What I Heard

During the first week of August on a beautiful, warm day, I had a couple of meetings at one of our Elim Care facilities in central Minnesota.  Between appointments I was doing some paper work and heard someone across the hall whistling a tune that was very familiar to me – “Silent Night.”  As I listened to that song being whistled it reminded me of the truth of the words that the Savior – Jesus Christ the Lord – came into this world for all of us.  It reminded me about God’s great love for us – not just at Christmas time, but even on a hot summer day.  Jesus was born so people might come to God based on His death on the cross.  He wants everyone to have a personal relationship with Him and receive the wonderful peace He offers.  I thoroughly enjoy Christmas, so I just may begin playing Christmas music and celebrating early this year.  Take time with me to silently hum, “Silent night; holy night; all is calm, all is bright.  Round yon Virgin, mother and child, Holy infant so tender and mild.  Sleep in heavenly peace; sleep in heavenly peace.”  It was Jesus who said, “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” (John 10:10).

An Interesting Meeting

On a return trip from Illinois to Minnesota, my wife and I stopped for a break and some coffee in the Wisconsin Dells area.  In  a convenience store, someone mentioned my name.  Surprised to hear my name being called in a location that we seldom frequent, I looked up and saw a friend of mine from Minnesota.  We greeted each other and briefly chatted.  He and his wife were returning from Southern Wisconsin and without prior knowledge we both stopped at the same place at the same time.  This meeting reminded me that although we may not see a friend as we travel, there is always someone wherever we go who knows us.  In the Bible Jesus said, “I am with you always” (Matthew 28:20).  Knowing that He is always present with us ought to be reflected in the attitudes that we have and the action that we take.  Both attitude and action ought to reflect God's presence with us.  How about you?

Reality

Just last week I received word from a good friend of mine who came out of his bedroom one morning and discovered his wife on the floor, dead from an apparent heart so attack.  His wife was in good health so this was something that was not expected; but it was a reality.  She was a believer in Christ and had accepted Jesus as her Savior years ago.  So, the assurance my friend has, based on his wife’s relationship with the Lord is that she is in heaven today.  This incident reminded me that all of us need to be ready to meet the Lord at any time.  That instant when our life here on earth is snuffed out, could happen when we least expect it.  However, those people who have a personal relationship with the Lord can be assured of heaven.  That is a reality.

Just last week I finished reading a book by Bob Ricker called Assured of Heaven.  How appropriate to be reminded that it is possible for us to have assurance of heaven and not just hope that all things work out for the best.  Listen to what the Living Bible says, “And now, dear brothers, I want you to know what happens to a Christian when he dies so that when it happens, you will not be full of sorrow, as those are who have no hope.  For since we believe that Jesus died and then came back to life again, we can also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him all the Christians who have died” (I Thessalonians 4:13-14).  The scripture also says, “For we know that when this tent we live in now is taken down—when we die and leave these bodies—we will have wonderful new bodies in heaven, homes that will be ours forevermore, made for us by God himself and not by human hands” (II Corinthians 5:1).  Have you put your faith in Christ?  Are you ready to meet Him?  Do you have confidence that you will spend eternity in heaven?

A Lost Camera Lesson

During a recent trip to the Magic Kingdom at Disney World a camera was lost.  Not only was it lost – it was lost at night shortly before closing.  We prayed, “Lord, help us find the camera.”  With thousands of people in the park, where would a person begin to look?  The best choice was to check where we had been towards the end of the evening.  We retraced our steps, looked around the grounds, asked at the last ride we attended and checked at lost and found.  Nothing was found and our expectations were very low.  However, we were told to call Disney’s Lost and Found the next day with a description of what the camera looked like and approximately where we thought we may have lost it.  This was done, but still nothing.  “Well, that is lost” we said, “And it will probably never be found or was taken by someone else.  This may be an experience that can teach us a life lesson.”  The following day we decided to call lost and found one final time.  A smile appeared on our faces because the camera had been turned in.  It was available for us to retrieve it or they would ship it to us.  We rejoiced and voiced a “thank you” prayer to God.

We didn’t give up searching for that which was lost.  It had some value, but even more valuable was the picture content holding visual memories for years to come.  This reminds me of a parable that Jesus told his hearers about the lost sheep.  He said, “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them.  Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it?  And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ (Luke 15:4-6).  Jesus compared this search by God to the salvation that is needed by each individual who turns to Him.  He continues by saying, “I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent” (Luke 15:7).  In all of this we can conclude that God feels that each person is valuable in God’s sight and has great worth.  When that individual who is lost is finally found, there is much rejoicing.

Love - An Action Word

Most people think of February in terms of Valentine's Day.  In your mind you may have thoughts of hearts, arrows, chocolates, or feelings of warmth and happiness.  However, one concept that stands head and shoulders above all others when it comes to February is love.  I’m not talking about those “fuzzy” feelings that we receive when we think of a family member or a friend.  I’m talking about love which is exhibited in action.  What is easier for you to do – to say to someone, “I love you” or, to take out the garbage?  Of course, it is easier to verbalize love.  We like to hear someone tell us that they love us because that makes us feel good.  But far more gratifying to us is to see someone show us love by going out of their way to do something for us.  That is because love is an action word.

Remember that often quoted Bible verse, “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).  How did God love us?  By telling us He loves us?  No.  By showing us that He loves us.  Notice the action word “gave” that is underlined in the verse above.  God loved us so much that He expressed His love through concrete action.  This thought is simply expressed in this verse: “This is love: not that we loved god, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins” (I John 4:10).  But that's not all there is.  The writer goes one step further to explain to us that we should use the example that God gave as a pattern for how we deal with others.  He says, “Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another” (I John 4:11).  Let’s make the entire month of February a month to show love to others – through our actions.  Here are two things you can do.  (1)    First, thank God for the love gift that He gave you in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ.  Pray to God with a thankful heart for that wonderful love gift.  As you pray, mention at least six blessings you enjoy because of God’s love gift to you – forgiveness of sins, a wonderful thoughtful family, health, friends, or something else.  (2)    Second, utilize that pattern of love as an action word with one family member and one friend.  What can you do for them this month?  Give them a bouquet of flowers as an expression of thanks, or something else.  May God bless you as you make love an action – not just a feeling.

New and Old

How often have you heard the phrase “out with the old – in with the new”?  We so easily assume that the old is outdated and the new is much better.  For some things, that may be true.  For example, I would not want to bring back the old way of writing a letter – either by hand or with a typewriter.  The computer, with all its capabilities, will do just fine; thank you.  However, some old things are extremely valuable.  People expend time and energy and even lots of money to become the owner of a relic.  Scripture reminds us of the importance of the new.  Jesus said,  “No one tears a patch from a new garment and sews it on an old one. If he does, he will have torn the new garment, and the patch from the new will not match the old” (Luke 5:36).

The Apostle Paul reminds us that when a person comes to Christ he or she is made new –“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come” (II Corinthians 5:17).  He also reminds us to “Put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;  to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness” (Ephesians 4:22-24). 

On the other hand, the Scriptures are very old but they are extremely valuable.  “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (II Timothy 3:16-17).   About God’s Word, the psalmist said, “They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb. By them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward” (Psalm 19:10-11).

We have entered the New Year so let’s make sure we “put off” or do away with only the old that does harm.  However, let’s also make sure that we “put on” that which edifies and builds us, and others up.

 

The Manger Experience

What is it you think of when it comes to the manger of Bethlehem?  Probably the most common thought is of the birth of our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.  We usually don’t think about the fact that the manger was dirty, dusty, and quite pungent with the smells of the barn animals it contained.  Mary and Joseph experienced all the sights, sounds, as well as the smells of the manger.  In addition to Mary and Joseph, the shepherds had a manger experience.  Scripture tells us, “They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger.  After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child.  All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished, but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often.  The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen.  It was just as the angel had told them” (Luke 2:16-20).  Notice these things:

1)     Urgent Action.  They hurried.  They quickly obeyed the word of the angel and the company of heavenly hosts who told them of the Lord’s birth.

2)     Amazing Discovery.  And found.  Their search was richly rewarded as they sought and found the Christ-Child in the manger.

3)     Expectant Observation.  Seeing him.  Reality set in when they came to the manger and actually saw Jesus, just as they were told by the angel.

4)     Immediate Proclamation.  Told everyone.  In spite of their lowly, often despised job, these men of action quickly shared the good news with others.

 5)     Confident Worship.  Glorifying and praising God.  Although unlearned men, they could not contain themselves after having the privilege of experiencing God incarnate.

Don’t go through the Christmas season without having a manger experience.  You may not experience the smells, but you can certainly see Jesus, tell others about him, and spend time worshipping Him.  The Old Testament prophet said, “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13).  “Seeing Him” was not only an event for the shepherds, but the manger experience can be your experience.  Have you had the manger experience yet?