Sharing The Good News

Luke 2:15-20

As this year’s Christmas season comes to an end, let’s take one final look at the shepherds, those often favorite characters in the Nativity account in Luke’s Gospel.  As you take down your Nativity set, wrapping each figure and putting them away for another eleven months, as you look at the shepherd figures, here are a few more thoughts to think about.

As our Scripture opens, the angels have just left the shepherds, after having  brought them the good news of the birth of the Savior, and telling them where they could find the baby.  This was astounding news for them, and even more astounding were the messengers that brought the news!  One can only imagine what was going through their minds right then!  Yet we see that they not only listened to what the angels had told them, they decided to do something with what they were told.  The shepherds had a choice to make.  They could have decided to compliment that night’s “entertainment”, and then just curled up in their cloaks, taking turns with the night watches and getting a little sleep.  Or they could decide to do as the angels had implied that they should do, which was to go and find the baby.

What would you do?  Some might question whether what they had just seen was real or not.  Then many, even if they did believe the legitimacy of what they had seen, would decide that it was too much trouble to do something.  People can come up with all sorts of excuses, such as: “It’s cold out!”  “I’m tired!  I need to get some sleep for my busy day tomorrow!”  “I don’t even know exactly where to go.”  They have all sorts of excuses to avoid doing what God asks them to do.  Fortunately the shepherds chose to act (vs. 15).  They moved in faith.  They believed the Lord and His messengers.

It is true that the angels had not given them an exact location for where they would find the infant Savior.  The angel had told them they would find Him in Bethlehem, that He would be wrapped tightly in something like a baby blanket, and lying in a manger, a place where farm animals are fed.  That would narrow it down some.  Bethlehem was not a large village, but being a farming and pastoral society, there could be many animal feeding mangers.  Nevertheless, the shepherds made haste to see for themselves what the angels had told them.  They were persistent, and after not too long a search, they found Him (vs. 16).  How persistent are we?  Do we follow through with what the Lord has said, or are we quick to give up?  The shepherds searched until they found Baby Jesus.

When they found Baby Jesus, they told Mary and Joseph what the angel had said.  We must commend Joseph in that he didn’t chase the shepherds away, but instead allowed them to approach.  How many new fathers would allow strangers, particularly rough and rugged shepherds, to come near their newborn son and wife?  Joseph had his own experience with an angel in a dream several months earlier, who had told him exactly who this Baby was, and when he heard what the shepherds had to say, it just added to his wonder over the infant Child.

Other than Mary and Joseph, the shepherds were the first people to see Jesus.  The lowly shepherds were the first to tell others about His birth, just as another outcast, Mary Magdalene (a formerly demon-possessed woman) was the first to tell others about the resurrection.  After they beheld the Infant Jesus, the promised Messiah and Savior, the shepherds couldn’t keep the news to themselves.  They told everyone what they had heard and seen (vs. 17-18).   They knew that this wasn’t news which was just and only for themselves.  This was news for everyone, the whole world, and they were going to tell everyone they came into contact with.

What about us?  We, too, have the Good News about the Lord Jesus, and there is a world out there who needs to hear.  The shepherds weren’t worried about what people would say to them or think about them.  It’s true that they weren’t well-educated scholars like the scribes and Pharisees, however people marveled at what the shepherds said.  When we spread the news about Jesus there will be many who scoff at us, who may say we are not qualified to talk about the Bible because we don’t have a string of divinity degrees.  There will be others who say that message has no bearing any longer in today’s modern society.  Nothing stopped the shepherds from spreading the news about Jesus, and nothing should stop us, either.  We have the Good News of Salvation that this sin-sick world needs.  Let’s not keep it to ourselves!

At Just The Right Time

Galatians 4:4-7

On the back of seed packets sold in the U.S. there is often a small, color-coded map of the country showing when the best time is to plant the seeds, based on when all danger of freezing or cold weather has passed. Planting earlier than recommended can kill the plant when a freeze or cold snap comes.  Doing things at just the right time is important in many matters.  Though we are often impatient to speed things up, that frequently doesn’t bring good results.  If the recipe says to cook something for a certain amount of time, if we take it out earlier, it is raw or underdone.  As we see in our Scripture today, God is careful to do things at just the right time.  We may often think that He takes too long, but we will see as we look into this passage, His timing is perfect.

Have you ever wondered why God didn’t send the Savior, the Messiah, earlier than He did?  Why not send Him shortly after mankind started going bad again after the days of Noah and the Flood?  Why not in the days of the Patriarchs?  As our Scripture from Paul’s letter to the Galatian church opens, the Apostle relates that God sent His Son “when the fullness of the time had come” (vs 4).  God’s timetable is usually not the same as ours.  If we look at history and where civilizations developed, we can see how God’s plan was just perfect.

When Jesus was born, probably around 4-6 BC, certain developments in the “known world” had been set in place so that the spread of the Gospel message would be possible.   Since the days of Alexander the Great (356-323 BC) the Greek language and Greek culture spread throughout the whole Mediterranean world, and throughout western Asia.   By the days of Jesus, Greek was understood and spoken by the majority of people, and with the expansion of the Roman Empire, Latin was quickly becoming a world language, as well.  Prior to that, only a limited few spoke more than their own ethnic language.  With the rise of the Roman Empire, roadways were developed, making travel easier, quicker, and safer.  Both of these developments helped in the spread of the Gospel.  Also, if we look at a map, where Jesus was born in Israel, that is at the crossroads of Asia, Africa, and Europe, and would be easier for the early believers to spread the message of the Gospel.

Paul continues by writing that “God sent forth His Son” (vs. 4).  The fact that the Father sent Jesus into the world teaches His pre-existence as the eternal second Person of the Trinity.  Jesus was also “born of a woman”.  He was fully God and fully man.  Jesus had to be fully God for His sacrifice to be of the infinite worth needed to atone for sin.  He also had to be fully man so that He could take upon Himself the penalty of sin as the substitute for man.  Paul also teaches that Jesus was “born under the law”.  Jesus perfectly obeyed the Law.  Thus, He could be the unblemished sacrifice for sin.  His perfect righteousness is what is imputed to all who believe in Him.

Scripture teaches us that all those who believe are redeemed from sin’s power, and become adopted children of God (vs. 5-7).  Under Roman law, an adopted child had all the legal rights of a natural born child.  This was even the case if they came from a poor or slave background.  They were not second-class family members.  I once knew a family who had two sons, one was natural born, the other adopted.  The parents made it painfully obvious that the natural born son was highly favored, and the adopted one wasn’t.  This is definitely not the case with God’s family!

When we are saved we are adopted by God and we share with Jesus all of God’s resources.  We are God’s heirs, and can claim what He has provided for us.  When we were saved we were set free.  We were delivered from the authority and the power of darkness, and brought into the light of Jesus.  Salvation makes us an heir of God.  We have the right to approach the Throne of God (Hebrews 4:16).  We can be certain of our inheritance because we have been bought and paid for by the Blood of Jesus.

As we close this brief Scripture passage, we see that God had everything in place when He sent His Son Jesus to be born.  Everything was ready for the Gospel message to be spread throughout the world.  And spread it did, down through the past twenty centuries, to where you and I have now heard the message.  Have you responded to that message?  Have you accepted Jesus as Savior, and been adopted into His family?  With the new year started, now would be the perfect time to do so if you haven’t.

Much Loved And Valued

Psalm 8

At one time or another, most of us have felt insignificant.  We may feel small, unimportant, and that nothing we do, or anything about us matters.  Our work seems irrelevant.  Our opinion and voice is unheard.  We are so far down on the ladder that we aren’t even seen.  Does this feel like you?  To know that someone, especially someone of any importance, does consider us, does care about us, would be a big encouragement.  If the boss or a public figure notices us in a positive way, our morale gets a boost.  How about if someone even higher and more important than any of them notices you, and thinks you’re important?  It might surprise you that at some times David felt this way.  However, as our psalm for today records, David knew that Someone did think he, and all of us, are of value.

Years before the thought of one day being king ever came to his mind, David was a lowly shepherd, taking care of his family’s flocks of sheep.  Many nights he spent out on the fields, keeping the sheep safe from wild animals.  David was the youngest and least considered member in his family.  When the prophet Samuel requested his father to gather all of his sons, his father didn’t even think he was worth including (I Samuel 16:5-13).  However, David knew that the Lord God took notice of him, and loved him.

That thought, though, amazed and astounded him.  As he sat out during the night watches, whether as a shepherd boy, or as a young man in the wilderness on the run for his life, he gazed at the stars.  David wondered aloud why God, who created such wonders in the heavens above him, would stoop to consider and care about him (vs 3-4).   When we consider the glory of the universe, why would such a magnificent Creator place such glory, honor, and privilege on mankind?  We have messed up a perfect world,  We mock and reject God.  Why would He love sinful mankind?

Yet, as we read all throughout Scripture, God’s love for mankind is so great.  We, alone of all creation, are made in His image, and David testifies here that He has crowned us with glory and honor (vs. 5).  After making us in His image, God placed the rest of creation in our hands to have dominion over (vs. 6-8).  Has the boss ever put the running of his corporation in your hands?  The God of the universe has placed His creation in our hands, not to misuse or abuse it, but instead to properly care for all creatures.  If God did not love us without measure He would not have done that.

The Lord God also chose the smallest and weakest to bring Him praise, that being little babies and children (vs. 2).  These are the smallest and most insignificant of people, and in so many households the ones who are most overlooked, and sometimes even abused.  Yet God uses these little ones to silence those who stand against Him (Matthew 21:15-16).

Man is not an accident.  You are not here by chance.  God loves man so much that He sent Jesus, stepping down from heaven’s glory, to live and die for us.  Jesus loves each of us so much that He came forth from the highest glory that He had in heaven, to redeem a being so insignificant as man.  When we consider the price that was paid for our redemption, the Blood of the Son of God, we realize how much God loves us, and what we are really worth to Him.  The shed Blood of Jesus, was an enormous price to pay, and thus gives us great value in His sight.

That Blood was shed for you, and you, and you, each of you individually.  We no longer need to feel small and insignificant, if the God and Creator of the universe loves and cares enough about us to die for us.  We can join David as he closes the psalm in praising God, proclaiming how excellent His Name is in all of the earth.

God's Holy Name

Exodus 34:1-8

One week after Christmas the world celebrates New Year’s Day.  In the Christian calendar, one week after the birth of the Savior, we celebrate the Holy Name of Jesus.  This is because eight days after His birth, Mary and Joseph would have brought the infant Jesus to the Temple to be circumcised, and at this time He would have been officially named.  Names are very important, and many parents take a lot of thought and consideration before they pick the name of their baby.  They want a name that has a good meaning, and perhaps characteristics that they wish their child to have.  Jesus was given His Name by the angel who appeared to both Mary and Joseph at different times before His birth (Luke 1:31; Matthew 1:21).  Today’s Old Testament Scripture is a passage where the Lord God proclaims His Name to Moses, and through him, to the people of Israel.

As our Scripture opens the Lord instructed Moses to cut out two new tablets of stone so that He could replace the original stones where the  Ten Commandments had been written on.  Moses had broken them in a display of anger when he saw the people of Israel taking part in idol worship and an orgy of sin.  The Lord called Moses back up on Mount Sinai.  This was to be a special, holy occasion, and no other person or animal was to come anywhere near.  Moses obeyed, made two new tablets, and came back up the mountain (vs. 1-4).

While upon Mount Sinai the Lord descended in a cloud of glory and proclaimed His Name, Yahweh, to Moses (vs. 5).  The Lord also proclaimed some of His characteristics to Moses.  These characteristics tell us more about what the Lord is like, in addition to His Name.  When we hear someone’s name mentioned, we often think of some specific characteristics about that person, either good or bad.  You hear this person’s name and you think of how kind and compassionate they are.  You hear another name and you think of the lies they told.  Another name and you think of a bitter, angry woman. Our personality and characteristics further describe us in addition to just our name.  This is why many new parents take such care when selecting a name.  They won’t pick a name that means “stupid boy” or “ugly woman”!

As the Lord God passed before Moses, He proclaimed that He is merciful, gracious, longsuffering, good, and truthful (vs. 6).  When describing Himself, God didn’t list all of His great accomplishments.  People often do that if asked to describe themselves.  They talk of their job, their university degrees, how many awards they’ve won, etc.  Instead, the Lord told of His character, not in a bragging way, but showing who He truly is.  God’s glory is His character, His nature.  It is revealed to us by His great mercy, His grace, compassion, faithfulness, forgiveness, and His justice.

God is merciful and gracious, but He is also just in His punishment of the guilty (vs. 7).  This is something that many people do not like to think about, and sometimes even deny.  Some modern preachers refuse to preach about this, and even sometimes deny it from the pulpit.  They like to focus solely on God’s love and compassion, and never on His just punishment of sin.  We cannot just portray God with only our favorite attributes.  When the Lord proclaimed His Name and characteristics, He listed both His loving and merciful ones, along with stating that He will not clear the guilty and sinful person who does not repent.  We may portray ourselves or our loved ones with just one or two favorite characteristics, and we often do that with the Lord, however that is not giving an honest picture of who He truly is.  We must worship all of God, not just what we like.

Some people look at verse 7 and say that God is not being fair or kind in His treatment of some people by punishing them for the sins of their forebears.  However, that is not what this verse is really saying.  God isn’t punishing a sinner’s children or grandchildren for what dad or grandpa did.  Instead, God is saying that one’s children and grandchildren will suffer from the fall-out of their sins.  When a gambler throws all of his money away in Las Vegas, his children and possibly grandchildren will suffer.  They are not exempt.  When a parent commits adultery, the whole family suffers.  This is even more clearly shown by the suffering of the alcoholic and drug addict’s family.  Children also frequently learn and copy the sinful behavior of their parents, thus carrying it down for often multiple generations.  Good and godly behavior and blessings are also frequently carried down for generations, as well.

When Moses heard the Lord God Yahweh proclaim His mighty and glorious Name and attributes, he did the only thing he could possibly do, and that was to bow down and worship Him (vs. 8).  As we begin this new year, let us celebrate the day that the Lord Jesus was officially given His Name, bow down and worship Him.

Jesus Gave Himself For Us

Titus 2:11-14

Christmas week is coming to a close.  All the presents have been given and received.  Did everyone like the presents that you gave them?  We always hope so.  It is unfortunate if we give a gift that we feel we have carefully chosen, only to have it rejected, especially if it is callously rejected.  Our Scripture for today is a brief one from the Apostle Paul’s letter to his friend and colleague Titus, and speaks of the gift that God has given to us, given to us on that first Christmas day, but which so many people have rejected.

In our Scripture passage we read that Jesus gave Himself for us (vs. 14).  He was the gift that God gave, grace incarnate, God’s gracious gift to fallen man.  Sometimes we receive a gift and wonder what it is for.  Paul explains that the purpose of Jesus being given was to redeem us, to pay the penalty of our sins.  We were redeemed and saved from sin and purified for Himself to become His special people, His children.

Does this mean that since God gave this gift for everyone, that everyone is saved, that everyone will receive the benefits of salvation, including a place in heaven?  The answer to this is no.  Just like you might have given a gift to someone, only to have them refuse or reject it, so it is with the gift of Jesus Christ that God gave to mankind.  There are multitudes all around the world in every country, all throughout history, that have rejected God’s gift.  This Scripture passage, and other similar ones, do not back the false teaching of “universal salvation”, the belief that everyone will be saved and go to heaven.  The truth is that though Jesus’ sacrifice was sufficient to cover every sin of everyone, one must believe and accept Jesus as their Savior.  Salvation becomes effective only through faith  Only those who believe will be saved.

Imagine, if you will, that I was rather wealthy, and that I was going to give ice cream to everyone in Chicago, where I live.  In order to get that ice cream, though, each individual person must come by me, ask for, and then receive the gift of that delicious treat.  If they don’t come by and ask me for it, they don’t receive it.  I provided the ice cream, it was available, but only those who asked for it received it.  If they didn’t, they lost out.  God provides salvation for everyone, but in order to receive it one must accept Jesus as their personal Savior.  If they refuse Him, if they ignore this specific provision for salvation, they are not saved.  Salvation is available to everyone, but not everyone will be saved, because some will reject the provision God offers.  After death it is too late.  No one gets saved after death.  We may like to think that everyone will be saved and get to heaven, it may make us feel good, but sadly it is not the case.  Multitudes refuse Jesus, right up to their death, and after death it is too late.

Salvation is transforming, and produces a new life in which the power of sin has been broken (vs. 12).  The Holy Spirit gives us the power to live as a Christian, and obey God’s commands.  Jesus’ death rescued us from sin’s control.  He gives us the power and understanding to live according to His will.  In order to do that we must deny, or say no to sin and its temptation and control, and say yes to actively living for God.

We also see in this Epistle to Titus very clearly that Jesus is God.  We see this when Paul calls Him “our great God and Savior” (vs. 13).  Many deny the Trinity, including some who call themselves “Christians”, claiming that Jesus is just a “good man”, a “good teacher”.  However, Jesus is divine, is God, the Second Person of the Trinity.

In closing, Paul reminds us that for those who have accepted God’s gift of His Son, we are not only free from the sentence of death for our sins, but we are also purified from sin’s influence as we grow as a Christian (vs. 14).  The death of Jesus on the cross atoned for every sin, past, present, and future, but only becomes effective, operative, and beneficial to those who believe and accept Him.  God gave that gift to you.  Have you accepted it, and claimed Jesus as your Savior?  Do so today, before this year runs out.

The Majesty Of God

Psalm 97

One psalm that is often read in church services at Christmas time is Psalm 97.  This psalm proclaims the awesome majesty of the Lord God.  During Christmas time we focus on the little Baby Jesus, lying in a manger, but this psalm reminds us that, though Jesus was born into this world as a tiny human baby, He is, and always was, the mighty God of heaven and earth.  Let’s take a quick look into Psalm 97.

The psalmist opens with a proclamation that the Lord, Yahweh, is King (vs. 1).  He reigns, not only in Israel, among the Jewish people, but He is King over all the earth, over all Gentile people and pagan gods.  Looking at the world today, with all the political turmoil going on in so many countries and places, it is good to remember that God reigns over all the earth.  Various presidents and kings, dictators and military leaders may think that they hold ultimate power.  We may get worried that this or that person may get elected or re-elected as president or prime minister, but we need have no fear, as the Lord reigns.  This world belongs to Him.

As our psalm continues, the psalmist paints a picture of God’s awesome majesty as shown through the powerful forces of nature (vs. 2-6).  When I read in verse 2 that “clouds and darkness surround Him”  my mind pictures some of the amazing photographs taken by some of the high-powered telescopes of galaxies and nebulas way out in the universe.  I picture the “Pillars of Creation” found in the Eagle Nebula, or the “Mystic Mountain” found in the Carina Nebula.  Clouds like that surround the throne of Yahweh in heaven, showing His unapproachable holiness.  Mankind is unable to find Him on their own.  It is only through the Blood of Jesus that we can approach God.

Living in the Chicago area, we get frequent strong thunderstorms during the spring and summer.  I will often go out on the front steps and watch the storms, with the dark cumulonimbus clouds, thunder, and lighting.  Fire and lightning show His incredible power (vs. 3-4).  The whole earth trembles before Yahweh.  His power and majesty is so great that it can even cause the mighty mountains to melt or crumble in His presence (vs. 5).  Nature doesn’t bow to any of the other false, pagan idols, nor can any human rulers claim power over the forces of nature.  In the Millennial Kingdom of Jesus there will be no false gods or religions allowed (vs. 7).

In the middle of this psalm of praise to the Lord, a psalm that describes His great majesty and holiness, the psalmist stops to speak a brief comment to us readers, which we find in the beginning of verse 10.  Here all of us who love the Lord God are told to hate evil.  Some people say that we should never hate anything.  There are some who say one should never even use the word “hate”.   Yet right here in God’s Word, we are told to love what God loves, and to hate what He hates.  In order to know what He loves and what He hates we have to get to know Him.  The only way to truly know God is to read His Word, the Bible.  In His Word we discover what is good and what is evil.  Believers should never play around with anything the Bible says is wrong, is a sin, or is evil.  We should never make excuses for it, or even keep it near us.  If we want to please God, and all Christians should, we need to align our desires with His desires.  If we love the Lord, we will hate what is evil.  As our love for Him grows, our distaste for anything that dishonors or displeases Jesus should increase.

Verse 10 also is another verse that declares the eternal security of the believer.  The Lord preserves the souls of His saints.  He will guard, keep watch, and protect the souls of believers, not only in this life, but in the life to come.  Once we belong to Jesus, we are His forever!

In closing, we are told that we need to rejoice in the Lord.  Whenever we think of the Lord Jesus and all that He has done for us, such as coming to earth as our Savior at Christmas, we should give thanks to His Holy Name.

A Son Is Given

Isaiah 9:1-2, 6

Merry Christmas!  Most of us have already given and opened our gifts by now.  Christmas is the celebration of Jesus’ birthday.  Usually it is the one whose birthday it is who gets the presents.  However, as we read in today’s Scripture from the prophet Isaiah, God gave us a gift, a very special gift.  This gift is described in this short, brief passage.  What is this gift?  Let’s take a quick look into our Scripture.

As Isaiah opens in verses 1-2, he speaks of people who are in darkness.  He is not speaking of a physical darkness, as if they live where there is no sunshine.  Isaiah is speaking of spiritual darkness.  The people the prophet is talking about are in spiritual darkness and the shadow of death.  In verse 1, Isaiah spoke of the land of Zebulun and Naphtali, which were in the far north of Israel, in an area called Galilee.  These were the people he was speaking of as being in darkness.  When the ten northern tribes split into a separate kingdom, they very quickly fell away from the Lord into terrible idolatry and spiritual darkness.  These were the ones that Jesus would spend the larger part of His ministry with, and bring His saving light to (Matthew 4:15-16).

This is a dark world, overrun with violence, greed, rebellion, and anguish.  Ever since the Fall, which brought sin into the world, we have been dwelling in darkness and the shadow of death.  In a time of great darkness, God promised to send a light.  God’s mercy sent Jesus to dispel the darkness of sin.  No matter how dark it gets, believers are not forsaken.  The Light of Jesus continues to shine for us.

In verse 6 Isaiah proceeds to describe the gift that God gave us.  The prophet speaks of a special Child, a Son that was given.  Isaiah further describes this Child as Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace.

Jesus is the Child that was born, the Son that was given that Holy Night in Bethlehem.  Jesus was both born and given.  The Lord declared that “a child will be born” signifying a human birth.  Yet at the same time “a son will be given”.  God gave His Son so that those who believe in Him would receive eternal life.

The first Name that Scripture calls this special Child and Son is Wonderful Counselor.  Jesus is exceptional, distinguished, and without peer.  We can come to Him in prayer when we need help, and He is there to guide in the right way.  Jesus is the Word, and He is the One who gives the right counsel.  Yahweh is a Triune God, and in the Gospel of John we read where Jesus, the second Person of the Trinity, spoke of the Holy Spirit, the third Person of the Trinity, as the Counselor or Helper (John 15:26; 16:7-15).

This Child will also be called Mighty God.  Jesus, the Son who was given, was also revealed to be the Mighty God when the angel of God came to Joseph in a dream (Matthew 1:23).  Jesus told the disciples, Philip specifically, that He was One with God the Father (John 14:9).  We read the same in the opening verses of the Book of Hebrews (Hebrews 1:1-3).  Jesus, the Messiah, is not just a great teacher or leader.  He is God Himself, incarnate.

The next Name given is Everlasting Father.  How can the Child, the Son, also be the Father?   This was another indication in the Old Testament of Yahweh being a Triune God, being the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.  Jesus is one with the Father, as He is called both Child, Son, and then Father in the same verse.  As the everlasting Father, Jesus is timeless.  He had no beginning, and will have no end.

The final Name that Isaiah gave is Prince of Peace.  Jesus was born the Prince of Peace.  The word “peace” or “shalom” in Hebrew means well-being, flourishing, and wholeness.  Sin made us enemies with God.  Jesus made it possible for us to have peace with God (Romans 5:1).  Sin broke human relationships, however Jesus made possible peace with others.

Jesus was the gift that God gave to us that first Christmas Day.  A gift of the Son of God, a Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace.  If you do not know Jesus as your personal Savior, today would be the best day to call upon Him to save your soul.