The Gift

Scripture:

Isaiah 9:6 (NASB)

For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us;
And the government will rest on His shoulders;
And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.

Titles, we all have several titles.  I am a son, a brother, a husband, and a father.  I have had the title System Analyst, Computer Technician among others.  There is only one who has the titles Prince of Peace, Counselor, Emmanuel He is the Son of God.  Another title is Savior, Messiah He is Christ the King.  Who else would be worthy of such titles but Jesus Himself.  Why is He so worthy?  Simple He is God incarnate.  He left His glory in heaven so that we might be reconciled with Himself, God the Father.  Our redemption rests in Christ. 

This Christmas let us all remember the true meaning of Christmas.  Don’t let the hustle and bustle of everything around you distract you from the most precious gift of all.  Every year Nancy makes Forgotten Cookies Christmas eve.  On Christmas morning they are ready to eat.  When you break open the cookie the inside is hollow, just as His grave…  Something else we have done is wrap a box and in the box we place our “hearts” for Jesus.  The gift is placed under the tree simply addressed “To Jesus”…

This year give Jesus your whole heart.  Remember He already gave you the best possible gift.  What else can we give Him…

Merry Christmas

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Lies With a Hint of Truth

Scripture:
Acts 20:22-32

Writing my devotional thoughts is one thing.  Writing them and sharing them is another.  Matthew 18:6 (NIV) states: “If anyone causes one of these little ones those who believe in me to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.”  It is important for us to share God’s word with others.  It is crucial for us to ensure those we are around are not led astray.  We must teach the truth and help others see false teachings for what they are. 

After having lunch repeatedly with someone I have seen Satan’s perversion of the truth.  Satan will come at you with partial lies.  He mixes in just enough truth that people will believe what he says to be truth.  What is said sounds good and it has the ring of truth in it.   It makes sense so how can it be wrong.  One example in the bible is Eve.  In Genesis Satan comments that surely she wouldn’t die if she ate the apple.  Then when she ate the forbidden fruit she didn’t die.  Or did she die after all?  Her physical life was not ended but her relationship with God was forever changed.  She experienced death in the complete separation from God.  Salvation, or life restored would come with the birth, life, and death of Christ.  His resurrection gives victory to all who believe, life restored with God.

In Acts 20:29-30 (NIV) we are given a warning “I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock.  Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them.”  Each of us needs to be on full alert constantly on guard.  False teachers and false disciples will try to slip in and draw anyone they can away from God.  Their teachings will be subtle and sound truthful.  In the end though it will be revealed for what it is.  We need to help reveal false teachings when it is evident.  We need to help others see the truth and remain in Christ. 

There are a few things to remember when it comes to teaching God’s word, or hearing someone teaching His word.  Is it consistent with the Bible?  Does it contradict anything in the Bible?  Does it change?  If ever in doubt pray and seek guidance from the Holy Spirit.  One thing is for sure, I never want to get it wrong.  I want to ensure what I share is securely founded in Christ.

Love & Forgiveness

Scripture:
 Colossians 3:12-17

I remember growing up being in gym class at school.  Team captains would be picked then they would in turn choose members for their teams.  For those of us who were not popular, or good at sports, would be chosen last.  There is nothing worse than feeling unwanted and cared for.  The good news is that as believers in Christ we are chosen.  We are not unwanted left out or picked last because everyone has to be picked.  We are dearly loved and greatly cherished by God.  God gave everything for us.  He has given us the best gift anyone could ever receive.  In turn what do we do?  How do we act and treat other people?  God not only loves us but He loves everyone.  God wants all the people to choose Christ so that they too will become a part of the family.  We need to spread God’s love to everyone around.  This doesn’t mean we pick and choose whom we love.  We need to love everyone as Christ loves everyone.  John 13:34 (NIV) “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.”

Not only are we to love one another we are to forgive each other as well.  Even though we can find it hard to forgive it is important that we do so.  God will forgive us all our sins and transgressions.  To take it a step further He not only forgives us He forgives others that seek redemption through Christ.  If God can forgive us and other people who are we to withhold forgiveness?  Luke 6:37 (NIV) “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.” 

We all need to remember why Christ was born and lived here on earth.  He didn’t live and die just for one person.  He hung on that cross for all people.  Let us not withhold blessings, love, and forgiveness.  Let us spread the good news to all.  Let us spread God’s love to any and everyone we possibly can…

Merry Christmas

Spiritual Nourishment

Scripture:
John 6:25-41

A comment I have made over and over is “Feed them and they will come…”  My reference has always been the Methodist Church.  It seems that whenever I turned around there was always something going on and it involved food.  Let me tell you the spreads were always unbelievable.  Even the hotdog only luncheons seemed to have something special about them. (OK I guess as a kid you always loved a good hotdog huh.)  I have seen churches provide meals for families going through a crises or a new birth.  I have seen pot lucks put together to kick off an event.  Food always seems to be the center of what is going on.  Hey what better way than to attract a crowd than by feeding them.

The problem is that regular food that we eat is limited and it will spoil.  We constantly have to eat, three square meals a day.  OK in my case plus snacks.  In the Bible we are told about a food supply that never ends or spoils.  With this we will never be without or go hungry.  Of course people are eager for this food, until they realize what it is.  Jesus is the bread of life.  He is our fulfillment and will never turn us away.  We will always be filled as long as we seek Him.  Jesus is our spiritual nourishment that will never expire, go bad, or be depleted.  Unfortunately people just refuse to see it and cannot accept it.  Let us hand out the bread of life.  Let others see how satisfying it can really be.  Let us show the world that Jesus really is all that we need…

Merry Christmas

I Only Know So Much...

Scripture:

1 Corinthians 13:8-12

As I think and ponder what to write I reflect on a few thoughts.  One of those thoughts is how little I really know.  I think I am a fairly smart person who has a decent knowledge about computers.  However over the years as I learned and improved upon my skills I realized I know very little in the grand scheme of things.  What I know I know well.  It is just that what I know is a drop in the bucket to what is out there.  The more I learn the more I realize how little I really know.

The same is true with knowing God and the Bible.  I the more I learn and the more I grow I realize how little I really know.  My relationship is still miniscule compared to what it will be.  I only see a tiny portion of the picture.  God is the only one who is able to step back and see the entire picture.  As the scripture says I know in part and see small portions.  One day though we will get to see the big picture 1 Corinthians 13:12 (NIV) “For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.”

Merry Christmas

What Makes It Special?

Scripture:
Matthew 26:26-28

What is it that makes Holy Communion important and special?  After all we are drinking juice, or in some cases wine, and eating bread.  When we were still attending a Methodist Church I had started a Bible study.  I wanted to begin with communion.  My thought was to kick it off with Holy Communion as a reminder of who Christ is and what He has done for us.  In Matthew chapter twenty six Jesus holds the first communion.  During the process He tells the disciples to do this in remembrance.  What are we to remember?  Simple, we need to remember that Jesus came to earth as God in human form.  He came to atone for our sins.  His blood marks a new covenant with God.  His death brings redemption to everyone who believes.  John 3:16 (NIV) “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”  I believe that is what makes Holy Communion special.  Jesus knew we needed constant reminders.  What better way to give us a simple reminder of something so important.  A bit of juice and bread symbolically transformed.  This is something ordinary and simple and yet it reminds us of the most precious gift of all.  We make Grace out to be complicated.  In reality it is just as simple as Holy Communion.  Next time you take communion remember the full depth of what has taken place and what it means.  That is what makes communion so important, special, and holy.

Merry Christmas

Shortcuts

Scripture:
1 Corinthians 11:23-32

I remember a few years back Nancy and I tended a Home Church that was just starting.  At first everything seemed great.  We agreed with just about everything they stood for.  Then it happened and I knew it wasn’t such a good thing.  Oh the people there are great and strong believers in Christ.  They genuinely had a hunger for Christ.  There were just a couple of small things that I didn’t agree with.  One of the things, which I thought was good, was eating a meal together before service.  After the meal we had what is traditionally known as communion.  The hosts provided juice and bread for everyone.  The person in charge read scripture and prayed and we took communion in our family units throughout the kitchen.   What got me though was at the end left over bread and juice was just dumped in the trash.  It was just leftovers to be tossed out.

1 Corinthians 11:25-27 (NIV)

In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.”  For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord.

Just seeing the casualness of the process really bothered me.  I made sure to explain what we were doing and why to the kids.  I also spoke loud enough for others to hear me.  I expressed the importance of what we were doing and not to just casually toss aside any aspect of it.  Years later I still have a hard time with partaking in communion in certain churches and settings.  I wonder if I have moved beyond respect and honoring God to just going through traditional motions.  When we do take part in Communion we need to remember we are honoring God and remembering what Christ has done for us.  We are reminded what the cost that was paid really is.  I think we tend to dumb things down so they don’t seem so bad.  Christ was brutally beaten and died an excruciatingly painful death.  He did so willingly so that we might be restored in our relationship with Him and God.  In my opinion we should not take anything lightly when it comes to honoring Christ.  Throughout the Bible God has given explicit instructions on how to do certain things.  We are told the how, when, and with what materials to use.  Should we substitute with our own thoughts and ideas?  Should we change what God has deemed proper?  Bottom line is God knows our hearts.  God knows our intentions.  In all things we need to seek His guidance and be open to what He tells us.  Let us honor Him in all we do and not take cheap shortcuts…

Merry Christmas

Advent, Hope, Love, Joy, Peace...

Scripture:
1 John 4:7-21

As Christmas draws near you can see people hustling and bustling everywhere.  We go shopping for that elusive Christmas present.  We decorate our homes, streets, and businesses.  How many people have forgotten the true meaning of Christmas?  Growing up people everywhere would say “Merry Christmas” it didn’t matter where you were from or what you believed.  Christmas had a way to draw people closer to each other.  Today you are lucky to hear “Happy Holidays” in order not to offend someone.  The Christ in Christmas is being forgotten.

This is our second week of Advent.  I sometimes wonder how many hearts are preparing for the celebration of Christmas.  It seems to me that Advent is also slipping away almost forgotten.  What is advent and what does it really mean?  Simply put Advent as the “Traditional” churches define it is the season to celebrate the birth of Jesus.  It is a period of four weeks before Christmas.  Each week begins on a Sunday.  Each Sunday a candle is lit as a reminder.  Each week has its own meaning.  Week one is Expectation or Hope.  Week two is for Love, week three is for Joy, and week for is Peace.  The fifth candle for advent is the Christ candle which is lit on Christmas day. 

There is no special magic in Advent, nothing spectacular in of itself.  What makes advent special and dear to me is that it is a time to prepare and celebrate.  It is a way to condition my heart and reflect on Christ.  It builds upon the celebration of the birth of our savior.  Advent may be a tradition from your traditional old fashioned churches but it still goes a long way to remind us of whose birth we celebrate on December 25^th.  Nancy reads from a book to our kids every day of advent.  They light a candle, read, pray, and end the moment with a Christmas Carol or two.  The books are stories about events that lead up to the birth of Jesus.  True the stories are fictional and based on children.  They do bring out the meaning of Christmas.  They help prepare our hearts and reflect on God through this most wonderful time of year.  It isn’t too late to start celebrating Advent.  Choose your own way but remember God is love. He loved us so much His one and only Son was born on Christmas Day…

Merry Christmas

The Judge

Scripture:
Romans 14:7-12

I remember one time giving a devotional to a group of teenagers.  I had taken the Bible cover off my Bible and placed a book cover from a fantasy novel on it.  I then took the Bible cover and placed on the fantasy novel.  I held the two books up for everyone to see.  Of course at first glance they all said the book with the Bible cover was the Bible.  So I opened it to read scripture from it.  Everyone was surprised when I started to read and it wasn’t the Bible.

The point of the story was that we tend to judge each other by first appearance.  During that session I pointed out to one of the teenagers sitting nearby.  I had commented on how I had prejudged that person based on what I first saw and observed.  I didn’t care for him at all.  I groaned inside when he would show up.  After I got to know him I knew the mistake I made.  I asked for forgiveness and stressed that we are not suppose to judge those around us.  Especially when we haven’t even met them yet, Jesus tells the scribes and Pharisees in John 8:7 the one without sin can cast the first stone.  No one was able to stand there and condemn the women being charged with adultery.  John 8:7-9:

But when they persisted in asking Him, He straightened up, and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.”  Again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. 9 When they heard it, they began to go out one by one, beginning with the older ones, and He was left alone, and the woman, where she was, in the center of the court.”

We are all God’s children.  The last time I checked the only one able to cast the first stone died upon the cross instead.  If He didn’t throw the stone then who are we to?  It is not our job to judge someone.  Besides if we judged somebody that would entitle someone else to judge us.  I don’t know about you but I prefer to stand before God who is an impartial and just God.  I know I will stand not as a sinner but as a man made righteous through Christ.  I choose to bend my knee and confess Jesus as Lord now before it is too late…

God's Whispering Voice...

Scripture:
1 Kings 19:11-13
John 14:27

There is a question that troubles most of us at one time or another.  How do I know I am hearing God’s voice?  How do I know what He wants me to do? OK, that is two questions.  Over the years I have learned that God speaks loudest in a small whisper.  It is only when I am still and quite can I hear Him.  In order to best hear God we must focus on him and not allow the loud and busy distractions of the world get in the way.  We need to focus our thoughts and pray continuously.  When we release the distractions around us the noises that block God’s voice disappear.  At these times we will hear Him speak to us.  When I allow myself to get caught up in worldly things I lose sight of God.  I become too distracted to hear Him speak.

OK now that we think we heard His voice how do we know it is Him speaking?  A couple of thoughts you can use for a check list.  The first one, is what I am hearing contradicting God?  When you think you know what God is telling you does it go against scripture?  Does it go against the teachings of Christ?  People often say God told me to… and it clearly goes against His own word in the Bible.  The next thought I have is there peace in His calling.  Do you feel peaceful about what you think you hear God telling you to do?  If not then chances are God isn’t calling you to it.  Do not mistake apprehension with having no peace about it.  We can be apprehensive and nervous about God’s calling.  Some of the things I know God has called me to do I was scared to death over.  In the end my fears were put aside and things worked out.  My third and final thought about this is threes.  If you think God is calling you to something ask Him to confirm it in signs of three.  He will give you the confirmation you ask for.  However when the third sign appears you better be ready.

OK hearing God’s voice entails listening by removing all distractions.  He will not contradict Himself.  You will be at peace with what you hear if it is truly from Him.  You can ask for confirmation and He will give it.  Remember that Satan is a deceiver and will do anything to distract you and move you farther from God.  He will use parts of the Bible in what sounds like absolute truth to distort God’s word.  He might be trying to convince you of something and it might sound like the truth.  Parts of the truth will even be there.  That is why it is important to make sure it fits the mold before buying into it.  An example might be a calling into full time missions.  God does call people to mission work.  We are asked to give sacrificially to those in need.  However, God will not call you to a mission field when you are needed at home.  He will not call you give everything you own if it means putting your family out on the streets with nothing.  Remember God will not contradict Himself and you will be at peace with what He calls you to.  Ask for confirmation for what you think you hear.  

I would appreciate any thoughts or comments on this devotion.  May God be with you and guide you.  May we all hear his soft quite voice as He speaks to us.