown upon reflecting at the outcome of the story. A part of you will probably discuss within your heart the evils of a communist/socialist dictatorship. However, I want to steer you in another direction because of the scripture for today. Among Christians today, are there many dangerous individuals with smiles on their faces who inwardly plot and scheme and do their own form of propaganda?
In the days when Jesus was born, King Herod ruled Israel. He was a Jewish leader, familiar with faith issues and God’s law. However, Herod also contained within his own heart a desire to politically control his own people. He kept control in the land with an iron fist, determined to tamp down any opposition. When the Wise men inquired about the birth of a Messiah in Herod’s kingdom, I’m sure he saw it as a threat. While this faithful man seemed faithfully engaged when speaking to the Wise men, inwardly he was determined to kill the Messiah. He didn’t want any challenges to his throne. You might think this religious man would no do such a thing as murder children he perceived as a threat to the throne (Matthew 2:16). Then, you’d be wrong. Thankfully, Jesus’ family was warned to flee from Herod’s domain before the killing started. God protected the Christ child.
Within every Christian is the capability to do evil, to have evil thoughts, to desire to destroy any opposition. God gives us the will to choose between good and evil. Sadly, some very religious people choose to do evil instead of good. Some of these people may appear kind or even helpful on the outside. They may have a smile or friendly demeanor. Don’t let that fool you. Some Christians have alternate motives that have overridden their faith. They use faith like a tool, but really live with the desire to have power or fame or wealth or control. Faith in God doesn’t come first. Their own personal lusts and desires and insecurities are their chief motivations, hidden behind a veil of smiles and good wishes.
While having the Passover meal with Jesus, Judas was already plotting to turn Jesus over to the authorities. Despite promising to be “faithful unto death”, Peter had the capability to deny Jesus three times. Within every faithful person is that hidden side that can be prone to sin. While you may have some amount of control over that evil urge within yourself, there may be others in your church or who are close to you who are under the influence of evil thoughts. Psalm 55:12-14 speaks to the backstabber among the faithful. When David penned these words, he was reflecting on a faithful friend who had “dealt insolently” with David, who had done dirty deeds. In this case, it was not an enemy who had turned upon David, it was a friend; “a familiar friend”. It was someone who helped David in the past(v. 14). It was someone who walked beside David “within God’s house”. It was a person who was supposed to be faithful but was not.
Realize that just because a person goes to church, that doesn’t make that person trustworthy. Though a person may speak religious words or act in a warm and friendly manner, that doesn’t mean the person is going to act faithfully toward you. Some of the same people who might sing your praises might be the ones who stab you in the back later. Pick your friends carefully. Let God’s Spirit help you see through to a friend’s true heart. Just because a person says he or she is faithful does not mean he or she is right before God.
At a special occasion for church leaders, I was introduced to a few new friends. Since the event was supposed to be for those who were active Christian counselors, I figured the group would be filled with people who were God-fearing and faithful above reproach. As a good friend introduced me to one woman, I got this terrible feeling in my heart. God was warning me about her. After a few moments, I approached me friend and said, “Tell me about this woman”. He told me how she was very active in her church and in the local pastor’s group. She was a counselor and among his closest friends. I told him what God was telling me, but he said she was totally trustworthy and very active in missionary work.
Six months later, my friend approached me with news. That very woman from the party had seduced and run away with another Christian counselor. The man was divorcing his wife and leaving his children to “run away” with this woman. Since that night when I warned him, my friend kept his eye on her. He too had felt God telling him something was wrong, though he could not ever put a finger on what was amiss. The woman had asked to meet with my friend privately after the event. He never did meet with her because of my warning.
Like the Wise men and Jesus’ family were warned about scheming Herod, sometimes God will warn you about someone who is supposed to be faithful but is not. Every church has those people who act religious but are no where near righteous. Be careful with whom you place your trust for very important aspects of your life. Be careful with whom you share your secrets or confessions. Some in the church and maybe in your family are wolves in sheep clothing. Look for God to help you figure out who you can trust and who you cannot. Trust in God to warn you about dangerous situations or people. Always listen carefully to God’s voice . Even when among friends of the faith, you may not always be able to let down your guard.
Years later, this woman recalled Stalin taking her onto his lap, smiling like a loving father. She was starry-eyed, and she cherished the moment for many years. Only later did she learn that during this period, Stalin had her parents arrested and sent to the labor camps, never to be seen again." (Today in the Word, October, 1997, p. 36.)
As you read the story of Stalin and the young schoolgirl, you might think to yourself how cruelty is a scourge in our world. You might frown upon reflecting at the outcome of the story. A part of you will probably discuss within your heart the evils of a communist/socialist dictatorship. However, I want to steer you in another direction because of the scripture for today. Among Christians today, are there many dangerous individuals with smiles on their faces who inwardly plot and scheme and do their own form of propaganda?
In the days when Jesus was born, King Herod ruled Israel. He was a Jewish leader, familiar with faith issues and God’s law. However, Herod also contained within his own heart a desire to politically control his own people. He kept control in the land with an iron fist, determined to tamp down any opposition. When the Wise men inquired about the birth of a Messiah in Herod’s kingdom, I’m sure he saw it as a threat. While this faithful man seemed faithfully engaged when speaking to the Wise men, inwardly he was determined to kill the Messiah. He didn’t want any challenges to his throne. You might think this religious man would no do such a thing as murder children he perceived as a threat to the throne (Matthew 2:16). Then, you’d be wrong. Thankfully, Jesus’ family was warned to flee from Herod’s domain before the killing started. God protected the Christ child.
Within every Christian is the capability to do evil, to have evil thoughts, to desire to destroy any opposition. God gives us the will to choose between good and evil. Sadly, some very religious people choose to do evil instead of good. Some of these people may appear kind or even helpful on the outside. They may have a smile or friendly demeanor. Don’t let that fool you. Some Christians have alternate motives that have overridden their faith. They use faith like a tool, but really live with the desire to have power or fame or wealth or control. Faith in God doesn’t come first. Their own personal lusts and desires and insecurities are their chief motivations, hidden behind a veil of smiles and good wishes.
While having the Passover meal with Jesus, Judas was already plotting to turn Jesus over to the authorities. Despite promising to be “faithful unto death”, Peter had the capability to deny Jesus three times. Within every faithful person is that hidden side that can be prone to sin. While you may have some amount of control over that evil urge within yourself, there may be others in your church or who are close to you who are under the influence of evil thoughts. Psalm 55:12-14 speaks to the backstabber among the faithful. When David penned these words, he was reflecting on a faithful friend who had “dealt insolently” with David, who had done dirty deeds. In this case, it was not an enemy who had turned upon David, it was a friend; “a familiar friend”. It was someone who helped David in the past(v. 14). It was someone who walked beside David “within God’s house”. It was a person who was supposed to be faithful but was not.
Realize that just because a person goes to church, that doesn’t make that person trustworthy. Though a person may speak religious words or act in a warm and friendly manner, that doesn’t mean the person is going to act faithfully toward you. Some of the same people who might sing your praises might be the ones who stab you in the back later. Pick your friends carefully. Let God’s Spirit help you see through to a friend’s true heart. Just because a person says he or she is faithful does not mean he or she is right before God.
At a special occasion for church leaders, I was introduced to a few new friends. Since the event was supposed to be for those who were active Christian counselors, I figured the group would be filled with people who were God-fearing and faithful above reproach. As a good friend introduced me to one woman, I got this terrible feeling in my heart. God was warning me about her. After a few moments, I approached me friend and said, “Tell me about this woman”. He told me how she was very active in her church and in the local pastor’s group. She was a counselor and among his closest friends. I told him what God was telling me, but he said she was totally trustworthy and very active in missionary work.
Six months later, my friend approached me with news. That very woman from the party had seduced and run away with another Christian counselor. The man was divorcing his wife and leaving his children to “run away” with this woman. Since that night when I warned him, my friend kept his eye on her. He too had felt God telling him something was wrong, though he could not ever put a finger on what was amiss. The woman had asked to meet with my friend privately after the event. He never did meet with her because of my warning.
Like the Wise men and Jesus’ family were warned about scheming Herod, sometimes God will warn you about someone who is supposed to be faithful but is not. Every church has those people who act religious but are no where near righteous. Be careful with whom you place your trust for very important aspects of your life. Be careful with whom you share your secrets or confessions. Some in the church and maybe in your family are wolves in sheep clothing. Look for God to help you figure out who you can trust and who you cannot. Trust in God to warn you about dangerous situations or people. Always listen carefully to God’s voice . Even when among friends of the faith, you may not always be able to let down your guard.
December 23
“After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.” When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him.” (Matthew 2:1–3, NIV84)
Migratory birds in the U.S. were tagged by the Department of the Interior with metal strips reading "Wash. Biol. Surv."--for Washington Biological Survey. The code was changed, so the story goes, after a farmer from Arkansas wrote to the department: "Dear Sirs, I shot one of your crows, My wife followed the cooking instructions attached--she washed it, boiled it and served it. It was the worst thing we ever ate." (“Quote” magazine)
This story above illustrates that people sometimes don’t understand what is right in front of them. They might make mistakes in reading, interpreting, or miss some instruction. You might have a friend who is so impatient that he half-listens to what you say. A child in school might mistake a teacher’s meaning due to miscomprehension. My wife, who is hard of hearing, sometimes mistakes one word for another when I’m giving her instructions. She tries to follow what I’m saying but fails at times because she misunderstood what I had to say due to the failure to hear one out of every ten words.
A homeless man was approached by a police officer. The officer seemed friendly to the man, so he smiled and stood up before the officer. Being new to the area, the homeless man was hurting on that cold night and thought maybe the officer knew of some place he could get a bite to eat or a warm place to rest. The officer shook the man’s hand and said, “Get yourself to the Kohl House. It’s too cold tonight.” The homeless man did not know that the name of the nearby homeless shelter was called the Kohl House. He had just migrated into the area. Instead, the homeless man thought the officer said, “Get to the courthouse”. Thinking he was being arrested, the homeless man ran off into the cold night. Later, he was found shaking and half frozen and taken to the hospital. While in the emergency room, the officer visited the man and asked him why he didn’t go to the Kohl House and why he ran off. Only after a brief exchange of information was each able to understand the mistake in communication. The homeless man had suffered for nothing and felt awful about running from the officer who was trying to help.
It occurs more than you know; people misunderstand directions or words or the meaning you intend. Sometimes, you might be aware of the mix-up. Sometimes, you might suffer from it, not even knowing there’s a problem. Please realize that not listening to directions or not comprehending what another is suggesting is the cause of many conflicts in the home, in the church, and in the world.
Even with God, there are sometimes failures to communicate, mistakes in direction, or flaws in understanding. Take for example, our scripture for today. In Matthew 2, we learn of the Magi, who came from a distant country in the east. They were on a journey of discovery, trying to find a king who was newly born. By reading the stars, they saw a foreshadowing of this birth. They “saw his star in the east and had come to worship him…” (Matthew 2:2). While looking for this new king, they happened to visit Herod. They might have assumed that King Herod would know where this next king was to be born. They thought Herod could give them direction. Instead, Herod “was disturbed”. He was upset. Though the Magi were following the stars and divine direction, Herod was oblivious to the birth of a king in his realm. The Magi would receive no good direction from Herod. In fact, Herod urged them to find the child and then report back to him. When God told the Magi this would not be good for the child, they ignored Herod’s direction and followed God’s direction (Matthew 2:12). Because of this, Jesus and His family were saved from the wrath of Herod.
In these three short verses of the Bible, you can see direction and misdirection. The reputable Magi wanted direction to visit the Christ child. The disreputable Herod wanted direction from the Magi as to home of this child so he could kill the child. Herod didn’t follow the directions of scripture and protect the young Messiah. The Magi did follow God’s direction, which ultimately saved the child’s life. Clearly, sinful Herod wasn’t following God’s direction. The Magi heeded God’s direction. Mary and Joseph also heeded God’s direction and fled to Egypt. In so doing, they saved Jesus’ life.
Sometimes, its hard to figure out what God wants. The Magi, though seeing the star in the East, needed help in finding the Christ child. They didn’t know that Herod would kill many children in the hopes of ending Jesus’ life. Sometimes, you are like the Magi. You are not sure of the next step in your life journey. You may seek help from others in your quest. My hope is that you do not take advice from the wrong people. I also hope you trust God’s direction in the process. Those who followed the directions of God in the story for today ended up in the right place at the right time, were driven to safety, and were kept from harm. Those who did not follow God’s direction ended up causing terrible misery to the world.
How well do you listen to directions? Are you one who ignores instruction manuals? How about the Bible? Do you ignore God’s word? When was the last time you asked God for direction? How did that turn out? The scripture for today is a good reminder that those who follow God’s direction may feel lost once in a while, but ultimately, they get where they need to be.
This story above illustrates that people sometimes don’t understand what is right in front of them. They might make mistakes in reading, interpreting, or miss some instruction. You might have a friend who is so impatient that he half-listens to what you say. A child in school might mistake a teacher’s meaning due to miscomprehension. My wife, who is hard of hearing, sometimes mistakes one word for another when I’m giving her instructions. She tries to follow what I’m saying but fails at times because she misunderstood what I had to say due to the failure to hear one out of every ten words.
A homeless man was approached by a police officer. The officer seemed friendly to the man, so he smiled and stood up before the officer. Being new to the area, the homeless man was hurting on that cold night and thought maybe the officer knew of some place he could get a bite to eat or a warm place to rest. The officer shook the man’s hand and said, “Get yourself to the Kohl House. It’s too cold tonight.” The homeless man did not know that the name of the nearby homeless shelter was called the Kohl House. He had just migrated into the area. Instead, the homeless man thought the officer said, “Get to the courthouse”. Thinking he was being arrested, the homeless man ran off into the cold night. Later, he was found shaking and half frozen and taken to the hospital. While in the emergency room, the officer visited the man and asked him why he didn’t go to the Kohl House and why he ran off. Only after a brief exchange of information was each able to understand the mistake in communication. The homeless man had suffered for nothing and felt awful about running from the officer who was trying to help.
It occurs more than you know; people misunderstand directions or words or the meaning you intend. Sometimes, you might be aware of the mix-up. Sometimes, you might suffer from it, not even knowing there’s a problem. Please realize that not listening to directions or not comprehending what another is suggesting is the cause of many conflicts in the home, in the church, and in the world.
Even with God, there are sometimes failures to communicate, mistakes in direction, or flaws in understanding. Take for example, our scripture for today. In Matthew 2, we learn of the Magi, who came from a distant country in the east. They were on a journey of discovery, trying to find a king who was newly born. By reading the stars, they saw a foreshadowing of this birth. They “saw his star in the east and had come to worship him…” (Matthew 2:2). While looking for this new king, they happened to visit Herod. They might have assumed that King Herod would know where this next king was to be born. They thought Herod could give them direction. Instead, Herod “was disturbed”. He was upset. Though the Magi were following the stars and divine direction, Herod was oblivious to the birth of a king in his realm. The Magi would receive no good direction from Herod. In fact, Herod urged them to find the child and then report back to him. When God told the Magi this would not be good for the child, they ignored Herod’s direction and followed God’s direction (Matthew 2:12). Because of this, Jesus and His family were saved from the wrath of Herod.
In these three short verses of the Bible, you can see direction and misdirection. The reputable Magi wanted direction to visit the Christ child. The disreputable Herod wanted direction from the Magi as to home of this child so he could kill the child. Herod didn’t follow the directions of scripture and protect the young Messiah. The Magi did follow God’s direction, which ultimately saved the child’s life. Clearly, sinful Herod wasn’t following God’s direction. The Magi heeded God’s direction. Mary and Joseph also heeded God’s direction and fled to Egypt. In so doing, they saved Jesus’ life.
Sometimes, its hard to figure out what God wants. The Magi, though seeing the star in the East, needed help in finding the Christ child. They didn’t know that Herod would kill many children in the hopes of ending Jesus’ life. Sometimes, you are like the Magi. You are not sure of the next step in your life journey. You may seek help from others in your quest. My hope is that you do not take advice from the wrong people. I also hope you trust God’s direction in the process. Those who followed the directions of God in the story for today ended up in the right place at the right time, were driven to safety, and were kept from harm. Those who did not follow God’s direction ended up causing terrible misery to the world.
How well do you listen to directions? Are you one who ignores instruction manuals? How about the Bible? Do you ignore God’s word? When was the last time you asked God for direction? How did that turn out? The scripture for today is a good reminder that those who follow God’s direction may feel lost once in a while, but ultimately, they get where they need to be.
December 25
“The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him.” (John 1:9–11, NRSV)
When getting up early on a Sunday morning to prepare for worship, it would sometimes be dark. I would get up long before daybreak. Not wanting to wake up my wife, I would walk a well-worn path out of the bedroom and into my home office. There, I would turn on the light, turn on the computer, grab my sermon notes, and plan for holy worship. Being used to this routine, I seldom thought about what I was doing. I just got out of bed, made my way in the dark, and finally would turn on the light in my home office and get to work. I did this every week I led worship. It was part of my early Sunday morning preparations.
On one particularly memorable Sunday morning, I got up in the dark and made my way through a dark series of rooms and hallways toward my home office on the far side of the house. I got to the door of my office and took my normal step in as I turned on the light. What I did not know was that my wife had placed a box full of books from my office in the doorway so I wouldn’t forget to take them to work that day. She didn’t know my routine. She didn’t know I walked there in complete darkness long before sunrise. So, as I walked into my home office, I turned on the light and immediately tripped over the box she had placed there, flying headlong into the room. I hurt my back, damaged an end table, and was sore for days. I had bruises all over the side where I crashed into things. I was a mess. Later that day, my wife saw the bruises and said, “I never thought you’d get up and walk through the whole house in complete darkness. What would make you do this without turning on a light the entire way?” I did it by habit. I didn’t want to wake her. I guess it wasn’t too smart of me to walk through a whole house constantly without some light. I paid dearly for that mistake.
It is so much more beneficial to have light with which to navigate the darkness. I am so amazed at the ability of those who are blind to negotiate their way through life. I couldn’t do it. I need the light to see. I enjoy the light of the sun. I am used to reading with a light at my chair, having lots of light in my workshop, flipping on a light when I need something from a dark closet, and so much more. Light makes so many tasks more enjoyable or easy to complete.
I have also found that spiritual light is crucial for our world. Spiritual en-LIGHT-enment occurs when a person becomes “fully aware of the reality of a spiritual dimension to life”. For Christians, spiritual enlightenment takes place when a person becomes aware of the awesome reality of God’s plan made readily apparent in the life of Jesus Christ. Christian spiritual enlightenment helps you to see through the darkness of sin and evil deception. It sheds light on the power of God and forgiveness and grace and repentance.
Our scripture for today made claim that “the true light”, Jesus, “was coming into the world” (John 1:9). His purpose was to “enlighten everyone” about God’s saving grace. His coming was supposed to be good news to the world. He was going to “save us from our sins” (Matthew 1:21). Though Jesus was sent as a Savior to the world, the world rejected Him. “The world did not know Him” (John 1:10) or acknowledge His divinity. Even God’s people, the Jews, “did not accept Him” (John 1:11). Jesus’ presence was to be a “light to the world” (John 8:12). Sadly, many in the world chose to reject the light and remain in spiritual and moral darkness. That rejection of Jesus still occurs today.
Ten years ago, a company in Lynn Haven, Florida told their employees not to say, “Merry Christmas” during December. They were advised to say “Happy Holidays” in order to be more politically correct. It caused quite a stir in the office. It still does. There are now lapel pins that people wear which say, “Keep Christ in Christmas”. It is meant to make sure that Jesus Christ stays foremost in the mind of Christians during this holy season. Those who wear the pins usually reject turning the holy season into a secular or commercial period. I remember one employee who told me of her disgust at the changes to office regulations where she worked. They also secularized Christmas. They got rid of the Christmas tree and its lights. They threw out the bright decorations. She told me later, “the office is now dark and dingy all during the Christmas season.”
Just like the stark darkness of that office, the darkness of sin can creep into a life where Jesus has been rejected. I have found that spiritual darkness will envelop any Christian who rejects Christ. Where Jesus is not allowed to be discussed, I often find a dark nature taking over the political and social leadership. In places of our world that refuse to worship any God, I have found a particular lack of forgiveness and grace. These places tend to devolve over time.
A Christian organization was told that to receive special government funding, they were not allowed to speak about Jesus or to talk about their faith at that workplace. After a few months, employees there noticed changes taking place within the offices. People enjoyed coming to work less and less. Words like Jesus and faith were forbidden. Praying was frowned upon. Soon, you couldn’t even tell that the organization was even founded by Christians. It looked as secular and institutional as any government office. The light of Christ had left the building.
Jesus is still the light of the world. If there is a part of your life where HE is missing, you will feel a darkness develop there. When Jesus is missing from a place, you will encounter a gradual moral decline of those people and social systems. Jesus was sent into this world to bring you spiritual light, to light up your world, to free you from the black hole of sin. Today, let Jesus’ light shine to any dark place in your world. Let others see your faith. Let your face light up when you talk about your belief in Jesus.
Our world can be a dark and dreary place for some. How about bringing a little light of Christ with you wherever you go?
On one particularly memorable Sunday morning, I got up in the dark and made my way through a dark series of rooms and hallways toward my home office on the far side of the house. I got to the door of my office and took my normal step in as I turned on the light. What I did not know was that my wife had placed a box full of books from my office in the doorway so I wouldn’t forget to take them to work that day. She didn’t know my routine. She didn’t know I walked there in complete darkness long before sunrise. So, as I walked into my home office, I turned on the light and immediately tripped over the box she had placed there, flying headlong into the room. I hurt my back, damaged an end table, and was sore for days. I had bruises all over the side where I crashed into things. I was a mess. Later that day, my wife saw the bruises and said, “I never thought you’d get up and walk through the whole house in complete darkness. What would make you do this without turning on a light the entire way?” I did it by habit. I didn’t want to wake her. I guess it wasn’t too smart of me to walk through a whole house constantly without some light. I paid dearly for that mistake.
It is so much more beneficial to have light with which to navigate the darkness. I am so amazed at the ability of those who are blind to negotiate their way through life. I couldn’t do it. I need the light to see. I enjoy the light of the sun. I am used to reading with a light at my chair, having lots of light in my workshop, flipping on a light when I need something from a dark closet, and so much more. Light makes so many tasks more enjoyable or easy to complete.
I have also found that spiritual light is crucial for our world. Spiritual en-LIGHT-enment occurs when a person becomes “fully aware of the reality of a spiritual dimension to life”. For Christians, spiritual enlightenment takes place when a person becomes aware of the awesome reality of God’s plan made readily apparent in the life of Jesus Christ. Christian spiritual enlightenment helps you to see through the darkness of sin and evil deception. It sheds light on the power of God and forgiveness and grace and repentance.
Our scripture for today made claim that “the true light”, Jesus, “was coming into the world” (John 1:9). His purpose was to “enlighten everyone” about God’s saving grace. His coming was supposed to be good news to the world. He was going to “save us from our sins” (Matthew 1:21). Though Jesus was sent as a Savior to the world, the world rejected Him. “The world did not know Him” (John 1:10) or acknowledge His divinity. Even God’s people, the Jews, “did not accept Him” (John 1:11). Jesus’ presence was to be a “light to the world” (John 8:12). Sadly, many in the world chose to reject the light and remain in spiritual and moral darkness. That rejection of Jesus still occurs today.
Ten years ago, a company in Lynn Haven, Florida told their employees not to say, “Merry Christmas” during December. They were advised to say “Happy Holidays” in order to be more politically correct. It caused quite a stir in the office. It still does. There are now lapel pins that people wear which say, “Keep Christ in Christmas”. It is meant to make sure that Jesus Christ stays foremost in the mind of Christians during this holy season. Those who wear the pins usually reject turning the holy season into a secular or commercial period. I remember one employee who told me of her disgust at the changes to office regulations where she worked. They also secularized Christmas. They got rid of the Christmas tree and its lights. They threw out the bright decorations. She told me later, “the office is now dark and dingy all during the Christmas season.”
Just like the stark darkness of that office, the darkness of sin can creep into a life where Jesus has been rejected. I have found that spiritual darkness will envelop any Christian who rejects Christ. Where Jesus is not allowed to be discussed, I often find a dark nature taking over the political and social leadership. In places of our world that refuse to worship any God, I have found a particular lack of forgiveness and grace. These places tend to devolve over time.
A Christian organization was told that to receive special government funding, they were not allowed to speak about Jesus or to talk about their faith at that workplace. After a few months, employees there noticed changes taking place within the offices. People enjoyed coming to work less and less. Words like Jesus and faith were forbidden. Praying was frowned upon. Soon, you couldn’t even tell that the organization was even founded by Christians. It looked as secular and institutional as any government office. The light of Christ had left the building.
Jesus is still the light of the world. If there is a part of your life where HE is missing, you will feel a darkness develop there. When Jesus is missing from a place, you will encounter a gradual moral decline of those people and social systems. Jesus was sent into this world to bring you spiritual light, to light up your world, to free you from the black hole of sin. Today, let Jesus’ light shine to any dark place in your world. Let others see your faith. Let your face light up when you talk about your belief in Jesus.
Our world can be a dark and dreary place for some. How about bringing a little light of Christ with you wherever you go?
December 27
“Zaccheus stopped and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, half of my possessions I will give to the poor, and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will give back four times as much.”” (Luke 19:8, NASB95)
“A lady in the north of England said that every time she got down before God to pray, five bottles of wine came up before her mind. She had taken them wrongfully one time when she was a housekeeper and had not been able to pray since. She was advised to make restitution.
“But the person is dead,” she said.
“Are not some of the heirs living?”
“Yes, a son.”
“Then go to that son and pay him back.”
“Well,” she said, “I want to see the face of God, but I could not think of doing a thing like that. My reputation is at stake.”
She went away and came back the next day to ask if it would not do just as well to put that money in the treasury of the Lord.
“No,” she was told, “God doesn’t want any stolen money. The only thing is to make restitution.”
She carried that burden for several days, but finally went into the country, saw that son, made a full confession and offered him a five-pound note. He said he didn’t want the money, but she finally persuaded him to take it, and came back with a joy and peace that made her face radiant.” (Moody’s Anecdotes, pp 49-50)
There comes a time when repentance isn’t enough. Saying you are sorry alone won’t cut it. You need to make some sort of restitution. You will need to right a wrong. Many Christians think that by asking God for repentance a past sin is made right. Sometimes it is. However, there are times when God will want you to make restitution so that the sin can be redeemed. It’s not that God can’t forgive you. It’s not that God won’t forgive you. For reasons known to God alone, God may require more than mere words in order for you to secure forgiveness or grace. Sometimes, God requires some type of restitution.
According to the Department of Justice, judges may issue an “Order of Restitution”. This will require that a victim be given something in return for their losses. The guilty party will need to do or pay something as a part of the judge’s order. In some cases, this will involve paying legal expenses, paying for the loss of work or income, or paying for damages incurred. At other times, this may involve doing something for the victim or to observe the wishes of the victim. Where do you think this “Order of Restitution” idea used in the courts came from? Most historians believe that this order came from Biblical law, from ancient legal codes, or the like. No matter the history, we can see that for many centuries, people believed that in some cases where a wrong is done, some type of restitution needed to be offered. It was the right thing to do.
Have you ever done some type of restitution? Would your soul be put at ease with a restitution in this period of your life? Does God want you to make something right using restitution as well as repentance? These are important questions to consider.
In the scripture chosen for today, Zaccheus spoke to Jesus. He wanted so desperately to meet Jesus that he climbed a tree to watch Jesus passing down the street. Jesus saw Zaccheus in the tree and asked to spend the day with him. Near the end of their time together, Zaccheus’ heart was changed. He had defrauded people. He had taken advantage of others. After spending time with Jesus, he knew he should give something in return. He wanted to make restitution. He vowed to Jesus that he would give “half of his possessions to the poor” AND return money he had received through fraud. He even promised “to give back four times as much” as he stole. In response, Jesus mentioned that salvation had come to Zaccheus and his household that day.
If you want to please the Lord, there may be times when you need to do more to make something right. You might need to make restitution, to tell someone you are sorry, to make amends, to make it right. God may not only require you to say you are sorry. God may want something more. I promise that until you make this restitution, you will feel a weight upon your soul. However, after you make it right, you will feel a beautiful lifting of your soul and spirit. God will heal you in a much greater way.
God will not always require you to make restitution. God may forgive you simply out of grace. However, there may be special times and special circumstances where more will be required of you. By offering restitution, you are NOT earning your forgiveness. You are doing what God requires in order to make right some wrong for God’s sake. Most times, repentance is all that is needed. God will take care of the rest. However, in special cases your restitution will be required. Don’t fail to do it. There will be a special blessing waiting for you after you are done.
“But the person is dead,” she said.
“Are not some of the heirs living?”
“Yes, a son.”
“Then go to that son and pay him back.”
“Well,” she said, “I want to see the face of God, but I could not think of doing a thing like that. My reputation is at stake.”
She went away and came back the next day to ask if it would not do just as well to put that money in the treasury of the Lord.
“No,” she was told, “God doesn’t want any stolen money. The only thing is to make restitution.”
She carried that burden for several days, but finally went into the country, saw that son, made a full confession and offered him a five-pound note. He said he didn’t want the money, but she finally persuaded him to take it, and came back with a joy and peace that made her face radiant.” (Moody’s Anecdotes, pp 49-50)
There comes a time when repentance isn’t enough. Saying you are sorry alone won’t cut it. You need to make some sort of restitution. You will need to right a wrong. Many Christians think that by asking God for repentance a past sin is made right. Sometimes it is. However, there are times when God will want you to make restitution so that the sin can be redeemed. It’s not that God can’t forgive you. It’s not that God won’t forgive you. For reasons known to God alone, God may require more than mere words in order for you to secure forgiveness or grace. Sometimes, God requires some type of restitution.
According to the Department of Justice, judges may issue an “Order of Restitution”. This will require that a victim be given something in return for their losses. The guilty party will need to do or pay something as a part of the judge’s order. In some cases, this will involve paying legal expenses, paying for the loss of work or income, or paying for damages incurred. At other times, this may involve doing something for the victim or to observe the wishes of the victim. Where do you think this “Order of Restitution” idea used in the courts came from? Most historians believe that this order came from Biblical law, from ancient legal codes, or the like. No matter the history, we can see that for many centuries, people believed that in some cases where a wrong is done, some type of restitution needed to be offered. It was the right thing to do.
Have you ever done some type of restitution? Would your soul be put at ease with a restitution in this period of your life? Does God want you to make something right using restitution as well as repentance? These are important questions to consider.
In the scripture chosen for today, Zaccheus spoke to Jesus. He wanted so desperately to meet Jesus that he climbed a tree to watch Jesus passing down the street. Jesus saw Zaccheus in the tree and asked to spend the day with him. Near the end of their time together, Zaccheus’ heart was changed. He had defrauded people. He had taken advantage of others. After spending time with Jesus, he knew he should give something in return. He wanted to make restitution. He vowed to Jesus that he would give “half of his possessions to the poor” AND return money he had received through fraud. He even promised “to give back four times as much” as he stole. In response, Jesus mentioned that salvation had come to Zaccheus and his household that day.
If you want to please the Lord, there may be times when you need to do more to make something right. You might need to make restitution, to tell someone you are sorry, to make amends, to make it right. God may not only require you to say you are sorry. God may want something more. I promise that until you make this restitution, you will feel a weight upon your soul. However, after you make it right, you will feel a beautiful lifting of your soul and spirit. God will heal you in a much greater way.
God will not always require you to make restitution. God may forgive you simply out of grace. However, there may be special times and special circumstances where more will be required of you. By offering restitution, you are NOT earning your forgiveness. You are doing what God requires in order to make right some wrong for God’s sake. Most times, repentance is all that is needed. God will take care of the rest. However, in special cases your restitution will be required. Don’t fail to do it. There will be a special blessing waiting for you after you are done.
December 29
“Perceiving then that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by himself.” (John 6:15, RSV)
When Jesus fed the five thousand in the first few verses of John chapter 6, people were shocked and amazed. They saw Jesus as a man of power and ability; a giver of signs. They saw him as a miracle-worker and prophet (John 6:14). Despite the religious overtones of His miracle feeding, the people in that area decided to “take Him by force”. They wanted to “make Him king”. However, those people didn’t want a spiritual king or kingdom. They wanted a temporal, worldly, powerful kingdom. They wanted a secular king who would give them free food like Roman emperors were known to do in order to keep their power and status. In a few words, they made the mistake of desiring Jesus for the wrong kingdom as the wrong king.
Secular kings and kingdoms rule with power and might. They are usually manipulative and self-seeking. Secular kings seek power and wealth. Jesus’ kingdom was not of this world. It was other-worldly, eternal, heavenly, gracious, and holy. Jesus was not destined to be a secular king. He did not care to rule with earthly power, wealth, nor military might. Satan had tempted Jesus with these types of kingdoms in his early days of ministry (Matthew 4:8). Jesus wanted no part of secular power. His Kingdom was meant for spiritual and eternal rule. The people who wanted to force Jesus to be king in John 6:15 picked the wrong side for Jesus’ reign. They missed the boat. That’s why Jesus left their presence and “withdrew” from the people. They wanted the wrong kind of kingdom and the wrong kind of king.
Sadly, worldly people still try to force Jesus into worldly roles. They don’t want to live under Heavenly rule, so they manipulate the purpose of Jesus’ mission to this world. They make Jesus appear to be different. One theologian from the 1980’s saw Jesus as a traveling itinerant preacher. Another from the 1970’s saw Jesus as a socialist-type of revolutionary who would lead the poor to rise up from their downtrodden lives and overthrow the rich. Feminist theologians have consistently framed Jesus as a male feminist who supported women’s rights through his interactions with Mary Magdalene and the woman at the well and other women in the gospels. “Historical Jesus” Theologians of the early twentieth century saw Jesus as a good and holy man who had a message from God. The Holy Roman Empire envisioned Jesus as the first King of a worldly kingdom with religious ideals. So often, worldly people forced Jesus’ image to fit their world, their kingdoms, their ideals. How long will people make the same mistake of worshiping the wrong kingdom and the wrong king?
On a more personal note, there are Christians who have also made the mistake of making Jesus into someone He is not. They have fallen into the error of interpreting Jesus’s words or mission to fit their own religious perspective. Whenever this happens, Jesus will withdraw from them as quickly as he did in our scripture today. Jesus wants no part of being a worldly king or the head of a worldly kingdom.
Twenty years ago, I met a young woman at a gathering of religious leaders. She was attending seminary at Yale University. She was an unabashed feminist and often spoke out against “male-dominated religious circles”. She believed that patriarchy ruined the interpretation of the Bible. She wanted people to call God, “Sophia”, because it is a Greek feminine word for wisdom and used to describe one of God’s attributes.
When this young woman talked about Jesus, she would describe Him in a unique worldly way. He was a world-changer. He was for women’s rights. He was a revolutionary. He railed against male chauvinism. He was against the patriarchal religious leadership in Jerusalem. He was a lover of women and infants. He was “a great leader”. If you listened to this woman long enough, she sounded like a follower of Maoism or an anarchist. Her Jesus sounded like a modern-day revolutionary akin to Che Guevara. Her Jesus was a dyed-in-the-wool feminist. In the end, her Jesus sounded more like her vision for her world than the Jesus of the Bible.
So many people have manipulated God or God’s Son to make them appear like earthly leaders. Throughout history, many Christians and non-Christians alike molded the public view of Jesus to fit their own reality. Politicians will often adapt their words about Jesus to fit their own agenda. Right now, a show on Netflix promotes Jesus as a homosexual who comes to help the world to be more accepting to homosexuality. I quit my Netflix membership the day I read about the show. So have thousands of other Christians.
Worldly people and places continue to play around with the meaning of Jesus and His kingdom. Don’t get caught up in the hype. Don’t be surprised if your liberal church shows Jesus as a man with liberal viewpoints. Don’t be surprised if your conservative friends demand that Jesus would have voted Republican.
So many places and people want to make Jesus fit their cause. In our scripture today, Jesus retreated to a mountain alone, probably to pray. He didn’t want any part of worldly kingdoms or worldly people. He sought out a different type of ministry and mission. Jesus’ kingdom affects this world but is not worldly. Jesus’ kingship affects your life, but He is not motivated by worldly standards. Sometimes, it is hard to figure out who Jesus is with all the manipulation of His image by worldly people. Therefore, it is crucially important that you go back to the Bible and learn what the real Jesus stood for and who the real Jesus loved.
Secular kings and kingdoms rule with power and might. They are usually manipulative and self-seeking. Secular kings seek power and wealth. Jesus’ kingdom was not of this world. It was other-worldly, eternal, heavenly, gracious, and holy. Jesus was not destined to be a secular king. He did not care to rule with earthly power, wealth, nor military might. Satan had tempted Jesus with these types of kingdoms in his early days of ministry (Matthew 4:8). Jesus wanted no part of secular power. His Kingdom was meant for spiritual and eternal rule. The people who wanted to force Jesus to be king in John 6:15 picked the wrong side for Jesus’ reign. They missed the boat. That’s why Jesus left their presence and “withdrew” from the people. They wanted the wrong kind of kingdom and the wrong kind of king.
Sadly, worldly people still try to force Jesus into worldly roles. They don’t want to live under Heavenly rule, so they manipulate the purpose of Jesus’ mission to this world. They make Jesus appear to be different. One theologian from the 1980’s saw Jesus as a traveling itinerant preacher. Another from the 1970’s saw Jesus as a socialist-type of revolutionary who would lead the poor to rise up from their downtrodden lives and overthrow the rich. Feminist theologians have consistently framed Jesus as a male feminist who supported women’s rights through his interactions with Mary Magdalene and the woman at the well and other women in the gospels. “Historical Jesus” Theologians of the early twentieth century saw Jesus as a good and holy man who had a message from God. The Holy Roman Empire envisioned Jesus as the first King of a worldly kingdom with religious ideals. So often, worldly people forced Jesus’ image to fit their world, their kingdoms, their ideals. How long will people make the same mistake of worshiping the wrong kingdom and the wrong king?
On a more personal note, there are Christians who have also made the mistake of making Jesus into someone He is not. They have fallen into the error of interpreting Jesus’s words or mission to fit their own religious perspective. Whenever this happens, Jesus will withdraw from them as quickly as he did in our scripture today. Jesus wants no part of being a worldly king or the head of a worldly kingdom.
Twenty years ago, I met a young woman at a gathering of religious leaders. She was attending seminary at Yale University. She was an unabashed feminist and often spoke out against “male-dominated religious circles”. She believed that patriarchy ruined the interpretation of the Bible. She wanted people to call God, “Sophia”, because it is a Greek feminine word for wisdom and used to describe one of God’s attributes.
When this young woman talked about Jesus, she would describe Him in a unique worldly way. He was a world-changer. He was for women’s rights. He was a revolutionary. He railed against male chauvinism. He was against the patriarchal religious leadership in Jerusalem. He was a lover of women and infants. He was “a great leader”. If you listened to this woman long enough, she sounded like a follower of Maoism or an anarchist. Her Jesus sounded like a modern-day revolutionary akin to Che Guevara. Her Jesus was a dyed-in-the-wool feminist. In the end, her Jesus sounded more like her vision for her world than the Jesus of the Bible.
So many people have manipulated God or God’s Son to make them appear like earthly leaders. Throughout history, many Christians and non-Christians alike molded the public view of Jesus to fit their own reality. Politicians will often adapt their words about Jesus to fit their own agenda. Right now, a show on Netflix promotes Jesus as a homosexual who comes to help the world to be more accepting to homosexuality. I quit my Netflix membership the day I read about the show. So have thousands of other Christians.
Worldly people and places continue to play around with the meaning of Jesus and His kingdom. Don’t get caught up in the hype. Don’t be surprised if your liberal church shows Jesus as a man with liberal viewpoints. Don’t be surprised if your conservative friends demand that Jesus would have voted Republican.
So many places and people want to make Jesus fit their cause. In our scripture today, Jesus retreated to a mountain alone, probably to pray. He didn’t want any part of worldly kingdoms or worldly people. He sought out a different type of ministry and mission. Jesus’ kingdom affects this world but is not worldly. Jesus’ kingship affects your life, but He is not motivated by worldly standards. Sometimes, it is hard to figure out who Jesus is with all the manipulation of His image by worldly people. Therefore, it is crucially important that you go back to the Bible and learn what the real Jesus stood for and who the real Jesus loved.
October 30
“And so, from the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, to lead a life worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.” (Colossians 1:9–10, RSV)
Some things in life are related. If you affect one, it will affect the other. If you change one, you will change the other. There are millions of examples of this. If you change out dead batteries in a toy for new ones, the toy will come to life again. If you move the thermostat setting up two degrees, the house will warm as the furnace kicks in. When you take the fall leaves out of a blocked gutter, the water should be able to flow through it again. In your spiritual life, there are also related elements that affect one another. Our scripture for today shows some of these elements and how they work together to mold a person into a more effective and beloved child of God.
Colossians 1:9 mentions Paul's intention to pray for the Colossian Christians. He was a founding leader of their church and cared deeply about their connection with God. In the letter of Colossians, Paul wrote that his prayers include the desire that God fill the Colossian Christians with "all spiritual wisdom and understanding". With spiritual wisdom and understanding, Paul knew that the faithful in that church would begin to "lead a life worthy of the Lord" (Colossians 1:9). If this spiritual wisdom was God-inspired, Paul knew that the people would then "please God". Then, they would bear spiritual "fruit" by both doing "good works" and "increasing in the knowledge of God" (Colossians 1:10). There is a spiritual progression dependent on the connections in these two verses. By growing in spiritual wisdom and an understanding of God in Jesus Christ, you then will begin to live a life "worthy of the Lord". This worthy life when continued will "please God". In response to God's blessing, you will then bear fruit in service and worship, increasing in the knowledge of God. Do you see the progression here?
The first step to pleasing God and growing close to God involves increasing your wisdom and knowledge about spiritual things. This is where a few things come into play. Worship is important to help you grow in the knowledge of God's will and purpose in the world. By saying prayers, you connect with God. Learning about the Bible and God's commands and promises, you will grow in a spiritual understanding about life. Through faithful interactions that develop with time, you will grow to understand your spiritual journey in life and God's purpose for the world. You will increasingly become familiar with spiritual feelings, the knowledge of the Bible, and an understanding of your salvation through Jesus Christ. Your relationship with God should strengthen. In response, you will please God. Then, with the blessing and help of God, you will move out to do good works and grow more deeply in your faith. All these elements found in Colossians 1:9-10 come into play. They are related. One affects the other.
Jane and Timothy wanted to get married. Coming from Christian families, they decided to have Jane's pastor do their wedding. Neither was close to Jane's pastor, but it was traditional in both families to get married in a church. It seemed the right thing to do, and it was. However, Jane's pastor was not very motivated. He was laid back and rather forgetful. He didn't require any pre-marital classes or any kind of reflection on their marriage as it relates to God and scripture. He just went through a "normal" wedding service, told them where to stand and what to say, and set the date. In the entire process, there was little interaction and no genuine conversation about faithful marriage. After the wedding ceremony, the couple thanked the pastor for the service, and went about their lives, never to darken the door of the church again.
What went wrong is that the pastor and church never really took the first step found in our scripture today. The pastor never helped the couple explore their spiritual knowledge. He never imparted God-given wisdom. He just went through the motions, said the appropriate words, and went back to his study to sign the civil documents. In many churches today, spiritual knowledge and wisdom are not imparted. Thus, many people are not making those important connections with God. Ultimately, they never please God, participate in good works, or grow in the knowledge of God. The relationship never blooms between many people and God, because those who have the spiritual wisdom aren't imparting it. Those who have grown in spiritual knowledge aren't putting that knowledge to work in actions of faith. God is never pleased. Spiritual depth never occurs. The connections with God wither on the vine.
Where are you on this spiritual progression? Are you still at the initial stages where you are still trying to grow in spiritual wisdom and faithful knowledge? Have you pleased God by growing closer to HIM? Are your good works increasing? Is your connection with God growing stronger? These things all affect each other. This spiritual progression is crucial if you ever want to grow close to God. Most of you have progressed to the point of great works and a great depth of Spirit. Some of you are still just starting out and have yet to please God. A good share of you not only please God, but you are taking your first steps into committed faithful works and Spiritual growth is growing. The Bible is becoming more alive for all of you. Your prayers will be increasingly deep and meaningful.
No matter where you are in this spiritual progression, I KNOW your life will always be better the farther along in this godly journey you are. God will not only be fully active in your life, you will learn the depths of love and compassion and repentance and salvation. This Spiritual walk will define your life and bless those around you. Of that, I have no doubt!
Colossians 1:9 mentions Paul's intention to pray for the Colossian Christians. He was a founding leader of their church and cared deeply about their connection with God. In the letter of Colossians, Paul wrote that his prayers include the desire that God fill the Colossian Christians with "all spiritual wisdom and understanding". With spiritual wisdom and understanding, Paul knew that the faithful in that church would begin to "lead a life worthy of the Lord" (Colossians 1:9). If this spiritual wisdom was God-inspired, Paul knew that the people would then "please God". Then, they would bear spiritual "fruit" by both doing "good works" and "increasing in the knowledge of God" (Colossians 1:10). There is a spiritual progression dependent on the connections in these two verses. By growing in spiritual wisdom and an understanding of God in Jesus Christ, you then will begin to live a life "worthy of the Lord". This worthy life when continued will "please God". In response to God's blessing, you will then bear fruit in service and worship, increasing in the knowledge of God. Do you see the progression here?
The first step to pleasing God and growing close to God involves increasing your wisdom and knowledge about spiritual things. This is where a few things come into play. Worship is important to help you grow in the knowledge of God's will and purpose in the world. By saying prayers, you connect with God. Learning about the Bible and God's commands and promises, you will grow in a spiritual understanding about life. Through faithful interactions that develop with time, you will grow to understand your spiritual journey in life and God's purpose for the world. You will increasingly become familiar with spiritual feelings, the knowledge of the Bible, and an understanding of your salvation through Jesus Christ. Your relationship with God should strengthen. In response, you will please God. Then, with the blessing and help of God, you will move out to do good works and grow more deeply in your faith. All these elements found in Colossians 1:9-10 come into play. They are related. One affects the other.
Jane and Timothy wanted to get married. Coming from Christian families, they decided to have Jane's pastor do their wedding. Neither was close to Jane's pastor, but it was traditional in both families to get married in a church. It seemed the right thing to do, and it was. However, Jane's pastor was not very motivated. He was laid back and rather forgetful. He didn't require any pre-marital classes or any kind of reflection on their marriage as it relates to God and scripture. He just went through a "normal" wedding service, told them where to stand and what to say, and set the date. In the entire process, there was little interaction and no genuine conversation about faithful marriage. After the wedding ceremony, the couple thanked the pastor for the service, and went about their lives, never to darken the door of the church again.
What went wrong is that the pastor and church never really took the first step found in our scripture today. The pastor never helped the couple explore their spiritual knowledge. He never imparted God-given wisdom. He just went through the motions, said the appropriate words, and went back to his study to sign the civil documents. In many churches today, spiritual knowledge and wisdom are not imparted. Thus, many people are not making those important connections with God. Ultimately, they never please God, participate in good works, or grow in the knowledge of God. The relationship never blooms between many people and God, because those who have the spiritual wisdom aren't imparting it. Those who have grown in spiritual knowledge aren't putting that knowledge to work in actions of faith. God is never pleased. Spiritual depth never occurs. The connections with God wither on the vine.
Where are you on this spiritual progression? Are you still at the initial stages where you are still trying to grow in spiritual wisdom and faithful knowledge? Have you pleased God by growing closer to HIM? Are your good works increasing? Is your connection with God growing stronger? These things all affect each other. This spiritual progression is crucial if you ever want to grow close to God. Most of you have progressed to the point of great works and a great depth of Spirit. Some of you are still just starting out and have yet to please God. A good share of you not only please God, but you are taking your first steps into committed faithful works and Spiritual growth is growing. The Bible is becoming more alive for all of you. Your prayers will be increasingly deep and meaningful.
No matter where you are in this spiritual progression, I KNOW your life will always be better the farther along in this godly journey you are. God will not only be fully active in your life, you will learn the depths of love and compassion and repentance and salvation. This Spiritual walk will define your life and bless those around you. Of that, I have no doubt!
October 31
“Dear friends, do not believe everyone who claims to speak by the Spirit. You must test them to see if the spirit they have comes from God. For there are many false prophets in the world. This is how we know if they have the Spirit of God: If a person claiming to be a prophet acknowledges that Jesus Christ came in a real body, that person has the Spirit of God. But if someone claims to be a prophet and does not acknowledge the truth about Jesus, that person is not from God. Such a person has the spirit of the Antichrist, which you heard is coming into the world and indeed is already here.”
(1 John 4:1–3, NLT)
(1 John 4:1–3, NLT)
When you make a commitment to God through Jesus Christ, you become a Christian. As you live out the promises and obedience given that relationship, you become a faithful and true Christian. The basis for the word "Christian" is Christ, the Messiah. Thus, when you live for Jesus' sake, you become a "Christian" through that relationship with Jesus. An "Serbian" owes a commitment to Serbia. A "Mohammedan" is an ancient term for one who follows Mohammed. A "Christian" owes his or her life to Christ. That relationship should be the center of one's life and form the crux of who you are.
After becoming a true Christian with a deep relationship with Christ, it is important to follow the scripture above. 1 John 4:1 warns us "not to believe everyone who claims to speak by the Spirit". There are many spiritual and religious people in the world, but not all of them are of God. Not all of them have a true commitment to Christ. In the days in which this scripture was originally written, there were people who claimed to believe in Jesus as the Christ, but they did not believe he was "born of Mary". He did not suffer and die on a cross. He was a spiritual being, but not a physical one. These people were mostly Gnostics. They believed they knew Jesus, but they could not accept his real death on a cross. When John wrote the words above, he asked the real Christians to "test" others who spoke about our faith. John wanted them to make sure that the "spirit they have comes from God" (1 John 4:2). He even targets the Gnostics by writing: "if a person claims to be a prophet and does not acknowledge the truth about Jesus, that person is not from God" (1 John 4:2-3). In verse 2 above, the false prophets (Gnostics) denied Jesus had a "real body". Thus, they were not of God. They were from the "Antichrist" (1 John 4:3), sent to mess up the connection with the believer and the real Christ Jesus.
According to the scripture above, you can have a "Spirit of God" or you can have the "spirit of the Antichrist". Your job is to "test the spirits". An important aspect of being faithful to Jesus Christ involves checking to make sure that those you trust spiritually are those who have the Spirit of God. From priests to pastors to spiritual mentors and friends, you need to spiritually steer clear of those who do not have the "Spirit of God" in them. They can be friends, but not Christian friends. They can give advice, but not godly advice. God can work through them, but God is not in them.
Carolyn was always a spiritual person. She grew up attending worship in a Catholic Church. During her teens, she drifted away from the Catholic Church, remaining a Christian in name only. She was a wonderful person who was well liked by her friends. She had lots of friends. In her early twenties, Carolyn fell in love with a Peter, whom she met at a concert. The two hit it off and became inseparable. They married in 1969 and began a beautiful life together.
Seven years into the marriage, Carolyn and Peter began to have marriage problems. They fought the same old fights over and over. Wondering what to do, Carolyn expressed her frustration to her closest friend. This friend stated that men are born to cheat. They aren't wired like women. She talked about men being biologically antithetical to marriage. Can you tell her best friend was divorced? Carolyn began to drift away from her husband, spending more time with her best friend. After divorcing her husband, Carolyn began to get involved with an Eastern Meditation group. They taught that life was all spiritual and the purpose of life was to become one with "the spirit". The group met together regularly, some even moving in together in a large commune. Carolyn loved her new life, and highly respected the gurus who taught the group.
Ten years later, Carolyn's life was a mess. After her closest friend died, she began to question her life choices. She was poor and desperate. All her time and money was spent supporting the spiritual group she had migrated into. Desperately seeking some help, she visited a Catholic mission not far away. There, she met a priest who took her under his wing. He helped her find housing. A congregation helped her re-acclimate to her new life. A husband and wife stopped in often to check on her. For the first time in a long time, Carolyn felt spiritually connected again. To this day, she is very active in her parish in California.
There were many spiritual voices in Carolyn's life. Some weren't from God. Some were. Sadly, she wandered away from the people sent by God. She took spiritual advice and counseling from those who were not bearing the "Spirit of God". Many years of her life were wasted because of those who did not have a connection with Jesus Christ. Contrary to popular thinking, all religions and spiritual groups are NOT the same. True Christianity saves lives. I thank God for the priest who gave Carolyn a connection with God, for the people from her parish who took her in, for those who showed her love, and for Christ who redeemed her.
If you listen to spiritual advice from those who do not have the "Spirit of God", you will find yourself drifting away from God. Your life will suffer for the loss of a relationship with God through Jesus Christ, our Lord. You were meant to be godly. You were meant to rely on the "Spirit of God". God ordained your life to have a relationship with Jesus. God sends HIS Spirit to comfort and direct you. Before you make your choices in life or listen to spiritual advice, you NEED to find those who have the "Spirit of God" in them. The person with the "spirit of the Antichrist" is always ready to give spiritual advice and lead you down the wrong paths in life. According to this scripture, you need to figure out which spiritual people are trustworthy in Christ Jesus.
I celebrate the Spirit of God that is in you and brought you to reading this. I'm excited about what wonderful additions you will bring to God's work and world. God will bless you and protect you as you walk this spiritual walk of life. Just be wise in taking advice. You want the advice to come from God, not from somewhere else!
After becoming a true Christian with a deep relationship with Christ, it is important to follow the scripture above. 1 John 4:1 warns us "not to believe everyone who claims to speak by the Spirit". There are many spiritual and religious people in the world, but not all of them are of God. Not all of them have a true commitment to Christ. In the days in which this scripture was originally written, there were people who claimed to believe in Jesus as the Christ, but they did not believe he was "born of Mary". He did not suffer and die on a cross. He was a spiritual being, but not a physical one. These people were mostly Gnostics. They believed they knew Jesus, but they could not accept his real death on a cross. When John wrote the words above, he asked the real Christians to "test" others who spoke about our faith. John wanted them to make sure that the "spirit they have comes from God" (1 John 4:2). He even targets the Gnostics by writing: "if a person claims to be a prophet and does not acknowledge the truth about Jesus, that person is not from God" (1 John 4:2-3). In verse 2 above, the false prophets (Gnostics) denied Jesus had a "real body". Thus, they were not of God. They were from the "Antichrist" (1 John 4:3), sent to mess up the connection with the believer and the real Christ Jesus.
According to the scripture above, you can have a "Spirit of God" or you can have the "spirit of the Antichrist". Your job is to "test the spirits". An important aspect of being faithful to Jesus Christ involves checking to make sure that those you trust spiritually are those who have the Spirit of God. From priests to pastors to spiritual mentors and friends, you need to spiritually steer clear of those who do not have the "Spirit of God" in them. They can be friends, but not Christian friends. They can give advice, but not godly advice. God can work through them, but God is not in them.
Carolyn was always a spiritual person. She grew up attending worship in a Catholic Church. During her teens, she drifted away from the Catholic Church, remaining a Christian in name only. She was a wonderful person who was well liked by her friends. She had lots of friends. In her early twenties, Carolyn fell in love with a Peter, whom she met at a concert. The two hit it off and became inseparable. They married in 1969 and began a beautiful life together.
Seven years into the marriage, Carolyn and Peter began to have marriage problems. They fought the same old fights over and over. Wondering what to do, Carolyn expressed her frustration to her closest friend. This friend stated that men are born to cheat. They aren't wired like women. She talked about men being biologically antithetical to marriage. Can you tell her best friend was divorced? Carolyn began to drift away from her husband, spending more time with her best friend. After divorcing her husband, Carolyn began to get involved with an Eastern Meditation group. They taught that life was all spiritual and the purpose of life was to become one with "the spirit". The group met together regularly, some even moving in together in a large commune. Carolyn loved her new life, and highly respected the gurus who taught the group.
Ten years later, Carolyn's life was a mess. After her closest friend died, she began to question her life choices. She was poor and desperate. All her time and money was spent supporting the spiritual group she had migrated into. Desperately seeking some help, she visited a Catholic mission not far away. There, she met a priest who took her under his wing. He helped her find housing. A congregation helped her re-acclimate to her new life. A husband and wife stopped in often to check on her. For the first time in a long time, Carolyn felt spiritually connected again. To this day, she is very active in her parish in California.
There were many spiritual voices in Carolyn's life. Some weren't from God. Some were. Sadly, she wandered away from the people sent by God. She took spiritual advice and counseling from those who were not bearing the "Spirit of God". Many years of her life were wasted because of those who did not have a connection with Jesus Christ. Contrary to popular thinking, all religions and spiritual groups are NOT the same. True Christianity saves lives. I thank God for the priest who gave Carolyn a connection with God, for the people from her parish who took her in, for those who showed her love, and for Christ who redeemed her.
If you listen to spiritual advice from those who do not have the "Spirit of God", you will find yourself drifting away from God. Your life will suffer for the loss of a relationship with God through Jesus Christ, our Lord. You were meant to be godly. You were meant to rely on the "Spirit of God". God ordained your life to have a relationship with Jesus. God sends HIS Spirit to comfort and direct you. Before you make your choices in life or listen to spiritual advice, you NEED to find those who have the "Spirit of God" in them. The person with the "spirit of the Antichrist" is always ready to give spiritual advice and lead you down the wrong paths in life. According to this scripture, you need to figure out which spiritual people are trustworthy in Christ Jesus.
I celebrate the Spirit of God that is in you and brought you to reading this. I'm excited about what wonderful additions you will bring to God's work and world. God will bless you and protect you as you walk this spiritual walk of life. Just be wise in taking advice. You want the advice to come from God, not from somewhere else!