GIFTS OR THE GIFT

What do you want for Christmas this year? A very common question asked this time of year. What is your favorite gift you will receive or have received? Good question.

Of all the gifts I've received, One has stood the test of time. It is still with me (even longer than some of the clothes that from time to time, my wife makes me throw away). I received it at age 15, and it was in October, not in December. But it was an important birthday to celebrate what I received nonetheless. It was receiving the gift of Jesus.

What is Christmas about? Family--yes. Giving to others--yes. Peace and love to others--yes. But without Jesus, it is just another holiday, another time to get with family and friends, overeat, watch sports or catch up with people, play games, etc. Are those things important? (Maybe most of them). But the most important is to catch up with Jesus and make the celebration about Him.

For many years, our family did not do much at Christmas with Jesus. (Of course, we went to church). It was so often just about being together and giving and receiving gifts. Then we began a time when we, as a family (not just the church family), began to sing some Christmas carols (about Jesus), read the Christmas story of Jesus' birth, and pray together. After that spiritual emphasis, we would then open our gifts.

Have you received gifts or "the gift"? What is the most important part of Christmas (CHRIST-mas)? Jesus--the real gift of Christmas, whether we had our birth in Him in December or October or another time. When His birthday comes each year, it is a time to celebrate the greatest gift, we as believers, have ever received. A time to remember our spiritual birthday, and as we celebrate that with others of our families, it is a time to point them also to the true meaning of Christmas--Jesus--THE GIFT.

Jesus Immanuel--God with us who will save His people from their sins.

If you do not have some spiritual celebration with your family, make a new tradition this year by taking time, with others, to sing or read the Christmas story (found in Luke 2 and Matthew 1), pray, and give thanks for the greatest gift you've ever received. And pray that everyone in your family will receive, at some point in their life, the greatest Christmas gift there is--Jesus. Do you have that gift? Celebrate Him and share Him.

LIFE--SUBJECT TO CHANGE

Isn't life often subject to change? We plan and things go awry, or at least, not as we had planned. We work and think things will happen this way, when instead they go a totally different way. It could even make you think that you are not in control--a scary thought!

Well, that is true. You and I are not in control. We could attribute it to circumstances or luck. Makes more sense to me that there is a God in charge of it all--a Sovereign God, who plans and wills and His will does and will occur, even when they are in conflict with ours. If He is a good God--a I believe from the Bible that He is--then His plans are bringing about good, at least for Him, but often too--though I often don't see it--for me as well. (Romans 8:28)

One of my college roommates used to say, "Problems--that's what makes life interesting." Could have killed him at the time when he said that. Maybe even today, would like to kill him (not!) for planting that in my brain, to come out when problems arise.

Jesus' birthday--engaged couple--Joseph had it all planned out--and so did Mary. But it all was changed by a big God, a holy God, who was at work seeing that His plan for the salvation of the world came about. (Read Matthew 1 and Luke 2, Christian Bible) Interrupted the plans that Joseph and Mary had--but made a difference for them, the family they eventually had, and for all the world who embraces Jesus as Savior personally.

Could God's plans in my life--God's interruptions in my life--have a bigger purpose than what I have in mind? Plans for my spiritual growth or growth as a person? Plans for others who see me walk that path God plans and brings about, and they are pointed somehow through me to Him--that big, Holy God?

It's a good thing you and I are not in control. Actually when we are, things don't seem to work out too well very, very often. And that is a reminder of Who is in control, and Who is at work, and Who should get the glory and honor. At this Christmas season, remember that Jesus was the One sent to save His people, and all who would accept Him, from their sins. He would relate us to a Holy God, a Sovereign God, who has a plan and will bring it about. He would help God's purposes be brought forth (as a baby) in our lives and through our lives into the lives of others around us--sometimes, even people we do not know yet (even generations unborn? Yes).

Yes, life is subject to change, but when the changes, the interruptions, the unplanned circumstances are God's, great things will occur, even beyond what we ask or imagine.

Jesus--He came to save people from their, my, your sins! Thanks God for your wonderful interruption that we celebrate each year on December 25th!

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO "KNOW JESUS"

I know Jesus. What does that mean? Many things to different people. It can be a head knowledge or a heart knowledge. (Head equals intellectual--know about, know of; heart equals an intimate knowledge that changes us, makes us a different person, impacts our life.)

The Hebrew idea of "knowing," at least one idea, was that of intimate knowledge, commitment, genuine relationship. It was an exclusive "knowing" that caused one to be so committed that other relationships were much less or even not existing. In Exodus 20, where the Ten Commandments were given to Moses, God said, "You shall have no other gods before me." (Before meaning besides me, ahead of me, more important than me, in my place.)

We find other places such in Isaiah (I believe chapter 43 or 46) where God spoke through the prophet to say "there are no other gods." A quite exclusive statement.

Conservative Christians believe that Jesus was the Messiah (Anointed One) sent from God to His people but also to everyone. They also believe that he was God's Son, unique and different from every other person who lived (or lives) on the earth. That indeed this Jesus was both God and human, mixed. Therefore, not only representative of God, but God in human flesh.

Therefore, to be true to Christian Scripture, in John 14:6, when Jesus said, "I am the way and the truth and the life; no one comes to the Father (God--Yahweh) but by (or through) me," then they take it to be exclusive. There is one way to this God and that is through His Son (and God also) Jesus Christ (or Messiah, Anointed One).

Even many Christians do not like this statement of Jesus, explaining it away with various sorts of ideas--"It was not really spoken by Jesus," or "He didn't mean "the only" way to God." But many would refute those ideas as well and take the Christian Scripture from John as what Jesus actually said. Each person must make that decision for themselves.

So knowing Jesus would mean trusting Jesus as God's Son and part of God. It would mean placing our faith in Him as the only way to this loving God who loves everyone in the world. It would mean living life changed by this relationship of love and trust in Jesus. It would be "transformation" to His way of life and making it my way of life. He would be our exclusive Lord and Master, not allowing other people, beliefs, or things to take His rightful place. (Living that out is very, very hard--impossible, in fact, without God's help. We are never perfectly able to live that out, or we would be Jesus.)

I believe it also would mean respecting the beliefs and faiths of others, even if I do not believe those are right. But each of us have the right to make our own choices in life, whether for Jesus or against Jesus. Jesus did not kill people by their rejection of Him, but he wept over their unwillingness or their missing him and his way.

I love people of many world faiths, and I have exemplified that in the love and compassion I have shown to internationals for much of my ministry. But I also may believe that Jesus' way is the right way, even while they may believe their ways are right. I believe God allows that choice.

To know Jesus then would be to trust him, to have faith in him in an exclusive way, that he is the one way to relationship with Yahweh God. It would impact all of life, but since John also said in 1 John, that "God is love," then love would be the "knowers" most basic characteristic because that was the most basic character of God and Jesus as well.

If Jesus is really "known" then people will "know we are Christians by our love" because that represents God and Jesus' teaching more than anything else. And that love is a sacrificial, compassionate, selfless love. Paul mentioned it in 1 Corinthians 13.

If you know Jesus, it should show forth in your love and respect of others, even if we do not agree with them. We need to "learn to disagree agreeably."

Hippocratic or Hypocritic Oath

Yesterday at the hospital I saw God at work.

Doctors take the Hippocratic oath when they receive their degrees (at least they used to). It says something to the effect that they treat people and do so to save life and not to take life. I believe it also may say something about treating people with respect.

Yesterday at the hospital, I talked with a doctor with much compassion and, it seemed to me, faith. He, probably one of the many BMW's and other big cars I saw in the physician's lot at the hospital, was treating a person who is the working poor, and has struggled to get along all of life. And yet, as he talked about the situation, he did so with respect and compassion. Though the medical condition is grave, he said that his goal was to make the person comfortable, and he worked hard to help them have medications that they could afford to help them in these days. I respect that.

I realized also that many of us are privileged people--having lives that are made better by educational opportunities, money that pays for things (much of which we don't even need), and other benefits. While others are abused all of life, struggle just to eat and take care of themselves and their families, and often are abused by the system that discriminates against them. So it is nice to find a privileged person who respects human life and human beings enough to be a servant of the poor and oppressed. One who treats everyone, regardless of whether they can pay or not, with equal care and concern.

He also said, despite the situation being very serious, that miracles do happen. Probably a belief or at least open to the possibility that there is a God who at times, changes the circumstances.

James said to treat everyone with respect and love (James 2), and I saw that today. And I also believe that I saw a reverence for God or at least a belief that sometimes things are out of the experts hands, and there must be someOne who can do miracles, even today.

I guess now, as I see the BMW's in the parking lot and driving by, I will have more respect that some have taken the Hippocratic oath and not the Hypocritic oath. Maybe more believers should do that.

Everyone is worthy of respect and honor, whether they have had the privileges of life or been deprived. They too are loved by God and often love Him more and better than those of us who have been privileged in this life.

So are you Hippocratic or hypocritic?

To see the nations worship

Today I had opportunity to give devotion at international luncheon. About 160 people come to eat--people from all over the world--to have lunch together at our Baptist Student Center in Carbondale. Our church helped serve food today. While there, there is a devotion given--many who are present are from other world religions or no religion. Here is an opportunity to share our faith in Jesus with others, many who do not know about Jesus or what Christians believe.

I decided to sing with my guitar, a song talking about a day when people from all over the world will gather to worship God. What a great worship celebration that will be.

I began:

"I used to go to church in Macomb and we had students from Korea, Nigeria, and other countries participating in worship with us. What a neat thing to hear a prayer in Korean and a song in an African language or in French or German.

It reminds me of a verse in John (3:16), that says that God loves everyone in the world. And it goes like this, 'For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten son, that whoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.'

That says to me that God loves people from Colombia, Indonesia, Mexico, Russia, Brazil, Peru, Korea, China, and every other country in the world. And the song I sing is about a time when people from all these nations and more will gather to worship God. What a great day it will be.

One reason we do this luncheon, and one reason I have taught English to internationals for some 15 years is that people will see God's love in me and that they will experience God's love for them through my service--my actions--my love and life.

And here is the song:

Our heart, our desire is to see the nations worship. Our cry, our prayer is to sing your praise to the ends of the earth. That with one mighty voice, every tribe and tongue rejoices. Our heart, our desire is to see the nations worship You.

Heavenly Father, your mercy showers down upon all peoples, every tongue and every race. May your Spirit pierce the darkness, break the chains of death upon us. Let us rise in honest worship to declare your matchless worth.

Our heart, our desire ... to see the nations worship You."

What a wonderful day that will be to hear people from all over the world, bowing down to God and giving Him their worship.
___________________________

My reader, is this what you desire and pray for? If not, join me in that prayer that we will spread the message so others may know Him as we know Him. They come from all over the world so that we might share Christ with them. They come to us? Will we seize the opportunity to share with the people of the world--showing God's love--so one day we will see them worship God in heaven with us?

When Pastoring Gets Hard

Actually, I should ask, "when does pastoring not get hard?" But, that is not the title.

Three years ago, when my Mom was dying in the hospital, her doctor of 30 or more years came in, and we had made the decision that we would let her go--no more lifesaving attempts, no more tests that were not going to change the outcome, no more bothering her with what she didn't want. Her doctor said that morning, as he suggested more tests we could try, "This is when doctoring gets hard." He had to give up and say, "There is no more I can do."

Paul said in 1 Thessalonians 2:7-8 of the people there, "we were gentle among you, like a mother caring for her little children. We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us."

It is hard to be a pastor when you preach and teach the gospel, and genuinely care for the people and they turn away from the Lord to lesser things. It is hard to be a pastor when you love the people and take them to doctor visits and hospital visits, and then hear that the person is terminal and it will only be a matter of time. It is hard to be a pastor and try to give hope when you almost lose hope inside.

Loving people costs. At times, it almost costs too much. There is pain and hurt--there is agony and suffering. I wish, at times, that I could only give the gospel without giving also my life to others. But without love we are just a loud noise that doesn't make much difference (see 1 Corinthians 13).

Pastoring and loving go together, but they both sure hurt at times. But there are some people in our world that only find God's love through our love. And there are some in our world that have no one else who genuinely loves them. That too makes me ache. But at least, we get a chance to show the love of God that is everlasting, even if it hurts.

Thanks God for the privilege of being your servant, even when it hurts. Make me a more loving, useful servant to you and for your purposes. Amen.

Who Depends on Your Faith?

Who depends on your faith? What happens when you struggle with faith (that is human, I believe)?

Proverbs 3:5-6. I realize that I have people who depend on my faith. When I struggle, they may struggle. Is that part, though, of "bearing one another's burdens"?

There are people who look to me, to see whether I trust in God when the hard times come. There are people who look to me, to see whether I live by what I say for them to do.
There are those with little faith or no faith who learn from my way of living, more than my way of speaking.

Living for God implies that we "walk by faith, not by sight." We cannot often see the outcome. Sometimes we don't see the way through it all either. Could this be why Jesus told the disciples in John 14:6, "I Am the Way"?

Faith is trust--trust is depending on someone other than myself--trust is depending on someone worthy of my trust, my faith, my dependence.

Those with less faith look to you as an example of faith, if you have faith in God. They look to you for insight into what it looks like--what it means--and how to live it out. Will Jesus find faith on the earth?

So we walk by faith, not by sight. We trust in what we have not seen as a way of helping us through life, but also helping others through life. (Hebrews 11)

Who depends on your faith today? Will they see it? Pray, pray, pray that they will (and that you will too).