THE SHADOW LEFT BEHIND

The LORD is your keeper; The LORD is your shade on your right hand.” (Psalm 121:5)

Every year on February 2 since 1887 in the western Pennsylvania community of Punxsutawney, some devout followers make their pilgrimage to a famous part of town known as Gobbler’s Knob. Donning black top hats, officials of the local club oversee the early-morning event as hundreds of public spectators gather. Each asks the question, “Will he, or won’t he?”  The event known as Groundhog Day features Punxsutawney Phil who, for all intents and purposes, is consulted to predict whether winter is nearing an end. According to folklore – the answer comes rather quickly when the small, furry mammal with buck teeth emerges from his burrow. If the beloved groundhog “sees” his shadow, the country is in for six more weeks of winter; if he doesn’t, an early spring will occur. While the tradition remains popular in various parts of the United States and Canada, it’s not surprising that studies have found no consistent correlation between a groundhog seeing its shadow and the subsequent arrival time of spring-like weather.

At one time or other, images of shadows have no doubt played a part in your life. Remember being afraid of shadows when you were lying in bed as a young child? Or maybe when you got a little older, you learned that you could create animal shadows on the wall with your hands and the beam of a flashlight. Perhaps as young adult, you were compared to an older sibling or a cousin – having to declare that you wanted to be your own person and not be forced to live in “anyone’s shadow.”  If you have ever seen Peter Pan, you may remember Peter losing his shadow. As he seeks to retrieve it, he chases it around the room. While trying to get it back, he discovers that it moves more quickly than he does. Of course, it’s impossible for our shadow to move faster or slower than we do. We soon realize that unlike Peter Pan, our shadows stick with and can never be detached from us.

God is like your shadow: He cannot be taken or moved away from you.  Everywhere you go, the Lord follows you. He is your protector. Our kind, benevolent God who is attentive to every one of our steps covers us with His presence. We’re never alone. In Psalm 57:1, we read: “Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me, for in you my soul takes refuge; in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge, till the storms of destruction pass by.” Any photographer or artist worth his salt realizes that the realism of their work is captured in the beauty of the light contrasted with shadows. Are our lives, too, not more remarkable because of the shadows? Is this not where God teaches us mercy and compassion, and where strength of character is formed (Romans 5:3-4)? And is it not in the valley of the shadow of death where we learn that God is with us (Ps. 23:4)?

Shadows are woven throughout the scriptures. To demonstrate compassion in the Old Testament, “The LORD God provided a leafy plant and made it grow up over Jonah to give shade for his head to ease his discomfort, and Jonah was very happy about the plant” (Jonah 4:6). When the apostles of the New Testament continued Jesus’ ministry after His resurrection, they had a huge impact on the world around them. Their impression was so immense that even the sick and the lame desired to be in Peter’s shadow (Acts 5:15-16), for they realized that even the shadow he left behind was greater than a lot of other religious people they encountered. Perhaps you are going through the valley of the shadow right now. It may be the valley of the shadow of conflict, depression, discouragement, debt, or one of life-threatening illness. Here’s the good news—when you look at any shadow, you know that its source is near. For wherever there’s a shadow, there has to be a light. God’s light is infinitely brighter than any light on earth, and His shadow casts brilliance upon us. We are told: “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:5). When you see how God brings protection, life, comfort, and peace under the shadow of His wings – you can’t help but be joyful.  For it is there, living in the shadow of the Almighty, that you must never forget . . . His light is not far away.

REFLECTION: In what situations have you recognized how important it is to abide under the shadow of the Almighty? What are the things that you need to do to ensure you are living under God’s shadow? Challenge yourself to be like the apostle Peter. When everything is said and done, would people feel the benefit of being witnesses to the shadow you have left behind?

A NEW LOOKUP  DEVOTION IS UPLOADED EACH WEEK. THE NEXT WEEKLY POSTING WILL BE ON SAT., FEBRUARY 9, 2019. COMMENTS ARE WELCOMED.

EXCEPT WHEN . . .

“Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?’   And I said, ‘Here am I. Send me!’” (Isaiah 6:8).

I smiled when I read the following Help Wanted ad for a local restaurant. It stated: “Scattered hours. Every Monday 4:00-9:30, every Friday and every other Saturday 4:00-9 or 11:00 except every 5TH Fri. and Sat. 12:00-5:00.” My first thought wondered if there was any individual who would be interested in applying for a job with such irregular hours. Then I recalled being on the other end of similar conversations when I would conduct interviews for my former employer. I’d usually tell applicants that we had openings on a certain shift at a facility which operated round-the clock, seven days a week. In response to my questions regarding their availability, I would frequently hear replies beginning with the words, “except when.” It didn’t always make them very useful to the employer, and more often than not – they didn’t get the job. Our busy lives, which only grow more complex and diverse with time, present a major obstacle to our availability and resulting usefulness. We are so caught up with personal schedules that our readiness for the important things in life often suffers.  If we consider that we have a relationship with Christ, we must step back and honestly examine our openness to serving Him.

God’s availability stands at the heart of Scripture. He is present to guide and protect and, when necessary, to correct. But most of all, we expect Him to be our listening ear when we face the adversities of life as we often do. If we base our emotional security on close friends or family members, we become vulnerable in assuming they will always be there for us. On the contrary – God never hides from us; He is never absent or consumed by something more important. He is available, as contemporary phrasing would state, 24/7. God’s ever-present availability challenges us to ask how accessible are we to Him? What part of our day can God claim? Do we give Him significant time, or do we struggle to give Him even five minutes? What do we first have to take care of before we can give God our attention?  Jesus struggled with the readiness of those who stated they would commit to Him. “As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, ‘I will follow you wherever you go.’ Jesus replied, ‘Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.’ He said to another man, ‘Follow me.’ But he replied, ‘Lord, first let me go and bury my father.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.’ Still another said, ‘I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family.’ Jesus replied, ‘No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God’” (Luke 9:57-62).

God is looking for humble people who are totally dependent upon Him. He seeks those followers who are willing to make themselves available whenever He calls and for whatever reason . . . those who, without any form of hesitation, would say, “Here I am Lord – send me.” In the words of the Apostle Paul: “Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:58). God does not expect that each of us will be called into full-time ministry or commit our lives to be missionaries in a foreign land.  While it is exceptional when one dedicates to attend in this way, each of us can serve Him if we just look around, sometimes not very far away. There is the widow down the street who is lonely, the colleague at work who is searching for encouragement, the homeless shelter or foodbank who needs a volunteer, or maybe someone in your own family who is being overlooked. The words of the prophet give us clear direction: “Share your food with the hungry, and give shelter to the homeless. Give clothes to those who need them, and do not hide from relatives who need your help” (Isaiah 58:7). In light of the promise we have from God to be “always available”  (John 14:18) – it is vital that we reflect that same love to others. His expectation is that those who claim to be His followers will never look back saying that we are available to Him . . . except when we’re not!

REFLECTION: Honestly ask the question: Am I paying attention to my call to grow in love, humility and living for the glory of God? How can you make yourself more available to someone who has a need you may have ignored? In what ways can you reshuffle your priorities in order to consistently serve God?

A NEW LOOKUP  DEVOTION IS UPLOADED EACH WEEK. THE NEXT WEEKLY POSTING WILL BE ON SAT., FEBRUARY 2, 2019. COMMENTS ARE WELCOMED.

BECOMING UNOFFENDABLE

“Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you.”   (Colossians 3:13)

A fast-speaking TV weatherman with several decades of experience was talking over a visual of a local park named after Martin Luther King, Jr. while presenting the then-current weather conditions. As he rushed over the named location of the outdoor scene, he inserted what sounded like an all-too-familiar racial slur.  Not pausing to acknowledge his ‘on-air’ flub, he proceeded to give his forecast.  Following a backlash on social media, station management acted to discharge the veteran broadcaster in what many deemed as a rush to judgement. The unemployed weatherman insisted that he has always tried to maintain high professional standards. He stated that he accidentally jumbled his words with no intent of malice in any form. The apology was met with skepticism from those who reasoned that he only apologized because he got caught. However, Dr. Bernice King, daughter of the famous civil rights leader, said she can’t question someone’s intent and insisted the broadcaster should be given a chance to redeem himself. As the nation prepares to celebrate the holiday that bears the King name, one might wonder how the former Nobel Peace Prize recipient would have himself responded?

In situations like these, perhaps we need to learn to become unoffendable. We can allow an assumed offense to be an opportunity to become more Christ-like by showing that we value joy, peace, and inner freedom more than clinging to our perceived rights.  Being unoffendable is not about being victimized or even being weak. It is about taking the high ground, having self-restraint and not letting someone else’s behavior, however intentional it may seem, determine ours. Jesus warned that, as we near the end of the age, a majority of people will be offended to such a degree that they fall away from the faith. Listen carefully to His warning: “At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, And many false prophets will appear and will deceive many people. Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold” (Matthew 24:10-12). When we become easily offended, it is contrary to basic Christian teachings. We allow ourselves to be judgmental (Matthew 7:1), we stand at risk of suppressing truth (1 John 3:18), we block opportunities for forgiveness (Matthew 6:14-15), and we fail to allow for a path to redemption (Ephesians 1:7). The God of second chances would remind us that His very own Son said, “Let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone” (John 8:7).

Members of our society need to grow to be less reactionary and work toward consideration and reasonableness. Most people aren’t aiming to insult or offend you – they are likely unaware of the fact that what they have said has hurt or disrespected you. When you consider how many times you have unintentionally said things that may have offended others and were not rebuked, you can most certainly extend that same grace and forgiveness. James put it this way: “Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires . . . But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it. If you claim to be religious but don’t control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless” (James 1:19-20, 25-26). What it really comes down to is a personal choice. Nobody can offend you without your permission. I am reminded of a story about a man who constantly harassed and insulted the Buddha, throwing all sorts of verbal abuse at him. He did everything he could to offend Buddha.  Unmoved, he simply turned to the man and said, “May I ask you a question?” The man responded, “Well, what?”  Buddha said, “If someone offers you a gift and you decline to accept it, to whom then does it belong?”  The man said, “Then it belongs to the person who offered it.” Buddha smiled stating, “That is correct.  So if I decline to accept your abuse, does it not then still belong to you?”  The man was speechless and walked away.  Friend, when you encounter someone who offends you, consider that it might not have been their intent at all. Even if it was . . . know that you don’t have to make their insensitivities your own. It’s what Christ would have you do!

REFLECTION: Have you become offended by someone recently? What is one area of your life where you are likely to take offense? How can you move from being offended to becoming unoffendable?

A NEW LOOKUP  DEVOTION IS UPLOADED EACH WEEK. THE NEXT WEEKLY POSTING WILL BE ON SAT., JANUARY  26, 2019. COMMENTS ARE WELCOMED.

EVERLASTING

“And this is what he promised us–eternal life.” (1 John 2:25)

The story is told that there was once a boy who found himself in trouble for a silly childish mistake. Ashamed, he went to the park and began to cry beneath a tree when a Good Fairy appeared asking him why he was weeping. When he explained, she offered him a solution in the form of a spool of thread which represented the remainder of his life. If he ever found himself in a similar situation to his current one, he would only have to snip a tiny bit of the thread to bypass the discomfort. The Fairy cautioned him, however, that he must use the spool wisely. Overjoyed, the boy returned home with the spool. The next day, his teacher handed back an assignment on which he had received a poor grade. Embarrassed, he took out his spool, snipped off a tiny bit of the thread, and was instantly transported from the classroom to the end of the school day. The boy immediately understood the usefulness of the contraption: skipping the hard moments. As more incidents of childish dilemmas passed – each time the boy snipped away the moment on his spool of life and escaped it. The pattern continued as he passed through adulthood. Soon enough, he finds himself to be an old man. Reminiscing on his life, he realizes that he has passed too many moments without fully experiencing them and has lost too much time by not living it. Sorrowfully, he returns to the tree where he found himself during childhood, weeping once more on what his life has become.  To his surprise, the Good Fairy reappears. Seeing that he is now an old man, she inquires as to why he is crying. As he explains to her his regret, she reminds him that she had warned him against using the spool excessively. Then she waves her magic wand and promises him a chance at a new life. She leaves and he falls asleep, waking as a boy once more to relive his life.

Wishing away our lives, worried about what comes next, and wondering when it all comes to an end what will happen. This is all very typical of the human condition.  Recently I heard the thoughts of two different individuals. The first came in the words of a friend who had recently lost her husband after fifty-plus years of marriage. She summarized his death as “very sad, but good.”  Sad in the fact that she would now face life without him, but ‘good’ because he had now escaped his debilitating illness of many years.  She was grateful that when the end came, she was with him as he passed from this life to the next.  The second individual was a relative newcomer to Christianity. One day as he was discussing the concept of death with members of the church he attended, he emphatically stated that he believed that when you die – that was it!  It was over, and you ceased to exist. Somewhere along the line, he missed the point of the life of Jesus and the greatest promise He gave us – that of everlasting life. Perhaps one of the most memorized of all Christian scriptures is John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

Everlasting or eternal life is the gracious promise every believer holds onto with joy and gratitude. Yet, we somehow develop the notion that it only represents our future . . . that we have to first endure our earthly existence and then one day receive eternal life as our ultimate reward. However, God actually desires that we grow into that promise here on earth. Learning to cope with and getting through the difficult moments in our lives validates our faith. The problem is that we get so bogged down with the challenges, problems, and responsibilities of our lives that we miss the incredible truth that we are empowered to live spiritually in the present as we come to believe and develop a connection with God’s very own Son. “And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent” (John 17:3). While each of us must face the limitations of our earthly existence, we have access to God’s throne of grace and can this very day know the intimacy of a deep relationship with Him. When we don’t live as if we are displaying the confidence of everlasting life here and now, we limit what He is able to do through us as we interact with others. Jesus taught, “I tell you the truth, anyone who obeys my teaching will never die” (John 8:51). We don’t need to snip away at the difficult portions of our life, concerned about that day when we will find ourselves holding the end of an empty spool. Jesus promises eternity which guarantees that our life thread is indeed everlasting.

REFLECTION: Do you give more thought to the securities of this life than you do to all of eternity? How can you position your current life differently by realizing that what is everlasting begins this very day?

A NEW LOOKUP  DEVOTION IS UPLOADED EACH WEEK. THE NEXT WEEKLY POSTING WILL BE ON SAT., JANUARY  19, 2019. COMMENTS ARE WELCOMED.

RUNNING ON EMPTY

 “And the believers were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 13:52)

One of our family members received an interesting Christmas gift recently.  Weeks before the big day, my mother and I went shopping at a major department store. While walking through the housewares department, she saw a condiment caddy which had been reduced to half-price. She remarked that it would be useful to have for picnics on the deck next summer. We paid for the item, and I saved it as one of her Christmas gifts. Since it was rather insignificant, I decided to have her open it first on Christmas. As I handed it to her – I became a little suspicious, because the package was very light. Sure enough, when she opened the box – there wasn’t anything inside. If nothing else, it did provide us with a few hearty laughs. The event reminded me of another incident that happened to me many years ago when I purchased a new car.  A day or so after the acquisition, I decided to take a long-distance drive to get a feel for how the car handled.  I chose a familiar destination within an hour from home. When I arrived there – all of a sudden, the car began to chug, sputter, and came to a halt. As anyone would do, I glanced down at the gas gauge to check the obvious. According to the indicator, I still had plenty of fuel. I then proceeded to phone the dealership where I purchased the car.  They willingly sent out a tow truck for the car, and it took us back home.  The next day they notified me that the reason for the shutdown was that there was, in fact, no gas in the tank.  Apparently the new car came fully-equipped with a faulty gas gauge. And there I was . . . trying to run on empty.

Emptiness comes in many forms. Sometimes when we go too long without eating, we might say that we are “getting a little empty.”  If the person at work who is responsible for supplies allows the inventory to be depleted, that emptiness can become problematic for the production staff.  If both our wallet and our bank account are empty, we are going to have to make some temporary lifestyle changes. And when we feel a sense of emptiness in our soul, then loneliness and despair can quickly lead to depression. At times, Christians may also feel spiritually empty if they have not maintained a vibrant connection with God. Each of us has no doubt experienced seasons where we have felt spiritually dry; we lack joy, and our faith is no longer infectious. The key to overcoming spiritual emptiness is to “fill up.” As a child of God, you possess that capability, because you have the Holy Spirit that Jesus promised inside of you (John 14:16-17). The great evangelist D. L. Moody understood this. When asked why he placed so much emphasis upon being filled with the Holy Spirit, he wisely said, ‘Because I leak.’

Spiritual emptiness is often caused by our own sinfulness or sluggishness in sustaining regular contact with God in our daily lives. We cannot expect much peace if we are always trying to run spiritually empty. Without a continuously-filled spiritual tank – our days are doomed to stress, anxiety, and frustration. When we ‘fill up’ by spending some quality time with Him, we will become revitalized and discover our faith is renewed. Jesus warned that it is dangerous to allow ourselves to become empty: “When an evil spirit leaves a person, it goes into the desert, seeking rest but finding none. Then it says, ‘I will return to the person I came from.’ So it returns and finds its former home empty, swept, and in order. Then the spirit finds seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they all enter the person and live there. And so that person is worse off than before. That will be the experience of this evil generation” (Matthew 12:43-45). So, dare to be different than your peers. Those who endeavor to maintain a full spiritual tank strive to be grounded in God’s Word and sustain a solid prayer life. If you are entering this new year or any transition in your life, you will want to make sure that you are well-fueled for whatever lies ahead. It’s downright misguided to think that just because one year ends and another begins you will permanently change your course. But when you find yourself presented with an empty box, there’s only one way to go. It’s only common sense to conclude that you won’t get very far when you are trying to face the journey ahead by running on empty. So why not fill up today?

REFLECTION: Do you recognize times when you your spiritual life just doesn’t seem as full as it once was? Do you have any signs of spiritual dryness in your life at the moment? How long have you felt this way? Think of times in the past when you have experienced a fulfilled life? What are some very practical things you can do this week to personally reconnect with God?

A NEW LOOKUP  DEVOTION IS UPLOADED EACH WEEK. THE NEXT WEEKLY POSTING WILL BE ON SAT., JANUARY  12, 2019. COMMENTS ARE WELCOMED.

NEW LIGHT

  “He came as a witness, to testify about the Light, so that all might believe through him.” (John 1:7)

Though Thomas Edison is usually credited with the invention of the light bulb, the famous American inventor wasn’t the only one who contributed to the development of this revolutionary technology. The first incandescent lamp had been produced 40 years earlier, but no inventor had been able to come up with a practical design until Edison embraced the challenge in the late 1870s. After countless tests, he developed a high-resistance carbon-thread filament that burned steadily for hours and an electric generator sophisticated enough to power a large lighting configuration. In 1878, Edison began working on a system of electrical illumination which he hoped could compete with gas and oil-based lighting. It was during this time that he said: “We will make electricity so cheap that only the rich will burn candles.” Edison made the first public demonstration of his incandescent light bulb on December 31, 1879, in Menlo Park, New Jersey. The Pennsylvania Railroad Company ran special trains to Menlo Park on the day of the demonstration in response to public enthusiasm over the event. Today, lighting choices have expanded, and we have a variety of light bulb choices.

Edison would no doubt be amazed at the public displays of lights these days. Nothing highlights this more profoundly than ‘The Great Christmas Light Fights’ which debuted in 2013 as an American reality competition show. It features a series of families or groups who create elaborate Christmas light exhibitions for monetary prizes. In many American towns, outside light displays are fairly common during the holidays. In my own neighborhood, for instance, most of the homes on our block had some kind of exterior decorations this year. That is, except for one home owner, who continued to display their Halloween decorations which had been placed months before. While I fully understand that not everyone celebrates Christmas or might not be capable of providing a seasonal display – what appeared in the window of this home in my neighborhood was just downright creepy. Written in large letters were these words – Help! DO NOT ENTER.” Maybe these folks are non-believers, or perhaps they have a different understanding of Christmas than me, but I found the lingering words from the presumed ‘ghosts of Halloween past’ to be a little bit too dark for the rejoicing of a new light who came into the world at Christmas (John 1:9).

Jesus said, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life” (John 8:12). The fact that God is light sets up a natural contrast with darkness. Those who know God understand it is His plan that believers shine forth His light, striving to be more like Christ every day. The Apostle Paul said: “You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness” (1 Thessalonians 5:5). To walk in the light means to know God, understand the truth, and live in righteousness. Believers in Christ must confess any darkness within themselves and allow God to shine His light through them. Norman Vincent Peale once shared a story about Thomas Edison: “I knew his widow, and one day when I was in her home, I said to her, ‘Tell me about your husband. What sort of mind did he really have?’ “She said, ‘Exactitude was the mark of my husband’s mind. He was not sentimental. He had to know something for sure before he would say it or record it. It had to be proven.’ Then she told me that when her husband was dying, he could barely speak. His doctor, who was also a family friend, noticed that the great inventor was trying to say something. He leaned close and heard Edison whisper, ‘It’s very beautiful over there.’ Those were his last words.” Edison had seen the One True Light. Hopefully my neighbors someday will as well.

REFLECTION: In scripture, it is written: “For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ” (2 Corinthians 4:6).  How can we carefully use the knowledge of our heart to let the light of God shine forth in us and bring others to Christ? What changes will you make in your life so that you can be an effective witness for Christ in the new year?

A NEW LOOKUP  DEVOTION IS UPLOADED EACH WEEK. THE NEXT WEEKLY POSTING WILL BE ON SAT., JANUARY  5, 2019. COMMENTS ARE WELCOMED.

 

ONE SILENT NIGHT

“He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near.” (Ephesians 2:17)

Our family recently received an animated e-card from an old friend. It portrayed characters passing the light of a candle one to the other with a hymn playing in the background, just as many will experience on Christmas Eve. A personalized message from our friend at the end said, “Sending you one of my favorite songs to wish you Merry Christmas.” The song, “Silent Night” has become one of the most cherished Christmas carols of all time. It was first performed on Christmas Eve, 1818 at St Nicholas parish church in Oberndorf, a village in Austria. A young priest, Father Joseph Mohr, had come there one year earlier. He had written the lyrics of the song “Stille Nacht” in 1816. Mohr brought his words to Franz Gruber, a musician friend, and asked him to compose a melody and guitar accompaniment for that year’s Christmas Eve mass. According to Gruber – an organ builder and repairman was enamored with the song after he heard it performed, and he took a copy of the composition home with him. From there, the carol began an unexpected journey as it slowly circulated around the world. Because the original document had been lost – Mohr’s name was forgotten, and it was assumed the melody was compiled by one of the many famous composers of that era. It was not until 1995 that a manuscript was discovered in Mohr’s handwriting confirming that he wrote the lyrics in 1816 . . . a poem about the night when angels announced the birth of the long-awaited Messiah to shepherds on a hillside.

We sometimes forget that God moves powerfully in quiet, humble settings. Perhaps He sent the gentle whisper of an angel to allure the emotion of an organ repairman with a new song who sent it on a journey and into the hearts of people everywhere. Its words flowed from the imagination of a modest poet. The music was composed by a musician who was not known outside his village. There was no celebrity to sing at its world premiere. In that same quiet manner, God stepped into our world through a baby born in an obscure village. It was there that a host of angels praised Him from the Heavens before a group of unnoticeable shepherds delivering a powerful message of heavenly peace (Luke 2:13-14). We must never be surprised to learn that when God is involved in the details, we should come to expect the unexpected. Consider that Joseph, a humble carpenter, and Mary would have barely had enough money to make the round trip from Nazareth to Bethlehem to register for the census (Luke 2:1-5). Unpredictably, their plans changed when “an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. ‘Get up! Flee to Egypt with the child and his mother,’ the angel said. ‘Stay there until I tell you to return, because Herod is going to search for the child to kill him’” (Matthew 2:13). One might logically ask the question as to how they could have afforded this unexpected trip?  But, don’t forget! They were given three gifts from the Magi, otherwise known as the Wise Men. While their gifts had spiritual significance, they were also practical and would have had financial value. It would have been easy to exchange gold, and the aromatic spices could have been sold at market.  Some scholars believe these gifts were simply God’s provision for the funds which would have been needed to flee to Egypt and to begin raising a baby in a foreign, land.  Once again . . . quietly touched and directed by an angel sent from God.

So often, our Christmas celebrations are anything but silent. There was undoubtedly some commotion as well on that first Christmas night. Anyone who has experienced the miracle of childbirth knows there can be a lot of noise involved in welcoming a newborn into the world. It’s beautiful, even sacred, but it is not quiet. While in many ways, this was an ordinary family in an ordinary town tucked away in a very ordinary stable. And yet there was nothing ordinary about this birth, this night, or this boy. If we dare to take time to retreat from our personal chaos and imagine what it would have been like to join the shepherds at the manger, then perhaps we will hear a new call to silence. He sings our souls to sleep and gives us rest in the peace only He can provide. And when we wake in the morning, we will once again meet the dawn of redeeming grace . . . all because of a precious birth one silent night.

REFLECTION: When, if at all, have you experienced silence in your celebrations of Christmas? Why is finding silence an appropriate response to God’s holiness? What changes might you have to make in your holiday traditions in order to find the peace and silence necessary to find the true reason for the season?

A NEW LOOKUP  DEVOTION IS UPLOADED EACH WEEK. THE NEXT WEEKLY POSTING WILL BE ON SAT., DECEMBER 29, 2018.  COMMENTS ARE WELCOMED.

LEANING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION

“By doing this they will be storing up their treasure as a good foundation for the future so that they may experience true life.” (1 Timothy 6:19)

A must-see for tourists visiting Italy is the Leaning Tower of Pisa in Tuscany. The eight-story cathedral bell tower was completed in the 12th century. While construction was still in progress, the tower’s foundation began to sink into the soft, marshy ground, causing it to lean to one side. Its builders tried to compensate for the lean by making the top stories slightly taller on one side, but the extra masonry only made the tower sink further. By the time it was completed in 1360, modern-day engineers say it was a miracle that it didn’t fall down completely. By the 20th century, the 190-foot-high white marble tower leaned a dramatic 15 feet off the perpendicular. Though an initial attempt in 1994 almost toppled the tower, engineers were eventually able to reduce the lean by nearly seventeen inches by removing earth from underneath its foundation. On December 15, 2001, Italy’s Leaning Tower of Pisa reopened after a team of experts spent eleven years and $27 million to fortify the tower without eliminating its famous lean. Though entrance to the tower is now limited to guided tours, hordes of tourists can still be found outside striking the classic pose for photos next to the tower pretending to hold it up. Today the top of that tower is nearly thirteen feet off center. Engineers travel to Pisa yearly to measure its slow descent. They calculate that at its current rate of decline, and without taking any future countermeasures – it will one day collapse.

Nothing is more important in construction work than making sure you have the foundation right. If you don’t get that correct, then nothing else will matter. It may be more fun to decide what color to paint the rooms and how you will decorate the finished structure, but without a proper foundation – nothing else you do will last long enough to make any difference. How many lives have been erected in a similar manner? Instead of building them on something solid, many in today’s society will try all kinds of fads and gimmicks. They will spend precious time and energy compensating for a life that is not instituted on a firm foundation in the first place. Jesus said: “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand” (Matthew 7:24-27).

Smart and successful Christians build their lives on the right foundation. Man tries to change life from the outside, hoping the inside will be altered. God changes it from the inside, and then the outside will ultimately be transformed. Scripture makes it clear that there is only one foundation possible for a sound spiritual life: “For no one can lay any foundation other than the one we already have–Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 3:11). The amount of renovation we can anticipate is reliant on one’s degree of obedience to God’s commands found in His Word. Carpenters utilize plumb lines to keep their work strait. A plumb line doesn’t change or move with the whims of the builder. It remains true, and all work must line up with it or risk being crooked. In the Old Testament book of Amos, it says, “This is what he showed me: The Lord was standing by a wall that had been built true to plumb, with a plumb line in his hand. And the Lord asked me, ‘What do you see Amos?’ ‘A plumb line,’ I replied. Then the Lord said, ‘Look, I am setting a plumb line among my people Israel; I will spare them no longer’” (Amos 7:7-8). Today, the Scriptures continue to serve as His plumb line for us. When we can see that we have departed from His ideals, His purposes, His ways, and His commands – we will soon become aware that we are in trouble.

It is not unusual for us to be more concerned about the number of followers we have on social media than it is to focus on whom we should be following. The Lord does not change with the whims of culture; He sets the standard.  A wise man once wrote: “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding” (Proverbs 3:5). Build your life around the Word of God. It is as true today as when God inspired its writing. Since then, it has been used by God to raise, support, and guide millions. So why not us? It is the firm foundation that will always keep you leaning in the right direction.

REFLECTION: What factors in your life push you to lean in the wrong direction?  In what ways might you be able to make time to build a stronger foundation for Christ? When will you implement these changes?

A NEW LOOKUP  DEVOTION IS UPLOADED EACH WEEK. THE NEXT WEEKLY POSTING WILL BE ON SAT., DECEMBER 22, 2018.  COMMENTS ARE WELCOMED.

FREEDOM FROM ALL YOUR FEARS

“The LORD is for me, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?”             (Psalm 118:6)

As America’s Pacific fleet lay in ruins at Pearl Harbor – President Franklin Roosevelt delivered perhaps the most memorable speech of his career on December 8, 1941. The day before, Japanese pilots had bombed the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor with raids that killed 2,403 people and wounded nearly 1,200 others. Although Roosevelt and his advisors had received intelligence reports indicating an imminent attack by Japan days before, he had hoped that a peaceful solution could be found. He was infuriated to realize that while American and Japanese diplomats engaged in negotiations, Japanese aircraft carriers had been steaming toward Hawaii intent on attack. His words on December 8 relayed his personal indignation and anger. The speech, in which he called Japan’s act a “deliberate deception,” received thunderous applause from Congress and, soon after, the United States officially entered the Second World War. The same president who once said “the only thing we have to fear is fear itself” declared with equal conviction that his nation and the “unbounding determination of our people . . . will gain the inevitable triumph—so help us God.” Reports on supposed spy activity on the part of Japanese Americans began pouring into Washington. In some areas of the country, Japanese nationals were rounded up and held in custody as fear mounted.

Fear is one of the most debilitating emotions known to the human race. It is unbelievably powerful. It penetrates the heart, poisons the spirit, and paralyzes the soul. It can affect you not only emotionally, mentally, and spiritually, but it can also distress you physically. For Christians, the antidote to fear is faith in a God who is actively involved in the lives of His people . . . a God who is present with us. It is helpful to remember that some form of “fear not” is one of, if not the most common address to us in Scripture. Our most helpful counsel about fear comes in the form of an angel ministering to Mary when she learned she was pregnant with the one who was to be the Savior of the world. Totally baffled and devastated, no words could have meant more – “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God” (Luke 1:30). The angelic greeting comes with incredible consistency throughout the Advent story with the same message, the same command, repeated over and over again: “Fear Not.” When Joseph became aware that Mary was with child, he “resolved to divorce her, quietly. But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 1:19-20). Likewise, when God announced the birth of His Son to a group of humble shepherds, an angel appeared before the stunned men. “But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord’” (Luke 2:10-11). In each case the message was simple, and yet so profound: “Don’t be afraid . . . The Lord is with you.”

Therein lies the message of Christmas. As we consider the good news of the birth of Jesus, we come to understand the true meaning of Immanuel . . . God with us (Matthew 1:23). He sustains us through all things, because He is the author and finisher of our faith. We need to become more like the main characters of the Christmas story, and walk on our journey by faith and not by sight. With messages like the angels’ visits to Mary, Joseph, and the shepherds, ‘Fear Not’ assures us that God will always give us the guidance we need to reject fear. Listen to the words of the psalmist, David, who was born in the same city as Jesus many years and generations before: “The LORD is my light and my salvation– whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life– of whom shall I be afraid?” God is still present and active in this world. And because we know that He keeps his promises, we don’t have to be overcome by the fears of the moment. When Christ becomes our central focus – confidence replaces all of our anxieties. As you prepare your heart for Christmas this year, may you experience the fullness of His joy. As a result you are destined to find true freedom from all your fears.

REFLECTION: What fears are threatening to overwhelm you this Advent season? How might focusing on Jesus help you to live more confidently? How can you use this to assist others who share their own fears?

A NEW LOOKUP  DEVOTION IS UPLOADED EACH WEEK. THE NEXT WEEKLY POSTING WILL BE ON SAT., DECEMBER 15, 2018.  COMMENTS ARE WELCOMED.

A NEW HEART FOR CHRISTMAS

“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you…” (Ezekiel 36:26)

On December 3, 1967, a 53-year-old South African grocer dying with chronic heart disease, received the first human heart transplant. The new heart had functioned normally, until 18 days later the recipient died from double pneumonia. Surgeon Christiaan Barnard, who trained at the University of Cape Town and in the United States, performed the revolutionary medical operation utilizing a technique developed by American researchers in the 1950s. Hope was given to patients with irreparably damaged hearts when heart-transplant operations began, and by the late 1970s many of Bernard’s patients were living up to five years with their new hearts. However, the demand for donor hearts always exceeded availability, and thousands died every year while waiting for healthy hearts to become available. It was only fifteen years after the first transplant that a 61-year-old retired Seattle dentist by the name of Barney Clark in an advanced stage of heart disease became the first recipient of a permanent artificial heart on December 2, 1982. Clark was too old to be a candidate for a heart transplant. His only shot at survival was permanent artificial heart advanced by Dr. Robert Jarvik. The surgery was considered a success, since Clark went on to live another 112 days. in the 1990s, the Jarvik-7 was used on more than 150 patients whose hearts were too damaged to be aided by a mechanical pump implant. More than half of these patients survived until they got a transplant, able to celebrate many more holidays . . . including Christmas.

The ability to get a new heart for Christmas comes in many forms. Released in December, 1843 – Charles Dickens’ novel A Christmas Carol has never been out of print. It tells the story of Ebenezer Scrooge, a wealthy, stingy man who had developed a calloused heart. Scrooge’s catchphrase, “Bah! Humbug!” is often used to express disgust with many modern Christmas traditions. One Christmas Eve, he is visited by the ghost of his former business partner and the spirits of Christmases Past, Present, and Yet to Come. After their visits, he is transformed into a kinder, gentler man. His last name, Scrooge, is synonymous in describing persons who are known to be less-than-generous. Ebenezer Scrooge is arguably one of the most famous characters created by Dickens as well as in all of English literature. Through the visions of Scrooge, Dickens’ book is able to capture the universal longing for inner peace felt by each of us. Without self-reflection, we too can easily fall into the role of Scrooge for having a judgmental and cruel attitude.

A young man named Saul once opposed Jesus and His followers with a vengeful spirit. He “began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off both men and women and put them in prison” (Acts 8:3). But one day he encountered the risen Christ, and his life became a different story (Acts 9:1-16). In a letter to Timothy, the converted Saul (who became known as Paul) described that life-changing event. “Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus” (1 Tim. 1:13-14). A change in behavior begins with Jesus changing our heart. Jesus was born into our world and gave His life so that we can be forgiven and transformed through faith in Him. The medical team operating on Dr. Barney Clark had to remove his disease-ridden heart before they could replace it with a “new” one. If we fail to be consistent in our walk with Christ, we may develop an irregular heartbeat. Over time, our heart can become calloused and our spiritual specialist may need to perform heart surgery. As we enter Advent, we need to improve our heart health by taking a journey to a manger to witness the birth of the “King of Kings” (Revelation 19:16). It’s the last place we might expect to find Him, but that is the miracle and gift of God through Jesus.  Because of that humble birth of God’s Son, we can change our old heart and find a new one that beats only for Him. Amidst the flurry of activities, won’t you join me and look at each day as an opportunity to demonstrate Christmas? A heart radiating the love of Jesus is always the perfect gift. And all who receive it will join each of us in finding something very special . . . A New Heart for Christmas.

REFLECTION: What heart conditions do you need God to heal? Throughout this Advent seasoned, what steps will you take to realize the miraculous love of Christ in your life?  How might you invite others to journey with you to become more focused on finding a heart-filled Christmas?

A NEW LOOKUP  DEVOTION IS UPLOADED EACH WEEK. THE NEXT WEEKLY POSTING WILL BE ON SAT., DECEMBER 8, 2018.  COMMENTS ARE WELCOMED.