What Is Good

"He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God."

-- Micah 6:8

In Chapter 6, Micah is trying to present God's case against the people of Israel. He begins, almost sounding like a frustrated parent: "Just what have I done to you? Why won't you listen to me?" Can't you just feel the Lord's anguish? You likely may have heard the same words from your mother or father, and perhaps have expressed them to your own child. To think that even God could become so exasperated gives us a better image of the level of exasperation Micah is trying to paint when dealing with God's chosen people. He is saying, "What has God done to you that you can ignore Him like this?". And he is reaching back through time to ask us the very question today.

But not only does he ask the question, he provides an answer. Like a parent might say, "I'm the one who clothes you and feeds you and keeps a roof over your head.", Micah reminds the people that God delivered them from slavery and led them out of the land of Egypt, of all the good the Lord has done for them.

And then he ponders the question of how to thank God for all this, how should the people come before God to show their appreciation. Should they bow down before Him? Should they bring burnt offerings or year-old calves? Would the Lord be pleased with ten thousand rams or ten thousand rivers of oil? Would our firstborn children, the fruit of our own bodies, be sufficient to offset our transgressions, our sins? Just what does God want, what does He deem good in His sight?

And then Micah tells us. All God requires is that we act justly, that we love mercy, and that we walk humbly with God.

There are two aspects to this simple request that I would like to examine more closely. First, we are instructed to walk humbly with God. We are not to parade before His throne showing off our spiritual finery. We are not even to come to Him on bowed knee. Both of those actions, on the surface, appear to be something you would do once, or maybe every now and then. Like a visit you would make, just dropping in to see God. No, we are to walk humbly with God. We are to be with Him every moment we live, with every breath we take. When you walk along with someone you are intent on their company. You talk together as you walk. You share with them the things you see around you and what is going on with your life. This is what God wants. He desires that you walk with Him, that you be intent upon Him, and that you share with Him every little detail of your life. And He wants you to be humble in your walk, not prideful or boastful of all the wonderful deeds you do. He wants you to help others to the best of your ability and capability, for your good as well as theirs; not so that others can think how great you are but that you can take comfort in knowing you can help make a difference. Be humble, but more importantly, be constantly and ever with God as you walk through this life.

The second aspect I would like to ponder comes especially to mind with the upcoming Advent and Christmas season. Micah, being an Old Testament prophet, spoke these words before the coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Shortly after the birth of Jesus, wise men appeared from the east, following a star and a promise, and laid wonderful gifts before the heavenly baby. While many believe this set the precedent for gift giving at Christmas, it also served as making an offering to God, as He appeared in the flesh. Micah is telling us that while sharing gifts is indeed a wonderful thing, God does not require it. God would rather see that we treat each other with true justice, mercy, and love. And isn't this also exactly what Jesus asked? Isn't this the foundation for His new covenant with us, that we love one another even as we love ourselves, even as we love our God? For if we do so, we will also act justly and show mercy at all times.

As you wrap your bright gifts this holiday season, please remember to add justice and mercy to your list of gifts to give, and all of God's children as a recipient. Be humble and be gracious as you walk through life with God ever at your side. By this you will give to God what is good. Amen.

I Believe

Now faith is being sure of what we hope for, and certain of what we do not see.-- Hebrews 11:1

Then Jesus said to the disciples, “Have faith in God. I tell you the truth, you can say to this mountain, 'May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,' and it will happen. But you must really believe it will happen and have no doubt in your heart. I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you've received it, it will be yours.”-- Mark 11:22-24 (NLT)

The Apostle John, in the eighteenth chapter of his Gospel, recounts for us a conversation between Jesus and Pontius Pilate, after Jesus' capture, during His so-called trial. Jesus had just spoken of His kingdom not being of this world, and Pilate, in his best “Ah-hah! Gotcha!” voice exclaimed, “You are a king then!”. The rest of verse 37 is the response Jesus gave: “You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.” Pilate, refusing to cede the argument, countered with the cynical “What is truth?” before turning away and leaving the room. Jesus used two key words in His response: fact and truth.

We basically have three ways of expressing what we perceive as a fact or the truth. Generally, if we can verify something with one of our senses – if we can see it or touch it or smell it or taste it or hear it – if we can somehow prove it exists, we say we know it to be true. This could also include the variations of “I'd bet the farm on it”, or maybe not being 100% sure since we are aware of optical illusions or other phenomena that may fool our senses, so we may hedge our answer just a bit. And there are those cases where we cannot fully rely on our five senses, nor provide sufficient proof, to verify the truth of their existence. Those times we may say “I think it is so”, or “I'm pretty sure”, or “Well, yeah, but I wouldn't bet the farm on it”. These could also be used for what I will call comparative facts, where your opinion and mine may differ. Like, “I think it's hot in here, but I'm wearing this suit and standing up here in front of all of you and more nervous than a long tailed cat in a retirement home so it may not seem hot at all to you.”

And then there are those times when you know something beyond even the glimmer of a doubt, even though you have no proof for it whatsoever. It is then that we exhibit true faith, and we say “I believe it to be true”. In the Letter to the Hebrews, usually attributed to the Apostle Paul, we learn that faith is being sure of what we hope for, and certain of what we do not see. The author then goes on to say that the ancients were commended for their faith. He gives Abraham as an example, citing that purely by faith, when called to to go to some place he would only later learn the location of, Abraham did just that. He obediently followed God's instructions because he had faith in God. In other words, Abraham believed.

Every week we stand here and recite what has become known as the Apostle's Creed. While tradition has it that the creed was written on the day of, or shortly after, Pentecost by the Apostles themselves, most Biblical authorities today believe the authors to have been a group of close followers of the Apostles, sometime within the first few centuries after Pentecost, or during the Apostolic age. So it is safe to say that these statements of belief have been around a while, and have well stood the test of time. But is this creed so old, and so often used, that we take it for granted, that we no longer listen to the words as we speak them, but instead chant them as a ritual, as a solemn duty? Today, I asked us to join hands as we joined voices, to interject something new into the ritual, so that maybe we would pay more attention to the words leaving our lips. And now, if you will indulge me, I would like to look a little more closely into this list of brief statements that together form the fundamental tenets of Christian belief.

I believe. I am sure of what I hope for, and, in this case, sure of what I cannot see. I have faith. And by faith I know. By faith I believe.

I believe in God. Every time I see the sun set, or a baby's fingers, I believe. When I hear a bird's song, or a breeze fluffing dry leaves, I believe. I touch a snowflake, it melts in my hand, and I believe. I smell the ocean's life, breathe in the earth following a rain, and I believe. I can sip from a cool mountain spring, or bite into an apple right off the tree, and I believe. All five of my senses offer proof of the existence of a living God Who ordered and controlled every thing. I can neither see nor hear nor touch nor smell nor taste God, no more than I can experience the wind itself except by its passing. (No, we do not smell the wind, but only the scents it carries. Neither can we feel it, but only its effect on our skin as it passes.) Yet I know He exists by the effects He creates.

The Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth. I also believe that the Bible is the inspired word of God, and that what it tells me I can accept as truth. Jesus Himself spoke of God as His Father, and even instructed us to address God and consider Him as our heavenly Father also. And since the Bible tells us that God is the one God, the only God, we can know He is all mighty, all powerful. There is nothing God cannot do, nothing that is beyond His power, no force that can prevent Him from accomplishing His great plan. Not only did He create this earth upon which we live, us, and the plants and animals we share earth with, He created the sun that warms us and all the stars and planets and moons that speckle our night sky. He created the angels to worship and serve Him, and heaven where they all reside. He even created Lucifer, who turned on God and now torments us all with his misguided and self-destructive desire to be greater than God. I believe that all that there is, God created.

And in Jesus Christ, His only begotten Son, our Lord. It is sometimes a little difficult to think of this all powerful God as a small human baby, but this is exactly how He came into our world in the flesh. God knows that many have trouble believing in something they cannot see or touch. He has witnessed how easily we fall into idol worship. So He knew that for us to more easily believe, He would need to give us something physical. Because He loves us so much, He came to us in the flesh, as His only Son, to walk among us, live with us, suffer our pains, dream our dreams, and ultimately die at our hands. This is our one true Lord, Jesus Christ.

Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary. For God to become flesh, to take the physical form of a man, it was necessary to be born of a human woman but fathered by God Himself. So the third form of God, the third member of the Holy Trinity, entered Mary and planted the seed within her that would grow to be our Lord and Savior. But even the Son of God needed an earthly father, and Joseph humbly obeyed God's angels and accepted the special circumstances of the birth of Jesus, and raised Him as his own, teaching Him the ways of the world, while allowing Him a religious upbringing as well.

Suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead and buried. As Jesus grew into a young man, He also grew into the role He was born to, just as He later told Pilate as related in the Scripture of John. He shared the truth with the world of man. He taught the true way of life. He promised eternal life to those who would only believe. And He made enemies, great and powerful enemies who sought to silence Him, no matter what it took. So they arrested Jesus and handed Him over to the governor assigned by Rome, for the Jews had no authority to put a man to death but the Romans indeed did. It is significant that we can, through this article of faith, pinpoint with great certainty the time when Jesus suffered and was put to death, because we can determine when Pilate ruled over the Jews by researching independent, non-Biblical documents and records. This places His death as an event in earthly time, not something that simply happened “long ago”. While in Roman hands, Jesus was beaten mercilessly, the flesh literally ripped from His body, was ridiculed and derided, was spat on and jeered, and was nailed to a rough-hewn cross, upon which His earthly body died. His corpse was taken from the cross, cleaned, wrapped in funeral cloths, and interred in a new tomb, the entrance of which was blocked and sealed by a huge boulder.

He descended into hell. Jesus went to the place of the dead. Jesus was really dead. His mortal body ceased all functions. There was no illusion, no slight of hand. Jesus went to where all people who die goes, for He was dead. For those who think death is final, as most did during the time of His walk on earth and many still do today, this would be the end of the story of the Man of Nazareth. Jesus went where the dead all go, never to return or be seen again.

The third day He rose again from the dead. Now this is the one article that makes every Christian heart sing! Even death could not hold our Christ! Through Jesus, God showed us that He can conquer death, that anything is within His power. Jesus did return, he was seen again, in the flesh and by many people, hundreds of people. His wounds could be seen and touched, His voice heard. This was no mere apparition, no illusion. This was the living, walking, talking Jesus Christ once again. The boulder was pushed from the tomb and the once-dead Jesus walked back out. Had our Lord not risen from the grave, there would be no Christian faith today. We would perhaps have an interesting story of a man from somewhere around the Sea of Galilee who preached a little here and there. But no, that is not the case. Now we know for sure that our God lives! He defeated death and rose from the grave and walked among us once again!

He ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty. Once His work upon earth was done, once doubtful man was assured of His defeat over death, Jesus bodily arose into heaven. We know that there He has joined God His Father and sits at His right hand. The Son and the Father, both part of God, equals with the Holy Spirit in the form of the Holy Trinity.

From thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead. In his book of Revelation, Jesus revealed through John that He would come again some day, and would at that time sit in judgment of all mankind, both those who had died and gone on before and those still living on that day, both the quick and the dead. It won't matter if you are dead or alive at that time, or when you died. You will stand before Jesus. Your name will be searched for in the Book of Life. You will be separated, either to Christ's right to enjoy eternal life with Him and His Father, or to His left where you will be cast into the lake of fire, there to spend an eternity in torment. Matthew assures us of this in the twenty-fifth chapter of his Gospel.

I believe in the Holy Ghost. This is the third aspect of God. The Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, or Holy Spirit, share equal power and authority in the Holy Trinity, yet each has specific functions or roles as directed by God to assist mankind. The Holy Ghost is that aspect of God which was sent after Christ's ascension to fill man and become part of him. Its role is to guide us, to speak God's word into our hearts, to give us courage and strength, to console us and comfort us. The Holy Spirit is God's gift to us, to continue Christ's mission of teaching us the true way.

The holy catholic church. Many people are confused by this phrase, and some even take offense at it. But this is not what some think. This does not refer to the Christian sect known as the Catholic Church, capital “C”, or any of its variations. The word “catholic” has as a general meaning of universal in extent, involving all, of interest to all. In this sense, in this phrase, it means pertaining to the whole Christian body or church. So when I say I believe in the holy catholic church, I mean that I truly believe in the entire church of Christ, serving as the body of Christ left on earth to fulfill His commission to us. It means that I believe that Christ intended God's word to be available to us all, His plan to be intended for us all, and not just some select few. I believe in the complete and universal love of God.

The communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins. Here, the saints are all those who suffered, were persecuted, were put to death for their belief in God and in Jesus Christ our Lord. Throughout time, even to this day, people of God, brothers and sisters of Christ, have suffered great physical and emotional pain, even death, simply because of their beliefs. The forces of Satan cannot stand such faith, and torture those who will not be deterred from God. At the time of final judgment, these saints will be granted life eternal by Jesus. And we all can be forgiven of our sins, just as Jesus forgave so many as He walked among us. If we believe in Him, admit our sins, and truly repent of them, He will forgive us and stand for us before God at our judgment. Again, forgiveness is not for some select few, but for all who believe and who repent.

The resurrection of the body. Just as Jesus bodily rose from the dead and walked among us again before ascending into heaven, He promises we will also be resurrected in the flesh, that the graves and the seas will give up the bodies of the dead and they will stand before the loving Judge. He promises death will not hold us captive, just as it did not hold Him. Just as He walked from the grave, so will we. We were created in the image of God, and in His image will we live forever.

And the life everlasting. This is what Christians live for, what we long for. Eternal life. But we usually mean eternal life with Jesus, life after death, living in the new heaven and the new earth. But the final judgment also promises eternal life for those who do not believe, who did not repent. This is a life of everlasting fire and torment, the punishment promised for the beast, his false prophet, and Lucifer himself as well as all their agents of evil both alive at that time and dead. I believe in the life everlasting, so I understand that I can choose to suffer eternal torment, or live forever with my Lord and Savior. I choose Christ.

I believe.

Amen.

Freed!

Jesus then said to the Jews who had believed in him, "If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free."

-- John 8:31-32 (RSV)

Before leaving the region of his home near the Sea of Galilee, before beginning His fateful journey to the cross, Jesus and His followers stopped for a while at the Mount of Olives. He knew His time had not yet come, so He avoided Judea and Jerusalem. Still the people, and especially the Pharisees, came to Him, crowding around to hear His words. For the religious leaders, the interest was more sinister. They sought to trap Jesus, to find in His words and deeds justification for bringing the rule of the law against Him. It was at this point where they took a woman before Him, one they caught in the act of adultery, and challenged Him to obey the law of Moses and declare she must be stoned. They did this to test Him, in hopes that they might now have some charge to bring against Him. To the amazement of all, He uttered the words we know so well: "Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her." (John 8:7b, RSV) One by one, the Pharisees dropped their stones and walked away.

But they returned after Jesus sent the woman away, forgiven and with instructions to sin no more, and once again questioned Him and His motives. He tried to explain to them just who He was and by what authority He serves mankind. Yet these leaders did not understand, nor did they want to. They could not grasp that Jesus spoke of God as the One who speaks through Him, the Father through the Son. So He turned to those who did truly believe in Him and assured them that the knowledge of that simple truth, that Jesus serves us by the authority of God, would indeed set them all free.

Still the Pharisees could not understand this concept, the idea behind the words. They rebuffed Jesus that they were the children of Abraham and had never been in bondage, so how could they be made free if they were never bound? What they failed to realize, as Jesus tried to explain, is that "Every one who commits sin is a slave to sin." (John 8:34b, RSV) By sinning, mankind is bound in slavery to sin. But by believing in Christ, by following His teachings, we will know the truth, and this truth will free us from the chains of sin forever.

Through John and the eighth chapter of his Gospel, Jesus promises us that sin will not last forever, but that God the Father will. His love will endure for eternity. And we, by His grace and the sacrifice of His Son upon the cross, will be freed from sin and death and will live in our Father's house for ever and ever. When we have savored our final breath upon this earth, the binds of this world will loosen and slip from around us. We will be made free by our belief in our risen Savior. What a blessed day that will be!

Freed! Thank you dear Jesus for freeing me!

Then They Sang

Then they sang a hymn and went out to the Mount of Olives.

-- Matthew 26:30 (CEV)

In his recording of the last days of Jesus' mortal life on earth, the Apostle Matthew preserved for us the events of our Lord's last meal with His disciples. Through these verses we learn that one of the twelve will betray Jesus, one will deny Him, and all will reject Him, even if only briefly. In his own terse way, Matthew also saved for us the acts and words that play the major role in our observation of Holy Communion. But Matthew gave us one more detail, and a wondrous one at that!

Before I get to that, we need to understand that Matthew was not given to flowery language or hyperbole in his writings. Before his conversion, before the Christ bade him "Follow Me" (please see Follow Me), Matthew was a tax collector. As such, he was used to recording names and numbers, amounts of taxes levied and to whom, in the books he would keep for the officials and rulers of the land. This is pretty dry stuff, and not really the type of writing one could call creative, nor that lends itself to much expression. But it did require great attention to detail. Preciseness would be far more important than ease of reading. So it is understandable if Matthew provides a simpler, more straightforward account of Jesus' life than Mark, Luke or John might have given. It isn't so much that Matthew was unimaginative, but that his style was to record what happened in simple words that all could understand while still capturing the details surrounding the events.

Now Jesus knew His remaining time as a man was rapidly approaching a close. He had ridden into Jerusalem, not as a conqueror but as a servant upon the back of a donkey, accompanied by the adoring throngs lifting joyful shouts of "Hosanna" into the air. He knew those shouts would soon turn to "Crucify him!". Judas, the betrayer, had already run from the room. The meal was finished and they prepared to depart from the room, after which Jesus and the remaining disciples would go to Gethsemane. A more solemn time I can barely imagine. Especially in the heart and mind of Jesus, who knew exactly how the coming times would play out.

And yet, in the midst of all this confusion and anger and sadness and deepening sense of coming loss, Matthew, the one not prone to emotionalize or exaggerate and event he recorded, tells us that after Jesus and the disciples finished their meal and before they left for the Mount of Olives, they sang. They sang. With all that was going on, with all that was about to happen, Jesus and His closest followers stopped, lifted their eyes to heaven, and sang a hymn to God the Father!

In this one short verse, Matthew shows us just how truly human the Son of Man was. He sang! We know he preached and taught and questioned the religious leaders and answered questions from everyone and shouted at demons and otherwise opened His mouth and spoke words on many occasions for a great variety of reasons. And now we know He also sang! He sang to God, His own Father! Singing is so much more than some expression of thought as directed by the brain. It is the expression of the joy or sorrow held within the heart and soul. Singing gives voice to our innermost feelings, laying bare our longings and desires.

I chose the Contemporary English Version (CEV) of this verse for a reason. Most other translations give the key phrase as "When they had sung the hymn". Do you notice the subtle difference - "they had sung" versus "they sang"? To me, saying "they had sung" implies that the act had little meaning other than it happened. It's an afterthought, not important enough to play even a major role in the sentence. With that phrase pushed aside, "they went out to the Mount of Olives" takes the center of attention. But the way this is given in the CEV, that they sang now shares equal importance and attention to going to the Mount. More importantly, it shows more humanity in the participants, makes them more like us. Because when we think about a church service we may think that we sang a hymn, just like Jesus and His disciples did that night so long ago. We sang, and they sang. We're not so different after all.

Jesus sang! Can't you just see it? Everyone finished eating, put their forks and napkins down, took their last sip of drink, stood up, maybe joined hands, and broke out into a song of praise to God. Eleven men and the Son of Man lifted their voices in love and prayer. Matthew does not note any hesitation or embarrassment, just that they sang.

Jesus sang. Let's all join Him on the next hymn.

Declare God's Glory!!!

Declare His glory among the nations, His wonders among all peoples.

-- 1 Chronicles 16:24

"Declare God's Glory!!!" Those words took residence in a prominent location on the front of my refrigerator many months ago, emblazoned upon an index card. I see them every time I prepare dinner. I read them whenever I reach for my pitcher of cold sweet tea (a true Southern tradition). I repeat them, sometimes silently, sometimes boldly in full voice, with each grasp of the door handle. Those three words stand etched in stone before my mind's eye.

Many of us poor mortals trudge through life wondering why we are here, what we're supposed to do. We even question what life itself is all about, what is its meaning and purpose. We pose the questions in songs, in literature, in private musings, and even in public conversations. After years of this futility, many give up questioning. Some adopt an egocentric attitude and decide to take for themselves what they can while they can. Others choose a hedonistic approach, and do it if it feels good, not matter what "it" is or who else might be affected by their actions. Still others resign themselves to never knowing the answers, and thus have no outlook on life other than to get through it.

But countless numbers of us figured it out long ago. Someone introduced us to God, our parents or a pastor or a good friend, and we built a growing, loving relationship with Him. We read His word as recorded in the Holy Bible and understand our relationship with Him, and within that relationship our purpose in life -- to declare the glory of God!

I say "countless numbers" because in Revalation 7:9 (NIV), John tells us: "After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands." These were those whose names appear in the Book of Life, the saved. Now in other verses John reported the number of angels around the throne as ten thousand times ten thousand, and that those sealed numbered one hundred and forty-four thousand, and that the army of the horsemen numbered two hundred million. So just how large a throng must John have encountered that "no one could count"? Much larger than two hundred million, or ten thousand times ten thousand. A countless multitude of saved souls.

God created us that we might worship Him. He gave us free will that we might choose to worship Him, or we might choose one of the approaches mentioned above, taking the path of the lost. Angels have no choice but to worship God. They were created by the Maker to do just that and only that, to serve the Lord with all their being. But God gave us a choice. He loves us so dearly that He was willing to take a chance that we might not love Him in return. But by taking that risk, He is so greatly rewarded and pleased when we do choose to love Him, to worship Him as our Lord, not because we have to, but because we WANT to!

Those of us who are parents know the risk God takes here. We bring children into this world, care for them, nurture them, provide for their needs, teach them as best we can. We love them. And we hope and pray that they will love us in return. How woeful we become, how filled with sorrow, when they rebel against our authority, as teens are wont to do. But oh how great is the feeling, how wonderful, when as adults they show us they indeed do love us and understand what we tried to do for them.

That is how it must feel for God when we choose to love and worship Him. He created us. He loves us enough to give His only Son up as the ultimate sacrifice, giving us eternal life at His side if we only believe in His Son as our Savior, if we only choose to worship and love the Lord.

How then do we repay that love God showers upon us? By worshipping Him. And how better to worship God than by declaring His glory to all the nations, his wonders to all His people! So grab a sheet of paper and write down those three words. Stick it on your refrigerator, your front door, your bathroom mirror, or all three! Repeat the words as often as you see them. Soon you will see them, as do I, emblazoned across the very skies before you.

Declare God's Glory!!! Amen.

I Will Show You

"Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know."

-- Jeremiah 33:3

The Holy Bible records many instances of the direct works of God before men. The Old Testament, especially, bears frequent witness to people having contacts with angels, conversations with God, God's handiwork in the world. Whether from a burning bush or a cloud overhead, people sometimes heard the voice of God in answer to their pleas or giving them direction.

Today, those who do not believe in God, or who struggle with their belief, often express their disbelief by pointing to these instances of direct divine intervention in Biblical times and asking why not today? They smugly note that if God indeed existed, why does He not show Himself today like He did then?

The simple answer also comes from the Bible, this time from the New Testament. God gave His own Son to the world, that through Him we might be saved. Once the ultimate sacrifice was given, and we became washed clean of our sins by the blood of the Lamb, salvation is within our grasp if we only believe. God made the final direct intervention to mankind through Jesus Christ.

The answer that unbelievers or those weak in their faith may find a little more difficult to accept is that God still speaks to us, directly. He still shows Himself to us so that we might glorify Him. All we have to do is call to Him, and He will answer. Not that we can expect to hear a voice say "Yes?" when we shout "Lord!". We need not stand on the mountain heights and scream at the top of our lungs for God to listen to our pleas. No, we need only stop, be still, be silent, and listen with our hearts for the soft whispers of our Father's comforting voice. If we do shout for His attention, He may answer simply with birdsong, or a baby's laughter. If we scream out our needs, He may answer years later, silently giving us what we truly needed.

And if we stand upon the mountain and lift our eyes to the heavens, He may show us the wonders of His rising or setting sun, of His beautifully painted landscape, of lightning crackling through the air. On the palette of a cloudless night sky, He displays for our viewing pleasure the vast infinity of the universe He made come into being. He gives us glimpses into the very nature of life which He designed.

We sit in our laboratories doing all manner of scientific endeavor, splitting atoms and mapping the human genome, and we think we are so clever. Yet we sometimes forget that God created the very atoms we study, He laid out the human map we decipher. All we have seen, all we know, He showed us in His own due time. All great and mighty things are the result of God's loving hands, and He presents His majestic works for our wonderment, our awe, and sometimes just to show us things which we do not know.

Stop for a moment. Be silent and listen. Look around you. Pay attention: God is talking to you.

Create In Me

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

-- Psalm 51:10

"Lord, send a revival.
Lord, send a revival.
Lord, send a revival,
and let it begin in me."

-- from the movie "Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit"

I love the two "Sister Act" movies because I love music and the way music is used in those wonderful little films to glorify our Lord. At first the church choir struggles with poor pitch, bad timing, and many sour notes. But they make dramatic improvements when a Vegas show girl, hiding out from her gangster former boyfriend and impersonating a nun, leads them, using modern, even secular pieces to sing to God. They don't just sing God's praises, they sing to Him. Church choirs everywhere, yours most definitely included, delight in lifting a joyful song unto the Lord. We sing to our Father, and by doing so, praise Him.

The lyrics above were not performed by that little choir, instead sung by a high school choir in competition, and though only a short piece included mainly to give the primary teen actors in the second film something to admire and talk about before taking the stage themselves, it nonetheless struck a chord within me (if you will pardon the pun) and stayed with me over the years. Today those words seem to resonate even more clearly within my heart, for our dear Lord has most certainly sent a revival that began in me.

Spring is the traditional time of renewal, of life emerging once again from its winter slumbers. Easter personifies this with the resurrection of our Lord and Savior and His ascension to His throne and dominion over all the universe. Renewal, rebirth, revival. We all feel it to some degree. I am experiencing it first hand.

While perhaps not completely lost, I had certainly been hiking further and further off the straight and narrow path Jesus teaches us to follow. But the Good Shepherd knew I was in peril, so He came looking for me. He sent some earthly angels to take my hand and bring me back to the safety of the fold. I am still a sinner, and there may be times when you think that, like the character in the movie, I am impersonating something I most certainly am not. I am just so filled with the Holy Spirit that I fear it often overflows and comes flooding out of my mouth (or fingers, as the case may often be). My prayer is to excite everyone I touch with just how much our Savior loves us and how much He offers.

I would like to encourage everyone to not only attend your regular Sunday morning worship services, but to also join a Sunday School classes if you do not already attend one regularly. Jesus taught that one of the best ways to keep Him in our hearts and to stay on His path is to spend as much time as possible with others who seek the same goal, so that we provide support to each other and reinforce positive Christian beliefs. Sunday School offers not only an opportunity to learn something new, but also the chance of teaching others, of helping them, of sharing insights. In this way we all benefit and build a closer relationship to Jesus. By discussing confusing passages or even controversial subjects that Christians are faced with today, we can gain a better understanding of our own goals, our own purpose in life, and the ideals we should strive for. Please, join us. Please take advantage of every opportunity each week to unite with your friends in worship, inspiration and prayer. Take advantage, and take a closer walk with God.

The Lord sent a revival. Now let it continue in us.

What Does It Mean to be a Christian?

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved."
-- John 3:16-17

John 3:16 - probably the best known of all verses in the Christian Bible. While it could just as easily speak of the greatest love that mankind could ever be shown, it also gives testimony to what it means to be a Christian.

As I began preparing this message, I immediately thought of the "You might be a redneck" comedy routine made famous by Jeff Foxworthy. You know how it goes... "If your hound dog gets the queen-size bed all to himself while you and the wife share the pullout sofa, you might be a redneck." Here's what I had in mind:

If you help feed the hungry, you might be a Christian. Jesus Himself said this, as recorded in Chapter 25 of Matthew, verse 35: "for I was hungry and you gave Me food".

If you give a glass of water to someone thirsting, you might be a Christian. That's from Jesus again: "I was thirsty and you gave Me drink".

If you take in a stranger in need and provide shelter for them, you might be a Christian. Are you starting to see a pattern here? Jesus yet again: "I was a stranger and you took Me in".

If you offer clothing to the needy, visit the sick, homebound, and infirm, or give hope and inspiration to those incarcerated in jail or in prison, you just might be a Christian. Why do I say this? Matthew saved for us the words of the Christ as He related to His disciples some of the events that will occur at the end of days, when Jesus shall serve as Judge of man:

"When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on His right hand, 'Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.'
"Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?' And the King will answer and say to them, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.'" -- Matthew 25:31-40

Christ is telling us right there that He fully expects us take care of all of mankind to the best of our ability and capability to do so. Those hungry, those thirsty, those poor, those ill, those incarcerated. None are beneath us. None are any less deserving of our compassion and caring and love. For how we treat even the very least of these our brothers and sisters, that is how our wonderful Savior sees us treating Him. For we are all His children, all of us. Those of us more able to help others less capable are called upon to do so. And you'll notice that Matthew did not quote Jesus as making exceptions for those who may have had it coming to them, or those who brought it all upon themselves, or those who deserved whatever they got. When you care about even those some might consider the worst of human trash and filth, you care about your Savior.

And that is why I say you might be a Christian if you do these things. I would tell you that there are many people in this world who do great works for their fellow man, who feed the hungry and clothe the naked and give aid and comfort to the neediest of mankind. Yet they are not Christians, and they will not take their place at the throne of glory Jesus spoke of. Why not? Simply put, they do not accept John 3:16.

The Gospel as recorded for us by John, perhaps more so than any other book, overflows with examples of God's love for His children. And in verse 16 of chapter 3, he gives us the best expression of this: "God so loved the world". Can you even begin to imagine how terrible it would be to watch as your only child, tried in a farce of a court of law, found guilty without benefit of defense, humiliated, tortured, beaten, and finally put to death in a horrible, most painful manner? How would you feel? What would you do? And what if, all the time this was happening, you had the power to stop it, but knew in your heart that you must allow these events to transpire for the good of all those you love? This is God's love, that He would offer up His only Son as the ultimate sacrifice, place all the sins of the world upon the One without sin.

So, what does it take to be a Christian? There are a few things we must understand. First, we must remember what Jesus instructed us while He still walked among us. John, in the 34th verse of his 13th chapter, relays this instruction to us, telling us Jesus said: "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another." So there is the first phrase of the definition of a Christian: that we love others the way that Jesus loves us. Of course, simply loving others is not a sure sign of a Christian, but it is definitely a requisite.

A more important requirement is to understand that we are sinners. All of us. We are born into sin because of our heritage, as the offspring of Adam and Eve. We sin when we knowingly and willfully do others harm. We sin when we think ourselves better than others, and by doing so think we know more than God, who created us all and loves us all. We carry the original sin with us as baggage through the airport. Unfortunately, we collect and amass even more baggage as we walk along through life. We Christians know we are sinners. But we also know how to get rid of all that unsightly luggage.

We must understand that Jesus was persecuted, beaten, nailed to a cross, and died so that His blood could wash away our sins, so that we might stand pure and clean before the throne of God on the day we are judged. This is the crux of John 3:16, that we believe, truly believe that Christ died for us, that He sacrificed Himself that we might live forever in His Father's house in heaven. If we only believe. Jesus did all of this for you and for me. He gave completely of Himself, for you and for me. Believe it.

Next we must realize that our Savior defeated death, rose from the depths of hell, and lives to this day. Not only did He die for us, but He came back from death to prove to all who would see that we too can live forever! He told us that we need not fear death, for a greater life awaits us. He showed us that this is not all there is, that the grave is not permanent. All the promises He made while walking among us were immediately and thoroughly authenticated by the act of His fulfilling just this one of them. The very fact that He rose from the dead, just like He said He would, proves that we can trust everything else He told us. In His Father's house are many rooms, and He has already prepared one for us, where we will dwell with Him forever.

And finally, we have been charged by Jesus to spread the good word. Mark, in chapter 1 verse 17, and Matthew, in chapter 4 verse 19, both recorded the words of Christ as He directed them: "Come, follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men." The emphasis and importance of being repeated in two Gospels clearly marks our Lord's expectations, that His followers help bring in the greatest catch of all - His children back to His arms. Of course, He did not mean for them to cast nets over the heads of people and drag them off to church. No, their task was to go out into the world, sharing Christ's message with all they contact. Mark confirms this in the 15th verse of his 16th chapter, quoting Jesus as directing "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature." John puts a slightly different spin on this in chapter 17, verse 18, as Jesus prayed to His Father: "Just as You sent Me into the world, I am sending them into the world." And John reports on Jesus speaking to the disciples in chapter 20 verse 21: "As the Father has sent Me, I am sending you." And in chapter 1 verse 8 of the Acts of the Apostles, Paul relates Jesus saying "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

In the Greek language, the word "martyr" is derived from the word for "witness". During the first century AD, those who dared serve as witnesses to the risen Christ were persecuted, jailed, and often killed for their beliefs. Jesus calls each of us to be His witness. He knows there are potentially deadly ramifications to doing so, but He promises great rewards. Today, for most of us here in Mt. Pleasant, we will never have to face death for our belief in the Lord. The worst we may experience is embarrassment from facing a group of people, or ridicule from those who serve Satan. But being a witness is more than just seeing, in it also reporting what has been seen. Being a Christian means you have seen the truth, that Jesus is your risen Savior. Now complete the task and report to others what you have seen.

Christ has risen! Jesus lives! Hallelujah!! Amen.

A New Creation

If anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new.

-- 2 Corinthians 5:17

When writing his second letter to the people of the church in Corinth, Paul tried to explain the permanence of the next life that awaits us as compared to the fragility of this life on earth. He wants to assure them that even "if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made by hands, eternal in the heavens." (2 Corinthians 5:1) He wants to comfort them, to help them understand that no matter what happens in this life, that what is to come will be all new, not formed by human hands, not subject to rot or decay or erosion. All we have to do is believe in Christ as our Savior and follow His commandment to love each other, and we will be recreated anew! We don't even have to wait for the next life, it happens as soon as we become one in Christ.

Think about that a moment. Let me repeat this simple sentence. When we are in Christ, when we know Him as our Savior, the true Messiah, then we become a new creation. The old us is gone and a new person stands in our place. Now, of course, this does not mean that we change dramatically physically, although we will be prone to smile more often, to weep more often, to show care and feelings on our faces more often. No, the change occurs within us. We are new, no longer created by hands, but formed of heaven. Our souls are no longer subject to the rot and decay that is the domain of Lucifer, but can better resist his attempts to erode our faith in the Lord.

This eloquent verse carries even more beauty in other translations. The New Living Translation of the Bible gives it as "This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!" This tells us that our old life, our old ways, are over. What we did in the past is long gone. We have begun a new life, and with it come new ways of dealing with life, of treating our brothers and sisters in this walk upon the earth. When we are filled with Jesus, when we follow His commandment, we must look upon others with a new heart. We feel the blessings of our Lord, and the urge to share those blessings grows ever stronger with our love of Christ, with our new life in Him.

The Contemporary English Version offers blessed assurance when it presents this verse as "Anyone who belongs to Christ is a new person. The past is forgotten, and everything is new." This carries the addition, and most wonderful message that all our past sins are not only forgiven once we truly proclaim our faith in Jesus, but they are also forgotten! Jesus has stood for us and God will now not even remember our past failures! By our Savior's grace we are made clean, fresh, and new before His Father.

Thank you, Lord Jesus, for making of me a new creation! Amen!

Up To Jerusalem

Then He took the twelve aside and said to them, "Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of Man will be accomplished. For He will be delivered to the Gentiles and will be mocked and insulted and spit upon. They will scourge Him and kill Him. And the third day He will rise again."

-- Luke 18:31-33

In the first chapter of his book of Revelation, John speaks of Jesus as "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty." (Revelation 1:8b) In previous books, by other authors, God is often referred to in this manner, as being the beginning and the end and all in between. But John makes the definite correlation between God and His Son, describing Christ in the same words as those used to describe God. By this, then, we are made aware that Jesus knew everything that was to happen to Him long before it occurred. He knew of His capture, torture, and death, and why events had to unfold as they did.

In our reference scripture, Luke gives further evidence that Jesus knew exactly what He was doing, and the consequences His actions would bring. This exchange took place after He and the disciples left the area of Samaria and Galilee, after He had healed the ten lepers yet only one returned to give thanks. He taught with the parable of the persistent widow and the humble tax collector. He rebuked His followers to let the small children come to Him, He admonished the wealthy man to sell all he had and give it to the poor so that he might find treasure in heaven. He assured all who listened that with God all things are possible. And then He took the twelve aside, and gave them a glimpse of the future.

Jesus, ever the Teacher, spent His last days on His journey to Jerusalem and His fate trying to give His disciples the understanding they needed so that they could continue His works, teach His word, start and nourish His church. As usual, they could not fully comprehend the full extent of what the Son of Man planned for Himself and for them. No mortal could, as Christ knew. Yet just as He could foretell what Jerusalem held in store for Him, He was also aware that His followers would indeed understand their role, and His, once He returned to His Father and they were left to tend His fields and see to His flock.

Our Christ knew. Before the first hand raised the first palm branch, before the first Hosanna lifted into the sky, Jesus knew how this trip to Jerusalem would end. Before the crowd could even begin to think that the Son of Man would free them from the hands of the Romans, He understood that He must die at the hands of man to free them from death. He knew the heartbreak and humiliation and suffering that lay at the end of this dusty path. But on He continued. His feet never once shuffled, His step never once showed a moment of hesitation, He never evinced a second thought as He and His beloved disciples strode through the gates of Jerusalem. Only He realized this triumphant entry into the city could only truly be deemed a victory when viewed from the cross.

And still He came. With holy men and leaders just waiting to take Him captive and make an example of Him, still He came. Even as a man of flesh that can be torn and bones that can be crushed and muscle that can be strained beyond endurance, even with the absolute knowledge of just how much this would hurt, physically and emotionally, still He came. Our Savior loves us so much, just as His Father loves us. He understood only the greatest sacrifice would be worthy before God to redeem us of our lives of sin. Only the blood of the Lamb could prove sufficient to wash us clean enough to stand before the throne of His Father.

So still He came. Up to Jerusalem He came, to die so we may live.

Hosannas to our Savior! Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!

Thank you, sweet Jesus! Amen.

The Good Shepherd

"I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me."-- John 10:14

In the tenth chapter of his Gospel, John relates how Jesus described Himself as the good shepherd. His audience would have been very receptive to this analogy since tending to and caring for sheep were very critical to the lives and livelihoods of many Israelis of this time period. They understood the examples Jesus used when comparing Himself to a shepherd. He took advantage of this so they would also understand when He spoke of sheep while actually describing the people. For just as a shepherd loves and cares for his flock, so Jesus loves and cares for the children of God.

Jesus chose a number of comparisons to assure His listeners. He noted that anyone who enters the sheep pen other than through the gate is not to be trusted, but that the shepherd enters through the gate, calls his sheep by name, and they follow him. One can easily see here a reference to Lucifer and his minions, to false prophets and others who would lie or steal while doing Lucifer's bidding. Yet when our Lord enters, He will call us by our true names and we will follow.

Our opening verse above also assures us. Jesus quite clearly states that He knows us, He knows our name. And by this He also states that His true followers know Him. Christ knows you, He knew you before you were even born. He knows your real name that He will tell you when you sit by His side. And if you fully believe and follow Him, if you have a real and good relationship with Him, then you know Him too.

Jesus provides reassurance to those of us not born descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob when He says, "I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd." (John 10:16) If the flock in His sheep pen are the chosen of God, the Israelis, then the other sheep he seeks to bring into the pen are the rest of us, the Gentiles. Although we may not be part of God's original chosen people, Jesus still wants us in His fold. He longs to bring us all together into one flock, one people, with Him as the one shepherd.

I purposely used the word "seeks", for in His parable of the lost sheep, Jesus notes that the good shepherd would leave his flock to go in search of one lost sheep so that he can find it and return it to the safety of the fold. And so it is with Christ. He knows His followers are safe in Him, so He can leave them to go seek out those who are lost. He will find them and lift them carefully upon His shoulders and carry them back to the full flock, the one flock.

The good shepherd knows each of his sheep by name. He loves them and cares for them. If one goes astray, he will search until he finds the lost one and bring it back to the fold. And when the wolves attack, he will fight to defend his sheep, even laying down his own life if necessary for the survival of his flock.

Jesus is our Good Shepherd. He knows each of us by our true name. He loves us, just as His Father loves us, and He cares about our immortal souls. When we stray, He guides us back to His way and path through the Holy Spirit within us. And if we become lost, He searches until He finds us, lovingly takes us in His arms, and brings us back to dwell with Him.

And the greatest assurance our Good Shepherd gives us through John is that He has already given His life so that we need not fear the wolves of the world, so that we might forever be saved. He laid down His life, and in so doing defeated the wolf. Jesus is the Good Shepherd, our Shepherd. Forever and ever. Amen.

By One Offering

For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.

-- Hebrews 10:14

When writing to the Hebrews, Paul explained how once, priests made sacrifices of living animals as offerings to God. Lambs and calves were often slain and placed upon the altar, as well as fruits and crops from the harvest, all to seek the pleasure of God that He might take away their sins. Sacrifices and offerings served as rituals of cleansing, the blood intended to wash away the sins of man.

Yet when Jesus came and walked among us, He became God's sacrifice on our behalf by the will of God the Father. Paul writes: "By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God." (Hebrews 10:10-12)

What had once been commonplace and, according to the scripture quoted above, ineffectual became obsolete and unneeded with the one sacrifice Jesus made of Himself. The blood of this purest Lamb washed us all clean, with one stroke brushed clean to stand before God. The One who bore no sin of His own took upon Himself the sins of the world so that we would be free of sin when we approach the throne of our King. One death, that death would be defeated forever. One bloody sacrifice so that no more must die.

The one perfect being this world has ever known perfected forever those who He sanctified by His suffering and sacrifice. We, who are so imperfect, so riddled with worldly woes, so lost and separated from God, are made clean and perfect in the eyes of God by this one great and awesome and wonderful act, that the Son of God gave His life for our salvation.

As Easter approaches, we remember the final days of Jesus upon this earth. We honor the sacrifice He made for us. And we rejoice in the promise of our salvation in the fact of His resurrection. Share the news with those who may not know, or who may have forgotten.

Christ has risen! Jesus lives! All praise be to God! Amen.

Stand Against the Devil

Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

-- Ephesians 6:11

The pages of the Bible abound with images of battle, including the imagery of the ultimate war between the armies of God and the forces of Satan. Paul makes good use of one such visualization to encourage us to take up the armor of God so that we might withstand the advances of the devil.

Satan is the greatest schemer this world has ever known. Created by God, he chose to defy his Creator rather than worship Him. Cast out of heaven, he took up residence in our mortal world, intending to draw as many of God's children away from their Father as he could, and in that way defy God. By pulling us away from God's side, the devil hurts the very One who created him. God loves us so much that He feels pain each time we turn away from Him. So each of those turns becomes a small victory for Satan, another tweak of his Master's cheek, another slap at the Lord's face. And that gives the devil pleasure.

Satan is very good at luring us away from our heavenly Father. He offers us wanton pleasures, frees us from personal responsibility, opens doors to our material dreams, sets buffets for our earthly lusts. And all we need do in return for such largesse is to enjoy it, to forget about tomorrow, to ignore the Holy Spirit within us until we become adept at no longer hearing God's voice in our hearts. It all sounds too good to be true. Because it is. For if we succumb to Satan's wiles, if we accept the devil's gifts, if we turn our backs on God and follow the path of the Evil One instead, we pay the ultimate price of eternal damnation; a high price indeed.

The devil usually takes small steps when luring us to his side. It isn't like in an old movie, where he promises us wonderful riches, anything our hearts desire, if we simply sign a contract giving him our souls when we die. No, he works more skillfully than that, more secretly and seemingly innocently. He whispers that there is really nothing wrong with taking home some office supplies, the company will never even miss them. It's understandable that you refuse to give more of your hard-earned money to the needy, nobody ever gave you anything. Go ahead and flip off that driver that just cut you off, he was rude first and deserves to be shown he can't get away with it. It isn't really lying if you don't tell your spouse about that little kiss with an old flame. Little things - sharp words, sudden spurts of unwarranted anger, small inhumanities shown to others. Small baby steps, leading to ever larger acts, increasing your pace along the path to the lake of fire at the end of days. This is how Satan works. Slowly, slyly, constantly. He is stronger than you. But he is not stronger than God. He cannot get to you when you wear the armor of God.

When Satan tempts you, when he whispers in your ear or offers a glimpse of earthly paradise, turn instead to the Lord. Don the full power of God as your protection against the devil's schemes and lures.

Your Labor Is Not In Vain

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

-- 1 Corinthians 15:58

Earlier, we looked at how we are granted entrance into heaven only through the grace of Jesus Christ our Savior, only through His blood shed upon the cross to wash away our sins and make us pure so we may stand before the throne and kneel at God's feet (see Paid In Full from September 11, 2006). We, and the scripture of Paul, noted that our good works here on earth would not pay our way, but that Christ had already paid for us. Yet lest there be any confusion, the knowledge that we defeat death solely through the grace of our Savior should not deter us from performing those good works even if our efforts here will not get us into heaven. Why? Simple: We will be judged based on those very works!

These two concepts may seem contradictory on the face of it. First, we are granted salvation only by the blood of Christ, and our belief in Him as the Messiah. Second, we will be judged according to what we did on earth. If we are passed through into heaven because of our belief, why do we need worry about being judged?

The easy answer is that we need not worry. Heaven is our ultimate goal, and to reach it we need only believe in Christ. But as we discussed before, if you truly believe in Christ, truly know Him as your Savior, you will want to follow His path, you will feel a compulsion to live your life as He lived His, and as He directed in the Gospel. In effect, you will want to do good deeds, to help others, and especially to try to help others find their way to Christ.

The scripture is replete with evidence of admonitions for us to do good. In his 25th chapter, Matthew provides us with the words Jesus spoke, listing many ways the Lord will view our actions, including these:

"I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me."

-- Matthew 25:35-36

He further explained these words by saying:

"Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me."

-- Matthew 25:40

We should take these words as a cautionary warning, a directive, and a blessing in that our Lord gives us a clear set of guidelines to follow.

In his Revelation of Jesus Christ, John provides us with a view of the end of time, when Christ shall again come, and come into His Kingdom. In the 4th verse of chapter 20, John assures us Jesus will come as a judge:

And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshipped the beastor his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.

-- Revelation 20:4

And by what are we judged, even those that have believed in Jesus as their Savior and followed His teachings? John tells us:

And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works.

-- Revelation 20:12-13

"I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil."

-- Revelation 2:2

So if we are judged, and found worthy in our Lord's eyes, what then? We received entry to heaven for our belief in Christ and adherence to His way, so what do we gain from this final judgment? Again, the scriptures answer:

And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.

-- Colossians 3:23-24

"The nations were angry, and Your wrath has come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that You should reward Your servants the prophets and the saints, and those who fear Your name, small and great, and should destroy those who destroy the earth."

-- Revelation 11:18

"Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven.

-- Matthew 5:12

As those trying our utmost to live our lives for Christ, to follow the path He laid, we can only study so as to learn from His teachings and the words of His disciples, and await His return to take His Kingdom and redeem His children. But in the meantime, we can follow His directives to go into the world and repeat His message, to bring others to His throne, and to do good works.

"And behold, I am coming quickly, and my reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work."

-- Revelation 22:12

Rejoice, and be exceedingly glad.

He Strengthens Me

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
-- Philippians 4:13

Sometimes life just gets us down. Many of us go through periods when the troubles and woes of the world weigh so heavily upon our shoulders that we wonder how much more we can stand, not knowing where we might find that little extra courage to face another day, that little boost to get over the next hump. During those stretches, that can go for weeks, months, or even years without a true break, it is all we can do just to climb out of bed every morning. In the past during such lows, I always took some small measure of relief from the words of the Psalmist:

I will lift up my eyes to the hills --
From whence comes my help?
My help comes from the Lord,
Who made heaven and earth.
-- Psalm 121:1-2

This passage always comforted me, for it does not say that I go to the Lord for help. No, it says that my help comes from the Lord. My gracious Savior comes to me in my time of need and helps me. I only have to go to Him in prayer, then He comes to my aid. How moving is this thought, that the Creator of all would come to me, one of His many children, a sinner, a small sheep lost and confused? My help comes from the Lord. This became my mantra, an oft repeated phrase, when times got roughest.

Until recently, when my dearest friend presented me with a most wonderful gift - a lovingly used New Testament Bible. This pocket Bible had been presented to her earthly father many years ago, shortly before he departed this life to go be with his heavenly Father. This was a man who I happen to share a good bit in common with, including love of our Father and a deep compelling drive to learn more about Him and our own purposes in life. My friend could give me no better gift than this precious piece of her father, one which he carefully annotated with notes, thoughts, and the highlighting of meaningful verses. His favorite is the subject of this particular missive -- "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." I now cherish this small Bible and this verse, which I have also adopted as my own.

So now, during the darkest of days when the world crushes me with each turn, I can take comfort in knowing that my Lord and Savior not only comes to me and brings me help, He also strengthens me when I have no strength left. Through Him, I can survive. Through Him, I can rise from my bed and face another day. Through Him, I can do all things, for He gives me strength.

When I think I can go no further I look to heaven, for my help comes from the Lord who strengthens me.

Learn, Share, Teach

Consider what I say, and may the Lord give you understanding in all things.
-- 2 Timothy 2:7

As we close out 2006, many of us make resolutions for the coming year, usually to improve some aspect of our physical appearance, our general conduct, or our behavior. Our good brother and Pastor John has given my fellow congregants a challenge: to attend Sunday School as well as the regular worship service as many Sundays as we possibly can. This correspondent has accepted his challenge and hopes all of you, my kind readers, will join me if you don't already attend as many worship and learning services as possible, including any held weekday evenings, such as Bible studies and prayer and inspiration sessions.

Our longing to be reunited with God often compels us to want to learn more and more, as much as humanly possible, about our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and His Father. The Bible is the best source of knowledge and history, but we can also gain helpful insights from our fellow sojourners in this life. You may be surprised at how much someone you share a pew with each Sunday morning knows about certain events during those times Christ walked among us, or the interesting angle and background they can provide. We can all gain more information, and we all have something we can impart for others.

The old saying, "You learn something new every day!", still holds true. How many times have you heard someone say, or said yourself, "I never knew that" or "I didn't realize that" or "I never looked at it quite that way"? We've heard those words, or similar phrases, a number of times the last few weeks in my Sunday School class, and we aren't exactly spring chickens any more. No matter the subject, there is always someone more knowledgeable than ourselves, there is always someone with a slightly different viewpoint, there is always someone with an experience we have not had. We learn from each of these, and by sharing, we help others learn.

So join us Sundays and Wednesdays and any other day some opportunity presents itself to gain a better understanding of our Savior and thus build a more fulfilling relationship with God. Come to learn, come to share, and come to teach.

Rejoice and Pray

"Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."
-- I Thessalonians 5:16-18

As I write this, we recently celebrated the birth of Jesus. But first we observed the annual Advent season, where we anxiously awaited that wonderful day when our Savior came down to earth to walk among us. Some of us may look at the weeks leading up to Christmas as a mere formality, another season of observance on the Christian calendar, simply a prelude to what is to come. We know how the story goes: how the angel appeared to Mary, and later to Joseph; how they traveled to Bethlehem for the census; how they could find no room at the inn and were forced to seek shelter in a lowly stable; how the heavenly Babe was born, wrapped in cloths, and laid in a cattle manger; how the shepherds and then the wise men visited and paid homage; how the angels sang. We know the story, and celebrate the joyous day each year.

One of the meanings of the word Advent (with a capital "A") is "the coming of Christ into the world", and that is why we observe the season of Advent. But there is another chapter of the story, and we know it as well although we have not yet celebrated it. For there will be one more Advent, one more time when Jesus Christ will come to earth and walk among us. The first Advent heralded the Messiah, come to offer mankind a path to salvation. This time He will come as our King. He will reward His faithful and punish evil. This second coming, this second Advent, is the one we look forward to with all that is within us. For it will usher in the thousand year reign of Christ the King, a millennium of true and lasting peace on earth. We long to see the face of Jesus; we feel we know Him from the witnesses of the Gospels. We truly anxiously await the second Advent.

Paul, in his letter to the Thessalonians, offers us instruction on what to do while we wait. In other writings, he admonished us, all of us, to be steadfast in our faith, and to grow our faith. He tells us to become even closer to Christ, to seek out the company of other believers and draw strength and support from them, to encourage others to know and believe in the one true God and his risen Son. Here he provides insight into a few activities we can participate in to gain a closer relationship with Jesus. While we await His coming, we should rejoice in Christ our Savior. We should pray to Him and His Father with every breath we take. We should give thanks to God for everything that He gives to us, for our Salvation, for His Son, for everything. Paul tells us this is what Jesus want us to do. And how would Paul know? Because Paul knew Jesus personally, he spent three years with Him, following Him, listening to Him, learning from Him. And Paul blessed us by recording everything he knew about Jesus, so that we can know Him as well. Through God's great grace through His servant Paul, we know the rest of the story, and we know what we must do while we wait to see the face of our Christ.

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, and in all things give thanks. For Christ is coming to earth again. Amen.