The Firstborn Son - Pt 2

Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us). (Matthew 1:18-23 ESV). We have in our text the amazing truth of the virgin birth! A woman who had never known a man intimately, who had never, to use the words of our text, “come together” with a man, conceived a child. She was a young woman, she was an unwed woman who had preserved herself pure and holy, she was a virgin and she conceived a child! I know the reaction of unbelief to this truth, people of God. People may retell the story; but, to many it is only a story. Children love to hear it, but it is a story, a fairy tale. It cannot be truth because all of us know that in order for a woman to conceive, there must be a man. By no stretch of genetics, except perhaps by cloning, which we know they knew nothing about then, can a person conceive a child in her womb. The story cannot be true. And because of this view of unbelief, many in the church too will deny the virgin birth. The virgin birth is a sign that truly Christ is the Son of God made flesh! This is supported by the end of our text: “she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.” She was not found with child of Joseph, she was not found with child of a man, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. The Holy Spirit, the third Person of the Trinity, was sent forth by the triune God to do that work of God. In very simple language, that seed in Mary was human because it was the seed of a woman, but when it was given life by the Holy Spirit, that baby became divine. God became the Father of that child. Joseph was always viewed by others as Jesus’ father. But Joseph was not Jesus’ father. God was. That is not hard to understand. Although beyond human imagination, it is not hard to understand the incarnation. The Bible recognizes this great truth everywhere. The scriptural account is consistent throughout: Jesus was born of a woman who was a sinner just as we are. Jesus assumed the human nature. He was a man with the same weaknesses as a man. But He was also the divine Son of God, He had a divine nature that made Him sinless and all powerful. Jesus Christ was sent into this world as the highest act of God’s love and grace toward His people! I know that many in the world of the church see Jesus as nothing more than this really, really good man who did all kinds of nice things for people. That is not why Jesus Christ was born into this world. This was the only way that salvation was possible. And Jesus was sent to secure that salvation for us. And no amount of good deeds is going to pay that price for our sin. No amount of good works is going to earn our way into heaven. This is the root of our celebration of Christmas. This is the only thing that can make our situation “Merry”!

The Firstborn Son

Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us). (Matthew 1:18-23 ESV). There is so much in this passage we simply won’t be able to deal with all of it today. However, let’s look at what it meant to Joseph and Mary to have Jesus as their firstborn son. If we could recall the Apostle’s Creed, we would not that one line in this great confession declares the miracle of incarnation. It is one of the great truths of grace! And it is only on the basis of this miracle that God’s people can be saved. We will find today that God made possible that which is humanly impossible: our salvation. It is beyond all human imagination that Christ is in the divine Person of the Son of God both man and God. That is the great truth we learn of today. As we do, however, I do not want to single out the doctrine of Christ’s divinity and consider it in the theological sense alone. The theology is essential, but the reality is far more important. We cannot forget that all of this took place in the lives of Mary and Joseph. They were a typical young couple living in Galilee engaged to be married. There’s certainly nothing unusual about that. We cannot help but think of the shame Joseph must have felt when he found out that Mary was pregnant. We can understand his actions. He was a good and just man. We must also see what great faith he as well as Mary had to have when told all of these things. I mean, what they were told was beyond all human imagination! This wonderful truth of Christ’s divine conception touched the personal lives of these two people as well as others. They were a poor but happy young couple, both of whom looked forward to a simple life together as husband and wife. The Bible is not interested in this fact, but we ought not to think the relationship with them was any different than any other young man and woman who were engaged to be married. They no doubt were excited and were busy making plans to marry soon. Joseph was a man of Nazareth, a small, insignificant village tucked away in the hills of Galilee. He was a carpenter by trade, but was far from independently wealthy. He was an honest and upright man. He was also a man of faith. Can you imagine what he must have felt when Mary disclosed her pregnancy? To his credit he believed the angel of God and trusted the future to God’s hands. This future led to our deliverance! This is the greatest of all the mysteries of Christmas. That God would send His only begotten Son to die on our behalf is beyond a mere gift; it is extravagance only possible through the grace and character of God!

The Third Way

Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” (Genesis 1:26-28 ESV). God makes his first appearance as King in the first chapter of the Bible. There, we find him first exercising his creative authority and then delegating it. He begins by separating light from darkness, sky from sea, and land from water. Then, he provides rulers for each realm, climaxing in humankind, who are given authority over all of creation. They must “fill the earth and subdue it,” joyfully continuing the creative process in accordance with God’s will. When a king delegates authority over a territory to a governor, he expects the governor to faithfully represent and execute his will. But what if the governor refuses to submit to the king? The king has two clear choices: either surrender the territory, or replace that governor with another. God was faced with the need for a decisive action when his “governors” failed to execute the will of their King. He was unwilling that the territory would be ceded to man or the devil. That option was not ever a real consideration. He ruled out replacing them even before they would be created. God knew of their coming failure and still gave them the responsibility of governing. He had to create another choice. And, so he did. God found a third way of dealing with his failed, rebellious human “governors” of earth: he became one of them and then ruled faithfully on their behalf. When a certain man traveled about first-century Israel proclaiming that God was personally taking charge again, and then rode into Jerusalem past cheering crowds as if he himself were about to claim the throne, he wasn’t getting things mixed up in his head. That was precisely what was happening! In the next few weeks as we approach Christmas, we will look at some of the specific things that resulted from the third choice God put into action. Today we should recognize the incredible sacrifice that choice required. Jesus took on the weakness of flesh so that he might prove himself worthy to be the sacrifice for all of mankind’s redemption. We are saved for no other reason than Jesus loved us. And, he loves us still. Thank you Lord for choosing our redemption!

Happy Birthday Faith and Logan!

The LORD bless you from Zion! May you see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life! May you see your children's children! Peace be upon Israel! (Psalm 128:5-6 ESV). Today’s reading indicates the incredible blessing of seeing your grandchildren. I have been blessed threefold! Today I can celebrate Faith and Logan’s twelfth birthday and next week I will be able to celebrate the first birthday of Maggie. We’ll get to more specifics of Maggie on December 3rd. Today I will use Faith and Logan’s birthday as the source of my inspiration and encouragement. It is a bit unusual for me today in that I have not missed being with them on their birthday before. I was there the day they were born and have been privileged to be with them for all the others. We soon will be able to see them as we make the move back to Texas; but, today provides me with some reason to be a little wistful. Before they were born I thought of the names they were to be given. Each had their own history and meaning. Faith is essentially an English vocabulary word that defines the firm belief or trust in a supreme being, namely God. Obviously the word goes beyond just its religious meaning, but it’s from this perspective that the female given name, Faith, originates as a so-called “virtue” name. The character described by this name is one that is authoritative, powerful, tough, tenacious, wealthy, a problem-solver, and an achiever. She certainly embodies all of those and more. Logan comes from a Gaelic surname appearing in both Ireland and Scotland. The etymology of the clan name is still up for debate, but I have found several theories circulating about. In Ireland, for instance, the surname is believed to have evolved from O'Leoghain meaning “descendent of the warrior”. The characteristics accompanying this name are that of a master builder, leader, large undertakings, confidence, discipline, and organization. He has been all of those and more. I know that Kyle and Brandy did not choose these names in an effort to predetermine their character or behavior. I also know that they have been given an environment and example that have led them to develop these things in their lives. There’s the clue to my encouragement and inspiration today. Parents, and to some degree, grandparents must take seriously what they teach and model. The great privilege of children and grandchildren must not be squandered. What we do matters. How we model our faith and commitment to Christ matters greatly. I am excited to have been a part of their lives. I pray each day it will have been a positive part.

Thankful for Memories

But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. (Luke 2:19 ESV). Happy Thanksgiving! Our reading seems a bit strange given that today is Thanksgiving, doesn’t it? Who thinks of a Christmas verse on Thanksgiving? Well, I guess I do. The context of this verse is the visit from the Shepherds after Jesus is born. The angels come to them while they are tending their flock. They shout the arrival of the Messiah. They are overcome with curiosity and wonder as they are led to the manger in Bethlehem. They come and worship Jesus, telling Mary what has just taken place in the fields. Then Luke recalls that she “treasured these things” to later “ponder” them. It is a beautiful picture of the marvelous effect of memories. When we think about what we're thankful for, we may forget about things we've experienced in the past, or loved ones we've lost, since we don't really "have" them anymore. But we do still have them in the form of memories. It was once believed that nostalgia was a pathological condition, but research suggests that spending time reflecting back on happy memories can increase happiness and reduce loneliness. I have so many of these memories. They are stockpiled around me for easy access. I carry two such memories in a tangible way everywhere I go. This first is worn on my left hand. My wedding ring is always with me to remind me of that singular day, nearly 46 years ago when Mary was walked down the aisle of First Baptist Bryan, Texas, on her Dad’s arm. What a day! So many stories can be told of those moments. Some of them are humorous, others very serious, and all of them wonderful. I have overcome many difficult moments simply by touching that ring and “pondering” that treasure. The other is on my right hand. It’s my senior ring from Texas A&M. I can’t even begin to list the memories associated with that ring. There were many. I remember the first days as a cadet in the Corps; I remember bonfire; I remember meeting Mary on campus; I remember the friends I made, some who are gone now. The list is extensive, just like with the other ring; and, they are all important to me. So today I encourage you to dig out those old picture albums; spend some time with your children or grandchildren telling the stories of each of those pictures. Record the stories as you tell them who each of the persons are in the photos. Someday, perhaps long after we’re gone on to heaven, they will have those pictures and be able to recount the same memories, vicariously experiencing the joy we shared with them this Thanksgiving, 2015.

Thankful for God's Promise of Good

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. (Romans 8:26-30 ESV). It never surprises me that I frequently am seen as an overly optimistic individual. Usually I am a “glass-half-full” kind of person. In fact, Mary and our sons have decided that it is not ever a good idea for me to go to a medical appointment alone. It seems that they have grown to believe that I either do not recognize the seriousness of a diagnosis, or I just find a way to dissimulate in sharing the information. I suppose I have earned that through the years as I have done both. At any rate, I am optimistic about my future. Even when life seems to surprise me with challenges and difficulties, I have a very firm conviction about the promise of God in our reading today. He WILL work ALL things to my good. This has caused me to be surprised sometimes as I have been able to get through some really tough things. You may have had the same experience. Even though you may have initially been convinced that it was more than you could bear, you found the path of God to be just right. That’s a little unusual in many ways though. Research on immune neglect (a reference to our psychological immune system) suggests that we tend to underestimate our ability to cope with negative events. It's not that we breeze through trying times, but we often fare better than we expect we will. When we are in the midst of the experience, we typically feel more negative than positive. In view of the promise of God, that really makes no sense. He promises to work all things to our good. Further, the Apostle Paul tells us that nothing will be able to separate us from Him. Those words alone ought to give us enough positive energy to work our way through the toughest of circumstances. Whether we “feel” that or not is another question. Today, being one day away from Thanksgiving, I am thankful that I have this undeniable and irrevocable promise of God. When I receive bad news, I can know it is only temporary. When I receive good news, I can know it merely foreshadows better. Can you imagine looking back from a heavenly perspective, when we are taken to that perfect home, and seeing our journey from God’s perspective? I wonder how trivial the crises of my life will be then. Spend a little time today thanking God for this promise of good in your life too.

Thankful for Laughter

Whoever loves transgression loves strife; he who makes his door high seeks destruction. A man of crooked heart does not discover good, and one with a dishonest tongue falls into calamity. He who sires a fool gets himself sorrow, and the father of a fool has no joy. A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. (Proverbs 17:19-22 ESV). Humor is an amazing thing. It’s a tension dissolver. It’s an antidote to anxiety. It’s just like a tranquilizer, but without any troublesome side effects. And it’s free! You don’t even need a prescription. Laughter is life’s shock absorber. If you want to have less stress in your life, learn to laugh at your circumstances. Somehow, you must find the fun in the frustrating. If you can laugh at it, you can live with it. Life is full of funny situations. Will Rogers once said, “I don’t know any jokes. I just watch the government and report the facts.” Speaking of the government… here’s a story for you today: In the year 2014, the Lord came Noah, who was now living in the U.S., and said, “Once again the earth has become wicked and I see the end of all flesh before me. Build another Ark and save two of every living thing along with a few good humans. He gave Noah the blueprints, saying: You have one year to build the Ark before I will start the unending rain that will flood the earth and kill everything not in the Ark.” Six months later, the Lord looked down and saw Noah weeping in his yard, but no Ark. The Lord said, “Noah, I’m about to start the rain! Where is the Ark?” Noah began his explanation. “Forgive me, Lord, but things have changed. I needed a building permit. I’ve been arguing with the inspector about the need for a sprinkler system. My neighbors claim that I’ve violated the HOA by building the Ark in my yard and exceeding the height limitations. We had to go to the Development Appeal Board for a decision. Then the Department of Transportation demanded a bond be posted for the future costs of moving power lines and other overhead obstructions, to clear the passage for the Ark’s move to the sea. I told them that the sea would be coming to us, but they would hear nothing of it. Getting the wood was another problem. There’s a ban on cutting local trees in order to save the spotted owl. I tried to convince the environmentalists that I needed the wood to save the owls, but no go! When I started gathering the animals, an animal rights group sued me. They insisted that I was confining wild animals against their will. They argued the accommodations were too restrictive, and it was cruel and inhumane to put so many animals in a confined space. Then the EPA ruled that I couldn’t build the Ark until they’d conducted an environmental impact study on your proposed flood. I’m still trying to resolve a complaint with the Human Rights Commission on how many minorities I’m supposed to hire for my building crew. Immigration is checking the status of most of the people who want to work. The trades unions say I can’t use my sons. They insist I have to hire only Union workers with Ark-building experience. To make matters worse, they seized all my assets, claiming I’m trying to leave the country illegally with endangered species. So, forgive me, Lord, but it would take at least 10 years for me to finish this Ark.” Suddenly the skies cleared, the sun began to shine, and a rainbow stretched across the sky. Noah looked up in wonder and asked, “You mean you’re not going to destroy the world?” “No,” said the Lord. “The government beat me to it.” Come on… it’s OK to laugh! Be thankful for our ability to face any circumstance and laugh in the face of our sure victory in Christ!

Thankful for the Basics

But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs. (1 Timothy 6:6-10 ESV). This is the time of the year when it is very easy to notice that some do not have what we would consider the “basics” in life. Consider the following statistics from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development: On any given night, there are over 600,000 homeless people in the U.S. Most people are spending the night either in homeless shelters or in some sort of short-term transitional housing. Slightly more than a third are living in cars or under bridges or are in some other way living unsheltered. HUD further reports that on any given night, over 138,000 of the homeless in the U.S. are children under the age of 18. Over 57,000 veterans are homeless each night. Sixty percent of them are in shelters, the rest unsheltered. Nearly 5,000 are female. A 2014 survey of 187 cities by the NLCHP found that 24 percent of cities make it a city-wide crime to beg in public, 33 percent make it illegal to stand around or loiter anyplace in the city, 18 percent make it a crime to sleep anywhere in public, 43 percent make it illegal to sleep in your car, and 53 percent make it illegal to sit or lie down in particular public places. And the number of cities criminalizing homelessness is steadily increasing. I suppose all of this brings me to a key principle. God desires us to have the basics in life. He wants us to have adequate food, clothing, and shelter. If you have a home, be thankful you have a place to rest and relax. Hopefully your home is also a place of safety and encouragement. Additionally, I think it is clear that each of us who do have those basics also share a responsibility to help those who don’t. It is a daunting thought that so many are suffering. It is easy to simply think we are too small to make a significant contribution; or, we may come to a belief that it is the responsibility of the government to care for those who are in need. That has never been God’s formula. Let me make a couple of suggestions for you to consider. If you are one of the many fortunate who have your needs met be thankful. And, find a way to volunteer to help an organization near you as they minister to the needs of the homeless and hungry. It may be simply volunteering to serve the food to those who come to the shelter; it may be that you will volunteer to take collect or deliver food to those who are in need. There are many ways to express your gratitude for your basic needs in a tangible way. Find one and participate. And, pray for those that are not so blessed as you.

Thankful for Friends

Again, I saw vanity under the sun: one person who has no other, either son or brother, yet there is no end to all his toil, and his eyes are never satisfied with riches, so that he never asks, “For whom am I toiling and depriving myself of pleasure?” This also is vanity and an unhappy business. Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken. (Ecclesiastes 4:7-12 ESV). There is a difference between acquaintances and friends. We all have both in life; however, friends are a very important part of life. I am thankful that God has given me friends. Our reading today helps us understand the importance of these relationships. They provide for us a sense of love and acceptance that can only be eclipsed by family. We all need to love and be loved. Unfortunately, sometimes we are so obsessed with other things that we forget how beautiful it is to love and be loved. Relationships are also the place where our greatest joy comes from. One inseparable part of relationships is giving. In fact, I believe that there is no genuine relationship without giving. Whether it is giving your time, attention, money, or just a smile, genuine relationship is all about giving. And believe it or not, there is great joy in giving. We often think only about ourselves that we forget the joy of giving. Life is wonderful when we are thinking about others and not just ourselves. Through relationships you have the people to support you in times of trouble. When we face difficult times, we need other people to support us. No one can take care of everything by himself. When the world looks dark and the problem looks big, nothing is more valuable than the support of people we love. They encourage us to go through, they accompany us in the time of trouble, and they are willing to share the burden with us. The journey will become much easier. Actually, along with our family, friends are those people God has given to us that truly matter. I have been at the bedside of many people who were facing their last moments of life on this earth. There has never been a time when they are thinking about their achievements and awards. They don’t care whether they are rich or famous. All those things become meaningless when people are face-to-face with death. All they want is having the people they love around them. They want the warmth of love in their last moments. Nothing else matters. They realize that, eventually, relationships are the only things that matter. My prayer for you is that you have such relationships in your life. Thank God for them!

Thankful for Family

Blessed is everyone who fears the LORD, who walks in his ways! You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands; you shall be blessed, and it shall be well with you. Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house; your children will be like olive shoots around your table. Behold, thus shall the man be blessed who fears the LORD. The LORD bless you from Zion! May you see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life! May you see your children's children! Peace be upon Israel! (Psalm 128 ESV). A fruitful vine and olive shoots are the symbols the psalmist uses to declare the blessing of family. The Hebrew word for “olive tree” is es shemen, which literally means “tree of oil.” It is from a primitive root meaning “to shine.” It means “richness, anointing, fat, fruitful, oil, ointment, or olive.” It is related to the word shemesh, “to be brilliant,” and which also is the Hebrew word for the “sun.” Another Hebrew word for “olive” is zayith, meaning “an olive,” as “yielding illuminating oil.” At first glance, the olive tree may seem like any other tree, rather ordinary in appearance and size. Some might say it’s even a little bit “ugly,” and at certain seasons of the year even a little “messy,” with olives littering the ground beneath the tree. The foliage of the olive tree is dense, and when it becomes old the fairly tall trunk acquires a unique pattern of twists and turns, protuberances and knots, on its bark and in its form, giving the tree a very interesting appearance. The Encyclopedia Judaica says, “There are trees in Israel estimated to be 1,000 years old that still produce fruit. In old age the olive tree becomes hollow but the trunk continues to grow thicker, at times achieving a circumference of 20 feet. It is an evergreen, and the righteous who take refuge in the protection of God are compared to it.” Interestingly, if the trunk is cut down, the shoots from its roots continue to grow, ensuring its continued existence. Olive wood is very hard, and beautifully grained. It is very desirable in the manufacture of smaller wooden objects, pieces of furniture, and ornaments. This is the description of what God wants our families to be. Fruitful vines and olive shoots are the desire of God for us! It should not be surprising to any of us that our families are the first target of the devil. I have been blessed enormously through my family. Space and time will not allow me to list all of those blessings today; however, it must be said that in each case God has brought a new blessing through each of them. They are unique and singular in personality, gifts, and characteristics. They are the same in their love and loyalty to our family. Our discussions are always lively and interesting at any gathering. We don’t always agree, though we always line up with one another. I am thankful for family today, and each day. You may not have experienced that blessing. May I encourage you to be the blessing to your family? As you model that attitude it becomes the catalyst for changes that will ultimately bring you such a blessing. Be thankful. Fear the Lord and walk in his ways.

Giving Thanks

Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever! Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he has redeemed from trouble and gathered in from the lands, from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south. (Psalm 107:1-3 ESV). If you have paid attention to the introductory lines on the cover for the emails of Morning Devotional, you may have noticed that I have been challenging you to think of a one word description for something or someone you are thankful about. Being a week away from our celebration of Thanksgiving I thought it might be helpful to concentrate a bit about the meaning of “thanksgiving.” When I first did a little research about the word I made a surprising discovery. The words thanks, thanksgiving, or thankful are found 139 times in the Bible. Obviously, for the writers of the Bible, thanksgiving is an important subject and well worth our reflection. I suppose that ought not be too surprising; but, with all of the different types of literature and authorships in the Bible, I was surprised. I would have thought the specific words would have not appeared as often. Our reading today is a great example of how the word is used in much of its appearance in the Scripture. Psalm 107 is the refrain which is repeated over and over again: “Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love.” Each mention of the refrain follows wonderful acts which the Lord did for his people. These recollections of God’s intervening mercies prompted the Psalm writer to express his gratitude. G. K. Chesterton wrote: "I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought; and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder." The psalmist lists “the longing soul,” “the prisoner in distress,” “fools in their sinful ways” who had been delivered, sailors who had faced calamity in their work fearing for their lives, the “hungry,” and those who had been “diminished” by wicked rulers. Each of these had experienced a deliverance from the Lord that brought them a peace and hope that resulted in wonder. As I look back over the years of my life, I find that the work of grace in my life is nothing short of that kind of deliverance. I certainly have not been given what I deserve; rather I have been the recipient of countless experiences of good. Family, friends, opportunities beyond measure or expectation have all come to me. I am thankful for each of them in a way that cannot be measured. However, there have been other experiences that, at first experience, did not appear to be good at all. Yet, as the years pass God has shown himself faithful to make each one an abundance of good. Like the psalmist, I have come to the conclusion that the frequent repetition of thanks ought to be said often. It is my prayer that as we go through these next few days, we will recount our many blessings and thank God every day.

A Good Heart

And he called the people to him again and said to them, “Hear me, all of you, and understand: There is nothing outside a person that by going into him can defile him, but the things that come out of a person are what defile him.” And when he had entered the house and left the people, his disciples asked him about the parable. And he said to them, “Then are you also without understanding? Do you not see that whatever goes into a person from outside cannot defile him, since it enters not his heart but his stomach, and is expelled?” (Thus he declared all foods clean.) And he said, “What comes out of a person is what defiles him. For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.” (Mark 7:14-23 ESV). The word "heart" can be found often in the Scriptures. And, when it does, it seldom simply means the organ, the muscle in our chest that pumps and pumps. It doesn’t talk about what your doctor wants to check regularly with the EKG and blood tests. Your doctor makes you do that treadmill test. He wants to know if there are blockages that may lead to a heart attack. He checks for more than you even might like. I’ve been there and done that! In the Bible, "heart" refers to such things as personality, intellect, memory, emotions, desires and the will. Actually, as you and I think about it, so do we. For example, we’ll say, "He’s all heart" and we may be cynical, but we’re not suggesting that he’s a total organ. It means more than a bodily function. The human heart is the source of evil. So, if there is to be peace in our lives, which is both harmony and a fullness of life, there must be a change of heart. In order to be peacemakers, reconcilers, healers of relationships, you and I must have a new heart. But we can’t just jump in as little princes (or princesses) of peace. We must have new hearts; we must become new creatures first! This is the essential message of the Scripture. When doctors do the heart checks on the muscle/organ, we know that they may not be 100% accurate, but they get pretty close to an accurate diagnosis of the function and work of the heart. We ought to regularly check both our physical hearts and our spiritual heart. At least one of the measurements we can use to check our spiritual heart is an examination of our emotions. A healthy heart experiences emotions. A healthy person cries at times and laughs at times. A healthy heart is touched by joy, pain, anger, gratitude and love. So having said that, I ask you to ask yourselves, "Have I cried over anything lately?" or "Have I really laughed?" A healthy heart is touched by the pain of others as well as personal pain. A healthy heart experiences emotional change when it’s happening. That kind of spiritual heart is a good heart.

Got Milk?

So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation—if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good. As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 2:1-5 ESV). “Got Milk?” was an American advertising campaign encouraging the consumption of cow’s milk, which was created by the advertising agency Goodby Silverstein and Partners for the California Milk Processor Board in 1993 and later licensed for use by milk processors and dairy farmers. It launched in 1993 with the now-famous "Aaron Burr" television commercial, directed by Michael Bay. The national campaign, run by MilkPEP (Milk Processor Education Program) added the "got milk?" logo to its Milk Mustache ads beginning in 1995. These ads were some of the most recognized of their time. I suppose it was both a way to sell more milk and to encourage people in a healthier lifestyle. The widely held notion of “you are what you eat” is one that is popular, though it really doesn’t have any scientific basis. I did a little research. Consider the following: The Japanese eat a low fat diet and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans, yet the French eat a high fat diet and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans. Similarly, the Japanese drink little red wine and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans, while the Italians drink a lot of red wine and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans. Apparently, diet isn’t the main culprit. Actually, some have suggested (read with extreme sarcasm) that the culprit may be speaking the English language! However, Scripture seems to indicate that, at least in a spiritual sense, we are what we eat. Peter tells us to put away all sorts of sins and to crave pure spiritual milk. The first three beatitudes, which we read yesterday, tell us to empty ourselves of our self-centeredness, of our intellectual, emotional, and social pride. Only then will we be truly hungry and ready for spiritual milk, for righteousness. While I am not suggesting that merely reading the Scripture will make you spiritually healthy. In fact, some of the most devout atheists are excellent Biblical scholars. However, I am insisting that in order to know the mind and will of God the best source is the Scripture. If you want to behave in a manner that accurately reflects the character and person of Christ, the Scripture is your only source worth your time. Set aside some time each week for some serious Bible study.

The Proof of the Pudding

Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him. And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:1-10 ESV). There are a number of stories and legends behind Missouri's sobriquet "Show-Me" state. The slogan is not official, but is common throughout the state and is used on Missouri license plates. The most widely known legend attributes the phrase to Missouri's U.S. Congressman Willard Duncan Vandiver, who served in the United States House of Representatives from 1897 to 1903. While a member of the U.S. House Committee on Naval Affairs, Vandiver attended an 1899 naval banquet in Philadelphia. In a speech there, he declared, "I come from a state that raises corn and cotton and cockleburs and Democrats, and frothy eloquence neither convinces nor satisfies me. I am from Missouri. You have got to show me." Regardless of whether Vandiver coined the phrase, it is certain that his speech helped to popularize the saying. Of course, Missourians are not the only folks who require “the proof of the pudding,” before they will believe something. That phrase has some interesting roots too. It makes its debut in the comic novel Don Quixote, when Miguel Cervantes wrote that “the proof of the pudding is in the eating.” We use it and others to say that the true value of something can be judged only when it is experienced. So it is with the church. The church has no effect on society or an individual unless the reality of God’s grace is experienced in the transformation of human lives. And though we can see the lives of others change, we cannot be privy to the true nature of that change unless it is happening in us. In other words, we must experience this transformation before we can truly understand it. That’s the foundation of Jesus’ teaching in our reading today. We call these “the Beatitudes.” “Beatitude” is a state of supreme joy, of blessedness. These statements are a description of what life in Christ is to be. They are the blessings that a child of God can expect to experience. The beatitudes are statements of fact, not commands. They are not means to gain entrance into the kingdom; they are the marks of those who are living in the kingdom. They are the proof of the pudding. How’s your pudding?

Tinkering in the Scripture - Pt 4

Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, he answered them, “The kingdom of God is not coming in ways that can be observed, nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There!’ for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.” (Luke 17:20-21 ESV). It began with creation itself; it continued through the calling of Abram from the Ur of Chaldees; and it will finish with the final coming of Jesus. The kingdom of God is coming! Tinker with me just a bit more… what does that mean to us today? Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a pastor hanged by the Nazis, wrote that “when Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die.” He understood that the life of a follower of Jesus may not look victorious in the world’s eyes. More likely it will look like a weary man struggling to drag his cross, past mocking crowds, through the streets of Jerusalem. Jesus has already won the key victory in God’s struggle to redeem his broken world. But there remain battles for us to fight in the power of Jesus’ Spirit, until all will be made new. We must fight in the same way Jesus did, by bringing God’s love and hope to places of pain and strife. We must share in the suffering of our families, friends, and societies as we pray and work for their healing. Through it all, we join Paul in declaring, “I am now rejoicing in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am completing what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of the church” (cf. Colossians 1:24). The kingdom of God is all around, but it’s not easy to see. You have to know how to look for it. Worldly kingdoms are easily observed. They make their presence known with lavish palaces, state banquets, powerful militaries, and carefully defined borders. But in the kingdom of God, the King dwells not in a palace but in each of his followers. Kingdom banquets are humble and solemn affairs of remembrance and anticipation, serving only bread and wine. The kingdom of God is armed with faith-filled prayer, not bombs and missiles. Its borders are ever expanding, one person, one family, one community at a time-but never by force. When a person forgives the hurts and abuses forced on them from sources out of their control, the kingdom of God is at hand. When an organization reaches into other places to build and develop ministries that set others free from their poverty and hurt, the kingdom of God is at hand. When people move out of themselves and their desires to help others, the kingdom of God is at hand. All of these things are signs to both the powerful and the lowly that God is King indeed, and that he is at work making all things new! These things are not easily “observed.” In fact, they are seldom even told. They happen all around us by the actions of unnamed and unheralded people who have been called into the kingdom of God. That’s the carrying of the cross of Christ. Who will you touch today? How will you carry the kingdom to others today?

Tinkering in the Scripture - Pt 3

Listen to me, O coastlands, and give attention, you peoples from afar. The LORD called me from the womb, from the body of my mother he named my name. He made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand he hid me; he made me a polished arrow; in his quiver he hid me away. And he said to me, “You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will be glorified.” But I said, “I have labored in vain; I have spent my strength for nothing and vanity; yet surely my right is with the LORD, and my recompense with my God.” And now the LORD says, he who formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob back to him; and that Israel might be gathered to him— for I am honored in the eyes of the LORD, and my God has become my strength— he says: “It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to bring back the preserved of Israel; I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.” (Isaiah 49:1-6 ESV). It is good news that Jesus came to redeem us. However, there is more to this provision of God than that. The message of God’s choice is always accompanied with his purpose in the choice to all peoples. Our reading today helps with that background. When Jesus proclaimed the kingdom of God, his listeners knew they were no ordinary people. Israel’s Scriptures revealed a persistent, though oft-neglected, theme that they existed for a purpose greater than themselves. God told Abraham, “In you all the families of the earth shall be blessed” (cf. Genesis 12:3). Isaiah declared this truth clearly. Of course the ultimate fulfillment of this promise came with the birth of Jesus and his work of grace. The Jews of Jesus’ day had two kings: one Roman and the other Jewish. Caesar was a pagan, and Herod was viewed as a corrupt collaborator. This situation was a disaster! The effects of such godless leadership were felt throughout the land. Though Israel’s geographical exile was over, a state of spiritual exile continued. Many Jews longed for a full return; they desired for God to bring his sovereignty to bear upon Israel and the world, putting things right once and for all. They wanted, in the words of their oft-repeated revolutionary slogan, “No king but God.” In the midst of their despair, the Jews had promises to which they could cling. Through his prophets, God had pledged that he would defeat the evil powers that opposed his people and would himself return to dwell among them in the temple. Streams of living water would flow out from his dwelling place, making even the Dead Sea fresh. His people would experience comfort, forgiveness, peace and prosperity, and the inhabitants of many nations would flock to Jerusalem to seek God. When Jesus proclaimed that the kingdom of God was at hand, that meant each of these promises was somehow being fulfilled! As I tinker with this incredible thought, I am forced to look to the deeper blessing of being a part of God’s chosen people. It is not a requirement for being his people; it is a privilege that I am now able to show others what I have found. The first time I took that new rifle out to shoot, my friend showed me the short-cuts. Though I had explored it, I would never have found the “extras” without his help. We are those people who can help others find the wonders of the calling of God into His kingdom. That makes today’s journey a lot more purposeful, doesn’t it?

Tinkering in the Scripture - Pt 2

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” And God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food. And to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the heavens and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food.” And it was so. And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day. (Genesis 1:27-31 ESV). It is always best to begin at the beginning. I was given a new rifle recently. It was a very exciting moment for me. Of course, the first thing I had to do was to take it apart and clean it properly, making it ready for shooting. They are always shipped with a heavy coating of oil to protect the metal. This is particularly true of the inside of the barrel. The “grease” affects accuracy. Oh, you can shoot it without cleaning; it’s just not as good. While cleaning the barrel, I also wanted to see how it was designed and put together. So, spread out on the table, I began my work. Mary was not fond of her dining room table becoming my workbench for a few hours! However, now that it is done, I can be confident I know what I need to know and have a very safe, functioning weapon. I began at the beginning. So, let’s begin our study here at the beginning. God makes his first appearance as King in the first chapters of the Bible. There, we find him first exercising his creative authority and then delegating it. He begins by separating light from darkness, sky from sea, and land from water. Then, he provides rulers for each realm, climaxing in humankind, who are given authority over all of creation. They must “fill the earth and subdue it,” joyfully continuing the creative process in accordance with God’s will. When a king delegates authority over a territory to a governor, he expects the governor to faithfully represent and execute his will. But what if the governor refuses to submit to the king? The king has two clear choices: either surrender the territory, or replace that governor with another. God found a third way of dealing with his failed, rebellious human “governors” of earth: he became one of them and then ruled faithfully on their behalf. When a certain man traveled about first-century Israel proclaiming that God was personally taking charge again, and then rode into Jerusalem past cheering crowds as if he were about to claim the throne. That was precisely what was happening! Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem was a declaration of the final work necessary to bring all things back to the original status of “very good.” Only the King could do that; and he did. It is the basis of the good news. That which was rendered bad (or whatever modifier you choose to describe the death that entered our race) now became good. This was a part of this glorious message Jesus proclaimed. The Kingdom of God had come to man. I like good a lot better than bad. Don’t you?

Tinkering in the Scripture - Pt 1

In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.” The Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. And he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. And he was with the wild animals, and the angels were ministering to him. Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” (Mark 1:9-15 ESV). I like to “tinker”; that is I like to take stuff apart and see how it works. Most of the times I get it back together. And, some of the time I actually get it back together better than it was to begin with. Old furniture and other antiques have benefitted from my tinkering. In fact, it has been said that I am a jack-of-all-trades while being master of none. Be that as it may, it is not unusual for me to read the Scripture and ask some unusual questions of it. Recently the beginning of preparation for the Christmas season brought me to “tinker” a bit with some basic things about the coming of Jesus. Have you ever wondered what Jesus’ purpose in life and death was? How would you summarize it in a single phrase? Maybe you would say that he came to save us, or to give us eternal life, or to forgive our sins. These things are, no doubt, gloriously true, but if we look to the words of Jesus himself, a different answer also turns up again and again. In our reading today, Jesus declares a central theme to his message and ministry. He says that the kingdom of God was now at hand. Well, let’s tinker a bit. What did Jesus mean by this “kingdom”? Why did he choose to describe his mission in this strange way? And why did some people get so excited (and others so irritated) about it? Even more importantly, what does it mean for our world today? In the coming days we’ll look more specifically at three principles: first, the story of God’s kingdom; second, the family God has called into existence as subjects of his kingdom; and third, the kingdom tasks which God has solemnly entrusted to his people. We’ll Bible hop a bit, but seeing the whole makes it wonderful as we apply it to the specific of our present circumstance. Today, concentrate on the first part of mark’s revelation of what Jesus did when he came back from his wilderness experience. He proclaimed the gospel of God. This is that message containing nothing but good news. It is news since nothing quite like it had ever really happened. We see glimpses, but never this. It is good because it places the capstone of God’s redemptive work in place. He finishes his purpose of atonement. What we could not do, Jesus did. Do you know that? You can. Trust in Him today.

Is It Safe?

The LORD reigns; let the peoples tremble! He sits enthroned upon the cherubim; let the earth quake! The LORD is great in Zion; he is exalted over all the peoples. Let them praise your great and awesome name! Holy is he! The King in his might loves justice. You have established equity; you have executed justice and righteousness in Jacob. Exalt the LORD our God; worship at his footstool! Holy is he! (Psalm 99:1-5 ESV). May I begin today with a bit of a rant? I hope you will not be offended, but I really don’t like child-safety caps on my prescription bottles! I understand the wisdom of making them safer for the sake of curious children who may decide to open one of the bottles and think the medicine is candy and gobble a handful down, but really? There are many days when I just don’t want the hassle of getting into my prescription by “squeezing gently at the arrows, pushing down, and turning counter-clockwise.” Just let me pop the top get a pill and slug it down with some water please! Oh sure, I know you can request the pharmacy put your prescriptions in snap-top bottles, but my experience has been that after you sign all the releases of liability and file it in the computer, you still only get the easy open bottles about half the time. I guess it is safer, but… Thinking about that brought me to our reading today. Isn’t it strange how my mind works? I was also reminded of a line in C. S. Lewis’ fanciful tale The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. Aslan, King of Narnia, is expected to arrive at any moment. Fearful of this initial encounter Lucy hesitantly asks, “Is he safe?” Mr. Beaver declares in the oft-quoted line: “‘Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good.” Aslan, the Christ-like king, is both fearsome and good; he is terrible and merciful, powerful and just. God, in Psalm 99, is declared in the same descriptions. Peering through the window of this psalm, we catch a glimpse of the paradoxical nature of God. He is fearsome and good. In these first five verses, we encounter the ferocious, the awesome, and the holy character of God. To see him as he is a breath-catching, knee-shaking, earth-jolting experience! How can we stand in his presence? Well, than answer is simple - we can’t. The psalmist warns, humanity trembles as he sits enthroned on angels. He is the Lord our God. His name produces praise. The Lord is King over all the earth and his reign is exalted over all people. His justice is swift; he is holy, and he is feared. For this, we worship at his footstool. Holy and great is the Mighty King! So, what can we do in the face of the approaching King? There is the good news. We stand in the presence of the indwelling Christ. Through his gift of grace and atoning work, we have nothing to fear. That makes it safe indeed!

That Ah-ha Moment

And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son. But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.” (Revelation 21:5-8 ESV). That “Ah-ha moment” is that instant when you realize something for the first time; that flash of insight when your eyes are opened; that moment when you finally “get it.” We all have such “ah-ha” moments, hopefully many times throughout our lives. From time to time I watch the Food Channel. I like to see how various recipes are made. I am not a good cook, though there are a few recipes that I make well. My grandmother’s spaghetti sauce is one of those that is unmatched. It calls for fresh garlic. I am a bit embarrassed to admit that I really never knew how to “peal” the garlic until recently. I saw one of the chefs on TV take a clove of garlic and separate it for mincing by using the flat side of the knife. It was so easy! I thought, “Why didn’t I know that before now?” It was a small ah-ah moment in my culinary experience! There are greater ah-ha moments that I have experienced. You’ve undoubtedly had those too. Perhaps the greatest of these comes when we realize that there is an end to all of this life with Jesus sitting on the throne in judgment of all men. Our reading today describes that event. It is essential that we all understand this truth. For those who have been called to eternal life through grace it is a moment of great vindication; however, for those who have continued in their sin and rebellion against God, it is a moment of great sadness and eternal damnation separated from God. When it comes to God, some people never get it. They see him as some vague force, or cosmic grandfather. For the Apostle John, however, God was overwhelmingly real. Words of joy explode off the pages of Scripture as the he contemplates the magnitude of God: strength, holiness, beauty, and majesty. On and on his declarations ring. For him, God is real and all creation shouts his praise. The end of this book and the Bible tells us that one day the Lord will return and he will judge the world with righteousness. Jesus said that at this judgment, God will separate the sheep from the goats (cf. Matthew 25:31-46). That will be the ultimate “ah-ha” moment. If you’ve never received his salvation, ask him for it now. Don’t be caught by surprise when he comes to judge the earth. That day may be much closer than anyone realizes.

Do You Have to Jump?

Oh come, let us sing to the LORD; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise! For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods. In his hand are the depths of the earth; the heights of the mountains are his also. The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land. (Psalm 95:1-5 ESV). A popular contemporary chorus is worded: You gotta leap ya'll (Leap with it!) You gotta leap ya'll (Leap with it!) Take a leap of faith You gotta leap ya'll (Leap with it!) Come on jump for now Jump for me now Jump jump Jump for me now Jump for me now I have been in some services when this chorus was sung. As you may imagine it was not sung to a somber, slowly developing tune! The band struck the first lively notes and the music was off and running as quickly as possible. Soon, 500 people swayed up and down in a joyful, charismatic two-step with hands raised and faces turned upward. There were those who encouraged me to “jump” as well. I merely remembered that at my age lots of stuff can break if you land wrong after such exercise. Well, the writer of Psalm 95 might have enjoyed that worship service. The psalmist seems to leap with exuberant joy in appreciation for his great God and King. Clearly, for the psalmist, an integral connection exists between the spiritual, physical, and emotional. He offers us, even challenges us with an invitation to participate in demonstrative worship, worship that involves heart, voice, and body. Our church is more “traditional” in our praise. In fact, dancing might seem out-of-place, perhaps even irreverent. Neither of these two situations is good or bad. Worship can be felt deeply yet expressed differently among various congregations in various ways. Formal and informal churches have much to learn from one another. However, while both have their place, both may miss the mark if hearts are not tuned to the Spirit of God. The question for each of us is not what is our style of praise; but, do we truly praise God? Whatever your style, worship the Lord with heartfelt praise!

The Prize at the End

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified. (1 Corinthians 9:24-27 ESV). Though I have not participated in a “Color Run,” I am told that the finish line is one of the most exciting for runners of any that are held! In some of these runs there are upward of tens of thousands of runners, each one running different distances, though all desiring to experience the kaleidoscope of color thrown on them at the end. Though that day has long past for me to be able to complete such a race, it does look like fun! The Scripture talks about running the race of life. In fact there are five references to the crowns we will receive at the end of the race. One of those is our reading today. The Apostle Paul reminds his readers that, unlike a color run, only one runner receives the prize of the races of their day. He must have been thinking about some of the track and field events so popular in the Roman Empire at that time. Athletes, especially winners, were held in high regard at that time. To win was considered the highest honor. These men trained long and hard hours to compete for a laurel wreath and the pride of winning. I find we have lost some of that in our day. Even though we have our athletes and favorite teams, we often reserve the serious business of competition to others while we amble along through life “doing the best we can.” That attitude is nothing like Paul’s reference. He speaks of in a much more serious tone, urging his readers forward, stretching for the prize. There are some who have thought that Paul was talking about eternal life in this passage. That somehow he was encouraging his readers to work hard to win their eternal life. Nothing could be further from the truth! That race has already been run; that outcome has already been determined. Jesus ran that race and won it! Our prize of eternal life has already been secured. The apostle is talking about how we live these lives. He is urging us to take the race seriously. It’s not a matter of winning the race. That’s done. It’s a matter of running it in such a way as to experience the fullness of the prize that waits at the end. Some of us will triumphantly race across, arms held high without so much as having broken a sweat; others of us may have had to endure many hardships along the course. We may limp across; we may need to be helped, arm in arm with another runner holding us up; we may even collapse at the end because of the strenuous race; but we will all finish who are in Christ! Don’t quit now. There is waiting for you a kaleidoscope of colors so rich and vibrant to splash you with life!

Real Love

Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. (John 15:13 ESV). There have been many stories of people with wealth who had great difficulty determining whether they were loved for their wealth or themselves. They all have a common story. One woman told a friend that she never knew when a man really loved her, because, after all, she was worth a billion dollars. She said, "I would go out with a man a couple of times, and the next thing I knew, he would be saying, 'I love you.' I could never really know if he really meant it. How could I be sure?" That is a good question. How can we be sure of real love? We use the word love so often that it has almost become a cliché. We have only one word for love in the English language. We use it in a variety of ways, ranging from "I love my job" to "I love my car" to "I love my dog" to "I love my wife." But what is love? One dictionary defines it as "a profoundly tender, passionate affection, a feeling of warm personal attachment, sexual desire or its gratification." In contrast to English, the Greek language uses many words for love. Some of them are used in the Bible, including the words erōs, phileō, storgē, and agapē. Erōs, from which we get our English word erotic, is primarily love on the physical level. Phileō, from which the name Philadelphia originates, means "brotherly love." It is the love that two friends have, a friendship love. Then there is storgē, which refers to family love, such as the love of a child for a parent or a parent for a child. Finally, there is a unique word for love that is used so often in the New Testament: agapē. When we read the word love in Scripture, it is usually agapē. This is God's love, a supernatural love that also can be known and practiced by us. Each of us was born with a hole in our heart that cannot be filled with anyone or anything. We can try to fill it with relationships. We can try to fill it with possessions or career or success or a myriad of other things. But nothing will fill that void because we were created to know God. Many of us confuse loneliness for God with something else, when, in reality, we are lonely to have a relationship with the God whom we are separated from. God will never use you. He will never take advantage of you. But what He will do is show you what real love is all about. He loves you with the best kind of love: agapē. He loved us so much that he lay down his life for us. He makes life possible for us. Now that is true love!

The First Commandment

And God spoke all these words, saying, “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. “You shall have no other gods before me.” (Exodus 20:1-3 ESV). Not long ago I read about a group of theology students who were assigned the task of organizing the Ten Commandments in their perceived order of importance. Interestingly, these students felt that the sixth commandment, "You shall not murder," should be placed first on the list. The seventh commandment, "You shall not commit adultery," was also placed near the top. But the group relegated the first commandment, "You shall have no other gods before Me," to the bottom of the list. They didn't think it was all that important. In God's listing, however, it is a different story. He puts this commandment at the top of the list. But why is it the highest priority for God? I believe it is because all others are built on this foundational truth. If you have broken this one, then everything else will fall apart. Could this be said of us today? Have we put the wrong things into first place? Recent surveys reveal that 76 percent of Americans believe they had been completely faithful to the first commandment. In other words, they might have problems with some of the other commandments, but for them, the first commandment was not a problem. My response is to question the validity of the data. Everyone has a god. Everyone, including atheists, bows at some altar. We don't all worship the true God, but we all worship. Everyone has something they believe in, some passion that drives them, something that gives their life meaning and purpose. It is amazing how much can be revealed by a simple little pronoun such as "I." Only one letter long, it conveys a profound and fundamental truth about who God is. When He said, "I am the Lord," He was, in effect, refuting all other belief systems, including pantheism, polytheism, deism, and every other “ism.” When God says, "I am," He is revealing that He is a being, not a mere force of nature. God is not an impersonal force, as pantheism would teach. Nor is He one of many gods, as polytheism claims. God said, "I am the Lord your God" (emphasis mine). In contrast to the teaching of deism, which says that God has no interest in the affairs of men, the first commandment shows us that we have a God who sees and hears and cares. Is God first in your life today? Or are you allowing other gods to crowd Him out? While Jesus came to complete the law and we now live in the age of grace, this has not changed. God is God. He tolerates no other thing before Him. Put God first and everything else finds a proper balance in life.

Thank You Lord

On the way to Jerusalem he was passing along between Samaria and Galilee. And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance and lifted up their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” When he saw them he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went they were cleansed. Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; and he fell on his face at Jesus' feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus answered, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” And he said to him, “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.” (Luke 17:11-19 ESV). November is a month of thanksgiving. Later we’ll spend some time looking more in depth at the way we celebrate and give thanks; however, today I wanted to call us to focus on the ease at which we fail in thanking God. Our reading today is a clear example of how easy it is to forget to just say thanks. The truth is that we are all created to give thanks to God. We have been created to bring glory to God. It is the highest use of our mind and body. God wants to hear us give Him praise. We need to give God what He deserves, and that is glory. Far too often we are like the 10 men who suffered with leprosy and called out loudly to Jesus for intervention. He graciously heard their prayer and healed all of them of their dreaded disease. But only one returned to thank Him. Jesus said in response, "Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine?" (cf. v.17). Often we are quick to ask God for help during times of crisis, but we are very slow to offer Him thanks after He intervenes on our behalf. In doing so, we are essentially telling Him, "Thanks, God. See you next crisis." When those leprosy-stricken men saw Jesus, they cried out loudly for His touch. But only one came back to loudly thank Him (see Luke 17:15–16). I’m sure they all had reasonable things to offer in excuse. Perhaps they were so overjoyed they got caught up in celebrating with their families they had not been able to see in such a long time. Perhaps they were overcome with the shear amazement of being clean and well for the first time in their remembered lives. Perhaps they went to town to find better clothes to come back later when they were more presentable. Maybe it was just a matter of poor timing and they missed Jesus along the way. I’m sure they each had a reasonable excuse. However, none of those nine stood innocent of their failure. Neither are we when we fail to thank God. His praise ought to be on our mind for every breath we take and every thought we possess. We should be as devoted in our praise to God as we are in crying out to Him for help. How are you doing with your thanksgiving?

The Real McCoy

Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish every one with tears. And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. (Acts 20:28-32 ESV). Idioms are often fun to research. After reading our text for today I began to think of the common phrase “the real McCoy.” The history of the phrase is well documented. It revolves around the inventor Elijah McCoy who was born in Canada in 1844. He had many different inventions including an ironing board and a lawn sprinkler. Other companies copied his devices, but these never worked as well as Elijah's so people would go to the hardware store to purchase one of these items and say, “Make sure it's a real McCoy." The reason there was such a difference is not rumor or innuendo. The people who wanted only the “real McCoy” knew the difference because they had experienced the real thing. The story is told of an inspector who worked for the counterfeit department of Scotland Yard. His job was to detect the false currency from the real. When asked if he spent a lot of time handling and examining counterfeit money, he said no. He spent so much time handling the real thing that he could immediately detect the counterfeit. The best way to detect what is false is to know what is true. And I believe that if you have a good working knowledge of the Bible, then you will be able to detect the false rather quickly, because you are so familiar with the genuine article. People who have been deceived by false doctrine usually come from the same culture as those preaching the heresy. Heresy grows from within. Jesus spoke of it as if it were yeast. A little bit spreads throughout the whole batch. It seems like these teachers of false come into strong, growing churches and infiltrate their ranks. Then they go about their deception in a clandestine, secretive way. We need to be equipped. We need to be prepared. We need to know the truth, because when we are conversant with the Word of God, we will recognize when something strange comes along. We will be aware that it does not align with Scripture. So be a student of the Word of God.

A Bridge to Nowhere

Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. (Ephesians 5:15-17 ESV). The Gravina Island Bridge, commonly referred to as the "Bridge to Nowhere", was a proposed bridge to replace the ferry that currently connects the town of Ketchikan, Alaska, with Gravina Island, an island that contains the Ketchikan International Airport as well as 50 residents. Unfortunately it doesn’t have any connecting roads, so unless you walk across it, it is unusable. It really doesn’t get you anywhere. We tend to build a lot of bridges to nowhere when we try to focus on sin before we develop a relationship with the sinner. A problem that Christians often have when they share the gospel is going into attack mode on a person's sin straightaway. I am not saying that you shouldn't confront someone about his or her sin. But remember the example of Jesus as He talked with the Samaritan woman at the well? She had been married and divorced five times and was living with a man. But Jesus didn't start by slamming her for her immorality. He spoke to her in a symbolic way: "Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life" (cf. John 4:13–14). When possible, we ought to focus on common ground and build a bridge to your listener. Paul, when he stood before King Agrippa, began by saying, "I am fortunate, King Agrippa, that you are the one hearing my defense today against all these accusations made by the Jewish leaders, for I know you are an expert on all Jewish customs and controversies" (cf. Acts 26:2–3). This was not flattery on Paul's part, but the truth. Agrippa was steeped in the ways of the Jews as their secular ruler appointed by Rome. Paul was respectful of Agrippa's office. Agrippa was an immoral man, and Paul could have brought that out. Instead, he began building a bridge. There is a built-in offense in the message of the cross. Let's not make it worse. When we share the gospel, we need to build a bridge with people and not unnecessarily offend them. Build a bridge to somewhere. Make that “somewhere” an introduction to the only One who can change lives! Take them to Jesus.

A Heart Change

Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people. For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. (Titus 3:1-7 ESV). It’s amazing what medical science has achieved in our lifetime. When I had a heart ablation done on the right and left Atrial chambers of my heart last year, I was curious about what that would involve. So, of course I went to the internet to do a bit of research. I must confess that while my curiosity was satisfied, my anxiety was increased! It seems that this procedure requires the insertion of a line through an artery to the interior of your heart and the cardiologist then begins to burn a small portion of the heart to create a different pattern of muscle with scar tissue. First, I was not keen on having anything inserted into my heart! And, second, why would I want to purposefully burn it? Well, as you know, the procedure is fairly common and was quite successful. The most interesting part of all of this is how it required fixing the inside of my heart to affect the rest of my body. That brought me to our reading today. In the 1600s, author Matthew Mead published a great book called The Almost Christian Discovered in which wrote, "The outward change is often without the inward, though the inward change is never without the outward." People can go through the motions and not necessarily be Christians. You can pray and not necessarily be a Christian. You can be baptized and not necessarily be a Christian. To the best of your ability you can keep the Ten Commandments and not necessarily be a Christian. You can even believe that Jesus is coming back and not necessarily be a Christian. People may even make visible changes in their lives and not necessarily be Christians. It is not your works that make you saved. You put your faith in Christ, and then you will see the evidence in your life. While it is true that faith without works is dead (see James 2:20), it could be said that works without faith is also dead. You may say, "Well, I went forward at a VBS or "I stood up and prayed a prayer." That is good, but it doesn't necessarily make you a Christian. There has to be a movement of God within your heart toward Him. Have you had such an experience?

Sharp Focus

For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come. Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God. (Hebrews 13:14-16 ESV). Many years ago, long before digital cameras and autofocus, I had a simple SLR 35mm camera. Some of you will know what that means. They were the best cameras of the day, but they were completely self-adjusted. Exposure, shutter speed, focus, everything had to be adjust before you every snapped a picture. Then, since I did not have the ability or equipment to develop my own film, I had to wait a week or two just to see if I had captured the photo. That must seem awfully trifling in view of the abilities we have now with our phones, much less cameras! But, it was a concern in those days. I suppose if I were a professional, I wouldn’t have been so surprised when I actually got a good photo! I always wanted everything to be in sharp focus. Think back on the best moments of your life so far, those times with your loved ones or that gorgeous sunset or that precious thing your child said to you. Don’t you want to perfectly record them to be accessed later? Our life on earth is something like that. C. S. Lewis described earth as "the shadowlands." You see, we tend to think of heaven as something surreal, while earth is real. But heaven isn't a lame version of earth. Earth, the best moments of it, at least, is an incomplete version of heaven. Earth is like a copy of heaven, not the other way around. Our problem is that we start with earth and reason up toward heaven when we ought to instead start with heaven and reason down toward earth. This little span of time on earth is what the Bible describes as a "vapor" or "a morning fog" (cf. James 4:14) or a story that already has been told. Life isn't just a date of birth to a date of death. Life goes on. God's plans toward you are good, and the ultimate plan is heaven. When you get there, everything will come into focus for you. When you get to the other side, you will see things clearly. Everything will be in sharp focus. God knows where you are at this very moment, and God has a future for you. And it is going to be beyond your wildest dreams. After all, he is a “professional.” He never makes a mistake in any part of our lives. Trust him even when it looks like a very bad picture. He will finish the work with a flourish that will be incredibly beautiful.

No Fear!

But now thus says the LORD, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. (Isaiah 43:1-3 ESV). Have you ever felt as though everyone has let you down? Have you ever felt alone or abandoned or forgotten or forsaken? Paul the apostle felt that way. Imprisoned at Jerusalem, Paul must have been feeling discouraged, because we read in Acts 23:11, "The following night the Lord stood by him and said, 'Be of good cheer, Paul.'" God reminded him that he was not alone. The great British preacher C. H. Spurgeon put it this way: If all else forsook him, Jesus was company enough; if all despised him, Jesus' smile was patronage enough; if the good cause seemed in danger, in the presence of His Master, victory was sure. The Lord who had stood for him at the cross, now stood by him in prison. . . . It was a dungeon, but the Lord was there; it was dark, but the glory of the Lord lit it up with heaven's own splendor. God says, "When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. . . . For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior" (Isaiah 43:2–3). He is with us in the good times, and He is also with us in the bad times. And as someone wisely said, "He can compensate by His loving presence for every earthly loss." No matter what you may be going through today, good times or bad, God is there with you. Of course, we would all like them to always be good times; but can you imagine how bad the bad times would be if it were not for God’s presence with you? In first lines of her poem “The Parable of Tomorrow,” Ruth Gibbs Zwall offers this description of God’s presence: “I looked at the mountain. ‘It is too hard, Lord,’ I said; ‘I cannot climb.’ ‘Take My hand,’ He whispered; ‘I will be your strength.’ I saw the road, ‘It is too long, Lord,’ I said; ‘so rough and long.’ ‘Take My love,’ He answered; ‘I will guard your feet.’ I looked at the sky. ‘The sun is gone,’ I said; ‘already the way grows dark.’ ‘Take the lantern of My Word,’ He whispered; ‘that will be light enough.’ We climbed. The road was narrow and steep, but the way was bright. And so it is with all God’s children!