Christmas for the insignificant

“For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”  Luke 2:11

The message received by the shepherds on that first Christmas was that the Savior was “born to you this day.” 

Was the Savior born to the shepherds?  Yes, He was.  He came for common people like shepherds.  He came for sinners like the shepherds.  He came for all of them, but in a special way He came to each of them.

This simple thought encourages me.  Though I am pretty insignificant in the big picture of the world, I am not too insignificant to be one for whom Christ the Lord came.  Though I have no righteousness in me to commend myself to God, Christ Jesus came to save me—a sinner.  Though I am only one in a sea of humanity in need of God’s grace, Jesus came to me.  He called insignificant sinful me.  He called me by name and because of that, I have confidence that Jesus was born on Christmas Day for me.

Do you have that same encouraging assurance? If you don’t, you can.  Look to and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.  And be encouraged and assured.

From questioning faith to surrendered faith

Then Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her. Luke 1:38

When the angel Gabriel told Mary she was going to give birth to the King of Israel, her first reaction was, “How can this be since I do not know a man?”  Hers was a common faith lapse; questioning not what God will do, but how He could do it—as though there were anything too difficult for God!

But once Gabriel explained how a virgin could have a child, Mary’s second reaction is one of great faith and submission. “Whatever You say, Lord!” From this I get two bits of encouragement.

First, failing to perceive that nothing is impossible for God is not the end of the world.  He is powerful to do anything, including bearing with me and my weak faith and simple understanding.

Second, once I get over my initial faith meltdown, the right response to everything God says is humble submission, knowing that whatever God wills is the absolute best possible for me, even if it is going to be scary.

May I remember these things as You unfold Your plans for my life, Lord.

Joining the Magi in worship

And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
Matthew 2:11

The Magi, or as we commonly call them, the wise men, were on a mission: a mission of worship. Though they had to travel a great distance to find Jesus, and though they didn’t know where to find Him, once they arrived in Israel, they did not give up but pressed on until they did locate the King of the Jews.  (How easily we can give up!)  Note what they did when they found the Lord:

First, they bowed before Him as a sign of their humility and respect for the Lord.

Second, they gave gifts.  If we give nothing, we haven’t worshiped.  What are we to give? 

• We offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is the fruit of our lips, singing and declaring our praise. 

• We give of our time, carving out special occasions to worship the Lord. 

• We give of our money, supporting ministry and caring for the poor. 

• We give our hearts in devotion wrapped with commitments we are determined to keep.

Let us bow before Him.  And give.

Give Thanks!

Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. Let the redeemed of the LORD say so... Psalm 107:1-2

The opposite of coveting and or complaining is giving thanks.  “The redeemed of the Lord” have every reason to give thanks.  Our sins are forgiven.  Our names are written indelibly in the Lamb’s Book of Life.  We have a home in Heaven awaiting us.  Why these blessings and many more?  Because God loves us as completely and perfectly as He loves His only begotten Son, Jesus.

So give thanks and let the redeemed of the Lord say so with the greatest enthusiasm of all!

And as if any other blessings could compare (and they cannot!), those of us who live in the United States, with all our country’s problems, are among the most blessed people anywhere in the world.

So give thanks.  Give thanks to the Lord above all since everything we have is from His benevolent hand.  Let us remember and proclaim, “The Lord is Good!  His mercy endures forever!

Mistakes we make in prayer

Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Him, saying, "Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask." Mark 10:35

How many pray as the two “sons of thunder” (James and John) did that day?  How often do people think of prayer as a way to “get stuff,” as though Jesus is a mere genie from a magic lamp?

Those who think this was may know “a” Jesus, but the Jesus they order around is not the Jesus of the Bible!

But lest we are tempted to look down on James and John, let us remember that these two became giants of the faith!

And lest we are tempted to think to highly of ourselves, let us be reminded that asking God do give us whatever we want is not the only mistake in prayer.

• How about the mistake of not praying at all?

• Or the mistake of neglecting to worship the Lord in prayer?

• Or the mistake of neglecting to confess our sins when we pray?

• Or the mistake of not giving thanks because we are too focused on our desires?

Thank You Lord for Your patience with us as we grow in our knowledge
about prayer and mature as praying men and women.

Christians who are not just like us

Now John answered Him, saying, "Teacher, we saw someone who does not follow us casting out demons in Your name, and we forbade him because he does not follow us." But Jesus said, "Do not forbid him, for no one who works a miracle in My name can soon afterward speak evil of Me.
Mark 9:38-39

Here Jesus says that just because someone is not “with us,” that does not mean the person is “against us.” Yet in another place (Matthew 12:30), Jesus said that if a person is not “for us,” the person is against us.” Which is it?

Though it may seem like it, this is not a contradiction—if we understand both the two contexts and the heart of the Lord Jesus.

In the first instance, the meaning is that just because a person is not apart of our group, that doesn’t necessarily mean he is against us. Such is the case with Christians who are not all members of the same church or group of churches. We do not all have to agree on every detail.

However, when a person does not adhere to the essentials of the faith, that person is not with Christ, even though that one identifies him/herself as a Christian.

The challenge is to discern which matters are weighty enough to say we must be in agreement, and which matters leave room for differences. The bottom line is not whether people are one with our group, but are they one with Christ and the gospel? And when in doubt, let us seek to be more gracious than rigid.

Living God's Law because of Christ

"Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Matthew 5:17-18

It is not uncommon to hear Christians say, “We’re not under the Law.’ And that is partly but not completely true. Christians are not bound to live by either the Jewish ceremonial or ancient civil law. Why? Jesus fulfilled all the ceremonial law, and we do not live under ancient Israel’s civil law. But the moral aspect of the Law is every bit as binding on Christians as it was on Israel.

We do not live by the moral law for salvation, because we can’t—at least not perfectly. We live by God’s moral law out of gratitude to Jesus for living it perfectly for us.

What Christians are absolutely free from regarding the law is condemnation. Why? Because Christ kept the law perfectly for us and because in Him “There is therefore now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus...” (Romans 8:1).

So live lawfully, but not to be saved. Live lawfully because in Christ, you are saved!

The Old and New Testaments tell the same story

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
John 1:1

The beginning of Genesis and of the gospel of John, we read the words, “In the beginning.”  There are not two beginnings, nor will there be two ends.  The one beginning the Bible speaks of is creation.  Obviously God predates that beginning because He is the un-created Creator.  Before He created anything else, God has always been.

Everything else that exits, exists because God created all things.

Why does John begin by looking back at the beginning?  Because the Word (Jesus) was with God in the beginning because Jesus is God.  All three Members of the Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit are the One true and living God and are the Creator of all things.

God plan for creation included humans, who would sin.  That same plan for creation included God’s plan for salvation (forgiveness) of sinful human beings by Jesus.

Though the Bible is divided into two Testaments containing sixty-six books, it is one book.  It is one story about the One true and living Creator God, who is also the One and only Savior God.  The entire Bible is about Jesus.

If you desire God's blessing and to be used by Him...

For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the Law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach statutes and ordinances in Israel. Ezra 7:10

There are no formulas that one can follow to guarantee that God will bless and use us, but we can learn from Ezra some key ingredients in the lives of those God blesses and uses.

• He prepared his heart; his heart, not merely his head.

• He sought the Law of the Lord.  The Law of the Lord is Old Testament shorthand for the Word of God.  No one should expect to be blessed and used by God without a true commitment to seek the Word of God.

• He resolved not only to know God’s Word but to do, or obey, God’s Word.
  (See James 1:22-25)

• He resolved to teach God’s Word.  While everyone is not called and gifted to be a formal teacher, all believers are to speak God’s Word as we share Christ with those who do not believe, and counsel them.

Let us desire to be blessed and used by the Lord remembering Ezra’s example.

God knows everything. Fulfilled prophecy proves it!

Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and also put it in writing… Ezra 1:1

By God’s decree, the Babylonians destroyed Judah for their unfaithfulness to God.  The Babylonians were the rod of God’s judgment over Judah.  The Babylonians were more sinful than Judah and their mistreatment of Judah earned the Babylonians God’s judgment—even though God was using them to judge Judah.

God’s judgment came to the Babylonians seventy years after they conquered Judah, just as it was prophesied by the prophet Jeremiah.

The Babylonians were sacked by the Medo-Persian Empire, precisely as Daniel had prophesied.

Like the Babylonians, the Persians were more sinful than Judah.  But God can and does use even sinful people and nations for the accomplishment of His purposes.

150 years before it happened, Cyrus the godless Persian king, was named by God through the prophet Isaiah (Isa. 44:28; 45:1), as being the one God would use to send His people back to Judah (Jerusalem).  Cyrus wasn’t even born yet!

The Point:  God knows all from beginning to end, before anything ever happens!

The Application:  You and I can completely trust God—with everything, every time, forever! 

Praying for our sinful nation

…we have sinned and committed iniquity, we have done wickedly and rebelled, even by departing from Your precepts and Your judgments.  Daniel 9:5

The people of Israel were carried away to Babylon for seventy years of “discipline.” Talk about a “time out!”  Why?  Because they had repeatedly sinned against the Lord by not obeying His precepts and judgments.

What makes us think we in the U.S. can continue to sin against the Lord and escape His discipline?

Daniel cried out to God pleading for mercy because the seventy years prophesied by Jeremiah were almost completed.  He did not demand release simply because God promised to restore them to their land.  Instead, He employed the correct tactic of confessing Israel’s national sin (even though he was not personally guilty, he owned a portion of Israel’s corporate guilt, just as the godly in America do).

Daniel also celebrated the fact that though God’s judgments may be strong, though never overly harsh, God is merciful.  God does forgive sins, even the sin of rebellion by an entire nation.

Let us learn from Israel and Daniel. 

• Our nation cannot rebel against God and escape the lash. 

• If our nation would experience His mercy, we must humble ourselves, confess our sins, repent, and cry out for mercy (instead of proudly claiming our rights in the political arena). 

• Let us celebrate God’s merciful character—even if we are like those who died in Babylon before deliverance arrived. 

Understanding Job

"My wrath is aroused against you and your two friends, for you have not spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has.” Job 42:7 

How shall we read Job, particularly the words of Job and his three “friends”? 

First, read their words (and Job’s) remembering that at the end God rebuked them for not speaking what was right concerning God.  Job and his friends spoke some things that are true, but most of their conclusions were profoundly incorrect.  Remember that the Bible accurately records what happened, while not endorsing all that it records as true.  Anything that anyone says or does in scripture than is not in line with the whole of the Bible is wrong.

Second, Job reminds us of the important doctrine of “progressive revelation.”  For example, after the resurrection, the Apostles knew more than Noah knew.  And throughout history, God progressively revealed more of Himself.  This means we must not expect people to know what God had not revealed in their day.

In summary, read Job with cautious discernment—and do not base doctrine on anything that us not consistent with the rest of the Bible ad especially with Christ and the gospel.

God (not the devil) is in the details

And the man said to me, “Son of man, look with your eyes and hear with your ears, and fix your mind on everything I show you; for you were brought here so that I might show them to you. Declare to the house of Israel everything you see.” Ezekiel 40:4

Ezekiel 40-48 is one of the most puzzling portions of scripture in the whole Bible.  Opinions vary widely about the exact interpretation of these chapters.  How are we to read such sections of the Bible and what applications can we make?

The first thing we must settle ourselves on is the fact that “all scripture is given by inspiration of God and profitable…”  With this in mind, we dare not dismiss what is difficult as being unimportant.

There is a lesson to be learned from these chapters, complete with seemingly tedious details that are admittedly removed from our everyday lives.  Contrary to the popular idiom, “the devil is in the details,” God is the One who is in the details.  That God is so concerned with the details of this temple—which does not appear to have ever been built—how much more interested is He in the detail of the lives of His beloved people?  And since the details given in Ezekiel 40-48 are largely about a temple (a place of worship), how much is God interested in the details of our worship?  Let us rest in His detailed care for us, and let us extend ourselves in worship of Him.

Good intentions?

So they said to Jeremiah, "Let the LORD be a true and faithful witness between us, if we do not do according to everything which the LORD your God sends us by you.
Jeremiah 42:5

"The LORD has said concerning you, O remnant of Judah, 'Do not go to Egypt!' Know certainly that I have admonished you this day. 
Jeremiah 42:19

So they went to the land of Egypt, for they did not obey the voice of the LORD
Jeremiah 43:7

God’s people, because of their sin, had suffered a terrible defeat at the hands of ruthless pagan enemies.  Only a small remnant remained.  These, determined to get things right with God, called on God’s prophet, Jeremiah, to inquire of the Lord for them.  They pledged to do whatever God said that things might turn around for them.  Jeremiah sought God’s will for these who seemed to be seeking the Lord.  God’s word via the prophet was clear and simple: Do not go to Egypt, or you will be severely punished.  Instead, stay in Israel and be blessed.

When the people, who already had it in their minds to go to Egypt, heard these words, they rejected Jeremiah, insisting that he had not heard from the Lord.  They headed to Egypt.  Once there—you guessed it—they suffered the consequences, exactly as Jeremiah had prophesied.

Before we cluck our tongues and wag our heads at “those fools,” we might want to consider how many times we have attended church with the intention to hear from he Lord through the preaching, and then, having heard something we do not care for, ignore what God has said.

Let us be reminded of the penetrating words of our Lord, who asked, “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do the things that I say?”

God's desire is that those created in His image know Him

“Then you shall know that I am the Lord.”
~Repeated 63 times in  Ezekiel

The fact that God says these words throughout Ezekiel so many times must be significant, wouldn’t you think?  As I read Ezekiel, and particularly the recurring phrase, “Then you shall know that I am the Lord,” I am struck by two things.

First, God really wants His people to know that He is the Lord!  He wants us to know this so that we will turn from the other things that capture our affections and divert our resources away from Him.  He wants us to know Him so that we will give Him the glory that He alone deserves.  Do you know that He is the Lord?

Second, it is worthy to note that so many times this phrase appears in Ezekiel is at the end of a prophesy about God’s judgment, often severe.  This instructs us that God is not a one-dimensional mush-ball of love.  It is as we know of His judgment that we have a fuller picture of who He is.  Let us seek to know as many aspects of God as we can, that we may know that He is the Lord!

Whitewashing sin. It doesn't work!

Through the prophet Ezekiel, God warned not only ancient Israel but all people at all times.  About what?  About “whitewashing” our sins.  We all whitewash at least some of our sins at least some of the time—some more than others. 

We whitewash our sins by playing-down the sinfulness of sin.  When we sin we comfort ourselves in a number of ways: “It’s not that bad.”  “Everybody’s doing it.” “I’m not hurting anybody,” and with many more equally foolish lies.

God promises that when Judgment Day comes (if not before), He will demolish what we whitewashed—in other words He’ll expose the folly of our rationalizations.  Not a one of them will excuse us. 

The incredibly good news for those who trust in Christ is that all our sin and guilt was carried by Jesus.  There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1).  He even carried the guilt of our foolish rationalizations. 

There is no need to keep whitewashing.  Instead:

1. Trust in Christ,

2. Confess sin, and

3. ŽRepent in the power of the Holy Spirit. 

And then live free in Christ!

It is either bad news or good news, depending on...

"Am I a God near at hand," says the LORD, "And not a God afar off?  Can anyone hide himself in secret places, So I shall not see him?" says the LORD; "Do I not fill heaven and earth?" says the LORD
Jeremiah 23:23-24

The truth of this passage is that God is neither near nor far.  He is both near and far because He is everywhere and sees all things.  This truth cuts in two directions.

To those who think they can sin without God seeing or knowing—God is everywhere and sees all things.  This is not pleasant news for those who think they can hide from God.

To believers who are feeling down, discouraged, and maybe even ditched by God—impossible!

First, He is everywhere and sees all things.

Second, He has promised believers that He will never leave us nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5).  This is excellent news for those who for whatever reason feel abandoned by God, that He is unaware of your troubles, and not hearing your prayers.  Child of God, trust God’s Word, not your feelings.  If you are trusting in Christ, God is with you and God cares for you because God loves you!

God’s will does not change, but people do

…Hilkiah the priest found the Book of the Law of the LORD given by Moses... .And Shaphan read it before the king. Thus it happened, when the king heard the words of the Law, that he tore his clothes. 2 Chronicles 34:14, 18-19

God does not change, but does He change His mind?  This is a little tricky, so pay close attention.  God told the people His will for them, which was to do good.  When the people disobeyed and acted sinfully, God told them that there would be consequences for disobeying His will.  God also said that if the people in sin would repent, He would spare them the consequences of their sin.

Did God change His mind, and therefore change?  No.  It is always God’s will for His people not to sin.  It is also God’s will that when people sin there are consequences.  It is also God’s will that people in sin repent.  It is also God’s will that when people in sin repent, He will deal graciously with them.  And it is also God’s will that if those in sin do not repent, He will deal justly with them, which includes His judgment.

God’s will does not change, but people do.  Sometimes we repent of our sins and sometimes we do not.  God does not change, but our choices determine which aspect of God’s will we will experience: grace or justice.

Make no mistake: It is never God’s will that we sin, but God does use even our sin to accomplish His perfect will!

More certainly could be said, but in 216 words,
that may be the best I can do!

Let us not postpone repentance!

…Hilkiah the priest found the Book of the Law of the LORD given by Moses... .And Shaphan read it before the king. Thus it happened, when the king heard the words of the Law, that he tore his clothes.
2 Chronicles 34:14, 18-19

During spiritually dark days in Judah, the prophet Jeremiah announced the judgment of God on the nation.  When young King Josiah ordered a housecleaning in the temple, a book was found.  It was God’s Law.  It is ironic that the Word of the Lord was lost  in the house of the Lord!

The book was read aloud to King Josiah.  His reaction was deep heart-felt conviction (always a prerequisite for true conversion and revival).  As Josiah was cut to the heart by the Word of God, the cleaning of the temple turned into a national revival.

Don’t miss the means God used to awaken the king and then the nation: The Word of God.  The same thing happened in the 1500s as Martin Luther was transformed by studying the Bible.  The result was the Protestant Reformation (the greatest revival in the history of the Church).  We need what Josiah and Martin Luther experienced: the transforming power of God that comes only by the Word of God!

As a footnote: Although great revival marked Josiah’s reign, God’s judgment on Judah was already determined because of the horrific sins of the nation, led  by Josiah’s grandfather, King Manasseh.  Shortly after Josiah died, Judah again went astray and God subsequently delivered Judah to the Babylonians.  Does that mean that Josiah’s revival was meaningless?  Not for the many who were saved as a result—even though a generation later the nation backslid again.  So, while no revival lasts forever, even if God determines to judge our nation, let us turn to Him and perhaps He will spare this generation.

What can we do for God?

Thus says the Lord: “Heaven is My throne, and earth is My footstool. Where is the house that you will build Me? And where is the place of My rest? For all those things My hand has made, and all those things exist,” Says the Lord. “But on this one will I look: On him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, And who trembles at My word.
Isaiah 66:1-2

It has been said that there are only two religions: the one based on what man does, and the one based on what God has done.

There is no end to what man will do in hopes of garnering God’s favor, but what can finite man possibly hope to build for God who is infinite?  What man-made religious domicile can house the God in whose hand the universe comfortably fits?  After all, all that we have and are, are His handiwork in the first place.

The Lord finds no completion in what we may do for Him, but His holy, yet gracious eye is pleased to rest on those who acknowledge and are ashamed of their spiritual bankruptcy, and who quake before His Word.

Let us utterly abandon any and all delusions about what we are or what we may do for God.  Let us instead rest in what God in Christ has done for us.  Let us rejoice that His benevolent eye eternally rests on all who trust in Jesus, the Word of God made flesh.