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).

What is Christmas?

Think about that question.  What might your answer be?  For some people, Christmas is giving and receiving gifts.  For others, it is the bright colored lights, beautifully decorated trees, and the joyful sounds of the season.  Still others would explain Christmas as family get-togethers, laughter, and lots of great food.  Some might even say that Christmas is church programs and Jesus in a manger.  All of these are part of Christmas; however, Christmas is much more than that.

Christmas is explained in God’s Word when it says, “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men” (Titus 2:11).  Do you see it?  Christmas is the gift of salvation that comes to us through the person of Jesus Christ, all because of God’s wonderful grace.  The angels announced the coming of Jesus in a manger in Bethlehem.  However, the announcement recorded in John 3:16 reminds us that Jesus was God’s love-gift to us.  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.”

Aren’t you glad that God, by His mercy and grace, is a giving God?  Aren’t you glad that He gave His only Son as a love-gift so that you and I might receive salvation by personal faith in Christ? “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9).  God’s love gift is significant, but we need to make it ours.  How?  Simple.  Look at the instruction to us, “Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:12).

The gift of Jesus is ours by believing in Him.  Don’t let Christmas pass and enter the New Year without experiencing God’s wonderful grace—Jesus Christ.  To know Him is life eternal.

Christmas is explained in God’s Word when it says, “For the grace of god that brings salvation has appeared to all men” (Titus 2:11).  Do you see it?  Christmas is the gift of salvation that comes to us through the person of Jesus Christ, all because of God’s wonderful grace.  The angels announced the coming of Jesus in a manger in Bethlehem.  However, the announcement recorded in John 3:16 reminds us that Jesus was God’s love-gift to us.  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.”

Aren’t you glad that God, by His mercy and grace, is a giving God?  Aren’t you glad that He gave His only Son as a love-gift so that you and I might receive salvation by personal faith in Christ? “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9).  God’s love gift is significant, but we need to make it ours.  How?  Simple.  Look at the instruction to us, “Yet to all who receved him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:12).

The gift of Jesus is ours by believing in Him.  Don’t let Christmas pass and enter the New Year without experiencing God’s wonderful grace—Jesus Christ.  To know Him is life eternal.

Refections Based on the Actions of Columbus

Columbus Day honors the first voyage of Christopher Columbus to America in 1492.  Columbus had a dream of becoming a sea captain.  He took education seriously and learned as much as he could about everything – but particularly about the seas.  He didn’t let discouragement keep him from following his dream.  Using Columbus as an example, let’s reflect on what we might be able learn and to do from a Christian perspective.

1)    Have a dream.  The Apostle Paul’s dream of an ongoing personal relationship with the Lord could well be ours.  “I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death” (Philippians 3:10).  Does your dream include getting to know God better?

2)    Learn all you can – especially about the Bible.  Paul’s focus suggested that he knew the importance of study and learning.  “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth” (II Timothy 2:15).  Are you learning all you can about how God wants you to act and what He wants you to do?

3)    Realize that in spite of discouragement God will help.  The apostle Peter explains how to overcome discouragement.  “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you” (I Peter 5:7).  Are you willing to take every difficult situation that causes you to be anxious and place it in God’s hands?

Let’s use the thoughts about Christopher Columbus as a time to turn to the Lord and His word, the Bible.

Fundamentals 101

When school begins in the fall, boys and girls are faced with the challenge of going back to the basics.  In the classroom, on the sports field, or in the music room, teachers and coaches emphasize the importance of fundamentals and they repeat those basics over and over again.  Fundamentals are also important in the Christian life.  The Apostle Peter says,“And we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.  Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation.  For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit” (II Peter 1:19-21).

These verses tell us that God’s Word is basic for Christians.  We need the fundamentals of Scripture for Christian faith and for daily living.  Notice some specifics from these verses:

1)      We can have confidence in God’s Word.  It can be counted on in all kinds of

situations because it is “more certain.”

2)      We need to listen carefully to God’s Word.  In fact, Scripture is so important that we would “do well to pay attention to it.”

3)      God’s Word is a light for guiding us when things seem unclear.  It provides direction like “a light shinning in a dark place.”

4)      God’s Word originates with and has its source in God, Himself.  What is written in the Bible is not just “the prophet’s own interpretation” but it is “from God.”

Therefore, God Word is completely dependable.  This fall is a great time for all of us to open our Bibles and get “back to the basics.”

Growth, Celebration and Freedom

July is always a fun month.  It is the middle month of the summer – a time when we see plants, gardens and crops growing and producing.  It is a month during which we celebrate the independence of our wonderful country.  And of course, independence means that we enjoy the freedom that comes with it.  Let’s take time to personally apply growth, celebration, and freedom to us from a Biblical perspective.

Growth.  God wants us to grow in our knowledge of Him and in appreciation for what he has done for us when He 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).

Celebration.  God wants us to be joyful and observe with celebration who He is and the good things He has done for us.  “They will celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness” (Psalm 145:7).

Freedom.  Real freedom is spiritual freedom and it is available to us through the Lord Jesus Christ.  “So if the son sets you free, you will be free indeed” (John 8:36).

This summer as you view God’s creation growing and producing, as you celebrate the wonderful independence that is yours, and as you enjoy your personal freedom, I encourage you to think about these blessings and the spiritual application of them to you.