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All in God's Word
It will soon be the beginning of a new year, and many people look for a new start, set new goals, and make some New Year's resolutions.
What are your expectations for the coming new year? Do you want to be prosperous?
How do you define prosperity? Perhaps you're hoping for a new job, wealth, new opportunities, or something else for a better life.
What if prosperity was not so measurable, but more to do with values and quality of life?
Is that the kind of improvement you're seeking this year?
It is easy to lose focus and perspective when we get absorbed in one line of thought. Absorbed in a cause, a challenge, a debate, or an impassioned view of an issue. When you see the word government what comes to mind?
Are you concerned about a new presidential administration or the state of our nation? How about wars and refugees? Violence seems to pop up all over the world and our nation is not immune to it. Concerns about the economy, international trade, and jobs, international unrest, immigration, freedoms and rights all come to mind.
But all of these are issues and concerns of human government. As you read this on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, you might be wondering, "What kind of Christmas message is this?!" "How about something uplifting and hopeful?" Exactly my point!
When it comes to food and children, opinions abound. When should a baby start to eat solid food? What foods are best to start with? What if they don't let you feed them? These questions may are linked with whether to breastfeed babies or use bottles. I've heard some pretty strong opinions expressed on this subject!
It might be a matter of months or years, but most mothers expect their children to eat solid food and feed themselves by the time they start school.
But what about spiritual food and feeding? When should a Christian believer be expected to take on meatier truths and even feed themselves? Ah, expectations—the fertile ground for disappointments.
God is often misunderstood or simply unknown for many people. It ought not to be, but it is. Why? Ignorance and indifference are major factors, of course, but for those who claim to be believers, there's really no excuse.
God came to earth in human form. All four gospels give eyewitness accounts of this. Indeed, this is what the celebration of Christmas ought to be all about. And yet, misunderstandings and ignorance prevail.
For one thing, we tend to overemphasize the spiritual and overlook the human factor. Think about it. God once had flesh and bones, lived a daily life on earth, was part of a family, and in community with other people.
Jesus, the Son of God, experienced a real human life for over 30 years. Although in a different time in history and culture, He experienced life as we know it.
For all those who trust in Him, He is our living bridge to God the Father.
When my family was young and I was a young father and pastor, finding a quiet time and place to study could be a challenge. As my children grew older, when I was in my small study at home, they understood I was at work on my messages for the church.
But it was different for the younger children, as my wife pointed out many times. They could burst into my little study anytime they wanted. Later, my church office staff learned that when my wife called, she had priority over who was in my office or what I was working on.
The Lord helped me see this is the access we have Him, even when we're older. We can burst into the Lord's presence whenever and whatever the need.
The door is never closed to the Father's presence for those of us who know Him as our Father. He always has time for us and gives us His full attention.
'm among the many millions who watched Star Wars when it came out in 1977. Although I'm not a fanatic fan, I was always intrigued with the lightsaber—the sword made of light—used by Luke Skywalker and others.
The first laser was developed in the mid-1950's, and medical applications of the laser developed for surgery began in the mid-1960's. It's been refined for delicate and difficult surgeries since then.
The medical use of lasers is almost like tiny lightsabers. This illustrates a spiritual truth, as well as one known in physics—the penetrating power of light.
I met a young couple from New Zealand in the Hong Kong airport years ago. We were waiting for our next flight and got to talking. I asked them about their experience in my home country, the USA.
They had worked in the US for a few years and shared a simple observation about Americans and rest. Generally, they realized we don't seem to know how to take time to rest, even when we're sick.
Think about it. Immense amounts of sick leave and vacation time go unused each year by Americans. When we do take vacations, they're often expensive and so activity-filled, we need a rest after our vacation! This carries over to our faith.
Not everything in the Bible is to be taken literally. And yet, what's written in the Bible is not just figurative or symbolic. Discernment, spiritual discernment, is needed for a true understanding.
Events in the Bible are real, but they can also be figurative. The stories recorded in the Bible aren't random events, they're selected by God for a purpose.
They are intended to teach us something by example or by way of illustration. Just as in life, where we can learn from the success or mistakes we make, we can learn from the successes, wisdom, and failures of others.
Have you ever watched a child's body language when they don't want to do something? They turn away in some way. They're defiant and often stubborn in their defiance.
As we get older, not really more mature, we learn to do this in more subtle ways. It's called passive-aggressive behavior.
This reaction—whether external or internal—can be destructive, especially when we get defiant and stubborn with God.
The Christian faith is not a set of abstract beliefs. A confession of faith is more than words and thoughts written out or spoken.
Genuine Christian faith is anchored in Jesus. Not only what is believed in Him as the Christ, the Messiah, the Savior of the world, but in relationship with Him.
Genuine Christianity is centered on the person of Jesus Christ, not a set of doctrines to be practiced or beliefs to hold. The book of Hebrews makes this very clear.
