Most Wonderful Time of the Year. Part 5

This week we have looked at four crucial moments in the life of Jesus: his birth, baptism, crucifixion, and his resurrection. Today, we will examine one more event; however, this one is slightly different than the previous four. At His birth, His baptism, His crucifixion and resurrection, Jesus was truly Immanuel, God With Us. He was physically on this earth as our High Priest (Hebrews 4:14-15). But today we will look at His glorious ascension into Heaven as He entrusts our lives to the work of the Holy Spirit.

Mark 16:14-20 Then after speaking to them, the Lord Jesus was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. Mark 16:19 HCSB

John 14:15-20 And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Counselor
to be with you forever. He is the Spirit of truth. The world is unable to receive Him because it doesn’t see Him or know Him. But you do know Him, because He remains with you and will be in you. John 14:16-17 HCSB

Today’s devotion is going to be a little different. It’s not going to be a “feel good article.” It’s not going set you on a “spiritual high.” In fact, it may just stress you out a little bit. I know what you’re all thinking, “Great, that’s all I need this time of year—more stress.” Regardless, before this week is over, let me put forth to you just one question...

“WHAT NOW?”

What does tomorrow bring? What do I do with this faith in my heart? Faith is ALWAYS expressed as an action. So what does that “action” mean to you? What will you do tomorrow as a result of your faith today?

As we learned yesterday, with each choice we make comes an opportunity for us to choose the extraordinary. With each decision of indifference, we elect to cast aside the exceptional. At Jesus’ ascension, He left His disciples (and us) a challenge...we like to call it the Great Commission...“go into the world”. During the previous three years, He taught them. He encouraged them. He allowed them to make mistakes. (I can identify with that one.) And as His earthly ministry came to a close, He left them with a choice...“go into the world.”

Jesus had been among His disciples for three years. He knew these men better than they knew themselves. He knew they would be frightened, confused, and that they would make mistakes...again and again. But like I said, He knew these men better than they knew themselves. He knew their hearts. He didn’t want to abandon them to their own strengths...to their own words...to their own abilities. If He did, He knew they would fail. We all would. We all do. And so Jesus comforted them. He provided for them. He provides for us. He provides a Counselor. A Guide. Seek Him. He will direct you. He will pick you up when you fall. He will dust you off and prepare you to walk again.

Jesus has ascended. He no longer lives among us in the physical body. But He has not left us alone. His Spirit dwells within us (Vs. 17). Jesus didn’t say He would leave us a tyrant—someone to make the decision for us—but a Counselor. The disciples were instructed to listen to the Counselor; however, they were left with the choice. We have that same choice today and this holiday season.

This Christmas, ask yourself, “WHAT NOW?” What choice are you making? Are you choosing the extraordinary? Seek Him. He WILL guide you.

Father, God, this Christmas season, our gift to You, is our life...each moment...each choice. As we seek the Wonderful Counselor You have given us, guide us so we may glorify You in every choice we make. We praise You for the work You completed on the cross and thank You for continuing Your good work in us until it too is completed. In Your Son’s name we pray. Amen.

Most Wonderful Time of the Year. Part 4

Today we will continue our glimpse into the wonderful world of Christmas by looking at the most pivotal moment in history—the resurrection of Jesus Christ. There have been many people throughout the history books who have given their lives over to death for a worthy cause. BUT…today we will learn from the One who lived a sinless life and defeated death by raising Himself from the grave.

Matthew 28:1-10 “He is not here! For He has been resurrected, just as He said. Come and see the place where He lay.” Matthew 28:6 HCSB

Chocolate is a great thing!! Wait…on behalf of my wife, let me rephrase that. Chocolate is the most extraordinary, tremendous, incredible, amazing thing ever. There…that’s more like it. Especially during the holiday season. You visit people’s homes and they’ve got it laid out everywhere. During a past holiday weekend, I was visiting my parents, and one evening was sitting around the den. As usual, chocolate was lying around everywhere. I, subconsciously, began stuffing my face with these tiny morsels of heaven. (I know none of you can relate.) Now, some of you may be thinking, “What’s wrong with that?” Well, I’ll tell you. Later on that evening, we all decided to go out for dinner to celebrate the holiday. When we got to the restaurant, I ordered a savory prime rib steak with a baked potato and soup. I awaited anxiously for my meal to arrive (ohh, it was going to be good) and when it did…...I ate four bites. I had filled my belly with so much good candy; I didn’t have enough room for my incredible meal. I sacrificed the best just to settle for something good!

Here’s the trouble most of us get into these days, especially around the holidays. We spend so much time on all the “good” things Christmas has to offer, and we never tap into the “best” thing. Christmas provides us a time to reflect upon the “greatest” gift of all time. Emmanuel, God With Us, immortal Deity, made human flesh, walking this earth. Born of a virgin. Son of a carpenter. Sacrificed with the tools of His trade. Sacrificed by the sins of His creation. And by that sacrifice, we are made alive…I repeat…WE ARE MADE ALIVE!!!! John 11:25-26 says, “I am the resurrection and the life...Everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die—ever.” John 4:14 proclaims, “Whoever drinks from the water that I will give him will never get thirsty again—ever!” WHAT A PROMISE!!

When was the last time you reflected…CORRECTION…acted upon the meaning of Christmas? When was the last time you refused to accept something “good”, in order to obtain the “best?” Sacrificed decorating the tree until a time when the entire family could join in? Forfeited attending “another” Christmas dinner party to maybe serve those who have no dinner parties to go to? Or maybe just take the time to send a Christmas card to someone who’s NOT on your Christmas card list and ask them for forgiveness for something in your past. More importantly, have you sacrificed your time during this hectic season to rest at the feet of Jesus? (I believe the Bible refers to this as “abiding in His love.”) Have you abided lately?

This Christmas season, we all have more choices to make than we can count. And, not to put too much pressure on us, but with each choice comes an overall choice to be made. Do we settle for the ordinary, mundane, routine, habitual, everyday run around that comes with the season? Or do we choose the extravagant? The exceptional? The astonishing? The wonderful things Jesus has to offer us? This is truly a wonderful time of the year. But this world wants you to believe that it has the best there is. Little does it know that there is something better. There is a wonderful “steak dinner” that offers a wonderful life…TRUE LIFE. And it is only found in Him…with a capital “H.”

Father, God, You make the ultimate choice in order to give us TRUE LIFE! You purposed that nothing would keep us from having the BEST. During this holiday season and this upcoming year, grant us discernment so we may seek the best You have to offer. Let us not get bogged down with what this world says is okay, but look to You with every choice we make. We praise You and thank You. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Most Wonderful Time of the Year. Part 3

Throughout this week, we have been looking at what makes this time of year so “wonderful.” We’ve looked at the freedom that we have here in this wonderful country; and yesterday, we looked at the wonderful relationships we have with our family and friends. Today, we will touch on one aspect of Christmas that everyone is aware of...and more than likely…stressing out over. GIVING!!

And Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into Your hands I entrust My spirit.” Saying this, He breathed His last. Luke 23:46-47 HCSB

YOU’RE A TOOL!!! Now the real question is are you a useful tool or not. WAIT!!! I guess the better question is are you a usable tool or not? Or are you sitting there like a rusty pair of pliers trying to look like a hammer? WHAT IS THIS GUY TALKING ABOUT???? Well, let me try to explain myself. God has blessed everyone...I repeat...EVERYONE...with gifts, talents, traits, abilities that are to be used during our brief stay on this planet. A tool can only be a tool if it is used. If it’s not being used, it’s just a “thing.” The Christmas season provides many, many opportunities to take your “tools” and use them. It is a wonderful time of year to start using those abilities, or for some, continue using them. We just have to be willing to give.

Every moment of every day (especially during the holiday season), we have an opportunity to give. One of the wonderful things about this time of year is that giving is on the forefront of every mind. The sad part is that for most people, so is receiving. Before coming to LifeWay, I worked with a non-profit benevolence organization in Colorado (similar to the Salvation Army). One afternoon, I was speaking with a gentleman who had just recently made a very significant contribution. The tax write-off on the contribution alone would have been a great deal of money. However, when I asked him if he needed a receipt for tax purposes, he replied, “No thanks. If I got something in return, it would be trading. It wouldn’t be giving.” What a profound thought. In this day and age, so many of us (myself included) confuse giving and receiving with true giving. Giving is not giving unless there is less of you afterward, and in return, you will receive more than you can imagine.…..okay……let me say that one more time. Giving is not giving unless there is less of you afterward, and in return, you will receive more than you can imagine.

Some opportunities may take the shape of giving monetarily to a favorite organization, or giving a gift to that special someone, or most significantly offering your time. Money can be earned again later. Gifts can be exchanged. But your time is the one thing you can give that you will never get back. Jesus took it one step further. He gave us His LIFE!!! And in turn, gave time to us…eternal time. In Luke 23:46, Jesus paid off this gift of salvation with His life. And the odd part about it is that He asks nothing in return...well, almost nothing. He asks only to accept the gift He so freely offers.

Over the next few weeks, I urge you to take the advice of the One who offers such an extravagant gift. “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Matthew 22:39 When you love, you give. When you give, you receive spiritually. When you receive spiritually, you are blessed. And when you are blessed, love. So this holiday season...GIVE!!!

Father, God, may we never forget the wondrous act of love You showed by offering Your one and only Son to be the gift of salvation to humanity. During this season of giving gifts and holiday celebrations, may we remember Your Gift with every gift we give and celebrate that Gift with every moment. Give us the strength and compassion to love those around us. May we look to Your Son as THE example. Father, it is in His name we pray. Amen.

Most Wonderful Time of the Year. Part 2

As we continue our look at the “wonderful” things of the Christmas season, we take a glance at the importance of family and friends to Jesus’ ministry.

Matthew 3:13-17 Jesus answered him, “Allow it for now, because this is the way for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed Him [to be baptized]. Matthew 3:15 HCSB

FAMILY & FRIENDS. I don’t know about the rest of you, but during this time of year, there is one thing I absolutely hate to do...TRAVEL. And yet, I travel...year after year after year. (I can see the odometer climbing as I type.) “Why?” you ask, “do I travel, if I hate it so much?” The same reason as you...FAMILY & FRIENDS. This year my wife and I will be driving to my father-in-law’s family gathering, then that night driving to my mother’s house for Christmas morning, then back to my mother-in-law’s for her family gathering then I am going to visit some college buddies...well, you get the picture. I do this...we all do this...because we love and are loved.

During this time of hectic schedules and empty gas tanks, we are rejuvenated by love. As we look to God’s holy scripture, we find that Jesus’ family and friends rejuvenated Him and played an irreplaceable part of His ministry. He surrounded Himself with twelve men that He poured his heart into for three years. He was moved to tears when He lost one of His closest friends. On the day of His death, He chose His most beloved disciple, to be the “son” for His mother. Time after time, we come across Jesus being encircled with loved ones. Yes, He did find time alone to spend with His Father, but during most of His life, He was busy with loving and being loved.

In Matthew, as we look at Jesus’ baptism, we notice that when He began His ministry, He did not go to one of the Jewish leaders of the day, or a church official, or any other religious head to be baptized; instead, He went to one of His friends since birth—John the Baptist. When He arrived, John declared, “I should be baptized by you!” But Jesus, persisted, not only in Him being baptized, but specifically, by John. Why do you think Jesus sought after John to perform the baptism? To shun the “political” world? Probably not. To make John feel like part of the “club” Nah, that either. It was because John was His friend. And during the most important times in His life, Jesus wanted those nearest and dearest to His heart with Him. His Father was even there for the post-baptismal toast (verse 17).

During the holiday season, one of the greatest opportunities we have is to spend the time with those we love...the parents, the kids, the husband or wife, dearest friends, and even pets (in my case, two furry little cats). Some of us even have memories of loved ones gone before us, and this time of year allows us moments to reminisce on what they mean to us, even now. We must be certain to take advantage of those times to appreciate special recollections and realize why they were so extraordinary...because of the people we shared them with. And now we must go from here; and as we remember Christmases past, we must make the most of “now”, and ensure those memories for years to come.

John Burroughs, an American essayist, once said, “I still find each day too short for all the thoughts I want to think, all the walks I want to take, all the books I want to read, and all the friends I want to see.” Let us make the most of each breath we are given. For we are just a vapor.

Father, God, we praise You for being our eternal loving Father. We praise You for Your Son, whom, by His death and resurrection, enabled You to adopt us into Your family. During this holiday season, may we always remember that You alone bless us with the people in our lives. We are grateful for what they mean to us. We pray You keep them safe during this upcoming year and allow us to share another year’s worth of memories with them. In Your blessed Son’s name, we pray. Amen.

Most Wonderful Time of the Year. Part 1

This week as we celebrate this time of the year, we will be focusing our hearts on just a few of the many things that make the holiday season “the most wonderful time of the year.” As we look at the different aspects of the season, we will be relating them to four key moments of Jesus’ life; His birth, baptism, crucifixion, and finally His “wonderful” resurrection. During these next few days, I encourage each of you to ponder in your hearts, what in your life makes this time of year “wonderful” for you.

Matthew 1:18-25 “She will give birth to a son, and you are to name Him Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.” Matthew 1:21 HCSB

Luke 2:1-20 But the angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: today a Savior, who is Messiah the Lord, was born for you in the city of David.” Luke 2:10 HCSB

FREEDOM. A concept most of us never think about until we are left without it. Today I woke up and got out of bed. I kissed my wife and started to get ready for work. While we got ready, I listened to the radio to the news of the day. Before I left, I settled in for a quiet moment with my Savior where I read His letter to me and prayed to our Father. As I thought about the freedom we have in Christ, I began to think about the freedom we have in the United States, not only during this time of year, but year-round.

When I woke up this morning, I was free from the fear that terrorists would break into my apartment and attack my family. As I listened to the news on the radio, I subconsciously rested in the freedom of the press provided by the First Amendment of our Constitution. Likewise, during my time alone reading scripture and praying, the freedom to exercise my religion assured me that I would not be stopped by anyone for expressing my faith.

We live in a country where the only qualification for attaining this freedom is existing. If you are breathing and have a pulse, you are blessed with freedoms unmatched in this world. During the Christmas holidays, we have the opportunity to gather together as families...as friends...as co-workers to celebrate the birth of our Savior. We are free to shop at unlimited stores and purchase anything you can imagine...or at least anything you can afford. You are free to sing, free to travel, and free to celebrate. All without fear.

We are blessed to have the mightiest Armed Forces in the world who have purposed in their hearts to protect those precious freedoms that many of us instinctively enjoy. Every day they are willing to place their lives above our own so that we can be secure and enjoy the freedoms given to us. They rescue us daily from those who desire to put us in harm’s way.

This Christmas season, we have a different type of freedom that we, too, can celebrate. Matthew 1:28 expresses, “...you are to name Him Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.” Two thousand years ago, the birth of God in the flesh set in motion a chain of events that changed humanity. His birth led to His ministry and His ministry, to His death. He relinquished His will, His life, His absolute freedom to not only take sin upon himself, but to actually become sin for us (2 Cor 5:21). And in His death...and ultimately in His life, we are absolutely free. Free from our past. Free from expectations of today. Free from what this world holds for us tomorrow. Oscar Wilde once said, “Every saint has a past, and every sinner has a future.” We, as sinners, have a future. A future of freedom.

As we celebrate this holiday season, may we cherish the freedom that we have in this wonderful country as well as the true freedom that Jesus bestowed upon us upon his resurrection. May we never take either of them for granted.

Father, God, as we worship You this Christmas season, may we learn to appreciate the true and absolute freedom that you have given to us. May we rest in You in our times of “slavery” so we can live in that wonderful gift. Bless this time of renewed faith and peace and bless our brave Armed Forces who sacrifice their time and lives so we can live in a country of freedom. We praise and honor You. In the beautiful name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.