The Night Is Coming

Posted on by December 26, 2014
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John 9:4 — I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.

I haven’t been at my best today. I’m really not sure why but I’ve been lethargic and sleepy and not enthusiastic about anything. Would you like my excuse? Here it is. I haven’t got one. Maybe it was a reaction to the joy of Christmas. Maybe it’s the weather! Whatever the cause might be, I know two things.
First, just about everybody I know has days like this.
Second, the only thing to do about it is to do something! I came across a line from a letter that the Anglican preacher George Whitefield wrote from Leeds in England in 1767: “Lord, help me to begin to begin”. When he wrote it, the great preacher was nearer his end than his beginning but it seems to me that his words are a prayer that are the only answer to the condition of spiritual dullness.
I am fortunate to have two great helps when I need to begin to begin.
The first of my great helps is, of course, my wonderful wife Myra. Today, for example, she got me off my seat and onto my feet. Just a short walk around the neighborhood, but enough to blow some cobwebs away … It was just what I needed.
The second of my helps is you … those of you who read these pieces and give me an excuse to work out some of my faith issues in writing — and give me no excuse not to begin to begin!
Jesus told his disciples “the night cometh” which should make me eager to be about His work. He knew, as I do not, how close His death was. For all of us, though, each day is one day closer to night — that night of which Matthew Henry said:

When the night comes we cannot work, because the light afforded us to work by is extinguished; the grave is a land of darkness, and our work cannot be done in the dark. And, besides, our time allotted us for our work will then have expired; when our Master tied us to duty he tied us to time too; when night comes, call the labourers; we must then show our work, and receive according to the things done.

The apostle Paul said something about the night too — but His thought was of the long night before the return of Christ:

And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. (Romans 13:11-12)

Just as we do not know the limits to our own life, nor do we know when the end of the church age will put a stop to all our opportunities to work — but that, too, should drive me onwards.
The night cometh … when no man can work … Lord help me to begin to begin!

Repairing The Fracture

Posted on by December 25, 2014
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Revelation 21:4 — And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

I had a phone call today, one part of which saddened me. It might be considered private and personal, so I can’t go into much detail but I can say that the sadness was about a family broken apart, and parents and children separated at Christmas.
As I thought about the fracture in that little family, my thoughts turned to all those other broken families spending separated Christmases. In America alone there are more than thirteen million single parents caring for more than twenty-four million children. Does that break your heart a little — it surely should.
I had another odd thought. God, it seems to me, is the Father of the largest fractured family of all.
Ever since the fall, every child ever born into God’s family has been separate from their heavenly Father from birth — and that’s the point of Christmas!
It’s a typical “God-style” plan. He chose to send His son — to separate Him — into another family, as a way to start the centuries-long process of repairing the fracture in His heavenly family.
It’s a funny thing. Sometimes it looks like Jesus’s family was an object lesson in how to succeed in raising a fractured family. For a start, there was that business of Mary’s baby. Do you think all the neighbors bought that “Holy Spirit” story?
After that bumpy start the family did seem to settle down for a bit … Although there was that funny business with Jesus getting left behind at the temple.
By the time Jesus started His ministry, Joseph was gone. Of course I’m not suggesting anything untoward … but for a while, maybe the family was without an accepted leader. The family really wasn’t behind the Lord in that ministry either.
O.K., maybe I’m stretching a point … but even Jesus’s genealogy might suggest that God’s plans are more than big enough for fractured families — remember Tamar, Rahab, Ruth and Bathsheba?
Somehow, despite all the bumps on the road, Jesus’s family turned out pretty well, especially brothers James and Jude!
So what am I concluding from all this? Well, one thing is that being in a broken family is not the end of the world. The other thing is that God has a big broken family too, and that’s not the end of the world either! He’s going to wipe all the tears away …

The Magic Of Christmas

Posted on by December 24, 2014
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Micah 5:2 — But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.

I’m writing this piece a bit after nine o’clock in the evening of Christmas Eve. It’s a bit late because we went to the Christmas Eve service, and then I changed the direction I thought I was going to go. I was struck by the thought that Christmas should be wonderful and magical for every child … And it often isn’t.
Not all my Christmases have been great. In fact some of them have been miserable. Looking back I realize that the problem has usually been with my expectations … or really the lack of expectations.
Is your family like ours — do you keep Christmas gifts secret? Do believe children — at least the young ones — should be allowed to believe in Santa Claus? Maybe we need to think about that … and make sure we manage their expectations carefully.
“So,”, I hear you ask. “did you just become Scrooge?” Not really … but I realized that God was very clear in setting expectations for the first Christmas. Consider these promises (just a few among many):

God promised in Genesis 1:23 that Jesus would come from the line of Abraham, and Matthew 1:1 records the fulfillment of the promise.
Matthew 1:2 confirms that Jesus was a descendant of Isaac (as promised in Genesis 17:19) and Jacob (as promised in Numbers 24:17)
Genesis 49:10 promised that Jesus would be from the tribe of Judah and in Luke 3:23-33 we can see His genealogy confirming the lineage.
In Matthew 1:18-23 God told of the virginity of Jesus’ mother, confirming His promise in Isaiah 7:14.
God promised through Micah, as in my header verse, that Jesus would be born in the town of Bethlehem and the beautiful telling of the story in Luke 2:1–7 tells us that he was.
In Hosea 11:1, God promised to call His son out of Egypt. In Matthew 2:13–15 we can read on an angel causing Joseph to take the boy to Egypt, and the families subsequent return.

It goes on and on. By some estimates Jesus fulfilled more than three hundred promises — and for me that is the real magic of Christmas. And that’s the challenge. Let’s let children know just what to expect at Christmas — and make the fulfillment more magical than the anticipation!

Riches In Glory

Posted on by December 23, 2014
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Philippians 4:18-19 — But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God. But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

The founder of Crown Financial Ministries, Larry Burkett used to say, “Show me your checkbook, and I’ll show you your priorities.” Are your faith and family your top priorities? Then your spending patterns will surely show it. So, a Christmas spin on that thought occurred to me today.
What do your Christmas lists say about your priorities?
You know … the ones you send to Santa (O.K. Perhaps like me and Myra you’re past the letters up the chimney now and just swap lists with your beloved!)
Our lists — especially mine — have changed over the years. There have been frivolous lists, and practical lists. There have been lists with (sort of) a theme, random lists, and lists with some highly specific items. In both our lists there have usually, as you might expect, been some very faith-based items. I’m not sure, though, that you could infer the balance of our priorities from the lists … This year, though, something interesting happened. Neither of us could easily make a list. We didn’t have much we could say we really needed or wanted.
If you know Myra and me, I don’t suppose you’re surprised at the idea that we don’t “need” much. Of course we’re not rich, but we have a home we like, a car that goes, food on our table and clothes on our back. We know enough to know that God is giving us what we need, and maybe more than that. He is truly supplying all our need …
I don’t know if you’d be surprised to know that we don’t “want” much. I was. When I thought about it I realized that it’s been sneaking up on me over the last few years. A number of long-held cherished desires no longer seemed to matter at all. Paul says something else just a few verses earlier in this same chapter of his letter to the Philippians that might relate: “Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.” (Philippians 4:11-12)
In our lives, Myra and I have both been through some pretty hard times. We’ve had good times too. God has been with us all the time — even when we didn’t know it. That’s the answer to every want and need.
Make no mistake, we still love to give and receive gifts … but if we don’t get any particular thing we’re still going to feel unreasonably blessed — we already have the greatest gift of all!

The Messiah

Posted on by December 22, 2014
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Isaiah 9:6-7 — For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.

We don’t focus enough on the holiness of Christmas.
I know some churches — including ours — do a wonderful job of worship … but it’s exceptional. There was a line in this year’s Living Christmas Tree that said everything about how most people see Christmas … and nothing about the Christ of Christmas — “Christmas means presents, and presents mean Christmas!”
I think George Frederick Handel knew the Christ of Christmas. He wrote his wonderful music for the oratorio “The Messiah” in just twenty-four days. Charles Jennens was responsible for the libretto — but of course he had Isaiah as his inspiration.
The best loved moments in The Messiah are its ending — the beautiful Hallelujah Chorus — but perhaps as well known is the glorious setting of Isaiah 9:6. Here are the names of Jesus — not just a list, but the names that will be given to Him because of His very nature.
“Wonderful” — set aside because of His greatness, miraculous beyond all natural things.
“Counsellor” — one who is fit to stand in the courts of the Almighty; one, indeed, who takes part in the planning of God.
“The mighty God” — the Mighty God of Ages, or even the Might of God. A plain statement, “The Messiah is God”.
“The everlasting Father” — hardest of all the titles to understand. How is the Son the Father? Not literally, of course — except that as Jesus said, “I and the Father are one”. But also, Jesus is the Father of His people, forever. Also, perhaps, Jesus is the Father of eternity …
“The Prince of Peace” — a heavenly prince, unlike earthly princes, rules peacefully rather than violently. “Peace” is Shalom — it implies so much more than just peace. It speaks of well?being, tranquility, prosperity, and security, a blessed state with nothing to disturb it.
Here are five glorious titles of Jesus. Each of them would repay hours of contemplation. Just one tiny corner of the Christmas story. How many others could we explore together?

The Bit Players?

Posted on by December 21, 2014
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Luke 2:25, 36 — And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him. …
… And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity;

For our devotion for this last Sunday in Advent, let’s assemble the cast for our Christmas Pageant.
Of course there’s Jesus, Joseph and Mary. There’s Gabriel, the Angel of The Lord, and Herod (our only villain, and we’ll say no more about him!). There are our good friends the shepherds and those mysterious wise men from the East. Then there are those you might call “bit players” — vital to the action, but without many speaking lines. I suppose those would be Zacharias and Elisabeth, and Simeon and Anna. I wonder if there was a little family party after Jesus was presented at the temple and if Elisabeth was there with baby John in her arms?
It’s a funny business though, this idea of bit players. The great Russian actor / directory Constantin Stanislavski is often quoted as saying that “there are no small parts, only small actors” — but I think I prefer what Dabbs Greer, (Reverend Robert Alden in “The Little House on The Prairie”) said — “Every character actor, in their own little sphere, is the lead.” I’m pretty sure that’s how God looks at it.
Isn’t it interesting, this cast of ours … male and female, rich and poor, great and small, holy and (at best) not holy at all. I’m reminded of what Paul said about the church — “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:26-28) … before the manger, before the cross, we are all one.
There’s another aspect to this. We are all one, but we each have our different parts to play. Here’s something else Paul said — “For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many.” (1 Corinthians 12:12-14)
Our Christmas Pageant is a beautiful picture of the church. Every part is essential and each of them — except of course the Bright Shining Star — is equally valuable!

The Porter

Posted on by December 20, 2014
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John 10:1-3 — Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.

This is a familiar passage — but have you considered the porter?
There are those who consider the porter to be a more or less negligible figure, no more than a symbol confirming that free access to the sheepfold is granted by authority of the owner to those to whom access is permitted.
There is another view of the porter that I find more compelling. It’s well expressed by the English Puritan Evangelist A. W. Pink:

“To him the porter openeth.” The “porter” was the one who vouched for the shepherd and presented him to the sheep. As to the identity of the “porter” in this proverb there can be no doubt. The direct reference was to John the Baptist who “prepared the way of the Lord.” He it was who formally introduced the Shepherd to Israel: “that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing” (John 1:31), was his own confession. But, in the wider application, the “porter” here represented the Holy Spirit, who officially vouched for the credentials of the Messiah, and who now presents the Savior to each of God’s elect.

I am convinced because what Mr. Pink writes fits both my understanding of the roles of John The Baptist and the Holy Spirit. More importantly, I am convinced because I do not believe that Jesus was careless in His choice of words to His disciples. I believe every word was precisely meant. The porter is not some insignificant accidental bystander.
In this Advent season it seems right to consider the role of John the Baptist … The one who was born before our Lord, went before Him to proclaim His coming, and like Him, was murdered.
In this time before Christmas it’s worth contemplating John and remembering that He was intimately bound up with Jesus before either of them was born. Each of them was announced by an angel. There’s no evidence that they were close in boyhood, but they were cousins … their ministries touched vitally. Each of them was bound to sacrifice … and each loved and admired the other.
I think Jesus and John both knew that the Shepherd needs the Porter, and the Porter’s job has no point without the Shepherd … and the sheep need them both.

Journey To The Manger

Posted on by December 19, 2014
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Luke 2:4-7 — And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

Our Living Christmas Tree choral / dramatic (and everything else!) celebration is over. This year’s edition was called “Journey To The Manger”. It has set me thinking … Joseph and Mary, the shepherds, and Jesus Himself, all made the journey. Every one who becomes a Christian makes that journey.
Joseph and Mary made the journey because they were forced to. The shepherds made the journey because they were called by angels, and believed. Jesus made the journey because He and His Father chose it. Those three reasons can apply to us, too.
Our journeys can be driven by obedience, by faith, and by choice. In fact there probably driven by all three at the same time.
Joseph and Mary traveled a long way to the manger — it might not seem so far, but it was a donkey ride for Mary and a footslog for Joseph. It was a shorter journey for the shepherds, but coming from the hills might have been arduous. And Jesus … how to describe His journey? Was it infinitely long … or no distance at all? It’s not a geographic question perhaps, but a descent from divinity to humanity. Perhaps our journeys are equally varied, each of us coming from our own starting point, coming along our own path, facing our own challenges.
What did they find when they came to the manger? Joseph and Mary, perhaps found the answer to a desperate search. The shepherds found a place of worship. Jesus found a stage for his transformation … the entry of the Son of God as the God-man. Was it like that for you? Did you find the answer to a search, did you find a place for worship, did you find a stage for a transformation? For me, it was all three.
I tried to find a church several times before I found my present church … but I knew I needed something. When I came to the manger worship started to blossom in my heart. My life before I came to the manger was, at best, worldly. There have been changes …
The manger is a special place. If you haven’t found it yet, come and join us!

Fool!

Posted on by December 18, 2014
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Matthew 5:21-22 — Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.

I’ve been having some difficult conversations today. Quite honestly, the people I was talking to weren’t really thinking. Now I know that sometimes the problem is really with me — I’m not really listening, or I’m not really understanding somebody else’s point of view — but this time it really wasn’t me. (For example, here’s a fragment of a discussion “Why do you care what it’s called, you don’t use it? — I just do” …). I was tempted, just for a moment, to apply an unkind label to someone. What stopped me is that, over time, I’ve tried to train myself not to do that because of what Jesus said to His disciples.
At first sight, what Jesus said seems extreme. OK, it’s not nice to call people names … but “you fool” is worse than killing? In fact it’s so shocking that it demands a deeper look.
“Raca” is really an Arabic word coming from a root meaning “to spit”. It means “empty headed” or vain, empty or worthless. So it really isn’t very nice … but there’s more to it even than that.
I think there’s really two things going on. First, there’s a heart issue. There’s feeling angry, then there’s letting your anger out and calling someone a rude name, and then there is verbal abuse, calling someone a “fool”. Actually the word used for “fool” might suggest more than that. The Theological Dictionary of the New Testament says “The word implies censure on man himself; his acts, thoughts, counsels, and words are not as they should be. The weakness may be due to a specific failure in judgment or decision, but a general deficiency of intellectual and spiritual capacities may also be asserted.” — The harsh words are either a preliminary to, or a substitute for, much worse. “For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:” (Matthew 15:19)
The second thing is that there is at least the risk of blasphemy. Any one of our fellow men (or women) is one of God’s creatures — “fearfully and wonderfully made”. Verbal abuse suggests the Creator’s work is less than perfect. None of us should dare to make such a suggestion.
Thinking this through, I realize I need to work harder on labels. It’s not just not saying them. I have to stop thinking them too!

The Power Of The Light

Posted on by December 17, 2014
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1 John 1:5-7 — This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

We have a nice new wooden nativity in our yard. It’s lit by a solar-powered lamp. Each night it comes on and then, as the battery runs down, it goes out.
I’ve often thought about what this passage in 1 John is saying to me. This image of the light running down, because it’s not being replenished by the greater light, has given me some insight I think.
The first thing is what the passage says about God. He is not a light, or even the light. He is light. His glory is like a fire. He is clothed in light. He created light: “And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.” (Genesis 1:3). God is surrounded by light and most marvelously, Christians walk in that light: “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light:” (1 Peter 2:9)
The English theologian Henry Alford said of light, “It unites in itself purity, and clearness, and beauty, and glory, as no other material object does; it is the condition of all material life and growth and joy.”. He said of God, “He is Light, and the fountain of light material and ethical. In the one world, darkness is the absence of light; in the other, darkness, untruthfulness, deceit, falsehood, is the absence of God. They who are in communion with God, and walk with God, are the light, and walk in the light.”
I’m like the solar-powered lamp in the yard. I need to be constantly reenergized by God’s light or I will slip into spiritual darkness. That’s not where I want to be. “But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.” (Proverbs 4:18-19). I need my quiet time, devotions, and Bible reading. I need worship, preaching and teaching. I need to be constantly seeking the power of the light!