God With Us
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Posted:Dec 23, 2013 2:00 am
Last Updated:May 4, 2024 10:5 pm 16700 Views
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Read: Matthew 1:18-25
Behold, the virgin shall be with , and bear a , and they shall call His name Immanuel, which is translated, “God with us.” —Matthew 1:23
Bible in a Year:
Nahum 1-3; Revelation 14
His presence in the room was obvious. Everyone else was dressed rather formally. He had on a pair of jeans, a T-shirt, and a weathered baseball cap. I couldn’t help but notice him as I addressed students that day in a seminary chapel in Bucharest, Romania. I have no idea why he didn’t conform to the norms of seminary attire, but I do remember his name.
At the close of the meeting he came up to introduce himself. When I asked him his name, he answered, “Immanuel.” I was surprised by his answer and asked if he knew what that meant; he unashamedly replied, “Yes—‘God with us!’”
I’ve often thought about that young man and how he stood out in the crowd. Just as Jesus came to bring the presence of God into our world—“Immanuel . . . God with us” (Matt. 1:23)—so too we are called to bring His presence into our world. Jesus made that clear when He said, “As the Father has sent Me, I also send you” (John 20:21).
This Christmas, we can give the gift of God’s likeness through us. When our lives reflect the God who lives in us, we can be different from the world, and that difference can bless others with the transforming presence of His love and grace.
The gift of God’s presence through you is your gift to the world.
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Taking Refuge
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Posted:Dec 20, 2013 9:04 am
Last Updated:Dec 21, 2013 3:57 pm 17228 Views
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Read: Proverbs 18:1-10
The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe. —Proverbs 18:10
Bible in a Year:
Micah 1-3; Revelation 11
In the medieval world, farmers would care for their crops until an enemy appeared on the horizon. Then they would flee with their families to their fortified city for protection from the marauders.
The city of Carcassonne has been a refuge for generations. Built in the 5th century bc, this stone fortress has provided protection for Romans, Gauls, Visigoths, Franks, and French. Its sprawling size and majestic watchtowers and battlements gave confidence to those hiding inside its protective walls.
As believers, we can take refuge in the presence of the living God. The book of Proverbs tells us: “The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe” (Prov. 18:10). “The name of the Lord” refers to God’s character—abounding with faithfulness, power, and mercy. The term safe means “set on high out of danger.”
We all face threats at times that make us want to run for cover. Some seek security in material wealth or relationships. But the Christ-follower has a more secure refuge. Because of who God is and what He can do for us, our best protection ultimately rests in Him. If you are facing a threat today, go to the Lord, who is a strong tower. You will find refuge in His care.
In the times of greatest struggle,
When the angry billows roll,
I can always find my Savior,
Christ, the Refuge of my soul.
In good times and bad, God is our safe resting place.
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The Is Given
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Posted:Dec 19, 2013 8:46 am
Last Updated:May 4, 2024 10:5 pm 17492 Views
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Read: Luke 1:26-33
For unto us a is born, unto us a is given. —Isaiah 9:6
Bible in a Year:
Jonah 1-4; Revelation 10
One of my favorite portions of Handel’s Messiah is the joyous movement “For unto us a is born,” from the first part of the oratorio. I especially love how the chorus rises to the phrase, “Unto us a is given.” Those words, of course, are taken from Isaiah 9:6, “For unto us a is born, unto us a is given.” Handel’s majestic music soars with adoration for the who came to us in human flesh that first Christmas.
The New Testament clarifies even further who this is. In Luke 1, the angelic messenger appeared to Mary and identified the Christ- in four ways. He would be the of Mary, making Him fully human (1:31). He would be the of the Highest, which made Him fully divine (1:32). He would also be the of David, giving Him royal lineage (1:32). And He would bear the title of of God (1:35), giving Him equality with the Father in all things. All of the roles the Messiah was called to fill are made possible in these distinct expressions of His Sonship.
As we worship Him this Christmas, may our celebrations be filled with joy and wonder at the fullness of what it means. Our heavenly Father has given us His perfect, sufficient . O come, let us adore Him!
Yea, Lord, we greet Thee, born this happy morning,
Jesus, to Thee be all glory given;
Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing;
O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord.
God’s love became incarnate at Bethlehem.
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Not All Empty
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Posted:Dec 18, 2013 4:17 am
Last Updated:Dec 19, 2013 8:46 am 18449 Views
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Read: Psalm 107:1-9
He satisfies the longing soul, and fills the hungry soul with goodness. —Psalm 107:9
Bible in a Year:
Obadiah; Revelation 9
Our granddaughter Julia spent the summer working in an orphanage in Busia, Uganda. On the final day of her internship, she went to the to tell each one goodbye. One little girl named Sumaya was very sad and said to her, “Tomorrow you leave us, and next week the other aunties [interns] leave.”
When Julia agreed that she was indeed leaving, Sumaya thought for a minute and exclaimed, “But we will be all empty. None of you will be left!” Again, Julia agreed. The little girl thought a few moments and replied: “But God will be with us, so we won’t be all empty.”
If we are honest with ourselves, we know that “all empty” feeling. It is an emptiness that friendship, love, sex, money, power, popularity, or success can never assuage—a longing for something indefinable, something incalculably precious but lost. Every good thing can remind, beckon, and awaken in us a greater desire for that elusive “something more.” The closest we get is a hint, an echo in a face, a painting, a scene . . . . And then it is gone. “Our best havings are wantings,” said C. S. Lewis.
We were made for God, and in the end, nothing less will satisfy us. Without Him, we are all empty. He alone fills the hungry with good things (Ps. 107:9).
Dear Lord, fill me with Your goodness and love.
I desire nothing in heaven and earth but You.
Without You, I have nothing. Thank You for the
abiding satisfaction that we can find in You.
God cannot give us a happiness and peace apart from Himself because it is not there.
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Love And Support
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Posted:Dec 17, 2013 2:48 am
Last Updated:May 4, 2024 10:5 pm 19228 Views
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Read: Philippians 4:10-18
I thank my God . . . for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now. —Philippians 1:3,5
Bible in a Year:
Amos 7-9; Revelation 8
I received this note from a friend serving in an orphanage in a developing country: “Yesterday, as I was sitting at my office desk, I noticed a trail of ants on the floor. As I followed it, I was shocked to see that thousands of ants had blanketed the walls of our office building—inside and out. They swarmed everything. Fortunately, one of the workers . . . set to work. Less than an hour later, the ants were gone.”
After telling this insect story, my friend wrote, “So, how was your day at work?” Sometimes we need reminders of the needs of those who have left behind the comforts and conveniences of home. God calls each of us to different paths of service, and some paths are bumpy. Working in an office that is overrun by ants doesn’t appeal to anyone, but my friend is not there for the perks.
She and many other believers have had their hearts captured by Christ and think that abandoning “essential” comforts and conveniences is a small thing to do to honor Him who loves us. They need our support in the way Paul depended on his friends in Philippi—for fellowship Phil. 1:5, for finances 4.16, and for care 4.1. When we encourage our friends who have left their familiar environments to serve God elsewhere, we show our love for the One who sent them.
Dear Lord, give me wisdom to know which of Your
workers in the fields of the world need my help.
Show me how my family can surround them
with encouragement and support.
The glory of life is to love, not to be loved; to give, not to get; to serve, not to be served.
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Living Backward
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Posted:Dec 16, 2013 3:03 am
Last Updated:May 4, 2024 10:5 pm 19268 Views
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Read: Matthew 16:21-28
Whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.
—Matthew 16:25
Bible in a Year:
Amos 4-6; Revelation 7
The Chicago River is unusual because it flows backward. Engineers reversed its direction over a century ago because city-dwellers were using it as a dump. Dishwater, sewage, and industrial waste all funneled into the river, which emptied into Lake Michigan. Since the lake supplied drinking water for the city, thousands grew sick and died before city authorities decided to redirect the river to flow backward, away from the lake.
When we look at the earthly life of Jesus, it may seem backward from what we would expect. As the King of glory, He came to earth as a vulnerable infant. As God in the flesh, He endured accusations of blasphemy. As the only sinless man, He was crucified as a criminal. But Jesus lived on earth according to God’s will (John 6:38.
As followers of Christ, to clothe ourselves with Jesus’ attitudes and actions may appear “backward.” Blessing our enemies (Rom. 12:14), valuing godliness over wealth (1 Tim. 6:6-9), and taking joy in hardship (James 1:2) seem to oppose worldly wisdom. Yet, Jesus said, “Whoever loses his life for My sake will find it” (Matt. 16:25).
Don’t worry if living your life sometimes means operating in reverse. God will give you the strength to honor Him, and He will propel you forward.
Dear God, please give me the strength to go
against the flow of this world. Help me to resist
what is wrong in Your eyes and to act in ways
that please You, for the glory of Your name.
Clothing ourselves with Jesus’ attitudes and actions shows His presence in our lives.
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Lasting Rewards
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Posted:Dec 13, 2013 3:23 am
Last Updated:Dec 16, 2013 3:03 am 19288 Views
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Read: 1 Corinthians 9:24-27
Bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things. —1 Timothy 4:8
Bible in a Year:
Hosea 12-14; Revelation 4
Ukrainian gymnast Larisa Latynina held the record of 18 Olympic medals. She won them in the 1956, 1960, and 1964 Olympics. The 48-year-old record was surpassed when Michael Phelps swam for his 19th gold in the 4 x 200-meter freestyle relay in the 2012 London Games. “[Latynina] kind of got lost in history,” the publisher of the International Gymnast magazine said. When the Soviet Union broke up, “we had forgotten about her.”
Paul, the apostle, reminds us that sometimes hard work is forgotten. Athletes subject their bodies to great discipline as they train to win perishable medals for their effort (1 Cor. 9:25). But it is not just that the medals are perishable. Over time, people’s memory of those achievements dim and fade. If athletes can sacrifice so much to achieve rewards on the earth, rewards that will eventually be forgotten, how much more effort should followers of Christ exert to gain an imperishable crown? 1 Tim. 4.8.
Athletes’ sacrifice and determination are rewarded with medals, trophies, and money. But even greater, our Father in heaven rewards the discipline of His (Luke 19:17).
God will never forget our service done out of love for Him who first loved us.
I thank You, Lord, for the opportunities to use
the gifts You have given me for Your service today.
Help me to do so in obedience, expecting nothing
more than Your “well done” as reward.
Sacrifice for the kingdom is never without reward.
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Costume Or Uniform?
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Posted:Dec 12, 2013 3:52 am
Last Updated:Dec 13, 2013 3:23 am 19200 Views
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Read: Romans 13:11-14
Put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts. —Romans 13:14
Bible in a Year:
Hosea 9-11; Revelation 3
Eunice McGarrahan gave an inspiring talk on Christian discipleship in which she said, “A costume is something you put on and pretend that you are what you are wearing. A uniform, on the other hand, reminds you that you are, in fact, what you wear.”
Her comment sparked memories of my first day in US Army basic training when we were each given a box and ordered to put all our civilian clothes in it. The box was mailed to our home address. Every day after that, the uniform we put on reminded us that we had entered a period of disciplined training designed to change our attitudes and actions.
“Cast off the works of darkness,” the apostle Paul told the followers of Jesus living in Rome, “and . . . put on the armor of light” (Rom. 13:12). He followed this with the command to “put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts” (v.14). The goal of this “casting off” and “putting on” was a new identity and transformed living (v.13).
When we choose to follow Christ as our Lord, He begins the process of making us more like Him each day. It is not a matter of pretending to be what we aren’t but of becoming more and more what we are in Christ.
O to be like Thee, O to be like Thee,
Blessed Redeemer, pure as Thou art!
Come in Thy sweetness, come in Thy fullness;
Stamp Thine own image deep on my heart.
Salvation is free, but discipleship will cost you your life.
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Hope For Skeptics
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Posted:Dec 11, 2013 4:23 am
Last Updated:Dec 12, 2013 3:52 am 19560 Views
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Read: Isaiah 55:6-13
So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please.
—Isaiah 55:11
Bible in a Year:
Hosea 5-8; Revelation 2
As a workplace chaplain, I’m privileged to be in conversation with many different people. Some are skeptics of the Christian faith. I’ve discovered three major hurdles that keep them from trusting in Christ for salvation.
The first barrier, surprisingly, isn’t an unwillingness to believe that God exists; instead some doubt that they’re important enough for God’s attention. Second, some believe they are unworthy of His forgiveness. People are often their own harshest judges. The third hurdle? They wonder why God is not communicating with them if He is out there.
Let’s work backward through the hurdles to see what God’s Word says. First, God doesn’t play head games. He promises that if we read His Word, He will make sure it accomplishes His purpose (Isa. 55:11). In other words, if we read it we will discover that God is communicating with us. This is precisely why the Bible speaks so often of His grace and mercy toward all (v.7). His willingness to forgive surpasses our own. Once we learn that we can hear God in the Bible and once we see the emphasis on His mercy, it becomes easier to believe we have His attention when we cry out to Him.
God’s story is amazing. It can give hope for all of us.
There can be times when one’s mind is in doubt,
Times when one asks what the faith is about;
But we can believe Him, we know that He cares—
Our God is real, as the Bible declares.
Honest skepticism can be the first step to a strong faith.
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A Giving Competition
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Posted:Dec 10, 2013 3:42 am
Last Updated:Dec 11, 2013 4:23 am 19785 Views
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Read: 2 Corinthians 9:6-15
Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!
—2 Corinthians 9:15
Bible in a Year:
Hosea 1-4; Revelation 1
A television commercial I enjoy at Christmastime shows two neighbors in a friendly competition with each other to see who can spread the most Christmas cheer. Each keeps an eye on the other as he decorates his house and trees with lights. Then each upgrades his own property to look better than the other’s. They then start competing over who can give the most extravagantly to other neighbors, running around cheerfully sharing gifts.
God’s people aren’t in a competition to see who can give the most, but we are called to be “ready to give, willing to share” (1 Tim. 6.18. The apostle Paul instructed the church at Corinth: “Let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver”
(2 Cor. 9.7.
At Christmastime, as we share gifts with others, we remember the generosity of God toward us—He gave us His . Ray Stedman said, “Jesus set aside His riches and entered into His creation in a state of poverty in order to enrich us all by His grace.”
No gift-giving could ever compete with the Lord’s extravagance. We thank God for the indescribable gift of Jesus! (v.15).
No gift is greater than the gift of Christ Himself.
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