The Ancient of Days

Mark 2: 1 – 12 (NIV): A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. So many gathered that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. Some men came, bringing to him a paralytic, carried by four of them. Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus and, after digging through it, lowered the mat the paralyzed man was lying on. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven." Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, "Why does this fellow talk like that? He's blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?" Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, "Why are you thinking these things? Which is easier: to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up, take your mat and walk'? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins . . ." He said to the paralytic, "I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home." He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, "We have never seen anything like this!"

If you believe that a man named Jesus walked the earth – he preached and healed and died, but he wasn't God in the flesh, then you believe that man, Jesus, was a liar. Because Jesus clearly claimed to be God incarnate. Jesus called himself “I Am” in John 8:58, and here, refers to himself as the Son of Man. This was Jesus' favorite way to refer to himself, calling himself this 83 times in the Gospels. The Son of Man was equal in power and sovereignty to the Ancient of Days in Daniel 7:13. The Son of Man was worshiped by all people in Daniel, and here the Son of Man forgives sins. Only God can forgive sins.
John 1:1 and Colossians 1:15 say Jesus was the voice and face of the unseen God. Jesus accepted worship from the disciples in Matthew 14:33. Stephen prayed to him in Acts 7:59. Paul says in Colossians 1:16 that nothing was created that Jesus didn't create. This not only means Jesus is the creator of the universe, but also that he was not created. Only God is not created.
I know this is pretty deep for a three-minute study, but we must get this one right. We must understand who Jesus is. He was not just a prophet, or just a teacher, or just a man, or a martyr. He conquered death and every other enemy of mankind, and who but God could do that? He not only healed, but gave eternal life to all who believe. He was the sinless, human form of the Ancient of Days.

Pressing On in 2011

Philippians 3: 10 – 16 (NIV): I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. Only let us live up to what we have already attained.

Paul realized that the Christian walk is more of a marathon than a sprint. He knew he had grown toward maturity some days, and some days, not so much. We can all identify with this. We've all grown in our Christian journey, but we've also made mistakes and gone backward at times.

Paul encourages us to forget our mistakes and shortcomings and press forward. Somehow the miracle of resurrection awaits us. Somehow we will reach perfection – but not in this life. In this life we are on a journey toward maturity and perfection, but we mustn't be discouraged that we haven't arrived yet. We have a brand new year before us and it is our opportunity to strain forward and become more and more like Christ in 2011.

So this new year, let us forget and remember. Forget our mistakes from the past. Forget the old hurts that hold us back. But remember God's faithfulness in the past. Has God been good to you? Do you have life in your body and air in your lungs? Do you have the blessings of friends and family? Are you fed and sheltered and clothed? Have you seen God work in your life? May we never forget. And may we never forget his promises for our future. Chiefly, eternal life with him. It is a prize for which we are reaching.

Press on this year. Strain forward toward perfection and don't give up. We will fail at times and we will make mistakes and commit sins. But God measures our success by our faithfulness. If we trust in him and obey him, then we are pleasing him. When we fall, we pick ourselves up, dust off our britches, and keep going. Paul was in prison when he wrote this, yet his goal was the same as anyone's: to press on to maturity.

Paul ends this passage encouraging us to live up to the maturity we have attained and not to slide backward. Did God teach you anything new this year? Are you more mature today than you were a year ago? Live up to that, move forward, and don't backslide. Let that be our goal for this new year. Press on.

Presenting Jesus in the Temple

Luke 2: 21 – 32 (NIV): On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise him, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he had been conceived. When the time of their purification according to the Law of Moses had been completed, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, "Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord" ), and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: "a pair of doves or two young pigeons." Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord's Christ. Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: "Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel."

It was required of Jewish families to circumcise their sons on their eighth day, and to take their children to the temple for special sacrifices at the appointed times. The sacrifice in this passage was called the “redemption of the firstborn” and it had to be paid in blood. Why? To recognize that they were only borrowing the child for a time, but he actually belonged to God.

Realizing that our children belong to God changes everything. We think we love our children, but God loves them more. We think we know what's best for them, but God does know what's best for them. We think they belong to us, but truly, we are only borrowing them for a time. God is the giver of life, and every life belongs to him.

So, we should give our children right back to God like Mary and Joseph did. This means we rear them in the “training and instruction” of the Lord. God has commanded us to teach our children what he requires. “Impress them on your children,” Deuteronomy 6:7 says. “Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.” Children learn by watching – may our actions always show that God is our first priority.

Simeon realized that all of history rested on this child, and that the blood coursing through his veins would one day save all who believed. He knew, too, that God's promise was for all people.

The Joy of Advent

Luke 2: 1 – 18 (NIV): In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to his own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests." When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about." So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.

The people in this story are celebrities today, but not at the time. They were witness to the most joyful event in history, but it wasn't easy. Mary had the privilege of holding the infant Jesus in her arms. Think of the joy he brought. But she had to suffer through the pains of childbirth to receive that joy. Often the suffering we experience today is preparing us for a future blessing. And she would not have been chosen as the mother of the Christ if she had not been righteous. May we never forget that God seeks clean vessels to use for his most blessed purposes.

Joseph also received the joyful gift, but only after showing tremendous faith. He believed the angel's report about Mary and her miraculous pregnancy. It is impossible to receive God's full blessings if we do not trust and obey him. Joseph is a great example of that.

The shepherds received the joy of seeing Jesus, but only after being terribly afraid. Often we are frightened when God intervenes in our lives, but God always brings good news and great joy. The shepherds were the first to hear the good news, yet they were in such a low class of society, they were not allowed in church. God's good news is for all people.

This passage ends with the people of Bethlehem hearing the good news and being amazed. Yes, they received the joy too, but only because the shepherds told them what happened. The only way our community is going to hear the good news is if we share it.

The Suffering Messiah

Isaiah 53: 1 – 6 (NIV): Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Reading this today, it is easy to forget that it was written more than 700 years before Christ was born. Isaiah even writes it as if it had already happened. It is an amazing prophecy. The idea of a suffering Messiah had always run counter to people's expectations of the Christ. They expected him to rule with power and authority, conquering enemies and setting the captive free, but Isaiah states that, instead, he would be rejected by men, a man of sorrows and familiar with suffering. This can't be!

Didn't Isaiah himself state in chapter 9 that the Messiah would rule on David's throne forever? But that's just it, a mortal man cannot rule forever. Only a god can do that. Yes, the Messiah will rule forever and will conquer his enemies, but first he conquered mankind's biggest enemy: separation from God. The only way he could do this was to suffer and die. Sin cannot go unpunished. Not if God is Holy. Someone has to pay for our sins. That's what the Messiah did for all who believe. That's what Isaiah said he would do in this passage.

I'll never forget the day it dawned on me that if I am to be like Christ, I will be familiar with suffering. The Bible teaches that “all things work together for the good” for those who are in Christ, but the next verse tells us how. They make us more like Christ, which is God's goal for us. We want to skip that part and go straight to the “reigning forever with Christ” part, but just as Christ had a job to do first, so do we. We have the job of becoming like Christ – and that will involve some suffering.

We can take such joy in knowing that the Promised Land is awaiting us; we have been set free and are on our way. But we have a desert to cross to get there.

Wise Men Still Seek Him

Matthew 2: 1 – 12 (NIV): After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him." When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. When he had called together all the people's chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born. "In Bethlehem in Judea," they replied, "for this is what the prophet has written: " 'But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.' " Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him." After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.

So many people are looking to see what they can get from God, the Magi sought out Jesus for the express purpose of giving gifts to him and worshiping him. They came hundreds of miles to bow before him and present their gifts to him. They were overjoyed when they found him.

The Magi may have been Jews who stayed in Babylon after the 538 exile return. They saw his “star” and knew the Messiah had been born. They would have continued the Jewish tradition of staying out in tents during The Feast of Tabernacles (or Feast of Booths – tents). The tents had a hole in the top so they could watch for the star of the Messiah. They saw the star and began their journey.

The Magi apparently came to Bethlehem two years after Jesus' birth. Verse sixteen implies this. Notice they went to the house where Jesus was. Joseph and Mary apparently stayed in Bethlehem for two years after Jesus was born, then made the journey to Egypt. Joseph undoubtedly used the gifts to finance the trip to Egypt.

Consider the gifts they brought: Gold is a gift fit for a king. Incense is a gift for a God. Myrrh is a gift for a person who is going to die – a savior. Gold has always been associated with royalty. Incense is a gift for God because it is a pleasant smelling smoke that rises toward heaven. Myrrh is an expensive perfume that people in Jesus' day used to anoint the body of a dead person.
Did the Magi know that this child would grow up to be a suffering savior? Did they realize that this child was God in the flesh or the King of Kings? We can only wonder. But we can know that wise men still seek him. And wise men come to worship.

Advent: To Us a Child is Born

Isaiah 9: 1- 7 (NIV): Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the Gentiles, by the way of the sea, along the Jordan-- The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned. You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy; they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest, as men rejoice when dividing the plunder. For as in the day of Midian's defeat, you have shattered the yoke that burdens them, the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor. Every warrior's boot used in battle and every garment rolled in blood will be destined for burning, will be fuel for the fire. For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.

Every time I read this amazing passage, I'm reminded of why we can trust that the Bible is true. This incredible prophecy was fulfilled more than 700 years after it was written. In fact, Jesus fulfilled more than 350 direct prophecies from the Old Testament.

Isaiah wrote this during a scary time in Israel's history. Galilee had already fallen to the Assyrians. King Hezekiah had made an alliance with Egypt, and the fall of Jerusalem was eminent. So Galilee was “in darkness”. But a time would come when a light would dawn there. Light bringing hope and peace and salvation. Galilee has been a humble place in all of History, except for one thing: a Messiah grew up and ministered there.

Isaiah prophesied that a child would be born who would bring peace to people who have been burdened by a yoke of oppression and slavery. The victory he would bring would cause people to rejoice as they do after a major victory or successful harvest. They would rejoice as they did when Gideon's army defeated the Midianites. He would offer freedom, and he would rule an eternal Kingdom where peace and justice never ends.

This child would be from David's royal line. He would be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Did I read that right? The Messiah would be God Himself, born a human child. Only a Messiah who is God in the flesh could fulfill this Advent prophecy. In Isaiah 7:14, Isaiah writes that a virgin will have a son and will call him Immanuel. Immanuel means “God with us”.

A Lifestyle of Thanksgiving

Luke 17: 11 – 19 (NIV): Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance and called out in a loud voice, "Jesus, Master, have pity on us!" When he saw them, he said, "Go, show yourselves to the priests." And as they went, they were cleansed. One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus' feet and thanked him--and he was a Samaritan. Jesus asked, "Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?" Then he said to him, "Rise and go; your faith has made you well."

Leprosy was a dreaded, terrible disease in New Testament times. We call it Hansen's Disease today and it is treatable, but there was no treatment back then. People feared that it was contagious, so victims were forbidden from ever making human contact again – except with other people with the disease.There was one cure, however. A person could be healed by God himself. The Bible made provision for this. In Leviticus 14, God instructed that if a person was cured, a priest must declare that he had been healed. I suspect this was a rare event, but the Bible tells of several instances when it did. This is why Jesus told the ten lepers to go present themselves to a priest, so they could be declared healed. They could have never moved back in with their families unless a priest said they were clean. Notice that in the act of obeying Jesus, they were healed. They were still lepers when they started toward town, then as they went, they were healed. How wonderful that must have felt. Jesus said it was their faith that healed them. Our faith is the delivery truck that God uses to deliver his goodness to us. We can't be healed without it and we cannot be saved without it. Now, the story takes an interesting twist. Nine of the lepers just kept going, but one, who happened to be a Samaritan, ran back and fell at Jesus' feet. He was the one who showed true thanksgiving. He made the effort to turn back. He humbled himself by falling at Jesus' feet, and he worshiped Jesus for what he had done for him.Jesus has given us so much more than a temporary healing. He has given us eternal salvation. Let us follow this leper's example and make the effort to thank him. How do we do this? By living a lifestyle of thanksgiving every day. We show our thanks by humbling ourselves before him and by worshiping him for his goodness to us. Yes, let us take time to say “thanks” this Thanksgiving, but may that just be the beginning. May we continue to give thanks by our lifestyles every day of our lives.

Undignified

2 Samuel 6: 12 – 23 (NIV): Now King David was told, "The Lord has blessed the household of Obed-Edom and everything he has, because of the ark of God." So David went down and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-Edom to the City of David with rejoicing. When those who were carrying the ark of the Lord had taken six steps, he sacrificed a bull and a fattened calf. David, wearing a linen ephod, danced before the Lord with all his might, while he and the entire house of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord with shouts and the sound of trumpets. As the ark of the Lord was entering the City of David, Michal daughter of Saul watched from a window. And when she saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord, she despised him in her heart. They brought the ark of the Lord and set it in its place inside the tent that David had pitched for it, and David sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings before the Lord. After he had finished sacrificing the burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord Almighty. Then he gave a loaf of bread, a cake of dates and a cake of raisins to each person in the whole crowd of Israelites, both men and women. And all the people went to their homes. When David returned home to bless his household, Michal daughter of Saul came out to meet him and said, "How the king of Israel has distinguished himself today, disrobing in the sight of the slave girls of his servants as any vulgar fellow would!" David said to Michal, "It was before the Lord, who chose me rather than your father or anyone from his house when he appointed me ruler over the Lord's people Israel--I will celebrate before the Lord. I will become even more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes. But by these slave girls you spoke of, I will be held in honor." And Michal daughter of Saul had no children to the day of her death.

David is rejoicing because he is bringing the Ark of the Covenant back to Jerusalem. The Philistines had taken it, and had given it back because of what happened to them; then it stayed at Obed-Edom's house, and now it was coming home to where it belonged.
What is so famously wonderful about this story is how David danced with all his might as he rejoiced before God. He threw his dignity aside and gave his all to God. “I will become even more undignified than this,” he said, “and I will be humiliated in my own eyes.”
Sometimes I fear we have become so dignified that we fail to worship God at all. We want reverence and respect, and well we should, but let's not become so dignified that we fail to worship. Yes, David cost a man his life earlier in this story because he failed to treat the Ark with proper respect, but many of us sit like wooden Indians in church, then scream like Comanches at a ball game. Isn't it interesting that dignity goes out the door in a crises, or when our favorite team is on the field. But when is the last time you let the world see your love for God?
Perhaps we are so dignified because we are full of pride. David was the King of Israel; he had to conduct himself with dignity, but when it came to worshiping God, he humbled himself.
And yes, this story comes with a warning that it may cost us at home. This incident seems to have essentially ruined his relationship with his wife, Michal, but he didn't let anything dampen his devotion to God. Find ways to worship God with all your heart, and let the whole world see you do it.

The King of Glory

Psalm 24 (NIV): The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; for he founded it upon the seas and established it upon the waters. Who may ascend the hill of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear by what is false. He will receive blessing from the Lord and vindication from God his Savior. Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek your face, O God of Jacob. "Selah" Lift up your heads, O you gates; be lifted up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O you gates; lift them up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is he, this King of glory? The Lord Almighty-- he is the King of glory.

It should change our attitudes to realize that the earth and everything in it belongs to God. He owns the cattle on a thousand hills – and he owns the hills too. And he owns us. We belong to him and live on his planet at his mercy. We breathe his air, drink his water, and are able to stand on the ground because of his gravity. How differently should we live our lives today when we realize that we are God's guests here?
Make no bones about it, the Bible teaches that God created the universe. Genesis 1:1, the very first verse, tells us this, and David repeats it here. Some people believe we are incredible accidents of evolution, the Bible teaches that we are designed by an intelligent, loving creator. Can we believe that Jesus rose again for our sins if we don't believe God created us? Either the Bible is true or it is not.
David was a worshiper. He wasn't perfect, but he loved God and expressed that in the psalms he wrote. He knew, though, that only the righteous had the privilege of entering into God's presence. “Who may ascend” may be a reference to going to heaven, or David may have meant worshiping God in his temple. Either way, he understood that only those “with clean hands” could enter into God's holy presence. “Clean hands” means the righteous. Righteous people don't worship idols. Righteous people don't swear by what is false. Jesus said those who are pure in heart will see God (Matthew 5:8).
So, how do we become righteous? How do we have clean hands and a pure heart? Paul says it this way: We die to ourselves and allow Jesus to live through us (Galatians 2:20). We cannot be righteous by our own efforts. We trade our lives for Christ's and his righteousness covers us.
David ends this psalm with a charge for the gates of the city to open wide so the King of Glory may come in. This is a picture of Christ entering his kingdom. When Jesus was here before, he entered Jerusalem on a donkey, humble, and about to become a sacrifice for us. When he returns, he will enter as a victorious King, destroying his enemies and all falsehood and injustice.

I Can Do All Things

Philippians 4: 10 - 20 (NIV): I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength. Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles. Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only; for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid again and again when I was in need. Not that I am looking for a gift, but I am looking for what may be credited to your account. I have received full payment and even more; I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

In this passage, Paul is thanking the Christians in Philippi for sending him supplies while he was in prison in Rome. A man named Epaphroditus had brought them to him. Philippians is known as the letter of joy because Paul refers to being joyful sixteen times in these four short chapters. It's so interesting that Paul is so joyful and content while he's writing this, since he was in prison at the time.
But Paul had found the secret to being content in every circumstance, good or bad. He knew he had fabulous treasure because he had Christ. He said in chapter three that he considered every material possession he had "rubbish" (garbage) compared to knowing Jesus as his Savior. Remember, Paul had come from a wealthy family. We know this because of his education. So he meant it when he said he had had plenty - and he had had it all taken from him. Materialism leaves us empty; Christ fills us with joy. This is difficult for us Americans to grasp, but it is the secret to contentment.
When we lean upon our own strength or our own possessions, we are in for a bumpy ride, but when we lean upon Christ for our strength, we can find contentment, and we can accomplish things we never dreamed possible.
When we minister to others we have the privilege of being Jesus' hands, feet and voice. I've often said that if God wants to give me a hug, he uses your arms to do it. If God wants to encourage me, it just might come from your voice. God has left his ministry in our hands. We are "Jesus in the skin" when we minister to others.
Not only that, but when we give to others, we are giving to God himself. How do I give back to God? By giving to others. And God wants to bless us. We are his children and he loves us. He will take care of us as we take care of others. It's a wonderful circle of love, full of joy, and with no room for selfishness or materialism. Join the circle, be a blessing, and see if God will not bless you too.

Rejoice and Be Thankful

Philippians 4: 4 - 8 (NIV): Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.

To rejoice means to be full of joy and let everyone know it. When we realize how much God loves us, and the wonderful future he has planned for us, we can become full of joy. And when we are full of joy, it shines out of us so that all around can see it. Perhaps the best advertisement we have for our faith is people seeing the joy in our lives. A joy that stays even when circumstances are not so pleasant. That's because we realize that the trials we face today are only temporary. Our loving friendship with God will last for all eternity.
The next part of this passage is one of my favorite verses. In The Living Bible it says, "Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything; tell God your needs and don't forget to thank him for his answers. If you do this you will experience God's peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will keep your thoughts and your hearts quiet and at rest as you trust in Christ Jesus."
We'll all choose today to either worry or pray. When we pray, that will ease the worry. Paul knew when he wrote this from prison how easy it is for us to sit and worry about what's going to happen. After all, he was awaiting a trial to see if he would be executed for his faith. But the more we realize that God is in control and knows what he's doing, the less we will worry. If we don't really believe God knows what's best for us, or that he is powerful enough to make it happen, then our minds will be filled with worry.
When we pray, let's remember to be thankful. It's good to ask God for blessings, but let's remember to thank him for the ones he's already given. In fact, let's really show our faith and thank God for the blessings he's going to give.
Finally, if we want to live worry-free lives, we must fill our thoughts with good things. We have to do our part. Do you think about things that are true, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent or praiseworthy? How much time do you spend thinking about God? How much time do you spend meditating on his Word? If we fill our minds with evil day after day, we shouldn't expect God to bust through that and give us peace.

Pray and Don't Give Up

Luke 18: 1 - 8 (NIV): Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. He said: "In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared about men. And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, 'Grant me justice against my adversary.' "For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, 'Even though I don't fear God or care about men, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won't eventually wear me out with her coming!' "And the Lord said, "Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off ? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?"

This is a rare parable in the Bible because Luke tells us what it's about before Jesus tells it. Perhaps this is because God really wants to make sure we understand this one. God would rather you pray than anything else. You were created to have a relationship with him and prayer is how you do it.
Too many times we pray once or twice, then give up if we don't feel we have our answer. Jesus told this story to show us that we must never give up. Keep praying until you are satisfied with the answer. If that is after the day you die, then so be it. Why is it so important that we keep praying about something? Because the only reason we would keep asking God is if we believed he was going to answer. This is what having faith is all about. We give up so quickly because we don't believe he really will.
I firmly believe that God allows situations in our lives for the sole purpose of keeping us in prayer. He wants us to depend on him instead of ourselves and we might as well get used to it. But don't worry, it's a good thing to trust in God. Remember, he loves us beyond what we can fathom, he knows what's truly best for us, and he spoke all of creation into existence.
If you are praying about something and feel you need a boost of power or faith, try adding fasting to your prayer. Fasting humbles us before God and shows him that we are serious. The hunger pains remind us to pray and allow us to sacrifice, identifying with Christ.
So keep praying and never give up. Show God that you believe in what he says. This pleases him. And like the widow in our story, keep asking until you get your answer.

The Temptations of Christ

Matthew 4: 1 - 11 (NIV): Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread." Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.' " Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. "If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down. For it is written: " 'He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.' " Jesus answered him, "It is also written: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.' "Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. "All this I will give you," he said, "if you will bow down and worship me." Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.' " Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.

This is a deep and important passage of Scripture. Whole books have been written on these few verses. But here is one overview: The temptations that Jesus faced are similar in nature to the temptations we face today. The first is to be our own god. Instead of trusting in God's provision, Satan tempted Jesus to take matters into his own hands. That is a major temptation we still face to this day. We only need to look at what happened to Abraham to see the danger in not waiting on God to fulfill his promises.
The second temptation was to test God. How often do we ask God to protect us, then behave foolishly, forcing God to intervene. Jesus showed from scripture that this is wrong. It's not fair, for instance, to ask God for a safe trip, then speed and run lights. We need to do our part. Jesus refused to jump off the temple roof to prove who he was. Satan took a good scripture from Psalm and tried to distort it. Jesus wouldn't allow it.
The third temptation was to worship another god. The first Commandment tells us plainly not to do this under any circumstance. If we get our fulfillment from the world instead of from God, we are giving in to this temptation. If we worship or create any idol, including materialism, we are giving in to this temptation. For Jesus, the temptation was to become the political leader his peers wanted him to become. He knew he had a higher purpose. He knew he was to become a suffering Messiah. He couldn't let Satan pull him off course. Jesus was determined to do God's will at any cost.
So how do we defeat these temptations? The same way Jesus did. First, we notice that he answered Satan with Scripture. The Word of God is our only offensive weapon against the devil. We must know the Scripture. Second, know how much God loves us. When we understand this, we can wait for his provision. We can walk by faith when we know how much God truly loves us. And third, understand that our purpose is to walk with God. Jesus could overcome these temptations because he understood his purpose and would not let anything detract him from it.

Joseph: A Man of Dreams

Genesis 45: 1 - 11 (NIV): Then Joseph could no longer control himself before all his attendants, and he cried out, "Have everyone leave my presence!" So there was no one with Joseph when he made himself known to his brothers. And he wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard him, and Pharaoh's household heard about it. Joseph said to his brothers, "I am Joseph! Is my father still living?" But his brothers were not able to answer him, because they were terrified at his presence. Then Joseph said to his brothers, "Come close to me." When they had done so, he said, "I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will not be plowing and reaping. But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance. "So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God. He made me father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household and ruler of all Egypt. Now hurry back to my father and say to him, 'This is what your son Joseph says: God has made me lord of all Egypt. Come down to me; don't delay. You shall live in the region of Goshen and be near me--you, your children and grandchildren, your flocks and herds, and all you have. I will provide for you there, because five years of famine are still to come. Otherwise you and your household and all who belong to you will become destitute.'

This passage is the climax of Joseph's story. It is told in the second half of the book Genesis. Most people are familiar with the basic plot: Joseph was his father's favorite and he didn't mind reminding his older brothers of that. So they sold him as a slave to an Egyptian caravan. He ends up a house slave to a man named Potiphar. You'll recall that Potiphar's wife lied about Joseph and he was thrown into prison. Through extraordinary circumstances, he was later released and became second only to Pharaoh in all of Egypt. This is when his brothers came to request food, not knowing of Joseph's rise to power.
This story is a great example of God using terrible circumstances for his ultimate purposes. Joseph was in a seemingly hopeless situation, but what happens to him is truly remarkable. He not only leaves slavery and prison to become a ruler over Egypt, he also saves his family -- and his people -- in the process.
One reason this story is so encouraging is that Joseph was treated horribly by his brothers, deceitfully by Potiphar's wife, unfairly by Potiphar, and God allowed it because he could see the big picture. He had a plan that there was no way Joseph could see. Joseph was forgotten by the cupbearer for two years while he was in prison, but God didn't forget about him. Paul says that God works all things for the good of those who love God and are in his will (Romans 8:28). Joseph's life is a stellar example of that.
It's good to put some perspective on Joseph's life. He suffered for about 15 years, but he ruled in Egypt for 80 years. When we find ourselves in absolutely hopeless circumstances, we don't have to despair, we can look at stories like this one and see that God is up to something good, even if it doesn't feel like at the time.

Don't Look Down on Others

Galatians 2: 11 - 16 (NIV): When Peter came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he was clearly in the wrong. Before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision group. The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray. When I saw that they were not acting in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter in front of them all, "You are a Jew, yet you live like a Gentile and not like a Jew. How is it, then, that you force Gentiles to follow Jewish customs? "We who are Jews by birth and not 'Gentile sinners' know that a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law, because by observing the law no one will be justified.

What an amazing passage! Imagine if you were the "new kid" in a brand-new religion, and you confronted the religion's leader right to his face in front of the group. But that was what Paul did. Peter had stopped eating with Gentile Christians because some Jews had arrived and scolded him for it. Paul, who was also a Jew, called him out on it. There are no classes of people in Christianity. We are all equal in God's eyes - and we should be in our own. It is a temptation to look down on others for whatever reason, but true Christianity makes no allowance for that. I think it makes us feel better about ourselves to think of others as sinners or wrong.
Legalism was a problem in Paul's day and it still is today. Yes, the church should stand against sin, but legalistic churches are those that look down on outsiders as sinners who aren't as good as them. Legalistic churches emphasize do's and don'ts instead of grace. Legalistic churches emphasize rules and regulations instead of having a relationship with God. Jesus died so you could be a child of God, not so you could toe the line laid down by some chicken-breath preacher.
In Antioch, Peter was looking down on Gentiles because someone said they weren't as good as him. Paul put a stop to it. Jesus ate with sinners and didn't look down on anyone. If anyone had the right to look down on others, it was Jesus, but he didn't. Yet, legalistic people tend to see themselves as more righteous than others.
Paul points out that following the Law cannot save us and never could. Only faith in Christ can do that. It was true in the Old Testament and it is true today. Before Christ, people were saved by faith that the Messiah would come. We are saved by faith that he did come.
If someone demands that you follow his rules to be righteous, tell him that you are already right with God because Jesus made you that way.

The Newness of Christ

Matthew 9:14 - 17 (NIV): Then John's disciples came and asked him, "How is it that we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?" Jesus answered, "How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while he is with them? The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast. "No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch will pull away from the garment, making the tear worse. Neither do men pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst, the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved."

These are John the Baptist's disciples questioning Jesus about fasting. Fasting means not eating to remind us to pray about something. We fast to show God we are serious and that we desperately need an answer. Jesus associated fasting with mourning in this passage. The time, then, for fasting and praying is now, while we await Jesus' return.
Jesus uses the illustrations of pouring new wine into an old wineskin, and sewing a new patch on an old garment to tell us that Christianity is not just a sect of Judaism, it is a whole new faith, open to all who believe. Jesus was saying that it was time for Judaism to morph into something completely new. He proved this by fulfilling some 350 Jewish prophecies. Remember, he said he didn't come to destroy the law, but to fulfill it.
These illustrations also tell us that Christianity is not just a band-aid when we need heart surgery. God is not interested in patching up your life - he wants to give you a whole new one!
C. S. Lewis tells a wonderful story of a man who calls a carpenter because the eaves of his house need fixing. The carpenter comes and takes a look, then takes a wrecking ball and smashes the house to the ground and builds a completely new one in its place. That's what Jesus does. He doesn't come along and try to fix up your life, he crucifies your old self and makes you a new person. Anything short of that doesn't work.
You can't pour un-fermented wine into a skin that has already been stretched out. It will burst it as the gases expand during fermentation. And an unshrunk cloth will shrink when you wash it, and tear away from an already-shrunk garment, and ruin it. So, trying everything else and throwing a little praying into the mix will leave you unsatisfied. Being partly committed to God will leave you unfulfilled. Give yourself completely to God and see if you don't discover a joy you never knew before. Pray believing and don't look back.
Paul says we are new creatures when we are in Christ. Jesus says we are born again. You might think of us as butterflies instead of caterpillars.

The Incredible Walk of Faith

Jesus had just received bad news. Someone told him that his cousin, John the Baptist, had been murdered by Herod. Jesus wanted to be alone to pray. But the crowds found him so he sacrificed his agenda to minister to them. He even miraculously fed them. Then, he sent his disciples on ahead and finally spent some time by himself. That's where our study begins, in Matthew 14: 22 - 33 (NIV):

Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it. During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. "It's a ghost," they said, and cried out in fear. But Jesus immediately said to them: "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid."
"Lord, if it's you," Peter replied, "tell me to come to you on the water." "Come," he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!" Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?" And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God."

Often, we are frightened when Jesus comes walking into our storms. But we needn't be. When Jesus arrives, that's the best thing ever, but often we are afraid because of our lack of understanding. True, you don't expect to see a man walking across a lake in the middle of the night, but the more we get to know Jesus, the more we realize that anything is possible with him.
Peter's reaction shows us his personality. He wanted in on the action. He wanted to walk on the water, too, and he became only the second person in history to do so. Remember, there was a storm blowing winds and waves, but Peter realized that it was better to be out in the danger with Jesus than in a safe spot without him. In Peter's incredible walk of faith, he did fine at first, then he began to think about where he was and what he was doing. That caused him to doubt and he began to sink. You think, you sink! In life's storms, don't look around at your circumstances, keep your eyes focused on Jesus. Peter realized he was going under and cried out the shortest prayer in the Bible.
At least Peter gave it a try. You must commend him for that. The other disciples weren't interested in leaving the boat. They weren't interested in leaving their comfort zone. How often do we miss out on seeing God work in our lives because it's outside our comfort zones? Sometimes you have to step out of the safety of the boat to take a real walk of faith. And if you do and get in over your head, just cry out to Jesus like Peter did. He'll save you.
There's one more point to this story that I don't want us to miss: Jesus accepted worship from the disciples at the end of this story. He didn't rebuke or correct them. Only God should be worshiped and Jesus was showing that he is God when he allowed them to worship him. Now, get out of your comfort zone and show the world that life is full of miracles for those who have faith in God.

Humble and Victorious

I love reading the letters of Peter for so many reasons, not the least of which is the fact that he touched Jesus, ate with him, and slept beside him (Peter was married, but the disciples went with Jesus on trips around Galilee and to Jerusalem.) Peter heard Jesus' teaching with his own ears, saw him crucified, and saw him after the resurrection. When he wrote his letters, he was an elder, meaning he was mature in years, yes, but specifically a leader in the church. Today's study is from 1 Peter 5: 1 - 11 (NIV):
To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder, a witness of Christ's sufferings and one who also will share in the glory to be revealed: Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, serving as overseers--not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away. Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings. And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.

Peter writes to the church leaders and urges them to lead by example. Our actions speak so much louder than our words. We can say all of the right things, but it's the way we behave that shows what we truly believe. Church leaders should not be power-hungry or greedy, but instead, should have a servant's heart, wanting to help others. Peter could still remember Jesus telling him to "feed his sheep", and he's urging all church leaders to do the same. Our example? None other than the Chief Shepherd himself. (And Jesus died for his sheep!)
But even if we are not an official leader in our church, Peter has great words of advice and encouragement for us. He pleads with us to be humble. This is the one trait we must possess to be used of God. He cannot use people who are full of pride. (In this case, a proud person is one who looks down his nose at other people and says, "I'm doing it my way and I don't care what God wants.")
A humble person is submissive to authority. He respects and listens to people who are more mature. A humble person doesn't think he has all the answers. He puts others first, loves people, and realizes that we're all in this together.
Now for one of my favorite verses. A great memory verse. "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." Notice this verse follows his reminding us to be humble. A proud person says he doesn't need God, but a humble person gives God all of his cares, worries and anxiety. A humble person knows he needs God and cries out to him. Go ahead, cry out to God, he loves you more than you can imagine. He is crazy about you!
And while you are at it, ask God for help defeating your enemy the devil. The devil is real - he is our enemy and he is seeking someone to devour. He will steal, kill, and destroy. (John 10:10). He is like a lion on the prowl. Please don't try to outsmart him - you aren't smart enough to outwit an angelic being. Don't ignore him or pretend he doesn't exist. He will destroy you, but he is a defeated enemy and he knows it. How do we beat him? Peter says to resist him, standing firm in the faith. Paul says to put on "your armor" (Ephesians 6). We defeat him with God's power, not ours. We beat him by resisting his lies and standing firm in our faith.
Peter ends this passage on a wonderfully encouraging note. We may have to suffer for a time, but one day, God is going to lift us up and make us strong. He is going to restore us and give us a crown of glory that will never fade away. Stand firm, be humble, and hang in there!

The Heart of the Gospel

Rome was known for it's great road system. So Christians call five verses in the book Romans that lead us to salvation the "Roman Road". Today's Bible Study, Romans 5: 1 - 9 (NIV), takes a look at the passage surrounding the middle verse of the Roman Road:
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him!
The verses on the Roman Road are 3:23, 6:23, 5:8, 10:9-10, 10: 13. Since this is the middle verse, you could call this passage the heart of the Gospel. Let's take a look at the verses in this passage.
First, Paul reminds us that it is faith that makes us right with God. Hebrews 11:6 says we must have faith to please God. Jesus said faith is the one work that God requires from us (John 6: 28, 29). James 2:17 says true faith is not just a thought, but will move us to action.
Then, in verses 3 - 5, Paul says that our sufferings produce perseverance which leads to character, which results in hope. In other words, the events of life can strengthen our faith, and that gives us more and more hope in God. Suffering is never pleasant at the time, but it can cause us to become more mature and maturity helps us realize the hope that God's love gives us.

Now the passage gets to the heart of the Gospel: that God loves us so much that he came and died for us - even while we were his enemies. He died for us while we were sinners who did not believe in him or even know him. That's an amazing truth - that's amazing grace! What this tells us is that God's love is unconditional. We did not and cannot earn his love.
It is important for us to know this because it reminds us that God loves everyone and we cannot earn more love than anyone else. Even while we were under God's wrath, he still loved us enough to die for us. So we should never look down our noses at another person. God loves that person as much as he loves you! It also shows us how to love each other like God does: unconditionally.
This brings up an interesting question: If we can't make God love us more than he already does, why try? The answer is, we want to obey God and we want him to be proud of us. Jesus said we will obey him if we love him (John 14:15). We know God loves us, but do we love him back?
Any good parent loves his children whether they are good or bad, but I want to be a child that makes God proud. How about you - are you God's child? Then make him proud!

Hope in Times of Trouble

One of my favorite scriptures for encouragement is Lamentations 3. Jeremiah wrote this about 600 years before Christ. Jerusalem had been overtaken by Babylon and the people had either been killed or taken as slaves. Jeremiah had been trying to warn the people, but they wouldn't listen. So, he wrote a funeral dirge to express his feelings. Here is part of what he wrote beginning in verse 16 (NIV):
He has broken my teeth with gravel; he has trampled me in the dust. I have been deprived of peace; I have forgotten what prosperity is. So I say, "My splendor is gone and all that I had hoped from the Lord." I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall. I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me. Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, "The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him." The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.
Have you ever felt like God had broken your teeth with gravel? That he had trampled you into the dust? It's the way we feel when life has taken a really bad turn. We feel sad and discouraged. We feel that God is mad at us or has forgotten us. We would probably feel this way if another country conquered us and turned us into their slaves. This is what Jeremiah was going through. We would probably blame God, just like Jeremiah did. And the more he thought about his situation, the more depressed he became. Again, we can certainly identify with that.
But then, this passage takes a wonderful turn. Jeremiah remembers that God is good and that God loves him. He writes some of the most hopeful and encouraging words ever written: "Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." These words gave him hope. Hope is one of the most wonderful gifts that our faith gives us. Things may be bad now, but there is always hope if we trust in God. We may be down, but we're not out. God's mercies are new every morning - in other words, they never fail. He loves us unconditionally all the days of our lives and he will never leave us or forsake us. He isn't mad at us and hasn't forgotten us. It just feels that way sometimes. God is faithful to those who believe even when we are unfaithful.
Jeremiah said in verse seventeen that he had forgotten what prosperity was. But now he realizes that God is his portion. This may be a reference to Aaron not receiving a portion when the land was divided among the tribes. God had instead told Aaron that HE would be his portion. Friendship with God is more than we will ever need and more valuable than any possession we will ever own.
Finally, Jeremiah remembers that God keeps his word. It is good to wait for God's salvation. It is good to put our hope and trust in him. We only hurt ourselves when we try to take matters into our own hands and try to earn our own right standing with God. The Messiah took care of that once for all; now we simply must put our trust in him. Jeremiah was waiting for the coming Messiah, we are waiting for his return. And because of God's great love, we have hope. We can know that it's going to be more than okay.

In the Beginning...

I've asked my local paper if I can write a Bible Study column. I think we all need more of God's Word in our lives, but the challenge is finding the time. I'm planning to write a column that you can read in less than three minutes. I'll never be preachy or dogmatic, but will simply try to expose what is taught in the Scripture. We all have our different beliefs on spiritual issues, and I know I have mine, but as a journalist I vow to be as fair as possible.
I think the place to start this column is John, chapter one. This is wonderful truth about Christianity. So here goes John 1: 1 - 14 in the New International Version:
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it. There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
John wrote this to make sure we understand some basic truths about who Jesus was (and is). First, John declares that Jesus is God himself. This separates Christianity from all other religions in the world. John calls Jesus the Word, which means he is the "face" of God. (Paul said the same thing in Colossians 1:15). When my son was two or three years old, he asked me what God looked like. I showed him an artist's illustration of Jesus. "That's what God looks like," I said.
As God, Jesus is the creator of the universe. He is the giver of life itself. And he gives light to people, meaning he holds and shares all truth. Most people don't see that light, even though it is available to all. Most people reject Jesus as Messiah. Even Jesus' own people for the most part have rejected him.
John then says that John the Baptist came along and preached that the Messiah was coming. We can read the story of John the Baptist in all of the Gospel narratives.
John goes on to say that if we will believe in Jesus, we can become God's children. But isn't everyone God's child? No, John says that everyone is God's creation, but only those who believe in Jesus' name become God's children. Believing in Jesus' name means we accept that Jesus is who he claimed to be, and that he will save us from the penalty of our sins if we ask him.
When John wrote this, a religious group called the Gnostics was teaching that all flesh was evil so Jesus must have been only a spirit. John says, no, Jesus had a body and he gave that body to pay for our sins. John, as one of the twelve disciples, saw Jesus with his own eyes and touched him with his own hands. He saw him glorified and he saw him after he rose from the dead.
One more interesting note about this passage: John says Jesus came and "made his dwelling" among us. In the Greek, the language in which this was written, it says Jesus came and "tabernacled" among us. This is the Christmas story in the Gospel of John. Many believe he is teaching that Jesus was born during the Feast of Tabernacles, which would be late September or early October. More on that later.
Now, have a blessed day.

Bartimaeus Receives His Sight

One of my favorite Bible Stories is from Mark 10: 46 - 52 (NIV). I love this story because it is so full of illustrations:

Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus (that is, the Son of Timaeus), was sitting by the roadside begging. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!" Jesus stopped and said, "Call him." So they called to the blind man, "Cheer up! On your feet! He's calling you." Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus. "What do you want me to do for you?" Jesus asked him. The blind man said, "Rabbi, I want to see." "Go," said Jesus, "your faith has healed you." Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.

Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem to be arrested and crucified. This was his last time to pass through Jericho. People were selling wares along the road and shouting to people passing through, on their way to Jerusalem for the Passover Celebration. So Bartimaeus had to yell to get Jesus’ attention. It was against custom to shout at a rabbi, but he didn’t let a custom keep him from getting healing from Jesus, he shouted all the more. And he knew who Jesus was - he called him the Son of David. That tells us that he acknowledged Jesus as the Messiah. We must understand that Jesus is not just a prophet or teacher, he is the Christ. (Christ is Greek and Messiah is Hebrew; both mean Anointed One, Redeemer - One who brings salvation.)
The blind man’s friends and acquaintances told him to stop yelling, but he didn’t let them keep him from Jesus. How often do we let our friends keep us from a relationship with God? As Bartimaeus yelled, Jesus stopped. He called to him. Here’s where the story gets really interesting: Bartimaeus threw his cloak aside. Don’t miss that. That cloak may have been his only possession, and everything he owned was likely in the pockets. He didn’t let his material possessions come between himself and Jesus. He threw it all away for a chance at standing in front of Jesus.
Then Jesus asks him what seems to be a silly question: “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus knew full well what Bartimaeus needed, but wanted him to acknowledge it. Bartimaeus could have asked Jesus for a silver coin, but he went for it all and asked for his sight. By this he showed his faith. Tell Jesus what you really need and don’t hold back. Remember, he already knows. Jesus healed him on the spot. If Bartimaeus had reasoned that he would catch Jesus next time, there would be no next time. We never know when it will be our last chance to cry out to Jesus.
Jesus told him that it was his faith that had healed him. God uses our faith to deliver his grace to us. The one work that we must perform to be right with God is to believe, to have faith. (John 6:29)
Finally, look at Bartimaeus’ response to being healed by Jesus: he followed him along the road. When Jesus answers our prayers, whether that means a physical healing or salvation, our response should be to follow him wherever he goes. Jesus was heading toward his crucifixion. Are we willing to lay down our lives and follow him? That’s true discipleship, but Bartimaeus was thrilled to follow Jesus wherever he went because Jesus had given him his sight. He knew what it was like before Jesus came along and I can assure you he never forgot.