If you attended a Christmas pageant at some time over the last few weeks, the wise men probably showed up on stage before the shepherds had left. In fact, the wise men almost certainly didn’t make it to Bethlehem for quite a while. Not only had the shepherds gone back to their fields, but the folks who took all the rooms in all the inns in town had returned to their homes, as well. So when they arrived—whether it was a couple of weeks or a couple of years after Jesus’ birth; the wise men found Joseph and Mary and the baby in a house—not a stable.
Although it is interesting to consider when and where they found the Christ child, what is more important to note is what they did when and where they found him: they worshiped him. They told Herod that was the purpose of their trip. “We have come to worship him” (Matthew 2:2). There is wisdom in seeking the newborn king, but those who are truly wise worship him.
As you move into a new year let me encourage you to renew your commitment to worship the Christ. Admit that there are many things that keep God from being the first priority in your life. Ask God to help you recognize and resist those things that lead you away from him.
Acknowledge that God—the One who has revealed himself to you as Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer—is the only God, and the only One worthy to set the agenda for your life. God loves you and gave Jesus as the only way and means of coming to him. If you have any reservations about accepting Christ, lay them aside. The only merit any believer has is the righteousness of Christ.
Realize that a life of worship will not be easy. Jesus warns his followers of opposition, ridicule and suffering. He also assures them that the lessons he has taught them will lead them to a life filled with love and joy.
That’s what I pray for you in this new year: a life filled with love and joy.
Friday, December 30, 2011
Saturday, December 17, 2011
Letting God Have His Way
Someone may have recently encouraged you to follow your dream. You had shared some of your goals with them, and they knew you were struggling to make progress. They didn’t want to see you give up, and you sure didn’t want them to think of you as a loser; so you hunkered down and pressed on. Perhaps another voice was calling you to a different response.
Consider this testimony from Judson W. Van DeVenter:
Sometimes God calls people to give up their dreams because God's plan for the world is bigger than anything they can imagine. Mary and Joseph had plans, but when God announced a new course for their lives they responded with faithful obedience.
May God give you the strength and the courage to respond to his call to join him in the work he is doing, so that all people may come to know of his faithful love.
Consider this testimony from Judson W. Van DeVenter:
For many years I had been studying art. My whole life was wrapped up in its pursuit and the thing farthest from my mind was active Christian service. My dream was to become an outstanding and famous artist. After graduating from college, I studied drawing and painting under a well-known German teacher. To help me financially, I taught school and eventually I became supervisor of art in the public schools of Sharon, Pennsylvania.
It was during this period in my life that a revival was held in the First Methodist Church of which I was a member. I became very interested in these meetings as a personal worker. The Spirit of God was urging me to give up teaching and to enter the evangelistic field, but I would not yield. I still had a burning desire to be an artist. This battle raged for five years. At last the time came when I could hold out no longer and I surrendered my all—my time and my talents. It was then that a new day was ushered into my life. I wrote "I Surrender All" in memory of the time when, after the long struggle, I had surrendered and dedicated my life to active Christian service for the Lord.
Sometimes God calls people to give up their dreams because God's plan for the world is bigger than anything they can imagine. Mary and Joseph had plans, but when God announced a new course for their lives they responded with faithful obedience.
May God give you the strength and the courage to respond to his call to join him in the work he is doing, so that all people may come to know of his faithful love.
Friday, December 9, 2011
Rejoice Always
When faced with the challenge to quote a verse of scripture from memory, many people have at one time or another turned to John 11:35—a verse that is well-known for being the shortest verse in the King James Version of the Bible: “Jesus wept.” While this verse is an important sign of Jesus’ compassion for his friends—Mary, Martha and Lazarus; it is not an accurate indicator of the predominant tenor of Jesus’ emotional state. Indeed, one of the chief complaints the religious leaders had about Jesus was that he was always going to parties; and even worse than that, they were parties where people seemed to be having fun.
Jesus’ life is marked with joy from its very beginning. Even before either of them is born, John leaps for joy in his mother’s womb when Mary goes to visit Elizabeth. Mary breaks into song as her heart is filled with joy.
When the angel appears to the shepherds in the fields outside the village of Bethlehem, he proclaims, “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people” (Luke 2:10). When the shepherds told Mary and Joseph—and anyone else who would listen—about their experience with the angels, they were amazed . . . and the shepherds couldn’t help but praise God for everything they had heard and seen.
When a group of wise men showed up in Jerusalem looking for a new born king, it disturbed Herod—which disturbed most of the other residents of the city. Nevertheless, once they got their bearings and turned their gaze toward Bethlehem; they spotted the star again. “When they saw the star, they were filled with joy!” (Matthew 2:10).
During his last few hours with his closest friends, Jesus reveals the purpose of all the things he has taught them: “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete” (John 15:11).
It is no wonder then that Paul would tell the early followers of Jesus to “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4). Joy has always been one of the marks of the people of God.
So if this season begins to wear on you, and you feel your joy beginning to fade; let me suggest you commit another scripture verse to memory. It is nearly as short as John 11:35—just two words. Here it is: 1 Thessalonians 5:16—“Rejoice always!” And may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you as the one who was born in Bethlehem fills your life with joy.
Jesus’ life is marked with joy from its very beginning. Even before either of them is born, John leaps for joy in his mother’s womb when Mary goes to visit Elizabeth. Mary breaks into song as her heart is filled with joy.
When the angel appears to the shepherds in the fields outside the village of Bethlehem, he proclaims, “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people” (Luke 2:10). When the shepherds told Mary and Joseph—and anyone else who would listen—about their experience with the angels, they were amazed . . . and the shepherds couldn’t help but praise God for everything they had heard and seen.
When a group of wise men showed up in Jerusalem looking for a new born king, it disturbed Herod—which disturbed most of the other residents of the city. Nevertheless, once they got their bearings and turned their gaze toward Bethlehem; they spotted the star again. “When they saw the star, they were filled with joy!” (Matthew 2:10).
During his last few hours with his closest friends, Jesus reveals the purpose of all the things he has taught them: “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete” (John 15:11).
It is no wonder then that Paul would tell the early followers of Jesus to “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4). Joy has always been one of the marks of the people of God.
So if this season begins to wear on you, and you feel your joy beginning to fade; let me suggest you commit another scripture verse to memory. It is nearly as short as John 11:35—just two words. Here it is: 1 Thessalonians 5:16—“Rejoice always!” And may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you as the one who was born in Bethlehem fills your life with joy.
Saturday, December 3, 2011
Remembering Saint Nicholas
As we prepare our homes for the visit of Santa Claus on Christmas Eve, many people around the world are preparing to celebrate the feast day of Saint Nicholas on December 6. Children around the world know and love Saint Nicholas, even though he is known by different names and looks different from place to place—for he brings gifts and treats in December.
Nicholas was born during the third century in the Greek village of Patara. His wealthy parents, who raised him to be a devout Christian, died in an epidemic while Nicholas was still young. Obeying Jesus' words to "sell what you own and give the money to the poor," Nicholas used his whole inheritance to assist the needy, the sick, and the suffering. He dedicated his life to serving God and was made Bishop of Myra while still a young man.
Through the centuries many stories and legends have been told of Saint Nicholas' life and deeds. One story tells of a poor man with three daughters. In those days a young woman's father had to offer prospective husbands something of value—a dowry. The larger the dowry, the better the chance that a young woman would find a good husband. Without a dowry, a woman was unlikely to marry. This poor man's daughters were destined to be sold into slavery. Mysteriously, on three different occasions, a bag of gold appeared in their home—providing the needed dowries. The bags of gold—tossed through an open window or down a chimney—are said to have landed in stockings or shoes left before the fire to dry. This led to the custom of children hanging stockings or putting out shoes as they eagerly await gifts from Saint Nicholas.
Other stories tell of Nicholas saving people from famine, sparing the lives of those innocently accused, even calming the sea. He did many kind and generous deeds in secret, expecting nothing in return.
Under the Roman Emperor Diocletian, who ruthlessly persecuted Christians, Bishop Nicholas suffered for his faith. He was exiled and imprisoned. After his release, Nicholas attended the Council of Nicaea—called in 325 to preserve the unity of the church which was being threatened by competing claims about the nature of Jesus Christ.
Bishop Nicholas died December 6, 343 in Myra and was buried in his cathedral church. Within a century of his death he was celebrated as a saint. The anniversary of his death became a day of celebration, Saint Nicholas Day. Today he is venerated as patron of a great variety of persons—children, mariners, bankers, pawn-brokers, scholars, orphans, laborers, travelers, merchants, judges, paupers, marriageable maidens, students, children, sailors, victims of judicial mistakes, captives, perfumers, even thieves and murderers! He is known as the friend and protector of all in trouble or need. As we remember his example, let us renew our commitment to befriend and protect those who are in trouble or need.
For more info on Saint Nicholas, check out www.stnicholascenter.org
Nicholas was born during the third century in the Greek village of Patara. His wealthy parents, who raised him to be a devout Christian, died in an epidemic while Nicholas was still young. Obeying Jesus' words to "sell what you own and give the money to the poor," Nicholas used his whole inheritance to assist the needy, the sick, and the suffering. He dedicated his life to serving God and was made Bishop of Myra while still a young man.
Through the centuries many stories and legends have been told of Saint Nicholas' life and deeds. One story tells of a poor man with three daughters. In those days a young woman's father had to offer prospective husbands something of value—a dowry. The larger the dowry, the better the chance that a young woman would find a good husband. Without a dowry, a woman was unlikely to marry. This poor man's daughters were destined to be sold into slavery. Mysteriously, on three different occasions, a bag of gold appeared in their home—providing the needed dowries. The bags of gold—tossed through an open window or down a chimney—are said to have landed in stockings or shoes left before the fire to dry. This led to the custom of children hanging stockings or putting out shoes as they eagerly await gifts from Saint Nicholas.
Other stories tell of Nicholas saving people from famine, sparing the lives of those innocently accused, even calming the sea. He did many kind and generous deeds in secret, expecting nothing in return.
Under the Roman Emperor Diocletian, who ruthlessly persecuted Christians, Bishop Nicholas suffered for his faith. He was exiled and imprisoned. After his release, Nicholas attended the Council of Nicaea—called in 325 to preserve the unity of the church which was being threatened by competing claims about the nature of Jesus Christ.
Bishop Nicholas died December 6, 343 in Myra and was buried in his cathedral church. Within a century of his death he was celebrated as a saint. The anniversary of his death became a day of celebration, Saint Nicholas Day. Today he is venerated as patron of a great variety of persons—children, mariners, bankers, pawn-brokers, scholars, orphans, laborers, travelers, merchants, judges, paupers, marriageable maidens, students, children, sailors, victims of judicial mistakes, captives, perfumers, even thieves and murderers! He is known as the friend and protector of all in trouble or need. As we remember his example, let us renew our commitment to befriend and protect those who are in trouble or need.
For more info on Saint Nicholas, check out www.stnicholascenter.org
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