Merry Christmas & peaceful New Year

 

"When you search for me, you will find me; if you seek me with all your heart." Jeremiah 29:13, NRSV

   Many Christmas cards show three kings walking toward Bethlehem. Yet the Bible doesn't tell us that they were kings nor that there were three of them! We're told that they were 'wise men from the East' and that they carried three different gifts, but that's all. The important thing is that they came-not what their status was or how many of them there were.

   In the church calendar, they arrived not on the 25th of December, but on the 6th of January, which is celebrated as 'the feast of the manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles.' As my birthday is January 6, I've always had particular interest in this part of the Bible story.

   The Wise Men come 'late,'-twelve days after the birth of the Savior-but they still come. They come from 'outside'-as Gentiles, not members of the people of Israel-but they still come. They come a long way-but they still come.

   They come to him because he came to them. He came first and formost in the newborn baby laying in the manager. But he also came to the Wise Men by means of the star that announced his birth and by means of their intelligence and courage which inspired them to undergo the grueling and hazardous journey.

   For Jesus is not only the Truth and the Life, he is also the Way. As we go toward him, we are already meeting him every step of the way. Unless he wanted us, we would not be wanting him.

   I once received a Christmas card that had no picture on it, but just the words: 'Wise men still seek Him.' May we be wise men, wise women, wise children this Christmas.

Continue seeking Him with seriousness.

Unless He wanted you, you would not be wanting Him.

C. S. Lewis, letter to Genia Goelz, June 13, 1951

O God, who by the leading of a star revealed your Son Jesus Christ to the Wise Men: mercifully grant us wisdom to know that we would not be seeking him unless he was first seeking us. Amen.

Michael Ward, the author of Planet Narnia, is a Fellow of Blackfriars Hall, University of Oxford, and professor of apologitics at Houston Baptist University. December 25 - SEEK HIM. "The Grand Miracle, daily reflections for the season of Advent." Christian History Institute. Worcester, PA & Marion E. Wade Center. Wheaton, IL. 2019.

God’s Pattern for Success

 

Have you ever read through the Bible in a year? Would you like to read through the Bible in a year? Many options are available to read through the Bible in a year such as front to back, some chapters from the Old Testament and some chapters from the New Testament, read some in the morning and some in the evening or check out Life Principles Daily Bible:Biblical Principles For Each Day of the Year.

Each day includes readings from the Old Testament, Psalms, Proverbs and the New Testament. This process starts from the beginning of each area and does not skip around. The amount of reading in each area will vary; the length of time to cover the reading stays about the same. After talking with several people who read this daily for study or devotion, we came to the same conclusion; all of the readings are coordinated.

 In order to explain this, I will use January 26 as an example. The Old Testament scripture is Exodus 1:1- 2:25 Pharaoh’s attempt to eliminate the Hebrew baby boys, God’s plan to save the Hebrews through Moses. Moses went through difficult times; many of us go through difficult and devastating experiences. Read 2:23 “…and they cried out; and their cry for help because of their bondage rose up to God.”

 The Psalms scripture is 15:1-5, A Psalm of David asking who may abide in God’s tent, or may dwell on God’s holy hill. David contrasts walking with integrity, doing works of righteousness and speaking the truth in his heart with evil that speaks slander, does evil to neighbors, and is a reprobate.

 The Proverbs scripture is 4:25-27

²⁵Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. ²⁶Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways. ²⁷Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil. New International Version, Copyright 2011-2019 Biblica

The New Testament scripture is Matthew 17:1-27, God speaks to Peter, James and John in :5 …a voice out of a cloud said “This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to Him.” In this same section of reading after a failure we read :20, “Because of the littleness of your faith….”

 Life Example, page 112, “MOSES: God’s Pattern for Success” Exodus 1:22-2:25 “One of the greatest differences between the world’s message about success and God’s message is this: The world seeks a single formula to produce one set of results for all people, while God’s plan is far more creative, far more individualized, and far more personal….”

 God has an individual plan for each one of his creations. The first part of the plan for humans is to acknowledge that He is God! Acknowledge that He is creator and controller of the universe. Acknowledge the depravity of humans, this includes me and you! God offers me and you the free gift of redemption through His Son, Jesus Christ. Just as God’s plan for success is individual, I must, as an individual, accept this free gift of spiritual life, not spiritual death. After accepting spiritual life, I can call God, “Abba” father.

Now on to the rest of the plan for success as explained in the example above:

Examples of attempting to make life work my way

God’s mercy and grace of repeating the same message again and again

Focus, focus, focus on Jesus Christ

When I feel like I have failed, it is because of my lack of or littleness of faith. Am I wanting God’s will “Thy will be done” or my will? Am I willing to wait for God’s time? Where is my focus? Am I looking straight ahead? God has an individual plan for my success, your success!!!

What Takes Place After Salvation

16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

New International Version (NIV) www.biblegateway.com/

To truly grasp what Jesus did for us on the cross - and to be able to share the gospel effectively - it's essential to have an accurate understanding of the terms we use to describe salvation.

   SAVED (Ephesians 2:8). This is synonym for rescued. Mankind needs rescuing because without Jesus, we are all destined for divine wrath, hell, and eternal separation from God.

  REDEEMED (Ephesians 1:7) Redemption implies a transaction. Our salvation was purchased through the shedding of Jesus Christ's blood.

   JUSTIFIED (Romans 5:1). When someone trusts in Christ, God pardons that person and removes his or her guilt. A saved individual is in right standing with the Lord. 

   RECONCILED (2 Corinthians 5:18-21). Salvation results in a relationship with God. We were once separated from Him, but now we are His sons and daughters, and He calls us His friends (John 15:15).

   Using words like redemption, justification, and reconciliation might not be effective when presenting the gospel to someone unfamiliar with the language often used in church. However, it's important for us to understand what the Bible teaches about salvation, and these terms give us a framework for explaining the good news to others.

   We must recognize that we are not saved by our personal works or performance. Salvation is ours by God's grace - His unmerited, undeserved, loving favor toward us - and at the cost of Jesus' own blood. Let us not take for granted how God has rescued us: by sending His Son to die in our place.

Stanley, Charles F. "What Takes Place After Salvation." In Touch: Daily Reading for Devoted Living. February 2019. Atlanta: In Touch Ministries. page 35.

Praying the Promises of God

Isaiah 40:8

The grass withers and the flowers fall,
    but the word of our God endures forever.

  Jesus made it clear that we would endure many hardships in this life. But God provided amazing tools to keep trials from overwhelming us. For instance, He placed His Spirit inside each believer to guide and empower. In addition, He gave us prayer so we could not only communicate and stay connected with our Father but also bring Him our requests.

   Today I want to focus on yet another one of His marvelous gifts: the Bible. Scripture is the actual Word of God Almighty. It is truth. It never changes. It enables us in all circumstances, so we have a sure foundation on which to base our lives and decisions.

   There are thousands of promises in the Bible - countless assurances that we can rely on with perfect confidence. God wants us to learn them so we won't miss out on blessings He wants to give. And wise believers will turn His promises into prayers, which they express as the cry of their heart.

   Let me give you a example that relates to difficult decisions. Psalm 32:8 states, "I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you." We can pray God's words back to Him, saying we believe that He will teach us and reveal His path - and that He'll remain by our side as our caregiver through the entire situation.

   When hardships arise, we need a solid foundation on which to stand. Otherwise, our emotions could easily lead us astray through faulty thinking. God is faithful and unchanging, so we can trust in His promises, which enable us to rest confidently and act boldly.

 Stanley, Charles F. "Praying the Promises of God." In Touch: Daily Readings For Devoted Living. April 2016. page 30.