It's Christmas morning and everyone will be up soon and unwrapping their gifts. There will be squeals of delights, oohs and ahhs, and in some cases, silent disappointment. Whatever gifts show up under your tree, the most important gift to be rediscovered is that for which this Season is celebrated - God's Son Jesus Christ. I hope yo will take time to sqeal with delight over His this morning.
Here's why. Last night this was our Christmas reading at our Christmas Eve Service. It wonderfully decribes Christ our Savior.
"There was no doubt - Jesus was the One. The Magi, kings from the East, had no hesitation or reluctance to fall down and worship this infant King. Why? He was the One. He is the One... the Hope for all mankind. He is more than a great prophet, more than a great teacher, more than a great leader. He is the One that Jehovah God sent to earth to fulfill His amazing plan of redeeming fallen man. For ever need, Jesus is the One.
To the hungry, He's the Bread of Life.
To those in darkness, He's the Light of the World.
To the sick, He's the Great Physician, the Healer of Broken Hearts, Broken Homes and Broken Lives.
For the thirsty, He is the Water of Life that quenches the thirsty soul.
To the weary, He's the Burden Bearer.
To the confused and perplexed, He is counselor.
To the lonely, He's the friend who is closer than a brother.
And for the fearful, He is the King who protects His own.
For those so stressed by the pressures of life, He is the Prince of Peace.
For the discouraged, He is the Hope of Glory.
For those who are lost, He is the Way.
For those trapped in bondage, He is the Door to freedom.
He is Wonderful, Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father - the Prince of Peace. He is our Comforter, our Hope, our Healer... Our Savior!"
To all my readers, I say, "Merry Christmas!"
Tuesday, December 25, 2007
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Which One Are You
Another good quote from my recent required graduate reading assignments:
"The values of God's kingdom are different from the values of this world. In the world, greatness is judged by the power a person exercises over others. In the kingdom, greatness is judged by service to people. As children on the King, we follow kingdom values." (Dune Elmer, Cross-Cultural Servanthood, page 25)
Elmer then talks about the the difference between wearing the robe or carrying the towel. Jesus is able to do both. Yet he has called us to do only one; carry the towel.
"The values of God's kingdom are different from the values of this world. In the world, greatness is judged by the power a person exercises over others. In the kingdom, greatness is judged by service to people. As children on the King, we follow kingdom values." (Dune Elmer, Cross-Cultural Servanthood, page 25)
Elmer then talks about the the difference between wearing the robe or carrying the towel. Jesus is able to do both. Yet he has called us to do only one; carry the towel.
Monday, December 17, 2007
Winning a Hearing
I have been traveling a lot and trying to finish a graduate course on Anthropolgy and Cummunication. There has been a lot of reading and writing in this course. In one of the books I recently finished, the following words caught my attention. When preaching the gospel, we cannot command a hearing.
(We) "must win a hearing by demonstrating that (we) are people of integrity, credibility, and goodwill" (David J. Hesselgrave, Communicating Christ Cross-Culturally, page 146).
How true. The fruit of the Spirit which is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control must be present and visible. Then we have won a hearing from those we want to share Christ with.
(We) "must win a hearing by demonstrating that (we) are people of integrity, credibility, and goodwill" (David J. Hesselgrave, Communicating Christ Cross-Culturally, page 146).
How true. The fruit of the Spirit which is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control must be present and visible. Then we have won a hearing from those we want to share Christ with.
Sunday, December 02, 2007
Faith at Work: Living Out the Will of God
I shared these thoughts in a small group setting of twenty-somethings this past Friday from James 4:13-17.
Keep in mind that James is addressing Christians. He is speaking to Christian believers who were not living their life with God’s plans first and foremost in their thoughts and life. The key verse in this passage: verse 15.
Jeremiah 29:11 reads, "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
If there is one thought seems to permeate throughout James 4, it is this: Submission to God.
We are to submit to God our desires and wants (vv. 1-3).
We are to submit to God in our relationship with Him (vv. 4-6).
We are to submit to God in our relationships with one another (vv. 11-12).
We are to submit to God our plans (vv. 13-17).
James addresses Presumptuous Living by Christians. Proverbs 19:21 reads, "Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails."
Some examples of Presumptuous planning can be found throughout the Bible. Here are just a few: Gen 11:4 (humankind after the flood); Jer 22:13-14 (the luxurious king); Luke 12:16-21 (the Rich fool); and Jame 4:13 (the venturesome business man).
In making goals and plans for the future, believers must always consider God’s will. We must not act like the rich fool in Luke 12; rather we must recognize that peace, contentment, and happiness is found in our daily living, completely dependent on God. We must consider the Lord’s will in our planning and daily living. “…If the Lord’s will” should not be just a “tag line” in our speech and prayers. Hudson Taylor the great missionary to China had definite convictions about how God’s work should be done: We can make our best plans and try to carry them out in our own strength… or We can make careful plans and ask God to bless them… or “Yet another way of working is to begin with God; to ask His plans, and offer ourselves to Him to carry out His purposes.”
Have you asked God?
“God, what is your will for my life?”
“God, what is your will for me this year?”
“God, what is your will for this week?”
“God, what do you want from my life as leave this gathering today?"
Discovering God’s will and submitting ourselves to His plan is not always that simple. James offers us seven suggestions (vv 7-10) that could help us: 1. Submit, 2. Resist, 3. Come near, 4. Wash, 5. Purify, 6. Grieve, 7. Mourn, 8. Wail, 9. Change, 10. Humble.
This passage has been very helpful for me in determining God’s will or Divine plan for me: Luke 5:1-11 (The miraculous catch)
1. Right place and right position: listening (vv 1-3).
2. A specific word or directive (v 4).
3. May appear unreasonable (v 5a).
4. Requires obedience – submission (v 5b).
5. Results in success – peace, contentment, joy (v 6).
6. Causes a generosity – cooperation (v 7).
7. Glorifies God – humility, acknowledgement (vv 8-10).
8. Changed direction – lifestyle (11)
Here's another practical suggestion for determining God's plan in your life: the witness of three in agreement (mature believers, Written Word, and inner Spirit) - Mt 18:20; 2Co 13:1
Do what is right (v 17). If you don’t submit to God’s will and plan after knowing what it is, you sin. Reflect on this: How does James relate to your plans for the future? How will you involve God in your plans in the future?
Keep in mind that James is addressing Christians. He is speaking to Christian believers who were not living their life with God’s plans first and foremost in their thoughts and life. The key verse in this passage: verse 15.
Jeremiah 29:11 reads, "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
If there is one thought seems to permeate throughout James 4, it is this: Submission to God.
We are to submit to God our desires and wants (vv. 1-3).
We are to submit to God in our relationship with Him (vv. 4-6).
We are to submit to God in our relationships with one another (vv. 11-12).
We are to submit to God our plans (vv. 13-17).
James addresses Presumptuous Living by Christians. Proverbs 19:21 reads, "Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails."
Some examples of Presumptuous planning can be found throughout the Bible. Here are just a few: Gen 11:4 (humankind after the flood); Jer 22:13-14 (the luxurious king); Luke 12:16-21 (the Rich fool); and Jame 4:13 (the venturesome business man).
In making goals and plans for the future, believers must always consider God’s will. We must not act like the rich fool in Luke 12; rather we must recognize that peace, contentment, and happiness is found in our daily living, completely dependent on God. We must consider the Lord’s will in our planning and daily living. “…If the Lord’s will” should not be just a “tag line” in our speech and prayers. Hudson Taylor the great missionary to China had definite convictions about how God’s work should be done: We can make our best plans and try to carry them out in our own strength… or We can make careful plans and ask God to bless them… or “Yet another way of working is to begin with God; to ask His plans, and offer ourselves to Him to carry out His purposes.”
Have you asked God?
“God, what is your will for my life?”
“God, what is your will for me this year?”
“God, what is your will for this week?”
“God, what do you want from my life as leave this gathering today?"
Discovering God’s will and submitting ourselves to His plan is not always that simple. James offers us seven suggestions (vv 7-10) that could help us: 1. Submit, 2. Resist, 3. Come near, 4. Wash, 5. Purify, 6. Grieve, 7. Mourn, 8. Wail, 9. Change, 10. Humble.
This passage has been very helpful for me in determining God’s will or Divine plan for me: Luke 5:1-11 (The miraculous catch)
1. Right place and right position: listening (vv 1-3).
2. A specific word or directive (v 4).
3. May appear unreasonable (v 5a).
4. Requires obedience – submission (v 5b).
5. Results in success – peace, contentment, joy (v 6).
6. Causes a generosity – cooperation (v 7).
7. Glorifies God – humility, acknowledgement (vv 8-10).
8. Changed direction – lifestyle (11)
Here's another practical suggestion for determining God's plan in your life: the witness of three in agreement (mature believers, Written Word, and inner Spirit) - Mt 18:20; 2Co 13:1
Do what is right (v 17). If you don’t submit to God’s will and plan after knowing what it is, you sin. Reflect on this: How does James relate to your plans for the future? How will you involve God in your plans in the future?
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