It could not have been the easiest of trips to make. A young girl, heavily pregnant, on the back of a donkey for the 80-mile journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem, the city of her husband Joseph who was from the house and lineage of David (Luke 2:4). Given the circumstances of her pregnancy (Luke 1:26-35), it would have been interesting to know what was going on in her mind. Sure she had submitted herself to the will of God (v.38) however, traveling in a caravan as they would have done at the time for company and safety reasons, some of the older ladies would have probably made her aware that her delivery was imminent. Was she scared? Confused? Fearful for her baby?
According to Luke the angel told her, "Thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end" (vv.31-33, KJV). The angel of the LORD had told Joseph in a dream, "Fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost" (Matthew 1:20). Did they talk about those moments? What was going through his mind? He had married her but restrained himself from knowing her intimately (vv.24-25). Yet, here they were, entrusted with a child who was destined to change the world in ways neither of them could have imagined.
Luke tells us, "And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn" (2:6-7). The moment Jesus entered the world from his mother's womb, nothing remained the same. Matthew reminds us of the prophecy, "Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us" (1:23). Some skeptics have long pointed to this as a discrepancy because JESUS was never called Emmanuel by name. However, what they miss is that Emmanuel, God with us, is both a name and an event. John tells us, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. . . . And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth" (1:1, 14).
When JESUS came into the world, it was God in the flesh that came among men; he among us. It is that event that we celebrate at this time of the year. So amidst the hustle and bustle, the fun and laughter, and all the festive events, let us remember that he is the reason for the season. Without him there would be no Christmas. As we exchange gifts with family and friends, let us remember the most precious of them all. In the words of the Apostle Paul, "Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift" (2 Corinthians 9:15).
From my house to yours, Merry Christmas.
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Friday, December 24, 2010
Emergency Telephone Numbers
I received the below in an email and thought them prudent to share. It is a comfort to know that before we call God will answer, and while we are yet speaking He will hear (Isaiah 65:24).
These are more effective than 911. When
You are sad, phone John 14
You have sinned, phone Psalm 51
You are facing danger, phone Psalm 91
People have failed you, phone Psalm 27
It feels as though God is far from you, phone Psalm 139
Your faith needs stimulation, phone Hebrews 11
You are alone and scared, phone Psalm 23
You are worried, phone Matthew 8:19-34
You are hurt and critical, phone 1 Corinthians 13
You wonder about Christianity, phone 2 Corinthians 5:15-18
You feel like an outcast, phone Romans 8:31-39
You are seeking peace, phone Matthew 11:25-30
It feels as if the world is bigger than God, phone Psalm 90
You need Christ like insurance, phone Romans 8:1-30
You are leaving home for a trip, phone Psalm 121
You are praying for yourself, phone Psalm 87
You require courage for a task, phone Joshua 1
Inflation's and investments are hogging your thoughts, phone Mark 10:17-31
You are depressive, phone Psalm 27
Your bank account is empty, phone Psalm 37
You lose faith in mankind, phone 1 Corinthians 13
It looks like people are unfriendly, phone John 15
You are losing hope, phone Psalm 126
You feel the world is small compared to you, phone Psalm 19
You want to carry fruit, phone John 15
Paul's secret for happiness, phone Colossians 3:12-17
With big opportunity/discovery, phone Isaiah 55
To get along with other people, phone Romans 12
ALTERNATE NUMBERS
For dealing with fear, call Psalm 47
For security, call Psalm 121:3
For assurance, call Mark 8:35
For reassurance, call Psalm 145:18
All these numbers may be phoned directly.
No operator assistance is necessary.
All lines to heaven are available 24 hours a day.
These are more effective than 911. When
You are sad, phone John 14
You have sinned, phone Psalm 51
You are facing danger, phone Psalm 91
People have failed you, phone Psalm 27
It feels as though God is far from you, phone Psalm 139
Your faith needs stimulation, phone Hebrews 11
You are alone and scared, phone Psalm 23
You are worried, phone Matthew 8:19-34
You are hurt and critical, phone 1 Corinthians 13
You wonder about Christianity, phone 2 Corinthians 5:15-18
You feel like an outcast, phone Romans 8:31-39
You are seeking peace, phone Matthew 11:25-30
It feels as if the world is bigger than God, phone Psalm 90
You need Christ like insurance, phone Romans 8:1-30
You are leaving home for a trip, phone Psalm 121
You are praying for yourself, phone Psalm 87
You require courage for a task, phone Joshua 1
Inflation's and investments are hogging your thoughts, phone Mark 10:17-31
You are depressive, phone Psalm 27
Your bank account is empty, phone Psalm 37
You lose faith in mankind, phone 1 Corinthians 13
It looks like people are unfriendly, phone John 15
You are losing hope, phone Psalm 126
You feel the world is small compared to you, phone Psalm 19
You want to carry fruit, phone John 15
Paul's secret for happiness, phone Colossians 3:12-17
With big opportunity/discovery, phone Isaiah 55
To get along with other people, phone Romans 12
ALTERNATE NUMBERS
For dealing with fear, call Psalm 47
For security, call Psalm 121:3
For assurance, call Mark 8:35
For reassurance, call Psalm 145:18
All these numbers may be phoned directly.
No operator assistance is necessary.
All lines to heaven are available 24 hours a day.
The Vertical Perspective
(Adapted from the article by the same name)
"And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God? But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive" (Genesis 50:19-20, KJV).
Christians who live by the horizontal perspective will invariably miss the workings of God in their day to day experiences. For most of us, this is where we live. In a culture where, despite words to the contrary, we take credit for our accomplishments and blame others for our disappointments and failures, we seem naturally predisposed to this perspective. From here we see people and things, and because they're so much a part of the social environment with which we interact, we link them to our experiences. They either caused something good or bad to happen to us, or prevented something good or bad from happening to/for us.
Most readers will recognize our reference text as coming from the culmination of the story of Joseph. For our purposes it is not necessary to detail Joseph's joyful reunion with his family, but seventeen years later, "when Joseph's brethren saw that their father was dead, they said, Joseph will peradventure hate us, and will certainly requite us all the evil which we did unto him" (Genesis 50:15). It was to this and their other concerns and pleas for forgiveness for the way they had treated him, up to the time they sold him into slavery, that Joseph spoke the words in our reference text. But his response was not the typical response. He would have been well within his right to rehash the past and apportion blame as he saw fit. While in slavery, he could have planned and plotted his revenge. When he first saw them prostrate before him begging for wheat, he could have had them killed, but after a series of meetings, the narrative tells us Joseph wept aloud, called his brothers to him and said, "I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt. Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life" (Genesis 45:1a-2, 4-5).
The vertical perspective - "God did send me before you to preserve life." Joseph knew enough to recognize that all along the way, the events in his life were orchestrated by God for His purpose. Along the pathways, through every negative experience, the eyes of God never left him. So as his brothers stood before him in fear of revenge, Joseph assured them, "Ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive." Couldn't God have done it differently? Sure He could have, but as He told us through Isaiah, His ways are not our ways; neither are His thoughts, our thoughts (Isaiah 55:8,9).
Because God doesn't always do things the way we think He should, it is difficult to appreciate that maybe some of the disappointments and hurts we experience are part of His plan for our lives. But ask Joseph, Job, and some of the "heroes of faith" whose lives and characters were fashioned through difficult circumstances. Instead of harboring negative feelings and emotions, how about resting in God's sovereignty? There we can rest assured that "all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose" (Romans 8:28).
"And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God? But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive" (Genesis 50:19-20, KJV).
Christians who live by the horizontal perspective will invariably miss the workings of God in their day to day experiences. For most of us, this is where we live. In a culture where, despite words to the contrary, we take credit for our accomplishments and blame others for our disappointments and failures, we seem naturally predisposed to this perspective. From here we see people and things, and because they're so much a part of the social environment with which we interact, we link them to our experiences. They either caused something good or bad to happen to us, or prevented something good or bad from happening to/for us.
Most readers will recognize our reference text as coming from the culmination of the story of Joseph. For our purposes it is not necessary to detail Joseph's joyful reunion with his family, but seventeen years later, "when Joseph's brethren saw that their father was dead, they said, Joseph will peradventure hate us, and will certainly requite us all the evil which we did unto him" (Genesis 50:15). It was to this and their other concerns and pleas for forgiveness for the way they had treated him, up to the time they sold him into slavery, that Joseph spoke the words in our reference text. But his response was not the typical response. He would have been well within his right to rehash the past and apportion blame as he saw fit. While in slavery, he could have planned and plotted his revenge. When he first saw them prostrate before him begging for wheat, he could have had them killed, but after a series of meetings, the narrative tells us Joseph wept aloud, called his brothers to him and said, "I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt. Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life" (Genesis 45:1a-2, 4-5).
The vertical perspective - "God did send me before you to preserve life." Joseph knew enough to recognize that all along the way, the events in his life were orchestrated by God for His purpose. Along the pathways, through every negative experience, the eyes of God never left him. So as his brothers stood before him in fear of revenge, Joseph assured them, "Ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive." Couldn't God have done it differently? Sure He could have, but as He told us through Isaiah, His ways are not our ways; neither are His thoughts, our thoughts (Isaiah 55:8,9).
Because God doesn't always do things the way we think He should, it is difficult to appreciate that maybe some of the disappointments and hurts we experience are part of His plan for our lives. But ask Joseph, Job, and some of the "heroes of faith" whose lives and characters were fashioned through difficult circumstances. Instead of harboring negative feelings and emotions, how about resting in God's sovereignty? There we can rest assured that "all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose" (Romans 8:28).
Wednesday, December 08, 2010
The Power of the Tongue
There are not very many people who at some time or another have not experienced pain, hurt, shame, or disgrace, as a result of a person or group of persons’ careless and sometimes deliberate use of an unbridled tongue. Characters have been assassinated, reputations destroyed, spirits broken, lifelong friendships ruined, and seemingly irrepairable damage have been done by some members in the family of God.
I remain fully convinced that the Body of Christ, generally speaking, have yet to fully understand the power of the tongue. In this context it is not so much the use of the tongue as an instrument of praise and worship, but moreso its use as an instrument of evil. Among the Body of Christ, this “two-ounce slab of muscle, mucous membrane, and nerves”, often times frame deceit (Ps. 50:19), devises destruction (Ps. 52:2), devours (Ps. 52:4), is a sharp sword (Ps. 57:4), breaks bones (Prov. 25:15), backbites (Prov. 25:23), flatters (Prov. 18:23), and poisons (Rom. 3:13).
The unfortunate thing is that the tongue is simply an instrument that is used. It does not think, nor devise evil, and by itself it really does absolutely nothing. Yet, in the same way that with a bit, a rider can control the body of a horse, and with a rudder, a captain can determine the course of a ship, so it is that the tongue nestled in our mouths control the direction of our lives. It is the owner or master of the tongue that determines how it is used. The tongue basically reflects the contents of the owner’s heart. Jesus states, “Hear, and understand: Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man…But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies [slanders]” (Matt 15:11, 18-19). It stands to reason therefore, that the things we say is often a reflection of the things in the heart. No wonder Solomon admonishes us to “Keep thy heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life” (Prov. 4:23).
It is not cool to gossip, or slander, or to destroy another person’s character or reputation. Such behaviors cannot be excused and among the Body of Christ it should not be present. Where it exists, it is my prayer that you will realize that stomping it out starts with you. If we all resolve to not be a part of it, those who choose to delight in the downfall and plight of others, as well as those taking delight in tearing down and cursing others, will soon find themselves all alone with what is left, if anything, of their consciences.
May God grant us the grace to bridle our tongues, and may that which comes out from our hearts be wholesome, edifying, and pleasing unto our God.
I remain fully convinced that the Body of Christ, generally speaking, have yet to fully understand the power of the tongue. In this context it is not so much the use of the tongue as an instrument of praise and worship, but moreso its use as an instrument of evil. Among the Body of Christ, this “two-ounce slab of muscle, mucous membrane, and nerves”, often times frame deceit (Ps. 50:19), devises destruction (Ps. 52:2), devours (Ps. 52:4), is a sharp sword (Ps. 57:4), breaks bones (Prov. 25:15), backbites (Prov. 25:23), flatters (Prov. 18:23), and poisons (Rom. 3:13).
The unfortunate thing is that the tongue is simply an instrument that is used. It does not think, nor devise evil, and by itself it really does absolutely nothing. Yet, in the same way that with a bit, a rider can control the body of a horse, and with a rudder, a captain can determine the course of a ship, so it is that the tongue nestled in our mouths control the direction of our lives. It is the owner or master of the tongue that determines how it is used. The tongue basically reflects the contents of the owner’s heart. Jesus states, “Hear, and understand: Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man…But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies [slanders]” (Matt 15:11, 18-19). It stands to reason therefore, that the things we say is often a reflection of the things in the heart. No wonder Solomon admonishes us to “Keep thy heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life” (Prov. 4:23).
It is not cool to gossip, or slander, or to destroy another person’s character or reputation. Such behaviors cannot be excused and among the Body of Christ it should not be present. Where it exists, it is my prayer that you will realize that stomping it out starts with you. If we all resolve to not be a part of it, those who choose to delight in the downfall and plight of others, as well as those taking delight in tearing down and cursing others, will soon find themselves all alone with what is left, if anything, of their consciences.
May God grant us the grace to bridle our tongues, and may that which comes out from our hearts be wholesome, edifying, and pleasing unto our God.
Tuesday, December 07, 2010
Finishing Strong - Part III
Maintaining the faith was important to the apostle Paul. Being aware that his physical death was not far off, he summed up his life to his spiritual son Timothy in three profound statements - "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith" (2 Timothy 4:7, KJV). Here, as was his custom, Paul alludes to the contests at the Grecian games. As the laws of these games must be diligently observed and kept, so he maintains that he kept the rules of the spiritual combat and race.
It is not important just to win; the rules must be observed if one is not to be disqualified. Here we see Paul, in his reflections, steadfastly maintaining that he had spent his life faithfully serving his Lord. John Darby, in commenting on this verse, notes, "As to the apostle, he had finished his work; if others were unfaithful, he had been faithful. In the good fight of the gospel of God he had fought to the end, and successfully resisted all the attacks of the enemy. He had finished his course: it only remained for him to be crowned. He had kept the faith committed to him."
Bible commentator John Gill posits, "[Paul] means ... the profession of faith, which he had held fast without wavering; and chiefly the doctrine of faith, which was committed to his trust, which he had kept pure and incorrupt against all opposition; ... [he had] been faithful to [his] trust, as a good steward of the mysteries of God; not concealing and keeping back anything that was profitable, but declaring the whole counsel of God."
Matthew Henry, Bible Commentator, observes that the apostle "had the testimony of his conscience that by the grace of God he had in some measure answered the ends of living. As a Christian, as a minister, he had fought a good fight. He had done the service, gone through the difficulties of his warfare, and had been instrumental in carrying on the glorious victories of the exalted Redeemer over the powers of darkness. His life was a course, and he had now finished it; as his warfare was accomplished, so his race was run. 'I have kept the faith. I have kept the doctrines of the gospel, and never betrayed any of them.'"
What outstanding commendations! As we admire the man and his faithfulness to God, let us be reminded that we too are in a fight, we have a course to run, and we have to keep the faith. There are many oppositions and obstacles in our way but if we are to be crowned as victors we must overcome based on the principles in the Word of God. It is not the person with the most money, the most "toys," or the biggest house that wins, but rather the one of whom the Lord can say, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant."
As you contemplate your fight, your course, and the extent to which you are true to the faith that has been entrusted to you, how would you describe it? Could one of your last wishes be that the words from 2 Timothy 4:7 be etched on your tombstone to sum up your life? I am striving for that and I pray that you are too.
It is not important just to win; the rules must be observed if one is not to be disqualified. Here we see Paul, in his reflections, steadfastly maintaining that he had spent his life faithfully serving his Lord. John Darby, in commenting on this verse, notes, "As to the apostle, he had finished his work; if others were unfaithful, he had been faithful. In the good fight of the gospel of God he had fought to the end, and successfully resisted all the attacks of the enemy. He had finished his course: it only remained for him to be crowned. He had kept the faith committed to him."
Bible commentator John Gill posits, "[Paul] means ... the profession of faith, which he had held fast without wavering; and chiefly the doctrine of faith, which was committed to his trust, which he had kept pure and incorrupt against all opposition; ... [he had] been faithful to [his] trust, as a good steward of the mysteries of God; not concealing and keeping back anything that was profitable, but declaring the whole counsel of God."
Matthew Henry, Bible Commentator, observes that the apostle "had the testimony of his conscience that by the grace of God he had in some measure answered the ends of living. As a Christian, as a minister, he had fought a good fight. He had done the service, gone through the difficulties of his warfare, and had been instrumental in carrying on the glorious victories of the exalted Redeemer over the powers of darkness. His life was a course, and he had now finished it; as his warfare was accomplished, so his race was run. 'I have kept the faith. I have kept the doctrines of the gospel, and never betrayed any of them.'"
What outstanding commendations! As we admire the man and his faithfulness to God, let us be reminded that we too are in a fight, we have a course to run, and we have to keep the faith. There are many oppositions and obstacles in our way but if we are to be crowned as victors we must overcome based on the principles in the Word of God. It is not the person with the most money, the most "toys," or the biggest house that wins, but rather the one of whom the Lord can say, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant."
As you contemplate your fight, your course, and the extent to which you are true to the faith that has been entrusted to you, how would you describe it? Could one of your last wishes be that the words from 2 Timothy 4:7 be etched on your tombstone to sum up your life? I am striving for that and I pray that you are too.
Finishing Strong - Part II
As the apostle Paul came to the close of his second letter to his spiritual son Timothy, he spoke of the Christian life as a fight to be fought, a race to be run, and a faith that is to be steadfastly maintained. As he looked back over his life, he was able to conclude, "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith" (2 Timothy 4:7,KJV).
In his first letter to the church at Corinth, Paul writes, "Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible" (1 Corinthians 9:24-25, KJV). Eugene Peterson paraphrases these verses, "You've all been to the stadium and seen the athletes race. Everyone runs; one wins. Run to win. All good athletes train hard. They do it for a gold medal that tarnishes and fades. You're after one that's gold eternally" (The Message). Paul not only concluded that he had fought a good fight, but that he had finished his course.
On these verses Bible Commentator John Gill writes, "The act of 'running' is a motion forward, a following on to know the Lord, a going from strength to strength, from one degree of grace to another, a pressing forward toward the mark for the prize; and requires spiritual strength from Christ, and a daily renewal of it. [It] is to be performed with readiness, swiftness, and cheerfulness, in opposition to a slowness of heart to believe, and a slothfulness and sluggishness in the business and service of Christ." It is no wonder Paul was able to say "I have finished the course" because his life was one constant act of running; right up to these last days before his execution.
How are you doing in your race? Are you receiving spiritual strength from Christ? If so, is there a daily renewal of it?
In his first letter to the church at Corinth, Paul writes, "Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible" (1 Corinthians 9:24-25, KJV). Eugene Peterson paraphrases these verses, "You've all been to the stadium and seen the athletes race. Everyone runs; one wins. Run to win. All good athletes train hard. They do it for a gold medal that tarnishes and fades. You're after one that's gold eternally" (The Message). Paul not only concluded that he had fought a good fight, but that he had finished his course.
On these verses Bible Commentator John Gill writes, "The act of 'running' is a motion forward, a following on to know the Lord, a going from strength to strength, from one degree of grace to another, a pressing forward toward the mark for the prize; and requires spiritual strength from Christ, and a daily renewal of it. [It] is to be performed with readiness, swiftness, and cheerfulness, in opposition to a slowness of heart to believe, and a slothfulness and sluggishness in the business and service of Christ." It is no wonder Paul was able to say "I have finished the course" because his life was one constant act of running; right up to these last days before his execution.
How are you doing in your race? Are you receiving spiritual strength from Christ? If so, is there a daily renewal of it?
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