Saturday, January 1: Resolutions

On New Year’s Eve, many people across the world make resolutions, attempting to change some aspect of themselves. Typically, those changes have to do with what is on the outside, rather than what is on the inside. Losing weight, quitting smoking, quitting drinking, getting out of debt, becoming more organized and spending more time with family are some of the items that top the list of most common resolutions.


The word resolution comes from the same Old English root word as resolve, which points to making a decision or deciding upon a course of action. To be resolute is to be firm or unwavering. Yet the deeper truth of resolutions is that showers often can last longer! Comedian Joey Adams said, “May all your troubles last as long as your New Years’ resolutions.” Noted American author and humorist Mark Twain had this to say:

Now is the accepted time to make your regular, annual good resolutions. Next week you can begin paving hell with them as usual.”

Of course, we all are aware that the road to hell is paved with good intentions. Fortunately, for Christians, God’s intentions in our lives supersede our own intentions, as He will complete His work in us! Resolutions can remind Christians of the great gifts God has given to each of us:


22 Through the LORD’s mercies we are not consumed,
Because His compassions fail not.
23 They are new every morning;
Great is Your faithfulness.
Lamentations 3:22-23


With our Lord’s forgiveness of us on a daily basis, we can walk in freedom! God grants us the ability to change, yet without His presence in our lives, those changes are amazingly short-lived. Yet instead of focusing on the outer manifestations of those resolutions, God desires for us to focus on the motives within. Motives have to do with the heart, and when those motives change, actions can follow suit.


3 Who may ascend into the hill of the LORD?
Or who may stand in His holy place?
4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart,
Who has not lifted up his soul to an idol,
Nor sworn deceitfully.
Psalm 24:3-4


Our Lord desires for actions to change, as what others see should reflect the changes that He has made on the inside of each of us. But never lose sight that the inner changes must occur first. So as we say goodbye to one year and greet another, what changes would God like to see in your life? At the top of the list, He always desires for us to draw closer to Him. If that is your desire, then He certainly will grant you the desires of your heart, as He desires more closeness in His relationship with us! Have you read the entire Bible? If God was giving a speech tomorrow, would you be there to hear it? He has given us His Word. By not reading the Bible, it seems as if we do not care what He has to say. Prayer is also vastly important, especially the gift He has given us to pray for others. If you are making bad decisions, pray for godly wisdom and let that be your resolution.

If we are focusing on God, and deepening that relationship, He will help with all those other issues that seem to grab the spotlight in the hopes and dreams of unbelievers. Each year, we are one year closer to seeing His face. Each day, we are one day closer to sitting at His feet. Each moment, we are one moment closer to the Lord calling us home! On the Jewish New Year, Yom Kippur, God’s chosen people made atonement for their sins. Reflect on your sins of the past year, ask for His forgiveness and pray for His help in following the straight and narrow path that leads to life with Him, in Him and through Him! Happy New Year!


5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
James 1:5-8

Friday, December 31: Measurements

Another year has flown by, once again proving the analogy that once a vehicle reaches the top of the hill, gravity greatly increases the downhill speed. The farther over-the-hill we are, the faster that time seems to pass. Measuring that speed can be difficult, at best, but measurements depend most upon the one doing the measuring. Often in the Bible, God tells us about the integrity He requires when His children are measuring:


You shall have honest scales, honest weights, an honest ephah, and an honest hin: I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt.
Leviticus 19:36


One of the least rewarding jobs on farms 50 years ago was picking cotton. Paid by the pound, it took painstaking time and effort to fill a sack with cotton, only to find out how little weight the sack contained. Placing a few rocks in the sack could increase the pay quickly, but would not be an honest representation of the weight of the sack. In the same manner, dishonest businessmen in biblical times weighed the scales in their favor. The problem was so pervasive that buyers had great difficulty finding a vendor with an honest scale.


As Christians, God holds us to a different set of rules, and a different grading scale, as well. Non-believers measure their lives in mostly monetary ways. “More” seems to be the operative word, with more pay, more vacation, more possessions and more size in regard to housing. It is a slippery slope when as believers, we find ourselves drawn to the same trappings of the world that entice non-believers. God reminds us in 1 Timothy 6:10 that the love of money is the root of all evil. On the other hand, Paul reminds us how we are to view our lives before we came to know the Lord.


8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; 10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, 11 if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.
Philippians 3:8-11

How important should those possessions be to us? Count them all loss! Our desire still should be for more, but rather than more possessions, Christians should desire more knowledge of God. That should be heart knowledge! Our faith, hope and love should all increase as we continue to draw closer to the Lord. There is no greater thing than knowing Him, and nothing apart from God can satisfy our thirsty souls!

O God, You are my God;
Early will I seek You;
My soul thirsts for You;
My flesh longs for You
In a dry and thirsty land
Where there is no water.
Psalm 63:1


As Christians, our perspectives should change in regard to how we measure ourselves. Instead of trying to “keep up with the Joneses,” we should measure ourselves against God’s Word. To demonstrate our love for God, we should focus on obeying His commandments. We know that while we are on this earth we will continue to sin. That is not an excuse for us not trying to follow each and every one of God’s commandments. Yet the greatest gift is in how God measures us! Certainly, there will be people in hell who have committed fewer sins than some of the Christians in heaven. Being a Christian has nothing to do with our actions, but instead, depends on God’s act. By following Jesus, we have accepted His gift, grace, which is the forgiveness of our sins. We are measured by the life of Jesus, just as He was measured by our sinful lives when He took the punishment for our sins at Calvary.


Each year, thousands of people take the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT). If the outcome of the SAT had to do with eternity, instead of college, Christians would have a huge advantage. While unbelievers would be sweating bullets, knowing that their entire futures ride on the outcome of this test, Christians would get to sit and watch while the One who wrote the test was taking the exam for us! Of course, He made a perfect score for us, solidifying our future. That is the only grading scale that we can measure up to!


Though our old lives should be counted loss, we gain Christ Jesus!


6 Now godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8 And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. 9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
1 Timothy 6:6-10

Thursday, December 30: Memories

Someone once said that memory is a way of holding onto the things we love, the things we are and the things we never want to lose. Memories have more to do with moments than with days or years, and consequently, rarely give us a realistic perspective. For example, by only remembering the pleasures associated with sin, rather than the brokenness that accompanied that pleasure, we cloud the rose-colored glasses with the pinkest possible hue. Memories can be bad or good. As Christians, we often carry too many memories of our sinful pasts. When God gives us new lives in Him, we should forget the actions of the old man who has been left dead in his sins and focus on the new man. Del Tackett, the creator of “The Truth Project,” shared this statement in one of the lessons:

“We often forget what we should remember, and remember what we should forget.”

History tells us to “Remember the Alamo” and “Remember the Maine,” but after many generations have passed, we have forgotten those events. Certainly, most alive today remember 9/11, but someday, that will be forgotten, as well. As history repeats itself, by focusing upon the past, we can learn lessons. Unfortunately, most of us have great difficulty in learning lessons from the experiences of others and must learn lessons the hard way, through the “school of hard knocks.” The Greek word “ginosko” points to that experiential knowledge. As Christians, we first should remember that God remembers His promises! Consequently, we should remember those promises and stand firmly upon them. We also should remember God’s faithfulness, His goodness, His blessings, and the miracles He has worked in our lives. Additionally, we should remember who we are in Jesus Christ, and especially, we should remember the cross, the person, place and moment that gave us life and made our lives worth living. Especially in the midst of battle, we should remember God’s promise of Satan’s future! God tells His people to remember.


Just as God parted the waters of the Red Sea during the exodus of the Jews to the Promised Land, He also parted the waters of the Jordan River to ease their passage. God gave the Jews specific instructions concerning that event:


4 Then Joshua called the twelve men whom he had appointed from the children of Israel, one man from every tribe; 5 and Joshua said to them: “Cross over before the ark of the LORD your God into the midst of the Jordan, and each one of you take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel, 6 that this may be a sign among you when your children ask in time to come, saying, ‘What do these stones mean to you?’ 7 Then you shall answer them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD; when it crossed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. And these stones shall be for a memorial to the children of Israel forever.”
Joshua 4:4-7


Those stones today are forgotten, and needless to say, most Jews have forgotten the miracle God performed in their lives that day. In the same manner, after giving them the Law, He commanded them to pass down those Laws and stories to the next generations. At Passover, that is the point of the Seder, to remind those who did not directly experience His hand of salvation what God did to save them, as well. For if God had allowed the Jews to be destroyed that day, they still would be gone! Psalm 78 emphasizes what occurs when we forget God’s personal and miraculous accomplishments in our lives.


What should we forget? Certainly, our sins are at the top of that list. If God can forget those sins, why do we keep dredging them up? There is a benefit in the healthy reminder of who we used to be before that knowledge of Jesus Christ changed us in the twinkling of an eye. Yet the memory of that sin should not be a burden to weigh us down. Let go and let God! In the same manner, we should forget the sins of others.

“Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.
Luke 6:37

We need to let past mistakes go! One of the titles of Satan is the “accuser of the brethren.” (Revelation 12:10) Because that title describes his actions, we should not mimic Satan when dealing with self or others. Jesus has forgiven us, and also forgiven our Christian brothers and sisters.


If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1 John 1:9


If your past is weighing you down, God is not the one placing that burden on your shoulders. When Satan reminds you of your past, remind him of his future! Remember what you are to remember and forget what you are to forget!


And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.
Ephesians 4:32

Wednesday, December 29: The secret to our success…

Rodan of Alexandria said, "It isn't the mountain ahead that wears you out; it's the grain of sand in your shoe." We should not be exhausted by the situations ahead of us, though the journeys behind us can wear us down. Another adage tells us that we cannot know a man without walking in his shoes. The human tendency is to look at others and see the comparative ease in their lives, but all of us have our own burdens to carry. Most of the time, we unknowingly choose those burdens with our own erroneous decisions. Additionally, God allows those burdens to fit His plan and His purposes.


As Christians, the secret to our success is two-fold, contentment and trust in God. With the human condition, that contentment can be difficult to find. In the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve demonstrated a lack of contentment. God perfectly prepared the place before the creation of man, as Adam stepped into a paradise. That paradise included abundant food, with one stipulation from God.


15 Then the LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it. 16 And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; 17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”
Genesis 2:15-17


Is it ever enough for us? We always seem to desire more than abundance! In the same manner that Adam and Eve yearned for what they did not have, all of us have the tendency of looking at the lives around us with yearning. “I wish I had that car,” we might say, unsatisfied with the transportation the Lord has provided. “I wish I was married instead of single,” we might say, unaware of the difficulties our married friends might be experiencing. “I wish I had a higher paying job,” we might say, not considering that more money in our pockets might cause us to turn our backs on the Lord! The tenth commandment reminds us what God says about that behavior:


“You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s.”
Exodus 20:17


The opposite of covetousness is contentment. Contentment is the peace and acceptance in the present, no matter what trial or condition is facing you. When we are discontent, we desire a different path for ourselves than God desires for us! He is omniscient, and sees the end of each situation. Additionally, because He is incapable of giving bad gifts to His children, we should be able to accept whatever He places in our paths with gladness!


Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
Hebrews 13:5

Do you have an obstacle in your path that seems to be insurmountable? God must want you to be right where you are, as He desires to draw you closer to Him. Does it seem like others have an easier road, filled with more blessings? God has a plan in each of our lives. As He formed us to be His unique creations, He also planned a path knowing our strengths, weaknesses, likes and dislikes. Trusting in Him involves that walk by faith, not by sight, but God does not expect us to walk blindly. In our lives, He demonstrates His love for us by His continued provision. By looking back, we can remember miracles He has performed, to bless us personally. Those events make it easier to see His love in the present and trust Him for the future! Worry points to lack of trust in the same way that covetousness points to lack of contentment. When we worry, we accuse God of lying, for He has promised that He will provide all of our needs. Without faith applying to our lives, our beliefs are only words! Be content wherever He has you and trust Him, for He cares for you!


11 Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: 12 I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
Philippians 4:11-13

Tuesday, December 28: No middle ground!

In each continent is a drainage basin called the Continental Divide. On one side of that drainage basin, all rainfall and snowmelt eventually find a way to the ocean to the east, while on the other side of that basin the water moves to the ocean on the west. Interestingly, this does not exist in the geographic center of the continent, but has more to do with altitudes, topography of the continent and the layout of the bodies of water. For example, in the United States, the Continental Divide runs through the Rocky Mountains, much closer to the Pacific Ocean than the Atlantic Ocean. When rain falls in the same location within the United States, it is either of the Pacific or the Atlantic.


As Christians, we also are one-sided, though we often forget that we are facing spiritual battles continuously. Paul reminds us in Ephesians 6 of the strength and need for the whole armor of God in the lives of His followers, as believers are all members of God’s army. Thirty years ago, congregations around this nation sang, “Onward Christian Soldier” often, but while spiritual warfare has intensified since that time, we seem to have forgotten our parts in God’s war.


Satan and his demons certainly besiege believers in Jesus Christ, but Christians cannot be demon possessed. Because Jesus dwells in the hearts of His followers, He will not share that residence with Satan. Possession points to ownership, and because we have been purchased by the blood of Jesus, He owns us! Jesus has promised that He will not sell us to someone or give us away. He never will leave us or forsake us! Yet demon oppression is another story entirely. When believers choose to walk with Satan, they give him an opening into their lives. Those erroneous choices include using drugs, dabbling in the occult with fortune-telling, or any number of inopportune choices that conflict God’s Word. Demon oppression can have severe affects on the lives of Christians, but Satan is limited by God’s power, which will bind the enemy. Our part in that process is to repent of our sins and seek the Lord fully. Bible study, prayer, fasting and Christian fellowship will strengthen us, making us stronger soldiers when the battles arise.


He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad.
Matthew 12:30


There are far more people who are against Jesus than with Him, yet this battle is not decided by the size of the army. Instead, it is decided by the power of God! In this world, we have double agents in almost every war, trying to play both sides for financial gain, or to ensure that whichever side proves victorious, they also will win. Yet in God’s battle, there are no double agents. We each get to make the choice of which side we are willing to fight for. It is a matter of fact that not making a choice is a choice! Once we make that choice to follow Jesus, the Holy Spirit takes up residence in our hearts, and at that time, we are in His ownership and possession!


But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.
Romans 8:9


God does not need us to fight His battles, but He uses us in that process to build our faith. How do you handle those attacks when the Lord places you in the midst of battle? Understand that He has promised His followers that He never will give us more temptation than we can handle (1 Corinthians 10:13). If that temptation is intense, God is complimenting you that He has made you very strong in Him. Additionally, God places many of His soldiers on the front lines in the battle against demons. Satan always fights back, so if you are being attacked strongly, it is because Satan hates you intensely! That is a back-handed compliment as Satan does not hate his own supporters, but instead, hates the ones who love the Lord. The more you love Jesus, the more the devil will hate you!

Never forget that the battle belongs to the Lord. We are foot soldiers at His beck and call. In the same manner that soldiers go through intense training to prepare for war, our intense training should come from God’s Word. That training ensures that when faced with extreme adversity, we will continue to act in the manner we have been trained, to lean on God instead of self. Additionally, each situation God places us in prepares us for another difficult battle. Trust in God as He will win the war!


13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.
Ephesians 1:13-14

Monday, December 27: Cover me…I’m going in!

When eating a peanut, we discard the shell, but that shell is not less important than what lies on the inside. An egg operates in the same manner, as without the shell, it would be incredibly difficult to preserve the egg white and egg yolk on the inside. Additionally, it would be incredibly difficult to transport! Our human bodies exist similarly, both in a spiritual and a physical sense. The epidermis, or outside covering of the body, helps to protect the inner organs, muscles and blood vessels. Yet if someone gets skin cancer, we cannot survive simply by peeling all of the skin away. Our outer shell gives us shape!


Yet the inside is significant, especially in a spiritual sense. No matter how many layers that we build up on the outside, that does not change who we are on the inside.

“A human being has so many skins inside, covering the depths of the heart. We know so many things, but we don’t know ourselves! Why, thirty or forty skins or hides, as thick and hard as an ox’s or bear’s, cover the soul. Go into your own ground and learn to know yourself there.”
--Meister Eckhart, German theologian (1260-1328)

As Christians, we should be cautious not to let the dirt of the world build up so thickly on our exteriors that we resemble the world more than we resemble our Lord. That exterior shell needs to change as completely as the heart on the interior when we give our lives to the Lord, though it is not an overnight process. What should others see when they look on the outside of a Christian?


12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. 14 But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. 15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
Colossians 3:12-17


Because only God can see the motives behind our actions and see inside the heart, we are to “put on” tender mercies, humility, meekness, longsuffering, bearing with one another, forgiving one another, and most importantly, love. Those attributes can soften the hard heart of another, just as God’s love softened our hearts as believers. David’s prayer was the same as all of us when we came to the Lord:


Create in me a clean heart, O God,
And renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Psalm 51:10


The inward change that God gives us instantly is a clean heart, yet the dirty mind needs to go, too. Otherwise, we are throwing out the baby with the bath water! Renewal is that process of being born again. Walking daily with the Lord helps us to peel off those exterior coats that disguise the heart within.


I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Romans 12:1-2


When renewal transcends the heart and journeys to the mind, then we begin to walk with the Lord in a manner that reflects His attributes, rather than our own attributes. Once again, this is a process that involves daily prayer, daily Bible study and daily fellowship with the Lord and His people. Without that trio, we all tend to fall back to the ways of the world. Instead of having tender mercies we are judgmental and harsh in our punishment. Instead of being kind, we are cruel. Instead of being humble, we are filled with pride and ego. Instead of being meek, we are out of control with rage. Instead of exhibiting longsuffering, we are quick to anger. Instead of bearing with one another, we turn our backs on anyone who requires work or extra effort. Instead of forgiving others, we carry the residual of pain of how they hurt us. Instead of love, we hate.

Satan attempts to copy God, yet his attributes reveal his nature as the anti-Christ. Without the presence of God dwelling within us, we cannot exhibit the Lord’s attributes. First, we need to get through that hard exterior and see who God wants us to be on the inside. Then, we need to let that exterior become more than protection and transportation for our hearts. Let your actions reflect the heart change that God already has accomplished!


18 My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. 19 And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him.
1 John 3:18-19

Sunday, December 26: Happiness and joy

What would you rather have, happiness or joy? Some people equate the two, but there are distinctive differences. Happiness is fleeting, based on different situations, events and states of mind. But joy has nothing to do with the situation. Instead, joy is reflective of whether or not the person in the midst of the situation is relying on his own power or the power of the Holy Spirit. Joy is one of the fruits of the Spirit mentioned in Galatians 5, and as believers we will exhibit all of the fruits of the Spirit at least part of the time. Joy is most apparent in people who are in the midst of trial, and points directly to the glory of God, for without Him, we would show discouragement rather than His strength in those difficult times. Some people pray for trials to end, but godly people pray for strength to endure the trials.


that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality.
2 Corinthians 8:2


Maturity of the believer can add to that joy, for with maturity comes the experience of learning to rely on the Lord’s power is the midst of hardship. Job certainly endured more than anyone in the Old Testament, including the death of all 10 of his children in one day! His faith in the Lord never wavered, and God’s strength allowed Job to endure. After that time, Job was able to reflect upon what God had done in his darkest hour. It was faith-building, for Job understood that if God helped him through the most difficult time in his life that the He also was willing and able to help him in less difficult times. In the New Testament, Jesus suffered most of all, and retained His joy throughout. Most people respond with something along the lines of, “Yeah, but I am not Jesus!” Truly, we are not Jesus, but He dwells inside of us. Paul suffered greatly, and his joy remained steadfast, due to the presence of God within him!


6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6-7


Peace in the midst of success is easy to attain, yet peace in the midst of trial is impossible, without God’s hand. That is why it surpasses understanding. We are called to stand on God’s promises and to endure whatever He places in our paths. If our lives are a sweet-smelling aroma to the Lord, and to the broken and dying world around us, God can use our lives to reach others. If the world crushes the rose petals of your life, we should let the fragrance reach many! When Jesus came into this world, He brought us joy in abundance, as no matter what happens here, His children will be with Him for all eternity!


10 Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
Luke 2:10-12

The joy we have been given is great joy, abundant, powerful and enduring. Birds sing their joyful song each morning, as God’s mercies are new each morning. We should not be sidetracked by the perceived difficulties. When we look back, it rarely is as difficult as we thought it was at the time. An old adage says, “what does not kill you makes you stronger.” If your confidence is in God any trial can be handled with joy, for He is our strength!


Then he said to them, “Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”
Nehemiah 8:10


Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 15:13

Saturday, December 25: Merry Christmas!

In celebration of the birth of our Savior, let’s sing:


Hark the herald angels sing, ”Glory to the newborn King.
Peace on earth and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled.”
Joyful all ye nations rise, join the triumph of the skies
With angelic host proclaim, Christ is born in Bethlehem
Hark the herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King.”
Isaiah foretold of this blessed event many years before:

1 Nevertheless the gloom will not be upon her who is distressed,
As when at first He lightly esteemed
The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali,
And afterward more heavily oppressed her,
By the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan,
In Galilee of the Gentiles.
2 The people who walked in darkness
Have seen a great light;
Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death,
Upon them a light has shined.
3 You have multiplied the nation
And increased its joy;
They rejoice before You
According to the joy of harvest,
As men rejoice when they divide the spoil.
4 For You have broken the yoke of his burden
And the staff of his shoulder,
The rod of his oppressor,
As in the day of Midian.
5 For every warrior’s sandal from the noisy battle,
And garments rolled in blood,
Will be used for burning and fuel of fire.
Isaiah 9:1-5


As in all areas of Scripture, context is very important in these verses, as some apply to historical times, when Jesus Christ walked as a Man upon this earth, while others apply to events yet to happen. God “lightly esteemed” Zebulun and Napthali through the life of Jesus. The childhood home of Jesus, Nazareth, is in Zebulon, while Capernaum, a prominent town in the ministry of Jesus, is in Naphtali. Additionally, those areas have been “heavily oppressed” by God today, as Capernaum, which was thriving in the time of Jesus, is now uninhabited, while Bethlehem is an Arab capital, unfriendly to Jews and Christians.


Georg Friedrich Händel made many of the words of this chapter resonate through his oratorio “Messiah,” which begins with the second verse. That darkness described by Isaiah directly applied to the Jews in the Babylonian captivity, but just as strongly describes each Christian who has come to know Jesus as Lord and Savior. He is the greatest light at the end of the tunnel! When adopted into the family of God, we are granted the same rights of inheritance as Jesus. He earned the inheritance with His life, but we are joint heirs because of His love. Isaiah 53 tells us that, “He will divide the spoil with the strong.” The spoil that each of us receives for accomplishing one task will be sufficient to last us for eternity. What is that one task? Asking Jesus into our hearts as Messiah! When that is accomplished, Jesus takes away our bondage to sin! Then Isaiah points us to the greatest event in man’s history:


6 For unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of His government and peace
There will be no end,
Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom,
To order it and establish it with judgment and justice
From that time forward, even forever.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.
Isaiah 9:6-7


These verses are familiar to most of us, and sometimes with that familiarity, we seem to miss the depth and juxtaposition of the opening phrases. Though to us, a child and a son may be the same, that is not the point of this passage. “Unto us a Child is born” refers to the humanity of Christ, who chose to leave the perfection of heaven and enter into a frail, human body, to share His amazing love with us all. “Unto us a Son is given” refers to His deity. John told us that God gave His only Son, so that all might know Him and have eternal life. It is so hard for our human minds to comprehend that Jesus is fully God and fully Man, but when we get to heaven, there will be a Man on the throne of God.

Then, Isaiah gives us different names of Jesus. Though He is a wonderful counselor, there is a comma between those two names. First, He is Wonderful, which is the Hebrew word pele. While the English word, wonderful, does describe Jesus, this Hebrew word is better translated “incomprehensible,” or too difficult to know. It is a noun, not an adjective. His name is Wonderful! He also is our Counselor. He represents each of us as the Greatest Counselor in the high court of His Father, and this Counselor will win every case! He is Mighty God, with the Hebrew word EL meaning “God,” like Immanu-EL! He is not just mighty but all powerful!


He is the everlasting Father, more specifically, “the Father of eternity.” A father is responsible for creating birth, and He is the Seed of the birth of all creation. This points to the triune nature of God, as does the final name listed here, the Prince of Peace, with a dove being emblematic of both peace and the Holy Spirit. When Jesus rules on the throne of David for 1,000, there will be no more war. There never has been a time without war on this planet. The verses culminate with a description of the future presence of Jesus upon the earth.


What a glorious day, a Savior is born in Bethlehem! “Glory to the newborn King.” Glory to Jesus, who saves us from our sins! God with us, Immanuel, was born!

Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.

Isaiah 7:14

Friday, December 24: Tidings of comfort and joy! Were you there?

After an 80-mile journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem, Mary and Joseph arrived. Tradition tells us that everywhere they looked to stay, they were turned down, but that account does not exist in the Bible. We do know that they laid Jesus in a manger, because there was no room for him in the “kataluma,” a Greek word meaning guest chamber, guest room or inn. Most movies or plays depict Mary arriving on the night of the birth of Jesus, but Luke 2:6 states that while they were in Bethlehem, Mary gave birth. Bethlehem was the city of Joseph’s ancestors, so they might not have been absolutely alone, and may have arrived a month before the birth. Origen, an early church father, wrote that Jesus was born in a cave, which could have been the case. We do know that Mary did not check in to St. Joseph’s Hospital. There is no account of a doctor or a mid-wife, and likely, Joseph delivered baby Jesus. In the agrarian economy of those days, most men typically had helped in the delivery of animals, so this probably was not as far of a stretch for Joseph as it would be for men today. Yet, Mary had no epidural anesthesia to ease the pain.


Tradition also tells us that the kings of the east, the magi, were present that night, having been led by a star. Yet that also is an untruth, as the magi began their journey from Babylon having seen the star that night, signifying the birth of Jesus. Certainly, they had been waiting for this event, but it is doubtful that the magi departed immediately. Instead, there was packing to do, and likely, they asked soldiers and servants to prepare for the 500-600 mile journey. So who was there?


8 Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. 10 Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”
13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:
14 “Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”
Luke 2:8-14


Most of us can close our eyes and hear Linus quoting these verses from memory in his speech to Charlie Brown when asked what Christmas is all about. We see shepherds and angels present. In the Bible, almost every time an angel appears, he does so with the words, “Fear not.” What is it about angels that scare people? It could be that they are very large, as we know that a race of giants was the offspring of the demonic angels that took earthly wives in Genesis 6:2. We also know that our depiction of angels is often contrary to the biblical one. They are not fat little children, nor are they women. The Hebrew words seraphim and cherubim both contain the suffix “im,” which means male and plural. One angel spoke but that was followed by a multitude of the heavenly host singing praises to the Lord. Angels are eternal beings, and are as great in multitude as the sands of the seas. Daniel speaks of 10,000 times 10,000 angels surrounding the throne of God, 100 million! (Daniel 7:10) Can you imagine the gift to those shepherds that night, to hear the heavenly host singing praises to God? The shepherds heard the angel’s words, and then went into Bethlehem to seek the Child. How interesting that our Lord, the Good Shepherd, announced His arrival to those shepherds first. The kings of the east did not come until later. In the first coming of Jesus, He came as a shepherd, but in the second coming of Jesus, He will come as a conquering King!


After Mary’s Levitical cleansing time (Leviticus 12:2-8), the couple carried the infant into Jerusalem to offer a sacrifice of two turtledoves or pigeons, the sacrifice of a poor family, for a male that has opened the womb, and additionally, for Jesus to be circumcised at the temple. Two other “passers-by” demonstrated divine appointments. First, a Spirit-filled man named Simeon had his life’s ambition fulfilled, as he had been told by God that he would not die until the Messiah came:


27 So he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when the parents brought in the Child Jesus, to do for Him according to the custom of the law, 28 he took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said:
29 “Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace,
According to Your word;
30 For my eyes have seen Your salvation
31 Which You have prepared before the face of all peoples,
32 A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles,
And the glory of Your people Israel.”
33 And Joseph and His mother marveled at those things which were spoken of Him. 34 Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, “Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against 35 (yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”
Luke 2:27-35


Simeon’s prophecy pointed to the severe pain that Mary would feel at her Son’s crucifixion, as Jesus was pierced in the side, Mary was pierced in her soul. Then in Luke 2:36-38, we read of the prophetess Anna, who had served the Lord as a widow for over half a century. God also gave Anna spiritual insight into the infant Jesus, as she spoke to everyone of the redemption He was bringing.

On that night almost 2,000 years ago, Jesus entered this broken world and was greeted by His mother, His earthly father, a heavenly host of angels and a band of lowly shepherds. Days later, His coming fulfilled the lives of Simeon and Anna. Yet, each Christmas that we celebrate should take us back to that time, to that moment. Were you there when the Savior came to save you? He came for Jews and Gentiles; He came to save the world. At Christmas, we offer gifts to one another to celebrate our love, yet on that night, the Father gave the Greatest Gift to each of us. Someday, we will hear the heavenly host singing praises to our Lord, and we will join in the Hallelujah chorus, King of kings and Lord of lords, and He shall reign forever and ever!


She said to Him, “Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.”
John 11:27

Thursday, December 23: God gives the increase!

While many Protestant churches have strong tendencies of de-emphasizing the role that Mary played in the birth of the Messiah, many Catholic churches seem to overemphasize her role. A healthy perspective is that Jesus chose to endure all of the same difficulties in our paths, including birth, childhood, adolescence, adulthood, disease, temptation and death. Additionally, He chose the vessel of Mary. Somehow, Joseph gets lost in the mix, due in part to the fact that Joseph was not part of the conception of the Savior. Yet Joseph played a godly role in the life of Jesus, protected his family and also was chosen by God. Joseph’s name in Hebrew means “God increases,” and Joseph’s life reveals that increase.


18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. 19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. 20 But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 21 And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins.”
Matthew 1:18


We all have dreams, but how many of us act on those dreams? In the eyes of most men, if you never have had relations with your fiancé, and she turns up pregnant, it is time to find a new sweetheart. Amazingly, Joseph believed Mary’s extraordinary explanation, and immediately acted upon the instructions given by the angel in a dream. Joseph did not hesitate, but acted in protection of his betrothed, who rightfully, could have been put to death by Old Testament law. Joseph exhibited much kindness and love throughout an ordeal that was anything but normal. God chose Joseph for the attributes exhibited in the midst of severe trials. We know from Matthew 1:25 that Joseph did not know his wife in a sexual way until after the birth of Jesus.


The next mention of Joseph in the Bible occurs when an angel once again appeared in one of his dreams, warning Joseph of Herod’s evil intentions. Once again, rather than stewing over what to do, or even praying and waiting upon the Lord for an answer, Joseph demonstrated that he was a man of action, and protection. He immediately packed up his wife, child and belongings and headed for Egypt. In an act of self-preservation, Herod mandated that all boys aged three and under should be put to death in the region! Yet with the words of the Holy Spirit and the quick decision to follow by Joseph, young Jesus arrived safely in Egypt. While in Egypt, a third dream occurred, with God once again speaking to Joseph through an angel, and then a fourth dream occurred while on the journey:


19 Now when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, 20 saying, “Arise, take the young Child and His mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the young Child’s life are dead.” 21 Then he arose, took the young Child and His mother, and came into the land of Israel.
22 But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea instead of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And being warned by God in a dream, he turned aside into the region of Galilee. 23 And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, “He shall be called a Nazarene.”
Matthew 2:19-23


Our faith grows when God carries us through trials. Having correctly acted on two previous dreams, Joseph easily accepted that the third dream involving the angel was also correct, and brought Jesus back to Israel. A fourth dream advised Joseph to avoid Judea, so the husband and father followed God and His advice back to Nazareth. The carpenter protected his family, and most importantly, our Savior. Stepping out in faith requires complete trust in God. Did Joseph ever doubt that he was acting righteously? As a man, he certainly had much time to reflect upon each decision on the journeys from Nazareth to Bethlehem, from Bethlehem to Egypt and from Egypt to Nazareth. Certainly, Satan tried to get Joseph to doubt and question his decisions, and also his faith, yet Joseph righteously performed the duties ordained by God. The next and final time we see Joseph, he is searching for a 12-year-old Jesus:


41 His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. 42 And when He was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast. 43 When they had finished the days, as they returned, the Boy Jesus lingered behind in Jerusalem. And Joseph and His mother did not know it; 44 but supposing Him to have been in the company, they went a day’s journey, and sought Him among their relatives and acquaintances. 45 So when they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking Him. 46 Now so it was that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. 47 And all who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers. 48 So when they saw Him, they were amazed; and His mother said to Him, “Son, why have You done this to us? Look, Your father and I have sought You anxiously.”
Luke 2:41-48


Luke aptly describes the role Joseph played in the life of Jesus. While God would remain the Father of our Lord, Joseph was the earthly father of Jesus. Joseph knew that they were not related by blood, but Joseph’s love for Jesus was every bit as strong as that of any earthly father. Anxiously looking for his son, Joseph was relieved to see Jesus teaching at the temple. The Bible never mentions Joseph again. Whether or not Joseph died sooner or later, he influenced Jesus at least up until the age when a young Jew becomes a man, at his bar-mitzvah.

Appointed by God, Jesus was the well-loved, adopted son of Joseph. Adoption is an interesting subject in the Bible. According to Roman law, adoption involved all of the same rights as a child with a legal bloodline, including the rights of inheritance. Though many adopted children in our culture feel unloved, there is a special quality of a parent who chooses to raise a child that someone else has brought into the world. As Christians, we are adopted children of God. Joseph’s love for Jesus is an example of that as God’s love for us involves care, protection and inheritance! On this Christmas, remember that God places us into families for His reasons, but He chose us as His adopted children! We will share in the inheritance of His Son. God spoke to Joseph just as He speaks to us, and increased the love in Joseph, to care for his wife, son and all of us in the process!


So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase.
1 Corinthians 3:7


Therefore I will divide Him a portion with the great,
And He shall divide the spoil with the strong,
Because He poured out His soul unto death,
And He was numbered with the transgressors,
And He bore the sin of many,
And made intercession for the transgressors.
Isaiah 53:12

Wednesday, December 22: Mary, Mary, Babe to carry!

God chose a young virgin to carry the Messiah to a broken world. Jesus could have come to earth the same way He departed, in a cloud. But God chose this vessel and this way. Did Mary earn this gift by her sinlessness? Certainly not, and neither did she become the queen of heaven. Mary was born, lived and died, just as other women. God has granted Mary a place in heaven, just like other godly women. She was an ordinary woman who completed an extraordinary task that never will be forgotten. Mary willingly endured a difficult journey, which began with the unmarried, young woman becoming impregnated by the Holy Spirit. According to Old Testament law, a pregnant, unmarried woman should be stoned to death, yet this young woman bravely believed in God’s power to sustain her.


26 Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!”
Luke 1:26-28


The story begins in the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, three months before she was to give birth to John the Baptist. Elizabeth and Mary were relatives (Luke 1:36), though we do not know how closely related those two women were. Mary’s father was from the tribe of Judah, while Elizabeth’s came from the tribe of Levi (Luke 1:5). While many believe that made the two distant relatives, because tribal allegiance had to do with the father instead of the mother, these two may have been first cousins, or more distant cousins. It is important that John entered the world before Jesus, as John was to “prepare the way of the Lord.”


Gabriel, an angel of the Lord who already had brought messages to Daniel and Zechariah, came to visit Mary. She was a young virgin, betrothed to Joseph. While betrothed is similar to our term for engaged, there was a major difference in the Hebrew tradition. A betrothal was as significant as a marriage, binding the two together. To end a betrothal, a divorce must occur. Instead of just setting a date for a wedding, the husband-to-be would go to prepare a place for his new family, just as Jesus departed this earth to prepare a place for the brides of Christ, His followers (John 14:2-3). Gabriel has a specific message for Mary, that she is “highly favored” and blessed among women. Yet her name means “bitterness” in Hebrew, possibly pointing to the pain and agony of watching her son die on the cross.


Are there times when we are highly favored in the eyes of God, but feel like we do not matter at all? Certainly, Mary understood the honor God was granting her to carry the Messiah. Yet it must have been difficult to raise a perfect child! Knowing He was the Son of God, how did she ever correct Him? Maybe He never needed correcting, which would be another difficulty as His mother. How did Mary feel when she sinned in front of the young Jesus? It is difficult enough to deal with your children when they have become more intelligent than you, but for imperfection to raise perfection had to be a burden. It all culminated on the day of our Lord’s crucifixion, as watching her son tortured, beaten and crucified had to grieve Mary’s heart. Did she still feel highly favored?


God has promised only good for His followers, yet when in the midst of trial, we can lose sight of His great work, His purpose and His plan. Each of us has the tendency to create our own difficulties with our bad choices, yet even without those bad choices, our paths would be bumpy. We are baptized into the suffering of Jesus when we suffer, yet our “light affliction” is not burdensome in relation to what our Savior endured for us. Still, it gives us an inkling of His pain. If you feel alone, Jesus knows that feeling. That is not head knowledge, but heart knowledge, as Jesus experienced that loneliness when He cried, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” If you feel stressed, Jesus knows your pain. He sweated blood on the night of His crucifixion! Are you in physical pain? Nothing can be as painful as death by crucifixion. Is it emotional pain you are enduring? What would it feel like to be willing to give your life for the world, but no one cared?

As Christians, we are “highly favored,” as God chose us! Our Savior came to this world almost 2,000 years ago and endured it all. Amazingly, it was worth it for Him and worth it for His Father, as we obtained relationship with both of them because of His works. Every day should be Christmas in our hearts, so rejoice in God, who became man for us! “O come let us adore Him, Christ, the Lord!”


Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit.
Matthew 1:18

Tuesday, December 21: Star of wonder, star of night!

When Isaiah offered King Ahaz a sign of God’s power and existence, he told Ahaz to “ask it either in the depth or in the height above,” according to Isaiah 7:11. Should it surprise us that God gives us signs in the heavens and the earth? As Christmas approaches, we can look back to the events that occurred almost 2,000 years ago and see God’s signs and wonders. Yet because God never changes, we should understand that He continues to operate in the same manner today.

“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
Though you are little among the thousands of Judah,
Yet out of you shall come forth to Me
The One to be Ruler in Israel,
Whose goings forth are from of old,
From everlasting.”
Micah 5:2


Years before the birth of Jesus, Micah penned this prophecy of the place of our Lord’s birth, the little town of Bethlehem, which means “house of bread” in Hebrew. With it all being a part of God’s plan, the “Bread of life” of John 6:48 was born in the same village that witnessed the birth of King David. This was not where Mary and Joseph lived, but because of an edict from Caesar, they made the 80-mile, difficult journey, even though Mary was about to give birth.


And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. 3 So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city.
4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. 6 So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. 7 And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
Luke 2:1-7


Though most modern interpretations of the birth of Jesus seem to present a large congregation at the manger, the Bible reveals that the “Star of Bethlehem” began on the night of Christ’s birth and drew the magi, the kings of the east, to begin over a 500-mile journey to find Him. Though the journey of Mary and Joseph certainly was not an easy one, especially in regard to the difficult terrain and the condition of Mary, the journey of the magi was much farther. Daniel gives us insight into these men, for in the court of King Nebuchadnezzar during the Jewish captivity in Babylon, Daniel was in charge of these astronomers. A recent article reveals that the mathematicians of ancient Babylon were using the Pythagorean Theorem 1,000 years before the ancient Greek mathematician Pythagoras postulated it. These were wise men, and under the tutelage of Daniel, also were well-informed in the Old Testament prophecies.


Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, 2 saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.”
Matthew 2:1-2


This star was not just any star, it was “His star!” Modern science tells us that because most stars are many light years away, that if we see that star turn into a nova, becoming much brighter before returning to its original brightness, that the actual event occurred up to a thousand years in the past. Because our sun is closer, through telescopes, we presently can see events that took place three to five days in the past. Yet in regard to the Star of Bethlehem, if this earthly, scientific knowledge is accurate, Jesus created the star and set it to become a nova on His alarm clock, for the time when He departed heaven for earth. The star was a welcoming committee announcing His arrival. For the magi, who certainly knew of the coming Messiah, it was a timer as much as it was a guiding light.


3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.
5 So they said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet:
Matthew 2:3-5


Why was Herod troubled? It had to do with his own pride, for as king, he did not want to be supplanted by a greater king. Yet this fear affected all of Jerusalem, which points directly to the contingent of foreigners making this journey. Though tradition tells us of Caspar, Melchior and Balthazar as the three wise men, the Bible does not ever mention their names or numbers. As travel in that time into foreign territory carried with it a high-degree of risk, chances are that this was not a small band of magi. Instead, with a background of Daniel’s teaching, the magi anxiously had been awaiting the appearance of God on earth. This likely could have been a large caravan, consisting of the magi, servants and soldiers. That presence certainly would have troubled Herod and all of Jerusalem.


7 Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also.”
9 When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. 11 And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
12 Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way.
Matthew 2:7-12


Herod directed the magi to Bethlehem, having asked the rabbis about prophetic writings of the Messiah’s birth. The magi knew of Herod’s evil intentions, as God had warned them in a dream. Upon beginning their journey again, the magi saw the star and rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. Can you imagine the joy when they saw the Child? Certainly, this was not a newborn baby, as He had been when the magi first saw the star, and they spoke to Herod of a child who already had been born. The gifts given to Jesus helped support a poor young couple that immediately fled to Egypt, based on the desires of Herod to kill Him. God always provides!

Just as God gave a sign in the heavens to those interested on the night of our Lord’s birth, He continues to speak to us. Last night, a total lunar eclipse occurred on the winter solstice. Those two events have not coincided since 1554. Is it a sign? Well, it certainly is not a coincidence, as God always has a purpose and a plan. We do not know what that sign points to, yet Jesus told us that in the end days, He would give us signs in the heavens. Just as in the days of the magi, those signs are for timing. Are we in those days?


25 And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; 26 men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.
Luke 21:25-26

Monday, December 20: Immanuel

Even in a struggling economy, malls and stores remain crowded with shoppers as Christmas approaches. In every toy store, children can be heard uttering their mantra of “I want,” regardless of cost, need or logic. Though significantly a Christian holy day, Christmas is celebrated by many non-Christians, as well, and it has become the most lucrative time in retail regardless of religious belief. With the tradition of gift giving, the commercialism of Christmas has saddened some while lining the pockets of many others.


During the reign of Constantine from 306-337, the Roman emperor became a Christian and wanted to bring others to that belief. Rather than allowing them to come on their own terms, he paid pagans to adopt Christianity. Instead of coming with hearts to know the Lord, they brought their own polytheistic beliefs and intertwined them with Christianity. For the pagans, winter solstice was one of the most important days of the year, commemorating rebirth. Upon establishment of the Julian calendar, December 25 was set aside for winter solstice.


In the days of Constantine, the same date was set aside to commemorate the birth of Jesus, but Bible scholars believe the actual birth of the Messiah occurred sometime in the autumn, potentially on one of the Jewish feast days. Of the seven feasts of Moses discussed in Leviticus 23, there are three spring feasts, one summer feast and three fall feasts. All of the spring feasts were fulfilled in the death of Jesus. Many believe that John pointed the birth of Jesus to the Feast of Tabernacles when he called Jesus the “Word of God,” and wrote,


In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God.
John 1:1-2


In verse 14 of the same chapter, John wrote, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us,” using the Greek word “skenoo” for dwelt. That word also is translated “tabernacle,” so we understand that “the Word became flesh and was ‘tabernacled’ among us.” In the Old Testament, the tabernacle was a building, a copy of one in heaven according to Paul in Hebrews 8:5. But Jesus departed heaven and came to dwell with us, as God walked on the earth. When Jesus returned to heaven, the tabernacle in Jerusalem was destroyed in A.D. 70. When Jesus departed earth, He left His Holy Spirit to dwell within each believer.


As this Christmas week begins, regardless of the actual day that saw the birth of Jesus, we have much to celebrate. God willingly departed the perfection of heaven for a broken world filled with broken people. Jesus came to share our lives. He was faced with the same temptations, the same sorrows and the same pains as all of us. Yet Jesus lived a perfect life, and in His death, received the punishment earned by each of us through our sins. From the beginning, this was the Father’s plan! He told us about it many years before the event occurred. When reaching out to Ahaz, the 11th king of Judah, God encouraged Isaiah to offer King Ahaz a sign, to prove the power of God. In a feigned act of piety, Ahaz refused, but God named that miraculous sign through Isaiah:

10 Moreover the LORD spoke again to Ahaz, saying, 11 “Ask a sign for yourself from the LORD your God; ask it either in the depth or in the height above.”
12 But Ahaz said, “I will not ask, nor will I test the LORD!”
13 Then he said, “Hear now, O house of David! Is it a small thing for you to weary men, but will you weary my God also? 14 Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel. 15 Curds and honey He shall eat, that He may know to refuse the evil and choose the good. 16 For before the Child shall know to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land that you dread will be forsaken by both her kings. 17 The LORD will bring the king of Assyria upon you and your people and your father’s house—days that have not come since the day that Ephraim departed from Judah.”
Isaiah 7:10-17


The virgin birth has been one of the most contentious aspects of Christianity, as many have difficulty believing in miracles. The writers of the Revised Standard Version of the Bible fell into this trap, translating the Hebrew word for virgin, alma, to instead mean “young woman.” What would be the miracle of a sign to King Ahab when a young woman had a baby? That’s ordinary, but a virgin giving birth would be outrageous, pointing to God’s power. There were four other parts of the prophecy, as well. His name would be Immanuel, which means “God with us.” He would eat curds and honey, testifying of the modest means of His birth and life. Those who think that the gold, frankincense and myrrh brought by the magi at the birth of Jesus made Him rich are misunderstanding this passage. God is our provider, who gives what we need. Certainly, He provided for Joseph, Mary and Joseph to make their way to Egypt, but God did not put them up in the Ritz-Carlton! Additionally, the prophecy mentions the destruction of the northern tribes by the Assyrians, and before the Child is born, both the northern and southern kings would be gone.


As we begin to celebrate Christmas, focus on the Greatest Gift. A huge, wrapped box underneath the Christmas tree does us no good until we open that gift, and in the same manner, without opening our hearts to Jesus, His life, death and resurrection cannot do us any good. If you do not know Him, now is the time to change your life. If you know Him already, are you giving Him your focus? Draw closer to God and He will draw closer to you! By reflecting upon what He did for us, we can better understand how much God loves us. Jesus endured so much for us, and that began when God became man almost 2,000 years ago!
8 He will pass through Judah,
He will overflow and pass over,
He will reach up to the neck;
And the stretching out of his wings
Will fill the breadth of Your land, O Immanuel.
9 “Be shattered, O you peoples, and be broken in pieces!
Give ear, all you from far countries.
Gird yourselves, but be broken in pieces;
Gird yourselves, but be broken in pieces.
10 Take counsel together, but it will come to nothing;
Speak the word, but it will not stand,
For God is with us.”
Isaiah 8:8-10