Tag Archives: christmas

The King

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On Christmas Eve I posted about king Herod.  As I was looking over that post waiting for my computer to unfreeze and move on I noticed something I had written.  Take a look at this:

“It all started when Herod received word of a King to be born in Bethlehem.  Look at Matthew 2:3, “When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.”  This word “troubled” means to stir or agitate.  Herod was an unhappy camper.  He was the sitting king of that day and he would have nobody else dethrone him if at all possible.  I don’t know too many rulers that want to be dethroned.  It usually means death to the sitting king.”

What sent me off thinking was my last sentence.  “It usually means death to the sitting king.”  I began to think about the Christian life.  We talk about Jesus being on the throne of our life.  We talk a nice talk; but, when the rubber meets the road do we are really allow Jesus to be our King or is He some spiritual genie in a bottle to give us what we want, when we want?  Only you can answer that question for yourself.  Be honest because Jesus knows your heart.

We struggle in life because there is a battle raging inside of us.  The flesh wars against the spirit.  The one we feed will be the winner.  For us to make Jesus our King then the flesh has to die.  Remember the conquering king normally kills the king that is conquered.  It is the same in the spiritual realm.  When Jesus comes in He destroys the works of the flesh when we are totally yielded to Him.  There is the problem.  We must be totally yielded to Him.

So, how are you doing?

Simeon

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The other day I came across a Christmas show titled, “A Christmas Snow”.  I will try not to give away any details; but, I would highly recommend the movie.  I have watched it in part three or four times now and I think I would like to have it on DVD.

There is one character in the movie that I really like.  Sam is the grandfather type and give great counsel from God’s Word.  You must see it.  One point in the movie Sam says that he has become fond of this part of the Scriptures.  He then reads from his Bible.  Let me share with you one verse of what he reads and you can go find the rest and read it all on your own.  Look at Luke 2:29, “Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word:”

This is a quote from Simeon.  He had been waiting for the coming Messiah for many long years I suppose.  Then one day God tells him that the day he has waited for is here.  Joseph and Mary bring Jesus to the temple as the law required.  Their act of obedience brought the fulfillment of Simeon’s dream.  Then Simeon declares the he can now die in peace because he has seen Messiah.  He was prepared and he was ready.

Yesterday we celebrated the birth of Christ.  He came so that He might die on the cross.  His death paid the sin debt of all men.  We who put our faith and trust in Him receive the free gift that cost Jesus everything.

I want to ask you a question.  When you depart this earth will you depart like Simeon, in peace because you have made peace with God?  Trust Him today before it is too late.

So, how are you doing?

Wise Men Still Seek Him

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Merry Christmas 2014 to you my friends and family!  Today is the day we have all been waiting for.  Last night was probably sleepless for some children and adults.  The anticipation was possibly like a fog and could be cut with a knife.  I remember growing up and not being able to sleep at night.  I still remember one year sneaking up while everyone else was asleep and I remember seeing a game that I received that year.  I didn’t sleep at all that night.  Ha, Ha!

Today is not all about opening presents.  It is not about our favorite food.  It is all about Jesus.  Well; wait just a minute.  What is today all about?  It is all about Jesus.  Now, I am not so ignorant as to think that Jesus was actually born on December 25th.  This is just the day that we have set aside to celebrate.

Unfortunately, it has become a holiday and it is largely not held high as a holy day.  That is exactly what it is.  Think about the wise men.  They traveled a great distance to see Jesus.  So much so that they did not make it right away.  They came later to see Jesus.

Look at Matthew 2:11, “And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.”  They got there late.  Joseph, Mary and Jesus had moved into a house by the time they arrived.  Were they late?  Not at all.

Today let’s focus on their gifts.  The world seems to focus on the gifts they give.  What did these wise men give to Jesus?

They gave Him gold.  This represents Jesus’ Kingship.  He is King of all kings and LORD of all lords.  Gold would be a fitting gift for a king.

They gave Him frankincense.  This represents Jesus’ High Priestly ministry.  Jesus is our High Priest.  He goes in on our behalf.

They gave Him myrrh.  This is interesting to me.  This represents Jesus’ ministry as Prophet.  Myrrh is a burial spice.

With these gifts God the Father was providing for Jesus, Mary and Joseph.  These were expensive spices and could be sold for money and used in their lives.

God has given a gift to you and I.  Jesus willingly gave His life for you and I.  He came to earth, lived a sinless life and was crucified to pay the debt of sin for every human being ever born, past, present and future.  Will you trust Him today as your Saviour?  I pray that you will.

So, how are you doing?

Herod

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We have seen in the Scriptures how God uses many different things, circumstances and even the unbeliever to work out His plan.  I mean, He used a donkey to speak to Baalim.  I am glad that it has not been recorded in Scripture some of my less than positive moments in life.

God even used an heathen king to bring about His plan.  It all started when Herod received word of a King to be born in Bethlehem.  Look at Matthew 2:3, “When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.”  This word “troubled” means to stir or agitate.  Herod was an unhappy camper.  He was the sitting king of that day and he would have nobody else dethrone him if at all possible.  I don’t know too many rulers that want to be dethroned.  It usually means death to the sitting king.

In this instance it would have meant death too.  Think about it.  Lets go a little deep here.  If Herod came face to face with King Jesus then Herod would have to die.  He would have to be just like you and I.  He must die to self.  He must crucify the old man.  Even worse, he would have to bow the knee to Jesus and he was not willing to do that.  This prideful dictator would bow to nobody.

Okay; friend, it is your turn.  Will you humbly bow before Jesus and confess you are a sinner and you need a Saviour?  It is up to you.  The truth is that you can bow before King Jesus today and trust Him as your Saviour or you can bow before Him as your Judge.  The choice is yours to make.

So, how are you doing?

 

The Shepherds

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You have all heard some of my stories from my years growing up on the farm.  I will do my best not to bore you to death with one today.  I was thinking about the whole Christmas account.  I began to think about these shepherds.

What do we know about the shepherds?  We know they carried great responsibility.  The sheep were a source of wool for clothing.  Maybe they were a source of milk.  Maybe they were even a source of food to the families of these shepherds.  The Bible does not let us in on such secrets.  What do we know about these humble shepherds.

They were faithful shepherds.  Look at the words of Luke 2:8, “And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.”

They were fearful shepherds.  Look at the words of Luke 2:9, “And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.”

They were first to hear the message.  If you read the words of Scripture in Luke 2:10-14 you can listen in on the message they received.  The message of Messiah coming.  Humble shepherds were chose to receive the message.

They were faithful shepherds.  Look at Luke 2:15, “And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.”  They did not call the media or anyone else.  They made immediate arrangements and went to see Messiah.  I believe they were waiting for Him and so it was made known to them where they could find Him.

Are you like these lowly shepherds?  We see the bumper stickers and signs all over this time of year that tell us, “Wise Men Still Seek Him!” and this is true.  Yet, humble shepherds can seek Him and find Him too.

So, how are you doing?

The Inn Keeper

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As we ponder the Christmas account there are many people involved.  I have come to see this a little more this year than I have in the past.  We have looked at Jesus Himself humbling Himself and coming as a human being into a world He created to redeem us from sin.  We have looked at Mary.  We have looked at Joesph.  Yesterday we took a quick look at the angels.

Today, I would like to consider the inn keeper. As I took a quick look before this writing I found nothing about the inn keeper.  By his actions allowing Joseph and young Mary to stay in his stables tells me that he was a man of compassion.  Maybe, I am wrong and he is a man of greed trying to pack in as many as possible into his overcrowded establishment.  I would like to think on the lines of the compassionate.

As I kept considering this account of the coming of Jesus the first time the thought hit me.  This inn keeper came in direct contact with Jesus.  He had a choice to make.  He could allow Jesus in or he could reject Jesus and send Him away.  He chose to allow Jesus to reside there.

Now, friend you and I have a choice.  We can either receive Jesus Christ as our Saviour and make room for Him ore we can hang out the spiritual “No Vacancy” sign.  Look at the words of Luke 2:7, “And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.”

No room.  No room for the King of kings and LORD of lords.  It is your turn my friend.  We all must make room for King Jesus everyday and not just on Christmas.

So, how are you doing?

No Biggie

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A little boy wrote in a class assignment in a Christian school, “When the wise guys from the east side arrived they found Jesus and the manager.”  I thought about this as I was contemplating all the Christmas parties different people are having.  Mind you, my invitations must have been lost in the mail.

We spend countless hour and even dollars in an attempt to make everything perfect.  I don’t know about you; but, I have never hosted “the perfect party” and I have never attended one either.  So, why go to all of the pain and agony?  We want to impress our friends and family.  Plain and simple.  We want them to have an enjoyable time and deep down inside we want our party to be the talk of the town in a good way.

This seems to me to be quite a contrast to our LORD.  The King of kings and LORD of lords humbled Himself and became like us.  He was in human flesh as He lived and walked on earth.

In stark contrast, His entrance into this world was humble and not the event of the year.  It was truly the event of all time and eternity, truthfully.  Look at Luke’s description in the book named for him in Luke 2:12, “And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.”  There was no fanfare.  This was His humble beginning as He was living life in obedience to His Father.  He was moving toward the cross.

So, how are you doing?

Christmas 31

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Today is the last day of the year 2013.  I must say that I am glad to see the year gone.  The year 2013 started out with trials in high gear for my family and I.  Needless to say, we are glad to see it gone.  Yet, as we look back we can see God’s hand working and carrying us through it all.  Praise His Holy Name!

As we reflect over the year 2013 how would we describe the year.  Was it a year that we were growing in the grace of God and doing what He has called us to do?  I sure hope so.  Maybe it was a year of great accomplishments.  On the other hand maybe it was a year of great tragedy and loss.  Yet, we know even if that was the kind of year that you or I experienced that God knew about it before it ever came to you and I.

I ask these thought provoking questions because we are entering a new year tomorrow.  We need to be on track with our Father.  He has a plan for our lives and we need to get busy executing that plan.  Notice Matthew 1:24, “Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife:”  Joseph received commands from God in a dream and he took it to heart.  He followed what God had told him to do.

How about you and I?  Do you know what the Father wants you to do?  Have you been faithful to do it?  If you have let the Father down by disobedience now is the time to ask Him to forgive you and get started doing what He has asked you to do.

So, how are you doing?

Christmas 28

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Well, by now we have probably exchanged the gifts we received that did not fit, were the wrong color or we just did not like.  This year I was blessed that nothing I received had to be taken back.  I have alterations to be made on two new suits that I received.  I am excited about getting two new suits!  We enjoyed an fantastic CHRISTmas again this year.

It was not the gifts, the food or even the family that made this CHRISTmas so great.  The greatness of CHRISTmas is found in Matthew 1:21, “And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.”  Here we find that we can take back the sin that burdens us.  We can exchange them for the forgiveness of Jesus Christ.

So many things in the account of Jesus’ birth tell of why He came.  The swaddling clothes were grave clothes that were wrapped around him one strip at a time.  The gifts, gold, frankincense and myrrh.  Gold was a fitting gift for a King, frankincense was used in the temple sacrifices and was fitting for a Priest and the myrrh is a burial spice and speaks of His being a Prophet.

The true meaning of CHRISTmas is not the gifts, the trees or even the lights.  It is about Jesus humbling Himself to come to us so that we can be saved.  Let me ask you a question.  Have you ever repented (turned) from your sin and asked Jesus to save you?  If you have not I beg you to do just that today before it is eternally too late.

So, how are you doing?

Christmas 27

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The holidays are often a difficult time for many people.  They are overcome with thoughts of family members that have passed away, relationships that have come to an end and many other things.  As Zig Ziglar would say, “Stinkin’ thinkin’ leads to low level living.”

The enemy of our soul loves it when we are all stirred up inside because we lose our peace.  He wants us to be all churned up inside and fretting about things no matter if we have control of them or not.

This was a tumultuous time in the lives of these shepherds.  They are simply watching their flock on the hillside and all of a sudden life has become something like they have never seen before.

In homes all over the world there is a lack of peace.  Children cannot wait for morning to come.  A much needed sleep now evades them and all they can think about is the presents under the tree.

If you want true peace this year you must come to the One who is described as The Prince of Peach.  It must be possible because the Word of God tells us of the message of the angels.  Look at Luke 2:14, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”  No matter how rough life gets you can have peace from the Prince of Peace.  Do you know Him?  If not come to Him today and be saved.  He is waiting for you.

So, how are you doing?