“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.” Micah 5:2
In December 1865 the renowned Episcopalian preacher Phillips Brooks traveled to the Holy Land. On Christmas Eve he attended the five-hour Christmas Eve service at the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem. Of his experience Brooks said, "I remember standing in the old church in Bethlehem, close to the spot where Jesus was born, when the whole church was ringing hour after hour with splendid hymns of praise to God, how again and again it seemed as if I could hear voices I knew well, telling each other of the Wonderful Night of the Savior's birth."
"Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises." Psalm 98:4
As we enter the Advent season this year, I thought it would be interesting to consider a familiar Christmas Hymn each week leading up to Christmas, and explore the story behind it. Today we'll look at Joy To The World.
"give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." 1 Thessalonians 5:18
Pastor Chuck Smith told the story of a Mission that had a Saturday night service with testimonies. People would stand up and testify about what God had done for them that week. One man was very poor, yet he always gave a testimony filled with thanks to the Lord, despite the poverty and adversity in his life. One night he shared how he was walking down the street and saw a one dollar bill lying on the pavement, and he was so thankful. He went to the market and bought a dollar's worth of ground beef.
"Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for His steadfast love endures forever." Psalm 107:1
There is something that comes with age that I find extremely comforting. After walking with the Lord for over 50 years I have come to fully trust that He is a good God. I may not understand everything that He allows to happen in this world, but I do know that He is good, and that His love is steadfast. His love is constant and it will endure for all of eternity.
"And he stayed two full years in his own rented quarters and was welcoming all who came to him, preaching the kingdom of God and teaching concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all openness, unhindered."
Acts 28:30-31
A leading newspaper executive was visited by a local pastor. The man of God came right to the point as they shook hands. "My friend," he said, "I'm here to ask you to become a Christian." The editor walked over to a window and for several minutes stood looking down into the street. The minister thought he had offended him. Finally the man turned, his face wet with tears. Taking his visitor's hand again, he said, "Thank you for your concern. Since I was a young boy at my mother's knee, not a single relative or business associate has ever taken an interest in my soul. I thought no one cared!"
Is as the light of the morning when the sun rises,
A morning without clouds,
When the tender grass springs out of the earth,
Through sunshine after rain.'"
2 Samuel 23:3-4
Of all the privileges we have as Christians in the United States, the privilege to vote for the leaders of our government is one of the greatest. When we look around the world and recognize how many people are living under tyranny, we should get down on our knees and thank God that as of this moment, we still have a choice of who will govern our country.
I voted for the first time in 1968, and I have voted in every election since then. There have been numerous times when the person I voted for did not win. As disappointing as that may have been, I thanked God that I had the right to cast a ballot. There have been times when I was underwhelmed by the choices I was given, yet even then I made a decision. I've always trusted God with the outcome, believing that He is in control of every situation. He knows ahead of the final vote counted who will be in leadership of our nation.
I hope that you plan to vote tomorrow, if you have not yet voted. The freedom to vote should never, ever be taken lightly. The signers of the Declaration of Independence "with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence" pledged their "Lives, [their] Fortunes and [their] sacred Honor" to establish a free nation where its citizens could choose their leaders. Men and women across generations have fought and died to secure that right. So, choose the candidate whose beliefs most closely align with scripture. There is no perfect candidate. There is only a perfect God. There is no human savior. There is only Jesus who saves. One day He will return to rule over all the earth. The "government will be upon His shoulders." Until that day, we will have to vote for an imperfect person, and pray that the one who wins will govern righteously, in the fear of God.
Today's music video God Is In Control by Twila Paris is a song from the 90's that reminds us that God will never forsake us. He is in control!
I love you, I'm thinking of you, and I'm praying for you.
"Though you have not seen Him, you love Him. Though you do not now see Him, you believe in Him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory," 1 Peter 1:8
Yesterday during our worship service a man from Rwanda shared the story of his encounter with a woman from a nearby village who invited him into her home. As he spoke of her and their time together, photos were projected on the large screens above him. I marveled at two things: the first was the wide smile on her face, and the second was the abject poverty in which she lived.
During the Rwanda Genocide of 1994 this woman lost her husband and all her children. Now she lives in a broken down house, little more than a one room shack. Besides the hoe she uses in her sweet potato patch, her only possessions are a sleeping mat, a piece of fabric, one plastic cup, one plastic plate, a fork, and a broken small pot in which she cooks her food. When it rains she rolls up her mat and stands in a corner of the house and waits for the rain to stop and the wood floor to dry up. Then she can put her mat back and sleep. This is how she lives day after day, month after month, year after year.
And yet, she is happy.
Her guest -- the man telling us this story -- was confused by what he saw. How could a woman living in such poverty be so happy. How could she maintain that beautiful, big smile we saw on her face. When he asked her why she is happy, she answered, "Because I have Jesus." She is a living testament to 1 Peter 1:8: Though she has not seen Jesus, she loves Him. Though she does not now see Him, she believes in Him and rejoices with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory.
Lord, give me this kind of love for you.
Today's music video Give Me Jesus by Fernando Ortega is a favorite of mine, and so appropriate to today's message.
I love you, I'm thinking of you, and I'm praying for you.
I have to begin today's devotional by apologizing to you. I was out of town for over a week, visiting a friend in Oregon. I intended to set my blog to post two devotionals while I was gone. I created the posts and scheduled them, but I apparently did something wrong because neither devotional posted. I'm so sorry. I'm back home now and posting as usual.
"In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven."
Dear Friends,
My heart is hurting for the many people suffering from the devastation of Hurricane Helene. Many homes have been lost, injuries have been sustained, and in some cases lives have been lost. At the time of this writing the number of casualties has been listed at nearly 100, though many more are missing. For any of you who have been affected personally, please know that you and all those involved have my prayers.
For those of us not affected, there is a practical way we can help. We can be the instruments of God's mercy and grace by making a charitable contribution for disaster relief assistance. Personally, I have made a donation to Samaritan's Purse, which I believe is a wonderful organization that makes excellent use of the resources God provides, and ministers in Jesus' name. If you would like to make a donation of any amount to Samaritan's Purse disaster relief, here is the link:
"Even to your old age and gray hairs I am He, I am He who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you." Isaiah 46:4
Today's scripture reminds us that God's faithfulness never wanes. He never grows tired of us. He never turns away from us. He never gives up on us. He will always "carry" us, always "sustain" us, always "rescue" us. This is a wonderful promise, and I believe the longer we live in His presence the more convinced we become of its truthfulness.
I am now an elder with gray hair. I've lived through difficult times and I'm more convinced today than I was 40 years ago that God is and always will be faithful to me. I know it because His words says so, and I know it from experience. He has never failed me. Not once. This promise is for all who have placed their trust in Jesus Christ. He is the Faithful One. He came to earth with one mission, and He fulfilled it perfectly. He who bore our sins on the cross is faithful!
I came across a quote from the late great preacher J. Vernon McGee that beautifully illustrates my point:
"As a young preacher, I spoke a great deal about standing for the Lord and about suffering. I used to go to hospitals and pat people on the hand and pray with them. I would tell them that the Lord would be with them. At that time I was a professional preacher, saying what I did not know to be true from my own experience, although I believed it. But the day came when I went into the hospital myself. Another preacher came in and prayed with me. When he started to go, I said to him, 'I’ve done the same thing you have done. I’ve been here, and I have told people that God would be with them. Now you are going to walk out of here, but I am staying, and I will find out if it is a theory or if what I have been telling people is true.' Friend, I found out it is true. Now it is no longer a mere theory. I know it by the fact that the Word of God says it and by the fact that I have experienced it. I don’t argue with people about these things any more because there are certain things I know. I would never argue with you about whether honey is sweet or not. If you don’t think it is sweet, that is your business. I had some this morning for breakfast, and I know it is sweet. That is the knowledge that comes from experience."
Today's music video Faithful One by Brian Doerksen is a gentle praise song to our "Rock", "Our Anchor". A reminder of God's faithfulness.
I love you, I'm thinking of you, and I'm praying for you.
"Sowe havethe prophetic wordmademoresure, to which you do well to pay attention as toa lamp shining in a dark place, until theday dawns and themorning star arisesin your hearts." 2 Peter 1:19
Peter had walked side by side with Christ for three years. He had been on the mount with Him and witnessed the transfiguration. He had seen the miracles Jesus performed and ate breakfast with Him after His resurrection. Yet with all this evidence of the truth, Peter points to scripture -- the "prophetic word" -- as the more sure evidence. All the prophecies -- and there are over 300 of them - are fulfilled in Christ.
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