We all have the capacity to become a
remarkable person. Become one – and help change the world.
Which Thief Are You?
Recently our
church, as did others, celebrated Easter – the Resurrection of Jesus
Christ from the dead.
“Dead”. A word
that invites the question, “How did He die?” And of course, as
all who are acquainted with Christianity know, it was on a Roman
cross.
What a lot of
people may not know is that Jesus was nailed to a cross between two
others. He was crucified among two robbers – men who had made a
living coming down out of the Judean hills, assaulting and robbing
travelers along the road. Leaving some for dead, as they must have
the man helped by the “Good Samaritan”, these men were also dying on
a cross.
There were three
crosses present at the scene.
One of the
crosses had a thief on it who absolutely refused to acknowledge his
wrongdoing (usually called “sin”). Because of his refusal to
acknowledge his wrongdoing, he died bearing the full responsibility
for his sins. Jesus called this “dying in your sin” (John 8:21).
People who die in their sin are people who refuse to acknowledge
their need for forgiveness and for a Savior. These people have no
use for God and His message to them. This thief crudely insulted
Jesus, making abusive remarks. He failed to acknowledge his sins
and seek forgiveness for them.
A second cross
had another thief on it – and this one died to sin. The second
thief witnessed Christ in His suffering, and realized that this was
a suffering that way beyond the normal. Perhaps he had witnessed
crucifixions before. He understood that there was an anguish of
soul, a passion that was redemptive in purpose. Consequently he
humbled his heart, rebuked the unbelieving thief (an acquaintance,
probably), and asked to be remembered by Christ in His Kingdom. I
think of many in our society who today mock God and His holiness,
wondering how it is possible to know, worship and obey an invisible
Spirit. The answer, simply, is “look at Jesus…look at the Cross.”
It was by seeing Jesus on the Cross that this thief felt convicted
and believed.
Life is short –
eternity is long. Suddenly this realization overcame the second
thief. “Remember me when you come into your kingdom”, he implored.
A wise move on his part, to be sure.
The third cross
bore the Christ. His death was unique. He was dying as “the Lamb
of God who takes away the sins of the world”. The Passover Lamb in
reality, not in type.
This third
cross, the cross of Jesus, was in the middle. The symbolism is
important. Christ in the middle of dying humanity. One thief
refuses to believe, and is condemned by his own sins. The other
thief believes and is saved.
Which thief are
you?
Be Glad!
When someone
circulates lies about you, it angers and then depresses you, right?
Whether it is at work, in the neighborhood, or at church it leaves
you feeling victimized – and often vengeful.
How do you
handle someone spreading lies about you?
It has happened
to me more times than I care to remember. It never seems to become
easier to handle.
George Reese, a
builder from the west coast, was being interviewed some years ago by
the senior partners of a company. The partners asked him the
question, “If there was something wrong, linked to one of us, would
you lie for us?” George Reese thought for a moment, then replied,
“No, I wouldn’t.” He then thought this might cost him the job, but
one of the partners spoke up, “That is the correct answer. We
realize that if you would lie for us, you would also lie to us.”
So, let’s find
strength in being truth-tellers ourselves. I have a personal motto,
“Either say the truth or keep your mouth shut” – and I repeat this
often to myself. But when others share harmful stories or
allegations that you know to be untrue, and these allegations or
stories are about self, it makes life difficult. So here are a few
“attitude adjustments” that will impart “strength for the journey”
of life.
First, remember
that (and this is supported over and again in the lives of the Bible
characters) divine promotion is frequently prceded by false
accusation. Do you recall the story of Joseph, from the
Biblical book of Genesis? Joseph had lies told about him by
Potiphar’s wife, and it landed Joseph into a prison. But this step
ultimately led him into the palace! Jesus was falsely accused and
crucified – but the crucifixion led to the resurrection and being
glorified. False accusation is a sign that someone is trying to
slow you down or stop you from a good work or cause. Keep on doing
the good works.
Secondly, don’t
partner with liars. If you choose to associate with gossips and
liars, you will soon be one of them! Make up your mind that you are
not going in this direction with your life, and you will not
associate with those who are going in that direction.
Not long ago I
received a letter telling me that I needed to repent. Repent of
what? The woman who had written the letter had based it entirely on
gossip she had heard from another woman. Remember that if people
lie and gossip about another person to you, they will lie and gossip
about you to another person. Don’t waste your time with these
people. Many of them are unhappy and angry. Be around those who
uplift your spirit and lighten your load in life.
Thirdly,
determine to outlast those who lie about you. Truth and time walk
together – and eventually the truth will come out. Truth always
vindicates those in the right. Jesus said, “Let your light shine” –
and this you need to do. Let your good works shine in the
darkness. Entrust yourself and your motives to God.
Fourthly,
rejoice. Jesus said to be glad when people say all manner of evil
against you falsely (Matthew
5:11-12). We can be glad because
our reward in heaven is getting larger- and also because God will
give us an inner strength to persevere.
Don’t be sad.
Don’t be mad.
Be glad!
Know Him -- and Never Want
Dwayne Savaya (www.Godswork.org)
tells the story of a Shakespearean actor who was known everywhere
for his one man shows. He would read and recite from the classics
–- and then would always end his performance with a reading of
Psalm 23.
Each night,
without exception, as the actor began his recitation, “The LORD is
my shepherd…” the crowd would listen. Then, at the conclusion of
his reading this Psalm, a thunderous ovation would follow.
One night,
however, just before the actor was to give the recital, a man from
the audience stood and spoke. “Sir, do you mind if tonight I recite
Psalm 23?” The Shakespearean actor was shocked, but quickly
recovered and granted permission for the guest to provide the
recitation. The man walked to the front and center of the stage and
began.
His voice began
in a soft tone. “The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want.” He
continued and finished to a hushed crowd. There was no ovation.
All that could be heard was the sound of people weeping. Those
present had been so moved by the man’s reciting of Psalm 23
that every eye, even the eyes of older men, had a tear.
The actor was
stunned. Turning to the man he said, “I don’t understand. I have
been reciting Psalm 23 for years. I have a lifetime of training and
experience. Yet I have never been able to move an audience like you
have just done. What is your secret?”
The guest who
had provided the recitation thought for a moment, and then replied.
“Sir, you know the Psalm. But I know the Shepherd.”
Knowing the
Shepherd is the essence of life. It is not enough to know about
Him, or to read about Him.
Know Him –- and
never want.
It Is No Fable
Ash Wednesday
occurred a few days ago. The Lenten season is upon us and the minds
of Christians around the world are turned toward Easter.
I know Easter is
upon us – just yesterday I visited a large store and saw chocolate
bunnies and colored eggs for sale.
Some who are
skeptical of the resurrection attempt to redefine it as the
reinstitution of Jesus’ teachings, or of His memory. But of course,
this is not the traditional Christian understanding of Easter.
Easter means
bodily resurrection. Jesus, who had died and was buried, came back
to life physically. The New Testament Epistle to the Romans
states that this was the way in which God proved Jesus to be His
Son, and the acceptable sacrifice for our sins.
There is really
no other conclusion to make: apart from a literal bodily
resurrection from the grave, Christianity has nothing to offer
except its ethics. It does not offer salvation nor does it offer
hope for life in the age to come. There is a lesson I learned a
long time ago: apart from hope, there is no motivation to live.
Every person needs hope – “the happy anticipation of good to come.”
In the early
1900s a group of attorneys met in London. Their purpose was to
discuss the Biblical accounts of Jesus’ resurrection. They had been
asked to examine the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John; to
look at the motivations behind the people so actively engaged in
missionary activity in The Acts, and to read Paul’s letters.
They were asked to shred the doctrine of the resurrection apart if
possible – or, to be more precise, see if the evidence for the
resurrection from the Bible and history was sufficient to hold up in
an English court. Their conclusion? It was that the resurrection
of Jesus from the dead has to be one of the best established facts
of history. Otherwise, there is no accounting for the events that
immediately followed or for the existence of the church today.
G.B. Hardy in
his book Countdown, provides some thoughtful questions about
the resurrection. His conclusion is that there is no point in
following Christ if the resurrection did not occur. But it has
occurred, and following Him now becomes a necessity.
The resurrection
of Jesus Christ has affected countless lives – all for the better.
Millions will give testimony to the change He has brought in their
lives.
It is no fable.
What He Did for Love
With Valentine’s
Day coming up, it was no surprise that the February edition of
The Reader’s Digest had a love story as one of its main
features. Entitled What They Did for Love, the article told
of unusual ways in which love was expressed.
For example,
Patrick Moberg of New York City is a 21 year old website designer.
Last November, while in Union Station, he noticed a young lady. He
could not take his eyes off her – she seemed to be his “perfect
girl.” They both got onto Train Five. During the ride, he noticed
her braided hair, and that she was writing in a pad. When the train
stopped at the Bowling Green station, a swarm of people entered and the young lady departed. He had
lost her in the crowd. That night he posted a new web site with a
drawing of her and himself, asking if anyone knew who she was. He
received a few leads, and some offers from young ladies in case he
never found her, but then someone sent him an e-mail. In this
e-mail was her picture. Not only was this her, but she wanted to
meet him also. She was from
Australia and was working in New York as a magazine writer. A
television broadcast brought them together for the first time, and
then they were later able to visit alone. They get along together
well, and Patrick says, “Everything went without a hitch.”
There are a few
other love stories also –- and all are very amazing. The best part
is, they are all true.
The best love
story to recall for Valentine’s Day is from the Bible. There are
several love stories in the Bible, and most are about the love of
one person for another. The greatest and best one is the story of
God’s love for all persons. Yes, His love for you and me.
This love story
goes like this: “For God so loved the world that He gave His one
and only Son that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have
everlasting life” (John 3:16). How amazing is this? So amazing
that songs are written about it and sung around the world. So
amazing that people gather to worship on Sundays to revel in such
love. And also amazing that this love is one that lifts up a person
to a higher and nobler plane of life.
There are people
chronicled in the article What They Did for Love that have
done some amazing things. But the most amazing of all is
What He Did
For Love.
Happy New Year!
The shouts rang
out, “Happy New Year!” as people left the church. Yes, I had gone
to a group meeting at the church. It had begun late on the evening
of December 31 and then lasted until past midnight, bringing in January 1. A new year had begun for us all, and for the
world.
How are we to
measure happiness? Or prosperity for that matter. “Have a happy
and prosperous new year” can mean different things to people. The
scriptures do present some constants however. No matter who you
are, where you live, or the class of society to which you belong,
there are some traits of all happy and prosperous people.
Job 5:17 states,
“Happy is the person the Lord corrects.” There is not one of us who
does not need correction during the coming year. If your car needs
a tune-up, and every time you accelerate it sputters about before
gaining speed, then you have a serious problem. This problem needs
correcting. If your life needs a spiritual tune-up, don’t’ wait for
a wreck before attempting to solve the problem. Allow the Lord to
correct you!
Psalm 144:15
says, “Happy are those whose God is the Lord.” People have a
tendency to fall down at worship at the shrine of possessions, fame,
and power. These are false gods and will eventually fail you.
Bernard of Clairvaux, who passed away in 1153, once said, “What we
love, we shall grow to resemble.” Be careful about what you love,
what you worship and serve. Eventually you will become like
whatever it is you worship. If you worship empty, lifeless idols,
your life will be drained of meaning and you will become empty and
life will become meaningless. This is a sure formula for
unhappiness. When we worship the Lord then His joy becomes our
strength.
Proverbs 3:13
tells us that “Happy is the person who finds wisdom.” Wisdom comes
from God and you are encouraged to request it (James 1:5). Often
God uses other people, so seek the counsel of godly, wise people.
Wisdom also comes from acting prudently rather than rashly (Proverbs
8:12).
Happy are the
people who obey the truths God has given them (John 13:17). There
is a very real liberating power that comes from obeying God, from
doing what you know to be right. During this year it would serve
you well to ask occasionally, “Am I living the truths of the Gospel,
or just giving mental assent to it?” Learn to live your faith and
you will be happy.
May the Lord
give you these traits in the coming year: a teachable spirit, so
that your life may be corrected; a true worship of Jehovah, the
invisible but personal God (who has made man in His own image –
which is a way of saying, learn to love others); seek wisdom from
others and also directly from God. If you make these traits your
own, you will have a…
Happy New Year!
Have You Tasted Jesus?
One year at a
progressive seminary in the Chicago area, the theologian Paul
Tillich was invited to speak. Tillich was known to reject much of
traditional Christian teaching. He began sharing how the
resurrection of Jesus from the grave was not a real, historical
episode. Rather, it was to be understood mythologically (whatever
that means).
Several pastors
from the area had been invited to attend, and lunch had been
served. An apple had been part of the lunch, and some of the
pastors had not eaten the apple. They had carried it back into the
auditorium.
Tillich went on
for two hours speaking how the resurrection of Jesus was false. He
quoted a variety of scholars and referenced several books. He then
concluded that since there had been no historical, physical
resurrection the tradition of the church was groundless and
emotional, because it was based on a relationship with a risen
Jesus, who, in Tillich’s opinion, had never risen from the dead. He
then asked if there were any questions.
After a few
seconds an old, dark skinned preacher with a head of wooly white
hair stood up. “Doctor Tillich, he began, I have one question.”
Then he munched into his apple. “My question is simple,” he
continued. He took another bite from his apple and chewed it, then
swallowed it. “Now, I have never read those books you mentioned.
And I can not recite the Bible in the original languages.” Then he
took a last bite from the apple, chewed it, and swallowed it. “Now
here is my question. Was the apple I just ate bitter or sweet?”
The old preacher then sat down.
Tillich looked
at the audience oddly, and then replied, “I can not possibly answer
your question. I have not tasted your apple.”
The white haired
preacher stood up again and stated, “And you have not tasted my
Jesus, either.”
The audience in
attendance could not contain themselves. After a few seconds
applause broke out. Paul Tillich looked around at the assembly, and
then walked off the platform.
Now the question
is this: have you tasted Jesus? Psalm 34:8 says, “Taste and see
that the Lord is good…”
Have you tasted
Jesus/
This Could Be Your Turning Point
My friend David
Jeremiah has risen to prominence as a media pastor, producing a
program that begins with the statement “This could be your turning
point.” At some moment in the broadcast, usually near the end, he
will invite those listening to make a commitment to following Jesus
Christ, a real turning point
There are
different “turning points” in a person’s life. That is to say, that
moment when a decision of some kind is made that shapes the future
for the person. These moments are decisive and start a chain
reaction of events that eventually define the person’s life.
Events in
history are turning points that, when done, shape the future of the
world for ever. Napoleon at Waterloo, the American Civil War battle
of Gettysburg, Pearl Harbor, Normandy, the Great Depression, just to
name a few.
Bible characters
all had turning points. David, in his battle with Goliath; Ruth, in
her choice to stay with Naomi; and Peter in choosing to leave his
fishing vocation and follow Jesus. There is a lesser known Bible
character who had his turning points also. This is Zacchaeus, who
had two important turning points. The remarkable thing about
Zacchaeus is that his turning points occurred in close proximity to
each other. His story is told in the Biblical book of St. Luke,
chapter 19.
The first
turning point for Zacchaeus occurred when he heard that Jesus was
coming to town. He ran to the route that Jesus would be taking and
climbed up into a tree to observe. He had planned to stand along
the route, but others had beaten him to the street. Zacchaeus was
not going to be left out. He knew he could not just go back home.
He was determined to get a look at Jesus, the One who had claimed to
forgive sins. Zacchaeus felt an overwhelming need for change – and
his best chance was to some how, some way get in touch with Jesus.
Almost everyone who has a positive turning point in life will come
to a place where he or she understands that a change is necessary
and that only Jesus, the Son of God can affect it. This realization
is due to more than merely human assessment. It is the work of the
Holy Spirit, preparing a person for the hearing of the Good News.
A second turning
point for Zacchaeus occurs when Jesus calls to him. There Zacchaeus
is, a fully grown adult, up in a tree when Jesus calls. Jesus knows
the man’s need and desire. Jesus acts upon the need and desire.
Having called to Zacchaeus, it now is up to Zacchaeus what will
happen next. What happens next is the “turning point” – Zacchaeus
opens up his house and possessions to Jesus. This is an act of
believing faith and committing to Jesus as Lord of life.
By the way, is
Jesus Lord of your life – all of it, including your possessions?
Turning points
occur in a person’s life when he or she is totally open before the
Lord. We commit to Him as Lord, meaning that He is over all – our
house, our time, our tithe, our past, our present and our future.
Soon it will be
New Year’s Day. This is the perfect time to establish a “turning
point” in your life. The past is past and what is is. But the
future can be different. It can be filled with God’s love and
hope. “Today is the first day of the rest of your life” as the
saying goes. Like Zacchaeus, go to Jesus, listen for His call upon
your life, and open yourself to Him.
The New Year can
be different.
This could be
your turning point.
Born From Above
I was looking
through some Christmas cards recently.
By the way, what
do you do with your Christmas cards after, say, January 1? I keep
ours and use them as reminders of friendships. Also, as reminders
to engage in prayer for others. Each day a different one is pulled
from the stack and a friend is remembered in prayer. It is a great
way to pray for others.
One of the cards
had a drawing of an elderly minister taking a nap in his study. He
was dreaming, and the dream asked the question, “What if he had not
come?” The card then proceeded to suggest what a lack of hope would
exist in our world apart from Christ’s coming.
What would it
have been like had Christ not been born? There would have been no
Christmas bells pealing out carols. There would have been no happy
carolers singing “Joy to the World” or “O Little Town of
Bethlehem”. In the dream the pastor walked down the street, but no
church stood there. And then, when he returned to his study, there
were no books on the shelves about the Messiah. Soon, again in his
sleep, the doorbell rang. A small girl was pleading with him to
leave the house and visit her. The pastor hurried to the home, sat
down by the bed, and opened his Bible. He had planned to read words
of hope from St. John
3:16 and 1 Corinthians
5. But those words could not be found – his Bible ended with
Malachi, the last of the Old Testament books of promise. After all,
if Jesus had not come as Christ there would not yet be fulfillment
of the promise.
But then the
slumbering pastor was awakened by the voices of carolers singing on
his porch, “Hark! The herald angels sing, glory to the newborn
King! Peace on earth and mercy mild, God and sinner reconciled!”
He awakened from
his slumber, happy to know that the first message given at the birth
of the promised Messiah was that of reconciliation.
Christmas will
soon arrive. Hopefully you will gather with friends and family to
remember and celebrate love for each other. As you do so, may your
day be one of gratitude for the many blessings of life.
I have a
suggestion for Christmas Day. Gather your family together and begin
with a short prayer of thanksgiving to God for having shown His
great love to us. By sending forth His only-begotten Son (meaning
unique and divine), God has made the move in showing His love for
us.
After all,
Christ was born here below, that we might be…
Born from above.
Real Life
“So the Word
became human and lived here on earth among us” (John 1:14).
Why?
We often speak
of God in abstract ways. In so doing, God is no longer a person,
but a concept, a thought. It would be easy to consider God a
concept or a “force” or “power” rather than a person.
Except for one
thing: the incarnation, God became human. There was a time and
place in history when God became a human being. He did not just
appear like a genie out of a bottle, make an announcement “Hey,
earthlings – I am a person. I have intelligence, emotions,
preferences and dislikes.” Then disappear into Heaven, not to be
seen again.
God has left a
trail. He announced through prophets His intent. Then He implanted
the Second Person of the Godhead into the womb of a virgin.
Gestation occurred, then birth. A baby boy was born and wrapped in
cloths. On the eighth day of his life He was taken to the Temple
and circumcised, just like other boys. He was a genuine human, not
a ghostly spirit of some kind. A full life followed, filled with
trials, happy occasions, moments of disappointment, and death.
Such a fully
human life!
Unlike others
however, to demonstrate His deity, this person – Jesus of Nazareth,
the Christ – arose from the dead. As the Biblical book of Romans
states, “And Jesus Christ our Lord was shown to be the Son of
God when God powerfully raised Him from the dead by means of the
Holy Spirit” (1:4).
God knows us
better than we know ourselves. He understood that we needed a
“real” human person to appreciate His great love for us. We needed
a real human person to show us how to experience real life, that is,
life in its fullness of purpose and meaning.
In the
Incarnation, remembered at the Christmas season, God embraces the
messiness of life in this world, showing us all how to live, how to
love, and how to die. He informs us of His passionate love for
mankind, upon whom He has pity. He invites us to love Him
passionately as well, and calls us to love others with just such a
love (called agape – which means “divine love”).
It is when God,
the abstract, becomes concrete in flesh through Jesus Christ that we
understand. We understand His thoughts, feelings, and purpose.
When reading the life of Jesus in the Gospels, we can see, learn,
almost smell and touch the living God. We learn what God desires of
us, and how we are to really live.
The truth of
Christmas is that the infinite God has become finite. In doing so
He has become real to us and for us. In reality, we can now know
and experience God. He has reached down and touched earth. He has
reached out and touched mankind, bringing good into their lives. He
invites us to reach up and touch Him – and then reach out and touch
others, affecting their lives for good.
God became real
for us so that we might experience …
Real life.
Happy Birthday, Jesus!
I noticed the
children excitedly running through the gymnasium at our church.
They were all worked up over a planned party. Called a “Happy
Birthday Jesus! Party”, it seems to resonate with them. After all,
what child does not like a party? And just like when they are
invited to a friend’s home for a birthday party, they are expected
to bring a gift. Their gifts will be cans of food, to be given to
help others in need during the holiday season.
I can not help
but think what good kids they are – pleased and excited to celebrate
the Lord’s birth and just as pleased and excited to assist other
families in need.
I read somewhere
that in 2007 it is expected that spending will be about $200 billion
for Christmas gifts. No matter how you slice that one up, it is a
lot of money. Approximately $900 will be spent on each person
participating in Christmas gift-giving.
There is a lot
of money being spent on merchandise that in a few months will have
lost its appeal. I plan to spend a little on others, too – so
please don’t think I am being overly critical.
Still, I like
the idea of a birthday party for Jesus. It is His day. When I
think of how much God has given me, I desire to give something back
to Him. I have a home and family where there is a lot of love. I
belong to a church full of friends – real brothers and sisters in
the faith. They encourage and strengthen my spirit each time we are
together. The intangibles that money can’t buy – the things that
really matter – are mine also: personal satisfaction, joy,
happiness, and the pride of seeing my adult children experiencing
success in their lives.
Soon our church
will have its annual Christmas Eve service. This is always a warm
and inspiring time as familiar carols are sung, candles are lit, and
communion is served. It is a time of remembrance. It calls to
memory the great act of God in sending His Son to this planet. This
“Advent” was a great demonstration of His grace and makes eternal
life possible for all. It is a time to remember that Christ
surrendered His riches to reach out and save the unfortunate human
race. “Sinners” we are called; “Savior” He is called. We are the
unfortunate for whom God gave His Son.
I want to give
something back to God, too. Perhaps you feel the same way. You
want to give something back, a way of saying “Happy Birthday Jesus”,
but as an adult.
Here is a
Christmas challenge and suggestion for you: determine what the most
expensive gift is that you either have or will have purchased this
Christmas season. Take the cost of that gift and then match it by
giving a special gift back to God. Not sure where to give your
gift? I have a suggestion. Mail your gift to The Salvation
Army, 57 W. Main St.,
Alliance, OH 44601. The
Salvation Army has an excellent history of using donations wisely in
helping the less fortunate.
How
authentically Christmas-like this gesture would be!
I can not help
but think that the Lord is pleased if we remember the true meaning
of Christmas and as we celebrate it in an unselfish, God-like way.
Happy Birthday,
Jesus!
Whose Birthday We Celebrate
It is called
“Black Friday.” This is the day when stores have 5:00 a.m. openings
and Doorbuster specials. It comes the morning after
Thanksgiving Day, and a lot of people look forward to the
excitement.
I should tell
you -– I am not one of those people. Yes, I did go out one year
early. It happened once and will not likely happen again. I
thought I might never get out of the store alive!
It is also the
time when the Christmas decorations begin to prominently appear.
Increasingly, it seems that the Christ part of Christmas is
being abandoned. The secularization of society continues to
undermine all things Christian. I for one have to wonder how
someone who is secular in his or her thinking can celebrate
Christmas anyway –- but they seem to manage!
Symbols are
important. Christians have used symbols for centuries to
communicate artistically the truths of the faith. Christmas trees,
for example, were used by Martin Luther and his followers in
Germany. They were used to show children how the lighted candles on
the tree were like the angelic host that appeared in the sky on the
dark night that Jesus was born. The evergreen tree symbolized the
everlasting life that Christ offers. That it is a tree reminds one
of Galatians 3:13, “…cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree.” Jesus
hung on a tree –- the cross –- and became a curse for us so that we
can be forgiven and enjoy everlasting life. Holly was first hung in
England. Christians hung it in their windows as a witness to the
life-giving God. They would share that the red berries symbolize
the blood of Jesus, shed for sinners. The green symbolized the life
He gives when sins are confessed and forgiven. The mistletoe was
hung by Romans to designate a place where people could meet, talk
and resolve their differences. A kiss under the mistletoe can be
nice, but forgiving others their trespasses and putting old hurts to
rest is an even greater sign that Christ is known and honored.
Two other
practices (rather than symbols) that have meaning at Christmas are
caroling and gift-giving. Caroling began with Christians in 13th
Century Italy. There believers would go house-to-house singing of
the Savior’s birth as a way of sharing the Gospel. The idea soon
spread to other nations, such as France, Germany and England. From
these Christians the practice was exported to America.
Gift-giving may
be traced all the way back to the Wise Men. As early as the Eighth
Century (700-799 A.D.) there are documents naming three of them as
Gaspar, Melchior and Balthasar. The great adventurer Marco Polo,
in the 1200s, reported that the three Magi had set out from Saba in
Persia, where their tombs were still known in his day. Not much else
is known, not even if their number was limited to three or if these
three were the leaders of a large pilgrimage to Bethlehem (which is
what I think, incidentally). Regardless, they brought gifts to show
their homage and love for the Savior. We purchase and bestow gifts
to show our love for others. We should not forget to show our love
for the Savior also.
By use of our
chosen symbols and gifts we continue to show…
Whose birthday
we celebrate.
For Who He Is
Thanksgiving.
One of the great seasons of the year.
“In everything
give thanks…” states 1 Thessalonians 5:18. We usually give thanks
for all the possessions we have acquired and for the people we love.
But are we
thankful for Him? I read the following letter recently.
Dear One:
As you got up
this morning, I watched you and hoped you would speak to me, even if
it was just a few words. But you were too busy trying to find the
right outfit to wear. When you ran around the house getting ready,
I knew there would be a few minutes for you to stop and say hello,
but you were too busy. At one point you had to wait fifteen minutes
with nothing to do except sit in a chair. I noticed you talking to
others at times, but you ignored me. I watched patiently all day
long. With all your activities I guess you were too busy to talk to
me. You went out and worked, then shopped, then went home and it
was hectic as you prepared for supper. After supper I thought “Now,
finally, we can talk.” But you continued to ignore me and turned on
the TV instead. I have noticed that you spend a lot of evenings in
front of the TV, incidentally, barely speaking to anyone. Then
bedtime came, and I suppose you were too tired to speak to me. You
plopped into the bed and fell asleep in no time. You don’t seem to
understand that I am always there for you. I’ve got patience, more
patience than you will ever know. I even want to teach you how to
be patient with others also. I love you so much that I wait
everyday for a nod, word or thought. I really would like to see a
thankful part in your attitude. I would like for you to know that a
one-sided conversation is very difficult. Well, I notice that you
are getting up again, and it is morning. Today I will wait once
more, with nothing but love for you. I hope that today you will
give me a little of your time – to at least say hello. More than
anything I want you to have a nice day – and a nice life.
Your Friend,
God
This
Thanksgiving season, be sure to speak to God. Give Him thanks not
just for all He has given, but…
For who He is.
Don't Forget the Cross
I was in a
discussion group. The discussion centered around grief. As the
group, about eight of us in all, chatted I noticed that one person
was unusually quiet. A recent widower, he sat and listened. “The
death of my wife has left a hole in my heart. I am not sure it can
ever be healed”, he said.
The others
listened as he spoke of several years of marriage and the happiness
it had brought into his life. As the session was drawing to a close,
I asked those present if they had sensed the presence of Christ in
our midst as we shared. At first there was silence, then one after
another, people spoke up. Some had sensed His presence – only one
ventured to say “Not especially.” Just before our closing prayer, a
lady reflected upon our meeting and stated, “I have been thinking of
what Mr. ______ said. To lose a loved one just doesn’t leave a hole
in your heart. It seems to leave a hole in our entire being. I
feel like a Saturday morning television cartoon character who has
been shot with a cannon ball and this gigantic hole is in the entire
middle of the body.”
To which someone
else replied, “Don’t forget the cross.” We had finished our session
by my asking the group to think about the cross and Christ’s death
on it. How grieved God’s heart must have been. He knows and
understands our sense of loss and grief because he has lost and
grieved also.
Don’t forget the
cross.
Whenever we are
experiencing anguish or “soul pain” it is good to think about the
cross. The suffering of Christ was not just for us –a common
refrain within our churches – but was also with us. He identified
with mankind totally and in every way, including emotional pain,
physical pain and death. These are agonies He did not have to
endure. But He did endure them. In so doing the cross speaks to us
not just of pain, but of hope. And life anew.
Without the
cross there would have been no resurrection. Without death, no new
life.
Christ and His
cross have given us the hope and spiritual strength to become
conquerors. We can overcome whatever burdens we are called upon to
bear. Even in the midst of disappointment or of suffering, we
realize that new life waits in the near future. Better days are
ahead.
Don’t forget the
cross!
Check the Price Tags
I was in the
store checking prices. It had been advertised as a huge “Sale Day”,
and I wanted to take advantage of the reduced prices. Two women
were shopping near me and I overheard them talking about someone. In
the conversation they were having it was said, “She never looks at
the price tag, but just goes ahead and buys whatever she wants.” A
remark to which the other replied, “No wonder she is in such
trouble.”
It made me
think: not considering the price tag of sin can cause great trouble.
It is true in life that whatever you reap you will sow. It is also
true that the wages of sin is death. I might paraphrase that as “the
price tag of sin is misery.”
The Bible is
replete with examples of people who did not check the price tag of
sin before buying.
You probably
guessed that I have been reading from the life of David recently. If
so, you guessed correctly – and a study of his life and
contemporaries serves as a warning that the price tag of sin is
misery. Even though God stands ready to forgive, and He will
forgive, the consequences are still there.
Shop carefully.
Check the price
tags.
Keep Working on Your Spiritual Stance
It was on cable
TV that I found “The Boxing Channel.”
I had never
heard of “The Boxing Channel”, much less watched it, but it became
quickly apparent that it was devoted to showing boxing matches –
both live and reruns.
I thought back
to my college days when one of my buddies purchased a pair of heavy
gloves. As I recall they were 16 ounce, which made them like
pillows. Boxing gloves, in case you did not know, come in different
weights. I think competitive boxing calls for 10 or 12 ounce
gloves, which means that a punch to the face or middle body can be
painful.
There are a
couple things that are important to the sport of boxing. Next to
“don’t get hit” is probably the stance. It is important not to get
caught “flat footed”. The right stance helps put thrust into each
punch. The right stance will keep you moving. Your feet keep
moving slightly and rocking back and forth. A good boxer is never
standing still.
As I watched
“The Boxing Channel” and remembered a few boxing lessons from my
college days, I also thought of the scripture that says, “I
discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it
should” (1 Corinthians 9:27).
Taking a stance
in boxing is important. Taking a spiritual stance is equally
important. For one thing, you will keep moving (“faith without works
is dead” so to speak). You will be able to take a punch and it will
not knock you out. How may we take a spiritual stance?
One way, and a
very important one at that, is begin to learn God’s Word. We really
must learn what God’s word says – and apply it to life. Just like a
boxer climbing into the ring, who knows the punches will come from
his opponent; we know that “our adversary the devil walks around
like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8). The
scriptures are a powerful weapon, helping us to ward off attacks and
providing practical wisdom for our lives.
A second
spiritual stance is to worship and praise. Worship means to
recognize God’s worthiness for our lives. Praise is to cultivate a
spirit of thanks for His wonder. His wonder in power and in grace.
A third
spiritual stance is that of prayer. A strong prayer life keeps a
person spiritually healthy. If the scriptures provide wisdom, and
worship reminds us of God’s presence and power, it is prayer that
gives stamina, spiritual strength for the journey of life. Or to
use the boxing metaphor, it is prayer that makes us tough enough to
withstand the opponent’s blows.
Learn a lesson
from “The Boxing Channel” –
Keep working on
your spiritual stance.
Begin Worship Today
Been thinking about Worship lately.
I am familiar with “worship wars”
occurring in the church. These wars are not about worship so much as
worship style. Just as people differ in their preferences for ice
cream, so they differ in their preferences as regards worship style.
But for the moment, let’s put style
aside – and think together about worship.
Worship is not something we do for an
hour or so on Sunday. It is an attitude that affects our way of
life.
Worship is the attitude that “God is
here and I will honor His presence.” If that is your attitude, then
you understand how worship leads you into an awareness of God’s
presence and how this changes us. Worship will transform our
thinking and our responses to everything.
Would you like to experience change
in your life? If so, begin to cultivate an attitude of worship. How
is that done? Good question. I have a few suggestions.
Set aside a little time each day for
private worship. This does not have to be long – how about ten
minutes? You really don’t have ten minutes? Well, go for five
minutes then. I can not imagine that anyone does not have five
minutes in the day for life transforming worship. By worship now, I
do not necessarily mean reading – what I do mean is that you
deliberately reflect upon an attribute of God. Just praise God for
His faithfulness. Next day, thank Him for His provision. Day three
you may want to thank Him for the salvation He proffers. Keep this
up for five minutes a day for a month- ten minutes is better- and I
can guarantee it will begin to transform you.
On Sunday make a decision that you
will arrive at church with an “attitude of gratitude.” This will
prepare your spirit for praise. Who knows? You may even begin to
appreciate some of the praises done in a style that is not your
favorite. When this happens, you know transformation is occurring!
One of the more interesting instructions given in the Old Testament
is in 1 Chronicles 16:28, “Ascribe greatness to our God.” Ascribe
means “to give or believe a characteristic”. Do you believe God
possesses greatness? If so, tell Him -– for in telling Him you are
reminding yourself of the awesome power at work in and around you.
Attempt to incorporate worship as
part of your lifestyle. After all, worship is not only a noun – it
is a verb, too. The essence of worship is not the musical portion of
a public service. It is the spirit of a person connecting with the
Spirit of God. Worship becomes a lifestyle when our hearts and God’s
Spirit are in harmony. This is the purpose for which you were
created, and is life’s greatest experience.
Begin worship today!
Hold That Line!
“Hold that line!
Hold that line!”
The shouts of the
cheerleaders, attempting to rouse the spectators, were
enthusiastic. A few of the spectators at the junior high football
game joined in. Most however, chatted among themselves as they
watched their young sons (or grandsons) play.
I began to think
about a Civil War battle where Union General Winfield Hancock had
ridden up and down the line on his horse shouting the same thing to
his men: “Hold that line!”
“Hold that line!”
is primarily a military term. When the line does not hold in
battle, when one or more of the soldiers retreat, panic ensues and
the task is made harder for the courageous that are fighting. I
think it must have been adapted as a cheer for football.
It is interesting
that the Bible portrays the Christian in the role of a soldier –
Ephesians 6:10-17, the “armor of God” passage. Our battle, as
described here, is not against “flesh and blood”, but against evil,
demonic personalities and their influence in our world. As an army
of believers, each of us is important. We need one another to “hold
the line” and keep in step so that we can advance the Church of God here on earth. If one
believer falls out of step, it makes it that much more difficult for
us to keep marching forward together.
And we are to
march forward – as members of a local congregation and as members of
the universal church.
How do we “hold
that line” in spiritual warfare, that is, as part of the church-
both local and universal?
First, we can
maintain unity. This does not mean that we all agree on everything,
which is obviously not going to happen. It does mean that we can be
agreeable in our disagreements, that we can pray for one another and
demonstrate love for each other. In order to maintain unity, it is
important that we focus on the primary objective: bringing others to
Christ. Everything else is secondary – our methods, our form of
baptism, the color of the carpeting in the nave, etc.
To “hold that
line” it helps greatly to build bridges of friendship with believers
from other churches and denominations. Let’s face it; we can all
become wrapped up in our own camp. To do so fosters
misunderstanding and distrust of other camps. What if those
believers down the road at the other church serve communion weekly
and your church only does it monthly. So? Get to know them. When
healthy relationships are built between believers, we help each
other move forward. We sharpen and motivate each other. The
community is then impacted positively. Instead of two ineffective
churches competing with each other, the two churches become
effective, supporting each other.
Thirdly, and very
important in learning to “hold that line”, is the principle of
praying for others. In my own life, I pray for people in the church
daily. I also make it a daily practice to pray for another church
and pastor every day. It serves as a reminder to me that we have
much in common. We have more in common than we have differences. It
is difficult to envy him or his church’s success when I have prayed
for him and the church to have this success.
Maintain unity,
build bridges of friendship, pray for others. Whether in the local
church or the universal church, this is the way we advance the
Kingdom.
Come on, team –
Hold that line!
