Pastor John’s Blog

You have probably heard that when people are ill and are given a short time to live they will try to cram in as many life experiences as possible. But what if we lived life to the fullest now? Psalm 90:12 tells us how: “Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom” (NLT). In this context wisdom is the ability to make the best choices to live the best life possible within the brevity of a lifespan. To live with this wisdom is to plan to do those things that we continue to procrastinate over. It means not taking those you love for granted. It means living with purpose.

Today is the last day of 2009.  Another year of our life comes to an end. Like the psalmist I invite you to pray and ask God to help you understand the brevity of life so that you can begin living life to the fullest right now. Make your time count.

 Every disciple of Jesus Christ should expect to be attacked by Satan. His mission is to disrupt the work of God in our lives any way he can. One of his tactics is to use a “shock and awe” strategy against us, meaning that he throws his best at us all at once to overwhelm us and discourage us with the hope of getting us to leave our faith. This is something that Satan did to the believers in the city of Thessalonica. It is believed that the Thessalonians were the believers with whom Paul spent the least amount of time with. He spent perhaps ten days with these fledgling believers. He left them in a hurry due to a heavy outbreak of persecution. A communication blackout between Paul and the nascent church quickly ensued after Paul’s departure.

Satan’s shock and awe campaign was so severe that Paul writes to them in 1 Thessalonians 2:17-18 saying, “Dear brothers and sisters, after we were separated from you for a little while (though our hearts never left you), we tried very hard to come back because of our intense longing to see you again.¹⁸ We wanted very much to come to you, and I, Paul, tried again and again, but Satan prevented us” (NLT) Paul feared that Satan’s efforts had caused the new believers to abandon their faith, as he stated in 1 Thessalonians 3:5 “That is why, when I could bear it no longer, I sent Timothy to find out whether your faith was still strong. I was afraid that the tempter had gotten the best of you and that our work had been useless” (NLT). However, to Paul’s joy and amazement Timothy returns with a different report: “So we have been greatly encouraged in the midst of our troubles and suffering, dear brothers and sisters, because you have remained strong in your faith.⁸ It gives us new life to know that you are standing firm in the Lord” (1 Thes. 3:7-8, NLT). Satan’s attack backfired because these new believers kept their faith in God despite Satan’s campaign, and they found strength in Him when their own strength seemed to fail.

Therefore, regardless of what attacks Satan has thrown your way you too can overcome if you continue to believe that God always causes us to triumph in Christ Jesus. You will overcome if you continue to pull strength from God. Expect the victory. God will see you through!

As we hurry through busy malls and shopping centers buying gifts for our loved ones it becomes challenging to take moments throughout the day to meditate on the meaning of Christmas and to consider the depth of God’s grace made manifest in the birth of Jesus. This is where Joseph, the father of Jesus, can help us. Matthew and Luke do not record any words of Joseph. Zachariah, Elizabeth and Mary have a lot to say, but not Joseph. He is portrayed as a man of thought and a man of action. Take for instance when he discovered that Mary had become pregnant. Being a good man he did not want to disgrace her publically, so in Matthew 1:19 we are told that “…he decided to break the engagement quietly” (NLT). To do this quietly meant that Joseph probably did not share this with anyone, a real probability when we consider Matthew 1:20, which says, “As he considered this [the divorce]…” It seems that he gave thought to divorcing Mary before sharing his plans with anyone and before taking action. Joseph was a man of reflection.

Then, the angel spoke to Joseph in Matthew 1:20-21: “As he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. ‘Joseph, son of David,’ the angel said, ‘do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit.²¹ And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.’” What happens next in Matthew1:24-25 is very revealing of Joseph:  “When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded and took Mary as his wife.²⁵ But he did not have sexual relations with her until her son was born. And Joseph named him Jesus.” Notice that no words of Joseph are recorded. Instead, he wakes up and takes action. He obeys the angel by taking Mary as his wife and by naming the baby, Jesus, when he was born. Joseph is portrayed as a man of thought and a man of obedient action.

So today, to take in the meaning of Christmas let’s be like Joseph and give thought to, consider and reflect on the meaning of Christmas. And in response to God’s grace let’s take obedient action to God’s word. Merry Christmas!

There is one thing that all of us do when we select gifts for our loved ones. We check the price tag. No matter how nice a gift is or how much of a bargain it is we take a moment to consider whether or not we are willing and able to pay the cost. Well, we must do the same when it comes to God’s gift to us. You see, the coming of Christ into our lives always comes with a heavy price. 

An example of this is found in Mary the mother of Jesus. Mary had plans like any young woman of her day. She was engaged to Joseph and had plans to start a family. Things were going as planned until the Angel Gabriel appeared to her and delivered the news that God had chosen her to give birth to His Son. Mary’s life changed with the angel’s words. Not only would the suspicion of unfaithfulness follow her all of her days, but God’s plan and purpose for her life would dictate the course her life would take. The coming of Christ into her life came with a big price tag. And yet despite the cost she tells the angel in  Luke 1:38, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true” (NLT). This is what a submitted life looks like. It accepts God’s will regardless of the cost.

Although we can never repay God for His gift to us in Jesus Christ the receiving of that gift does come with a price tag. So today, as you continue shopping for gifts and checking price tags take a moment to consider the cost of receiving Christ. Are you receiving God’s plans for your life in the same way that Mary did? Are you submitted to His will for your life? If so, then praise God. But if not then it’s time to reevaluate things and resolve to tell the Lord “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.”

Giving Gifts

If you are anything like me then you have probably purchased a gift for the most important people in your life but are still running around buying gifts for everyone else on your list. But what are you going to give Jesus? It is His birthday after all. The magi that came from the East in search of the newborn king brought gifts. Luke 2:11 tells us that “They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh” (NLT). These were expensive gifts, undoubtedly given from hearts overflowing with gratitude. However, these three items had tremendous significance in light of Jesus’ identity and mission. Gold represents Jesus’ kingship, while frankincense and myrrh were two aromatic spices used in Old Testament sacrifices. The wise men were not only expressing what Jesus meant to them through the gifts that they had chosen but were also forth telling Jesus mission through them. He is the king born to die as a sacrifice.

So, what are you going to give Christ? A fancy shirt won’t do, neither will an electronic gadget. It needs to be a gift that expresses who Jesus is and what means to you. The only gift that you can give a king that died for you is a surrendered life—yours. Therefore, today surrender your life to Jesus Christ. Give your heart and all that you have to him. Your life will be filed with peace and joy because of it.

Throughout the Christmas season we forget the message that the myriad of angels left the shepherds as their brilliance filled the sky on that first Christmas. Luke 2:14 records their words as, “Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased” (NLT). Their message is that if the birth of our savior caused all of the angels to praise God we must respond in the same way.  Especially when we are the recipients of such favor. The angels said, “and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased” The phrase “with whom God is pleased” is an expression that denotes the bestowal of grace. God has bestowed his grace on us by giving us his Son. And with the bestowal of such grace comes peace from heaven.

But in the midst of all of the activities related to the Christmas season we forget to give glory to God often enough for the birth of His Son! And we do not take the time to consider the enormous favor that was demonstrated toward us by God! And, of course, we lose our peace trying to get everything ready for Christmas.

Today take a moment to give God glory for sending Christ to us, and to realize how favored you are, and to let God’s peace fill your soul.

.On the day that Jesus was born God sent an angel to communicate this news to a group of lowly shepherds. The angel described Jesus to the them with the words found in Luke 2:11: “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (ESV). When broken down these words are quite powerful. “For unto you (plural) is born…” declares that Jesus was born FOR US! He is God’s gift to the world! The words “a Savior” explain the purpose of his birth. He was born to save us from our sins. And the title “Christ”, which is the Greek form of the Hebrew word Messiah, informs us of His role. As Christ He is the anointed mediator between God and humankind. There is no other than can stand before God in our place and ask for mercy and forgiveness. Only Christ! And the word “Lord” declares who He is and what He does! The Greek word Kurios, translated here as Lord, represents the name of God. Jesus Christ is the Lord. He is God! And, as the Lord he reigns. Or to put it another way, he exercises His dominion over us! This means that Satan has no claim over us! As our Lord He uses His authority and power to bless us! But it also means that He has full claim over our lives. We owe Jesus Christ our FULL allegiance!

So today, in the midst of all of your Christmas preparations take a moment to reflect on the gift that God has given you. Unto YOU has been born a Savior, Christ and Lord!

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In life we are going to face challenges. We can either face the challenges on our own or turn to other believers for support. Peter and John had a group of believers that they’d turn to in times of hardship. One such occasion was after they were brought in before the Jewish leaders to be questioned concerning the healing of a paralytic (Acts 3), and then sternly warned not to preach any more in the name of Jesus. Acts 4:23 says that “As soon as they were freed, Peter and John returned to the other believers and told them what the leading priests and elders had said” (NLT). I like the way the ESV puts it: “When they were released, they went to their friends…” Among the huge company of believers that comprised the church of Jerusalem Peter and John had “their friends” to whom they’d turned to when trouble would come. Acts 4:24 tells us that “when they [their friends] heard it, they lifted their voices together to God…” (ESV). Having others that will pray with us when we face challenges is just one amazing benefit of having Christian friends in our support team! They help bear the load and offer encouragement and understanding. This is something that we all desire and need in such circumstances.

But how do we develop such a support network? First, to have Christian friends we must attend church and church functions with some consistency. How else will we find Christian friends that we can spend time with on a regular basis? Second, we have to invite others to spend time with us. And lastly, we need to be there for others when we hear that they are going through a tough time. So, do you have a support network? If you do, then pray for everyone in your group. But if you do not, then ask the Lord to help you befriend other believers to take advantage of this powerful resource that God has given us.  Don’t go it alone!

Confessing Sin

Nothing weighs us down more than sin. It robs us of our joy and strains our relationship with God. This is why confessing our sin to God is so vital to our mental and spiritual health. King David, after sinning with Bathsheba, expressed his deep sorrow in Psalm 51. In the first four verses he says, ¹ “Have mercy on me, O God, because of your unfailing love. Because of your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sins.² Wash me clean from my guilt. Purify me from my sin.³ For I recognize my rebellion; it haunts me day and night.⁴ Against you, and you alone, have I sinned; I have done what is evil in your sight” (NLT).

Three things stand out in these verses. First, David approaches God knowing that God is merciful and compassionate and always ready to forgive us when we confess our sins to him. Second, David recognizes that sin brings filth to our lives. He uses words like “blot out my stain” and “wash me clean” and “purify me.” David accepted that only God can cleanse us of our sins. And lastly, David owned up to his actions. He admitted his rebellion toward God and the evil that he had done before the Lord. And the wonderful thing about this is that God heard him and forgave him.

So today, take time to approach the Lord in prayer and confess your sins to him knowing that He is merciful and compassionate. Own up to your sins and mistakes and ask Him to cleanse you of your sins. Then do one last thing. Forgive yourself and move on with God’s help!

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Have Faith in God

Jesus said in Mark 11:22, “Have faith in God.” Faith is an unwavering trust in God and His word. Faith expects God to make his promises real. In Psalm 42:11 the psalmist says,  “Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again—my Savior and my God” (NLT). In this Psalm the psalmist is deeply saddened by all the troubles that he is facing. He remembers the days when he used to lead God’s people in praise. Now, he is asking God why he has abandoned him. This is human nature. When things are  not going as  planned we question God.

But in verse 11 the psalmist realizes that all of his questioning and all of his sadness and complaining were  the result of him taking his trust off of God. And, so, he once again places his trust in God and declares that he will be praising God again because God is his God and savior. So today set aside your questions and tears and trust that God is going to turn it around for you.