The Star

There is an object in the Christmas story that we often refer to as the star of the east.  The biblical text says, “After they (the magi) had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was.  When they saw the star, they were overjoyed” (Matthew 2:9-10).  It might be helpful for us to reflect on what a star does.

First, a star brings cheer.  The darker the night, the brighter the star shines.  The darker our night of sin, the brighter God’s redeeming love is to us.  When talking to those whom He forgave, Jesus often encouraged them to be of good cheer or to take heart.
Second, stars are used to provide guidance.  Navigators used the stars to find their way - as did the Magi.
Third, stars have a lasting presence.  They endure from one generation to another.  Who hasn’t seen the big dipper, the little dipper, or the North Star in the sky?

In addition, the words of Scripture tell us that Jesus is: “The Bright and Morning Star” (Revelation 22:16).  He always shines to brighten the way for everyone to not only see their spiritually lost condition but to help them understand their need of surrendering to God for forgiveness, peace, hope and eternal life.  Christmas is a special time for us to realize that we can personally receive the precious gift of Jesus Christ.  He alone can remove our guilt and the curse of that guilt, which is eternal death.  He alone can give us an unending blissful life.  “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).

Let’s accept this unspeakable gift as our very own and know what it means to have the Bright and Morning Star as our constant guide to cheer our way through the darkness of this world into the light of eternity.

Thanks be to God

It is almost impossible to come to the month of November without thinking about Thanksgiving.  Of course, Thanksgiving is a national holiday and it is used for everything from food to sports events to family get-togethers.  All these things are fun, but the real reason for Thanksgiving is to set aside a special time to give thanks to God for His bountiful provisions for us.

When the Apostle Paul’s heart was full of thanksgiving he expressed his thanks to God.  He thanked God for Jesus, who was God’s love gift to mankind.  “Thanks be to God!  He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (I Corinthians 15:57).  Paul also gave thanks to God for the privilege of spreading the Good News of the Gospel.  “But thanks be to God, who always leads us in the triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him” (II Corinthians 2:14).

What about your response during this Thanksgiving season?  Is your heart full of thanksgiving to God?  Are you ready and open to give thanks to your Heavenly Father?  I encourage you to personally thank God, but I also encourage you to share your thanks to God with someone else.  Let them know of your gratefulness to God for Christ, for the victory that you have in Him, and for the opportunity to let the light of God’s love be spread from you to other people.

Bags of Blessings

Every October leaves begin to fall from the tress as the they prepare themselves for the long winter.  As people rake those leaves they often place them in large yard-waste bags.  Many people think the leaves are useless  those bags of leaves find their way to the local refuse dump.  However, leaves serve a wonderful purpose—they provide insulation from the cold winter.  The leaves have insulating value and are often used to cover tender shrubs and plants that need extra protection over the long cold winter months.

You and I are like those tender shrubs and plants.  We need divine protection from Satan who would love to get us to fall into sin.  The Apostle Peter exhorts us to “Be self-controlled and alert” (I Peter 5:8). Why be alert?  Peter goes on to give the reason, “Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (I Peter 5:8).  But how can we resist Satan and his advances?  It is the Apostle Paul who gives us the formula when he says, “Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything to stand” (Ephesians 6:13).

It is God himself through the armor that He provides that protects us from destruction.  As you look at the leaves this fall, and as you see bags of leaves bundled up at homes in your neighborhood, let your mind turn to God.  Thank Him for the “bags of blessings” that He gives to you.  Thank God for protecting you from the evil one.  And don’t forget to put on the full armor of God so the protection God provides does its work in your life.

Getting Ready

It is interesting that “getting ready” is an action or an activity that all of us must do.  When we aren’t ready, we are sometimes taken by surprise or “thrown for a loop.”  Change is hard to accept—especially when we are not ready for it.  However, when we are ready, change is easier for us to handle.  Think with me for a few minutes about getting ready. 

1)    A Spirit of Readiness.  Summer is just about over as we swing into the fall season with the month of September.  School starts, regular programs and ministries gear up, and we are once again made aware of how important it is for us to “get ready.”  The cold weather will surely come upon us very rapidly.  Are you ready for that?  Sometimes we may not be as ready for change as we want to be.  As a result it becomes quite easy to complain, fret, grumble or gripe.  Since we know that change is inevitable, why not accept it with a ready spirit?

2)    A place to Get Ready.  It is good for us to “be ready” mentally, emotionally and spiritually.  Some people find it helpful to get away to a quiet place where they can meditate, praise God, and think about His presence.  Obviously, this can be done anywhere.  However, it is helpful to be able to go to a specific location that has been designated as a place of prayer, meditation and quiet reflection.  It seems to me that a church or chapel would be a good place to do that. 

3)    God’s Readiness.  God is getting ready for those who love him and put their trust in him.  According to the Bible, we can know for certain and be assured that we will go to heaven to be with Him some day.  Listen to these verses which explain how.  “Do not let your hearts be troubled.  Trust in God; trust also in me.  In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you.  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.  You know the way to the place where I am going.  Thomas said to him, ‘Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?’  Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me’” (John 14:1-6). 

4)    Ready for the Lord’s Return.  God is getting ready for us and the Scripture reminds us that we need to get ready for the return of the Lord.  It says, “You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him” (Luke 12:40).

You can get ready to meet the Lord by receiving Him as your Savior and Lord.  “Look! I have been standing at the door, and I am constantly knocking. If anyone hears me calling him and opens the door, I will come in and fellowship with him and he with me. (Revelation 3:20, TLB).

Heat and the Trusting Person

What do you know about summer heat?  Most of us who live in the upper Midwest know that heat always seems to be greatest in the month of August.  We know that it can scorch and parch the earth.  We know that shade gives us a welcome relief from the sweltering summer heart.

As the prophet Jeremiah described the person who puts their trust in Christ, notice his reference to heat.  “But blessed is the man who trust in the Lord, whose confidence is in him.  He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream.  It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green.  It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit” (Jeremiah 17:7-8).

A person who trusts Christ does not have to fear the problems and difficulties that may arise in life.  Look at Jeremiah’s quote one more time and notice 5 things about the trusting person. The trusting person (1) Will be blessed; (2) Has a constant source of nourishment and refreshment; (3) Remains alive and vibrant; (4) Does not have to live in fear; and (5) Bears fruit.

My question to you today is, “Are these five things true of your life?”  When problems and difficulties of life (that might be consider a scorching heat) arise, are you protected?  If not, what is it that you need to help your anxiousness and fears subside?  The Scripture gives us the answer.  It says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5-6).  To trust the Lord is to rely on Him completely—in every way and at all times.  Put your trust in the Lord today.  Then you can address the heat of daily living with confidence and without worry because God’s protection and strength will be your experience.

The Colors of Freedom

Red, white and blue are probably the three colors that come to mind most often when we think of the Fourth of July, the United States of America, our flag, patriotism, and the freedom that we enjoy in this great country of ours.  However, I would like to direct your attention to these three colors as they relate to God and to our relationship with Him.

·       Red.  We know that blood is red.  I John 1:7 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 form all sin”.  The death of Jesus on the cross of Calvary was the only answer to the sin problem of mankind.  His death paid the penalty for our sin and made it possible for us to have a right relationship with God.

·       White.  White stands for cleansing and purity.  I John 1:9 continues, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us form all unrighteousness”.  The stain of sin is purified and cleansed by Jesus Christ, making us right with God.  That happens only because of the death of Christ on the cross for us and not by any kind of works that you and I can do.  It is only because of Christ’s death that we are cleansed from sin. Red and white are placed together when Isaiah 1:18 summarizes the action of Christ and the implication for you and me when he says, “‘Come now, let us reason together’ says the Lord.  ‘Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool’”.  What a difference the work of Christ makes for you and me.

·       Blue.  Blue speaks of tranquility and peace.  This is explained in Philippians 4:7 which says, “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”  The source of God’s peace is the indwelling Christ.  It was Jesus, who said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.  I do not give to you as the world gives.  Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” (John 14:27).  When fear is removed there is peace and tranquility.

As you celebrate the Fourth of July this year and when you see the colors red, white, and blue, I encourage you to thank God for your freedom and for the United States of America.  Let’s also be quick to thank God for: Red – The blood of Christ that was shed for us; White – The fact that through Christ we are pure and cleansed from our sin; and Blue – The peace that God gives us through a personal relationship with Christ.

Rest and Relaxatioon

During a winter vacation trip to Florida my wife and I had the privilege of walking up and down the beach.  It was fun to enjoy the warm rays of sunshine and experience the cool water of the Atlantic Ocean lapping at our feet.  We enjoyed relaxation and refreshment in this beautiful setting and saw other people enjoying the same thing.  I turned to my wife and said, “I think I could be one.”  To which she asked, “Be one what?”  “I think I could be a ‘Beach Bum’, I said.”  Of course, I was kidding, but in a sense, I was just expressing how wonderful it was and how great it felt to take a break from the regular routine of work.  The Bible talks about rest and shares some valuable truths about it.

1)    God wants all of us to rest and be refreshed.  Jesus told His disciples, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest” (Mark 6:31).  God wants us to have rest, so He created both the day and the night. 

2)    God is the only one who can give us spiritual rest.  The psalmist says, “My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him” (Psalm 62:1).  When God talks about rest, He is concerned that we not only have physical rest but that we also get spiritual rest.  That rest can be characterized as an inner peace of heart and mind which is possible through a personal relationship with God.

3)    God does not make the decision for us to receive His rest; we do.  The writer of Hebrews very pointedly says, “Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest” (Hebrews 4:11).  In order to obtain the rest that God offers, we must make a personal decision to receive Christ Jesus as Savior and Lord.  When we do so, Jesus promises us a place in heaven with Him.  He says, “In my father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have old you.  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).

So, is it time for you to rest?  Have you spent some time apart from your regular routine (no matter what that routine is) to get some physical rest?  Are you aware that only God can give you spiritual rest?  Do you know that God cannot make the decision for you to receive His rest?  Maybe this would be a good time for you to personally receive the spiritual rest that God provides.  Turn to Him in prayer and ask Him to come into your life and make you the kind of person He wants you to be.

What We Can Learn From Flowers

There's an old saying: “April showers bring May flowers.”  So, what can we learn about flowers from the Bible?  Here are some things I have discovered.

• The tabernacle had cups shaped like almond flowers (Exodus 25:33-34; 37:19-20).
• The temple had carvings of flowers on the walls and on the doors (I Kings 6:18. 20. 23. 35).
• Flowers appear on the earth (Song of Solomon 2:12).
• Flowers of the field are man’s glory (Isaiah 50:6).
• Flowers wither and fall (Isaiah 40:7-8; I Peter 1:24-25).

God must really enjoy flowers because he made them so beautiful and He gave instructions for instruments and ornamentations to be shaped or carved like flowers.  Flowers are beautiful—but they will not last.  However, there is something that will last—God’s Word.  Here is how the Apostle Peter puts it: “For, all men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord stands forever.  And this is the word that was preached to you” (I Peter 1:24-25).

What this tells me is that we should enjoy the beauty of the flowers that God has created, but we ought also to focus on enjoying the beauty of God’s Word.  His Word will last; flowers will not.  His Word will never fade away; flowers will.  Where are you spending your time?  I encourage you to make sure some of your time is spent in reading and listening to God’s Word.  That’s what we can learn from flowers.

Looking Back at March Madness

The finals of “March Madness” has recently been completed in Minnesota.  Some people from around the country crowded into the Twin Cities area to cheer their favorite team to victory and some came just to be a part of the madness experience.  The tournament began with 64 teams, all with the goal of prevailing to the very end.  However, only one team became the National Basketball Champion.

The Apostle Paul must have been a sports fan because in scripture he so often uses sports images to communicate spiritual truths.  If Paul would have been in Minnesota, I’m sure he would have enjoyed all the events that were part of “March Madness”, and most likely he would have participated in every one that he could.

Listen to Paul as he speaks, “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air.  No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize” (I Corinthians 9:24-27).

Note three things that we ought to be concerned about in living a Christian life.

1)    We must be disciplined, if we are to win the prize it will take “strict training.”

2)    Our goal is to receive a lasting reward in the form of “a crown that will last forever.”

3)    We must compete according to the rules so we will not be disapproved or “not be disqualified.”

No one has to lose In the Christian life.  Everyone can win.  Paul reminds us that all of us should “run in such a way as to get the prize.”  Let's join together in an ongoing, disciplined, spiritual “March Madness” regimen by learning more about Christ and living for Him every day so as to bring glory to his name.

He Knows Your Name

On the morning, February 1, 2003, many people sat stunned in silence and unbelief as they heard reports and saw video of the break-up of the Space Shuttle, Columbia, during its re-entry into the earth’s atmosphere.  The loss of the shuttle crew plunged the entire nation into a state of mourning and grief.  Shortly after the mishap, our President, George W. Bush said, “The same Creator who names the stars also knows the names of the seven souls we mourn today.”  Although he didn’t state a Biblical chapter and verse, I thought of what Jesus said in the Gospel of John.  He said, “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me” (John 10:14).

Notice four things this verse communicates.

1)    Jesus is a shepherd.  The first responsibility of a shepherd is to take care of the sheep that are entrusted to him.

2)    Jesus is the good shepherd.  A good shepherd does everything he can to support and nurture his sheep in loving and gentle ways.

3)    Jesus has intimate knowledge of his sheep.  A shepherd has more than a passing knowledge of his sheep—he knows them intimately.  John says, “He calls his own sheep and knows them by name” (John 10:3).

4)    The sheep of Jesus know their shepherd. There is opportunity for the sheep to have knowledge of and intimacy with the Good Shepherd.  Jesus never forces His sheep to know Him.  Through gentle love, care, and nurture, Jesus’ sheep desire to respond to Him in a positive manner.

Amid national and personal grief, our only hope is in the Lord.  Aren’t you glad that God knows you by name?  Aren’t you glad that He has made it possible, through faith, for you to know Him personally and live with Him eternally?

The Love Gift

February is nearly complete, but the month is known for love.  Probably this is so because of Valentine’s Day which is a day set aside to honor lovers.  Many people use this occasion to send greeting cards or gifts to each other to express affection.  Valentine cards are often designated with hearts to symbolize love.  The more I thought about the love month, the more I was reminded that love is reflected in who God is and what He came to this earth to do.

First, love is a description of God.  The Bible emphatically states, “God is love” (I John 14:6).  This statement doesn’t tell us what God does, it express who God is.  Before we understand the loving actions of God we need to recognize that love is His very essence and characterizes Him in every way.

Second, God has shown His great love for us by providing salvation through Christ.   The great love-verse of the Bible points this out when it says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).

Third, God has sent His love to us as a greeting card.  The Apostle John tells us about this greeting card when he says, “This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.  This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loves us and sent his Son as the atoning sacrifice for our sins” (I John 4:9-10).

Aren’t you glad that God is in the business of loving?  Aren’t you glad that He is in the business of loving you?  The question is, what should we do with these expressions of  love?  Here is the answer:“He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life” (I John 5:12).  This suggests that we need to make sure we put our faith in the Son of God and trust Him as our Savior and Lord.  The Apostle Paul said, “If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved” (Romans 10:9-10).

Let God’s love-gift make a difference in your life.  That difference will be felt both now, and for all eternity.

God's Abiding Presence

The Bible says, “As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Joshua 1:5).  These were the comforting words God shared with Joshua as the Children of Israel headed into unknown territory.  He only asked them to trust Him, spend time in His Word, and be obedient to what He had to say.

You and I head into unknown territory as well.  Although we are well into the first month of 2019, most of the year is ahead of us.  And yes, what is ahead of us is unknown.  But we can be completely confident in God’s abiding presence.  Let’s not take His presence for granted, but as we continue through this year let’s do what he asked the Children of Israel to do—trust Him, spend time in His Word, and be obedient to what He has to say.  Here’s what the Bible says, “Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go.  Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written it it.  Then you will be prosperous and successful” (Joshua 1:7-8).