“So What’s Next?” (Christmas Day)

Scripture: Hebrews 1:1-12

Last night (Christmas Eve), we discussed some of the things that Jesus brought with him when he came to earth – those things he came to teach us and to show us and to give us. And today, we continue to celebrate his life in the deepest and fullest way possible, but what about tomorrow? Is the day after Christmas a huge let-down? For many, it is – it’s like the day after the “big game”, the day when our team wins the championship, and we are able to bask in the glory that they have won. But when the next day comes, and when the next week comes, the glory begins to fade. Folks find that their lives haven’t actually changed all that much and that the reality of that former and not so glamorous life is returning.
The reality of tomorrow can be a huge disappointment when we don’t quite know what to do about those joyful, albeit fading, memories of yesterday!

Isn’t it a shame that the days and weeks that follow such a wonderful and perfect time like Christmas have to begin to settle back into the old, depressing ways?

Read Hebrews 1:1-4

If our lives continue to be focused on the things of yesterday – especially the failures that can never be corrected, and the “what-ifs” that never were and never can be - we are apt to completely miss the “what-is” of today! The author of Hebrews works to tie the words of the prophets – the glory and promise of yesterday – to the hope and magnificence of Christ that we experience in today and tomorrow. When it comes to the Lord, there is no conflict between yesterday and tomorrow, for God never changes! The word that he offered thousands of years ago is the same one that is in place today. The only change is in the messenger – yesterday’s were through the voices of the prophets, but today’s comes directly from the voice of God.

The writer proclaims that Jesus is the “heir of all things” – not a receiver of possessions when his ancestor is no longer around, but as one who is co-existent from the age before time.
We are also told that Jesus is the one "through whom" the universe was created. For me, this statement is comparable to the concept of the Trinity. If Jesus is God manifest in the flesh, then he is co-creator of “all that is, seen and unseen”, as the Nicene Creed proclaims. So, if God – Father, Son and Spirit – created the universe, then it was created by and through each of them – not from one and via another, but through the power of all. That may be a rather complex thought for us, but there are some Godly concepts that stretch the imagination of humanity nearly to the breaking point. And that is OK.

But there are many who still find the ways of God not only strange and unintelligible, but inconceivable, and who find Christ’s words either offensive or irrelevant for their lives. I’ve never understood that – after all, how could any human believe that their understanding and their standards are more appropriate and more truthful that God’s, simply because they can’t frame them in their own minds? Hebrews tells us that Jesus is the “radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being”! I believe that this is true, but how could any of us actually explain this in a rational and logical way? Well, we can’t – we can only accept it.

And the last two proclamations can be just as problematic. The thought is that after Christ died for our sins, he then assumed the position of Majesty. The point isn’t that he had no glory until he finished his task on earth – it’s that he was Majesty, but traded it for humility when he came to us in the flesh, and has now reclaimed his rightful glory in heaven.
And the writer doesn’t say that Christ died for us – just that he purified our sins, which in and of itself can be troubling. Does this mean that sin is now OK? That sin is now acceptable because it has been made pure? Rest assured – it has not! It means that we have been purified from our sin, and not that sin has been cleansed and is acceptable.
And in verse 4, we read that Jesus became superior to the angels, presumably because of his ascendency to the throne of God. That would seem to imply that he was not worthy to be greater than the angelic host before, and that he had to earn it. But if Christ has always been God, how could that be?
The thought only gains context if one believes that angels held a higher position in heaven than they actually do. This may have been an understanding in ancient Israelite times, but even the commentaries seem to dance around this one.

Is your head hurting yet? It gets even better! So let’s step back and think about the point of these verses, which will describe our first life’s step after Christmas – don’t try to figure the Lord out – just believe in who he is, and obey his word!

Read Hebrews 1:5-7

These first 4 references to the Old Testament are intended to be both a connection and a clarification for the Hebrew people. Unfortunately, they also result in a lot of confusion for us. So here is a thought that might help us.
Of the first two references, the first which comes from Psalm 2:7-9, is similar to the Divine Proclamation that was given at Jesus’ baptism. But here is the issue – first, a son, for the ancients, is always lesser than his father, but second, if Jesus is fully God, how could he become secondary even to the Father? I believe that the point that the writer is making is that by becoming God in the flesh, Jesus willingly accepted a lower position, but since he is God, he must also have a direct connection to the Almighty. For Israel, it was believed that God could never be human or have human traits and weaknesses – that would be un-Godly! Therefore, as Jesus, the Second Person of the Trinity must be both subservient in body as well as connected in Spirit – he would have to be the Son of the Most High God.
The second passage which comes from 2 Samuel 7:12-16, may be speaking of either the present King David or the future Lord Jesus, or perhaps even both. We need to read this, then, as a promise that the kingdom of God will be connected to the kingdom of Israel through the Davidic line.

So the second point for this morning is this – the Perfect and Majestic Creator of the Universe has intentionally allowed himself to become connected directly to fallen and sinful humanity. Again, don’t try to understand why the Lord would even think that this is a good plan because it sure doesn’t make a lot of sense – just accept it and rejoice that God wants it this way.

Regarding the next two Old Testament passages, the writer takes some liberty in the phrasing. The first passage, regarding God’s angels worshipping Jesus, Psalm 97:7 actually reads that the “gods” will worship him. The point, I believe, is that we are to be very careful as to whom we elevate in worship. When we begin to think that the angels hold a higher position than Jesus, or that the “saints of earth” are worthy of worship, we have just established a series of little gods, who are actually only worthy of respect, but never of worship.
In the second passage, which refers to Psalm 104:4, the writer again takes some liberty by reversing the references. The Psalm says that the winds will be God’s messengers, and flames of fire his servants, not the other way around. Again, the concept of angelic glory is being diminished by implying that both angels and the servants of the Most High are comparable to the elements of creation, and not to the glory of God.

We can read into this, then, that we, too, have worth and purpose to God, while at the same time, have little worth in relation to the ways of earth.

Read Hebrews 1:8-12

The final two Old Testament passages for today, the first from Psalm 45:6-7 and the second from Psalm 102:25-28, begin to glorify Jesus and his Kingdom once again. We are told that the blameless reign of God will never end – not by opposing spiritual forces, and certainly not by human interference and intervention. Even creation itself – both the heavenly and the physical, the seen and the unseen – will have no permanence. Only God and those judged worthy of his presence will be forever.

Psalm 45 is described as a “wedding hymn”, where the relationship is promised to be unbreakable, and where the love that will be shown will never be turned against “the bride”. And who is the bride? The Church – the Church who has been raised up above the opposing forces of earth.

Psalm 102, on the other hand, is a prayer of affliction. And as with nearly all of the Psalms, even though much of this song is a lament for the anguish being experienced in this life, the broken person finds hope and promise in the midst of it all, through faith in his eternal God.

So our last point for today is this – never doubt that God is on our side. He will never be defeated, he will never be turned, he will never change his heart for us, and he is forever. And regardless of what the world may throw at us, we can always find hope and comfort in the knowledge that those who serve him and obey him will live with him in eternity.

Never forget that Christmas is not the end. We may never be able to figure God out, but if we stick to the basics of “believe”, “trust” and “obey”, that will be enough. God knows that we will never be able to justify our life in him so he has created the relationship for us by taking on our suffering, our imperfections, and our failures, and purifying our lives by the love he shows in Christ Jesus.
Why would the Lord do all this? Because Almighty God has created purpose in us, and we acknowledge it by faith in Emmanuel. Never doubt this, never fear that it will be taken away, and never believe that God will change his mind if we aren’t good enough. Not only is God eternal, but his way, his glory, and his promise is eternal as well.

The glory of Christ is definitely the glory of yesterday, and by faith in Jesus, it is also our glory in and through this day and forever. That is the hope that comes through Christmas. “Rejoice in the Lord always, and I say it again - rejoice.” (Philippians 4:4-7) Amen.

“The Purpose” (Christmas Eve)

Scripture: Luke 2:1-20

We have just come through a season that we know as Advent. This is a time when we celebrate the waiting that must be endured before the Day of Christ comes again. Waiting isn’t easy in and of itself, and the most difficult part is what we are to be doing in our waiting.

Fleming Rutledge, preacher, teacher and author, wrote:
“Advent is only secondarily about the baby Jesus. It is primarily about the rending of the heavens … and the coming of the Lord in power and glory to take the creation back for himself. Until he comes, then, we are the people who put on the armor of light “now in this present time” and by our works point to the One who is to come.”

She is telling us that we need to be focused on the tasks before us today, and not to become all consumed over what the earth’s tomorrows may bring. We’ve been waiting for 2,000 years for Christ’s return, and Israel has been waiting for many more thousands of years for Messiah (they missed him the first time!). In the meantime, a few of these“waiting days” have been good, but many more haven’t been good at all. Most of the folks living in Jesus’ first days completely missed the opportunity to know the goodness that he brought, and many since then have continued the tradition of denying the Lord’s call on their lives.

During this Advent 2016, we have been considering some of the reasons behind Christ’s first coming. We considered the divisiveness that occurred between Isaac and his half-brother Ishmael, and the problems that it created, even to today. (Nov. 27th ) We considered the sinfulness that occurred between Judah and his daughter-in-law Tamar, and while the Lord detested the breakdown in their moral standards, he still allowed them to be part of his ancestral legacy for the people of earth. (Dec. 4th) We considered the story of Ruth and Boaz, which not only told of the introduction of Gentiles into Jesus’ Jewish bloodline, but also showed us the desperate need that we have for a “Kinsman Redeemer”. (Dec. 11th) And last week, we took a look at the sinful arrogance that became so pervasive in the life of King David – a man who God had described as “a man after his own heart.”, but who still committed rape and murder. (Dec. 18th)

The Jewish ancestors of Jesus Christ had been waiting for many years for Messiah’s arrival, but they didn’t have a clue as to how he wanted them to wait. When Jesus arrived in the form of a helpless Infant, he wasn’t who they wanted him to be, and he didn’t come in the way that they thought he should have. In their conceit and self-centeredness, many would miss out on the greatest Gift that Almighty God has ever granted to the people of earth.

But the ignorant and unclean shepherds would get it. The foreign Magi would get it. The unclean sinners of Israel, or at least some of them, would get it. 120 faithful would get it in the Upper Room on Pentecost, and another 3,000 would get it when Peter began to preach that day. And a few more over the years – those from every nation and every tribe – have also gotten it at times, but so many haven’t even come close. Why do they even try to continue to live without knowing or even caring?

The truth is that we don’t really know what we are living and waiting for, or even how to wait - for anything, let alone for Jesus! We have missed the lesson of salvation! And the lesson is this - that faith in Jesus Christ is only the beginning of how to wait for him. In Matthew’s gospel, we read of Jesus’ words, when he told us that when we reach out to others – by feeding the hungry, giving a cool drink to the thirsty, welcoming the strangers who come among us, clothing the naked, caring for the sick, and visiting the prisoner – that we are actually doing these things for him. But the Lord doesn’t stop there – he continues with the thought that when we don’t do these things, we haven’t done anything for him, and that we will suffer the consequences for it. (Matthew 25:34-46)

The Great Commission (Matthew 28:16-20) that Jesus gave his followers as he prepared them for his ascension puts our life of waiting into perspective. Believers throughout the ages have been called to follow these words, but we have to wonder just how many have actually tried it.

The first step is to “make disciples of all nations”. This means that we are to share the story of Jesus with the world. Tell them of the glory that he left behind in favor of coming to earth in a humble and lowly way. Tell them of his 7 “I Am” sayings (Bread of life (John 6:45-50), Light of the world (John 8:12), the Gate (John 10:7-10) the Good Shepherd (John 10:11-15), the Resurrection and the Life (John 11:25), the Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14:6-7), and the True Vine (John 15:1-5).
Tell them of his atoning love – the love that led him to Calvary to overturn the penalty for the sinful lives we have led. Tell them of the eternal life that can come to all who believe and trust in him. Invite them, as Philip did for Nathanael (John 1:43-51), and as Andrew did for his brother Simon (John 1:40-42), and as the Samarian women did for her neighbors (John 4:1-42), that they might come and meet the most amazing man they will ever know.
Jesus came to earth to teach us about God and the great heart that he has for his cause and our life.

The second step is bring them to baptism – to a commitment to Jesus. It allows us the opportunity to make a public statement that we reject the power and ways of earth, and to claim Jesus Christ as our only hope for eternal life. Baptism is a sign to us that, by faith in Christ, our sins have been washed away, and that we have been made worthy of his grace and mercy.
Jesus came to earth to teach us that knowing about him is nowhere near enough – that we must truly know him, and trust him, and obey him.

The third part is the tough one – “teach them to obey my commandments”. Jesus tells us that once we commit to him, that we must learn to live and act like him. But before we can teach others, we must begin to learn and live the lesson ourselves. Why is that so important? In James 2:26, we read that “As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.” Faith in Jesus Christ, and commitment to him and his ways, are the first two parts of our call, but doing something about it completes our relationship with Christ.
Christ’s first time among us was to prepare us for a life eternal in and with him in his second coming.

Christmas isn’t just a time to give each other gifts of material worth - remember that they all will, one day, pass away! (Isaiah 40:6-8, Matthew 24:34-35) – and it isn’t to focus on a celebration of earthly relationships. Christmas is the day when we can give the Lord the greatest gift of all time – our life and commitment. It doesn’t matter who we are, or what we may have done, or how we have lived, or anything else in all the world. If Jesus had never come to earth, if he had never stepped away from his glory, if he had never taken on the created form and life that we live, if he had never taught us about the heart of God and the love that is waiting for us, if he had considered flesh and blood as being more important than the Spirit that lives within him, if he had never taken our sin upon him so that we might be worthy of life in him, then this life would be nothing short of a dead end.

But by our surrender of this “dead-end” existence, in favor of an eternal life in Christ, the joy of Christmas will become a reality. And that is the entire and complete purpose of our celebration tomorrow – that “God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16-17) This is the “why” of Christmas! But faith must be lived, and a faith that does not reflect the words that Jesus spoke, and a faith that does not honor the life that Jesus lived, is no faith at all.

Have you made a commitment to the life and ways of Jesus Christ? Have you claimed him as your personal Lord and Savior? Do you live a life that brings honor and glory to the God who has given so much for your eternity? If not, the offering of your life tonight would be the most precious gift that Almighty God could ever receive. Won’t you give the Lord this blessing today?

“The Arrogant” (David & Bathsheba)

Scripture: 2 Samuel 11

Israel wanted a king just like the ones that other nations had – one who would govern them and lead them in battle (1 Samuel 8:19-20), so the Lord gave them one! And Saul, the first king of Israel, would be just like the kings of other nations in every way – he would be corrupt, arrogant, greedy, self-centered, and self-absorbed. So the prophet Samuel would announce to Saul that if he had only shown obedience to God and His ways, his kingdom would have been glorious. But since he hadn’t followed the Lord’s leadership, God was choosing someone else to lead Israel - someone who would be a “man after his own heart”. (1 Samuel 13:13-14)

This man, who had the heart of God, was David – the youngest and least significant son in the family of Jesse. At first, David would be a favorite of King Saul’s, but as time went on, Saul would become jealous of the young man, and would actually try to kill him – not once, but several times. The Lord would protect this future king of Israel, and eventually, Saul and his sons would die in battle and David would ascend to the throne. But David, even though he had a heart akin to God’s, would be anything but perfect in his reign.

Read 2 Samuel 11:1-5

As is our tradition today, kings in that day were not only the governor of their country, but they also served as Commander-in-Chief of the Army. But in that day, the king actually led his army into battle, and didn’t just send them out under someone else’s authority. David had accepted this responsibility in the past, but now, he had decided to stay at home while the army engaged the Ammonites at Rabbah.

Whenever anyone neglects their responsibilities in favor of their personal comfort and enjoyment, trouble isn’t too far around the corner. Throughout scripture, idleness is condemned as unprofitable for our lives. (Proverbs 19:15, as an example) David had chosen “idleness” over his obligations as king, and he would fall into temptation as a result of it.

In his idleness, David also isn’t sleeping so well. Inactivity in the life of a young man has the potential to create insomnia! So he finds himself on the roof of his palace when he not only should have been with his army, but when he would normally have been asleep. Some scholars would have us believe that Bathsheba is partly to blame for the indiscretion because of her nudity on the roof of her home. Was she really a seductress? Was she being flirtatious? Personally, I believe that she chose that time of night to bathe, thinking that no one would see her! In addition, a woman who lived 3,000 years ago had little authority or influence over men of that day, so the onus must be fully upon the king who was where he shouldn’t have been, and even Nathan the prophet would later put the blame firmly upon the king (2 Samuel 12:1-10)

Kings and other leaders have always been known to exercise their authority over the people to their own benefit, so why should David be any different? Even with a heart for God, he was still a sinful man, and he used his royal position to gain the upper hand over one of his faithful subjects. King David was showing his arrogance to a fault! And the effect and shame would fall on Bathsheba – at least initially.

Read 2 Samuel 11:6-12

David could place demands on the woman, but that wasn’t such an easy issue with her husband. So now, to compound the issue, the king begins to engage in intrigue. But David hadn’t counted on this military leader being so conscientious and principled. Uriah wouldn’t fall for the trap, and the king’s deception couldn’t be covered up.

Consider the difference in character between Uriah and David. Uriah goes beyond all reason to put consideration for his troops ahead of his own pleasure. David, on the other hand, puts his pleasure before the obligation he has for his army and his nation. Uriah is shown to be the exceptional and honest leader, while David fails completely in his leadership. Uriah never denies who he is or what he must be, while David denies his very faith and all that it should mean for him.

Arrogance has a way of compounding an original problem by creating lie upon ruse upon dishonesty. The Australian pastor and writer, Phillip Jensen, wrote:

Arrogance is the pride of self-importance. It is thinking of yourself as more important or more able than you are. It is often accompanied by showing contempt or disregard for others.

--Phillip Jensen, "The 'arrogance' of humility," From the Dean, April 24, 2009, http://phillipjensen.com.

That is about as accurate a description of King David, at least in this situation, as we could ever find. David would never hesitate to do anything and everything that was needed to cover up his infidelity, even to the extent that he would cause the murder of Uriah and his men in battle. (2 Samuel 11:16-17) From the New Interpreters’ Bible, we read “God’s anointed king has become an agent of death. Self-interested use of power has led David into a deadly chain of events from seizure to deception to death.”
But David has been described as “a man after God’s own heart”! What would the Lord think about David’s actions?

Read 2 Samuel 11:26-27

The man who loyally served his king is murdered, so that David could marry the woman who he has impregnated. Some might think that David has finally set the record straight through marriage, but consider everything that he did to get to that point! In his book “Sinning Like a Christian”, William Willamon writes, in the chapter on Pride, that first, pride is the sin that tends to lead us to the commission of many other sins. Second, he writes “When we take too much credit for our lives and our achievements, when we come to look at our lives as products of our own striving rather than gifts, we are moving close to that idolatry in which the creature refuses to give due to the Creator.”
(Willimon, William, “Sinning like a Christian: A New Look at the Seven Deadly Sins”, Abingdon Press, 2005, pg36)

In essence, David was setting himself up as his own idol. And the final verse of this chapter tells us that the Lord was “displeased” with the king (to say the least!).

But this isn’t the last word on David’s sins. In the next chapter (2 Samuel 12:1-14), the prophet Nathan is sent to the king with words on condemnation from God. He offers a parable of sorts that identifies David as a sinner, and reveals that the child conceived through his arrogance would also die. The thoughtless and selfish act of David’s failure to lead his troops into battle, would lead to countless deaths, a broken marriage, and for all practical purposes, a rape – not to mention all of the lies and the deception that caused his field general Joab to become complicit in the carrying out of Uriah’s death sentence.

David, who is recognized as the greatest and most beloved king in all of Israel’s history, has sinned. In his confession, though, he would be forgiven for the trespass, but, unfortunately, his child will die, nonetheless. Call it pride, call it arrogance, call it conceit – whatever it may be called, the world sees nothing wrong with these attitudes, and as a matter of fact, pride is even honored! But just look at what it can lead to! The Lord tells us that whatever leads us to sin, then it, too, must be sin.

And this is one of Jesus’ most honored relatives? Is there any doubt that God had to come to earth to set us straight? David’s arrogance would eventually cause the death of his innocent child, and our arrogance has caused the death of our sinless Lord. God, in his compassion and love for us, could never leave us drowning in our own sin, so he allowed himself to be sacrificed in place of us, just as David’s child would die in his place.

Almighty God will never abandon us! But we may very well have to suffer the consequences for our failure to follow his ways. David was forced to accept the death of his child, but the Lord has given us the right to either choose or reject the marvelous gift of his Son. And it is our decision that will bring with it either our salvation and eternal life, or our condemnation and death.

Our own arrogance can easily get in the way of a life in eternity with Jesus. We must make this choice with Godly wisdom.

“The Gentiles” (Ruth / Boaz / Jesse)

Scripture: Ruth 4

During Advent, we have been considering the reasons that Jesus had to come to earth by looking at the lives of some of his ancestors. So far, we have considered the divisiveness that occurred between Isaac and his half-brother Ishmael, and the healing power that Jesus brings to our lives. We considered the sinfulness that was so evident in Judah and his daughter-in-law Tamar, and how Jesus is the source – the only source - of God’s forgiveness for our imperfect lives. Today, we consider an example of the introduction of gentiles into the Jewish family of Jesus, and the redemption that He brings to us all. Jesus would have several encounters with gentiles during his ministry, and he never avoided a single one. He would also introduce gentiles into his teaching parables, and they always seemed to come out on top.

Today’s text focuses on the lives of Boaz, a descendent of Judah’s, and Ruth, a widowed Moabitess. But first, some family history. A man by the name of Elimelech was married to Naomi, and they had two sons, Mahlon and Kilion. The family was from Bethlehem, which is located within the tribe of Judah. The nation had experienced a drought and resulting famine, so the family went looking for a better place to live, and they settled in Moab – a land to the east of the Dead Sea. Both sons would marry Moabite women, but in time, all three of the men would die, leaving their widowed wives without support of any kind.

The mother Naomi would make the decision to return to Bethlehem to seek help from relatives who may still be living there, and both daughters-in-law would initially decide to follow her. But Naomi freed them from any obligation to her, and instructed them to return to their Moabite families. One of them, Orpah, decided to remain in Moab with her people, but the other widow, Ruth, made the commitment to follow her mother-in-law wherever life might take them with these words - “Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God.” (Ruth 1:15-18) Ruth would give her all to support and encourage Naomi.

They finally arrive in the area of Bethlehem just in time for the first harvest of barley. The tradition was that the poor were allowed to follow behind the harvesters to gather up any grain that was missed, and Ruth found a field that just happened to be owned by Boaz, a relative of her deceased father-in-law. Boaz would take the young woman under his wing, so to speak, as he had heard of her kindness and commitment to Naomi.

Boaz was a fairly wealthy and highly respected man, and as he got to know Ruth even better, he would begin to see great worth in the woman, and their fondness and trust in each other would blossom. In our day, we would expect that as their affection grew, they would eventually get married. But there was another tradition at play here – that of “kinsman-redeemer”. As we remember from last week in the story of Tamar, when the husband dies without an heir, the next closest relative was expected to take the widow for his own wife and provide children (heirs) in the name of the deceased husband. In Ruth’s case, though, all of the men in her immediate family had died, meaning that the next closest male relative would be a distant relationship. Boaz was certainly one, but there was another man who was even closer.

Read Ruth 4:1-4

Boaz was smart, and had set a plan in motion to win the fair Ruth for himself. But first, he had to deal with the “kinsman-redeemer”. He called for a meeting in the town gate – the equivalent of a court of law – with 10 elders who would act as witnesses to the legal transaction. He initially suggests that the other relative purchase Elimelech’s property so that it might remain in the family, but as soon as the arrangement is agreed to, he springs the trap. ”Oh, by the way, if you take the land, you also get to marry Ruth.” Elimelech had died before Mahlon did, so the land became the son’s, and his widow would also become part of the bargain.

Bur remember the problem in Tamar’s case? When Er died, his brother Onan hesitated to have a child with Tamar, because that would reduce his own inheritance, and his position in the family would suffer. And now, that same issue raises its ugly head again, when the senior relative fears for his own holdings if he has a child with Ruth! He decides that it would be better to forgo the additional property than to be saddled with the burden of this new wife.

Read Ruth 4:9-12

Boaz would be 6 generations removed from Judah and Tamar, and he would become the “kinsman-redeemer” who would preserve the lineage of Judah to David and later to Jesus. Boaz and Ruth’s son would be Obed, and their grandson would be Jesse, and their great-grandson would be David, King of Israel.
So what is the importance of this “kinsman-redeemer”?

He is a relative who, in acting on behalf of another, redeems, or purchases, that which the other can neither obtain nor retain. Boaz never saw this act as an obligation – he obviously had developed a strong affection for Ruth, and would use trickery, which bordered on a 10th century BC version of psychology (!), to gain her for his wife. But through his love for this woman, he would play an important part in God’s plan for our own redemption. And Ruth herself would become the third woman – all of whom were probably not Jewish – to be mentioned in Matthew’s genealogy of Jesus. First, there was the Canaanite Tamar (Matthew 1:3), then Rahab (Matthew 1:5), and now the Moabitess Ruth (Matthew 1:5).

How does Jesus fit into this story? First through the concept of “kinsman-redeemer”, and second, by the inclusion of the gentiles.
First, Jesus is our “Kinsman-Redeemer”. We were created in the image of God (Genesis 1:26-31), and because of that, humanity was given responsibility to care for the Lord’s creation. And Jesus, as the Son of the Living God, becomes our relative in the created order.
But kinship with God carries an implication of an even greater relationship than this. Jesus left the glory heaven and came to live in the flesh of humanity. The Lord chose to become one of us. By Jesus’ unselfish act, God would become one with us in created flesh.

And because the Lord did this for us, he could carry out the second part of the title – “Redeemer”. The traditional redeemer was intended to rescue his family from extinction by “purchasing” and possessing the lost. He would ensure that the name would never pass into obscurity, and that it would continue forever.
Jesus, as Redeemer, would also become the redemptive act that would save us from certain death and oblivion. But this Redeemer would offer his salvation individually, and not for the family’s benefit, and the price that he would pay to redeem us would not be financial in nature, but by the giving of his own life.
The “kinsman-redeemer’s” gift was, generally, one that would survive from one generation to the next, and could very possibly be needed again and again in the future. But Jesus Redeemer’s gift was eternal for whomever would accept it.

Elimelech’s family was on the verge of extinction, and it could have easily passed from history if it hadn’t been for Boaz and his love for Ruth. Our life could easily pass from history if it hadn’t been for the love of Almighty God that comes to us by faith in Jesus Christ.
Ruth could have remained in Moab along with Orpah, and may even have remarried, but the family would have been different, and the history of Israel may very well have been different. By her acceptance and commitment to both Naomi and Boaz, God’s plan continued unabated. By Mary’s acceptance and commitment to the Lord’s call on her life, and through Jesus’ love of us, the Lord’s plan continued just as it had always been intended.

And the plan of salvation was always intended to be for far more than just Israel. The gentiles, the non-Jews of history, were also to be included as the human relatives of God Himself. God’s redemption would be offered to many more than just the Israelites – it was for the entire family, anywhere, of any blood line, who would accept His offer of salvation, simply by faith in Jesus.

There was no way that Naomi and Ruth could redeem themselves – they needed a “kinsman-redeemer”. And there is no way that we could ever redeem ourselves, either. We, too, are all in need of the perfect “Kinsman-Redeemer” – God in flesh, God among us, God of sacrifice, God of humility and humbleness, God of the Hebrews, God of the gentiles, God of Bethlehem and God of Calvary. For without Him, we too will pass into obscurity.

Praise the Lord for his eternal love.

“The Sinners” (Judah & Tamar)

Scripture: Genesis 38

Our Advent series of messages will be focusing on several of Jesus’ ancestors, and how they are such a good representation of why we needed Jesus to live with us. It seems that there wasn’t even a glimmer of a holiness gene in these folks, and we aren’t any better. They struggled, they went against God’s ways, and their lives failed to provide any justification for God’s choosing them to be his. Adam and Eve began it all with their little divergence from obedience, and people, whether they were in Jesus’ lineage or not, have been sinning against God ever since.

Today we consider the story of Judah, the 4th son of Jacob. As we know, Jesus would be born into the tribe of Judah, and this ancestor would be anything but worthy of that distinction. He would be directly involved in the plot to get rid of his brother Joseph, and he actually suggested that they sell him to the Midianites who were traveling to trade in Egypt (Genesis 37). Joseph’s story continues from there, but for now, we remain focused on Judah.

Read Genesis 38:1-7

Remembering that God has yet to hand down his law at Mount Sinai, the family was only bound by tradition. But tradition was, nonetheless, very strong, and family was at the very core of right and wrong. And the first issue that is being raised up today is that Judah leaves his family and goes to live in a Canaanite community. This fact can easily raise the question of whether Judah should be excluded from Jacob’s lineage! Family was vital in the lives of all people in that day, and Judah had left them. First Joseph had been taken from them, although not in the way that many thought, and now Judah also appears to be leaving the family. Honor for the family was centered on the number of sons that had been born, and that number was beginning to dwindle.

And not only does Judah move to a “foreign” tribe, he presumably marries a woman who is not even part of his own culture. “Foreign” blood has now entered into the family (a condition that was strongly frowned upon), and the couple would have three children, all sons – Er, Onan, and Shelah. The eldest also marries a Canaanite, but he is “wicked”, and we read that the Lord takes his life. We have no indication as to what Er did, but apparently is was pretty bad! So now there is a widow in the picture, and tradition was that if a man died without an heir, the next brother, in this case Onan, would take her as his wife and produce an heir for his deceased brother. But this raised another problem. If Er was to have a descendent, that means that Jacob’s inheritance would now include his grandson, and wouldn’t be split among the other two brothers! The grandson would receive his father’s double portion, and Onan would have to settle for his single share.

Greed settles in, and Onan intentionally keeps Tamar from getting pregnant to preserve his own financial legacy. Greed has been a problem for us throughout the ages, and in Colossians 3:5, we read that it actually becomes an idol within our nature. Ebenezer Scrooge epitomizes the life that is torn apart by greed. He surrendered friendships, family, even love in favor of gaining greater and greater wealth. Even the name Scrooge has become synonymous with the word “greed”. But our own greed isn’t always centered on financial wealth – sometimes it is the desire for power, or prestige, or position, or anything else that may heighten the view that others have of us. That was what was bringing Onan down, and he, too, would lose his life.

So Judah would send Tamar back to her father’s own home, apparently unwilling to risk the life of his third and final son, Shelah. He breaks the tradition of heirs, and even Judah’s own wife would soon die. Tragedy in this family was on the verge of destroying the line altogether.

Some time later, Judah would go to oversee the shearing of his herd of sheep, and Tamar, now convinced that she would never be able to give birth to a son, hatched a plan that continued the screen of deception that was becoming the family’s tradition.

Read Genesis 38:15-18

Tamar lures her dead husband’s father into her bed by pretending to be a prostitute! The desire to have offspring overwhelms any sense of propriety in her life, and we can only imagine what Judah was thinking when he contracted for sex with his own daughter-in-law. (Are you remembering that these people would, one day, be in Jesus’ ancestry? Makes you wonder, doesn’t it!)

The agreed upon price for sex would be a young goat, and Judah would have to provide a “promissory note”, as it were, to guarantee that the payment would be made. But when he sent the payment, the prostitute had vanished, yet the deed had still been accomplished, and Tamar would soon be discovered to be pregnant. She is accused of being a prostitute, which she actually had been, and would be condemned, by the very man who had done the deed, and the penalty would be death by fire. Isn’t it interesting that Judah saw nothing wrong when he contracted with Tamar, who he thought was a woman for hire, but when he finds that the girl – his daughter-in-law - is, herself, pregnant, that now it is a vile sin! But now there is blackmail, for Tamar has evidence that it was Judah who had gotten her into the “family way”, and (surprise!) all charges are dropped.

Read Genesis 38:27-29

Can you even imagine the height that immorality had risen to in this family! No personal integrity, no sense of right and wrong, no sense of family obligation, constant deception and self-centeredness, and the list could easily continue! But Tamar would, at last, give birth to twin boys, and her heritage would be secured. But what about Er’s heritage? Since it was his father who had finally gained the heir, the lineage of Er vanishes into the mist of time. Matthew’s genealogy of Jesus (Matthew 1:3) lists Judah, Tamar, and Perez (the eldest of the twins), and no one else in that generation.

This is the family that Jesus would, one day, be born into. We tend to forget these details; we tend to ignore the shortcomings of our Lord’s ancestors. We only remember the words of blessing on Mary, and the love of Joseph for his intended, and the glory of the Lord Jesus. But life is filled with failure (except in Jesus’ case, of course), and this is the family that Father God chose to use in his Son’s time on earth. You would think that the Lord could come up with a better plan than this – one that would give honor to the Christ while he lived among us, but that wasn’t the plan.

The Lord Jesus would be born into human frailty, with little, if any, significance. Why would God do that? Couldn’t Jesus at least have a pure Jewish heritage? Apparently not!

But then, why should he? Why shouldn’t Jesus have the same family issues that we do? Why shouldn’t he have “skeletons” in his closet, just like we do? He would come to understand, through his own family’s history, the depth of humanity’s need for forgiveness. And in Luke 5:29-32, the Lord is approached by the learned intellectuals as he enjoys a meal with those corruptible “tax collectors and sinners”, and he tells the Pharisees that these are the very people who he has come to save. Jesus couldn’t come in obvious glory – he had to be in a way that others could identify with.

How could God begin to understand the depravity of our situation unless he lived in the midst of it? Oh, the Lord knows our situation, he knows that we are condemned by the lives we choose to live, he knows that we all are in desperate need of a love that exceeds all understanding. But do we know God?

If Jesus had come in an obvious and divine glory, we would come to him, certainly, but could we possibly consent to the passion that he has for us? Would we seek a true relationship with him? We have to know that the Forgiver and Redeemer of our errant lives understands. His own human family was filled with those despicable gentiles! His own historic family were sinners extraordinaire! Even Jesus Himself was tempted to surrender to the forces of evil (Matthew 4:1-11). God in Christ understands completely all that we go through in this life, and his passion and compassion for us has become even greater by his life here.

Does that excuse our sinfulness? Certainly not! But by his love and understanding, his forgiveness is at the ready for all who confess and repent of their failures in this life. Trust in the life that is Jesus, trust in the word that he has taught us, trust in the ache that resides in the heart of God over our sinful condition – we, the sinners of earth and the sinners of the Lord’s own human family, are the reason that he came. His love for our lives, and the pain that he feels over our failure, brought him to live as a person and not solely as God, and to become the sacrifice that would offer us release from the ravages of sin. We discover the divine relationship that we need through faith in Jesus Christ.

Jesus knows, all too well, all that we go through. And he came to be our Way out of the mess that we have created, IF we give our lives over to him and follow that Way. Praise the Lord for being the Perfection that can save us from our imperfection.

“Two Nations, Two Blessings” (Jacob and Ishmael)

Scripture: Genesis 21:1-21

During this season of Advent, we will be considering several reasons as to why Jesus had to come to Earth. God had a plan in place, but humanity has never truly cooperated in allowing that plan to play out! The only way that it could possibly succeed was for the Lord Himself to not only create the way for us, but to show us that way. God would, in essence, have to become “the Way” for us.

Today, we look at one of the issues that caused the Lord to put himself in the midst of our problems, as well as to become the solution for our mess. During the next 4 weeks, we will consider the shortcomings of several of Christ’s human ancestors and how their struggles caused such deep divides in our relationships that only God’s direct intervention could bring us through them. Today we consider the issue that arose between Isaac and his half-brother Ishmael.

Read Genesis 21:1-7

The birth of a child in those days, and especially the birth of a son, would be a cause for great rejoicing. It not only meant that there was one who could carry on the name and heritage, it also meant that there was one more who could help with labor around home. But in Abraham’s case, there was another, rather sticky, issue at play.

There was another son involved. In Genesis 16:1-10, we read of the situation surrounding Ishmael’s birth. Sarai, Abram’s wife (this was before the Lord changed their names), had been unable to conceive, so out of love for her husband, she sent her maid Hagar to him, and she got pregnant. The need for a child outweighed every sense of loyalty and commitment to her husband, and Sarai would soon suffer the consequences. The relationship that had previously existed between mistress and servant took a nasty turn, and it would, of course, be jealousy that would begin to reign supreme in the household. The servant Hagar would “lord it” over her mistress, and Sarai would take her anguish out on her husband.

Conflict would begin to plague Abram and his family, just as it does in so many families today.
The author Jim Benedict had this to say about our conflict:

A lot of us want Jesus to be a certain way. We want God to solve our problems as we perceive them, in the way we think is best. We want Jesus to be the champion of our causes, whatever they may be. We want God to take our side in every conflict, from family squabbles to international politics. And when things don't go our way, we are quick to conclude that God or Jesus has let us down.

But the [Christmas] story should remind us that this is not how it works. Jesus will not simply step in to champion our causes any more than he would champion the cause of Jewish independence two thousand years ago. Jesus [in a stable] was a sign and we ought to take heed. Jesus is not interested in our agenda; Jesus has his own agenda.

--Jim Benedict, "Not what we had in mind," Union Bridge Church of the Brethren website, April 1, 2012. cob-net.org.

Sarai would blame everyone but herself for the situation, and both she and Hagar would have to deal with it. Hagar would run away, but the Lord would give her a word and would call her to return to her responsibilities and to live with the situation, at least for a while.

Read Genesis 21:8-14

Not only were the two mothers at each other’s throats, but now the two sons would also have conflicting attitudes. Ishmael was about 14 when this incident took place, and under normal circumstances, it would be Ishmael who would have received his father’s birthright. But now there was another son, and he was by Abraham’s wife, and Ishmael was afraid that he would receive nothing. And his mother felt that, too.

But God had made a promise to Abram years before. In Genesis 15:1-5, the Lord promises Abram that his descendants will be as numerous as the stars in the heavens. The promise indicates that he will have an heir – a blood relative son – and his descendants will be as numerous as the stars in the sky. Notice that God doesn’t say that it will be a happy situation, he doesn’t mention that there will be two sons who would vie for the honor of his blessing, but he does say, however, that the number of Abram’s descendants will be countless!

But there was a problem – the custom in those days was that any child born of a man, regardless of who the mother was, was to be considered his and his wife’s child. This should have placed Ishmael in direct lineage to Abraham, but that wasn’t going to happen. The “family” would be split, and while his son by Sarah would receive the birthright, Ishmael would also be blessed with many direct descendants. And the conflict was created. And what would come of that conflict?

Ishmael is generally credited as being the patriarch of the Arab nations and, indirectly, of Islam. The Lord’s prophecy to his mother Hagar was that her son would live in constant conflict with others, and that no one would care much for him, either! (Genesis 16:10-12) The Lord certainly got that one right!

Read Genesis 21:15-21

The Lord would never go back on his promise to Hagar, and would even be instrumental in preserving both of their lives. Both boys would be blessed by God, if not by Abraham. Both boys would be the father of great nations. And the descendants of each would be in conflict with each other for thousands of years.

You may be wondering why God didn’t intervene in this family right from the beginning, and it would certainly be a legitimate question. And I believe that the answer is that God did intervene, just not at the beginning. Jesus would be the intervention that can heal all rifts in our relationships!

In our Advent meditation this morning (Isaiah 2:2-3b), we read that many people would come to Jesus, that the Lord would teach his ways to all who would come, and that the masses would “walk in his paths”. Of course, the prophet implies that Messiah would come for the descendants of Isaac and Jacob, and not Ishmael, but the Lord would have us know otherwise. In Matthew 28:16-20, the passage that we know as the Great Commission, Jesus tells us to go and make disciples of all nations, and to baptize them, and to teach them to obey his ways! To become a disciple means that we seek to become part of the family of God. To be baptized is to be blessed, to be welcomed, to be committed to the “family”. To obey God’s ways is to set aside every other concept and ideal and moral, and accept the singular and divine truth of Christ.

It was never the Lord’s desire that we should be divided, but he has always recognized the fact that our human differences will be divisive! But Jesus came to earth to be Emmanuel - God among us – simply because we need to know his truth. We have a tendency to live by our own “truth”, whatever that may be, and it is, by its very nature, contentious. We all think that our own brand of truth should prevail, when the fact of the matter is that only God’s Truth is right. Politics, race relations, family finances, managerial styles in the workplace, environmental concerns, international relations – they all are prickly conditions that we have to worm our way through on a daily basis, and it is very possible that the worst of them all is religion! Can you imagine that we actually fight over who knows God and his ways best?

The Lord doesn’t force his ways upon us – he just teaches us the difference between our ways and his, and shows us the way to close the gap. But if we prefer to live within the conflict that we have created, then the Lord will let us try it our own way. That’s what he did with Abraham, Sarah, Hagar and the boys. They didn’t trust God’s promise for their lives, so they went off on their own, trying to ensure that their “truth” and their benefit would rise to the top. And today we are living with the result of that incredible blunder.

What have we learned from this? Is there anything? What is our lesson for today? It is this - trust God, trust his word, and trust and accept every promise that he has ever made. There is no conflict in that!

“True Thankfulness”

Scripture: Philippians 4:4-9

Thanksgiving is the time of year when we are called to “Count Our Blessings”, and as the hymn tells us, we are not to just enumerate them, but we are to name them. In the good times and in the bad; in the victories and in the losses; in the midst of the good fortune that others have as well as in the meager fortunes that we receive – the hymn tells us that we should constantly be remembering all that the Lord has done for us, and not all that the world has refused to give!!

That is the message that Paul sends to us this evening.

Read Philippians 4:4-7

“Rejoice in the Lord always!” Similar to the advice Paul gave in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, to always rejoice in the Lord, to pray without ceasing, and to give thanks for everything that the Lord brings to our lives! And that, my friends, is the key – it is all about Almighty God, and none of it is about us; it is about the Lord’s extensive blessings, and not what we might hope for in a worldly context.
Paul then offers a series of thoughts that, at first glance, might seem to be disjointed and unconnected. But as we consider these, we need to see them all as means for rejoicing in the Lord, and not as items that lead to a limited earthly joy and happiness.

First, there is “gentleness” – a trait that is rare in society, but is absolutely necessary in Christian community. This isn’t a gift that we use on some occasion when we might be blessed by offering it. It is a gift that we give to every single person, in every single circumstance, under every possible condition. Why? Because Jesus did!

Second, we aren’t to be anxious for anything. In Matthew 6:25-34, Jesus teaches about worry. He tells us not to worry – not even about the essentials of life, but that we should be focused on the Kingdom of God and his righteousness, and when we do, everything else will fall into place.

Third, when we pray, whatever we may be asking for, do it with thanksgiving as if we had already received it (which just may have happened!).

And with our joy and thanksgiving focused on the Lord, we will know that he is near us, that the peace of God, the confidence and trust that we have in him, will fill us, and keep us, and sustain us through all of our lives.

Read Philippians 4:8-9

Paul would have us meditate on these attitudes – not as we experience them in earthly ways, but in Godly ways. There is always the possibility of confusion over these outlooks on life, and some folks would want us to know that none of them even exist – that they are all personal in nature, and that each one is unique for every individual.

As an example - Truth – what is truth? The world would tell us that our own concepts and thoughts are the only “truth” that actually exists! And for the world, that may work, but not in faith. Even Pilate, when Jesus stood before him for judgment, asked the question “What is truth?” And yet, even in his doubt, he was unable to find anything in Christ that was worthy of crucifixion!
Our understanding of what “truth” is, for the most part, falls far short of God’s Truth. Our knowledge is so limited in scope that we are unable to fully comprehend the fullness of Truth.

How about the noble heart? How about what is right and pure? Morality is another one of those earthly versus Godly conflicts. Every ideology has its own concept of right and wrong – that is what makes politics so interesting! The problem is, again, that none of us has even an inkling of what God’s Correctness consists of – or at least we are in the dark without the Bible. And even at that, scholars and theologians can argue a passage of scripture for days, and years (!), without coming to a consensus.

Paul also throws out the ideas of loveliness and admirability. And it still comes back to personal preference.

But if we are looking for the bottom line answer to each of these concepts, God is the only source. Not our thoughts on what the Lord intended, not our interpretations of what the Lord intended, not even our studied and considered understanding of what the Lord intended – it is as simple as living a life that reflects the one that Jesus lived. We will never know joy in living as the world lives! It can only come by living as Christ lives.

We are being told to consider, and ponder, and meditate on what all of this should mean to us as Christians. Can we ever be consistently joy-filled and thankful by living in the ways of earth? No one ever has yet! But can we know the joy of the Lord by living in his way? Only if we are truly dedicated and committed to his way – and his life – and his promise – and his salvation. And when we allow Christ’s life to become our own, it is then that we can experience the nearness of God.

There is no thankfulness without God. Oh, it’s true that we can be humanly satisfied, humanly content, humanly happy, but these things can never last! It is only when we give thanks to God “without ceasing” that we will know his truth, his purity, his loveliness, his contentment, his peace.

Give thanks today, tomorrow, and all the rest of our days, with a grateful heart for all that the Lord has given, and continues to give, to this dark and hurting world.

“No Rest in the Waiting”

Scripture: 2 Thessalonians 3:6-15

For the past two weeks, we have been considering how the Lord continues to call on our lives, even as we suffer under the onslaught of “the Lawless One”. Whether it is now, or in those seven years of ordeal after Antichrist is released, a life that is dedicated to Jesus Christ is never an easy one. But by faith, the Holy Spirit will lead and nudge and convict and correct our foolishness, and will get us back on track with Jesus, if we let him.

But the Christian life is one that requires far more than just faith! In Matthew 25:34-46, we discover that faith is only the heart that prepares us for all that the Lord has in store for us. Jesus tells us that we are not to just sit back and revel in the glory – we are to be active in our faith! Serve the hungry and thirsty. Welcome the stranger. Care for the destitute and the sick. Visit the imprisoned. And the Lord makes it very clear that when we do these things in his name, we are doing those very things for him and his glory, and if we don’t, there will never be anything that we can offer to him! We are to heap blessings upon Christ, and not just celebrate the blessings that he brings to us!

Read 2 Thessalonians 3:6-10

Paul and his followers gave the Thessalonians an example. He didn’t just preach to them, he didn’t demand that they support him and his band - he rejected the old saying “Do as I say, not as I do”! He wanted the people to do as he did! And what better way to teach than by example!

We learn when we see, and we learn again when we do. Not too long ago, I heard that it takes a minimum of 21 days for us to learn a new habit, and, presumably, those same 21 days to break an old one. This time, though, isn’t one of contemplation and reflection! It is a time to be energetic and committed to the newness; it is a time to adjust and reestablish our priorities and desires; it’s a time to put the new way into practice!
Think about a time when you decided to break an old habit. The first thing you had to do was to admit to yourself that it wasn’t doing you any good whatsoever, and if you were being completely honest, that it was actually harming you. That put you on the road to “change”, but it wasn’t the end of the process – it was only the beginning. You had to put your desire into practice.

I had smoked a pipe for about 30 years when I finally decided to stop. It required prayerful commitment and dedication on an almost continuous basis. I had always kept my tobacco pouch in my right shirt pocket or right breast pocket in my suit, and every time I got in my truck to go anywhere, my first reaction was to reach for the pouch and light up. I think it was then that I began offering the Lord “breath prayers” – those short, focused prayers that can be said in the length of a breath.

This began my ending of one habit, and the beginning or another – the ending of my pipe smoking, and the beginning of brief and immediate “breath” prayer for all of the small things of life, as well as for the bigger and more important ones. Those prayers usually go something like “Thank you Jesus”, or “Glory to you”, or sometimes simply “Lord!” It didn’t need to be something grand – just an acknowledgement that whatever the issue, I was either giving the Lord Jesus all the credit, or seeking his help in whatever the situation may be.

It really works. Try it! Don’t just decide to do something – begin doing it! You could be an example for someone else!

Read 2 Thessalonians 3:11-13

The full intent of Paul’s letter begins to immerge. Not only hasn’t Christ’s return occurred yet, and not only don’t we know when that day will be, we also can’t sit around twiddling our thumbs, meditating on the fact that the Lord is on his way! In many translations, Paul describes those who aren’t actively serving the Lord as “disruptive”. And you may ask “Disruptive of what?”

I believe that his point is that when we avoid taking our responsibility as a member of Christ’s Church, we are a disruptive influence. Of course, the other side of that coin is that if we don’t allow others to do what they feel called to do, we are also being disruptive. The call on the Church is about everyone working together to further the Kingdom right here and now. If only two or three are doing all the work, whether they like to do it or not, the Church fails in its task of involving every person who calls Jesus “Lord”.

As for the term “busybodies”, these are the gossips, the meddlers, the complainers, the “parking lot committee members”. This is an entirely different kind of disruptive activity, but one that is much more insidious. These “disrupters” work outside of the normal church structure, and by-pass those who should be given the authority and responsibility. They enjoy what they are doing, but stand in direct contrast to what the Church should be about. Paul calls us to do what is right, and not just what is convenient, or expedient, or desirable in our own minds.

Read 2 Thessalonians 14-15

Paul wants us to understand that during this time of waiting for Jesus, we aren’t in some holding pattern. This is a time of activity. It is a time of moving forward! It is a time of doing what is right, not just what is preferable. It is a time of involvement for all who profess Jesus Christ as Savior. This is a time when we begin living that Christ-like life, even though the time of eternal living is still on its way.

What does it mean to live and act like Jesus Christ? In a nutshell, it means that we set ourselves aside, so that we might live for others. The Thessalonians had begun to become too self-absorbed and not enough Christ-absorbed! But putting Christ first in our lives isn’t the easiest thing to do – it takes commitment and practice! And quite honestly, it takes a lot more than 21 days to make Jesus the habit for your life. It takes a lifetime to make him your habit!

We’re all familiar with the Fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-26. It is a listing of attributes of the person who lives a Spirit-filled life. The following are theologian James Packer’s thoughts and descriptions of each of these fruit. He writes:

“Love is the Christ like reaction to people’s malice.
Joy is the Christ like reaction to depressing circumstances.
Peace is the Christ like reaction to troubles, threats and invitations to anxiety.
Patience is the Christ like reaction to all that is maddening.
Kindness is the Christ like reaction to all that are unkind.
Goodness is the Christ like reaction to bad people and bad behavior.
Faithfulness and gentleness are the Christ like reactions to lies and fury.
Self-control is the Christ like reaction to every situation that goads you to lose your cool and [strike] out.”
—J. I. Packer, Knowing and Doing the Will of God (Ann Arbor, Mich.: Servant, 1995), 293.

When we become complacent to the struggles of others and to the call of Christ, it is then that we enter a very dark place. It is a place where Christ is not welcome. It is a place where the Holy Spirit is ignored. It is a place where earthly standards and behaviors reign. It is a place of great loss.

But there is no completely hopeless situation or condition from which we can never immerge. We can leave those ways behind, if we want to, and if we ask the Lord for his help. That was Paul’s message to the Thessalonians, and it is his message to us today. Set the ways of the world behind, which means that “we” are never the reason or way for doing anything. The reason and way for all that we do must be the Lord.

As we approach Thanksgiving, begin thinking about all that you are truly thankful for. And as we move into Advent next week, consider what the coming of Christ – both the first time 2,000 years ago, as well as the last time at some unknown time in the future – will always mean for you – and how you intend to respond to him.

"Stand Firm in the Word - the Day is Near"

Scripture: 2 Thessalonians 2:13-3:5

In last week’s text, we read that before Christ can return, there will be two issues that must occur. First, there will be a worldwide rebellion against the word of God, the extent of which we don’t yet understand, and second, the “man of lawlessness”, the one known as Antichrist, the one who has been restrained by the Lord, will be loosed upon the earth. Each of these events will herald successive increases in the activity of sin, and the Church will come under increasingly greater opposition and oppression. It will not be a pleasant time for believers.

And even in the midst of all the pain that this time will bring, Paul tells us to remain faithful and hopeful. Lawlessness will, eventually, be overturned by Christ, and all who gave honor to him will also be lost – not only in their delusional obedience, but also in eternity. The only opportunity to be spared from the condemnation is through faith in Jesus Christ. Paul wants us to hold fast to this promise, and to never doubt or waiver in the trust we place in the word of God.

Last week’s lesson was about the time of trial and those who will cause it. Today’s lesson is focused on what the faithful must do as they wait for the Day of Jesus Christ, and - the answer should be of no surprise to anyone - we are to pray and to continue to trust in the word of God that he has given us through Jesus, and the prophets, and the early apostles.

Read 2 Thessalonians 2:13-15

Be thankful – not over the trials that this life will be bringing (Romans 5:3-5), but in all that the Lord has given and is yet to bring. Be thankful for the faithful church. Be thankful for the gift of faith in Almighty God. Be thankful for the salvation that is ours simply through faith in Christ Jesus.
The Church was set in place to proclaim this very thought – that those who trust and love and live the truth of God will be saved, and that those who will not trust will never know salvation. The Church was chosen to be faithful, but when it isn’t, and when it teaches thoughts and concepts that run counter to scripture, it does an extremely serious disservice to countless millions of people. In that regard, this very creation of God can become a tool of Satan!

But when we are faithful, when we are truly thankful, the future of the Church and all who live within her, are placed directly in the hands of the Lord. In John Wesley’s teaching, there are 4 aspects, known as the “quadrilateral”, to this faithful living.
The first is scripture. We are to trust explicitly in the word of God and all that it teaches. It is to be the basis for all that we do, and without it, we have no hope of knowing God’s will for our lives. There can be no other foundation for our faith.
The second is tradition. Our doctrine, the principles under which we live, and worship, and serve, and testify, is based in our age long orthodoxy. This doesn’t mean that our doctrine can never change, but as we live and learn within the scriptures, our tradition becomes more and more Christ-like.
The third is experience. This doesn’t imply that our own experiences in life should effect our faith in scripture, but rather that our faith must become experiential in nature. Faith is not only a “head knowledge” about Jesus - it is also a life of acting like Jesus.
The fourth is reason. Our ability to understand and comprehend and accept God’s call on our lives helps us to proclaim and testify to our faith with others.
Each must begin with the word of God, and grows from there.

This is one approach that helps us to respond to Paul’s call to “stand firm” in faith and action, which will in turn, strengthen us in our times of trial and oppression.

Read 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

Paul ends this section that deals with remaining faithful in the face of satanic attacks, with a prayer that calls us to return to foundational faith. Faith in the ways of earth is not scriptural. Faith that condones the false trust in those other gods is no faith at all. Faith in Jesus Christ, and all that he is and was and continues to be, is the only hope. Paul offers hope, and comfort, and strength in the only source of power that we can always rely on – that same power that enables us to live and serve throughout this life in the name of Jesus.

And he lets us know that it is only by God’s grace that we can receive his eternal presence and guidance. We have 2,000 years of experience to draw on, and yes, we have had our ups and downs throughout that entire period.
But our “downs” have always been caused by humanity’s attempts to replace God’s will with their own, to make decisions that make sense to us in our human understanding but never in God’s, to strike out on our own, to say “this is what I think our faith should be about”. And our “downs” can be destructive and divisive.
But our “ups” have always occurred because we have allowed the Lord Jesus to govern our decisions and actions that we offer in the name of Christ. And our “ups” can be mountaintop experiences!

Paul’s prayer is, essentially, a prayer for conviction, a prayer that orients our lives toward the mountaintops.
Henri Nouwen, priest, professor, writer and theologian, wrote:
As you see more clearly that your vocation is to be a witness to God's love in this world, and, as you become more determined to live out that vocation, the attacks of the enemy will increase.

You will hear voices saying, "You are worthless, you have nothing to offer, you are unattractive, undesirable, unlovable." The more you sense God's call, the more you will discover in your own soul the cosmic battle between God and Satan.

Do not be afraid. Keep deepening your conviction that God's love for you is enough, that you are in safe hands, and that you are being guided every step of the way. Don't be surprised by the demonic attacks. They will increase, but as you face them without fear, you will discover that they are powerless.

Only when your roots are deep can your fruits be abundant.

--Henri J.M. Nouwen, The Inner Voice of Love: A Journey Through Anguish to Freedom (Doubleday, 1996), 93-94.

That is what Paul’s prayer is asking for – deep roots and abundant fruit.

Read 2 Thessalonians 3:1-5

Paul not only prays for the church in Thessalonica, but he asks that they pray for him and his companions, too! And he asks prayers for 2 issues.

First, he asks that they pray that the message they share would spread rapidly and would be honored. His desire is that the word of God wouldn’t be interrupted or delayed – that it would spread through the world unrestrained, with intentionality, with power and purpose, and that the world’s opposition might never impact it. He also asks that it be “honored” – that the church would accept it as delivered, and not feel that they need to change it to make it more palatable, more politically correct, more acceptable. He wants the word of God to be glorified right here on earth!

May it spread like a raging fire, and may the people rejoice in receiving it.

The second request is that he and his band of believers would be protected from the forces of evil that are at work against the word of God. He fully acknowledges that there are not only many in the world who do not believe, but that the power of Satan is at work trying to prevent the word from being shared and proclaimed!

Since the beginning of time, evil has been doing everything possible to block God’s work and to lead the people away from the truth. And ever since Jesus’ first time on earth, that effort has been increasing. But as powerful as Satan is, and as weak as we are at times, the Spirit of God is always with us in faith, granting us power, filling us with resolve, teaching us to trust him in spite of what is going on around us. And regardless of how deep or shallow our faith may be, it is by trusting in Jesus that we can experience the power of God’s faith at work within us! His faithfulness will strengthen us in confidence and commitment and conviction, and he will direct our every thought and step that is taken in service and witness to the name of Jesus.

The Day of Christ’s return is nearer than any of us can imagine, but until that day arrives, there is no reason whatsoever for us to slacken in faith, and every reason to double and redouble our efforts in Christ – we must continue to study the scriptures, to pray for both the Church and the world, to step out in faith to proclaim the way and truth and life that is only in Jesus Christ, to continue to pray, just as Paul asked us to, that the word will spread throughout the world without interruption or delay, that people will accept it and trust it, and that the faithful would be protected from the world’s ways.

That is how we begin, and it is then we let the Lord lead us to whatever and wherever he needs us.

“Be Patient – It’s Almost Time”

Scripture: 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12

So when will Jesus Christ return? When will the Kingdom be released to truly celebrate in Truth? A lot of people think they know, and most are quite vocal in letting everyone else know that they know. Unfortunately, they don’t – and as a matter of fact, no one knows! (Matthew 25:13) In our text for today, Paul tells the Thessalonians that until that day comes, they must remain firm in the faith, and patiently trust that the Lord’s word – the word that the day of his return is on its way – is certain.

Hope is one of those vague things that is so confusing to many believers. Is hope just a desire? A possibility? An unsure promise? Paul tells us in Romans 8:24-25 that hope in Christ is not an iffy thing, even though we know little about this “hope”. He writes that a hope that has come isn’t hope at all, but that hope for that which is coming, hope that is in the Lord, is anticipated will great patience. I know – patience may not be one of your stronger suits, and it definitely isn’t one of mine! But we know that the Lord’s promise is a certainty, and hope in him can never be filled with doubt or ambiguity. It is what it is, and it will, one day, be fulfilled.

Read 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3

Even in the first century church, deceptive thoughts regarding Jesus’ return were circulating throughout the Church. Paul seems to be unsure of the source of the deception, but is quick to point out the fallacy in believing it. The truth is that the Son of God will not be revealed to the nations until the “man of lawlessness” – Antichrist - is revealed first. As a matter of fact, he writes that a “rebellion” must also occur before the “lawless man” can appear. The rebellion, though, isn’t against lawlessness – it is against the word of God! Evil and sinfulness is going to increase before Antichrist even arrives on the scene! Does that mean that neither Christ nor the Antichrist are at work in our world? Of course not! They are both toiling constantly to claim as many souls as possible, and each has no hesitation to use humanity to accomplish their goals. It’s just that neither has arrived on earth, as yet. But soon. Soon.

Satan is known as the great deceiver, and he is quite good at it! We know that he uses doubt and innuendo and half lies, as well as out and out, bold-faced lies to lead souls away from God, but why would he find confusion regarding Christ’s return to be a benefit in his cause? The answer, I believe, is in the first verse of our text – that “Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, …”. The point is that if we are confused over when Christ will come, we may inadvertently give our allegiance to a false savior. That is Satan’s only purpose – to pull us away from the truth of God and into his web of lies and death.

Paul’s concern is that the lie could disrupt worship and mission in the Church. When we become embroiled in controversy such as this, distraction becomes the greatest obstacle to ministry. Our energies, our time, our resources are wasted on ungodly matters, and our witness to the world is clouded at best, and destroyed in its worst. No – the Lord has not yet arrived. It will be very obvious when he does, though, and no one is going to miss it. No – don’t let the argument take you away from the Lord’s call on your life. Just denounce it, and proclaim the truth, and persist in your faith.

This book is not some gentle and loving reminder of who Jesus is and why he loves us so dearly. It is a book of clear and intentional warning to the Church Universal and to the entire world – don’t be fooled by Satan’s lies, as well as by those who work for him!

Read 2 Thessalonians 2:4-8

The power of lawlessness, or evil, is at work – it’s just that the one behind the evil hasn’t appeared yet. He is being held in check by some power that isn’t well defined. Could this power be that of faith within the Church? Or is it simply the working of the Holy Spirit? Regardless, that power will soon be withdrawn, and Antichrist will be loosed on the earth, and it is then that the power of sin will abound in ways that we can’t even imagine. If we think that sin is rampant now, wait until the Holy Restraint is lifted!

But why would God allow this to happen? Why would he even give Satan the opportunity? Perhaps it is to show us just how depraved and deprecating sin can truly be! Sin is destructive! Sin is anti-God! Sin perverts our expression of faith! And we don’t get to decide what is evil and what isn’t! In Matthew 15:16-20, Jesus gives us a short list of acts that we all would probably agree are sinful. But these will be minor when compared to the depth that Lawlessness will go! And no one should be looking forward to that time.

Of course, the time during which sin will be allowed to thrive will be limited, and eventually, the Lord will put that evil power in its rightful place. Paul says that by his very breath and glory, the power of sin will be destroyed! God’s breath can work in many ways. In Genesis 2:7, this breath gives life to humanity, but in Isaiah 11:4, we read that the Lord’s breath will abolish evil. But for the majority of people, this destruction of evil will have come too late, for without the life of Christ in our lives, the death of Antichrist will, without question overtake us.

Read 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12

Jesus Christ will be our only hope when this time comes. Without the truth of Christ, we won’t have a chance of recognizing the lies of the Deceiver. We read that this lawless one will perform all kinds of fake miracles and other works. They will certainly appear to be legitimate, seem to be Godly or at least worthy of inciting worship, and many will flock to Lawlessness, believing that they have found the true way. But they will be wrong. They will be lost.

Faith in Jesus Christ isn’t based on his miracles or on his teaching, or in his sense of social justice. It is situated firmly on his work at Calvary – his suffering, his death, his blood that was poured out for the forgiveness of the world. It is based on accepting him, not as a respected teacher, not as a miracle worker, not even as a healer of the sick and the raiser of the dead, but as the Son of the Most High God!

Faith in Jesus Christ isn’t just a nice thing to do; it isn’t one among many expressions that will bring us eternal life; it isn’t a gift that is only available to the weak or poor or some other socially insignificant group. It is a necessity for anyone who would seek life in the glory of Almighty God!
The apostle Paul was justifiably concerned that people were being led astray by false teaching, and they would never know the marvelous presence of Christ in their lives. He knew that he had to set them straight!

How committed are we to spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ? Are we willing to stand by and let others fall for the lies and deceit that is so prevalent in the world, or will we love our friends and neighbors to the extent that there is nothing that can prevent us from sharing Christ with them? Patiently waiting for the return of Jesus Christ doesn’t mean that we get to sit back and relax! It means that we trust in his word – his entire word – and expectantly wait for him without making our own provisions for that day.
Remember Paul’s closing words in this passage – “… all will be condemned who have not believed the truth”. John’s gospel tells us that it was by God’s love that Christ came to be salvation for the sinners of earth, but that without him, we already stand convicted and condemned. (John 3:16-21)

Love and honor Jesus and all that he taught us, and know his life. Ignore Jesus and turn away from his hope, and go the way of the earth. As Joshua told us “Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve.” (Joshua 24:14-15)

“The Restoration”

Scripture: Jeremiah 29:1-14

Israel had fallen to Assyria, Judah had fallen to Babylon. Their leadership had either died or was in captivity. The once fruitful land, the wealth and prestige that had been Israel, the blessings that had rested on God’s people – had all become a distant memory. And what was the cause of the people’s great loss? Divergent faith. Both nations had been led away from Jehovah’s way, and they had strayed willingly. And now they were paying the price – regardless of where their subjugation occurred – whether in Babylon, or Assyria, or even as slaves in their own homeland.

For the past 6 weeks, we have followed Israel and Judah’s failure to stay faithful to their Lord, and as the people suffered under the siege and destruction of their land, the realization of their sin must have been settling in. Can you imagine the shock when they finally understood that their defeat and humiliation was completely upon their own shoulders, and that it could all have been avoided – if they had only remained loyal to their Jehovah God?

Was this the end? Had God washed his hands of the disobedient people? Not on your life! God never gives up! As we read last week, the Lord had a plan to bring a new Shepherd into the picture – one who would truly care for, and love, the nation, unlike the self-serving attitude that the former leaders had shown. And it would be a marvelous plan. But did the people understand? Were they prepared for such a Shepherd?

Read Jeremiah 29:1-6

Until now, our examination of Jeremiah’s prophecy centered on the people of Judah who still lived in the Land promised to Abraham. The call had been to turn away from the evil that they were doing, and to return to the grace of the Lord. Now, the prophet’s words are directed to the exiles – to the people who were now experiencing the fate of those who God had allowed to go their own way. Note that this letter was sent to the “surviving elders” in captivity. The implication is that there weren’t all that many who did live to go into exile! The heart and attitude of the survivors was about as low as anything we could possibly imagine. All was lost.

But this letter wasn’t to be one of “I told you so!” – it would be one of encouragement, one of hope. The prophet tells the people that they aren’t to give up hope – that they are to live their lives as though these were the glory years. Hard to believe, isn’t it!
This was to be a time of growth and renewal for Judah - not one of despair and decline. God had ways that had only begun to work within the lives of his people, and he didn’t want them to think that this “setting aside” was his denial of them. It would be a time when the Lord would be working in mighty ways for the benefit of the people. And they were to cooperate in the Lord’s work by living the best lives that they could. Build! Plant! Marry! Have children! Increase! Be all that you can be!

God wanted them to be healthy and prepared to enjoy all that he had in store for them. Isn’t that just like him? That even after we turn against him, even while we are learning those hard lessons of faith, the Lord is always working for our good!
I know that during these past few years, many in the United Methodist Church have felt that we no longer have a divine purpose, that we are no longer in God’s view of the Church. I want each and every person to know that if he continued to work for Israel and Judah after all that they did to demean their Almighty Lord, he will also be working intently to bring about the best in our denomination. It’s just that we haven’t seen how that plan for us is going to play out yet. But with patience and trust, we will.

Read Jeremiah 29:7-10

When all else fails, pray! Well actually, pray before all else fails! Amen? And don’t forget to pray even for those who oppress you. That must have been a hard task for the people – I know that it is for me. And God doesn’t mean that we are to pray for their condemnation – we are to pray that the Lord’s goodness might be theirs - because as others grow and benefit, so will we.

Think about it. What if we began to pray that those who are involved with defiance of the Discipline and scripture might know the Lord’s prosperity and blessings? What if we strived for goodness in their lives instead of their downfall? Jeremiah told the people that if their captives prosper, they will too. This doesn’t mean that we pray that their defiance should succeed, but rather that their lives might be blessed.

And quite honestly, this shouldn’t be such a foreign concept for any of us – after all, Jesus told us that we are to pray for our enemies! (Matthew 5:43-48; Luke 6:27-36) The point in Jesus’ words, and certainly in Jeremiah’s, is that we are to be different than the people of the world – that we are to think and live and love as the Lord does, and not as “they” do. As they prosper, so shall we. And if they decline, we can expect nothing less, either. Remember the old admonition “Be careful in what you pray for! You just might get it.”

A story.

A pastor went to visit a woman from his congregation who was living in a nursing home. She had terrible back pain and was constantly complaining about it. She also told the same story over and over every time he visited. So the pastor prayed for a better, more effective visit.

He walked into the nursing home and the lady was in the cafeteria. After they had talked for a while and the pastor had read the Bible with her, she asked the pastor if he would pray for her to be healed. He was reluctant to do so because he just didn't think, at this woman's age, that it was realistic. God rarely if ever does miracles anymore, he thought. But at the woman's insistence the pastor prayed for her and for healing.

Immediately, she started to try to stand, which made a staff member come running. But she stood up on her own and started to proclaim that her back pain was gone. Everyone ran to see the commotion and she even walked around her wheelchair several times. Everybody oohed and aaahed. It was a miracle!

After a few minutes, the pastor slipped past the crowd and out to his car. He sat down in the front seat and grabbed the steering wheel with both hands. He began to pray. "Thank you God, for healing Mrs. Patrick."

There was a long pause. Then the pastor continued, "But don't ever do that to me again!"

He was encouraged by the miracle, but he didn't like that awkward feeling!

--Thanks to pastor Richard R. Christy of Voice of Hope Church in Wayland, Michigan, for sharing this story with us.

I like to think of this as “the Jonah complex” – he finally did as the Lord asked of him, and the Lord responded in the way he was asked, but the prophet wasn’t very happy with the results! (Jonah 3:10-4:3) And, apparently, neither was this pastor!
Rejoice in the ways of God, and be blessed that he asks us to care and love as he does!

And when the time of growing and learning is complete, the Lord will have a glorious gift ready for those who have learned. And that will never be bad! He gives Judah 70 years to learn the lessons that are most important for their lives. And the prophet cautions the nation to be leery of the false words that come from others, but you may have noticed that God doesn’t offer any words of advice on how to be able to tell the difference between his ways and those of the world! The best way, of course, is to know the Lord’s thoughts and ways first, and to let that become the basis for our understanding. And remember that it was those same old lies that got Judah into trouble in the first place!

Read Jeremiah 29:11-14

The Lord’s plans are always good, whether we see that or not. And it isn’t a matter of his plans being in response to what we are experiencing – they have been in place for us before time began! They aren’t haphazard, they aren’t minimalistic, they aren’t spur of the moment – they are intentional, they are eternal, they are grace and spirit-filled. And they are plans of prosperity and hope.

The gospels are full of this hope. In Luke 6:37-42 and Matthew 18:23-35, Jesus tells us that as we treat others, we should expect to receive the same from him. That alone should encourage us in setting out on the way toward restoration in Christ.

All too often, though, we want the glory of restoration for our own lives, but are reluctant, at best, to seek that same glory for others, and especially for those who have harmed us. Jeremiah reminds us that restoration isn’t just the resumption of goodness and peace in our own lives – it begins with our striving to gain that gift for others first. And when our focus is on loving our neighbor as we have been loved, then restoration, in the way of Almighty God, is ours. (Luke 10:25-37)

God was promising Judah that they would be renewed in him, and that goes far beyond simply knowing goodness and pleasant times. And that is what we are promised in Christ – not that life will be easy, but that it will be in Christ and his promises. And that, my friends, is the Good News.