Thursday, January 2, 2025

Life After Christmas

Have you noticed that as soon as Christmas is over something disappears?  Christmas carols are no longer heard on radio or TV.  Everyone has stopped singing Christmas songsHoliday Decorations have been packed away for another year.  Hearing about the Savior’s birth is not expressed by anyone, including religious leaders.  “Merry Christmas” greetings are missing when someone addresses you.  And Christmas cards, letters, and emails are not found in mailboxes or on computers.

What happens when these things are gone?  People are unenthusiastic and they feel letdown.  They have lost their sense of expectation, and it seems as if their vibrancy has decreased.  But this is not the way it should be after Christmas.  Why?  Because Jesus should still be at the center of our thoughts and conversations.  His birth has taken place in what we call the first Advent, but there will be a second advent.  Jesus is coming again (John 14:1-3).

What we need is a transformation – a change in our thinking so our mind is aligned with God.  The Apostle Paul said, “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will” (Romans 12:1-2).  We need a complete change in our mindset.  Christ died on the cross taking our place and paying the penalty for our sins.  He came not just to be born in a manger but to offer abundant life to us, to forgive us, and to provide eternal life through faith in Him.

What we need after Christmas is to focus on Jesus, and not just the things that are missing.  In our response to the good news of Christmas let’s allow Jesus to come into our life and make us a new and different person in all that we think or do.  The Bible says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” (II Corinthians 5:17, TLB).  The Bible also points to other things which were lost including a lamb, a coin and a son (Luke 15:3-32).  However, the text tells us that each of these things were found and as a result there was much rejoicing.  When you receive Jesus as your Savior, you will experience great joy because He will provide just what you need.  The Bible says, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10).  When we find Christ we discover what was really missing in our lives.  Inviting Him to come into your life will make your joy complete.  Jesus is with us.  He is not missing. Let’s be glad and rejoice.

Sunday, December 1, 2024

Trusting Through Troubles

The inscription on U.S. coins which we carry in our pocket or purse contain the words “In God We Trust.”  Question: Do you really put your trust in God?  Trusting God when times are good is easy for anyone.  However, it is a bit more difficult to trust God when things do not turn out the way you thought they would.

The Biblical Christmas story tells of two individuals who trusted God – Mary and Joseph.  They were engaged to be married, had a commitment to each other, and a commitment to God’s Word.  They wholeheartedly believed what God said.  An angel appeared to Mary and said, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end” (Luke 1:30-33).  Mary was shocked about the situation because she asked the angel, “How will this be … since I am a virgin?” (Luke 1:34).  The angel explained, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God(Luke 1:35).  Even though Mary was confused, her implicit trust in God was shown when she said to the angel, “I am the Lord’s servant.  May it be to me as you have said” (Luke 1:38).

Joseph was extremely distressed when he discovered that his fiancĂ© was pregnant.  However, he was a righteous young man and he did not want to expose Mary to public grace.  So his plan, which he felt would cause the least hurt to Mary, was to divorce her in a quiet manner.  However, an angel appeared to him and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.  She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:20-21).  Like Mary, Joseph’s action to the communication from the angel showed his unconditional trust in God.  Scripture tells us, “he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus” (Matthew 1:24-25).  Obviously, things did not work out the way this young couple had planned.  However, both of them obediently followed God’s direction and allowed God to work in their lives.

When things do not work out for you as you thought they would, do you find yourself trusting God through obedience and courage like Mary and Joseph?  Are you willing to put your life completely in God’s hands?   Remember, God is big enough, strong enough, and powerful enough to meet every need that you have.  The Bible says, “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19). During this Christmas season and in coming New Year, why not step out in faith and make “In God We Trust” a reality no matter what your circumstances?

Friday, November 1, 2024

The Object of Thanks

During the Thanksgiving season we are often encouraged to be thankful and that is a good biblical principle.  The Bibe says, “Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (I Thessalonians 5:18). If you examine the New International Version (NIV) translation of the Bible, you will discover that the words “give” and “thanks" are repeated together 33 times.  In nearly all these cases “thanks” is more than just having a thankful attitude.  There is an object towards which thankfulness is directed.  You would assume that the object of thanks would be people.  Why?  Because people give gifts, do nice things for others, or express words of encouragement.  Common sense tells us that we should be thankful for what others do for us.  However, the object towards which we should be thankful in the verses with the two words mentioned is the Lord.  For example, “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever” (Psalm 107:1).

In these verses there are a number of occasions where thanks to the Lord is accompanied with worship.  The Bible says, “The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped.  My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song (Psalm 28:7).  Singing to God is a way to worship.  Scirpture also says, I will give thanks to the Lord because of his righteousness and will sing praise to the name of the Lord Most High (Psalm 7:17). These “give thanks” verses identify several important actions that all of us can take this Thanksgiving season.

1)    Direct your thanks toward God.  You might thank the Lord for His provision for you – the food you enjoy, the air you breathe, the family of which you are a part, the salvation He provides for you, the forgiveness of your sins, or the many blessings you receive from God.

2)    Include worship as you give thanks.  Praise God, as you speak, sing or as you hum a tune.  A church service would be a good place for you to worship God.  However, wherever you are – at home, at work, or on a long walk – let a hymn or words of praise flow through your mind or be on your lips as you hum or sing or pray.  If you sing, do not worry about singing on key; just make a “joyful noise” (Psalm 100:1) before the Lord.

3)    Give thanks whatever is happening to you.  You may be discouraged and lonely or “down and out.”  Even if you find yourself in these circumstances, there are many things for which to thank God like the rain that provides refreshment, the sunshine you enjoy, the cool breeze on your face.  Let’s make the Lord the object of our thanksgiving.

This year take time to think about how your giving of thanks can be focused on God.  Let the things for which you are thankful be saturated with the Lord who is the object of your faith. 

Wednesday, October 2, 2024

Joy of Fulfillment

Most people can think about things for which they have had great anticipation.  Maybe that anticipation was a birthday, Christmas time, a new bike, a new game player, a new car, or a new home.  Possibly, you have anticipated the visit of a friend or relative whom you have not seen for some time.  Most likely all of us can think of things for which we have anticipated and most likely there will be further anticipations in the years ahead.  Anticipation is the excitement that a person has about looking forward to something that will bring a smile to their face, provide a note of joy to their heart, and fill them with a sense of great satisfaction. 

Most of the time anticipation is positive because the fulfillment will bring much happiness to the individual.  However, sometimes anticipation can be negative, especially when the individual has anticipated something for a long but it has not yet materialized.  This might result in a feeling of “dreaded expectation” and it may also produce fear or anxiety, rather than hope, and trust. 

From a biblical perspective, anticipation is a confident belief that what God has said will take place.  Another word for biblical anticipation is “faith.”  Faith as a general term is quite different than Biblical faith.  When someone has general faith, they have a “hope so” attitude.  They expect that something may happen, but in reality, it may not happen.  When someone has biblical faith, they have a “know so” attitude.  With Biblical faith they can be completely confident that what God has said will come to pass.  Hebrews 11:1 explains it this way, “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.”  Here are several important aspects of the statement from Hebrews.

(1) “Faith” – Is the actual anticipation of that which is expected.

(2) “Confidence” – Is Biblical faith because there is certainty in what is hoped for.

(3) “Assurance” – Is the guarantee that what is anticipated will essentially transpire – a “know so” attitude.

To sum up our discussion, anticipation is looking ahead and preparing for what God has already said and promised.  Joy comes when the result of anticipation has been fulfilled or completed. What do you look forward to?  What do you anticipate.  Is your anticipation a “hope so” kind of faith, or a “know so” kind of faith?  If you are looking for something for which you can be completely confident that it will actually happen, then go to the Bible and check out some of God’s promises such as new birth, a living hope, and an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade Here’s what the Apostle Peter says in his 1st Epistle.

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.”  I Peter 1:3-5

Sunday, September 1, 2024

Lessons from Flowers

During the summertime, most of us have seen many different kinds of flowers and heard comments expressing how beautiful the flowers look.  The color of flowers is exquisite and in most cases the fragrance is delightful.  Seeing gorgeous flowers may evoke positive memories of beautiful people, a fragrant perfume, reflections of perfection and goodness, or thoughts of a perfect God who has so generously made things for us to enjoy.

When we look at the beauty of flowers, let’s not just see pretty flowers, but let’s take time to learn lessons for Christian living.

1)    Beauty.  Flowers are beautifully dressed“Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these” (Luke 12:27).  They do not work or expend energy to look nice.  They are simply beautiful, because that is the way God made them.

2)    Faithfulness.  Flowers are compared to faithfulness.  “All people are like grass, and all their faithfulness is like the flowers of the field” (Isaiah 40:6). 

3)    Joy.  Flowers bring joy.  “Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come, the cooing of doves is heard in our land” (Song of Songs 2:12).

4)    Contrast.  Flowers are contrasted with God’s Word.  “The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever” (Isaiah 40:8).

5)    Reminder.  Flowers are a reminder that life is short.  “All people are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall” (1 Peter 1:24).

We ought to remember that God created the beauty that we see in the flowers, and He takes care of everything that He has created.  We should also remember that God created us and He takes care of us, too.  Listen to these words: “And why do you worry about clothes?  See how the lilies of the field grow.  They do not labor or spin.  Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.  If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown in the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?” (Matthew 6:28-30).

When you see a beautiful flower, take time to give thanks to God for His creative power.  However, do not forget to thank God for creating you and taking care of you.

 

Thursday, August 1, 2024

Friendship

The first Sunday in August is designated as national Friendship Day.  The emphasis of that day encourages us to do several things.  First, thank God for the friends that you have and which you enjoy.  Second, determine that you are going to be a good friend to another person.  Third, plan some special activities that you will share with a friend.  As we expand our thinking about friendship, it might be helpful to examine some of the interesting ideas that the Bible points out about friendship.

1)    Focus.  Friendships that take our focus away from Christ should not be made. “You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God (James 4:4).  It seems fairly easy to make a distinction between “the world” and those who are “not of the world.”  If people are not living according to the Biblical principles and exhortations, they are “of the world.”  Those who live a godly life following the Bible are “not of the world.”

2)    Separation.  Friendships should be made cautiously, lest others pull us away from God. “A righteous man is cautious in friendship, but the way of the wicked leads them astray” (Proverbs 12:26).  Those people who live in ungodly ways and contrary to Biblical principles are individuals with whom one should not associate in a social manner.

3)    Change.  Sometimes a so-called friend may turn against us. “In return for my friendship they accuse me, but I am a man of prayer.  They repay me evil for good, and hatred for my friendship (Psalms 109:4-5). Are there people who are accusatory when it comes to their relationship with you and other people?  Do you find them doing evil things to you and to others?  Do not begin a friendship with such a person or break off a former friendship relationship you have had with them so you can focus on that which is positive and godly.

4)    Personal.  A personal friendship with God is possible. “Oh, for the days when I was in my prime, when God's intimate friendship blessed my house” (Job 29:4).  Where have you found God blessing your life?  Can you identify several things that God has done for you showing his mercy and grace?  Take time to develop your relationship with God to give you the strength you need to live in godly ways.

What do these verses tell us?  Do they mean that we cannot be friends with those who do not believe like we do?  Of course, the answer is “no.”  “God loved the world (each individual) so much that he gave His one and only Son (Jesus) to die for them that they might heave eternal life” (John 3:16).  Scripture also reminds us that we are to “Love one another” (I John 4:11-12).


People who name the name of Christ and have put their faith and trust in Christ as their Savior, ought to live in such a way that their life points others to the Savior.
  Jesus gave this command, Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven (Matthew 5:6). Should we love the world?  “Yes”.  Should we show ourselves friendly?  “Yes.”  However, let’s make sure our friendships are those which will lead us and others to the Savior instead of away from Him.

Tuesday, July 2, 2024

The Wordless Book

The wordless book is a booklet with colored pages, each representing an aspect of the Christian gospel.  In London in 1866 Rev. Charles Spurgeon preached a sermon entitled, “The Wordless Book.”  He told about an elderly minister who put three colored pages together and often looked at them to remind himself of three things: (1) His sinfulness (black), (2) Christ’s blood poured out for him (red), and (3) The cleansing provided for him (white).  Nine years later, Lay Evangelist, D. L. Moody, added a page to the booklet and shared with 12,000 children “A Book with Four Leaves.”  Since then, Bible verses were added along with a gold page and a green page (added in 1875 and 1939).  The pages explained are:


1)   
Gold represents Heaven.  God loves us and wants us to be with him in his heavenly home.  Jesus said, “My Father’s house (heaven) has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am” (John 14:2-3).

2)    Black – represents Sin.  Sin prevents us from being with God.  The punishment for our sins is that we cannot be with God in heaven because our hearts are not clean.  The Bible reminds us, All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).

3)    Red – represents the Blood of Jesus.  God loves us so much that he sent his Son, Jesus to provide a way for our hearts to be made clean.  Jesus died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins and make it possible for us to be forgiven.  The Apostle John says, “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin” (I John 1:7).

4)    Whiterepresents Clean Hearts.  When we sincerely admit that we have sinned, ask God to forgive us, believe that Jesus died to take the punishment we deserved, and invite Jesus into our lives, God makes our hearts clean.  John says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (I John 1:9).

5)    Green – represents Growth.  Once we invite Jesus to come into our lives, it is important that we grow in our relationship with Jesus. We can do this by talking to God (praying), reading God’s word (the Bible), and obeying him (doing what he asks us to do).  The Bible says, “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen” (II Peter 3:18)

Through the death and resurrection of Christ, and our hope and trust when we by faith personally receive Jesus into our lives, we can enjoy the spiritual freedom that God offers.  Let’s take time to allow the wordless book – gold, black, red, white, green – to speak to us as we respond to the message of the gospel.