Good News at Christmas

All of us are anxious to hear news, but our appreciation for the news we hear is even greater if the news is good news.  This Christmas season are you prepared to hear some good news?  Here is some good news that comes directly from the biblical Christmas Story.  The angel of the Lord appeared to the shepherds who were tending their flocks on the Bethlehem hillside and said, “I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people” (Luke 2:10).  Notice that the news that was brought to them was (1) Quality News because it was “good news”, (2) It was Hopeful News because it would provide “great joy”, and (3) It was Extensive News because it was news that was important for “all the people.”

The news the angel was talking about was the gospel, which actually means good news.  When the word gospel is used in the New Testament, most of the time it refers to the total of the saving truth about Jesus as it is communicated to people who are lost in sin.  The bad news of the Bible is called sin, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).  But when God entered the picture, He changed the bad news to good news. “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were sill sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

I trust that during this Christmas season the news of Jesus Christ will be especially Good News for you because by faith you can experience Christ in your heart.  My prayer is that as you experience the Good News of Christ you will have great joy because of the personal peace that God gives.  I further trust that you will take time to communicate this wonderful news of Christ to others.  Listen to the promise Jesus gave in His own words, “For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day” (John 6:40).  May you have a joyous Christmas rejoicing in the Good News of salvation in Christ.

Finding Christmas Joy

As a child, one of the things at Christmas that was most fun for me was finding a gift under the tree with my name on it.  When I looked at the name tags on the presents and discovered my name listed, I began to wonder.  Was it a toy?  A game?  Something fun?  Would it make me happy?  Or was it a dreaded article of clothing?  It is interesting that “finding” is mentioned in the Biblical Christmas story.  It was an angel who told the shepherds on the Judean hillside so many years ago, “This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger” (Luke 2:12).  As I began to think of Christmas in terms of finding I discovered several other wonderful things from the Bible that are worth finding.

1)      Christmas is finding God’s Love.  Too often, people feel like they are not loved.  When downhearted and discouraged it is good to peel back the curtain of despair and recognize that God’s love is available in abundant measure to bring light, peace, and joy. To hear the words, “I love you”, brightens the day and turns discouragement into hope.  God sent His Son, Jesus, to express His love to us. “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” (I John 4:9).

2)      Christmas is finding Forgiveness.  The Scripture is clear that everyone sins and is born with a sin nature.  In addition, sin must be punished.  However, God’s plan was to send Jesus to die on the cross to pay the penalty of our sin.  “All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name” (Acts 10:43).

3)      Christmas is finding Hope.  Without Christ there is despair and despondency.  The Apostle Paul says, “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope” (Romans 15:4).  Without hope there is not much to look forward to.  Finding God is to find hope.

4)      Christmas is finding Joy.  Joy goes far beyond happiness because it does not depend on circumstances.  Joy comes from a close relationship and fellowship with Christ and results in strength to the individual irrespective of circumstances.  “The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart” (Psalm 19:8).  “The joy of the Lord is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10).

5)      Christmas is finding Peace.  One of the names given to Jesus is the Prince of Peace.  Isaiah 9:6 names Him with these very words – “Prince of Peace.”  With Jesus you and I can experience peace even in tough, unsettling times.  “You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, telling the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all” (Acts 10:36). 

6)      Christmas is finding Everlasting Life.  Jesus came for the purpose of giving something that would last forever – eternal life.  He said, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” (John 10:10). From the Apostle Paul we learn about this special gift.  “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 3:23).

All these gifts are a special find and they come through Jesus Christ.  Do not let another Christmas season pass without going on a hunt to find the wonderful things that God has for you.

 

Thanksgiving All the Time

Thanksgiving is just around the corner so let’s think about a verse from the Bible that reminds us to be thankful.  Psalm 95:2 says, “Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song.”  Who is “us?”  Who is “him?”  What do we need to do?  Since we are thinking about giving of thanks an additional question might be, “When are we to give thanks?”

1)     The exhortation is for people.  “Let us” refers to all people (everyone) but particularly God’s people – those who have developed a personal relationship with the creator of the universe.

2)     We are encouraged to take action.  “Come” suggests that we need to make sure we are ready, willing, and able to take the steps that are important to do what God wants us to do.

3)     We are urged to come to the right person.  The “Him” in this verse is the “Lord.” The acknowledgment suggests that God should be the sole object of our thanks.

4)     We are challenged to have a grateful heart.  Our gratefulness is suggested by the words “With thanksgiving.”  It is easy for us just to be happy and enjoy our surroundings.  However, a grateful heart is one that is extremely thankful for a God who is concerned about us and cares for us. As a result, we should be ready to offer to God a sacrifice of praise.

5)     We are exhorted to worship and praise.  We are to “Extol him” by lifting up God’s name, admiring Him, and bowing in his presence because he is worthy of our praise and honor.

6)     We are advised to share our expression.  That sharing is to come through “Music and song.” These are ways that help our emotions turn to God whether it be with a melodious voice or a harmonious instrument.  Our expression to God should come from the grace of God in our hearts and spiritual joy that reveals our delight in Him.

When should we give thanks?  On Thanksgiving Day?  As soon as Halloween is over?  When the calendar tells us it is the time of the year to give thanks?  This verse does not suggest a specific day or time of the year to give thanks.  So, we should be ready to express our thanks to God all the time throughout the year.  Why not begin your thanksgiving today?

God's Guidance

One summer, years ago my brother-in-law and I decided that we wanted to go fishing.  However, since I am not a fisherman and he was from out of state, he said, “Let’s hire a Fishing Guide.  They know where the fish are located.”  Since we had no idea where the best fishing was on the particular lake we had chosen, that’s what we did.  I was impressed with the guide because he knew where to go, what kind of fish we might find in that location, the right kind of bait to use, and the right time of the day to put our lines in the water.

As I thought about having a guide for catching fish, my thoughts turned toward the scriptures and its focus on God being our guide.  God must have a deep concern for us because the Bible often speaks about guidance.  The prophet Isaiah wanted us to know that that God’s guidance is always available for us.  He said, “The Lord will guide you always…” (Isaiah 58:11).  In addition to this there are additional places in the Bible that point to God’s guidance.

1. When we desire understanding and want to be practical or sensible God says, “I guide you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths” (Proverbs 4:11).
2. The words of God and His wise council are part of God’s guidance when the Scripture says, “You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory” (Proverbs 23:74).
3. As we live from day to day, we discover that God’s words are always there to give us direction.  “When you walk, they will guide you; when you sleep, they will watch over you; when you awake, they will speak to you” (Proverbs 6:22).
4. When looking for that which is true, we are given specific guidance.  “But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come” (John 16:13)

Even though we may not be aware of God’s guidance, as children of God we can have complete confidence that He is vitally concerned that we have the direction we need as we seek to bring honor and glory to Him.

Preparing for Battle

The month of October has brought with it many different things – colorful fall leaves, crisp cold nights, caramel apples, pumpkins, and of course we can expect Halloween.  On October 31 the ancient Celts in Britain celebrated Samhain, summer’s end, with a feast and a number of occult practices.  They believed that the spirits of the dead roamed the earth on this night and druid priests sought appeasement through a variety of practices, including animal, and even human, sacrifices.  It is from these and succeeding traditions that the Halloween symbols of witches, goblins, skeletons, black cats, devils, and jack-o-lanterns came into being.  In later years, October 31 has come to be a high holy day for Satan worshipers.

The Bible has some clear instruction which advises us to avoid cultic and spiritist practices.  It says, “Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead.  Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord, and because of these detestable practices the Lord your God will drive out those nations before you.  You must be blameless before the Lord your God” (Deuteronomy 18:10-12).

There are many people who participate in Halloween activities at this time of the year.  And as you can imagine, some people would rather that their children not be involved in these kinds of activities because of the tie they have to the spirit world.  I am also reminded that the Apostle Paul told the people at Ephesus “Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 4:12).  He went on to remind them what they should do in order to win the battle against these spiritual forces.  His instruction was to: “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).

My prayer is that you will thoroughly enjoy this wonderful fall season and that instead of focusing on the spiritual forces of evil you will prepare for battle by focusing on God and His Word which contains the positive message of faith and trust.  And don’t forget to put on the full armor of God as you live daily for Him.  You will need the extra protection of that full armor so you can stand against the spiritual forces of this world.

Routine

Most of us get tired of thinking about and doing things that need to be done routinely.  Every day we open our eyes, wash our face, comb our hair, brush our teeth, put on makeup or shave our face.  We may even go outside for some exercise, take the dog for a walk, call someone on the telephone or respond to email messages.  The list could go on and on.  Although we may tire of these routine activities, just think of what would happen if we were not able to open our eyes, take care of our personal needs, eat meals, go to work, or talk with someone.  We’d be in big trouble.

What about the things that happen routinely that we do not usually even think about like breathing, the pumping of our heart, and the blood pushed through every part of our body?  I’m so glad these things get taken care of routinely by God.  We would be in bad shape if any of these routine activities would stop functioning. Acts 17:24-25 says, “The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth … and he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else.”

We should not be afraid of routine nor should we think of routine actions as something that is an inconvenience.  God is not only God of the unusual but God of the routine.  He made the earth that routinely rotates on its axis.  He made the day and the night that routinely alternate.  He made the seasons through which we routinely move.  He is the giver of life and we routinely breathe the air He created.

The Apostle Paul reminds us that it is “…God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment” (I Timothy 6:17).  The Apostle James affirms that “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows” (James 1:17).

As we continue into this fall season, we will once again be confronted with the beauty of the changing color of the leaves.  This is routine; it happened last year, and it will happen again this year.  But let’s rejoice in the wonderful provision that God has made for us—even with the routine “stuff.”

Fall Colors and Growth

October is the month of color—beautiful color, brilliant color, dazzling color—color that we see in the leaves of the trees as the trees prepare themselves for the dormancy of winter.  One color which is often overlooked in the fall is green – although it can be seen year-round in evergreen trees.  God is a God of beauty and He delights in making all things beautiful.  As fall progresses we will see red, yellow, brown, and orange leaves on trees - but God is also interested in green.  I’m reminded of Scripture where the psalmist said, “The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon; planted in the house if the Lord, they will flourish in the courts of our God.  They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green” (Psalm 92:12-14).

Let’s examine a few aspects of these verses. 

1)      “The righteous.”   These are all people who have had a heart transformation by receiving Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.  It is hard to realize that you and I can be righteous because the Bible tells us that we are all sinners (Romans 3:23).  However, the Bible also tells us that “God made him (Jesus) who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (II Corinthians 5:21).

2)      “Flourish like a palm tree … grow like a cedar of Lebanon … flourish in the courts of our God.”  To “flourish” is to bloom, to break out, to spring up, and to spread or grow.  The righteous are not only durable like these trees, but they provide protection for the weary, they can stand tall and strong, they are majestic in their beauty, and they can still grow.

3)      “Still bear fruit in old age.”  Bearing fruit means being vibrant, active, energetic, and effective.  Notice, the righteous can still bear fruit – even those righteous who are elderly.  So, everyone can be productive—no matter what their age. 

4)      “Stay fresh and green.”  Something that is fresh is clean.  It is also new, vibrant, and vital.  To be fresh and green suggests an active lifestyle full of resilience and fruitfulness – even to the very end of life.

The green of summer will soon fade, but growth has not concluded.  Everyone can be bright and active for the Lord at any stage of life.  So, as you view the beauty of the fall colors this year—remember God wants to help you grow and be vibrant for Him.

What in the World are You Doing?

As a child I occasionally got into trouble (well, that did happen more than I want to admit), but one time I remember my father saying to me, “What in the world are you doing?”  Of course, I had to fess up to the predicament in which I found myself and receive the consequences of my action.  As I think back to that question, I believe it is a good question for all of us to think about – not because we have been in trouble, but because we need to think about our existence.  What in the world am I doing?  Why has God allowed me to live in this Century?  What does God want to accomplish through me?  When the Apostle Paul made a defense before King Agrippa, he rehearsed his experience of getting to know God personally.  Here is what the Lord said to him, “I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me” (Acts 26:17-18).

 Notice several specifics about these verses:

 1)      Sending Agent.  “I am sending you.”  God, the Creator and Sustainer of the Universe, has a task to accomplish and He works through people to get His work done.

2)      Specific Mission.  “To open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light.”  God’s purpose is that people will turn from the darkness of sin to the brightness of eternal life in Christ.

3)      Sustaining Power. “From the power of Satan to God.” It is God’s divine power (not Satan’s power) that is at work through individuals so His purpose can be fulfilled.

4)      Systematic Cleansing.   “They may receive forgiveness of sins.” God wants people to be spiritually clean by having their sins forgiven and that comes only because of Christ’s death on the cross.

5)      Sacred Confidence.  “A place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.” Through faith in God, a person has confident assurance that God has done a new work in his or her life.

If you read the rest of the book of Acts and the Epistles that the Apostle Paul wrote you will find him doing the things that this verse suggests.  It seems to me that this is the same activity that all people who call themselves Christians should be doing.  We should share the Gospel with people so their eyes can be opened to the Savior, so they can turn from the darkness of sin to God’s wonderful light, so they can receive forgiveness of sin, and so they can be sanctified through faith in Christ.

So, the question remains for all of us: “What in the world am I doing?”  What are you doing personally?  What are you doing familywise?  What are you doing in your community?  I trust that your answer and action to these questions are the same as that of the Apostle Paul.

Something is Missing

Something is missing.  What can it be?  Oh, yes.  It’s the State Fair that is missing this year.  The Great Minnesota Get-Together has been canceled for 2020 because of the Coronavirus.  Of course, many people are extremely disappointed because this event is missing.  Isn’t it interesting that we are disappointed, sometimes frustrated or even annoyed when something is missing?  It is not just the State Fair, but lots of other things that may be missing from time to time.  For example, I may forget to put my wallet in my pocket in the morning before leaving the house for the day.  When I discover it is missing, I am frustrated because it contains my driver’s license, a little bit of money and a couple of credit cards.  I may fail to insert an important word or thought in a document on which I am working.  As a result, the missing word or thought not only frustrates me but it adds additional work for me as I redo the document.  When I fail to reset my cellphone from the “do not disturb” mode and I miss an important call from a person at an organization which I needed to personally talk with, I am upset.  When something is missing, I generally do not have a good day.

This year is very unusual as lots of things are missing.  For example, we no longer can walk into a business establishment without a mask.  A store that sells goods or services that we have enjoyed in the past is closed and out of business.  We are not allowed to gather in large groups.  These things are discouraging and a little bit frustrating.  However, should the fact that any of these things are different or missing be of great concern to us?  As much as some of these missing things are a disappointment they should probably not be of great concern.

I am so glad that when it comes to God, nothing is missing.  He is completely adequate to take care of us and to meet all our needs.

1)      God’s love is not missing.  “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).  His love is always available for everyone and at any time.

2)      God provision is not missing.  II Peter 1:3 tells us, “His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.”  We can think of several things that we need.  However, many of those “needs” are simply “want” items.  The scripture further notes, “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19).

3)      God’s purpose is not missing.  “Christ is the sacrifice that takes away our sins and the sins of all the world’s people” (I John 2:2).  God took the debt of sin that you and I owed and provided His one and only son, Jesus, to die on the cross on our behalf to pay the penalty of our sin.  Romans 5:8 continues, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” 

What should we do when something is missing?   We should remember all the things that God provides for us which are not missing.  In addition, we should recall that:

1)      God wants our focus to be on Jesus.  Hebrews 12:1-2 says, “Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.”  The easiest thing for us to do is to focus on the wrong thing.  When our emphasis is on what is missing we forget the thing that is most important.

2)      God wants us to be thankful in all things.  I Thessalonians 5:18 says, “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”  Whether things are in place as usual, whether they are different, or even permanently or temporarily missing we should be thankful.

Noise or Sound

Have you ever noticed the tremendous amount of noise that surrounds you every day?  At home you may hear the noise of your washing machine, refrigerator, furnace, freezer or clothes dryer.  At work you may hear the noise of people talking, cars buzzing by, telephones ringing, or airplanes flying overhead.  In your quiet time you may even hear the noise of a ticking clock, a noise already suggested, or the noise of nothing at all.

The most common use of the word “noise” is an unwanted sound or it may be described as a sound that is loud, unpleasant, unexpected, or undesired.  The word “noise” seems to be quite different than the word “sound” because it is something that is more specific and distinctive.  For example, when I hear the sound of a honking horn it may be a sound that is warning me about something that I need to heed.  However, if the sound of the horn continues it becomes an annoying noise and something that is unwanted.

When have you last listened for a sound and were grateful to God for it?  Maybe it was the sound of a bird chirping, the sound of a baby crying, the sound of music when expressed in worship to God, or the sound of someone saying “thank you.”

It is interesting that the word “noise” occurs 20 times in my electronic New International Version of the Bible while the word “sound” occurs 125 times.  If there is to be meaning and understanding from a sound, that sound must be distinct.  The Bible reminds us, “If the trumpet does not sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle?” (1 Corinthians 14:8).  Sometimes we are so busy with our activities that noise is ever-present and we neglect hearing the sounds that are quiet and meaningful.

The prophet Elijah discovered God’s voice in quietness.  “After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper” (1 Kings 19:12).  Where are you when it comes to noise and sounds?  Is the noise getting the best of you, or are you listening for sounds that cause you to express praise to God?  What about your quiet time?  Are you spending time in the presence of God where you are able to hear the sound of His gentle whisper that causes you to respond to Him in a meaningful way?

Great Delight

What is it that brings great delight to you?  As I began to reflect on things that bring me pleasure, enjoyment, a sense of satisfaction, and delight summertime came to my mind.  In the summer I enjoy being out-of-doors – walking by a lake or a brook, feeling the cool breeze blowing across my brow, observing ducks and geese swimming in the water, admiring beautiful flowers, and enjoying the warmth of the sun.  My electronic New International Version of the Bible tells me that the word “delight” is used 69 times in Scripture.  Looking through those verses I discovered some interesting things about delight.

 1)      We should take delight in God Himself.  The Scripture says, (a) “Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart” (Psalm 37:4).  (b) “Surely then you will find delight in the Almighty and will lift up your face to God” (Job 22:26).

 2)      We should delight in God’s Word.  The Bible tells us to take delight in a number of things.  (a) Decrees – “I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word” (Psalm 119:16).  (b) Statutes – “Your statutes are my delight; they are my counselors” (Psalm 119:24).  (c) Laws – “Blessed is the one … whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night” (Psalm 1:1-2). (d) God’s Words – “When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear your name, O LORD God Almighty” (Jeremiah 15:16).  Whatever Scripture is named it brings delight to those who are thirsty for God or in need of His comfort and care. 

3)      We should delight in what God does for us.  Usually the things that God does for us are called blessings.  This kind of delight may be the result of:  (a) God’s Deliverance – “Then Hannah prayed and said: ‘My heart rejoices in the LORD; in the LORD my horn is lifted high.  My mouth boasts over my enemies, for I delight in your deliverance” (I Samuel 2:1).  (b) The Salvation He offers – “Then my soul will rejoice in the LORD and delight in his salvation” (Psalm 35:9).  (c) His Wonderful Works – “Great are the works of the LORD; they are pondered by all who delight in them” (Psalm 111:2).  (d) The righteousness that He offers – “I delight greatly in the LORD; my soul rejoices in my God.  For he has clothed me with garments of salvation    and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels” (Isaiah 61:10).  Indeed, we are recipients of God’s manifold blessings.

 4)      We should rejoice because God delights in us. 

“The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save.  He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing” (Zephaniah 3:17).  This verse tells us several things about God and His relationship with us.  (a) His Presence – He is “with you.”  What a great comfort this is any time, but particularly in our time of great need.  (b) His Provision – He is “mighty to save.”  God has fantastic power to take care of us in every way, even spiritually.  (c) His Pleasure – “He will take great delight in you.”  Note that not only can we be delighted in God, but God takes “great delight” – in us as well.  (d) His Peace – “He will quiet you with his love.” God’s peace speaks of the great calmness that He gives us even when we are stressed out.  (e) His Party (celebration) – “He will rejoice over you with singing.”  When it comes to you and me, God is in the business of rejoicing.  Just think.  God delights in you.  Isn’t that amazing!  Take time right now to think about the wonderful things God has done for you.  Make a note of at least three of those things and take time today to thank God for them.

What God Requires

If someone were to ask you, “Does God require anything of you?” you would probably answer “no.”  Most likely your answer would be based on the fact that you live in America and as a U.S. citizen you have freedom to do as you like.  However, apart from that you may be surprised to know that the correct answer to this question should be “yes.”  God does require something of us.  Those people who call themselves "Christian" so effortlessly think about all the good things that God does for them. However, they so easily forget that God might require something of them.  Here is what the Scripture says. “And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God ask (require) of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to observe the Lord’s commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good?” (Deuteronomy 10:12-13).

This verse contains five excellent attitudes and actions that God required of the Children of Israel.  These requirements are the same things that God wants from everyone.  Let’s examine these five requirements more carefully.

1)    “To Fear the Lord.”  To fear God is to have a deep respect, reverence, and awe for who He is and for His divine power and authority.  Ecclesiastes 12:13 reminds everyone to, “Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind.”

2)    “To Walk in in obedience to God.”  To walk in God’s ways is to live uprightly by being obedient to what pleases God and by living the way He wants us to live.  Jeremiah made the decision for the people and himself when he said, “We will obey the Lord our God to whom we are sending you, so that it will go well with us for we will obey the Lord our God” (Jeremiah 42:6).

3)    “To Love God.”  To love God is to do all one can to desire Him above everything else and to intimately know Him by making Him the highest priority in life. Mark 12:30 makes loving God clear when it says, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength."

4)    “To Serve the Lord.”  To serve God is to demonstrate by our actions that we acknowledge Him wholeheartedly and allow everything we do – how we live, what we think, and what we say – to be an act of service to God.  In Luke 4:8 Jesus reminded Satan of the focus of service when he said, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your god and serve him only."

5)    “Observe the Lord’s commands.”  To keep God’s commands is to not only understand what those commands are, but to completely obey everything that God has decreed.  It was God who told Moses, “Observe the commands of the Lord your God, walking in obedience to him and revering him” (Deuteronomy 8:6).

So, how are you doing with what God requires of you?  As you look at these five requirements which one is easiest for you to carry out?  Which one is hardest for you to do?  I challenge you to ask yourself the following questions about each requirement. (1)   Do I constantly fear God?  (2) Is the way I am living pleasing to God?  (3)  Is it my deepest desire to intimately know God? (4)  How am I demonstrating my service to God?  (5) Do I delight to obey what God says?

 

Summertime

Warm weather, bright sunshine, fragrant flowers, and green grass all point to summertime.  When we think of summer most of us think of these things as well as vacation – whether we travel to some distant place or stay at home.  When we think of vacation we may also think of rest, relaxing, exploring, or participating in some adventurous activity.

To be sure, summertime (and vacation time) is a time for all of us to rest and be refreshed.  Rest is important for our lives because each one of us needs a breather and time for refreshment and rejuvenation.  However, sometimes we have a “summertime attitude” with actions that keep us away from God.  We may find ourselves involved in lots of activity but at the same time we easily forget about the usual disciplines of the Christian life that keep us in touch with God.  As a result, we draw apart from God rather than coming closer to Him.

If this mind-set becomes part of our lifestyle during the summertime, we may find that we become physically refreshed but we will also discover that our spirit begins to dry up.  That is why we need to rest in God.  The Psalmist clearly proclaimed, “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty” (Psalm 91:1).

This verse suggests three points of encouragement that are extremely helpful to us and should be practically applied to our lives. Obviously, the source of the encouragement in this verse is God himself who is referred to as “the Most High”.

1)    Stay.  First, an important place for us to stay is next to God.  To “dwell” means to stay, to reside, to settle, or to live.  If we are not in the position of staying, we miss out on the best that God desires for us.

2)    Protection.  Second, we can enjoy the “shelter” that becomes a sanctuary, a haven, or a refuge for us.  In that shelter we are shielded by God from the forces that would destroy us and we are guarded by the Almighty.

3)    Relaxation.  Third, to be refreshed and recover the physical strength that has been depleted we need to “rest”.  The place where it is easiest for us to enjoy the rest that we need is right next to God.  In that position we can reside in God’s shadow where we are safe from harm.

As you and I enjoy the summertime this year let’s make sure that we do not forget God.  When we abide in God’s almighty power, let’s not forget to praise Him for standing by us and providing the rest and refreshment that we enjoy.

Taken by Surprise

In most cases, things that surprise us are positive and fun.  We might receive an unexpected gift, have opportunity to participate in an unplanned event that materializes, meet a close friend or family member whom we have not seen for some time, or receive an unanticipated word of thanks or encouragement from someone.  These positive surprises bring a smile to our face, excitement to our life and joy to our heart.

However, there are other surprises that are not fun, turn out to be negative, and bring stress to us.  Some time ago two negative surprises came to my wife and me within one week – both our water heater and refrigerator quit working.  These unexpected surprises brought concern, distress, and even discouragement to us.  However, since we live our lives from a Christian perspective, we were reminded in Scripture about how we should approach any surprise whether it is positive or negative.  The Bible says, “Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ” (Philippians 1:27).  Wow!  What an interesting verse and the words in it have several implications.  This verse reminds us how to approach any situation.

1)      Surprises will Occur.  Both positive and negative experiences will happen to us – as suggested by the words “whatever happens.” So, do not be surprised when something positive or negative happens to you.

2)      Action is Essential.  We have responsibility for how we act – as suggested by the words “conduct yourselves”.  Often when we are surprised – especially if it is something negative which we do not expect – and we tend to blame others or at least wonder “Why me?”

3)      A Standard is Crucial.  As Christians, the way we live our lives must measure up to a godly standard – as suggested by the words “worthy of the gospel of Christ”.  We do not have to wonder what the standard is, but simply refer to our guidebook, the Bible.

Have you been taken by surprise lately?  Was that surprise positive or negative?  Did you have more than one surprise?  How did you handle the surprise?  If you are a child of God, Philippians 1:27 gives guidance in approaching any surprise from a godly perspective.