Family Heirlooms, Traditions, and Truth

Today on “Family & Friends Friday,” we’re blessed to have my friend Noble Armstrong as our guest blogger. He and his wife Heather have been members of Webster Bible Church for 15 years, joining shortly after they were married. Noble is currently an elder at WBC and previously served on our deacon board. He also helps to lead our Tuesday men’s Bible study, Journeymen. Noble and Heather have five children, ages 7 to 13. He is a middle school technology teacher in the Webster School district and enjoys woodworking, trapping and, as you will see, hunting.

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I love hunting season. Deer hunting has been a tradition in my family from as long as I can remember, and long before that. I grew up listening to stories from both my grandfathers, telling about the pursuit and harvest of whitetails. When I got older, I joined these activities and have many fond memories of being in the woods, waiting for a deer to appear. I love the cool of the morning, the sounds of the forest as it wakes up and watching various birds and animals. I love the challenge of matching wits with a wiley and crafty buck. And of course, I love the taste of venison!

For the past few years, I have enjoyed sharing this experience with my kids. Passing on this tradition to them is yet another reason I love hunting.

This year I rattled in bucks with a pair of antlers from a deer my dad’s dad, Papa Phil, shot. I use a buck knife that my mom’s dad, Grampee Leigh, gave me to field dress the animals after harvest. Although I have a lot of new, modern equipment, these activities with these particular tools link me to the past.

I know that by these activities I am keeping alive traditions that have been in our family for generations. We took the beautiful 8-point buck that we harvested this year to the taxidermist. For years to come, when my boys look at the mounted head of that magnificent animal we shot together, they will reflect back on the events of that morning in the woods.

This also makes me think of other, more important activities, that need to be passed along and remembered.

The Bible is full of examples of people who commemorated important events. After God caused the Jordan River to part, allowing the Israelites to cross, Joshua realized that moment needed to be memorialized. He had the men bring 12 stones from the dry river bed, to set up a memorial to the miracle that God performed there that day (see Joshua 4:4-7). Joshua said,

Let this be a sign among you, so that when your children ask later, saying, “What do these stones mean to you?” then you shall say to them, “Because the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord….” So these stones shall become a memorial to the sons of Israel forever.

In addition to remembering the Lord’s goodness, we are also to teach our children to love the Lord and obey his commands. Joshua’s predecessor, Moses, told the people of Israel,

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates. (Deut. 6:5-9)

The apostle Paul reminds the believers at Thessalonica to “stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by our spoken word or by our letter” (2 Thess. 2:15). He praises the church at Corinth for “holding to the traditions just as I passed them on to you” (1 Cor. 11:2).

Even our Savior himself reminds us of the importance of remembrance and reflection as it concerns his atoning sacrifice for our sins. Jesus did so the night before he died on the cross. Scripture says,

and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” In the same way He took the cup also after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” (1 Cor. 11:24-27)

We are in that time of year that is filled with remembrance and wonderful traditions. Let’s use that as an opportunity to remember the amazing gift that Jesus gave us, through His work on the cross.

I earnestly pray that the family prayers, Bible readings, devotions and missionary stories we read as a family will last in our children’s minds. As a family, I want to recommit to making church a high priority, serving the body of Christ, and shining God’s light to the world around us.

What about you? Are there traditions you carry on individually or as a family that bring you closer to God? If so, great! if not, why not start some new ones?

Christmas Quiz

Yesterday a member of our church gave my wife a quiz of random “hard questions” (so called). Here are a few of them:

1. Is there a Fourth of July in England?

2. How many outs are there in one inning of a baseball game?

3. How many animals did Moses take on the ark?

Hopefully you found that these weren’t such “hard questions” after all. Here are the answers, in order:

1. Yes.

2. Six.

3. None.

Let’s consider that little round a warm-up. Now it’s time for a slightly more challenging quiz on Christmas — specifically the Nativity Story. It gets told repeatedly this time of year. But how much of what we hear and pass on to others is an accurate reflection of the biblical record?

There’s a really fun way to find out! Evangelical blogger Tim Challies has put together a list of 25 questions to test our biblical knowledge of the true Christmas story. I had fun taking this quiz and would encourage you to take it yourself, along with your family. You’ll really like it, because after you answer each question, Tim reveals the correct response from Scripture. Have fun, and feel free to post your score in the comments section below (if you dare!).

Link to the Christmas Quiz

Abraham and Mary

No, I’m not talking about our 16th president and his wife, but about the mother of our Lord and her ancestor, “Abraham, the man of faith” (Gal. 3:9).

In his book, Dangerous Calling, Paul David Tripp makes an interesting point about Abraham’s faith, based on what is said of Abraham in Romans 4. God had promised Abraham that his descendants would be as numerous as the stars in the sky, as the sand on the seashore.

God made that promise to Abraham when he was 75 years old and childless. But the promise didn’t come to pass until 25 years later. Sarah got pregnant when she was 90 years old and Abraham was about 100. The Holy Spirit, speaking through the apostle Paul, states in Romans 4:19-21,

Abraham’s faith did not weaken, even though, at about 100 years of age, he figured his body was as good as dead—and so was Sarah’s womb. Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God. He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever he promises.

In citing this passage, Paul Tripp shows its application to us, saying,

Think about it: when you and I are called by God to wait for an extended period as Abraham was, often for us our story of waiting is a chronicle of ever-weakening faith. … But not so with Abraham. We’re told in this passage that during his time of protracted waiting, his faith actually grew stronger, and the passage tells us why. Rather than meditating on the possibility of his situation, Abraham meditated on the power and the character of the One who had made the promise. The more Abraham let his heart bask in the glory of God, the more convinced he became that the was in good hands. Rather than a cycle of discouragement and hopelessness, Abraham’s story was one of encouragement and hope. Why? Because he meditated on the right thing. [Dangerous Calling, pp. 65-66]

So did Mary. When the angel Gabriel appeared to this young virgin and said, “Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus” (Luke 1:31), Mary inquired concerning the manner of the birth but not the certainty of it. Mary responded, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word” (Luke 1:38). Like Abraham her forefather, Mary focused not on the impossibility of the situation, but on the power and character of the God who had made the promise.

Mary began her song of praise by exclaiming, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior…” (Luke 1:46-47). Throughout the rest of the song, Mary celebrates who God is and what he has done.

Mary meditated on the right things.

I wonder what difference such a focus might make in our own lives. We don’t have to guess because Scripture tells us in Philippians 4:8-9:

Finally, brothers,
whatever is true,
whatever is honorable,
whatever is just,
whatever is pure,
whatever is lovely,
whatever is commendable,
if there is any excellence,
if there is anything worthy of praise,
think about these things …
practice these things,
and the God of peace
will be with you.

That’s what Abraham and Mary did. Consequently, their faith didn’t waver as they waited for God to make good on his promise. And he did. That’s why we celebrate Christmas.

As 2020 draws to a close, we find ourselves waiting. We’re waiting for this pandemic to end. We’re waiting to see how the political process plays out. We’re waiting to discover what the new year will bring. We’re waiting for any number of things.

What are you waiting for?

Perhaps the better question is:
Who are you waiting for?

They who wait for the Lord
will renew their strength;
they shall mount up with wings
like eagles;
they shall run and not be weary;
they shall walk and not faint.
- Isaiah 40:31 -

The Candy Cane Controversy

I don’t like the taste of candy canes, but many people do. Approximately 1.76 billion candy canes are produced in the U.S. each year, with 90% fo them being sold between Thanksgiving and Christmas. December 26 has even been designated as National Candy Cane Day!

Most of us have heard “the history of the candy cane” story. If you haven’t, you should. If you have, it’s worth hearing again. It goes like this:

A candymaker in Indiana wanted to make a candy that would be a witness, so he made the Christmas Candy Cane. He incorporated several symbols from the birth, ministry, and death of Jesus Christ.

He began with a stick of pure white, hard candy. White to symbolize the Virgin Birth and the sinless nature of Jesus, and hard to symbolize the Solid Rock, the foundation of the Church, and firmness of the promises of God.

The candymaker made the candy in the form of a “J” to represent the precious name of Jesus, who came to earth as our Savior. It could also represent the staff of the “Good Shepherd” with which He reaches down into the ditches of the world to lift out the fallen lambs who, like all sheep, have gone astray.

Thinking that the candy was somewhat plain, the candymaker stained it with red stripes. He used three small stripes to show the stripes of the scourging Jesus received by which we are healed. The large red stripe was for the blood shed by Christ on the cross so that we could have the promise of eternal life.

Unfortunately, the candy became known as a Candy Cane — a meaningless decoration seen at Christmas time. But the meaning is still there for those who “have eyes to see and ears to hear.” Every time you see a Candy Cane, remember the Wonder of Jesus and His Great Love that came down at Christmas, and that His Love remains the ultimate and dominant force in the universe today.

Despite the popularity of this story, it has been debunked by Snopes. In response to the question, “Did candy canes originate as religious symbols?”, David Mikkelson (founder of Snopes) wrote, “Despite modern religious legends, candy canes were not created as Christian symbols, representing the blood and purity of Jesus.”

Based on historical “candy cane sightings,” the candy cane probably originated in the 1600s as an all-white straight stick, rather than the curved, red-and-white version of the candy that hangs so nicely on Christmas trees and stockings today.

Still, the question posed to Snopes is quite specific. While candy canes may not have been created as Christian symbols, they certainly have become a simple, convenient way to share the good news of Jesus.

Although the history of the candy cane may be questionable, the historical reality of Jesus’ birth, life, death and resurrection is true and therefore completely credible. As Christian apologist William Lane Craig notes,

The gospels are not only trustworthy documents in general, but as we look at some of the most important aspects of Jesus in the gospels, like his radical personal claims, his miracles, his trial and crucifixion, and his resurrection, their historical veracity shines through. God has acted in history, and we can know it.

The candy cane can be a helpful tool in telling others about Jesus. So use it without getting hung up on its history.

Christmas Tree Skirt

This past weekend my wife Ruthie and I ventured out to a local farm to select a Christmas tree. After we had walked around a bit, we found a tree we liked, cut it down, and hauled it home. We brought it inside, plopped it in our tree stand, and tightened the screws until the tree stood firmly in place. Then we swept up the fallen needles and put water in the tree stand.

Afterwards my wife did what she does every year at that point. She wrapped our beautiful tree skirt around the stand at the base of the tree. At that point she said to me, “You should take a picture and send it to Cathy. She would probably love that.”

So that’s what I did. Before we hung any decorations on the tree, I took a picture of it with the skirt that Cathy Milner had given to us 25 years ago in Nova Scotia. Ruthie and I had moved there in 1994, when I accepted the call to pastor Wittenburg Baptist Church. Cathy was an Area Supervisor for the Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources, which hosted the annual Musquodoboit Valley Christmas Festival of Trees & Crafts. Every year, right after the festival was over, Cathy would give us one of the trees to use for our own Christmas tree, which was a real blessing.

But Cathy went beyond that and made us a Christmas tree skirt to go around the base of the tree. Up until that point my wife had used old curtains to wrap our Christmas tree stand. But we have used Cathy’s gift ever since.

A quarter-century is a long time. All five of our children are now in their twenties and out of our home. Yet throughout all their childhood years, Cathy’s gift graced the base of our tree. And it still does today.

Our Christmas tree skirt reminds me of a key principle we should remember:

A gift of kindness goes a long way.

I was reminded of this principle again earlier last week. One of my sons got a message out of the blue from a young man that now serves in the military, is married, and just had his second child. He’s a few years younger than my son, and they hadn’t talked for some time. But he sent my son a message saying,

You prob won’t remember this, but about ten years ago you … picked me up at school … to show me — quote: “the greatest combo known to mankind.” You drove me to dunks [Dunkin’ Donuts], got me a breakfast sandwich, then Cumbies [Cumberland Farms] to buy a Monster. Then you handed me both and you said “try it.” You’re right. It’s been a staple ever since. Haha.

He was right: my son didn’t remember this incident from a decade ago. But apparently it made quite an impact on this young man! Time would fail me to tell of other similar incidents. But here are two takeaways for us:

1. Never underestimate the long-standing impact of a simple gift.

2. Express gratitude to others for their past gifts to you.

You probably thanked them at the time. But a fresh word of appreciation might greatly encourage them. Paul wrote to his friends, “I thank my God every time I remember you” (Phil. 1:3). I’ll bet Paul’s note really encouraged them. If someone has been a blessing to you, let them know! You can be a blessing to them by letting them know how they have been a blessing to you.

A Minor Character of Christmas

Today on “Family & Friends Friday,” we’re blessed to have my friend, David Welker, as our guest blogger. Dave has been a member of Webster Bible Church since 1973 and serves with me on our elder leadership team. A retired public school teacher, Dave enjoys teaching elementary students in Olympians (a Word of Life program) and middle school students in the church's Sunday morning Truth Tracks (Sunday school) ministry. You will be able to tell from the article that Dave also enjoys crossword puzzles.

I have always been impressed by the faith of Simeon as seen in Luke’s account of the Christmas story (Luke 2:25-35). But to be truthful, I have seen him as a minor character in the narrative. When I studied this passage in depth back in October to prepare for my middle school Sunday school class, I realized that Simeon was not so minor after all.

Do the math. The shepherds get 13 verses in Luke. The wise men are allotted 12 verses in Matthew. Yet Simeon’s story spans 11 verses — and includes his own solo!

Here is the Scripture that recounts this remarkable man — Luke 2:25-35::

Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said,

“Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.”

And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him. And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother,

“Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”

Simeon is described as righteous and devout. He was at peace with God and with his fellow man. He has been waiting for the “Consolation of Israel,” a common term at that time for the Messiah (see Isaiah 12:1). This man had been promised by the Holy Spirit that he would see the Messiah before he died. Remember that God had been silent for 400 years. That makes Simeon’s faith all the more remarkable. He looked forward to the Messiah with eager anticipation.

The Holy Spirit brought Simeon to the Temple on the day that Jesus’ parents brought him to be presented there as required by the Law. It had to be the Spirit’s power that showed Simeon who the Messiah was, because I’m pretty sure that he was not looking for a six-week-old baby. He tenderly holds Jesus in his arms and blesses God! “My eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples.” (vv. 30-31)

This verse reveals two vital truths:

1. Salvation is a person. It is not ritual you perform or some set of laws you obey. Salvation is a person and that person is Jesus Christ. Do you have Him in your life today?

2. Salvation is for all people. There were not many world travelers in Israel at this time. It is my guess that Simeon was very limited in his geography. Yet he saw Jesus as the Savior of the world!

It is no surprise that the Gentile writer of this gospel, Luke, picked up on this point. Jesus was a Light to the Gentiles. Simon praises God that this tiny baby is also the long-awaited Savior of the Jewish nation.

The final section of Simeon’s part in the Christmas story is his foretelling of Mary’s “sword in her soul” (v. 35). Mary paid a steep price to be our Savior’s mother. She was shunned for being an “unwed mother.” She heard what others said about her son as He went about His ministry. And she stood at the cross to watch her son die a horrible death. Mary’s love of her son brought great suffering, a fact that Simeon foretold through the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

I am a person with a great amount of life experience. (That’s my tender way of saying that I’m in my seventies.) If you are in that age bracket, let me remind you that so was Simeon. God still has tasks for people our age to do for His Kingdom. Notice that Simeon was looking forward, not to the past.

Historians estimate that about 40,000 people lived in Jerusalem at this time. Only two of those people (the other is Anna, whose story is recounted in Luke 2:36-38) recognized the coming of the Savior of the world. You don’t have to be a great mathematician to see that the percentages are pretty small.

Be on the lookout this Christmas
for a chance to make a difference
in the life of someone around you.

I am a retired elementary school teacher. My background tells me that we need to encourage the young people around us. We do not want to be like the huge majority of people in Jerusalem who missed the chance to see an extraordinary child. A special child might be riding on the bus with you, living down the street, or residing right in your own home! Be watching. The Lord is at work!

Mary's Magnificent God - Part 4

Few songs are worth pondering line by line, stanza by stanza, but The Magnificat is such a song. When the angel of the Lord told Mary that she would give birth to the long-awaited Messiah, she worshiped God with a song of praise (Luke 1:46-55).

In the first stanza she expresses personal gratitude.

In the second stanza, she enlarges her perspective.

In the third stanza, she exults in God’s grace toward the humble.

In the fourth and final stanza, Mary emphasizes God’s faithfulness:

He has helped his servant Israel,
in remembrance of his mercy,
as he spoke to our fathers,
to Abraham and his offspring forever. (Luke 1:54-55)

Perhaps you’re thinking, “What does God’s promise to Israel have to do with me?” The answer is everything, if you have received Christ as your Lord and Savior! Scripture says,

Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham. And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “In you shall all the nations be blessed.” So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.
(Gal. 3:7-9)

If you’re a believer in Christ, God’s promises apply to you! God helps his people! God remembers his mercy! He keeps his word! “For all the promises of God find their Yes in him [Jesus, the Son of God]. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory” (2 Cor. 1:20).

Do you realize the awesome privilege that is yours in Christ? Mary did! That’s why she magnified the Lord and rejoiced in God her Savior! As noted in the ESV Study Bible, Mary’s testimony shows that “God uses people who are not great in the world’s eyes to work his great purposes on the earth.”

God blesses his people
not only with eternal life in heaven,
but also a life of significance on earth.

In his book, The Purpose-Driven Life, Rick Warren states,

Without God, life has no purpose, and without purpose, life has no meaning. Without meaning, life has no significance or hope.

Trusting God completely means having faith that He knows what is best for your life. You expect Him to keep His promises, help you with problems, and do the impossible when necessary.

Isn’t that precisely what we see in the life of Mary? Here’s the point:

Mary’s magnificent God is our God
who has done great things for us.

“The Lord has done great things for us; we are glad” (Ps. 26:3). The humble heart responds to God’s greatness in exultant worship. Mary exhibited such worship. Do we?

Because Mary’s God is our God, her song can be our song.

Mary's Magnificent God - Part 3

“Extraordinarily fine, superb, noble, great, of exceptional beauty and size.” Such words are used to define the term magnificent. Yet they all fall short of capturing the infinitely immense grandeur of God.

That’s why to really appreciate The Magnificat, Mary’s song of praise in Luke 1:46-55, we must consider the words of Scripture itself. That’s what we’ve been doing the last couple of days as we have pondered Mary’s song, one stanza at a time.

In part one, we saw how the first stanza expresses Mary’s personal gratitude to God (Luke 1:46-48).

In part two, we saw how the second stanza reflects her enlarged perspective of the Almighty (Luke 1:49-50).

Today we come to the third stanza of Mary’s song, where she presents a striking contrast between God’s treatment of the proud and humble. Luke 1:51-53 says,

He has shown strength with his arm;
He has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts;
He has brought down the mighty from their thrones and has exalted those of humble estate.

In the previous verse Mary proclaimed, “[God’s] mercy is for those who fear him, from generation to generation” (Luke 1:50). Now Mary proves her point by showing what God has done in times past. If you read through the Bible you will see that the actions of God described in Mary’s song are consistent with what God has done throughout history. God fights for his people. “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble” (1 Pet. 5:7).

C. S. Lewis wrote,

In God you come up against something which is in every respect immeasurably superior to yourself. Unless you know God as that — and therefore, know yourself as nothing in comparison — you do not know God at all. As long as you are proud, you cannot know God. A proud man his always looking down on things and people: and, of course, as long as you are looking down, you can’t see something that is above you.

Scripture warns, “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall” (Prov. 16:18). Pride led to Lucifer’s fall from heaven and Adam’s fall into sin. God has demonstrated this principle since the dawn of creation.

After the birth of Jesus, when Joseph and Mary brought him to the temple, a godly old man named Simeon blessed them, saying to Mary, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of man in Israel” (Luke 2:34). Those who were arrogant and rejected Christ would be punished. Those who humbled themselves by repenting of their sins and entrusting themselves to Jesus would rise and be blessed.

John 3:36 says, “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.” John 5:22 says, “The Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son.” One day you will stand before Jesus and give an account of your life here on earth. What you do with Jesus now will decide what Jesus does with you then. As one song writer put it,

What will you do with Jesus?
Neutral you cannot be.
One day your heart will be asking,
“What will He do with me?”

When we consider the wrath of God that will be poured out on those who reject his Son, it should make us all the more grateful for the mercy that we have received through Christ. The late theologian Carl Henry once said,

How can anyone be arrogant
when he stands beside the cross?

When we consider the price that Jesus paid to save us from our sin, we should forever live in humble gratitude and service to the one who loved us and gave himself for us (Gal. 2:20).

Alas, and did my Savior bleed,
And did my Sovereign die?
Would He devote that sacred head
For such a worm as I?

Was it for sins that I had done
He groaned upon the tree?
Amazing pity, grace unknown
And love beyond degree!

My God, why would You shed Your blood
So pure and undefiled,
To make a sinful one like me
Your chosen, precious child?

Well might the sun in darkness hide,
And shut His glories in,
When Christ, the mighty Maker, died
For man, the creature's, sin.

Thus might I hide my blushing face
While His dear cross appears;
Dissolve my heart in thankfulness,
And melt my eyes to tears.

But drops of grief can ne’er repay
The debt of love I owe;
Here, Lord, I give myself away,
’Tis all that I can do.

(Isaac Watts, 1707)

Mary's Magnificent God - Part 2

Years ago Elton John sang, “When all hope is gone, sad songs say so much.” But songs of praise say so much more, especially when composed on the very pages of Holy Scripture!

Such is the case with the Magnificat - Mary’s song of praise in Luke 1:46-55. It consists of four stanzas. We looked at the first stanza in yesterday’s post. In these opening lines, Mary expresses her gratitude to God for his grace.

As Mary continues to ponder God’s greatness, her perspective widens. This is evident in the second stanza.

Stanza Two:
Enlarged Perspective

In verses 49-50, Mary testifies,

For he who is mighty
has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.
And his mercy
is for those who fear him
from generation to generation.

The first part of this stanza reinforces the theme of the first stanza, that God has shown favor to Mary. He who is mighty has done great things for her! In his commentary, R. C. H. Lenski points out, “God’s might is never merely quiescent, like that of a mighty king who is sitting and doing nothing; his might is ceaselessly active.” Yes, God’s power is always at work!

God is not only mighty, but he is also holy. Mary readily asserts, “And holy is his name.” In ancient times, a person’s name was reflective of his character and reputation. Proverbs 22:1 says, “A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches….” Why? Because it is more precious, powerful and enduring. Mary uses the word “and” to connect God’s might to his holiness.

The psalmist testified,

Your righteousness, O God,
reaches the high heavens.
You who have done great things,
O God, who is like you?
- Psalm 71:19 -

The answer is: nobody. God alone is perfectly righteous in every way.

But there is one more character quality of God that Mary highlights. In verse 50 she declares, “And his mercy is for those who fear him.” The word “mercy” emphasizes human misery and the impulse to relieve it, which results in gracious action.

That’s the heart and soul of Christmas. On account of our sin, we all deserve God’s judgment. In our natural state, we are guilty, condemned, and unable to rescue ourselves.

But God, being rich in mercy,
because of the great love
with which he loved us,
even when we were dead
in our trespasses,
made us alive together with Christ –
by grace you have been saved.
- Ephesians 2:4,5 -

In her song of praise, Mary connects God’s mercy to his holiness, and his holiness to his might. It’s amazing to see how all three of these attributes came together in the virgin birth. God revealed his might through the miracle of the virgin birth, and God retained his holiness through the manner of it. Earlier in this same chapter, the angel told Mary, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy – the Son of God” (Luke 1:35). God in his holiness separates the conception from sin, yet God in his mercy provides the conception for sinners!

That’s what makes the doctrine of the Virgin Birth so critical to the Christian faith. Do we serve an awesome God, or what? He is “holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty!”

“And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation” (v. 50). God’s mercy is available to all, but it is applied only to those who revere him for the mighty, holy, and merciful God that he has revealed himself to be in Scripture. When Jesus was born, a multitude of the heavenly host praised God and said,

Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace among those
with whom he is pleased!
- Luke 2:14 -

With whom is God pleased? Those who take him at his word and worship him accordingly. “And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him” (Heb. 11:6).

God said, “You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart” (Jer. 29:11). God did great things for Mary, and the good news is that God will do great things for you! Go to him in faith, believing all that he has revealed himself to be. “For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself” (Acts 2:39).

Everything we have read to this point in Mary’s song of praise should cause us to believe God’s Word, bow in reverence before him, and be filled with gratitude for all the great things he has done for us.

But God’s mercy becomes all the more apparent when it is contrasted with his judgment on those who do not fear him. We will look at this contrast in the third stanza of Mary’s song tomorrow.

Mary's Magnificent God - Part 1

December is here, and with that comes the singing of some of our favorite Christmas carols. One of the best Christmas hymns of all time was sung by Mary, the mother of our Lord. Historically it has been referred to as Mary’s Magnificat [song of praise].

This song, recorded in Luke 1:46-55, is a marvelous expression of praise. It teaches us a vital lesson:

The humble heart
responds to God’s greatness
in exultant worship.

Mary’s song consists of four stanzas. There is a logical flow which makes them easy to remember.

• In the first stanza, Mary expresses her personal gratitude to God, rejoicing in all that he has done for her.

• In the second stanza, Mary’s spiritual perspective widens as she considers that God’s “mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation.”

• In the third stanza, God’s mercy becomes all the more apparent when seen in contrast to his judgment on those who do not fear him.

• In the fourth stanza as Mary affirms that God’s mercy is the fulfillment of his promise to his people throughout history.

As we survey this beautiful song over the next four days (one stanza per day), may the Holy Spirit stoke the embers of our hearts until we are white-hot with worship.

Stanza One:
Personal Gratitude

And Mary said,
My soul magnifies the Lord,
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.
For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed.
- Luke 1:46-48

Mary’s song is intensely personal. “My soul…my spirit…my Savior.” Jesus stated, “God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth” (John 4:24). The essence of worship is not the externals — such as a state-of-the-art sound system, a large choir, or an impressive band or orchestra — but the heart and head. “Spirit and truth.” The words of Mary’s mouth expressed the truth that had taken hold of her heart.

Although Mary’s song was intensely personal, it was not self-focused. Instead, Mary made much of God. “My soul magnifies the Lord.” In the Latin version of Mary’s song, the word “magnifies” [magnificat] appears first, which is why this song came to be called the Magnificat. The word magnify means “to make large.” Of course we don’t make God large. He is infinite by his very nature — beyond all human measurement or calculation!

We don’t make God large in terms of his person, but we do make him large in terms of our perception. Sadly, our tendency is to magnify people and make too little of God.

Our tendency is
to magnify people
and make too little of God.

Consider what the Roman Catholic Church has done to Mary. They teach that Mary was conceived immaculate and was therefore sinless. But Mary herself said, “My spirit rejoices in God my Savior.” Mary herself recognized that she was a sinner in need of the Savior. An angel declared to Joseph, “She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins” (Matt. 1:21).

Mary goes on to say in Luke 1:48, “He has looked on the humble estate of his servant.” The verb “looked on” means to notice. Mary was amazed that God took any notice of her at all. Mary’s ancestor David said something similar in Psalm 8:

O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens. … When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?

Both David and Mary were blown away by the fact that God would even notice them, let alone care for them.

Are you blown away by that thought? Mary knew that she was a sinner who did not deserve God’s favor. That is why she rejoiced so greatly when she received it.

In fact, Mary concludes verse 48 by saying, “For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed.” The word “behold” is a signal word. It is meant to grab people’s attention. Mary says, in essence, “Look! What God has done for me will never be forgotten!” Mary makes it clear that she is not the blesser, but the one being blessed.

We have good reason to admire Mary, but we have no cause to worship her. Mary’s soul magnified the Lord, and so should we. Her spirit rejoiced greatly in God her Savior, and so should ours. God is the Giver of every good and perfect gift (James 1:17), the Fount of every blessing. The most wonderful gift of all is Jesus.

When it comes to personal gratitude, Mary is a good model for us. May we pray, as George Herbert did,

Thou that hast given
so much to me,
Give one thing more:
A grateful heart.

Prince of Peace

A few years ago, Forbes magazine published an article titled, “The Top 8 Things People Desperately Desire But Can’t Seem to Attain.” Peace was #4 on the list. Happiness was #1.

Did you know that the Hebrew word for “peace,” shalom, conveys both of these qualities? It speaks of tranquility, well-being, wholeness, safety and security. All of these blessings are wrapped up in the word shalom.

Seven hundred years before Jesus was born, the prophet Isaiah wrote,

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given … and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace [Shalom].”
- Isaiah 9:6

In our three previous blog posts, we explored the meaning of the names Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, and Everlasting Father. Today we’ll focus on the fourth title:: Prince of Peace.

The night before he died on the cross, Jesus told his disciples, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid” (John 14:27).

When someone is about to die, he usually writes a last will and testament in which he leaves his money and possessions to his loved ones. That’s what Jesus does here. But what he gives his followers is something that money can’t buy: peace.

He says, “Not as the world gives do I give to you.” The Pax Romana (“Roman peace”) was brought about by a brutal sword, but that peace wouldn’t last. Jesus brought peace by the blood of the cross – by suffering and dying as a sacrifice for sin – so that we could be reconciled to God and have a peace that lasts forever. “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Rom. 5:1).

Once we’re at peace with God,
we can experience the peace of God.

Inner peace is the primary quality that Jesus emphasizes in John 14:17, for he says, “Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”

Our hearts have a natural bent toward worry and fear. However, Jesus says, “Don’t let your heart go there.”

Worry and fear are unauthorized areas for the Christian. We must deny our hearts access. The promises of God are protective barriers for our hearts. When we lay hold of God’s promises through prayer, God’s peace prevails. Scripture says,

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. (Phil. 4:6-7 NLT)

The disciples needed to hear this, because they were constantly preoccupied with themselves, which never brings peace. But as we focus on Christ, he gives his peace to us freely as a gift. “Ask and it will be given to you” (Matt. 7:7).

We can experience peace because Jesus has provided it for us. He has promised it to us — and God always keeps his promises! Since that is true, let us resolve to do three things:

1. Rejoice in God’s provisions! Through Christ, you have pardon for sin! You have the power to obey God’s Word! You have his Holy Spirit living within you — your heart is his home! You have all the promises of God at your disposal, and the peace of God that lasts forever. So rejoice!

2. Make Jesus’ pleasure your passion. Stop being preoccupied with yourself. That never brings peace. Instead, “find out what pleases the Lord” (Eph. 5:10) and “make it [your] aim to please him” (2 Cor. 5:9). The psalmist wrote, “Great peace have those who love your law; nothing can make them stumble” (Ps. 119:165).

3. Choose faith over fear. Scripture says, “God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control.” Picture that “no access” sign. Get control of your heart. Don’t let it venture into the unauthorized areas of worry and fear. “Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you” (1 Pet. 5:7 NLT).

In her classic book, Streams in the Desert, Mrs. Charles Cowman wrote,

Two painters each painted a picture to illustrate his conception of rest. The first chose for his scene a still lake among the far-off mountains.

The second threw on his canvas a thundering waterfall, with a fragile birch tree bending over the foam; and at the fork of the branch, almost wet with the cataract’s spray, sat a robin on its nest.

The first was only stagnation; the last was rest.

Christ’s life outwardly was one of the most troubled lives that ever lived: tempest and tumult, tumult and tempest, the waves breaking over it all the time until the worn body was laid in the grave. But the inner life was a sea of glass. The great calm was always there.

Even when the human bloodhounds were dogging him in the streets of Jerusalem, He turned to His disciples and offered them as a lasting legacy, “My peace.”

Rest is not a hallowed feeling that comes over us in church; it is the repose of a heart set deep in God.

Everlasting Father

Recently our daughter gave birth to a son. A year ago we knew nothing about him because he didn’t exist. He hadn’t been conceived, and no one could guarantee that he would be conceived.

Such was not the case with God’s Son. Centuries before Jesus was born, God guaranteed that he would come — so much so that he announced it as if the Messiah’s birth had already happened. It was as good as done.

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given … and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (Isa. 9:6)

Each of these titles tell us something significant about the Son of God and why he is such a precious gift to us. We have already seen how Jesus is the Wonderful Counselor and the Mighty God. Today we’ll consider how Jesus is our “Everlasting Father.”

What it does not mean:

When Scripture refers to the Messiah as the “Everlasting Father,” it does not mean that the Messiah is God the Father. Scripture teaches that God is a Tri-Unity. That’s what the word Trinity means. There is one God who consists of three co-equal, co-eternal Persons. The following diagram helps helps to clarify the personal distinction yet essential unity between the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

As you can see, the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Spirit is God.

• But the Father is not the Son, and the Father is not the Spirit.

• The Son is not the Father, and the Son is not the Spirit.

• The Spirit is not the Son, and the Spirit is not the Father.

The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are all God, but they are all separate Persons with respective roles and functions.

Since that is true, what does Isaiah mean when he says that Jesus is our “Everlasting Father”? That’s a good question!

What it does mean:

The Hebrew word for “father” [אָב] has many nuances. Two of these meanings in particular reflect Jesus’ role as the Messiah.

1. Head of household

   Earlier in Isaiah’s prophecy he refers to “the children whom the Lord has given me” (Isa. 8:18). The author of Hebrews applies this statement directly to Jesus, after referring to him as “the founder of [our] salvation” (Heb. 2:10, 13).

   When predicting the sufferings of the Messiah, Isaiah says, “it was the will of the Lord to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand” (Isa. 53:10).

   Through his redeeming work, Jesus became the “founder of our faith” (Heb. 12:2). We are his spiritual offspring. He is the head of the church (Eph. 5:23), the household of faith (Gal. 6:10). In this sense Jesus Christ is our “Everlasting Father.”

2. Benevolent Provider/Protector

   This is the second way in which the Hebrew term “father” can be used. We see this in the case of the Old Testament saint Job, who testified, “I was a father to the poor and assisted strangers who needed help” (Job 29:16).

   Is not Jesus the ultimate example of this? “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45). Ephesians 5 says that Jesus “nourishes and cherishes [the church], because we are members of his body” (Eph. 5:29-30). Just as we naturally love and take care of ourselves, so Jesus loves and takes care of us. Because this is true, the apostle Paul confidently assured his fellow believers, “And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:19).

   Jesus not only provides for us, but he also protects us. He said, “I will build my church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it” (Matt. 16:18). If you belong to Christ, you are as safe and secure as you can be! He will provide for you, and he will protect you.

And he will do so forever — for Jesus is the “Everlasting Father.” In the first chapter of Revelation, John sees Jesus glorified and hears him say, “‘I am the Alpha and the Omega,’ says the Lord God, ‘who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty’” (Rev. 1:8). Because Jesus is God, and God is eternal, we can be sure that he will never cease to care for us.

Practical Application

We should respond to Jesus’ role as “Everlasting Father” in two ways:

1. Come to Jesus.

   Jesus himself says, “Come to me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matt. 11:28). Jesus wept over the city of Jerusalem, saying, “How often I have wanted to gather your children together as a hen protects her chicks beneath her wings, but you wouldn’t let me” (Matt. 23:37).

   What about you? Have you come to Jesus in faith, receiving the salvation that he has provided through his atoning death? The night before he died, Jesus told his disciples, “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you” (John 14:18). David said, “Even if my father and mother abandon me, the Lord will hold me close” (Ps. 27:10). He is the “Father of the fatherless and protector of widows” (Ps. 68:5). Sometimes loved ones leave us through death or desertion. But such will never be the case with Jesus. You can always depend on him to be there for you. So come to him.

2. Become like Jesus.

   Ephesians 5 teaches us that those who are loved by God are to become like God. His love and character are to be reflected in our lifestyles and relationships. The world needs to see men who lovingly lead their homes … husbands who are faithful to their wives … fathers who protect and provide for their children.

   On a broader scale, we are to imitate Jesus in the life of the church. We are to love one another deeply and sacrificially. Instead of having a “what’s-in-it-for-me” mentality, we should look for ways to love others as Jesus has loved us.

Without Jesus’ loving leadership, provision and protection, we would be lost, destitute, and doomed. But, praise his holy name, Jesus is our “Everlasting Father.”

O, come, let us adore Him!

Mighty God

What situation has you discouraged, concerned, anxious, or frustrated? Years ago a well-known pastor made a good point, saying,

When you ask many people, “How are you doing?” they say, “I’m doing OK — under the circumstances.” What are you doing under the circumstances? Who put you there? Why don’t you get on top of the circumstances? Circumstances are like the mattress on your bed. Get on top of them, and you’ll rest easy. Get underneath them, and you’re going to suffocate.

That sounds good, but how exactly do we get on top of our circumstances? We do it by looking to the Lord, our “mighty God.” This is the second title ascribed by Isaiah to Jesus, several centuries before his birth:

For to us a child is born, to us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (Isa. 9:6)

In yesterday’s devotional we saw that, at the time this prophecy was delivered, Israel was a nation “in anguish” (Isa. 9:1). But God promised that brighter days were coming. Amidst the darkness a light would shine, and that Light was none other than God’s own Son, the Lord Jesus Christ (Matt. 4:12-16; cf. Matt. 1:23). The first title ascribed to him, “Wonderful Counselor,” could be translated “a wonder of a counselor.” The Hebrew word for “wonder” is pala, which appears 70 times throughout the Old Testament and is used primarily in reference to God. The word pala first appears in Genesis 18:14, where the Lord says in reference to himself, “Is anything too hard [pala] for the Lord?”

This ties in well with the second title ascribed to Jesus in Isaiah 9:6: “Mighty God.” The Hebrew term is El Gibbor. El is a term for God that signifies strength. In some contexts the term is translated as “might” or “power.” Yet this term for God is intensified by the adjective Gibbor, which means “mighty,” “strong,” or “valiant.” The combination of these terms into the title “El Gibbor” emphasizes the almightiness of God.

We see the staggering power of God in the very first statement in Scripture: “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth” (Gen. 1:1). The prophet Jeremiah exclaimed, “Ah, Lord God! It is you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you” (Jer. 32:17). In the next verse, Jeremiah addresses the Lord as the “great and mighty God” (Jer. 32:18). it would do us well to remember that Jeremiah lived in even darker days than Isaiah and has been referred to as “the weeping prophet.” Yet in the midst of his tears he turned to his “mighty God” in prayer and continued to trust him.

Is that what you do during troubled times? That’s what we should do all the time. All we must do to be reminded of God’s almighty power is to consider the beauty of creation (general revelation) and the truth of Scripture (special revelation).

I experienced the convergence of both revelations upon waking up today. During my quiet time with the Lord I read these verses in Psalm 147:

He sends out his command to the earth; his word runs swiftly. He gives snow like wool; he scatters frost like ashes. He hurls down his crystals of ice like crumbs; who can stand before his cold? He sends out his word, and melts them; he makes his wind blow and the waters flow. (Ps. 147:15-18)

I had to look no further than my front yard to see the reality of this truth:

Shortly after seeing the fresh-fallen snow, I saw the “waters flow” on my short walk from home to church.

In this moment I turned my problems into prayers. I laid them out before the Lord. I thought of how microscopic my issues were in comparison to God’s omnipotent strength — so much so as to be laughable. “Is anything too hard for the Lord?” Of course not! The God who created and sustains the universe is more than able to handle whatever issues are facing me … and you.

Why be stressed
when you can be blessed?

In closing, for your encouragement, I’d like to share with you three things that Jesus, as the “mighty God,” is able to do for us. All I did was look up the clause “he is able” in reference to Jesus Christ, and here’s what I found:

1. He is able to save us. Because Jesus is the mighty God, “he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them” (Heb. 7:25). Have you put your trust in Jesus fully for salvation?

2. He is able to keep us. Because Jesus is the mighty God, the apostle Paul testified, “I know whom I have believed an am persuaded that he is able to keep what I have committed to him until that Day” (2 Tim. 1:12). Are you looking for security in earthly things, or in the mighty God who will never let you go? (See also John 10:27-30)

3. He is able to help us. Because Jesus is the mighty God, and “because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted” (Heb. 2:18). If you are trusting in Jesus for your eternal salvation, doesn’t it make sense to trust him in every situation — to rely on him to help you through your daily struggles and temptations?

Jesus is the “Mighty God.” He is able to save us, keep us, and help us. This is “good news of great joy for all people,” including you and me.

My faith can rest on no other pillow than Christ’s omnipotence.

What’s your faith resting on?

Wonderful Counselor

Everyone is anxious to put 2020 behind us. While it’s a stretch to say that it’s “the worst year ever,” there’s no question that we are living in troubled times. In fact, this perspective was pre-pandemic. According to a 2019 Pew Research Survey, only 12% of Americans were “very optimistic” about the nation’s future, whereas 31% were “somewhat pessimistic” and 13% “very pessimistic.”

Ancient Israel was no different in the days of Isaiah. God himself described her as a nation “in anguish” (Isa. 9:1). Israel was under God’s judgment on account of her sin. More hardship was headed her way. The people were living in dark days.

But in the midst of their gloom, God promised that brighter days were coming. Speaking through his prophet Isaiah, the Lord declared,

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shined. You have multiplied the nation; you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest….
For to us a child is born, to us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (Isa. 9:2-3, 6)

The New Testament applies this prophecy to Jesus in his First Advent (see Matt. 4:12-16). Earlier Isaiah had declared, “Therefore, the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel [God with us]” (Isa. 7:14). This prophecy also is applied to the conception and birth of Jesus Christ (Matt. 1:23). He is the Child born to us, the Son given to us.

What a Gift he is! Isaiah 9:6 ascribes four titles to this coming King. The first designation is "Wonderful Counselor.”

This title could also be translated “a wonder of a counselor.” The Hebrew word pala (“wonderful”) appears 70 times in the Old Testament. It is used primarily with God as its subject, expressing actions that are beyond human powers or expectations. This idea is expressed well in Psalm 118:23: “This is the Lord’s doing, and it is wonderful to see.” The word pala first appears in Genesis 18:14, where the Lord says in reference to himself, “Is anything too hard [pala] for the Lord?”

Of course not! And that includes the counsel he gives us. The apostle Paul tells us that Christ Jesus “became to us wisdom from God” (1 Cor. 1:31). In his commentary on this particular verse, John MacArthur notes that believers

are given God’s wisdom. They not only are saved by God’s wisdom rather than their own, but are given God’s wisdom to replace their own. The truly wise of this world are those whose wisdom is not of this world but is from the Lord. Christians can say, without pride or self-boasting, that they have become wise in Jesus Christ. They stand as a testimony for all time that God in His wisdom chose the sinful, the weak, and the unwise in order to make them righteous, strong, and wise. God grants them His wisdom that He might be glorified, that it might be clearly seen that the wisdom Christians have is not their own but is by His power and grace.

For this reason, the apostle Paul was able to affirm his fellow believers, saying, “I myself am satisfied about you, my brothers and sisters, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able to instruct one another” (Rom. 15:14). We display the wisdom of Christ whenever we counsel others according to Scripture in the power of the Holy Spirit (see Psalm 119:24; James 1:5).

Note: Charles Stanley has written an article titled “10 Ways to Detect Ungodly Counsel.” Two red flags are the absence of prayer, and people giving advice based on what they think rather than what God thinks. To read more of this brief, beneficial article, click here.

The Lord Jesus Christ gives us all the wisdom and direction we need in life. He is our “Wonderful Counselor,” and for that we praise him!

(Tomorrow we’ll consider the second title in Isaiah 9:6: “Mighty God.”)

Love Gift

Despite the many challenges and disappointments of 2020, this year’s Thanksgiving was extra special in that our entire family was able to celebrate this holiday together. Our youngest son Timothy had contracted COVID-19 but recovered and was released from quarantine just three days prior. Our oldest son Matthew drove all the way up from Florida to join us in upstate New York on Thanksgiving Eve. We hadn’t seen him for more than a year. Yet the Lord graciously allowed us to celebrate this special holiday together.

One of the highlights of our extended weekend was when our children gave their mom an early birthday present. (Ruthie’s birthday is December 18, but the kids wanted to present their gift in person.) You can see the joy on our children’s faces as Ruthie opened their gift — a gift of love, from all to one.

At Christmas we celebrate another gift of love — not from all to one, but from One to all. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (Jn 3:16).

Our gifts to one another should remind us of God’s ultimate gift to us.

The deepest love
resulted in the greatest gift
that came at the ultimate cost.

Whereas my children presented their gift a bit early, God sent his Son when the proper time had fully come (see Gal. 4:4-5). Why? So that we could be forgiven of our sin and live forever in perfect fellowship with him.

When my children presented their gift to their mother, all Ruthie had to do was receive it. She did not contribute anything to it because the gift was already bought and paid for by those who loved her. The same is true with respect to our salvation. “And it was not paid with mere gold or silver, which lose their value. It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God” (1 Pet. 1:19 NLT).

How should we respond to this priceless, precious, perfect gift?

1. Receive it. Faith is the hand that receives God’s gift. “For by grace you are saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God” (Eph. 2:8).

2. Rejoice in it. Jesus said to his followers, “rejoice that your names are written in heaven” (Luke 10:20).

3. Reflect on it. “Consider what great things [the Lord] has done for you” (1 Sam. 12:24).

To help us do that, each G.E.T. (Gospel Encouragement Today) devotional from now through Christmas Day will focus on one aspect of God’s gift to us. I hope you’ll join us as we celebrate this Advent Season by exploring the wonder of God’s gift together.

The Dying Art of Cultivating a Grateful Heart

Today on “Family & Friends Friday,” I’m blessed to have my wife Ruthie as my guest blogger! We have been married for 30 years, and I can assure you that “she opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue” (Prov. 31:26). So I was thrilled when Ruthie submitted this article to me on a subject that is not only near and dear to her heart, but one that also beautifies her heart: gratitude.

_________________________

As I was packing up some teaching supplies after a Sunday morning children’s church lesson, my heart was warmed when one of the young girls aged 9 or 10 came directly up to me, looked me in the eye and said, “Thank you, Mrs. Fletcher, for teaching me today.” She then headed off down the hall with her dad.

I remember thinking to myself, “Wow, it’s quite obvious that this young lady’s parents have made it a priority to train her to be intentionally thankful.” I use the word “intentional” because it’s easy for all of us to go about our daily business, being unmindful of the many blessings that surround us.

James reminds us that “every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father,” and our response should be as revealed in a plethora of Scriptures, to “give thanks,” “bless His name,” “tell of His wondrous works,” and “sing praise in your heart.”

From the moment we open our eyes and plant our feet on the floor each morning, ready to receive the gift of another day, may God make us aware and grateful for the common graces of breath in our lungs, homes to shelter us, food to nourish us, clothing, a beautiful creation to explore, family, freedoms in our country and so much more.

And for those of us who have trusted in Christ for the forgiveness of our sins, and can call God our Heavenly Father, how incredibly blessed we are to be partakers of the special graces of a home awaiting us in heaven, Scripture that is alive and powerful, the amazing gift of the Holy Spirit, and Jesus Christ our great High Priest who provides us access to the God of the universe!

How can we not give thanks?

Given the fact that we are all naturally prone to being self-absorbed and ungrateful, cultivating a thankful heart takes prayer and consistent effort.

1. Ask God to make us acutely aware of blessings around us and to give us a tender, humble, appreciative mindset.

2. Work to exercise the discipline of being thankful.

As a parent, I cannot emphasize enough the importance of both modeling and perpetuating this in the impressionable hearts and minds of our children. It starts with a teaching your toddler to say “please” and “thank you” for his peanut butter sandwich … to appealing to the heart of your 6 or 7 year old based on everything we enjoy coming down from a loving God … which in turn leads to working to drive home to your teenager the full thrusts of the gospel — contrasting what we really deserve with what was provided for us in the person of Jesus Christ.

This is a tall order, to be sure. But God never calls us to a task without giving us what we need to accomplish it.

So as we head into this special season of Thanksgiving at the end of a particularly difficult year, may we take to heart the words of C. S. Lewis:

Gratitude exclaims very properly,
”How good of God to give me this.”

_________________________

Editor’s Note: I will be on vacation from now through Thanksgiving weekend. So the weekday G.E.T. devotionals will resume on November 30.

Led by the Spirit? Maybe, Maybe Not

Have you ever heard someone say:

“The Spirit led me to . . .”
”God made it clear to me . . .”
”I felt the Lord saying to me . . .”

All of these catch-phrases are meant to indicate “the Spirit’s leading” in one’s life. People use it to explain (defend?) their decisions, actions, and way of doing things.

But did you know that the expression “led by the Spirit,” occurs only twice in the New Testament?

Romans 8:13-14: For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live. For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.

Galatians 5:16-18: So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

In each case, being led of the Spirit has to do with killing sin — refusing to gratify the desires of the flesh. In his helpful article, The Spirit Led Me To …, Mike Riccardi states,

If we are going to be relentlessly Biblical, this has to be the way we primarily understand and use that phrase: being led by the Spirit. “The Spirit led me to put off my anger and bitterness.” “The Spirit led me to mortify my lust for attention and recognition.” And so on.

But let’s face it. We rarely if ever hear someone say that they’re led of the Spirit in that sense. As I stated above, usually folks use that phrase to explain their own decisions and actions.

I do think there’s a little “wiggle room” here, if the phrase is used in a manner that’s consistent with the overall teaching of Scripture. For instance, Ephesians 6:18 says that we are to be “praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints.” Sometimes as we’re praying, we truly sense the Holy Spirit prompting us to pray for a certain person or situation. Then afterwards we hear of how God used that prayer to accomplish his purpose in the lives of his people and glorify himself as a result. That would seem to be a legitimate understanding of the Spirit’s leading.

But in far too many cases, Christians are quick to claim, “The Spirit led me to . . . [fill in the blank]” — and that blank represents whatever they’re bent on doing. Riccardi writes,

Though the person might be sincere, this really is just scrambling for some authority to validate one’s own subjective gut-feelings and impressions. Instead, we should call them what they are: gut-feelings and impressions.

As Clint Archer points out, “personal experience is unsure, untouchable, and unverifiable.”

Unsure. No personal experience is trustworthy enough [in and of itself] to stake your soul on it.

Untouchable. Experiences are subjective, not open to critique. If someone questions your stance, you can simply reply, “I just know it was true.” End of discussion.

Unverifiable. Legitimizing one’s subjective impression as the Lord’s leading opens the door to using spiritual claims for selfish gains. “God told me so” becomes the ace in the hole. “Imagine a deacons’ meeting,” says Archer, “where one guy wants the carpet to be blue and the other prefers beige. The first one to say God sides with him wins.”

Scripture is our ultimate authority. Whenever our subjective impressions would lead us to do something that is out of line with Scripture, whether directly or indirectly by violating clear commands or principles of Christian prudence, then we’re being led by our gut, not by our God.

So let’s make sure that we’re being “led of the Spirit” in the way that the Lord intends, according to Scripture. Then we’ll be better Christians who bless others and bring glory to God.

Saluting Those Who Have Served Our Country

Give to everyone what you owe them:
if respect, then respect;
if honor, then honor.
- Romans 13:7 -

The word “honor” translates a Greek word (timē) which means to estimate the worth of something and to show careful regard for it. The apostle Paul uses the same word in Acts 28:10 to describe the citizens of Malta (a small island nation 58 miles south of Sicily), saying, “they heaped many honors on us, and when we sailed, they gave us what we needed.” That is to say, the people held Paul in high esteem and showed their admiration and respect in tangible ways.

That’s what Scripture commands Christians to do in relation to public officials, according to Romans 13:7. The respect and honor we show them is not a voluntary contribution on our part; it is what we “owe them.” The very next verse says, “Owe nothing to anyone—except for your obligation to love one another” (Rom. 13:8).

While Christians are called to love all people, even our enemies (Matt. 5:44), the emphasis in Romans 13:1-7 is on showing honor and respect to public officials, those who are employed by our government.

Veterans Day provides a special opportunity to honor specifically our military members — all those who have served our country in war or peace. (Whereas Memorial Day is a time to remember those who gave their lives for our country, Veterans Day is meant to honor present and former military members who are still alive.)

Veterans Day was originally called Armistice Day, commemorating the end of World War I. According to the U.S. Department of Defense website,

World War I officially ended when the Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919. However, the fighting ended about seven months before that when the Allies and Germany put into effect an armistice on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month.

For that reason, Nov. 11, 1918, was largely considered the end of “the war to end all wars” and dubbed Armistice Day. In 1926, Congress officially recognized it as the end of the war, and in 1938, it became an official holiday, primarily a day set aside to honor veterans of World War I.

But then World War II and the Korean War happened, so on June 1, 1954, at the urging of veterans service organizations, Congress amended the commemoration yet again by changing the word “armistice” to “veterans” so the day would honor American veterans of all wars.

President Dwight D. Eisenhower signs HR7786, June 1, 1954. This ceremony changed Armistice Day to Veterans Day.

The liberties that we enjoy as Americans today exist because our veterans have faithfully served, and even fought, to defend our nation’s freedom. These men and women deserve our honor and respect.

How can we show it to them? The easiest way is simply to thank them. Not just in a general way by posting something on social media (although that is a good thing to do), but in a personal way. Express your sincere gratitude to at least one veteran for his/her service to our country.

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs website lists 45 practical ways to honor veterans. Here are some things you can do:

1. Attend a Veteran’s Day event.

2. Ask a Veteran about his/her time in the military, and really listen to his/her answer.

3. Take a Veteran out to dinner, or take dinner to a Veteran.

4. Write and send a letter to someone who is currently serving in the military.

5. Thank a Veteran co-worker for their service.

6. Wear your favorite “pro-Vet” T-shirt.

7. Devote time or money or supplies to local Veterans Day drives.

8. Gather with family and friends to watch a patriotic movie.

9. Thank a Veteran for his/her service while running errands

10. Pick one or two of the activities listed above, and resolve to do them at least once a month when it’s NOT Veterans Day.

Above all, let us pray for our Veterans. Not only that God would keep them safe and secure and bless them, but that they would experience the joy of salvation by putting their trust in the the Lord Jesus Christ, who loved us and gave himself for us (Gal. 2:20).

Chapter and verse!

From fifth grade through twelfth grade, I had the privilege of attending a Christian school. The friendships that I cultivated with other students and faculty/staff members forty years ago are ones that I still enjoy today (albeit primarily through social media). The discipleship I received at home from my parents was largely reinforced and supplemented at my church and its Christian school, for which I’lll be forever grateful. Little did I know at the time just how many lessons learned during these formative years I would carry with me the rest of my life.

One such lesson was the Reformation principle of Sola Scriptura (“Scripture alone”), which means that Scripture is our supreme authority on any matter on which it speaks. As the Westminster Confession of Faith states,

The whole counsel of God, concerning all things necessary for his own glory, man’s salvation, faith, and life, is either expressly set down in scripture, or by good and necessary consequence, may be deduced from scripture: unto which nothing at any time is to be added, whether by new revelations of the Spirit, or traditions of men.

One teacher in particular at our Christian school would quote Bible references to students throughout the day, applying Scripture to various situations. He wouldn’t quote the verse itself, just the reference. Of course that would make the students curious about which verse the teacher was alluding to, so they would grab their Bibles to find out.

Two different verses seemed to be his favorites, perhaps because in the teacher’s mind they so perfectly addressed the situation at hand.

• During seat work time, a boy would be goofing around with his friend next to him, and the teacher would look at them and say, “First Thessalonians 4:11.” The only Bible version we used in that school was the King James Version (KJV), so I’ll quote that translation of the verse here: “And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you.” Haha, what a great verse for boys who are goofing around during seat work time!

• The teacher would see a female student behaving immaturely or foolishly in a given moment, and he would call her “Miss Smith” (or whatever her last name was) and then say, “Proverbs 11:22.” The young lady would open her Bible and read: “As a jewel of gold in a swine’s snout, so is a fair woman which is without discretion.” This verse indicates that a lack of discretion in a lovely lady is as out of place as a ring of gold in a pig’s nose. Point taken!

It may be that in at least the first case the teacher was proof-texting, which is using a biblical text to prove your point without regard for the context of the passage you’re citing. Paul’s statement in 1 Thessalonians 4:11 is really about Christian men working to support themselves instead of meddling in other people’s business as they mooch off other believers.

While proof-texting is something we must be careful to avoid, I think the far greater danger is not appealing to Scripture at all — either because we don’t know it well enough, or we don’t respect it as our supreme authority, or both. We would do well to remember:

When Scripture speaks,
God speaks.

At any given moment on any given day in any given situation, we as believers should automatically think, “What does the Bible say about this matter? What scriptural commands, principles or promises come into play?”

The psalmist testified, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Ps. 119:105). I like how the New Living Translation of Isaiah 8:20 correlates to this truth, saying,

Look to God’s instructions and teachings! People who contradict his word are completely in the dark.

That’s why one gentleman in a previous church I pastored would challenge unbiblical propositions and statements by saying, “Chapter and verse! Chapter and verse!” He could be a bit obnoxious, but I appreciated his commitment to examine everything in the light of Scripture. Luke, the author of Acts, tells us that when Paul preached at the synagogue in Berea, “these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.”

May we as believers today develop a Berean mindset. “Chapter and verse! Chapter and verse!”

Grace & Glory

This past weekend I finished my 2020 Bible reading plan (a bit early). My final reading was Job 40-42 and Psalm 150 from the Old Testament, and Rev. 22 from the New Testament. Two words that came to mind as I finished reading the Bible were grace and glory.

“The Lord blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning” (Job 42:12). Job’s experience at the end of his life will be our lot as God’s children throughout eternity. In his great mercy, God saved us “so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus” (Eph. 2:7). Jesus’ final words in the New Testament constitute a promise: “Surely I am coming soon” (Rev. 22:21). For the believer, the Second Coming of Christ will be a Day of unspeakable glory.

So as I completed my final scheduled Scripture readings for this year — about Job’s latter days being better than the beginning (Job 42) … about our glory in heaven and the certainty of Christ’s return (Rev. 22) … and the Psalmist’s exhortation to “praise the Lord … tell of his excellent greatness” (Ps. 150), the words grace and glory were foremost on my mind.

In commenting on the words, “the Lord will give grace and glory” (Ps. 84:11), Charles Spurgeon wrote,

The Lord gives; there is nothing freer than a gift, and there can be nothing freer than that greatest of all the gifts of God, eternal life. That expression, "eternal life," sums up these two things, grace and glory. "The Lord will give grace and glory." It is His glory to give His grace; and because of His graciousness, He gives glory. Glory never comes without grace coming first, but grace never comes without glory coming last; the two are bound together, and "what God hath joined together, let not man put asunder."

Grace is God’s goodness toward those who deserve only judgment. Glory is the manifestation of God’s infinite perfections, infinite greatness, and infinite worth. This double-blessing is ours in Christ. That’s why, after reading the words of Psalm 150:2, “praise him according to his excellent greatness,” I sang the hymn, Praise Him! Praise Him! Jesus our blessed Redeemer!

The Spirit of God uses
the Word of God to bless
the people of God,
which results in
praise to God!

That’s why I encourage everyone to read through the Bible in its entirety. Although I recommend doing so in a single year, with daily readings from both the Old and New Testaments, there are numerous Bible reading plans from which to choose. You can find a list of options by clicking here.

Choose a plan, any plan! Then stick with it. But even if you fall behind, don’t get discouraged. Keep moving forward until you have finished reading the Holy Scriptures in their entirety.

As Mellissa Kruger points out in her article, Daily Bread: 8 Reasons Why You Need It More Than You Think, the word of God is able to:

1. Make you wise for salvation

2. Grow your relationship with God

3. Help you fight temptation

4. Provide revival, wisdom and joy

5. Nourish your soul

6. Provide comfort

7. Transform you to look like Christ

8. Bless you to be a blessing

Why deprive yourself of all these benefits? Read the Scriptures and relish God’s grace and glory!