Saturday, December 6, 2008
Christmas
One of the great mystery stories of G.K. Chesterton is entitled The Man Who Was Thursday. Jesus is the “man who was Christmas,” for Christmas is embodied in a person. We sing “It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas,” but Christmas is not really a season. In the mid-South farmers used to try to get their crop to market in December so they could have some “Christmas money,” but Christmas is not money. We say we are going home for Christmas, but Christmas is not a date on the calendar. We talk about our Christmas dinner, but Christmas is neither a feast nor a fancy dessert. Christmas is a person.
Friday, December 5, 2008
A man’s spirit sustains him in sickness, but a crushed spirit who can bear?
--Proverbs 18:14
During World War II, a woman took her two little children to visit her parents in Texas because her husband was stationed in Europe. As they got ready for Christmas?setting the tree up, putting the presents out, and preparing dinner?they were experiencing the joy of Christmas, almost forgetting the worry of war. But no sooner had the fun began, than the family heard a dreaded knock on the door and received a terrible telegram greeting.
The young mother had to tell her children that Daddy wouldn’t be coming home for Christmas…ever. And then she went up to her room to weep alone. Her parents debated and finally decided to take down the Christmas decorations and put the presents away. When the young lady came downstairs, she immediately saw the empty spot. She exclaimed, “Mother, what have you done?”
Her mother replied, “You’re so broken-hearted, so your father and I decided this is not the time for Christmas.”
The new widow said, “Oh no, mother, bring it all back. Christmas was made for times such as these.”
Many people have overwhelming problems which make it hard to get excited about the holidays whether they be financial difficulties, physical ailments, loneliness, or emotional pain from the loss of a loved one. Christmas is certainly not about the presents, lights, and decorations, but it is surely a time when we can lean on the goodness of God and rejoice in Christ’s birth.
Try serving someone else this season and God will bless you (see Acts 20:35). Jesus came to this earth to serve others and to give His life for you (see Mark 10:45). Among all of the other difficulties this time of year, that is reason to celebrate!
PRAYER CHALLENGE: Amidst difficulties this season, praise God and thank Him for His many blessings and salvation.
During World War II, a woman took her two little children to visit her parents in Texas because her husband was stationed in Europe. As they got ready for Christmas?setting the tree up, putting the presents out, and preparing dinner?they were experiencing the joy of Christmas, almost forgetting the worry of war. But no sooner had the fun began, than the family heard a dreaded knock on the door and received a terrible telegram greeting.
The young mother had to tell her children that Daddy wouldn’t be coming home for Christmas…ever. And then she went up to her room to weep alone. Her parents debated and finally decided to take down the Christmas decorations and put the presents away. When the young lady came downstairs, she immediately saw the empty spot. She exclaimed, “Mother, what have you done?”
Her mother replied, “You’re so broken-hearted, so your father and I decided this is not the time for Christmas.”
The new widow said, “Oh no, mother, bring it all back. Christmas was made for times such as these.”
Many people have overwhelming problems which make it hard to get excited about the holidays whether they be financial difficulties, physical ailments, loneliness, or emotional pain from the loss of a loved one. Christmas is certainly not about the presents, lights, and decorations, but it is surely a time when we can lean on the goodness of God and rejoice in Christ’s birth.
Try serving someone else this season and God will bless you (see Acts 20:35). Jesus came to this earth to serve others and to give His life for you (see Mark 10:45). Among all of the other difficulties this time of year, that is reason to celebrate!
PRAYER CHALLENGE: Amidst difficulties this season, praise God and thank Him for His many blessings and salvation.
Thursday, December 4, 2008
When We See Him Face to Face
"I do not count the sufferings of our present life worthy of mention when compared with the glory that is to be revealed and bestowed upon us" (Rom. 8:18, 20th Century Trans.).
A remarkable incident occurred recently at a wedding in England. A young man of large wealth and high social position, who had been blinded by an accident when he was ten years old, and who won University honors in spite of his blindness, had won a beautiful bride, though he had never looked upon her face. A little while before his marriage, he submitted to a course of treatment by experts, and the climax came on the day of his wedding.
The day came, and the presents, and guests. There were present cabinet ministers and generals arid bishops and learned men and women. The bridegroom, dressed for the wedding, his eyes still shrouded in linen, drove to the church with his father, and the famous oculist met them in the vestry.
The bride, entered the church on the arm of her white-haired father. So moved was she that she could hardly speak. Was her lover at last to see her face that others admired, but which he knew only through his delicate finger tips?
As she neared the altar, while the soft strains of the wedding march floated through the church, her eyes fell on a strange group.
The father stood there with his son. Before the latter was the great oculist in the act of cutting away the last bandage. The bridegroom took a step forward, with the spasmodic uncertainty of one who cannot believe that he is awake. A beam of rose-colored light from a pane in the chancel window fell across his face, but he did not seem to see it.
Did he see anything? Yes! Recovering in an instant his steadiness of mien, and with a dignity and joy never before seen in his face, he went forward to meet his bride. They looked into each other's eyes, and one would have thought that his eyes would never wander from her face.
"At last!" she said. "At last!" he echoed solemnly, bowing his head. That was a: scene of great dramatic power, and no doubt of great joy, and is but a mere suggestion of what will actually take place in Heaven when the Christian who has been walking through this world of trial and sorrow, shall see Him face to face. --Selected
"Just a-wearying for you,
Jesus, Lord, beloved and true;
Wishing for you, wondering when
You'll be coming back again,
Under all I say and do,
Just a-wearying for you.
"Some glad day, all watching past,
You will come for me at last;
Then I'll see you, hear your voice,
Be with you, with you rejoice;
How the sweet hope thrills me through,
Sets me wearying for you."
A remarkable incident occurred recently at a wedding in England. A young man of large wealth and high social position, who had been blinded by an accident when he was ten years old, and who won University honors in spite of his blindness, had won a beautiful bride, though he had never looked upon her face. A little while before his marriage, he submitted to a course of treatment by experts, and the climax came on the day of his wedding.
The day came, and the presents, and guests. There were present cabinet ministers and generals arid bishops and learned men and women. The bridegroom, dressed for the wedding, his eyes still shrouded in linen, drove to the church with his father, and the famous oculist met them in the vestry.
The bride, entered the church on the arm of her white-haired father. So moved was she that she could hardly speak. Was her lover at last to see her face that others admired, but which he knew only through his delicate finger tips?
As she neared the altar, while the soft strains of the wedding march floated through the church, her eyes fell on a strange group.
The father stood there with his son. Before the latter was the great oculist in the act of cutting away the last bandage. The bridegroom took a step forward, with the spasmodic uncertainty of one who cannot believe that he is awake. A beam of rose-colored light from a pane in the chancel window fell across his face, but he did not seem to see it.
Did he see anything? Yes! Recovering in an instant his steadiness of mien, and with a dignity and joy never before seen in his face, he went forward to meet his bride. They looked into each other's eyes, and one would have thought that his eyes would never wander from her face.
"At last!" she said. "At last!" he echoed solemnly, bowing his head. That was a: scene of great dramatic power, and no doubt of great joy, and is but a mere suggestion of what will actually take place in Heaven when the Christian who has been walking through this world of trial and sorrow, shall see Him face to face. --Selected
"Just a-wearying for you,
Jesus, Lord, beloved and true;
Wishing for you, wondering when
You'll be coming back again,
Under all I say and do,
Just a-wearying for you.
"Some glad day, all watching past,
You will come for me at last;
Then I'll see you, hear your voice,
Be with you, with you rejoice;
How the sweet hope thrills me through,
Sets me wearying for you."
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Remembering What We’ve Learned
“But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them.” 2 Timothy 3:14
In the last days Satan is going to come, and there are going to be more miracles than you have ever seen. Most of them will not be done by God but will be done by the power of darkness ? the power of Satan. The Bible says that you can look for an explosion of the occult.
Thank God we don’t have to face these days without hope. God tells us what we must do in His Word. We are to remember what we’ve learned and to take His promises to heart. This will not be a time to doubt Him but to trust Him with all that we are.
How is your personal study time in God’s Word going? Start this week to incorporate at least one hour of personal time in God’s Word to study its promises, prophecies, and applications.
In the last days Satan is going to come, and there are going to be more miracles than you have ever seen. Most of them will not be done by God but will be done by the power of darkness ? the power of Satan. The Bible says that you can look for an explosion of the occult.
Thank God we don’t have to face these days without hope. God tells us what we must do in His Word. We are to remember what we’ve learned and to take His promises to heart. This will not be a time to doubt Him but to trust Him with all that we are.
How is your personal study time in God’s Word going? Start this week to incorporate at least one hour of personal time in God’s Word to study its promises, prophecies, and applications.
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Give It All You've Got
Someone once approached a great Bible teacher and told him, "Sir, I would give the world to know the Bible as you do."
The teacher replied, "And that is exactly what it will cost you."
Would you give the world to know the Bible? By that I mean, would you be willing to give up something in exchange for knowing God’s Word? This is what the Apostle Paul meant in Romans 12 when he wrote, "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind" (v. 2). How do you renew your mind? By studying the Word of God.
If you have determined to study the Bible for yourself, I want to bring to your attention three principles from Proverbs 2 that will help you get the most out of Bible study.
First, listen to God and treasure His instructions (2:1). Recognize how valuable the Bible is and come with eagerness to God's Word. In Acts 2, we read of new believers who gladly received God's Word and devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching. Acts 17 tells us about the believers in Berea who listened to Paul's message and searched the Scriptures day after day to see if the things he was saying were true. In the same way, we should hunger for the Word.
Second, pray for insight and understanding (v. 3). Ask God to open His Word to you. The psalmist prayed, "Open my eyes, that I may see wondrous things from Your law" (Psalm 119:18). The next time you open up your Bible, pray that God would illuminate the truth of His Word to your life and show you how to apply it.
As you read, slow down. Take a little time. I would rather read five verses with comprehension than 15 chapters of the Bible and never understand a word. Read slowly and carefully, contemplating what the verses say to you and how they apply to your life.
The word meditate appears in the Bible often. It means, "to chew something over." Think about it. Ponder it. Psalm 1 describes the blessed man as one who delights in the law of the Lord and "in His law he meditates day and night" (v. 2).
Third, seek it as though you were searching for lost money or hidden treasure (v. 4). As you read through the Bible, think of it as mining for gold. Do you look for a quarter if you drop it? I do. Do you look for a dime? I do. Do you look for a penny? I do, depending on the circumstances. If you want to get the attention of a crowd, then drop a pocketful of change on the ground. Everyone will stop to look for it, because there is value in money.
Let's say, for example, that you somehow misplaced $1 million. Do you think you would go searching for it? I think I would. If I will look for a quarter, then I would look for a million dollars. But there is more than a million dollars in the Word of God. There is buried gold in the pages of Scripture. But you need to get to it and search it and find what is in the Scriptures for you.
The Bible tells us, "The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple . . . more to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold . . . and in keeping them there is great reward” (Psalm 19 7-11).
Fourth, apply what you learn in the Bible. Jesus said, "If you abide in My word, you are my disciples indeed." To "abide" means to stay in a given place and draw your resources from something.
Let God's Word permeate your life and be at home inside of you. Let the Bible fill your life. After all, success or failure in the Christian life depends on how much of the Bible you get into your heart and mind on a daily basis and how obedient you are to it. If you have a deficiency of the Bible in your diet, then you will wither spiritually. If you have a regular diet of the Word of God, then you will be strong spiritually. Fall in love with the Bible, and you will never regret it.
The teacher replied, "And that is exactly what it will cost you."
Would you give the world to know the Bible? By that I mean, would you be willing to give up something in exchange for knowing God’s Word? This is what the Apostle Paul meant in Romans 12 when he wrote, "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind" (v. 2). How do you renew your mind? By studying the Word of God.
If you have determined to study the Bible for yourself, I want to bring to your attention three principles from Proverbs 2 that will help you get the most out of Bible study.
First, listen to God and treasure His instructions (2:1). Recognize how valuable the Bible is and come with eagerness to God's Word. In Acts 2, we read of new believers who gladly received God's Word and devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching. Acts 17 tells us about the believers in Berea who listened to Paul's message and searched the Scriptures day after day to see if the things he was saying were true. In the same way, we should hunger for the Word.
Second, pray for insight and understanding (v. 3). Ask God to open His Word to you. The psalmist prayed, "Open my eyes, that I may see wondrous things from Your law" (Psalm 119:18). The next time you open up your Bible, pray that God would illuminate the truth of His Word to your life and show you how to apply it.
As you read, slow down. Take a little time. I would rather read five verses with comprehension than 15 chapters of the Bible and never understand a word. Read slowly and carefully, contemplating what the verses say to you and how they apply to your life.
The word meditate appears in the Bible often. It means, "to chew something over." Think about it. Ponder it. Psalm 1 describes the blessed man as one who delights in the law of the Lord and "in His law he meditates day and night" (v. 2).
Third, seek it as though you were searching for lost money or hidden treasure (v. 4). As you read through the Bible, think of it as mining for gold. Do you look for a quarter if you drop it? I do. Do you look for a dime? I do. Do you look for a penny? I do, depending on the circumstances. If you want to get the attention of a crowd, then drop a pocketful of change on the ground. Everyone will stop to look for it, because there is value in money.
Let's say, for example, that you somehow misplaced $1 million. Do you think you would go searching for it? I think I would. If I will look for a quarter, then I would look for a million dollars. But there is more than a million dollars in the Word of God. There is buried gold in the pages of Scripture. But you need to get to it and search it and find what is in the Scriptures for you.
The Bible tells us, "The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple . . . more to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold . . . and in keeping them there is great reward” (Psalm 19 7-11).
Fourth, apply what you learn in the Bible. Jesus said, "If you abide in My word, you are my disciples indeed." To "abide" means to stay in a given place and draw your resources from something.
Let God's Word permeate your life and be at home inside of you. Let the Bible fill your life. After all, success or failure in the Christian life depends on how much of the Bible you get into your heart and mind on a daily basis and how obedient you are to it. If you have a deficiency of the Bible in your diet, then you will wither spiritually. If you have a regular diet of the Word of God, then you will be strong spiritually. Fall in love with the Bible, and you will never regret it.
Monday, December 1, 2008
Listen to the Story of Jesus and See the Glory of God...Continued from page 1
The Apostle Paul knew that he was sent to open the eyes of people who could not see Jesus physically, but who could see him spiritually and be saved. Jesus said to him, “I am sending you to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins” (Acts 26:17-18).
Paul knew that Satan was blinding the eyes of unbelievers to keep them from seeing divine glory in the portrait of Jesus. “The god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God” (2 Corinthians 4:4).
How do we see Jesus as compellingly, self-authenticatingly, beautifully, divinely glorious and true? We read or hear the story of his incarnation and life and death and resurrection and what it means. In that hearing, we watch him speak and act. We consider the purpose and plan of God in this story.
As we listen and watch, the mighty grace of God opens the eyes of our heart. That is what the connection between John 1:14 and 1:16 says: “We have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. . . . [For] from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.” Grace opened our eyes to see.
Another way to say it is that we see and know the truth and glory of Jesus because of the work of the Holy Spirit. “By this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us” (1 John 3:24). “By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God” (1 John 4:2). In other words, the Holy Spirit opens our eyes to see that this person we are hearing and watching in the story of the gospel is “from God.”
When this happens we say, “Jesus [that is, the incarnate one that we are seeing in the gospel story] is Lord!” And then Paul adds, “No one can say ‘Jesus is Lord’ except in the Holy Spirit” (1 Corinthians 12:3). This means that our seeing that Jesus is Lord is the work of the Holy Spirit, and our seeing it is the witness of the Spirit in our lives.
I am praying that God would move among us in power during our so journ in the Gospel of John. O that he might open our eyes more and more to the fullness of his glory. May the Lord remove all blindness. May the Lord grant that we would see him and be changed into his image from glory to glory (2 Corinthians 3:18).
Paul knew that Satan was blinding the eyes of unbelievers to keep them from seeing divine glory in the portrait of Jesus. “The god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God” (2 Corinthians 4:4).
How do we see Jesus as compellingly, self-authenticatingly, beautifully, divinely glorious and true? We read or hear the story of his incarnation and life and death and resurrection and what it means. In that hearing, we watch him speak and act. We consider the purpose and plan of God in this story.
As we listen and watch, the mighty grace of God opens the eyes of our heart. That is what the connection between John 1:14 and 1:16 says: “We have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. . . . [For] from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.” Grace opened our eyes to see.
Another way to say it is that we see and know the truth and glory of Jesus because of the work of the Holy Spirit. “By this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us” (1 John 3:24). “By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God” (1 John 4:2). In other words, the Holy Spirit opens our eyes to see that this person we are hearing and watching in the story of the gospel is “from God.”
When this happens we say, “Jesus [that is, the incarnate one that we are seeing in the gospel story] is Lord!” And then Paul adds, “No one can say ‘Jesus is Lord’ except in the Holy Spirit” (1 Corinthians 12:3). This means that our seeing that Jesus is Lord is the work of the Holy Spirit, and our seeing it is the witness of the Spirit in our lives.
I am praying that God would move among us in power during our so journ in the Gospel of John. O that he might open our eyes more and more to the fullness of his glory. May the Lord remove all blindness. May the Lord grant that we would see him and be changed into his image from glory to glory (2 Corinthians 3:18).
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Listen to the Story of Jesus and See the Glory of God
Jesus is concerned to give assurance to those of us who would read the Gospel of John in the 21st century.
For example, he prays for us in John 17:20, “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word.” In other words, Jesus foresaw that after his departure everyone who would become a Christian would do so not by seeing his physical body but through “the word” of the eyewitnesses. This is possible because an eyewitness like John wrote the Gospel of John.
Another example is the way Jesus responded to Thomas who needed to see Jesus’ wounds in order to believe he was really raised from the dead. Jesus had us in mind when he said to Thomas, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed” (John 20:29).
The point of these two examples of Jesus’ concern for us is not that we don’t see anything. The point is that though we can’t see his physical person, the kind of seeing needed to believe is still possible. It happens through the words of the eyewitnesses.
Jesus’ point is that those who have not seen him physically are not at a disadvantage in seeing him the way we need to see him in order to believe in him and have eternal life. Many saw Jesus physically and did not believe. Some saw the amazing miracles and wanted to kill him because of them (John 11:47-48). They did not see the glory of God. They only saw a threat to their power and their way of life.
Even the disciples were slow to see with the eyes of the heart what they were seeing with the eyes of the head. For example, Jesus said to Philip, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father” (John 14:9). The divine glory of Jesus broke in on the disciples in different ways and at different times.
So it is with us who see Jesus now. Though we do not see him physically, nevertheless we see him through the witness that John bore to Jesus. The Gospel of John (and the other Gospels) are portraits where we look and see Jesus. So we can have the same mixed reaction that the people did in Jesus’ day. Of some it was said, “seeing they do not see” (Matthew 13:13). So some of us see the portrait of Jesus in the gospel and do not see the compelling, divine glory of the Son of God full of grace and truth. Others do.
For example, he prays for us in John 17:20, “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word.” In other words, Jesus foresaw that after his departure everyone who would become a Christian would do so not by seeing his physical body but through “the word” of the eyewitnesses. This is possible because an eyewitness like John wrote the Gospel of John.
Another example is the way Jesus responded to Thomas who needed to see Jesus’ wounds in order to believe he was really raised from the dead. Jesus had us in mind when he said to Thomas, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed” (John 20:29).
The point of these two examples of Jesus’ concern for us is not that we don’t see anything. The point is that though we can’t see his physical person, the kind of seeing needed to believe is still possible. It happens through the words of the eyewitnesses.
Jesus’ point is that those who have not seen him physically are not at a disadvantage in seeing him the way we need to see him in order to believe in him and have eternal life. Many saw Jesus physically and did not believe. Some saw the amazing miracles and wanted to kill him because of them (John 11:47-48). They did not see the glory of God. They only saw a threat to their power and their way of life.
Even the disciples were slow to see with the eyes of the heart what they were seeing with the eyes of the head. For example, Jesus said to Philip, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father” (John 14:9). The divine glory of Jesus broke in on the disciples in different ways and at different times.
So it is with us who see Jesus now. Though we do not see him physically, nevertheless we see him through the witness that John bore to Jesus. The Gospel of John (and the other Gospels) are portraits where we look and see Jesus. So we can have the same mixed reaction that the people did in Jesus’ day. Of some it was said, “seeing they do not see” (Matthew 13:13). So some of us see the portrait of Jesus in the gospel and do not see the compelling, divine glory of the Son of God full of grace and truth. Others do.
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