Category: Christmas

For January 9, 2022
At the end of forty years in the wilderness’ backside, Moses was tending his father-in-law’s flock. As a former candidate to succeed Pharaoh, he would have led a nation—Egypt—with all the glory and splendor that kingdom afforded. Yet he was now in isolation, and wasting time, or so he thought.

Then Moses saw something strange. The flames did not consume a bush burning with fire, and as he approached this miraculous sight, he heard God’s voice,

I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering. So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey—the home of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. And now the cry of the Israelites has reached me, and I have seen the way the Egyptians are oppressing them. So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt. Exodus 3:7-10 (NIV)

The Lord chose Moses to lead His chosen people from slavery to freedom; to a land “flowing with milk and honey.” Moses failed in an earlier attempt to deliver the Hebrew Nation when he killed an Egyptian.

Yet this humble sheepherder met his Lord in the Sinai Desert and his life would never be the same. Through consecrated and illustrious service, God used this transformed shepherd to be His exemplary model of service and dedication for the next forty years.

We have the ceremonial and judicial principles that influence our religious and social affairs. He exhibited a humility that Numbers 12:3  refers to him as “more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth.”

The Lord will restore and use people who are humble, attentive, and willing. They may feel abandoned and isolated in their desolate wilderness experience. But His thoughts towards them are of peace, not evil; to give them an expected end. (Jeremiah 29:11)

As we trust in Jesus for spiritual transformation, and rely on His Spirit to perfect His wisdom, knowledge, and strength in us, God will disclose our value and eternal purpose,

Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:6 (NIV)

Let us wait on the Lord and trust in Him. He is faithful to ensure our glorious and successful outcome.  Won’t you give Him your heart today?

What a wonderful Savior!

For January 1, 2022
It;s amazing how we continue to number the years since Jesus Christ walked the earth? Anno Domini (AD/A.D.) is Latin for: “in the year of the Lord.” A.D. is also termed Common, Current, or Christian Era (CE/C.E.), distinguishing our current age from the time Before Christ (BC/B.C.).

Two thousand and twenty two years have passed since Jesus’ birth.¹ And numbering the years since our Savior’s birth reminds us that He remains most greatest and most influential person in human history,

By any and all standards Jesus Christ has always been regarded as the greatest figure in human history. On any list of the world’s greatest men we always find at its head Jesus of Nazareth. Regardless of whether or not men acknowledge him as Savior and Lord they must pay tribute to Him as the world’s outstanding man.²

No figure demonstrated such moral and spiritual excellence, with such selfless humility. He showed grace to those He encountered through healing, helping, encouraging, and loving. Then He surrendered Himself for the benefit of all who would believe in Him. Only through Christ can we experience a new spiritual identity through the New Birth process, which He makes available to us by faith,

No one has ever gone to heaven and returned. But the Son of Mane has come down from heaven. And as Moses lifted up the bronze snake on a pole in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him will have eternal life. For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him. John 3:13-17 (NLT)

Some associate the New Birth with race or pedigree. But the Lord is no respecter of persons and His Kingdom is spiritual, not material. He wants our hearts, because when He has it, He possesses our all. The New Birth may not bring us any significant external changes, but it is a complete, spiritual overhaul as new persons in Christ,

This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NLT)

New Birth is happens when we hear that God loves us and wants to satisfy our deepest longings. By faith, we turn from our sin, and we turn to Christ by inviting Him into our hearts to be our Lord and Savior. Then His Spirit takes control of our hearts so that we can become God’s beloved children forever. Won’t you begin the year accepting Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior? He can change your life!

What a Wonderful Savior!

Happy 2022 Years since Jesus’ birth!

For December 25, 2021

Christmas is my favorite time of the year because we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ through acts of kindness, singing Christmas Carols, and reading the account of His birth, which Luke offers for our greatest benefit today,

So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid.

Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger.

Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.  Luke 2:6-20 (NKJV)

As with the shepherds of old, we too can observe the Lord’s birthday as grateful recipients of God’s grace and love. By faith in Jesus Christ, we can have unimpeded access to our holy and loving God for forgiveness of sin and the blessings of an abundant, eternal life. Won’t you accept this gift today and experience the true meaning of Christmas?

What a marvelous Christmas present God has given us though this Wonderful Savior!

Merry Christmas to all, and Happy Birthday, Jesus!

For December 12, 2021
Many social causes clamor for our attention today. Many offer a peace and love though social change. I can remember an age when popular songs promised of a new world where peace and love would reign supreme in the hearts of people everywhere.

Perhaps these ideals are to help us cope with hatred and conflict we experience daily around the world. Or perhaps it is our way of conjuring up a mental place where we can celebrate peace and serenity as our constant standard of living.

Due to our human frailty, the promise of world peace—although appealing—can never be a lasting human proposition. Our sin and selfishness tend to skew our peace and love towards self-service or quid pro quo behavior.

I praise God for the angel who announced to the shepherds nearly two-thousand years ago, “For unto you is born this day in the City of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.” Then, with the angel, a multitude of the heavenly host began praising God and saying,

Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!¹

The Lord is not willing that anyone should perish. Instead, He desires that all of us become the beneficiaries of His grace so that we can live in harmony with Him forever in Heaven. The Lord Jesus Christ tells us,

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.²

True peace can only be found in the Prince of Peace—Jesus Christ. For only He can change human hearts in ways that allow us to peacefully live in peace with God and with one another, just as He promises in John 14:27 (NKJV),

Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

The Lord is faithful, and He continues to provide us with His everlasting peace, which never ceases to satisfy the deep longings of the human soul. Won’t you surrender to Him and experience His everlasting peace and goodwill?

What a wonderful Savior!