The New Year - Pt. 1

 

Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen. “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” (Revelation 1:4-8 ESV).

 

It is New Year’s Eve, and we should be looking forward in hope to a new year filled with potential, but we also know there is uncertainty. A review of 2024 reminds us of the changes a year can bring—some good, some very painful. The real question is how do we prepare for 2025 in a way that will insure our success in facing each of these experiences?

 

The answer begins with our understanding our hope. Through Scripture we have seen God in Jesus meeting our deepest needs. Now on this New Year’s Eve we look once again to Jesus—the Savior who has come and who now reigns in heaven until the day he will come again.

 

Words can only begin to describe the power and glory of the ascended Savior. He is the Lord of life. John describes Jesus as standing in long flowing robes. Long robes were worn by royalty, or at times of celebration. They were a sign of victory, security, and work completed. A person fleeing danger or a worker could not be encumbered with a long robe. But Christ stands in flowing robes. There is no threat to his kingdom; his redemptive work is fully accomplished. Children of this victorious King have eternal security.

 

My hope and prayer for each of you is that we enter the New Year declaring, “My only comfort in life and in death is that I belong to my faithful Savior, Jesus Christ!” That is our beginning!

 

The Great I Am - Pt. 5

 

When day came, the assembly of the elders of the people gathered together, both chief priests and scribes. And they led him away to their council, and they said, “If you are the Christ, tell us.” But he said to them, “If I tell you, you will not believe, and if I ask you, you will not answer. But from now on the Son of Man shall be seated at the right hand of the power of God.” So they all said, “Are you the Son of God, then?” And he said to them, “You say that I am.” Then they said, “What further testimony do we need? We have heard it ourselves from his own lips.” (Luke 22:66-71 ESV).

 

I am always amazed at the skill Jesus shows us in His personal relationships. In our reading today we see Jesus dealing with His enemies. These are the men who have plotted to kill Him for years. The time has now come to confront them with the truth. Speaking truth to power is dangerous. Yet it is something we are often called on to do. You may lose your job, be publicly humiliated, and have your family disgraced. You may even lose your life. That’s the way of the world, and, sadly, it is sometimes also the way of God’s people. Jesus suffered humiliation and death at the hands of religious leaders who had closed their minds to the truth of God.

 

The problem was that Jesus had agreed with them. Jesus had said, “’The Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the mighty God.” And they asked, “Are you then the Son of God?” And he said, “You say that I am.” This is a play on words in the original language. Jesus is saying, “I Am Who I Am.” It is a declaration of God Himself.

 

These self-righteous authorities had wanted Jesus himself to say: “Yes, I am the Son of God.” But Jesus used his enemies’ words against them. In effect, he had them declare in the highest religious court that he was the Son of God. They’d fallen into the pit they had tried to dig for Jesus. But they still had political power and could try to spin things their own way. So, the officials twisted Jesus’ words to fit their purposes, and they condemned him to death. But a word once spoken cannot be recovered. The truth was out. Jesus’ opponents are forever remembered as declaring that he had the authority he claimed. And with that authority he proceeded to the cross—to pay for sin once for all.

 

As we come to a close of the year, perhaps we need to reconsider our willingness to speak the truth into our world with the same kind of grace that Jesus did!

 

The Great I Am - Pt. 4

 

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. (John 1:1-5 ESV).

 

Yahweh is the name of Israel’s God and the God who came to earth as Jesus Christ, Yahweh in the flesh. Matthew writes, “She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:15). The name Jesus is from the Latin form of the Greek form of Yeshua, which literally means “Yahweh saves.” So, Yahweh will save His people from their sins, and simultaneously Jesus will save His people from their sins. This is just one of many instances where Jesus and Yahweh are equated.

 

Our reading today intentionally echoes Genesis 1:1: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” But the beginning spoken of by John came before the beginning spoken of by Genesis. We know this because every created thing was created by the Word, who was with God from eternity. This is a great mystery, and we must approach it slowly and humbly. The Word of God existed long before Jesus became a human being. Jesus of Nazareth was truly a man, walking and talking in our midst. But he was also truly God.

 

As deep a mystery as this is, it is not meant to confuse us. That’s because Jesus Christ, the Word of God, came as God’s communication, the clearest revelation from God there ever was. If we want to understand this God whom we worship, we must listen to Christ. When you want to understand someone, you listen carefully to what they say. The writer of Hebrews says, “In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets . . . but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son . . . through whom also he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being.” (Hebrews 1:1-3).

 

The God who was, and is, and will be forever sent His only begotten Son on our behalf. Can there be any greater gift than that! Listen to Him as He speaks to you each day!

 

The Great I Am - Pt. 3

 

Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” (Genesis 12:1-3 ESV).

 

Today, as we look further into the name of God, we can see the importance even great than before. The ancient Hebrew scribes considered God’s name too sacred to write or pronounce. When vowels were later added to the text, the scribes took the vowels from the word adonai, which means “lord” or “master,” and inserted them between the consonants. Instead of pronouncing Yahweh, they simply pronounced the word Adonai. Following this practice, most English versions of the Bible translate YHWH as “LORD” (all capital letters). When the Scripture speaks of the Lord YHWH, then the English versions will have “Lord GOD” with the word God in all capital letters. So, both LORD and GOD in English versions stand for YHWH. The pronunciation yäwā is our best estimate of how YHWH would have been pronounced. Since we do not have the original vowels, we cannot know for sure. However, the significance is in the meaning, not the pronunciation, just as Jehovah is still a sacred name, even if it is not a technically correct spelling.

 

Yahweh is the covenant name for the God of Israel. In Exodus 3:15, as Yahweh speaks to Moses, He says that He is also the God of the patriarchs. Then He says, “I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, as God Almighty, but by my name the LORD I did not make myself known to them” (Exodus 6:3). This declaration drives us to further study, because both Noah (cf. Genesis 9:26) and Abraham (cf. Genesis 22:14) spoke of Yahweh by that name. Moses himself seems to suggest that the Hebrews were already familiar with the name Yahweh (cf. Exodus 4:1).

 

The answer seems to be that, whereas Noah, Abraham, and others knew the name Yahweh—and thus knew that God is eternal and faithful—they never experienced the full impact of that name. God had manifested Himself as ”Almighty” but not as “the absolute Being working with unbounded freedom in the performance of His promises“ (Keil and Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament). For those before Moses, the fulfillment of God’s promises remained distant, and their view of the character of God was murky. That was about to change with the exodus, as God delivered His people with great miracles and kept His promise to Abraham. Other names for God might be considered descriptive, but Yahweh is personal. It is by this name that He covenants with and leads the nation of Israel.

 

The greatest fulfillment of this covenant is seen in the Incarnation, the birth of Jesus. His work of grace through the cross and resurrection ultimately is God’s greatest fulfillment of the covenant. Greater is yet to come when Jesus comes again to restore all of creation to the glory before sin entered the world through Adam and Eve. We can know this will take place since we have already seen enough of God’s power in what He has already done on behalf of His promise. That is the basis of our hope!

 

The Great I AM - Pt. 2

 

[Jesus said] It is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say, ‘He is our God.’ But you have not known him. I know him. If I were to say that I do not know him, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and I keep his word. Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad.” So the Jews said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?” Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” So they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple. (John 8:54-59 ESV).

 

As we continue to uncover the basic tenets concerning the name of God there are several things we should note to properly understand the significance of the name Yahweh. The first concerns “the tetragrammaton.”  

 

The Tetragrammaton is the four-letter Hebrew name for God in the Bible, which is written as יהוה‎ and pronounced right to left as yah-ho-vah. The word tetragrammaton is Greek for "the four letters". It is so holy in Orthodox Judaism that it is no longer pronounced, except in rare circumstances. Instead, the word "Adonay" is traditionally pronounced when reading the Hebrew Bible. In English translations of the Bible, the Tetragrammaton is usually represented as "LORD" or "GOD" in all capital letters.

 

The Tetragrammaton probably came from a verb that means "to be", "to exist", "to cause to become", or "to come to pass". It could be translated “I am who I am” or “I will be what I will be” or perhaps even “I am the One who is.” Regardless of the specific translation, the name speaks of the self-existence and self-sufficiency of God. All others are dependent upon Him for life and breath and existence. He is dependent upon no one. It is for this reason that the Jewish leadership in Jesus’ day thought it was scandalous, blasphemous, and worthy of death for Jesus to utter the words “Before Abraham was, I am” in our reading today (vv. 58–59).

 

For us the great truth is in the choice of this name by God. It assures us of His power to do all that He has promised. It indicates there is nothing beyond His ability to do. Jesus’ claim to this name is very significant for us. When He promises to “take us to where He is” (John 14:1-6), this Is not beyond His ability. That is all the more proven in the resurrection. He is after all… I AM! It is so much easier to trust Him when we recognize the immutable truth!

 

The Great I AM - Pt. 1

 

Then Moses said to God, “If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what shall I say to them?” God said to Moses, “I am who I am.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘I am has sent me to you.’” God also said to Moses, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.’ This is my name forever, and thus I am to be remembered throughout all generations. (Exodus 3:13-15 ESV).

 

Christmas is a wonderful time of the year. I hope you had a wonderful season of celebration with family and friends. Today, I thought it would be encouraging to center our thoughts around the name of God. The name “Jesus” is one of the names associated with the Second Person of the Trintiy. Jesus is indeed fully divine and fully human, though He refers to the Father and the Holy Spirit as tow other manifestations of who He is. We use the name “Jehovah”, or “Yahweh”, as the name of God. This is the name God gave to Moses at the burning bush (see today’s reading from Exodus 3).

 

Jehovah is a Latinized version of the Hebrew name for God, Yəhōwā (יהֹוָה‎), which is one vocalization of the Tetragrammaton (יהוה‎, or YHWH). The Tetragrammaton is the proper name for the God of Israel in the Hebrew Bible and Old Testament. Yahweh is based on the consonants YHWH, which is one of the names for God used in the Old Testament. In ancient Hebrew, the vowels were not normally written. This would not have been a problem for native speakers and readers. Jehovah is the same name based on the Latin equivalents of the Hebrew letters: JHVH. Jehovah became the English translation of the Latin form of the Hebrew name. For all practical purposes, Jehovah and Yahweh are the simply English and Hebrew pronunciations for God’s name. However, it has become more popular in recent years to use Yahweh instead of Jehovah because it is technically more accurate.

 

The name Yahweh comes from the Hebrew word for “I am.” When God met Moses at the burning bush and commanded him to go back to Egypt and lead the people out, Moses asked who he should say has sent him. “God said to Moses, ‘I am who I am.’ And he said, ‘Say this to the people of Israel: “I am has sent me to you.”’ God also said to Moses, ‘Say this to the people of Israel: “The LORD [YHWH], the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.” This is my name forever, and thus I am to be remembered throughout all generations’” (Exodus 3:14–15). We should understand the depth of the name God gave to us. It provides so much encouragement and inspiration. We’ll look more at this in the next few days. Today, simply rest in the truth that you KNOW God by His name as He knows you!

I Hope You Have a Wonderful Christmas!

Hoping you have a wonderful Christmas!

 

My family is now scattered to other holiday destinations. The day is unfolding to be what I expect to be as a quiet, peaceful day with Mary. Without reminiscing I can tell you that always is a very pleasant experience. I hope that your day will be filled with joy and peace whether your home if filled with family and/or friends or not. Let me leave you with just one short Scripture…

 

And suddenly there was with the angel ha multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” (Luke 2:13-14 ESV).

 

Remember that our empty chairs now will be filled in that glorious day when Jesus comes again to make everything right! 

The Gift of Love

 

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. (John 3:16-18 ESV).

 

Merry Christmas, Y’all! I hope you’ve begun a day that will be full of hope, joy, peace, and love! Throughout Scripture, God reveals his love as sacrificial, unconditional, and transformative. This profound love is at the heart of Advent love, shown through God’s gift of his son, Jesus Christ. Love is easily misunderstood. We often think of love in purely sentimental terms, thinking it means being happy or being nice. The Bible affirms that and that his sending Jesus into the world was an act of perfect love.

 

The Bible also clarifies that Jesus’ death and resurrection was the great act of love (John 3:16). This helps us see that love is sacrificial. I have seen it explained that, Love, whether used of God or man, is an earnest and anxious desire for and an active and beneficent interest in the well-being of the one loved. The Apostle Paul describes the attributes we pursue when we love someone (cf. 1 Corinthians 13). None of these attributes are easy things to practice, which means that we need God’s help to live them out. In fact, God must teach us how to love: before becoming Christians, we were dead in our sins (Ephesians 3:1), and we still struggle to do anything that is not self-centered.

 

Therefore, we know that love ultimately is about living a life centered on God. We can share and express God’s love in many tangible ways in our lives, especially around the Christmas season. Simple gestures, like a kind note, a phone call, or a hot meal, can encourage those around us who may be lonely this time of year. We can demonstrate this love by volunteering our time or resources to a local shelter, food bank, or toy drive to bless those in need. Another way to show God’s love is to pray for those around us regularly. By seeking ways to love and care for others, we embody the spirit of Advent love, reflecting Christ’s example in our daily lives. Accept and give the greatest gift this year… the love of god in Christ Jesus!

 

Joy

 

And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” (Luke 2:8-14 ESV).

 

I am both reflective and curious by nature. I am not as Thomas was in that I don’t demand to see things for myself to believe them. However, when I experience something new to me, I like understanding as much of it as possible. It may be a new thought or process in some area of interest. I might be something that runs counter to my experience. It is then that I take the time to research and think through the new technique or belief. Believe me, there have been many of those in my seven and a half decades of life. I’m scheduled for cataract surgery at the end of this month. I have done plenty of research to understand everything I can before I have the procedure. Especially since the doctor indicates I may not need glasses for clarity seeing things far off… REALLY? Well, we shall see (no pun intended), though all my research indicates this is the typical response to this surgery.  

 

That nature brings me to the thought of embracing joy at this time of the year. We do need to recognize the profound difference between fleeting happiness and enduring joy. While happiness usually describes a feeling based on external circumstances, joy is a deeper, more resilient state rooted in faith and the assurance of God’s presence, regardless of what’s happening around us. Real joy, Advent joy, should remind us that true joy is found in the promises and coming of Christ. This lasting joy provides comfort and strength even in times of struggle. James described this reality: “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds” (James 1:2). Now, that’s a different perspective than how we tend to think about joy and happiness. Biblical joy is not just a feeling but a practice.

 

Examine the gift of grace in your life. Then let it turn your mind toward joy!

 

Peace of Mind

 

[Jesus said] “These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. You heard me say to you, ‘I am going away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. And now I have told you before it takes place, so that when it does take place you may believe.” (John 14:25-29 ESV).

 

If you are a believer, you may still struggle with finding the peace of mind and soul that is so often absent in times of struggle. We talk a lot about peace on earth and good will toward men at this time of the year, though it often seems conspicuously absent. First, we should recognize that this peace is a state of rest for the entire soul that comes from trusting in God. It's more than just relieving stress or anxiety, and it's a peace that's reliable in any situation. This is the peace that seems like a distant ideal in a world marked by turmoil, uncertainty, and conflict. Yet, Advent reminds us that true peace is rooted in the coming of Christ. This peace is a constant source of assurance, even when external circumstances challenge us.

 

God gives us the gift of peace as we draw close and rely on him. The Apostle Paul wrote: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7).

 

Here we are a day that ought to be filled with such peace. However, your day may have just started and your thoughts are already beginning to race with anxiety; or, perhaps it's the middle of the night and you're struggling to find rest, whatever season of difficulty you're facing, the enemy is attacking your peace of mind. In those overwhelming moments, as your mind fills with fear, the best place to turn for comfort is an intimate relationship with God through prayer. We are not meant to try to control and fix everything that worries us. We were created to rest in God's love! We cannot always control the things that rob us of peace of mind, but we can control how we respond. This Advent season, consider placing particular emphasis on praying, meditating, and reflecting on Scripture to embrace God’s peace. We can also cultivate this Advent peace throughout the year as we worship God in our daily lives, acknowledging our total reliance on God for our needs.

 

Hope

 

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials. (1 Peter 1:3-6 ESV).

 

During Advent, many Christians anticipate the celebration of Christmas, the first coming of Jesus Christ, and his anticipated return. Some churches begin the fourth Sunday before Christmas by reflecting on a central theme for each of the four weeks leading up to Christmas Eve: hope, peace, joy, and love. Many churches light a candle on a wreath each Sunday of Advent, symbolizing one of these themes. In the next four days, we’ll explore the four themes of Advent and discuss their significance and meaning in our lives, offering ways to embrace them as we await the coming of Christmas. Today we are looking at “Hope”.

 

I understand hope can feel elusive for many this time of the year. When we find ourselves immersed in the challenges of difficulty, it is difficult to be hopeful. But for Christians, hope is not merely a fervent wish that things will get better; instead, it is a profound assurance rooted in faith: “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see” (Hebrews 11:1). This Advent hope is anchored in the promise of Christ's coming—not only for Christmas, the celebration of Jesus’ first coming but for us who wait in anticipation of his second coming.

 

Hope rooted in faith inspires believers to look beyond our immediate circumstances and trust God's faithfulness to his promises. During this time of the year, we may embrace this hope by recognizing what God has accomplished through the gift of Jesus. Through this miraculous birth we were given the grace of God bringing us redemption and eternal life. Death has no power over us as it has been forever defeated. The curse of the ages has been lifted to give us the hope of life!

 

55th Anniversary!

 

Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love. (1 Corinthians 13:8-13 ESV).

 

It is our 55^th Anniversary today! I’m not quite sure how that happened so quickly, but the day has arrived. I was a bit perplexed as to what picture I would attach to today’s devotional; and, I may have a bit of explaining to do when Mary sees the one I chose! However, this is the Mary I have known and cherished for over half a century. I do not remember what was so funny at the time. Perhaps it was the fact that it was so out of character for her to have a garter on, much less have me take it off her leg! In any case, this is one of those moments that her joy burst through in such a visible way. That is the Mary that so many people do not get to see. That is the lady I fell in love with so many years ago.

 

Of course, there are many other things about her personality and character that convinced me beyond any doubt that she was the one for me that first moment I met her. And, perhaps it is this complex mixture of all these things that made it so easy to understand the will and purpose of God in our lives then. That certainly is true today.

 

It is that truth that brings me to our reading today. The Apostle Paul defines love in such a clear and complete way in these verses. The most impactful of these descriptions is the enduring nature of love. Even when we compare faith and hope to love, love is the clear greatest of the three. That has been the sustaining fact in our relationship. It has always been the north star that guided us through the many experiences of life. I am so thankful for these years and look forward to many more.

 

Our prayer is always that you will find that same relationship in your life. God bless you all… thank you, Mary for saying yes!

 

O Come All Ye Faithful

 

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).

 

There are often various celebrations when we invite others to join us. Whether they are birthdays, anniversaries, or other special occasions the guest list is determined, and the invitations are sent out. Those who receive the invitation then have a choice, will they attend? Are they able?

 

I was thinking about this dynamic as I looked over the lyrics of the last of the carols we will use this year for our devotionals. It is a beloved favorite of many, “O Come All Ye Faithful.” This song recounts the birthday of Jesus Christ. At His birth, a “party” broke out near the manger. Of course, Mary and Joseph were there, but soon others began to make their way to the gathering. God the Father went out of His way to invite a two very different and unlikely groups to attend the party - shepherds and Magi (cf. Luke 2:8-20, and Matthew 2:1-12). The shepherds represented common Jewish people - a class of citizens that would normally never have been invited to a religious ceremony or royal birth. The Magi were Gentiles from a faraway land who would have had no expectation of inclusion in the plans of the God of Israel. Yet, at Jesus’ birth, God sends an angelic invite to the shepherds and a starry message to the Magi inviting them to come.

 

When the invitation is issued, the shepherds and Magi have a choice. Both groups move toward the manger. Both groups decide that they cannot miss the opportunity to be included in this special moment. As a result, both are incredibly blessed. They were not able on their own, but by God’s grace, they find their stories find meaning in Christ. Now, I want you to think about your own life for a moment. By virtue of you reading this devotional, knowing these songs, reading the Christmas story, you have received an invitation from your Heavenly Father. An invite to come to Jesus and find your hope in Him.

 

This invitation from God is not based on our performance but on His grace. It is sinful

people like you and me, like the shepherds and wise men, who get the invite to come to Jesus and find our hope and forgiveness and life in Him. God desires that we open this invitation by faith and trust in Jesus as the Son of God who takes away the penalty of our sins through His death on the cross. Have you placed your faith in Jesus? If not, hear the words of today’s song as an invite from God to come and adore Him and place your faith in Jesus.

 

Mary Did You Know?

 

In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and go shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” (Luke 1:26-33 ESV).

 

One of my favorite modern Christmas songs was written in 1991 by Buddy Greene and Mark Lowry. It has become a contemporary “classic.” In its short history, this song has been recorded by many contemporary artists, and sung in many church services. My favorite cover of it is done by Pentatonix. You can find it at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifCWN5pJGIE.

 

The song asks a simple rhetorical question: Mary, did you know who your Son was? The question is expanded throughout the song citing both the salvation Jesus would bring and the miracles He would work. Did Mary know while holding Him in Bethlehem’s barn who Jesus really was? This song is musically beautiful, but it also shines a spotlight on the paradox of the Sovereign God becoming a dependent baby.

 

It is a valid question. Did Mary know? If so, what did Mary know? From the very beginning, Mary certainly knew that Jesus was not a normal baby. Our reading today indicates that much. She finds out she is pregnant through a conversation with the angel Gabriel. In this conversation she would come to know: she had found favor with God (1:28-30); She was pregnant with a Son, even though she was a virgin (1:31); her Son would be the Son of God (1:32a, 35); her Son would be the promised Messiah (1:32b); and, her Son’s Kingdom would know no end (1:33).

 

For nine months Mary carried Jesus with the words of the Angel reverberating in her ears and echoing through her heart. Then, when Jesus was born, angels and shepherds, and Magi show up and remind her of the supernatural nature of her Son. As He grows up, she continued to know that Jesus was unique. So, based on these verses, did Mary know? Yes. I think she knew. However, let’s not make Mary into more than she was. She was certainly favored by God, but she was still human. At one point, she (and Jesus’ half brothers) openly questioned His methods (Matthew 12:46-50). After Jesus’ crucifixion, Mary was not sitting outside the tomb on the morning of the third day expecting to see the stone rolled away. She (like the other disciples) thought the dream died on the cross. So, in one sense Mary knew, but in another sense she didn’t.

 

So, the question asked in this song reminds us that at times we can KNOW a truth about God, but still have questions about how it looks in our lives. Allow this tension to encourage you today in the areas of your life where you know, but in another sense don’t know. Trust in what you know. Reject the temptation to base your hope on the things you don’t know!

 

Come Thou Log Expectred Jesus

 

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this. (Isaiah 9:6-7 ESV).

 

Today’s carol may be a bit unfamiliar to you. It is typically sung in the more liturgical churches. It is rooted in the rich heritage of the Methodist Church. John and Charles Wesley are responsible for this wonderful herald of the birth of Jesus. Though the Wesley’s never set out to start “Methodism” God used them to reform the Church of England and call it to both passion and application. If Luther’s reform in Germany was about orthodoxy, the Wesley’s reform in England 200 years later was about orthopraxy, or, “as much about what we do as what we believe.

 

While John Wesley was the preacher, Charles Wesley is best known for the hymns he wrote. One of the 18 Christmas carols Wesley wrote was “Come Thou Long Expected Jesus.” This song not only laid out sound theology and Scriptural references, but called followers of Jesus to act in certain ways. The first verse points out Jesus has released us from our “fears and sins” (Romans 6:5-11). This is a theological truth, but the application of this truth is that we would find “our rest in Thee.”

 

In the second verse, Jesus is described as “a child, and yet a King (Isaiah 9:6-7).” Charles takes the next line, though, and drives it home, saying that Jesus was “Born to reign in us forever … Rule in all our hearts alone.” The application is not just to say that Jesus is the “King of Kings,” but to have Him be our King, the ultimate authority in our lives. This Christmas, as you hear this wonderful carol I hope you have a reformation of your practice. I encourage you to find your rest in Jesus, the ultimate authority in your life!

 

 

I Heard the Bells on Chreistmas Day!

 

And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ ethe Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” (Luke 2:8-14 ESV).

 

Our Christmas Carol for today is “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day.” It has a wonderful history. It begins in the middle of the Civil War, in March of 1863, when 18-year-old Charles Appleton Longfellow of Cambridge, Massachusetts quietly left his family’s home, a colonial mansion that had served as General Washington’s headquarters from 1775 to 1776. Unbeknownst to his family, he boarded a train bound for Washington, D.C., traveling over 400 miles down the eastern seaboard to join President Lincoln’s Union army. He was the oldest of six children born to Fanny Elizabeth Appleton and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, the celebrated literary critic and poet. Less than two years earlier, Charles’s mother Fanny had tragically died after her dress caught on fire. Her husband, Henry, awakened from a nap, tried to extinguish the flames as best he could, first with a rug and then his own body, but she had already suffered severe burns. She died the next morning, and Henry Longfellow’s own burns were severe enough that he was unable even to attend his own wife’s funeral. He stopped shaving on account of the burns, growing a beard that would become associated with his image. At times he feared that he would be sent to an asylum on account of his grief.

 

When Charley (as he was called) arrived in Washington D.C., he sought to enlist as a private with the 1st Massachusetts Artillery. Captain W. H. McCartney, commander of Battery A, wrote to Henry Wadsworth Longfellow for written permission for Charley to become a soldier. HWL (as his son referred to him) granted the permission. Longfellow later wrote to his friends Charles Sumner (senator from Massachusetts), John Andrew (governor of Massachusetts), and Edward Dalton (medical inspector of the Sixth Army Corps) to lobby for his son to become an officer. But Charley had already impressed his fellow soldiers and superiors with his skills, and on March 27, 1863, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the 1st Massachusetts Cavalry, assigned to Company “G.”

 

At the Battle of Chancellorsville in Virginia (April 30–May 6, 1863) he saw no combat duty but spent his time guarding wagons. There Charley fell ill with “camp fever” and was sent home to recover for several months with his family. That summer, having missed the Battle of Gettysburg, he rejoined his unit on August 15, 1863. On the first day of that December, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was dining alone at his home when a telegram arrived with the news that his son had been severely wounded four days earlier. He had been shot through the left shoulder, with the bullet exiting under his right shoulder blade. It had traveled across his back and nicked his spine. Charley avoided being paralyzed by less than an inch.

 

He was carried into New Hope Church in Orange County, Virginia and then transported to the Rapidan River. Charley’s father and younger brother, Ernest, immediately set out for Washington, D.C., arriving on December 3. Charley arrived by train on December 5. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was alarmed when informed by the army surgeon that his son’s wound “was very serious” and that “paralysis might ensue.” Three surgeons gave a more favorable report that evening, suggesting a recovery that would require him to be “long in healing,” at least six months.

 

On Friday, December 25, 1863, Longfellow, as a 57-year-old widowed father of six children, the oldest of which had been nearly paralyzed as his country fought a war against itself, wrote a poem seeking to capture the dissonance in his own heart and the world he observes around him that Christmas Day. He heard the Christmas bells ringing in Cambridge and the singing of “peace on earth, good-will to men”, but he observed the world of injustice and violence that seemed to mock the truthfulness of this optimistic outlook. The theme of confident hope even during bleak despair is apparent throughout the poem.

 

What a contrast to the issue of time Magazine on April 8, 1966 as the cover asked, “Is God Dead?” In a world where we have a telescope in space looking to the far reaches of the universe and using the Hadron Collider to try to find the “God particle”, many people wonder if there is a need for God to explain the creation of the universe and our existence. They see God only as an uneducated person’s explanation of the universe instead of a divine person involved in our lives.

 

When we reduce God to just an explanation of creation, we allow Him to be seen as of no use and dead to society. When bad things happen in our culture, people always ask, “Where is God? Why did He allow that to happen?” But when we fail to put logs on a fire, we don’t ask, “Where is the heat? Why are we being allowed to freeze?” We can’t kick God out of our culture, schools, and government then ask where He is when bad things happen. He sent His Son into the world to bring life and light into our darkness. God is not dead, nor is He simply an explanation for our very being. He is a loving God who is involved in our daily lives. We were created with purpose and our lives have meaning. To think there is no God and that we are simply here by random chance is to say there is no right or wrong and that life has no meaning. God sent His Son to us to show us that we matter. He sent Him to show He cares about our struggles mentally, physically, and spiritually. He came to right the wrongs, to bring peace on earth, and goodwill to men.

 

O Little Town of Bethlehem

 

But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being4 might boast in the presence of God. And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 1:27-31 ESV).

 

"O Little Town of Bethlehem" is a popular Christmas carol, written by Phillip Brooks in the 19th Century. The lyrics refer to the town of Bethlehem where Jesus was born of Mary. This hymn describes the setting of Christ's birth and the wondrous gift that would be his life, teachings, and sacrifice. It was written by Phillips Brooks (1835–1893), an Episcopal priest, then pastor of Church of the Holy Trinity in Philadelphia and later of Trinity Church in Boston. He was encouraged by touring the town of Bethlehem in the Sanjak of Jerusalem in 1865. Three years following, he penned the poem for his church, and his organist Lewis Redner (1831-1908) composed the accompanying melody. It is a favorite of many!

 

He tells the story of Bethlehem, a town which could be considered tiny and insignificant. The Prophet Micah describes Bethlehem as being “…small among the clans of Judah.” Yet he goes on to say, “out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel.” Indeed, Jesus was born in Bethlehem some 700 years later.

 

The significance of insignificant Bethlehem can’t be understated. God loves to work in amazing ways through the unlikely and the overlooked. It’s easy for all of us to feel undervalued and unimportant, but that is exactly the type of person God will use. Think of the endless ways God could use you if you surrender to His will. Actually, Bethlehem did have some significance before Jesus’ birth. Among other things it was also the birthplace of David, Israel’s greatest Old Testament warrior and king. However, this is also another example of God’s amazing province. David after all was the youngest son of Jesse who considered him the unlikeliest of his boys to become king. But God saw

through all that and had him anointed the next ruler of Israel. Again, God was working in ways that are outside of man’s conventional wisdom.

 

We tend to see our life and circumstances through a man-made perspective. Once we realize that the Lord works in mysterious ways which are far above our own we will be more ready for Him to use us in an exciting way. Of course nothing has more significance than the birth, life, death, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. How

unlikely is it that it would begin one quiet, peaceful night in a quiet, peaceful town. The “everlasting Light”, the “hopes and fears of all the years” all started in the “…Little Town of Bethlehem.” You can’t make this stuff up and thankfully it’s not!

 

The Little Drummer Boy

 

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies bas a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12:1-2 ESV).

 

Do you remember the animated Christmas movie titled The Little Drummer Boy? The scene is so poignant as the night was silent, except for the beating of his heart. It seemed so loud to him; he wondered if his traveling companions could hear it too. He was nervous to see a king, but he kept walking, holding tightly to his drum. His heart was about to beat out of his chest. The others were carrying beautiful boxes filled with precious gifts, gifts worthy of a king. He had nothing but his drum which suddenly seemed an inappropriate instrument to play for king, not to mention a newborn baby king. If only he had a more soothing instrument, like the harp the shepherd boys sometimes play. His heartbeat was deafening as he stood before the king. And then Mary nodded. The King’s mother nodded at him. She actually wanted him to play. He raised his sticks and began to beat out of the first pattern that came into his head, the rhythm of his beating heart.

 

 And so the Little Drummer Boy gave his heart to God. He played his best. He gave his best. How often do we feel our gifts are not good enough? We compare ourselves to others, wondering why their gifts seem so much more “useful” for the kingdom. We want to teach like our Pastor or sing like our Worship Leader. Or maybe we want to share our blessings, but at times, we don’t feel very blessed. We can’t give what we don’t have, but rather than lamenting our lack, we need to look for our “drum”, the one thing that only we can give.

 

The truth is God already has teaching like your pastor’s. He already has singing like your worship leader’s. What He wants, what He can really use, is your heart. Think of ways that you can bless others this season and in turn bless God. You don’t have to spend money. You just have to give of yourself, of your heart. Just like the little Drummer Boy. And Jesus smiled at him. Think of Jesus smiling at you. Kind of makes your heart race, doesn’t it?

 

The Christmas Song

 

And it shall be said, “Build up, build up, prepare the way, remove every obstruction from my people’s way.” For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite. (Isaiah 57:14-15 ESV).

 

If there’s one song that has the “Christmas Spirit” it’s this one. It makes us think of a scene from a Norman Rockwell painting. Or maybe we imagine carolers coming to our doors while we offer them some tasty, homemade apple cider fresh off the stove. We attend parties at friend’s houses and services at church. And there is always the hope of being all bundled up on Christmas morning with our families while the most beautiful snowflakes fall to the ground. In our part of the country that’s not very common, in fact, I have seen a white Christmas only once in my life! More universally common is the scene of our children storming into the room yelling “Mom!” or “Dad!” because Christmas morning has finally arrived, and they are ready to open presents at 5:00 am!

 

Our thoughts then turn to the inevitable desire to stay in our little piece of Christmas paradise just a tad bit longer. That’s life, isn’t it? No matter how perfect we try to paint the canvas of our lives, there will always be something extra put on it that wasn’t in our minds when we dreamed it. Something that cramps our perfect picture. Something that

breaks our heart. A relationship that ended. A loved one who died prematurely. The betrayal of a friend.

 

Did you know that God isn’t surprised by the interruptions in our lives? In fact, nothing surprises Him. Don’t mistake bad things happening in your life as Him not being in control. No, this is not about His ability but about His sovereignty. While we may wish that bad things would never happen in our lives, they will happen. Jesus said we’d have trouble (cf. John 16:33), but He also promised that He’d calm us during it (cf. John 14:16). So, no matter where we are in life, whether we expected to be on the path we are on or not, rest assured, that our God can make broken things beautiful. Please remember that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who’ve been called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28). Press on and trust in the One who will never let you down.

 

Do You Hear What I Hear?

 

Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:16-20 ESV).

 

"Do You Hear What I Hear?" is a song written in October, 1962, with lyrics by Noël Regney and music by Gloria Shayne. The pair, married at the time, wrote it as a plea for peace during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Regney had been invited by a record producer to write a Christmas song, but he was hesitant due to the commercialism of Christmas. It has sold tens of millions of copies and has been covered by hundreds of artists. One of my favorites is by Celtic Woman (You may watch it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zPaKwA7838).

 

Over 2000 years ago, the Savior of the world was born. Have you ever stopped to think about how people found out about His birth? The song “Do You Hear What I Hear?” gives us an example of how the news of His birth might have spread. The song starts with the Holy Spirit asking the lamb, “Do you see what I see?” The Lamb then goes to the shepherd and asks, “Do you hear what I hear?” The Shepherd immediately goes to the King and asks, “Do you know what I know?” When they shared what God had told them, an entire nation heard about the birth of their Savior, Jesus, and what His birth meant for the entire world.

 

Here’s the great news: this too is our opportunity as followers of Christ. We can share with others what we have been told! God reveals Himself to all of us in different ways, depending on our personalities and gifts. For some, He shows us visible things about Himself, like a star in the sky. For others, we hear His voice; and then some of us grow closer to Him best through our intellect. The question is what are we doing with what God gives us? We must realize that God will use us to bring people to Him through what He has revealed to us. Lives are changed when we tell the people in our lives what God has shown and done for us.