We Need a Better King

...and Jesse the father of King David. David was the father of Solomon, whose mother had been Uriah’s wife...

Matthew 1:6

When Matthew mentions Bathsheba in Jesus' genealogy, he doesn’t refer to her by name. Instead, he goes out of his way to remind us that she "had been Uriah’s wife.” Why?

I think Matthew wants to remind us of David’s greatest failure, before he tells us the story of Christmas. Matthew wants us to remember that even King David was an adulterer and a murderer! The greatest king in Israel’s history… the man after God’s own heart… the man who defeated Goliath and conquered God’s enemies all around… couldn’t conquer the sin within his own heart.

This is a subtle, but powerful reminder that we need a better king. Matthew is helping us begin to understand that the Messiah he is about to introduce us to isn’t just another King David. No! We need a Messiah who surpasses even David. We need a king who won’t fall into sin like David did (and even like his son Solomon did). And that is exactly what God gives us in Jesus Christ.

Hebrews 4:15 says that Jesus was “tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.” Jesus passed the test that David failed! And that’s why He can save us. For Jesus to be the perfect King who could make us righteous He had to be sinless, and that’s what He was. And that’s what He is.

Thank God that Jesus passed the test that David failed! Thank God for sending us a better King. But that raises a very important question. Is Jesus your king?

I think that sometimes we have a tendency to fix our eyes and our loyalties on great men like David. Sometimes we build our faith on a pastor, a parent, a teacher, a family member or friend who appears to be a giant in the faith to us. And then, when they fail… like David did… it shakes our faith greatly.

Make sure that your faith isn’t founded on any man but Jesus. Not a pastor or parent or anyone! Only Jesus is worthy to be your king. Only He passes the test. Everyone else will disappoint you. Build your faith on Him.

The Submission of Mary and Jesus

Have you ever considered how Mary's story points forward to Jesus’ story and mission? One unmistakable overlap between the two is submission to the Father's will. 

Consider how Mary responded to the angel Gabriel on that fateful day when he made his announcement to her. She said... “I am the Lord’s servant. May your word to me be fulfilled.” (Luke 1:38)

Like all young women, I'm sure that Mary had plans for her life, hopes and dreams. And here God’s angel comes along with a wonderful announcement for her, but one which will alter the course of her life and make it difficult in many ways. And what does Mary say? She doesn’t do what Moses did. She doesn’t ask God to go find someone else. She doesn’t suggest Gabriel go talk to her friend down the street. No! Mary immediately submitted to God’s plan for her life because she saw herself as God’s servant.

Jesus submitted to the Father in the same way. Consider, for example, Jesus' prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane. Jesus didn’t want to suffer. He knew how cruel and torturous a crucifixion was. He knew that He would feel every lash and blow. He knew that the humiliation would sting. Yet, what did Jesus say? “Not my will, but yours be done.” (Luke 22:42) Philippians 2:8 puts it this way. It says Jesus “became obedient to death— even death on a cross!”

Are you that submitted to the Father’s will for your life? Do you see yourself as His servant or as the master of your own fate? 

I want to challenge you to submit to the Lord today by echoing the words of Mary and Jesus. Would you be willing to prayer this prayer to the Lord today? 

Dear Heavenly Father - I am your servant… not my will but yours be done. I fully and freely submit to you. Do with my life what you will.

Prayer that prayer today and see what God will do with your life. 

Elizabeth

At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. 

Luke 1:39-40 (NIV)

The first thing Mary did after the angel Gabriel appeared to her was hurry to see her relative Elizabeth. Why Elizabeth? She didn't hurry to see Joseph or her mother or her best friend. She went to see Elizabeth right off. Why? Because Elizabeth was the only person in the whole world who might understand what she was going through and believe her!

The angel Gabriel had told Mary that her Elizabeth was also experiencing a miracle pregnancy. Elizabeth had long been barren but was now with child. If anyone was going to believe Mary’s miraculous pregnancy it would be Elizabeth who was experiencing a miracle of her own. So, Mary hurried off to see Elizabeth, because she knew she needed that support.

And you do too! We all need someone who understands the crazy things God has called us to do, someone who encourages us and cheers us on as we timidly take those first steps of faith. It can be very scary to trust God at times. It helps to have someone who will support you as you step out in faith. Those kinds of people are very important in our lives. 

Moses had Aaron. Paul had Barnabas. And Mary had Elizabeth. Do you have anyone in your life like that? If God called you to do something crazy today, who would you run to to talk about it? If you don’t know, then you need to cultivate that kind of Christian friendship with someone. You need to find your Elizabeth.

And I also want to encourage to be an Elizabeth for someone else. Find someone whose faith you can strengthen, someone you can pray for as they step out in faith. Find someone you can encourage and support along the road of faith. Be someone’s Elizabeth! You never know how you might impact eternity simply by helping and encouraging someone else that God has called to do amazing things.

The Humility of Mary

Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.

Luke 1:29

Mary's response to the angel Gabriel appearing to her and announcing God's favor on her shows her humility. It was a wonder to her that she should be chosen for such an honor. She didn’t think, “Well, of course an angel would appear to me. Of course, I am highly favored by God.” No! She was very perplexed, greatly troubled by what the angel Gabriel had said to her. She wondered or pondered what this could possibly mean because she was so humble.

This is another way in which Mary shows us an important qualification for being used by God. One that we often overlook and under appreciate. James 4:6 says, “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” 

Are you proud? If so, God opposes you. How can He use someone He is actively opposed to? No. If you want to be used by God, then start by humbling yourself. Because “God shows favor to the humble.”

How can you humble yourself this Christmas? Maybe, you can start cultivating humility in your life by focusing more on others this Christmas than you do on yourself. And maybe, you can even go one step further and strive to focus more on God this Christmas then you do on others and yourself. Make your Christmas about Jesus this year.   

The Lord's Servant

"I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it be to me as you have said."

Luke 1:38

Considering all that the angel Gabriel told Mary, she must have known that God was calling her to make a great, personal sacrifice. Gabriel told Mary that God’s plan was for her to get pregnant out of wedlock while engaged to Joseph. Mary had to know that no one would believe this was a miraculous conception… a virgin birth. She had to know that this would bring shame and judgment on her. She had to worry that Joseph wouldn’t believe her and that he would end their engagement, which Matthew’s gospel tells us he very nearly did.

Don't get me wrong. Mary was highly favored. It was a great honor for her to be chosen to bear the Messiah. But at the same time, that calling cost her dearly. It threatened her happiness. It altered the course of her life. And it required great sacrifice of her. As Simeon says in Luke 2:35, a sword would pierce Mary’s own soul too as a result of God’s plan for her life.

Mary surely must have understood at least some of this, but look at how she responds to the angel Gabriel's announcement! She didn’t do what Moses did. She didn’t try to convince God to choose someone else. She didn’t ask God for a sign like Gideon did. She didn’t run away from God’s calling on her life like Jonah did. No, Mary simply said, “I am the Lord’s servant. May it be to me as you have said.”

First, she said, “I am the Lord’s servant (or slave).” Oh, that those five words were the motto of every Christian! How different our world would be if more of us saw ourselves not as free individuals, but as God’s bondservants, created by God for His use for His glory. That’s how May saw herself... as God’s slave. That’s why she didn’t hesitate to say, “May it be to me as you have said.”

Following God, submitting to His will, would cost Mary dearly, but she was willing to risk the life she wanted to obey the God she loved. Are you? What is God calling you to that might mess up all your plans and alter the course of your life? Are you willing to say to Him today, ““I am the Lord’s servant…may it be to me as you have said”?

W.o.W. Rewind: The Providence of Christmas

 This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. 

Matthew 1:18

Over and over again the gospel accounts of Jesus' birth go out of their way to impress upon us that Jesus’ birth happened in the fullness of time, according to plan, to fulfill God’s promises. Nowhere is this more clear than in the gospel of Matthew. From the very first verse, Matthew takes great pains to tie Jesus’ birth back to the ancient promises of God. In the first two chapters of his book, Matthew points to four different Old Testament prophecies to show how God providentially ordered all the details of Jesus’ birth in accord with His plan. 

So when you think of all the details of the Christmas story that God worked out to fulfill prophecy... when you think of Jesus being born of a virgin, in Bethlehem, and of the line of David, be reminded that God is in control and He is working all things out according to His plan.

This is true not only of the big events of human history but also of all the small events of your life. History isn’t careening out of control. The circumstances of your life aren’t wholly random. God is in control and He is directing everything toward His desired end. Isn’t that comforting? 

So, as you celebrate Christmas this year, celebrate that God knows how the story ends. Celebrate that the world isn’t out of control. Celebrate that God is working all things (even your life) out according to His plan and moving us all toward His end for His purposes.

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9:6

A person’s name can tell you a lot about them, but their nicknames can tell you even more. Cause with nicknames there’s often a story, some reason why they received that nickname. Let's look at two of the nicknames Isaiah 9:6 gives to Jesus, and let's see what they reveal to us about the baby in the manger.

‌The first title Isaiah gives this baby is “Wonderful Counselor.” Most kings had counselors or wise men whose job it was to give the king sound advice. But Isaiah tells us that the Messiah will be a king who won’t need any counselors because He will be the wisest counselor of all. Isaiah says that the people will call Him “Wonderful Counselor” because they will gladly listen to and heed His counsel. [John A. Martin, “Isaiah,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 1053.]

I can’t help but wonder though, how true is that in your life? Colossians 2:3 says that “all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden in Christ.” No one teaches or gives wise counsel like Jesus! But do you receive His counsel? Do you listen to His advice? Or have you gone your own way? Live your life according to Jesus' wise counsel and you will not regret it. 

The next title the people will give to the Messiah is “Mighty God.” Shockingly, Isaiah reveals way back in the Old Testament that this Messiah, this child in the manger, is the one and only Mighty God in the flesh ruling over His people. Jesus is our Mighty God!

‌But so many believers think of Jesus only as their friend and Savior. Jesus is both our friend and our Savior, but He is more. He is the Mighty God and we must receive Him and respond to Him as such. Jesus came not only to save you but also to be your God. Do you remember what the wise men did when they found baby Jesus? "They bowed down and worshipped Him" (Matthew 2:11). Jesus is our mighty God. As you celebrate Christmas this year, treat Him like it.

Revolutionary Christmas

He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;

he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.

He has brought down rulers from their thrones

but has lifted up the humble.

He has filled the hungry with good things

but has sent the rich away empty.

Luke 1:51–53

‌

Theses verses from Mary's Song in Luke 1 highlight the great reversal of fortunes that is inherent in the Christmas story. I don’t know if you've ever thought about it before but the Christmas story is inherently revolutionary. For a baby to be born who will become king, necessarily implies that God is taking someone’s throne away.

‌‌Add to that the fact that this baby wasn’t born to a member of high society but to a low-born girl, a social outcast, and the revolutionary theme gets even stronger. Mary was almost certainly a plain-looking 12-15 year old girl from a poor family in Nazareth. But God chose her, a nobody from nowhere town, to be the mother of His Son!

‌‌Christmas and the Christmas story is about a great reversal of fortunes. It’s about God’s desire to exalt the humble, and cast down the proud. James 4:6 says, “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” Mary’s song reminds us of this truth that God shows mercy (kindness and gentle goodness) to those who fear Him, to those who are humble and hungry. But not so with the proud. God performs mighty deeds against those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. He scatters them with the strength of His arm. He brings them down from their thrones and He sends them away empty handed.

‌‌This means that Christmas is a time for humbling ourselves… for rooting pride out of our hearts. It’s a time for making sure we are on the right side of this great reversal that is still going on. ‌‌Humble yourself and live in the fear of the Lord this Christmas. Don’t exalt yourself. Don’t make it all about you and what you want.

‌‌Think about what we find God the Father doing in the Christmas story. He is remembering those in humble circumstances and lifting up the poor. You should do the same.‌‌ Who’s hungry that you can feed? Who’s lonely that you can visit? Who’s discouraged that you can encourage? Who’s cold or doing without that you can help keep warm and well-fed? Think about them. Do for them.

How to Celebrate Christmas

You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy; they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest, as warriors rejoice when dividing the plunder. For as in the day of Midian’s defeat, you have shattered the yoke that burdens them, the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor. Every warrior’s boot used in battle and every garment rolled in blood will be destined for burning, will be fuel for the fire.

Isaiah 9:3–5

‌

Isaiah looks past the time when Assyria will take the northern part of their land and shrink Israel’s territory and he sees into the far distant future to the time of the Messiah when the territory of God’s people won’t be shrinking but expanding. He says, the Messiah will enlarge the nation. But Jesus didn’t come to enlarge a physical kingdom like Old Testament Israel. No. He came to establish and enlarge a spiritual kingdom, His church.

If you are a believer, then you are part of that kingdom of God. You are part of the church, and God’s church is meant to grow. It is meant to expand. As a church we must enlarge our borders. We must go out and find the hurting and hopeless and invite them in.

As we see Christianity losing cultural influence in America it can be easy to shrink back and watch and wait for the church shrink as well. But that isn’t what Jesus came to do and that isn’t what He has commanded us to do. His kingdom has been expanding for more than 2,000 years, and it is our job to continue to expand its borders. And we do that by obeying the His command to proclaim forgiveness in His name to all who will receive Him. You are commanded by God to call people out of darkness and into Jesus’ light.

And as Isaiah looks into the future he sees God’s people rejoicing because of the coming of the Messiah. He sees New Testament believers celebrating Jesus’ coming…celebrating Christmas you could say. And how do they celebrate?

‌‌He says that they rejoice as people rejoice at the harvest when many months of hard work and investment pay off. These were hungry families, seeing that they would in fact have enough food to make it through the winter. They had battled against the hardships of survival and God had given them the victory. So they would rejoice and have a big feast. That’s what Christian joy is like. That’s how we should celebrate the coming of Jesus.

Then he says it’s like men dividing the plunder of their enemies. In Gideon’s day the Midianites kept the Israelites under their thumb and nearly starved them to death. They invaded their land regularly and ate their crops and ruined their fields and stole anything good that they had. Israel had been plundered by them many times. So, you can imagine the rejoicing that took place when God defeated the entire army of the Midianites with only Gideon and his 300 men and the people of Israel raided their tents. On that day there was plenty of food in Israel and God’s people were given victory over their oppressors. On that day the burden was lifted off their backs. Can you imagine the rejoicing?

That is how we ought to celebrate Christmas. With joy! Not the joy of gifts, or even the joy of family, but the joy that comes from knowing that God is growing His church, the joy of knowing that God has met our deepest need and has delivered us from our greatest enemy. The joy of those who finally know peace. That’s how I want to celebrate Christmas this year. Will you join me?

Born to be King

Matthew begins his gospel with a genealogy which probably isn't the best way to start a bestseller, so why does Matthew do it? Matthew 1:1 tells us why. It says, "This is the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah the son of David, the son of Abraham." This genealogy establishes the fact that Jesus was a descendant of David and was therefore eligible to be the Messiah. 

Messiah is a Hebrew word that simply means “anointed one.” You may remember that David was anointed as king many years before he actually became king. In the same way, when God revealed that one of David's descendants would reign forever over a kingdom that would extend to the ends of the earth, God’s people began to think of this descendant as having already been anointed king. They were just waiting for him to take the throne.

When we read the Christmas story we find this emphasized over and over again. Jesus was born to be king. This is overwhelmingly clear in Luke's birth account as well, but for the sake of space let's stick with Matthew's gospel. 

Matthew 2:1-2 says that "Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, 'Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews?'" The wise men came looking for a king! And in the rest of chapter 2 Herod set out to kill not just any baby but a king. 

If we fast-forward through the gospel, we find the same emphasis many years later at Jesus’ death. Matthew 27:37 says that as Jesus was crucified, “above his head they placed the written charge against him: this is Jesus, the King of the Jews.” So, that phrase, the "King of the Jews" hangs over both Jesus’ birth and His death in the gospel of Matthew. It was the king of the Jews that the Magi came searching for at His birth, and it was the king of the Jews that the Romans crucified at His death.

And yet somehow, today Jesus has been robbed of his kingship. Churches present Him as a Savior and a friend but never as a king. Certainly Jesus is the only Savior and He is our closest friend, but not until He is first our King! So, this Christmas let’s not just kneel before the manger in wonder at the baby. Let’s not just kneel before the cross in awe of the Savior. This Christmas, let’s also kneel before the throne and swear allegiance to the King.

Christmas Obedience

...an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins...” When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife.

Matthew 1:20-21 & 24

Joseph was a devout Jew. He had it in his mind to follow the law and quietly divorce his fiancée that had turned up pregnant; but the Lord had other plans. So, God sent an angel to tell Joseph not only that he was to take Mary as his wife but also that the child who would be born of her had been sent to "save his people from their sins."

In other words, Jesus' birth, Christmas itself, is about people being saved from their sin. That includes not only people coming to place their faith in Jesus for forgiveness of their sin, but also people turning from their sins to obedience to God. And even though Joseph wasn't turning away from sin, we do see him turning toward obedience in the next verses. Verse 24 tells us that after his divine dream, Joseph woke up and obeyed God. In this way, he sets an example for all of us to follow. 

Purely by coincidence I happened to read Romans 16 right before I read Matthew 1 tonight. And a certain phrase at the end of Romans 16 caught my attention. "so that all the Gentiles might come to the obedience that comes from faith" (Romans 16:26). It is probably the reason I noticed this minor theme of obedience in Matthew 1. Having that phrase stuck in my mind helped me realize that a lot of emphasis is placed on faith at Christmastime and very little on obedience. But there's something wrong with that, because there is an obedience that comes from faith. And I have no doubt in my mind that the kind of faith that God desires is the kind that leads to life change and obedience. 

So, this Christmas don't just place your faith in the baby in the manger...obey Him. Wake up on Christmas morning and do what He has told you to do. And then, even after Christmas is over, try to make it your daily practice to wake up and obey just like Joseph did.

The Providence of Christmas

This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. 

Matthew 1:18

Over and over again the gospel accounts of Jesus' birth go out of their way to impress upon us that Jesus’ birth happened in the fullness of time, according to plan, to fulfill God’s promises. Nowhere is this more clear than in the gospel of Matthew. From the very first verse, Matthew takes great pains to tie Jesus’ birth back to the ancient promises of God. In the first two chapters of his book, Matthew points to four different Old Testament prophecies to show how God providentially ordered all the details of Jesus’ birth in accord with His plan. 

So when you think of all the details of the Christmas story that God worked out to fulfill prophecy... when you think of Jesus being born of a virgin, in Bethlehem, of the line of David in keeping with God's promises, be reminded that God is provident. Be reminded that God is in control and He works all things out according with His plan.

So as we begin to prepare for Christmas this year, let the Christmas story remind you that God has a plan and a purpose that He is working out, not only for our lives but for all of human history. History isn’t careening out of control. The circumstances of your life aren’t wholly random. God is in control and He is directing everything toward His desired end. 

Doesn’t it make you feel better to know that you serve a God who knows the end of the story? Isn’t it comforting in 2020 to be reminded that God is in control of all the madness going on? So, as you celebrate Christmas this year celebrate that God knows how the story ends. Celebrate that the world isn’t out of control. Celebrate that God is working all things out according to His plan and moving us toward His end for His purposes.

The Magi: Eagerly Seeking to Know Jesus

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”

Matthew 2:1-2

Magi were interested in all things mysterious. Many were experts in astrology and how the stars might give portents of the future while others focused on magic, dreams, or prophetic books. Some were honestly seeking truth; others were less sincere. But I like to think that the magi who visited Jesus were sincere truth seekers. And there can be little doubt that they eagerly sought Him and went to great lengths to meet Him. 

The Bible tells us the magi came from the East. It gives us no other details than that. Some speculate that they came from Babylon. There was a large Jewish settlement there which would explain how they came to know of the Jewish expectation of a coming Messiah. If they did come from Babylon, it would have been an 800 mile trip taking about 40 days for them to see Jesus. And that doesn’t even include all the time they spent trying to figure out what the star meant when it first appeared, or the time they spent preparing for the trip. All that to say, these men went to great effort to seek Jesus. Shouldn't you do the same?! 

I want to encourage you to make a great effort to get to know Jesus in 2020. Eagerly seek Him. Might I suggest you start a Bible reading plan here at the beginning of the year? Reading God's word is one of the most important things you can do for your spiritual growth. Pick a translation that works for you and read it early in the morning, or on your lunch break or before you go to bed. Or get an Audio Bible and you can listen to the word of God on your phone or in your car. Many free Bible apps already come with a version of the Audio Bible. Find a way that works for you and do it. I promise, whether it is your first time through the Bible or your hundredth, you won't regret carving out the time to seek Jesus. 

All throughout Scripture God promises to meet us halfway when we seek Him. In Matthew 7:7 Jesus says, "Ask and it will be given to you, seek and you will find, knock and the door will be opened to you.” And in James 4:8 we are told, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” So, what do you have to lose?  Don't you think it is high time that you made a great effort to know God?! I do. 

If you need a place to start, here's the plan I will be using this year. Bible Reading Plan 2020. 

Joseph the Quiet Man

When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife.

Matthew 1:24

Scripture doesn't tell us much about Joseph. We know he was a carpenter, so he would have been familiar with hard work, splinters in his hands, and smashed thumbs. We also know he was poor because when he and Mary went to the Temple to offer the sacrifice for her purification rite instead of offering a lamb they offered two birds in keeping with a provision made in the law for poorer families. Past that we really have very little about Joseph in Scripture. He is never mentioned in Mark’s gospel and only indirectly referenced in John’s. In Matthew and Luke's gospels he is only mentioned in chapters 1 & 2. These shapshots in the first few chapters of Matthew and Luke are really all we are left with of the man who was Jesus' adoptive father.  

But there is still much we can learn from him. One of the things I've noticed about Joseph in this passage but also all throughout Scripture is that he didn’t say anything. He simply obeyed God. No words, just obedience. Scripture doesn’t even record Joseph going and telling Mary about the dream. It just says that he married her. In fact, Joseph never says a single word in all of Scripture. Not a word. 

Think of the amazingly significant role God gave this quiet man to play. He was the adoptive father of the eternal Son of God. You know God would not have chosen a wicked man or a short-tempered man to raise up His own Son. You know that God the Father entrusted God the Son into the care of a good and righteous man. Joseph was a solid, hardworking, quiet man. We have a lot of these kind of men and women in our churches and I thank God for them. The kingdom needs more solid, hardworking, quiet men and women of God who simply obey without a bunch of extra words.

You know, sometimes in the church, we give all the attention and praise to people, like myself, who talk a lot and aren’t scared to be in front of crowds, those who are willing to preach, teach, pray or sing solos. Joseph is a powerful reminder that God can use quiet people in powerful ways too. Maybe you know you will never teach a SS class or preach. You might share the gospel with a person one-on-one but you are never going to be the person in the spotlight. That's okay! God made you who you are and He can still use you in powerfully significant ways. 

Joseph was a quiet man who simply obeyed God. He didn't say a lot, he just obeyed. You do the same! Take the gifts God has given you and obey God with those gifts! Then you just wait and see if God won’t use you. Never underestimate the power of simple, quiet obedience!

Simple Obedience

When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife.

Matthew 1:24

Joseph the carpenter was chosen by God to be Jesus' adoptive father. He would be the one to provide for God's Son, to protect Him and to teach Him what it meant to be a man. What a huge responsibility! What a privilege! But why was Joseph chosen? Was it simply by chance? Was it a package deal? Did God choose Mary and just accepted Joseph because he was already engaged to her? I don't think so. So why did God choose him?

Scripture doesn't record much about Joseph. In fact, Scripture doesn’t record a single word spoken by him. But when you read what is there, there is one thing that is noticeably consistent in his life: obedience. All throughout the Scripture record, Joseph consistently obeys God. 

We first see this in Matthew 1:24. God commands. Joseph obeys. Simple obedience. This is perhaps the single most impressive aspect his character. When God tells Joseph to take pregnant Mary as his wife, he does it. When he tells Joseph to name the baby Jesus. Joseph does it. When He says flee to Egypt (2:14), Joseph flees. When he says to come back from Egypt (2:21), Joseph returns. As it turns out, one of the few things we can say for sure about Joseph is that he obeyed God. While I can't be certain that this is why God chose him to be Jesus' earthly father, it seems plausible and it's certainly an attribute worth emulating.

So how can you increase your obedience in the new year? I'm not talking about impressive feats of spiritual perfection, just plain old-fashioned obeying what God's Word and His Spirit tell you to do. Resolve to do that. Stop offering God anything less than complete obedience. Listen for His direction, and then, very simply, obey.

Delivering the Deliverer

While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son.

Luke 2:6-7a

When Jesus took on flesh and entered history to offer salvation to mankind, He didn't descend from heaven on a cloud or come down in a whirlwind riding a fiery chariot. He entered our world through the womb of Mary. Have you ever paused to consider the fact that it took human labor and significant pain for Christ to come? Most children's stories, Christmas pageants, and nativity movies skip over the labor and delivery part of the Christmas story; so it can be easy for us to overlook as well. But consider that Mary didn't have the conveniences of modern hospitals to help her out. No ice chips or hot tubs. She didn't have pain meds or an epidural. With God's hand upon her she screamed and struggled and delivered the Deliverer. 

But Mary's sacrifice wouldn't end there. Forty days later at the temple, a godly man named Simeon prophesied to Mary that "a sword will pierce your own soul too" (Luke 2:34-35). How true this would prove. Later once He had begun His ministry, Jesus came and preached in His hometown among those who knew His mother and His family. What He said so enraged the crowd that they tried to throw Him off a cliff (Luke 4:14-30). Imagine the social stigma Mary bore. It must have only grown as the religious leaders of the day increasingly disapproved of and attacked Jesus and His followers. But the sword of which Simeon spoke came at Jesus' death. Mary stood at the foot of the cross and watched her beloved Son die for her own sins. She watched as evil men murdered her Son. She watched Him suffer and struggle for breath. 

Although Mary's story is exceptional, as we examine Scripture and history we find that it is not unusual. God often invites people to join in His work. But His work almost always requires struggle, suffering and sacrifice be made. So this begs the question, what great deeds might God be calling you to accomplish for His kingdom in the new year and what cross might He ask you to bear? Are you willing to suffer, struggle, and labor to accomplish great things for God?

A Very Important Message: Part 2

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

   “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

Luke 2:13-14

One day far in the future, when you are old and gray and you look back at your life, what do you think your greatest accomplishments will be? What do you want them to be?

The familiar Christmas passage above reveals the two great accomplishments of Jesus’ arrival: glory in heaven and peace on earth. Last week we considered how Jesus' birth and life brought God glory in heaven. (You can read that post here.) This week we will consider how it brought peace on the earth. 

Peace can mean general well-being and harmony. But when peace comes, it also implies the existence of a time when there was a lack of peace. It suggests that there was strife and discord that has now been ended by peace. This is most certainly true of us in relation to God.

Colossians 1:21 teaches us that until men turn to Christ, they are His enemies. This is not because God has set Himself against us, but because we have set ourselves against God. Every single one of us from our earliest days on this earth has chosen to rebel against God and His commands. We have all chosen to reject His rightful kingship authority in our lives and live under our own authority. We reject the true king and set ourselves up in His place. This puts us at odds not only with God but also with other men. They want to be king and so do we. Not everyone can be in charge, and not everyone can be right. So we war with each other.

Jesus’ arrival introduces peace into this discord in two ways. First, Jesus puts men at peace with God through His death on the cross: Colossians 1:20 says that through Jesus God has reconciled all things to himself, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. Second, Jesus puts men at peace with each other also by His death on the cross. Ephesians 2:14-17 says this of the peace that Jesus brings between the Jew and Gentile: "For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility."

Surely, Jesus is the Prince of Peace who brings peace on earth. How about you? Is your life marked by peace? Have you asked Jesus to set you right with God? If not, there is no better time than Christmas to surrender your life to Him. (For more information on accepting Christ as your Savior, see "The Gospel in a Nutshell" at the bottom of this post.) Or maybe you are at peace with God but not with those around you. Christmas is a wonderful time to make peace with that family member you are at odds with. You don’t need to wait for them to apologize to make peace. Jesus certainly didn't! Perhaps you are at peace with our Father in heaven and with men, but you know others who are not at peace with God. Follow Jesus’ example by sharing Him and the good news of His death and resurrection with them this Christmas.

Be a peacemaker this Christmas and spread the peace of God wherever you go. Merry Christmas!

For further reading...

• Ephesians 2- Read this wonderful passage that covers much of the same material as this post. 
• Colossians 1:15-23- "Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior."
• Matthew 5:9- Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
• Matthew 1:18-2:23 & Luke 1:1-2:40- Check out the full Christmas story!

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The Gospel in a nutshell: If you are unfamiliar with what the gospel is, here it is in a shortened form. We are all sinners. Every one of us has sinned against God. We have rejected His way and gone our own way. We have all rebelled against the one true King. Our sin deserves punishment. In fact, so great a sin against so great a God deserves Hell. But God, because of His great love for us, wanted to offer us forgiving grace. For God to be just, our sin had to be punished though. So God in His wisdom took the punishment for our sin on Himself in Jesus. Jesus died to pay the price for your sins and mine and then He rose from the dead, breaking the power of sin over us. He ascended into heaven to prepare a place for those who believe in Him. So that now those who place their faith in Him can be forgiven and spend eternity in Heaven with their Savior. If you would like to do that today, here is what you need to do.

• A- Admit that you are a sinner and in need of God's grace (Romans 3:10 and 3:23).

• B- Believe that Jesus is God's Son, that He died on the cross to pay the penalty for your sin, and that He was raised from the dead (Romans 6:23 and 5:8).

• C- Confess Jesus as Lord of your life. Turn from sin (from living life your way) and commit to live your life for God (Romans 10:9 - "If you declare with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.").

You can also check out this post: "What does Jesus' death have to do with me?"

A Very Important Message: Part 1

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

   “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

Luke 2:13-14

 

 

How do you communicate a message that you believe is extremely important? Do you shout it to make sure it is heard? Or maybe you whisper it to draw them in closer? Perhaps you put it in print, in ALL CAPS, bold it, underline it, or change the font color. Whatever you do, chances are that you make sure people can tell your message is important.

 

God has His own ways of making sure we know when He is giving us important messages. One of those ways is by sending the message via His messengers, the angels. This is one way we know that the birth of Christ is so important, because there are so many angelic visits surrounding the event (Matthew 1:20-21, Matthew 2:12, Matthew 2:13,  Luke 1:11-20, Luke 1:26-38, & Luke 2:8-14). But there is only one message in the Christmas story that is delivered by more than one angel. In fact, God sent a great company of angels, possibly thousands of angels to deliver the same message to the same people at the same time. This must be a very important message!

 

Luke 2:14 reveals the two great accomplishments of Jesus’ arrival: glory in heaven and peace on earth. This week we will consider how Jesus' birth and life brings God glory. Next week we will consider how it brought about peace on earth. 

 

Scripture compares God’s glory to the sun in Revelation 21:23 when it says that in heaven there will be no sun for God’s glory itself will be our light. So God’s glory is like the sun that sends forth its warmth and light. God’s glory sends forth God’s goodness and excellence so that creation can respond in praise. Jesus is like the rays of the sun in this analogy. The sun would be warm and light giving even if its rays did not reach all the way to earth, we just wouldn’t know it. But because they do bring its warmth and light to earth we can enjoy them and give thanks for the sun. Jesus brings the glory of God’s grace and goodness down to earth in ways we never could have known otherwise. Through Him we experience God's love and forgiveness. Because of Him, God is glorified as we respond with faith and praise.

 

Christ also provides the ultimate example of obedience. John 17:4 says that Jesus glorified God by completing the work He gave Him to do. God had a perfect and wise plan for Jesus’ life. By submitting Himself to follow God’s plan completely, Jesus allowed Himself to be used to display God's glory supremely. He was born as a man. He lived a life of service to the sick, the dying, the needy, and the sinner. He allowed Himself to be falsely accused, mocked, tortured, murdered, & buried in the very ground He created; all to follow God’s plan for His life and bring glory to His name.

Do you know that God has a plan for your life too? Ephesians 2:10 says that God has prepared good works in advance for believers to do. It isn't just Jesus or ministers that God has a specific plan for. God has specific good deeds He has planned for your future. Only through prayer and the discernment of the Holy Spirit will you determine exactly what these good works are...if you are willing to fully obey Him like Christ. Is God calling you to quit work to stay home with your children? Is He calling you to go back to work, to share the gospel? Maybe you feel led to become a missionary or a minister? He might be calling you to make a big year end gift to a church or charity. Whatever the Lord is calling you to do, even if you don't know what it is yet, will you commit to following His plan for your life? At Christmas as we celebrate that Jesus was willing to come to earth following God's plan for His life, what better time than now for you to submit yourself to God’s plan?

 

For further reading...

• Hebrews 1:1-4- Jesus is the radiance of God's glory. 
• Ephesians 2:1-10- God has a plan for your life.
• Matthew 1:20-21, Matthew 2:12, Matthew 2:13,  Luke 1:11-20, Luke 1:26-38, & Luke 2:8-14- Check out all the angelic visitations surrounding the birth of Christ.

Unassuming God

He will not shout or cry out, or raise his voice in the streets. A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out. In faithfulness he will bring forth justice...

Isaiah 42:2-3

Last night as my wife and I read the story of Jesus' birth to our eight week old daughter from The Big Picture Story Bible, I found myself overwhelmed with fresh insight into the truth of this passage. Here is how David Helm puts it in that book:

"But in this crowded city where would this special baby be born? In a nice, big home? No, not in a nice, big home. In a clean hotel? No, not in a clean hotel. All the nice, big homes and clean hotels were filled up with people. Can you guess where this baby would be born? God's forever king was born in a stable, a place for animals." (emphasis mine)
 

Being just a handful of classes away from a Masters of Divinity degree, this quote from a children's story Bible didn't confront me with any new information, but rather it presented a familiar truth with such simplicity and beauty that I found myself struggling to read the rest of the story. How utterly mind blowing that the birth of creation's king should occur in the same place that a donkey might be born, or eat his dinner, or even relieve himself! I wanted to weep and praise God for His goodness right then there. Is there no limit to God's humility? What have I ever done to deserve such a King?

It's astounding that a holy God would choose to love a sinner like me at all. It's unfathomable that He would choose to enter into the finite space of His creation to show me that love. It is unthinkable that He should take the guilt for my sin against Him upon Himself and die in my place. But how far beyond human reason is it to think that the one true Creator God would enter this creation as a helpless baby who can't even lift His own head? And then that the birth of this baby should not be met with fanfare or honor as even the birth of a human king would be, but rather that it should be crowded out of all civilized conditions and into a stable..."a place for animals!" Again I ask is there no limit to God's willingness to humble Himself on our behalf? 

There is no other god like this God. No other god is so deserving of honor. No other god is so unassuming. The only proper response to an event like this is dumbfounded awe followed by heartfelt worship and joyous proclamation. And yet, my own human capacity to grow accustomed to God's great actions towards me and even to take them for granted never ceases to amaze me either. Don't take this amazing gift for granted today. And don't wait for Christmas to celebrate or break out into worship for this God's most amazing gift to His creation. Sing, exult, lift up your heart in worship for the one, true God has humbled Himself and taken on the nature of a man because of His love for you. And yet in doing so, He did not demand honor as a human king would. He did not impose His will on anyone. In fact, He came so gently that He would not have even broken a "bruised reed" or snuffed out "a smoldering wick." What manner of God is this! Certainly one who deserves my praise, my life, my all.

For further reading...

• Philippians 2:5-8- More on Jesus' humility.
• Luke 2:1-3- Helms also draws a comparison between Caesar and Jesus. Jesus comes so humbly at the same time that Caesar is trying to show his greatness by numbering his subjects.
• Matthew 26:47-27:56- What all-powerful god would allow himself to be treated like this?