Joy is Contagious

When a baby is born, there is usually great joy.  And at Jesus' advent, it is no different.  But it wasn't just about His birth.  God shows us a foretaste of how those of us who know Him will experience an unspeakable joy.

Gabriel said that John would bring his parents great joy and many would rejoice because of his birth.  (Luke 1:14).  Later, at his birth, it says that many relatives and neighbors heard and came and shared in Elizabeth's joy.  (Luke 1:58)  

When Mary came to visit Elizabeth, as she entered the house and greeted her cousin, the baby in Elizabeth's womb leapt for joy.  (Luke 1:44)  Interesting to see that a six month old fetus can have an emotional response.  

The angel told the shepherds that he was bringing them good news of great joy that will be for all people. (Luke 2:10)  And after they saw the baby they returned praising God.

We can go on through the Gospels reading about Jesus being full of joy;  how the shepherd who finds a lost lamb is filled with joy; how the friend who attends the bridegroom is filled with joy; and Jesus telling the disciples that they will experience His joy.

It is clear that joy is important to God.  He created us to experience it.  And when we welcome Jesus into our lives, hang around where He is working, or share life with His servants, we find His joy.  So during this advent season, my prayer is that His joy will fill all of us and we can share it with others.  If you are not experiencing joy right now, make sure you take this opportunity to spend time with Jesus.  He will fill you with joy.

Adventures at Advent

During this Advent season, I wanted to share a thought for each day.  I have always been fascinated at the amount of work God the Father did surrounding the birth of Jesus.  He prepared the timing.  He prepared the people.  He had to communicate and guide the events of history to have Mary and Joseph in place in Bethlehem.  He had to stretch the laws of nature to cause a lady on the edge of child-bearing age (Elizabeth) and a virgin (Mary) to both conceive and bear a son.

We could consider more but I think this is sufficient to point to and substantiate the sovereign power of God.  And in the midst of the Advent preparation story, there is an encounter.  The encounter is between a faithful priest whose wife and he had prayed for a child for decades.  And yet they remained childless.  Now, as he serves his turn in the holy place as a priest, God sends Gabriel, the chief angel in charge of communications, to convey a message.  This faithful couple is going to be used to raise the man who will serve as a forerunner for the Christ.

Here is the encounter:
18 Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.”  19 The angel said to him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. 20 And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their appointed time.”

I wonder how I would have responded if I were Zechariah?  You have a dream that you pray over for decades and now when it seems to be impossible,  you are told by divine revelation that you are going to receive it?  I may have wanted some reassurance too.  But Gabriel seems indignant at the questioning of Zechariah.

"I am Gabriel and I stand in the presence of God."   It is amazing to think that we as human beings can and do stare divine revelation in the face and question it or ignore it.  Sin is so deceptive.  We are so frail but we act as if we are so powerful. Gabriel then tells Zechariah that he will now remain silent until this all takes place because he failed to believe the words the angel had delivered to him.  The words of God are powerful.

Two thoughts for the day:

1.  Never give up on God-inspired dreams.  He searches always for faithful people who trust Him despite their dreams not being fulfilled.  And He may just use those folks for greater purposes than they ever could have imagined.

2.  The words of God are powerful.  He is trustworthy.  So we can receive what He has revealed to us without question.

Don't Be Outwitted

Thoughts can challenge us.  In fact, they could change us.  Recently, I taught in one of our discipleship groups that God throwing Adam and Eve out of the Garden of Eden was not an act of righteous judgment but an act of loving discipline.  He did not want them to eat of the tree of life and live forever in a sinful state.  He desired to see them redeemed.  They already suffered the consequence and loss of the perfect world through their sin.  The focus was redemption.  That is what the Gospel is all about. One person told me they had never heard that before.  It changed the way they looked at that act.  It also changed the way they looked at God.

From a practical standpoint, God was in a position of being justified in carrying out divine punishment.  Yet He took the necessary punishment for their sin (and that of all of us through the ages) and placed it on His Son.  Therefore He was both justified and justifier (Romans 3:21-26).

In 1 Corinthians 5 and 2 Corinthians 2, we have an account where that church had to deal with a man in gross sin; they take action to deal with it, and then are encouraged to receive him back into fellowship and love him so that "Satan may not outwit us, because was are aware of his schemes." (2 Corinthians 2:11)

So here is my point:  I believe there are many situations happening today where people who have been exposed to the Gospel or are claiming to live the Gospel are being outwitted.  And the effects are destructive for everyone involved.  Here are a few ways this applies:

1.  A fellow believer (or unbeliever) does something hurtful or sinful that affects a believer.  The hurt is deep.  Justifiably, the hurt party wants to see the offense "paid for."  Here is where the outwitting takes place.  If we don't immediately take the desire to have the person punished to the Cross, a root of bitterness and unforgiveness can take root.  And we get stuck until the person pays.  Remember God applied loving discipline but put the punishment on His Son.  We claim the Gospel, the Good News, is that God's action applies to all of us.  Yet when we are hurt, we find it hard to apply the Gospel to the person who hurt us.  And bitter roots grow bad fruit in our lives.

2.  A second way we are outwitted is that the person who is guilty takes actions that are in keeping with the Gospel.  They repent of their sin.  They ask forgiveness.  They take steps to produce fruit in keeping with repentance.  And rather than feeling the forgiveness of Christ and receiving the helpful discipline that would move them forward, one of two things happens.  They find it hard to receive forgiveness and continue to stay stuck at a point of believing they are beyond forgiveness.  Or the person they hurt continues to hold their sin over them and they can never move beyond the hurt.  Either way, Satan keeps one or both people stuck.  And the power of the Gospel is called into question.  Is it real or not?

3.  A third way Satan outwits us is for the individual who is hurt or a group of people (small group, church, etc) to feel like they are the protectors of righteousness and fail to remember that we are all sinners who have been forgiven by the grace of God.  After a while these folks become an entity unto themselves and feel justified in doing so.  And anyone who challenges them is either against them or simply does not understand what is right or wrong.

As you read this, let me wrap up by saying a couple things to clarify.  Sin is destructive.  And the pain of that destruction is palpable.  But we say that the Gospel is more powerful.  Punishment for sin is necessary.  But the Gospel we proclaim states that God punished sin on the cross and now works through discipline.  The goal of discipline is redemption not retribution.

If we are not careful, rather than allowing God to be the one who cares for justice and also justifies, we take the position of God.  In that case, what is the meaning of the Gospel we proclaim?

Though it is hard, and takes the grace of God to accomplish it, I want always to be a person who is living the Gospel out personally and also leads a church that is a redemptive community where the sinner can find redemption and the one who has been hurt, healing.  All this can only take place through the grace of the One who redeems.

Family Nights

In the recent series we did on Peace in Our Homes, I mentioned that I kept my day off on Tuesday and Family Night on Friday nights sacred, so that they were hardly ever interfered with.  I worked hard the rest of the week.  But those times were sacred.  It wasn't easy.  There were many things we had to say "no" to in order to say "yes" to our time as a family.  But isn't that what priorities are all about?  With so many options and opportunities facing families today, we must fight for God's best.

Some people have asked me what kind of things we did as a family on those nights?  Here are just a few ideas that I hope could be helpful.  There is nothing earth shattering or super creative.

1.  Movie and pop corn at home in pajamas.  Standard activity.  But we tried to make it special by it being a movie we all wanted to see or watching an annual favorite (White Christmas; Home Alone; etc)

2.  Games.  We were big on them.  Trivial pursuit; cards; Scrabble.  Whatever the kids wanted to play, we did it.

3.  We did a four location activity night.  This was one of the most memorable for the kids.  We did different games or activities in four different locations in the house.  They didn't know where we were headed next.  But they received clues along the way.  They asked for it again and again.

4.  Hide and seek outside in the dark.  What fun.  In a dark shirt and pants you can hide in a shadow and they walk right past you.  Learn patience while having fun.

5.  Picture night.  Sometimes we would pull out old family slides (for you younger ones they are a type of media that showed pictures) or videos and tell stories about them or remember some of the vacations we took.  It was good to learn about family history or share fond memories.

While we did the activities we always tried to talk about life, what was happening, what was going on at school or with their friends, what we were doing at church, and other conversations that kept us up to date with each other.  Communication was, is and always will be the most important tool between parents and children.

Again, this list is not earth shattering.  But I hope it can stir some thoughts for you and your family in making time together a priority.  It means time doing things that don't involve a smart phone or tablet or computer but do require conversation, listening and thinking.  Families that pray and play together are stronger than those who don't.  I encourage you to find your time and make the most of it.

Because of Covenant

I was reading through 2 Kings 13 this morning.  So many things drew my attention.  The kings of Israel are leading the people in sinful patterns and because of that God puts them under the hand of the king of Aram and his son.  Elisha is dying of an illness.  Yet on his death bed, he is consulted by King Jehoash and gives his final prophetic directive.  He is such a powerful man of God that after he dies a dead man is thrown into his tomb by some raiders and when his body touches Elisha's bones the man comes back to life.  What a shock that would be!

But there is one phrase that struck me the most since it explains so much in our current day.  If you understand Israel's modern history at all, you know that it should not exist today.  They have faced wars on multiple fronts several times; been outmanned by the armies surrounding them; and have withstood political pressure to give in each time they are attacked and they defend themselves.  Yet they are still there.  A recent news article clearly outlines the goals of radical Islam against them and America.  Please read the full article here:  http://dailycaller.com/2014/07/27/iran-general-we-will-hunt-down-israelis-house-to-house/

Here is the statement in 2 Kings that struck me:  22 Hazael king of Aram oppressed Israel throughout the reign of Jehoahaz. 23 But the Lord was gracious to them and had compassion and showed concern for them because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. To this day he has been unwilling to destroy them or banish them from his presence.

Because of the covenant God made, He showed concern for Israel. It was not because Israel had done all things right or were following faithfully. He did it because He made a promise, a covenant, with Abraham and was and is carrying through with it. We talk today and preach that when we love or respect our spouse, we do so even when they are not lovable or respectable because of the vow we took before the Lord. The point here is parallel.  In fact, just as the Lord's heart is expressed in 2 Kings toward Israel, so it is toward all believers in 2 Timothy 2:

If we died with him, we will also live with him;
12 if we endure,
we will also reign with him.
If we disown him,
he will also disown us;
13 if we are faithless,
he remains faithful,
for he cannot disown himself.

Why does He remain faithful to us when we are faithless?  Because He has made promises that He will not break.  He will fulfill the covenant He made with Abraham and his seed just as He will the new covenant He made through the blood of Jesus.  And those two covenants are interlinked through the faithfulness of Him who made them.

We as a people of the covenant have a heart to see all people reached, including those who oppose Israel.  At the same time, we also stand side by side with Israel against all people who seek to cause her destruction.  We stand with her, not because Israel does everything right always.  We stand with her because the God of the Covenant stands with her and is unwilling to destroy her or to banish her from His presence.

The forces that seek to destroy Israel are also seeking the death of Christians as well.  So we must understand that the covenant people are under attack by those who serve false gods.  That is why we are Israel and Israel is us (see Romans 9-11). We are both people of the covenant.  And our hope, as well as their hope, is in the God that made a covenant with us.  Pray for the peace of Jerusalem and pray for the soon coming of Christ.

The End of All Things

Peter tells us in 1 Peter 4:7:  The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray.

The end. What will it be like at "the end?"  Matthew 24 gives us a glimpse.  Wars, rumors of wars, increase of wickedness, earthquakes, famines, many false prophets doing miracles, many people turning away from the faith. Jesus said that the love of most will grow cold.  It will be bad, really bad.  

Do we see things like that today?  Absolutely.  I was in a conversation with a man this week who was not aware of what I do for a living.  He told me he winters in Florida and I asked him where.  He said in the Villages.  He then goes on to describe in detail the sexual exploits of some of the residents there. And to quote him, he said, "and we are proud of it."  It reminds me of the Scripture we are studying in Ephesians that says it is even shameful to mention what the disobedient do in secret.  I felt dirty listening, and then I felt very sad.  The increase of wickedness is certainly happening and the end is near for them.

I see the wars in Ukraine, Israel, Iraq, Nigeria, and rumors of war in Korea, Sudan, and other places.  Earthquakes in Oklahoma, Nicaragua, California and Japan, and famine in Africa.  The plethora of false teachers who are tickling peoples ears with their messages and doing "miracles" that seem to validate them.  Remember Peter said to be sober minded and alert so we can pray and know what is real and what is not.

Is "the end" near?  Jesus said to watch and pray so as not to be led astray by all these things.  Obviously we are nearer than we were.  I believe the key is that we will see the "increase" of all these things.  He also said that we would be taken before officials because of our faith.  That was true for the apostles and it will be true for us as believers toward the end.  Because the darkness will grow, so will its repugnance to light.  But that also means that the light will shine brighter.

In Jesus' day, it was clear that the religious leaders had made decisions about important issues such as marriage and divorce based on popular opinion rather than the Scriptures.  Those opinions were followed by many as if God has given them as commands.  (See Matthew 19)  Jesus, in addressing a question about marriage and divorce, took them back to the beginning and the Scriptures.  

As we live in increasing darkness, and it is evident that many are living compromised lives because they are following religious opinions rather than truth, I encourage us to always follow the path of Jesus in seeking what God intended all along.  Look at what the Scriptures have clearly taught from the beginning and don't waver from it.  Following Christ is not easy but the grace and power to do so will always be available to the saint who does.  And a sad and tragic end will meet the religious person who follows popular opinion rather than Him.  

What If?

I recently spoke to someone who in the course of the conversation told me about a question posed to them by an atheist relative.  He was asked, "What if you find when you die that there is no God?"  The implication seemed to be that this person would have wasted their life following a myth, a dream.  The man wisely responded that even if God did not exist, his life is richer and better in this world by following Biblical principles than if he did not.

He seemed a bit surprised when I suggested to him that he could have turned the question around and asked the atheist, "What if you get to the point of death and find out that He does exist?"

There is a sense in the heart of many of the unconvinced that they are secure in their philosophy of life.  Nothing too tragic has occurred to them except for the common events of the human existence.  They find pleasure in their pursuits.  They feel empowered and in charge.  They scorn the weaknesses of those who "need" to have a "god" in their lives.  In fact they feel like they triumph over the Christians they see.  They exist, and they are convinced there is no omnipotent being watching over them.

The Babylonians felt the same way.  They had conquered God's people and taken them into captivity. They were the "Queen of Kingdoms." Even though God made it clear that the downfall of Judah was His doing and not theirs, they felt confident.  Their magic was working for them.  Now God warns them:
You have trusted in your wickedness and have said, ‘No one sees me.’ Your wisdom and knowledge mislead you when you say to yourself, ‘I am, and there is none besides me.’ Isaiah 47:10

They were about to go down and they were so deceived they could not see it.  They were misled by their "wisdom and knowledge."  They thought the world revolved around them and they neglected the knowledge of God.  Romans 1 reminds us that God turns folks like that over to their delusions so that they may see the error of their ways and turn to Him.

We all have many friends and acquaintances who are being misled.  At some point you may be in a conversation with them where they suggest you are foolish for following Christ while they are just fine and enjoying the life they have.  Tuck this question away and the Holy Spirit may prompt you to ask them when appropriate:  "But what if you get to the point when you die and you find He is real?  What then?"  

This life is but a blip on the radar of eternity.  I'd rather be a "fool" during the blip than face an eternity apart from Christ.