This Child

 

[The following is a manuscript of my message delivered at Pilgrim Reformed Church on Sunday morning, the 28th of December, and the last Sunday of 2025.  A recording of our service may be available on our YouTube streaming channel: 

https://www.youtube.com/@pilgrimreformedchurch1992/streams for the older services or https://www.youtube.com/@pilgrimreformedchurch3115/streams for later services.]

I doubt any of us remember our days as a little baby.  My earliest memory is of a time when I was around four and my parents put me on stage at our family reunion and had me sing “I’m A Little Teapot”.  At one time much later in life, I did see an old photo of me – looking a lot like Anson’s twin, with a head full of curly yellow hair – with a cigar in my mouth and my great-uncle holding a lighter ready to fire me up.  I couldn’t have been much older than two, and I have absolutely no memory of the event.

All of this is just to say that while we might not have many memories of our early childhood, we were all babies at one time, and most of us had babies of our own in our younger adult years.  So I believe we would all agree that a baby is one of the greatest miracles in life.  And it can be a load of fun watching that child grow and see what it becomes.

In our current day and age, the internet allows us to chart, record, and report on the birth and growth of a child over the years.  For a lot of us here, our early years were only recorded by hand in the family bible, a tradition that goes back hundreds of years.  Before that, any record of a person’s childhood would have been a rarity.

Which is why we know so very little about the child named Jesus.  We know about the manner of His conception, the days before His birth, His birthplace and first visitors, and that His parents took Him and all fled to Egypt to escape death from a cruel tyrant.  But that’s about it.  We’re not told of His first steps, of His early schooling, of how He reacted when He was no longer the only child in the family.  We have no stories of the adventures and squabbles He must have had with His half-brothers growing up.  We don’t even know what happened to His father, Joseph.

But there is one brief account of an occurrence shortly after His birth.  Please listen and follow along as the Apostle Luke shares with us this part of what little we know of Jesus as a little baby, in verses 21 through 40 of the 2nd chapter of his Gospel account, and I’ll be reading from the New King James Version of our Holy Bible this morning…

21 And when eight days were completed for the circumcision of the Child, His name was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb.

22 Now when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every male who opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”), 24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord, “A pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.”

25 And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. 27 So he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when the parents brought in the Child Jesus, to do for Him according to the custom of the law, 28 he took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said:

29 “Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace,

According to Your word;

30 For my eyes have seen Your salvation

31 Which You have prepared before the face of all peoples,

32 A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles,

And the glory of Your people Israel.”

33 And Joseph and His mother marveled at those things which were spoken of Him. 34 Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, “Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against 35 (yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”

36 Now there was one, Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity; 37 and this woman was a widow of about eighty-four years, who did not depart from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. 38 And coming in that instant she gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of Him to all those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem.

39 So when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own city, Nazareth. 40 And the Child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him.

--Luke 2:21-40 (NKJV)

Let us pray…  Father God, thank You for sending Your Son to us in the same way that we enter this world – as a vulnerable little baby.  He came quietly, with a very few invited to His birth.  And we know He grew into an adult, but we have so few details of those first 30 years.  Maybe that’s for the best, because knowing His ministry is what truly matters to us, and His sacrifice is His most important gift for us.  Thank You for planning all this for our sake, our salvation.  And thank You for giving us the Light to guide our steps.  We who follow Jesus try our best to live by His example.  But too often we struggle loving as He loved, loving as He commands.  Father, we know how our failures to properly serve You displeases You.  We need You to help us live in a manner that is more righteous in Your sight.  Please forgive us those times we disappoint You and help us be more obedient to Your and Your Son, more loving, more caring, more compassionate, showing Your love to others so that they too might find salvation through Jesus.

Speak to us now, Father, that we might hear Your voice through Your Spirit within us and better grasp the message You have for us this day.  This we pray in the precious name of Your Son, Christ Jesus our Lord.   Amen.

Robert Fulghum once wrote in the Kansas City Times, “Most of what I really need to know about how to live, and what to do, and how to be, I learned in kindergarten.  Wisdom was not at the top of the graduate school mountain, but there in the sandbox at nursery school.

“These are the things I learned:  Share everything.  Play fair.  Don't hit people.  Put things back where you found them.  Clean up your own mess.  Don't take things that aren't yours.  Say you're sorry when you hurt somebody.  When you go out into the world, watch for traffic, hold hands, and stick together.”

The newspaper article noted that “this writer has captured the basic part of what Jesus meant when He said, ‘Unless you become like little children, you won't enter the kingdom of heaven.’”

The things Mr. Fulghum learned in kindergarten really revolve around loving one another.  When we truly love others, we don't try to hurt them or cheat them, we share with them, we try to help them and watch out for them.  Jesus wants us to love others - He commands us to love others.  He wants us to be like little children in our outlook on the world.  So let's remember what we learned in kindergarten.

Eight days after Jesus was born He was circumcised according to the first covenant between God and man through Abraham.  Joseph and Mary named the infant Jesus, as the angel Gabriel had instructed them.  They took Him to the temple, following ritual custom, and there He was recognized as the Messiah, first by a man named Simeon, who had been waiting at that place for the Messiah to come, and then by the elderly prophetess Anna, who served the Lord day and night.

Now when we see a little baby, we can only wonder what he or she will become.  We may someday see how they mature, but that will take years and years.  In the case of Jesus, both Simeon and Anna instantly knew that this tiny baby, this Child, was the Savior of mankind.  I can only imagine how a passerby might have reacted upon hearing these declarations.  Yes, a baby is a miracle, but how could a baby… how could this Child possibly redeem all mankind?

There is one more instance we’re told of that happened when Jesus was a youth.  He was at that age where most of us are very confused, trying to figure out the world, thinking we know everything and nothing at the same time.  But Jesus wasn’t exactly like the rest of us, not in this regard at any rate.

Please listen as we continue Luke’s account of the young Jesus, now grown from a baby into a preteen, in verses 41 through 52 of chapter 2…

41 His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. 42 And when He was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast. 43 When they had finished the days, as they returned, the Boy Jesus lingered behind in Jerusalem. And Joseph and His mother did not know it; 44 but supposing Him to have been in the company, they went a day’s journey, and sought Him among their relatives and acquaintances. 45 So when they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking Him. 46 Now so it was that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. 47 And all who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers. 48 So when they saw Him, they were amazed; and His mother said to Him, “Son, why have You done this to us? Look, Your father and I have sought You anxiously.”

49 And He said to them, “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?” 50 But they did not understand the statement which He spoke to them.

51 Then He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them, but His mother kept all these things in her heart. 52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.

--Luke 2:41-52 (NKJV)

Jesus’ response to His mother carries a little preteen attitude, doesn’t it?  “Didn’t you know I would be doing what My Father told Me to do?”  I can just hear the unspoken part: “What’s wrong with you, Mother?  Have you suddenly gone stupid?”  But can you imagine a child of twelve holding forth in such a way that the learned adults are amazed at what is being said?

The thing is, though, while we may know next to nothing of the early years of Jesus' life, we can see here that even at just twelve years old, Jesus knew who He was and what He was supposed to do.  I was thirty years old and in my second year of college still trying to figure out what I was supposed to do.  And it took another 30 years for it to fully sink in.  But here was Jesus at the tender age of twelve already carrying out God’s will.  Still, He also realized He needed to wait just a bit longer, and honor His mother and earthly father as well as His heavenly Father.

This Child…

Look at this tiny baby, born in a stable, there among the cows and sheep, sleeping in a feeding trough with hay for bedding.  And they call Him a King, and not only that but the King of kings?!?

See the old man, Simeon, holding the infant in his arms, those tiny fingers clutching his.  This is the long awaited Messiah?  This is the Savior of mankind?  This baby, this child?

Yes, this Child.  For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given.  And He will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  This Child redeemed us and reconciled us with God.  Following Him leads to salvation.

The New Year begins in four days.  A lot of folks will make resolutions of things they’ll do to better themselves in the new year, resolutions they’ll too soon break.  The new year does bring a new chance to improve ourselves and also to better the world around us.

How will we spend 2026?  Will anything change for the better?  Let’s spend it serving Jesus, the once little child who is now our King.  In that beautiful name of Christ Jesus our Redeemer.  Amen.

Let us pray…  Almighty God, thank You for loving us so much that You sent Your Son to redeem us and bring us back to You.  And You sent Him not as a conquering hero, but as an innocent, vulnerable baby.  Yet this Child changed the world!  Sadly, the world hasn’t accepted the change, because it hasn’t accepted Jesus as Lord.  For the world is Satan’s playground and he lies and deceives and offers all kinds of pretty temptations to draw us away from our Lord.  Please forgive us, Father, those times when we allow ourselves to listen to and give in to those evil urgings.  Forgive us when can’t completely turn from our sinful ways.  Please help us ignore the devil.  Help us turn away from our sin and turn fully to You.  And Father, please help us reach out and share the Gospel message with everyone we come into contact with. 

Please hear us now, Father, as we pause for just a moment to speak to You through Your Spirit within us, promising to be more obedient to Your word, and seeking Your help to do so…

Lord Jesus, Your entire life was humble, from Your birthplace to Your final breath as a mortal when You asked God to forgive those who nailed You to the cross.  Yet You were born a King, the King above all kings, the King who loved us and gave of Yourself for us.  Lord, we thank You for loving us this much.  We just ask that You now please give us the courage and the strength to carry on Your work here on earth.  Please forgive us when we struggle to do as You command and love all others.  Please help us reach out to the non-believing world, sharing the Gospel message, showing Your love through our love.

Holy Spirit, please shield our minds and our hearts from Satan’s lies and the world’s empty promises.  Guide us around all the devil’s traps and snares.  Help us see though his temptations.  Help us keep our focus on the things of heaven and the needs of others rather than on anything this world might offer.  All this we pray in the blessed name of Christ Jesus our Lord.  Amen.

Our Joy Made Full

 

[The following is a manuscript of my message delivered at Pilgrim Reformed Church on Sunday morning, the 21st of December, 2025, the fourth Sunday in Advent.  A recording of our service may be available on our YouTube streaming channel: 

https://www.youtube.com/@pilgrimreformedchurch1992/streams for the older services or https://www.youtube.com/@pilgrimreformedchurch3115/streams for later services.]

We’re not entirely sure who composed the 98th Psalm, but some, including the early church fathers, attribute it to King David.  In it, the author sings, “All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.”  (Psalm 98:3b (NASB))  Now this would have been written just about 1000 years before Jesus was born, but we know that Jesus is the salvation of God, that Jesus is the Christ.

Isaac Watts understood this, too, and that passage led him to compose one of my favorite hymns for this time of year, one that we’ll be singing in a few minutes: “Joy to the World”.  The passage and the hymn both speak to our awaiting the coming of our Lord Jesus, not only for His birth but also His return, when He will call His church home.

While the entire world might not yet know Jesus, let alone accept Him as Lord, and not everyone is filled with joy right now, still, we who know Jesus as our Lord and Redeemer are indeed joyful.  Our joy comes from being able to celebrate Jesus’ birth, and also in looking forward to His return.  So be joyful, Family!  But if you’re not feeling particularly joyful because of something that has happened, then at least be encouraged, for God does love you – and think about attending our Blue Christmas service this afternoon.

Our Bible is all about Jesus, so we could say that reading it should bring us joy.  And indeed, it contains many passages that speak of joy and being joyful, of rejoicing and even of shouting for joy.  But I was lead to one for today where Jesus wants to share His joy with us.

Think about that for a moment…  Jesus want us to have His joy, the joy of God, so that our joy can be complete, no matter what we’ve done or experienced, no matter what we’re going through.  With the joy of God we can do as the Apostle Paul tells us and rejoice always, giving thanks in all situations.  Please listen and follow along to our Lord’s encouraging words as recorded by the Apostle John in verses 9 through 17 of the 15th chapter of his Gospel account, and I’ll be reading from the New American Standard Bible this morning…

9 “Just as the Father has loved Me, I also have loved you; remain in My love. 10 If you keep My commandments, you will remain in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and remain in His love. 11 These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.

12 “This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that a person will lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are My friends if you do what I command you. 15 No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, because all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you. 17 This I command you, that you love one another.”

--John 15:9-17 (NASB)

Let us pray…  Father God, thank You for electing us to follow Your Son Jesus!  Thank You for sending Him to redeem us.  And thank You for sharing Your joy with us when we obey Your Son.  Through Him and our obedience to His commandment, our joy can be made complete.  Just as You love Jesus, He loves us, and He commands that we love others in that same way.  But too often we struggle with this.  Father, we know that these inner battles displease You.  We need You to help us live more righteously.  Please forgive us those times we disappoint You and help us be more obedient to Your and Your Son, more loving, more caring, more compassionate, showing Your love to others so that they too might find salvation through Jesus.

Speak to us now, Father, that we might hear Your voice through Your Spirit within us and better grasp the message You have for us this day.  This we pray in the precious name of Your Son, Christ Jesus our Lord.   Amen.

I know I've used this before, but it bears repeating for the message it carries.  Our society as a whole is becoming increasingly self-centered, with more and more people caring only about themselves and what they can get out of life, rather than how their actions and words may impact others, for better or for worse.  George Bernard Shaw once noted that, “This is the true joy in life, the being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one: the being thoroughly worn out before you are thrown on the scrap heap, and being a force of nature instead of a feverish selfish little clod of ailments and grievances, complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy.”

I don't know about you, but I want to be a force of nature, a force for our Lord Jesus, not some selfish little clod.  Even though I might sometimes complain that the world is not doing what it could to make me happy, I still take great joy in serving my Lord, and rejoice in His blessings.

Jesus left us with rather simple tasks: to love one another and to make disciples.  Our joy is made full when we do as He commanded.  But we all know that those two “simple” tasks are not all that easy to carry out and complete.  We can be quite hesitant to approach someone to tell them about Jesus, especially a stranger, or someone we know is dead set against anything religious.  And as for loving others, there are some that are very difficult to love, for any number of reasons.  But Jesus calls us to love others as He loves us.  His love is selfless, unconditional, sacrificial.  Are we capable of loving like that, even for the people that hate us?

There’s one sentence in that passage that should compel us to do as Jesus commands.  Jesus declared, “You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit.”  Jesus chose us, you and I, to go and bear fruit, and the sweetest fruit comes from helping a lost soul find and know Jesus.  Studies have shown that doing good for our fellow man makes us feel good, gives us joy.  What better good could we do than to help someone receive salvation and everlasting life?

As I said, loving all others and making disciples for our Lord is not easy.  In fact, Jesus warns us that doing as He commands, while it can increase our joy, it may also bring hardship as well.  But even if it does, we should remain joyful as we endure the hardship and tribulation.  Hear the words of our Lord delivered in His Sermon on the Plain as recorded by the Apostle Luke in the 6th chapter of his Gospel account, verses 22 and 23…

22 “Blessed are you when the people hate you, and when they exclude you, and insult you, and scorn your name as evil, on account of the Son of Man. 23 Rejoice on that day and jump for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven. For their fathers used to treat the prophets the same way.” 

--Luke 6:22-23 (NASB)

Be joyful if the world turns against you because of your belief in and service to Jesus.  Rejoice, even in the midst of trials and persecution.  Jump for joy, for God has been watching and has a wonderful reward all prepared for you in heaven.  This kind of attitude comes when our joy is made full by Jesus.

Joy to the world, the Lord is come.  Let earth receive her King.  Let every heart prepare Him room.  This is what Advent reminds us to do, to make room in our hearts for Jesus.  And Jesus calls us to help other folks open their hearts to Him as well.

Our joy is made full and complete when we follow Jesus and carry out the task He left us.  No, it won’t be easy.  But even when our neighbors and fellow man mock us and persecute us for our belief and our service, we can take comfort and joy in knowing what awaits us in heaven.

So let us go and bear fruit.  In that beautiful name of Christ Jesus our Redeemer, our true joy.  Amen.

Let us pray…  Almighty God, thank You for loving us so much that You sent Your Son to redeem us and bring joy to the world.  Sadly, the world doesn’t really want joy, not the true and full joy Your Son brings.  The world thinks joy comes from things we own or what other people can do for us.  This kind of joy, earthly joy, is temporary; it fades with time.  If the world would accept You and Jesus, it would understand.  But the world is Satan’s playground and he doesn’t want people to understand.  He wants them to be easily disappointed so they’ll turn against You.  Please forgive us, Father, those times when we let the world dictate our actions.  Forgive us when we turn every way but to You when looking for joy.  Please help us share our joy with the world by sharing Your love.  Help us rejoice in the face of trials and hardship so that others may see Your hand at work in our life.  And Father, please help us reach out and share the Gospel message with everyone we come into contact with. 

Please hear us now, Father, as we pause for just a moment to speak to You through Your Spirit within us, promising to be more obedient to Your word, and seeking Your help to do so…

Lord Jesus, You promise to make our joy full and complete if we only do as You command.  And we will obey Your command if we love You.  The joy You offer lets us rejoice even when others hate us, laugh at us, persecute us simply because we follow You.  You chose us to serve You, Lord, and we thank You for loving us this much.  We just ask that You now please give us the courage and the strength to go out and do as You command.  Please forgive us when we struggle, as did the Apostle Paul, to do what we know is right, and to not do what we know is wrong.  And please help us reach out to the non-believing world, sharing the Gospel message, showing Your love through our love.

Holy Spirit, please shield our minds and our hearts from Satan’s lies and the world’s empty promises.  Guide us around all the devil’s traps and snares.  Help us see though his temptations.  Help us keep our focus on the things of heaven and the needs of others rather than on anything this world might offer.  All this we pray in the blessed name of Christ Jesus our Lord.  Amen.

Our Lord of Peace

 

[The following is a manuscript of my message delivered at Pilgrim Reformed Church on Sunday morning, the 14th of December, 2025, the third Sunday in Advent.  A recording of our service may be available on our YouTube streaming channel: 

https://www.youtube.com/@pilgrimreformedchurch1992/streams for the older services or https://www.youtube.com/@pilgrimreformedchurch3115/streams for later services.]

The Apostle Luke tells us that when Jesus was born, a multitude of angels proclaimed, “Peace on earth, goodwill toward men!”.  Peace on earth…  When has this poor earth ever known peace?

You might have heard or read stories of how hostilities ceased on Christmas Day during World War II, and how in some places the German and Allied troops came together to sing carols.  Whether all that is true or purely anecdotal, I don’t know.  But I do know that the very next day, they went back to killing each other.

That’s the kind of peace the world offers: short-lived and quickly broken.  On the other hand, we’re very good at wars and conflicts, and it takes so little to start one.  Even during this most joyous time of year.  I just read of a huge street brawl during a Christmas event on the island of Nantucket.  And around the globe, Christmas markets and displays, especially Nativity scenes, are being vandalized and destroyed.  Peace on earth and goodwill toward men seems like nothing more than a wish, a dream.

The great prophet Isaiah lived approximately 700 years before Jesus’ birth, yet he foretold of that birth and of the life of Jesus quite accurately.  Some folks think that the prophets of old predicted the future, but that’s not the case.  Our biblical prophets simply spoke for God, giving Him a physical voice, relaying what He said would happen.  This is how Isaiah “knew” all about the birth and life of Jesus, because God told him about it.

And this is especially true for one of Isaiah’s best known passages in his great book of prophecy, one that is often quoted at Christmas-time.  Please listen and follow along as the prophet repeats what God told him, from verses 6 and 7 of the 9th chapter of Isaiah’s book, and I’ll be reading from the New King James Version of our Holy Bible this morning…

6 For unto us a Child is born,

Unto us a Son is given;

And the government will be upon His shoulder.

And His name will be called

Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

7 Of the increase of His government and peace

There will be no end,

Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom,

To order it and establish it with judgment and justice

From that time forward, even forever.

The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.

--Isaiah 9:6-7 (NKJV)

Let us pray…  Father God, thank You for choosing the right people to speak for You.  And thank You for inspiring them and giving them the courage to do just that – to give voice to Your words.  Through them, You warned Your people, and You still warn us of our fate if we disobey You.  And sometimes they bring us great and wonderful news, such as when Isaiah told of Your Son coming to us to redeem us and offer us salvation.  This shows Your love for us.  We sometimes forget, or maybe just take for granted, how much You do love us, how much You have blessed us.  And so we struggle to show that love to others.  Father, we know we disobey You at times, and we know it displeases You.  We need You to help us live more righteously.  Please forgive us those times we disappoint You and help us be more obedient to Your will, more loving, more caring, more compassionate, showing Your love to others so that they too might find salvation through Jesus.

Speak to us now, Father, that we might hear Your voice through Your Spirit within us and better grasp the message You have for us this day.  This we pray in the precious name of Your Son, Christ Jesus our Lord.   Amen.

19th century poet and activist Caroline Norton penned this succinct verse:

“For death and life, in ceaseless strife,

Beat wild on the world's shore,

And all our calm is in that balm -

Not lost but gone before.”

I don't know if Ms. Norton was speaking of Jesus here, but it would certainly fit.  Jesus is that balm, the Balm in Gilead that makes the wounded whole and heals the sin-sick soul.  Even as the world goes wild, He will bring calm to our soul.

Isaiah called Jesus the Prince of Peace, who brings a peace that will have no end.  Our responsive reading this morning encourages us to take that peace.  In the whirlwinds of doubt, in the apex of the storm, when we just need a place to rest… take the peace Jesus offers.  There’s no need to struggle or fight a battle that’s already been won, so just claim His peace.  But let’s be careful how we consider that word “peace”.

Jesus had been teaching the multitudes using parables, including the parable of the sower, where He gave the example of seed falling on unsuitable ground compared to good soil to describe how the word of God can have different effects depending on the spiritual state of the one who hears it.  After this, He and His disciples prepared to go to the country of the Gadarenes, across the Sea of Galilee.  The Apostle Mark tells what happened next, in the 4th chapter of his Gospel account, verses 35 through 41…

35 On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, “Let us cross over to the other side.” 36 Now when they had left the multitude, they took Him along in the boat as He was. And other little boats were also with Him. 37 And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling. 38 But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?”

39 Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. 40 But He said to them, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?” 41 And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, “Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!” 

--Mark 4:35-41 (NKJV)

You’d think that the disciples would have figured out by now that Jesus was not just another normal man.  No man can simply tell a storm to go away and have it happen immediately.  Only God has that authority.

But in this case, the peace Jesus commanded was peace as the world considers it, with a cessation of turmoil and strife.  Unfortunately, the peace that the world offers is too often very temporary and easily broken.  This is not the everlasting peace Isaiah spoke of.

A little later in His ministry, Jesus is trying to prepare His followers for the rapidly approaching time when He will no longer be with them.  He tells them of the coming of the Holy Spirit and the indwelling of the Father and the Son.  And He promises a new gift.  The Apostle John saved the last of this for us, in verse 27 of the 14th chapter of his Gospel account, when Jesus said…

27 “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

--John 14:27 (NKJV)

Jesus doesn't promise to calm the storm raging around us, as He did on the Sea of Galilee.  But if we have faith in Him, He will calm the storms raging within us, no matter what may be going on all around us.

Sometimes the Lord calms the storm, but sometimes He lets the storm rage and calms His child.  Jesus offers a peace that is everlasting, not like the peace the world offers that is short and easily destroyed.  When the world gives peace, we are filled with worry over when it will end and how bad will things be after it ends.  With the peace Jesus offers, there is no worry about it ending, nor what might come next.  Jesus calms us from within.  Blessed be the name of Jesus.  In that beautiful name of Christ Jesus our Redeemer.  Amen.

Let us pray…  Almighty God, thank You for loving us so much that You sent Your Son to redeem us and bring Your kind of peace into our lives.  This world doesn’t even know true peace, let alone provide it.  And that’s because the world doesn’t know You.  The world is Satan’s playground and he doesn’t want real, lasting peace among men.  Please forgive us, Father, when we can’t let go of the world’s way and look to it and our fellow man for peace.  Forgive us when we worry more about the storm than about serving You.  Please help us show the world what true peace looks like.  Help us calmly face our trials so that others may see Your hand at work in our life.  And Father, please help us reach out and share the Gospel message with everyone we come into contact with. 

Please hear us now, Father, as we pause for just a moment to speak to You through Your Spirit within us, promising to be more obedient to Your word, and seeking Your help to do so…

Lord Jesus, long before You came to this earth, You were foretold as being the Prince of Peace.  And at Your birth, God’s heavenly host proclaimed peace on earth.  For that moment, there was true peace.  But then, mankind being what we are, that peace was shattered.  Peace on earth has always been fragile, but Lord, You offer a peace that is unbreakable, a peace that lasts forever and ever, a peace that the world can never give.  Thank You, Lord, for coming to us even while we wallowed in our sin.  Thank You for giving us Your peace, whether it is by calming the storm around us, or by calming the storm within us.  Please forgive us when we struggle to do what we know is right, to not do what we know is wrong.  And please help us reach out to the non-believing world, sharing the Gospel message, showing Your love through our love.

Holy Spirit, please shield our minds and our hearts from Satan’s lies and the world’s empty promises.  Guide us around all the devil’s traps and snares.  Help us see though his temptations.  Help us keep our focus on the things of heaven and the needs of others rather than on anything this world might offer.  All this we pray in the blessed name of Christ Jesus our Lord.  Amen.

What Is Love?

 

[The following is a manuscript of my message delivered at Pilgrim Reformed Church on Sunday morning, the 7th of December, 2025, the second Sunday in Advent.  A recording of our service may be available on our YouTube streaming channel: 

https://www.youtube.com/@pilgrimreformedchurch1992/streams for the older services or https://www.youtube.com/@pilgrimreformedchurch3115/streams for later services.]

What is love?

Poets and authors and songwriters have been describing love pretty much ever since there have been poems and writings and songs.  The dictionary tells us that love is “a strong feeling of warm personal attachment or deep affection, such as for a parent, child, friend, or pet”, “an active, self-giving concern for the well-being of others”, and “a profoundly tender, passionate affection, often mingled with sexual desire, for another person”, among many other definitions.

The Greeks have four different words for love – not just three, as some will say, but four.  “Philia” is the love between close friends or brothers – think of Philadelphia, the City of Brotherly Love.  “Eros” is the love found in romantic relationships; it’s what drives that sexual desire.  “Storge” refers to the love between family members, like a mother for her child; sometimes called “familia” or “familial love”.

And then there’s “agape”, the one many have likely heard of.  “Agape” is an unconditional, sacrificial love.  It is a love of choice, a love that humbly serves others, a selfless love.  It is the love Jesus showed us, the love of God for us.

In the 13th chapter of his 1st Letter to the Corinthians, the Apostle Paul defines agape love in very clear terms.  It is here that he tells us that love suffers long and is kind, and that love never fails.  I’m not sure we humans are entirely capable of that.  Love at first sight quickly goes sour.  “Love” based on physical beauty or sexual attraction fades with time’s passage.  Even the love between parents and their children can be broken apart and cast aside.

But there truly is a love that suffers long and never fails.  It is the love God has for us, His creation.  And it is the love Paul discusses in another of his letters to the early church.  Please listen and follow along as Paul reminds us of God's love, shown through the gift of faith, of the Holy Spirit, and of His Son who reconciles us and offers us salvation, from the first 11 verses of the 5th chapter of his Letter to the Romans, and I’ll be reading from the New King James Version of our Holy Bible this morning…

1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

6 For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. 10 For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. 11 And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.

--Romans 5:1-11 (NKJV)

Let us pray…  Father God, thank You for showing Paul the truth and giving him the power and the courage to face all his trials as he established churches throughout the known world.  And thank You for inspiring him to write so many letters to those early churches.  In this letter to the church in Rome, he reminds us of all You’ve given us and all out of love – love for Your creation, love for Your children.  We sometimes forget, or maybe just take for granted, how much You do love us.  You show us in an endless display, if we’d only stop long enough to look.  We struggle, though, to show our love for You.  Father, we know we disobey You at times, and we know it displeases You.  We need You to help us live more righteously.  Please forgive us those times we disappoint You and help us be more obedient to Your will, more loving, more caring, more compassionate, showing Your love to others so that they too might find salvation through Jesus.

Speak to us now, Father, that we might hear Your voice through Your Spirit within us and better grasp the message You have for us this day.  This we pray in the precious name of Your Son, Christ Jesus our Lord.   Amen.

I love this little story...  A certain medieval monk announced he would be preaching next Sunday evening on "The Love of God".  As the shadows fell and the light ceased to come in through the cathedral windows, the congregation gathered.  In the darkness of the altar, the monk lighted a candle and carried it to the crucifix.  First of all, he illumined the crown of thorns, next the two wounded hands, then the marks of the spear wound.  In the hush that fell, he blew out the candle and left the chancel.  There was nothing else to say.

Sometimes we don't need words in order to speak volumes.  I can only imagine what must have been running through that congregation’s minds, sitting there in the gloom, with the unspoken words of love ringing in their hearts.  Only someone who truly, deeply loved us would take the punishment meant for us, the punishment we deserved.  Only He would die for us so that we might live.  Those scars shout, “I love you”.

The Gospel account of the Apostle John is sometimes called the book of love, and not only because the author refers to himself as “the disciple Jesus loved”.  Among its many references to love are those describing the love Jesus has for us and the love of God for all mankind, including the one verse that is most well-known and often quoted the world over, even by atheists and non-believers.

We know the story.  One night, a Pharisee came to Jesus under the cloak of darkness, seeking to know more about this remarkable Man he’d heard of.  John recorded this conversation for us in the 3rd chapter of his Gospel account, including this passage from verses 13 through 21 where Jesus explains to Nicodemus…

13 “No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven. 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. 16 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. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

18 “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. 21 But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.”

--John 3:13-21 (NKJV)

In the first part of that passage, Jesus is foretelling His impending death, being lifted up on a cross as a blood sacrifice to atone for our sin.  And all because of love.  God loves us, so He sent His only Son into the world to carry out the salvation plan.  Jesus loved His Father, so He accepted His role in God’s plan for mankind.  Jesus loved us enough to take our punishment and to die so we could live.

Jesus didn’t come to condemn the world, but to redeem it and give it a chance at eternal life.  If He and God didn’t love us, we would all have stood convicted and condemned, as in the days of the flood.

Toward the close of their last supper together before His arrest, after Judas left the room and right before Jesus foretold that Peter would soon deny Him, our Lord issued a new command to His followers, those seated with Him that evening, all believers since that time, we today, and all Christians hence forward until the end of the age.  John recorded this one, too, in the 13th chapter of his Gospel account, verses 34 and 35…

34 “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.  35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

--John 13:34-35 (NKJV)

At another point in His ministry, Jesus tells us to love all others, not just other believers.  But this is a telling point, because if we can't love other believers, our own brothers and sisters in Christ, then how can we possibly love all others, including non-believers and even those who hate us for our faith?

We Christians do seem to have a hard time loving even other Christians all the time.  We easily get into spats and arguments, carrying grudges and resentment, destroying our love.  We can do better, but it takes a concentrated effort.  Jesus commands us to make this effort.

Jesus calls us to love.  We lit the candle of love this morning to recognize and acknowledge the love Jesus has for us, but also to remind ourselves of that last command, that calling.  This isn’t romantic love Jesus wants of us, nor the love we have for our parents or our children, or our grand-children, or any of our relatives.  It isn’t even brotherly love Jesus calls us to.  It is agape – unconditional, sacrificial love, a love we choose to give, a selfless love that drives our humble service to others.  It is the love that helps other folk in their time of need.  It is the love that leads us to pray for our enemies, those that would do us harm, praying that they too might find salvation through Jesus.  Let’s show Jesus our love by loving others as He loves us.

In the beautiful name of Christ Jesus our Redeemer.  Amen.

Let us pray…  Almighty God, thank You for loving us.  Even though we are a stiff-necked people, even when we rebel against You, even when we are disobedient children, You still love us.  And when we were lost in our sin, You sent Your own Son to redeem us and show us the Way.  Even if we don’t always show it, we in this house thank You, Father.  We love You and trust You in all things.  But sometimes we don’t show our love.  We don’t love others as we should.  We even wish harm on some.  Please help us show our love in all things, dear God, to all people of Your creation.  And Father, please help us reach out and share the Gospel message with everyone we come into contact with. 

Please hear us now, Father, as we pause for just a moment to speak to You through Your Spirit within us, promising to be more obedient to Your word, and seeking Your help to do so…

Lord Jesus, You clearly showed Your love – for God and for us – in how You lived Your mortal life and how You gave Your all for us.  Thank You, Lord, for coming to us when we wandered in the wilderness of our sin, to show us what love really looks like.  Thank You for teaching us love, through Your words and Your actions.  We love you, Lord.  May those simple words convey our love for You and our Father God.  Please forgive us when we struggle to do what we know is right, to not do what we know is wrong.  And please help us reach out to the non-believing world, sharing the Gospel message, showing Your love through our love.

Holy Spirit, please shield our minds and our hearts from Satan’s lies and the world’s empty promises.  Guide us around all the devil’s traps and snares.  Help us see though his temptations.  Help us keep our focus on the things of heaven and the needs of others rather than on anything this world might offer.  All this we pray in the blessed name of Christ Jesus our Lord.  Amen.

Prepare the Way

 

[The following is a manuscript of my message delivered at Pilgrim Reformed Church on Sunday morning, the 30th of November, 2025, and the first Sunday in Advent.  A recording of our service may be available on our YouTube streaming channel: 

https://www.youtube.com/@pilgrimreformedchurch1992/streams for the older services or https://www.youtube.com/@pilgrimreformedchurch3115/streams for later services.]

Family, today we celebrate the start of what we consider our Christmas season.  And we’re doing so with this special worship service, for this is a very special day.  Please listen and follow along to what the Apostle Luke saved for us in verses 1 through 6 of the 3rd chapter of his Gospel account of the life of Jesus - of a slightly later point in time - and I’ll be reading this from the New King James Version of our Holy Bible…

1 Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, 2 while Annas and Caiaphas were high priests, the word of God came to John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness. 3 And he went into all the region around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins, 4 as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, saying:

“The voice of one crying in the wilderness:

‘Prepare the way of the Lord;

Make His paths straight.

5 Every valley shall be filled

And every mountain and hill brought low;

The crooked places shall be made straight

And the rough ways smooth;

6 And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’ ”

--Luke 3:1-6 (NKJV)

Today is the first Sunday in Advent.  This is a crucial time for us as we await the coming of our Savior.  This marks the beginning of our watch that will end on Christmas Eve, with the birth of a precious little baby.  Our Lord Jesus entered this world as one of us, lived among us, and died as we all someday will die.  But He didn’t stay dead, for God raised Him from the dead, to sit at the right hand of the Father in heaven.  We who believe will also be raised from the dead to join them in paradise.  So our Lord’s coming is indeed crucial for us.

Another little baby was born just a few months before Jesus, born miraculously to an elderly couple, both well beyond normal child bearing days, born as a gift from God.  This was John, later known as the Baptizer, who was given the mission from God to prepare mankind for the coming of the Messiah, our Christ.  Of course, John was not chosen to announce the birth of Jesus, since he was just a baby himself at the time.  His assignment was to prepare men for the Messiah to be known, for the start of Jesus’ ministry on earth.

This is what Advent is all about, this is why we observe it: to prepare ourselves for the coming of our Lord.  We have the advantage over the people of Luke’s day for we know when Jesus was born, and we know why He was born.  We will celebrate His birth in just a few weeks.  But we still need to get ourselves ready for His coming.

John preached a message of repentance.  He aimed at men’s hearts with his words, as much as their minds, for our hearts can overrule our minds.  And family, it is our hearts that we must prepare.  It is our hearts we need to look into so that we can purge ourselves of our sins, turn from them, and give ourselves fully to our Lord Jesus.

During this Advent season, let us prepare the way of the Lord.  Let us repent of our sin and stay on the straight and narrow path so that we will see and enjoy the salvation of God.  In the blessed name of Christ Jesus our Lord, the coming Messiah.  Amen.

Let us pray…  Father God, thank You for sending Your Son to save us from ourselves.  Guide us through this time of Advent that we may free ourselves of our grasp on the world and focus more on our coming Savior.  Please forgive us, Father, for not bearing witness to the truth of the Gospel.  Help us reach out to others sharing the truth, serving You by serving others, loving You by loving others.  Help us be more like Your Son Jesus, more forgiving and merciful in our daily walk, so that we might be more righteous in Your sight.  This we pray in the blessed name of Christ Jesus our Lord and our Savior.  Amen.

Give Thanks

 

[The following is a manuscript of my message delivered at Pilgrim Reformed Church on Sunday morning, the 23rd of November, 2025.  A recording of our service may be available on our YouTube streaming channel: 

https://www.youtube.com/@pilgrimreformedchurch1992/streams for the older services or https://www.youtube.com/@pilgrimreformedchurch3115/streams for later services.]

This Thursday is Thanksgiving, the day specifically set aside in America to give thanks to God for His divine providence over these United States.  It harkens back to the harvest feast in 1621 between the Pilgrims of Plymouth Colony and the local Native American tribe to celebrate a successful harvest following a deadly winter.  Those early Pilgrims recognized God’s hand in surviving the long, dangerous ocean voyage, a terribly harsh winter, and the help provided by the natives.  And our Founding Fathers also acknowledged God’s intervention and intercession in our achieving military victory over and gaining independence from the strongest nation at the time.

Now, as Thanksgiving Day approaches, I pray that we later Pilgrims recognize God’s hand at work in our lives.  When we do, how often, and in what manner, do we thank Him?

The Apostle Paul certainly appreciated God working in his life, and through him, in the life of the early church.  Everywhere he went, in every letter he wrote, to everyone he spoke, Paul acknowledged God’s goodness and mercy, His kindness and faithfulness.  He knew how God, through the resurrected Jesus, had turned his life around and shown him the truth.  And he shared this truth unashamedly and without hesitation.

While our bible contains so many examples of this in his letters, I’d like to share one that I think fits nicely into our Thanksgiving tradition.  Please listen and follow along as Paul gives thanks and prays for the church in Colossae, in verses 11 through 20 of the opening chapter of his Letter to the Colossians, and I’ll be reading from the New Life Version of our Holy Bible this morning…

11 I pray that God’s great power will make you strong, and that you will have joy as you wait and do not give up. 12 I pray that you will be giving thanks to the Father. He has made it so you could share the good things given to those who belong to Christ who are in the light. 13 God took us out of a life of darkness. He has put us in the holy nation of His much-loved Son. 14 We have been bought by His blood and made free. Our sins are forgiven through Him.

15 Christ is as God is. God cannot be seen. Christ lived before anything was made. 16 Christ made everything in the heavens and on the earth. He made everything that is seen and things that are not seen. He made all the powers of heaven. Everything was made by Him and for Him. 17 Christ was before all things. All things are held together by Him. 18 Christ is the head of the church which is His body. He is the beginning of all things. He is the first to be raised from the dead. He is to have first place in everything. 19 God the Father was pleased to have everything made perfect by Christ, His Son. 20 Everything in heaven and on earth can come to God because of Christ’s death on the cross. Christ’s blood has made peace.

--Colossians 1:11-20 (NLV)

Let us pray…  Father God, thank You for turning Paul from a persecutor of the early church into its greatest evangelist.  And thank You for all the many blessings You bestow upon us.  You give us so much that sometimes we take Your goodness for granted.  We forget what we were before Your Son came to us and changed us.  We struggle to truly show our appreciation for sending Your Son to redeem us, let alone for all the ways you bless us and bring joy into our lives.  Father, we know we disobey You at times, and we know it displeases You.  We need You to help us live more righteously.  Please forgive us those times we disappoint You and help us be more obedient to Your will, more loving, more caring, more compassionate, showing Your love to others so that they too might find salvation through Jesus.

Speak to us now, Father, that we might hear Your voice through Your Spirit within us and better grasp the message You have for us this day.  This we pray in the precious name of Your Son, Christ Jesus our Lord.   Amen.

An old issue of the little Daily Bread tells of the Scottish minister Alexander Whyte who was known for his uplifting prayers in the pulpit.  He always found something for which to be grateful.  One Sunday morning the weather was so gloomy that one church member thought to himself, "Certainly the preacher won't think of anything for which to thank the Lord on a wretched day like this."  Much to his surprise, however, Whyte began by praying, "We thank Thee, O God, that it is not always like this."

We’ve had days like that, haven’t we.  But the thing is, we couldn’t really appreciate the beautiful days if we didn’t experience lousy weather every now and then.

I see this – the mix of good days and bad days – as just another blessing from God.  The bad gives us greater appreciation for the good.  The change, knowing that bad days will eventually be followed by good ones, gives us hope and something to look forward to.

It’s the same with the changing seasons, knowing that a blustery winter will give way to a renewing spring, a sweltering summer will surrender to a cooler, crisper fall.  The changes bring joy and keep us from getting bored.  And as we always say, here in North Carolina, if you don’t like the weather, just wait a minute – it will change.

As we look at those early roots of our Thanksgiving tradition, we can see the blessings that Paul describes.  God’s great power made those early Pilgrims strong enough to survive against terrible odds, and made our forefathers strong enough to face off against and defeat the greatest army.  He gave the Pilgrims joy in their first successful harvest, and He still gives us joy in our freedom to worship – or not worship - as we wish.

The Native Americans shared their knowledge and their good things with those early colonists, and our forefathers shared the Gospel, as this nation was founded by Christian men and women on Christian principles.  And God took the Pilgrims and our nation’s founders out of a life of darkness under foreign rule and into the light of Christ Jesus, whose blood made us truly free.

Christ is as God is.  He made all things – seen and unseen - and all things are held together by Him.  He is the first to be raised from the dead, showing us our own future thanks to God’s mercy and our faith.  Christ’s blood has made peace for us with God.

How can we not be thankful?  How can we not be filled with joy?  Paul might have thought of asking those questions when he wrote to the church in Thessalonica.  In verses 16 through 18 of the 5th chapter of his 1st Letter to the Thessalonians, Paul encourages us to…

16 Be full of joy all the time. 17 Never stop praying. 18 In everything give thanks. This is what God wants you to do because of Christ Jesus.

--1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NLV)

Be joyful for all that God has done for us.  Never stop praying, give thanks in everything, no matter what we’re going through.  This is what God wants of us, we who recognize all that He and Jesus have done.

You’ve heard me say before that we’re just not completely sure who wrote the Letter to the Hebrews.  For the longest time, it was firmly believed that Paul was the author.  But further scrutiny in later years seems to indicate that it just doesn’t sound like Paul, it doesn’t seem to fit neatly with all the letters we know he wrote or dictated.

Of course, there are many parts that do fit, that do sound like what Paul would have written.  For instance, in verses 15 and 16 of the 13th chapter of the Letter to the Hebrews, we are exhorted with the words…

15 Let us give thanks all the time to God through Jesus Christ. Our gift to Him is to give thanks. Our lips should always give thanks to His name. 16 Remember to do good and help each other. Gifts like this please God.

--Hebrews 13:15-16 (NLV)

Give thanks to God all the time!  Always give thanks, in all situations, in everything, as Paul wrote to the Thessalonians.  Now that doesn’t mean we should thank God for the bad stuff that happens, but that we find something good and thanks-worthy even in the bad times.

And here’s the kicker: this is our gift to God.  Did you ever wonder how you can give God something in return for all He’s given you?  Well, there it is:  simply thank Him.  Count your many blessings.  Name them one by one.  And thank Him for each and every one.

And remember that particular instruction to always give thanks.  Not just one day a year, but always!  And don’t just give thanks for the meal or the day off, if you’re fortunate enough to get one, but for all His many blessings over your life.  Give thanks, for this is God’s will for us in Christ Jesus.

In the beautiful name of Jesus.  Amen.

Let us pray…  Almighty God, thank You for everything - for literally everything.  You created everything there is; we would have nothing without Your goodness and generosity.  We in this house acknowledge Your hand at work and we thank You.  We love You and trust You, Father.  But sometimes we just take everything You do for us for granted.  We know that it pleases You when we stop long enough to say “Thanks”, and now we know that You see our thanks giving as a gift.  Please help us give thanks in all things, dear God, and every day, not just once a year.  And Father, please help us reach out and share the Gospel message with everyone we come into contact with. 

Please hear us now, Father, as we pause for just a moment to speak to You through Your Spirit within us, promising to be more obedient to Your word, and seeking Your help to do so…

Lord Jesus, You are God, and we owe You more than we can ever give thanks for.  Thank You, Lord, for coming to us when we were lost, to show us the way.  Thank You for leading us out of the darkness into the light.  Thank You for all You have done and continue to do for us.  May those simple words – Thank You – convey our love and our true appreciation.  Please forgive us when we struggle to do what we know is right, to not do what we know is wrong.  Help us give thanks in all things at all times.  And please help us reach out to the non-believing world, sharing the Gospel message, showing Your love through our love.

Holy Spirit, please shield our minds and our hearts from Satan’s lies and the world’s empty promises.  Guide us around all the devil’s traps and snares.  Help us see though his temptations.  Help us keep our focus on the things of heaven and the needs of others rather than on anything this world might offer.  All this we pray in the blessed name of Christ Jesus our Lord.  Amen.

Are We There Yet?

 

[The following is a manuscript of my message delivered at Pilgrim Reformed Church on Sunday morning, the 16th of November, 2025.  A recording of our service may be available on our YouTube streaming channel: 

https://www.youtube.com/@pilgrimreformedchurch1992/streams for the older services or https://www.youtube.com/@pilgrimreformedchurch3115/streams for later services.]

There is a phrase that is so popular and used in so many ways that no one has any idea when or where it originated.  You’ve heard it in movies and in TV shows and probably from the back seat of your own car.  “Are we there yet?”  I remember one particularly annoying movie or TV scene where the kid just keeps repeating over and over, “Are we there yet?  Are we there yet?  Are we there yet?”  We adults are more likely to say it in a slightly different way, “Aren’t we there yet?!!?”  Either way, it’s an easily recognizable sign of impatience, of being past ready of getting to wherever we’re going.

Now, while this phrase normally applies to road trips, whether going to Grandma’s house or the beach, I think it might also fit right into the Advent season, which we are about to enter.

The word “advent” loosely means “coming”, and is often used to indicate waiting for the arrival of something, or someone.  In the Advent season, we are awaiting the birth of our Lord Jesus, His coming into the world.

Of course, that can also apply to His second coming.  While the birth of Jesus is incredibly important to us, our Bible gives far greater emphasis to His future and imminent return.  Some sources mention that there are over 1800 references to the second coming compared to just a handful of specific verses detailing Jesus’ birth.

So if we ask, “Are we there yet?”, we may be anxiously awaiting Christmas day, or we may be looking forward to the day Jesus returns to set all things right.  As for the first… well, just wait a bit longer – it’s only a few weeks away.  As for the second, the Apostle Paul tells us it's not quite yet time.  Please listen and follow along as Paul gives us and the church in Thessalonica a little better idea of what to expect, from the 2nd chapter of his 2nd Letter to the Thessalonians, and I’ll be reading from the Contemporary English Version of our Holy Bible this morning…

1 When our Lord Jesus returns, we will be gathered up to meet Him. So I ask you, my friends, 2 not to be easily upset or disturbed by people who claim the Lord has already come. They may say they heard this directly from the Holy Spirit, or from someone else, or even that they read it in one of our letters. 3 But don't be fooled! People will rebel against God. Then before the Lord returns, the wicked one who is doomed to be destroyed will appear. 4 He will brag and oppose everything holy or sacred. He will even sit in God's temple and claim to be God. 5 Don't you remember I told you this while I was still with you?

6 You already know what is holding this wicked one back until it is time for him to come. 7 His mysterious power is already at work, but someone is holding him back. And the wicked one won't appear until this someone steps out of the way. 8 Then he will appear, but the Lord Jesus will kill him simply by breathing on him. He will be completely destroyed by the Lord's glorious return.

9 When the wicked one appears, Satan will pretend to work all kinds of miracles, wonders, and signs. 10 Lost people will be fooled by his evil deeds. They could be saved, but they will refuse to love the truth and accept it. 11 So God will make sure they are fooled into believing a lie. 12 All of them will be punished, because they would rather do evil than believe the truth.

13 My friends, the Lord loves you, and it is only natural for us to thank God for you. From the beginning God chose you to be saved. His Spirit made you holy, and you put your faith in the truth. 14 God used our preaching as His way of inviting you to share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 15 My friends, this is why you must remain faithful and follow closely what we taught you in person and by our letters.

16 God our Father loves us. He treats us with undeserved grace and has given us eternal comfort and a wonderful hope. We pray that our Lord Jesus Christ and God our Father 17 will encourage you and help you always to do and say the right thing.

--2 Thessalonians 2 (CEV)

Let us pray…  Father God, thank You for making and executing a plan for all of mankind and for the world itself.  Jesus came to us to atone for our sin and offer us salvation, all according to Your plan.  If we could see more of Your plan, maybe we would be more obedient to Your word.  But then we wouldn’t need faith.  So we struggle through this life relying on our faith and trusting in You.  Father, we know we disobey You at times, and we know it displeases You.  We need You to help us live more righteously.  Please forgive us those times we disappoint You and help us be more obedient to Your will, more loving, more caring, more compassionate, showing Your love to others so that they too might find salvation through Jesus.

Speak to us now, Father, that we might hear Your voice through Your Spirit within us and better grasp the message You have for us this day.  This we pray in the precious name of Your Son, Christ Jesus our Lord.   Amen.

I believe I've used this little report before, but it serves as a testament to what Paul just told us, that the signs Paul disclosed have not yet been seen.  This comes from a 1991 issue of the magazine Today in the Word:

After 14 years of studying the Bible, William Miller became convinced that Christ would return in 1843.  When Miller announced April 3 as the day, some disciples went to mountaintops, hoping for a head start to heaven.  Others were in graveyards, planning to ascend in reunion with their departed loved ones.  Philadelphia society ladies clustered together outside town to avoid entering God's kingdom amid the common herd.  When April 4 dawned as usual the Millerites were disillusioned, but they took heart.  Their leader had predicted a range of dates for Christ's return.  They still had until March 21, 1844.  The devout continued to make ready, but again they were disappointed.  A third date - October 22, 1844 - was set, but it also passed without incident.

The people were fooled.  They either didn’t know or didn’t believe it that no one is able to determine the exact date and time of our Lord's return to earth.  There will be some, though, that will still try to predict when it will happen, and many people - even believers - will be led to believe them.

Jesus warned us about this.  He had been trying to explain to His disciples that He would soon leave them and go back to the Father, but that one day He would return.  They asked Him, “What will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?”  The Apostle Matthew recorded our Lord’s response, in the 24th chapter of his Gospel account, verses 4 through 8 and 36 through 39…

4 Jesus answered:

"Don't let anyone fool you. 5 Many will come and claim to be Me. They will say they are the Messiah, and they will fool many people.

6 "You will soon hear about wars and threats of wars, but don't be afraid. These things will have to happen first, but that isn't the end. 7 Nations and kingdoms will go to war against each other. People will starve to death, and in some places there will be earthquakes. 8 But this is just the beginning of troubles.

36 “No one knows the day or hour. The angels in heaven don't know, and the Son Himself doesn't know. Only the Father knows. 37 When the Son of Man appears, things will be just as they were when Noah lived. 38 People were eating, drinking, and getting married right up to the day the flood came and Noah went into the big boat. 39 They didn't know anything was happening until the flood came and swept them all away. This is how it will be when the Son of Man appears.”

--Matthew 24:4-8, 36-39 (CEV)

Don't be misled by anyone who would claim or predict the day and time when Jesus will return.  Only our Father God knows when He will send His Son back to earth, to take His "bride" - the church - to the home He has prepared for her.

Yes, there are signs we can watch for that will herald the second coming.  And yes, some of those signs have already occurred.  We’ve definitely heard about, and experienced, wars and threats of wars.  Nations and kings have gone to war against each other pretty much as long as there have been nations and kings, but the end has not yet come.  People have indeed starved to death, and earthquakes shake the world up quite frequently, but this is only the beginning of troubles.  Some of the Old Testament prophets even give indicators of the impending end to watch for.  But I think we can all agree that Jesus hasn’t come back yet.

So let’s look again at what Paul shared with us.  Bad people will try to fool us, even tell us Jesus has already come and we missed it.  Don’t believe them.  We can read in Revelation that every eye will see Him when Jesus returns, riding in on the clouds.  I promise you: we won’t miss it.

But Paul gives us the one sure sign, the one that will clearly denote the end is at hand.  In verses 3 and 4 of our scripture reading, Paul assures us that, “Before the Lord returns, the wicked one who is doomed to be destroyed will appear.  He will brag and oppose everything holy or sacred.  He will even sit in God's temple and claim to be God.”

The “wicked one” Paul warns of is Satan’s chief agent that we know as the Antichrist.  When he makes his public appearance, when he stands in the Temple and claims to be God, then God will send Jesus back to us.

For now, though, the wicked one is being held back, not allowed to show himself to the world.  He’s already at work, fomenting those wars and starvations Jesus spoke of.  Only the Christ has the power to hold the Antichrist back until God says to let him go.  So yes, although a lot of the foretold signs have been seen, this last and most easily discernable indicator has yet to occur.

We're not quite there yet, although it sure seems we're getting close.  But not all of the signs have been fulfilled.  Jesus is still holding the Antichrist back.  Until he makes his public debut and claims to be God, we will still have to wait, and pray.

And only God knows when that will be.  But we need to be ready when He does come.  Like the servants of the master who went off to a wedding feast, we need to keep working at the task we’ve been assigned until our Master returns.  We need to keep sharing the Gospel, the Good News of salvation through Christ Jesus.  We need to keep making disciples.  We need to keep trying to save the lost, rescue the perishing, offering the hand of Jesus’ love.  We need to be doing what Jesus told us to do when He returns, because we don’t know when that will be.

So let’s get out there and help the lost be found.  In the blessed name of Christ Jesus our Lord.  Amen.

Let us pray…  Almighty God, thank You for keeping so much of Your plan hidden from our view so we can show our love and devotion to You by living our faith.  We fully trust that You are working all things to our good, even when we can’t even begin to understand why some things happen.  We trust You, Father, and trust in Your great faithfulness.  But sometimes we just can’t help but wonder about and even question what You allow, why You let Satan run rampant through our world, our lives.  We know this is part of our sinful nature, and we know it displeases and disappoints You, Father.  We really do want to live and act more righteously.  Please help us in this, Father.  And especially, please help us reach out and share the Gospel message with everyone we come into contact with. 

Please hear us now, Father, as we pause for just a moment to speak to You through Your Spirit within us, promising to be more obedient to Your word, and seeking Your help to do so…

Lord Jesus, for now You are holding back the Antichrist, and the day of Your return.  Thank You, Lord, for keeping the wicked one at bay, even though Satan is wreaking havoc around us.  We love You, Jesus, and thank You for all You have done and continue to do for us.  We just ask that you please help us get out there and be working Your assignment while You are away.  And please forgive us when we struggle to do what we know is right, to not do what we know is wrong.  We don’t want to disappoint You and our Father God any more.  Please help us reach out to the non-believing world, sharing the Gospel message, showing Your love through our love.

Holy Spirit, please shield our minds and our hearts from Satan’s lies and the world’s empty promises.  Guide us around all the devil’s traps and snares.  Help us see though his temptations.  Help us keep our focus on the things of heaven and the needs of others rather than on anything this world might offer.  All this we pray in the blessed name of Christ Jesus our Lord.  Amen.

Come Out of That Tree

 

[The following is a manuscript of my message delivered at Pilgrim Reformed Church on Sunday morning, the 9th of November, 2025.  A recording of our service may be available on our YouTube streaming channel: 

https://www.youtube.com/@pilgrimreformedchurch1992/streams for the older services or https://www.youtube.com/@pilgrimreformedchurch3115/streams for later services.]

Last week we looked at the time when Peter walked on water, at least momentarily.  He effectively challenged Jesus to call him out of the boat and walk over the surface of the sea, just to prove that it really was Jesus calling him.  And Jesus did just that.  So Peter climbed right out of that boat and began walking on the water to Jesus.  But he was quickly distracted by the wind and waves and began to sink, only to be saved from certain drowning by the hand of Jesus.

Now, I believe it’s safe to say that Peter never had any idea that he could walk on the surface of the sea before this event.  And I bet none of us think we can do that either.  But we’ll never know if we don’t try, and if we don’t fully trust in and focus on our Lord Jesus.  If He ever does call us out of the boat, we need to climb out and start walking.

Today I want to follow up on this idea of Jesus calling us out of where we are.  Now we know that Jesus spent the vast majority of His time with common folk, and especially with those that were the worst of sinners.  (Yes, we know that we are all sinners, and that God doesn’t see any one sin as worse or less than another, but back then, and still today, some people considered some sins to be far, far worse than “normal” sins.)  Tax collectors, prostitutes, and of course the Romans, were considered the worst of the worst of sinners.  Jesus even had one of these “worst of sinners” as a disciple and apostle: Matthew, the former tax collector.  But there was another tax collector who enjoyed Jesus’ compassion and grace.

Please listen and follow along as the Apostle Luke relates the story of Zacchaeus, from the first 10 verses of the 19th chapter of his Gospel account, reading from the New Living Translation of our Holy Bible this morning…

1 Jesus entered Jericho and made His way through the town. 2 There was a man there named Zacchaeus. He was the chief tax collector in the region, and he had become very rich. 3 He tried to get a look at Jesus, but he was too short to see over the crowd. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree beside the road, for Jesus was going to pass that way.

5 When Jesus came by, He looked up at Zacchaeus and called him by name. “Zacchaeus!” He said. “Quick, come down! I must be a guest in your home today.”

6 Zacchaeus quickly climbed down and took Jesus to his house in great excitement and joy. 7 But the people were displeased. “He has gone to be the guest of a notorious sinner,” they grumbled.

8 Meanwhile, Zacchaeus stood before the Lord and said, “I will give half my wealth to the poor, Lord, and if I have cheated people on their taxes, I will give them back four times as much!”

9 Jesus responded, “Salvation has come to this home today, for this man has shown himself to be a true son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.”

--Luke 19:1-10 (NLT)

Let us pray…  Father God, thank You for sending Your Son Jesus to seek out and save the lost.    Thank You for giving us the faith to believe in and follow Jesus.  And thank You for calling us Your children because of our belief.  Father, we know we don’t always do what is right in Your eyes and it disappoints You.  We’d much rather stay in our own little comfort zone than to get out and do the work You and Jesus have for us.  Please forgive us those times and help us be more obedient to Your will, more loving, more caring, more compassionate, showing Your love to others so that they too might find salvation through Jesus.

Speak to us now, Father, that we might hear Your voice through Your Spirit within us and better grasp the message You have for us this day.  This we pray in the precious name of Your Son, Christ Jesus our Lord.   Amen.

Zacchaeus must have been quite good at his job, for our scripture noted that he was the chief tax collector in the region of Jericho.  Not only that, he had become very rich at it.  His position in the hierarchy was likely pretty secure.

Bits & Pieces magazine once published this little quip:  A manager and a sales rep stood looking at a map on which colored pins indicated the company representative in each area. "I'm not going to fire you, Wilson," the manager said, "but I'm loosening your pin a bit just to emphasize the insecurity of your situation."

I don't know about you, but I sure don't want God loosening my pin even a little bit!  As His Son’s representative, I want my situation to be secure.  There are times, of course, when other people are blocking our sight and we can’t see what’s important.  We may have to go higher for a better view.  But if Jesus calls us down with a task to do for Him, we need to immediately get down and to it, like Zacchaeus did.

Now, some may say, “I’m saved.  I know I’m saved by my faith.  So why do I need to do anything else for my salvation?  I’m nice and safe in this boat, I’m comfy in this tree.  Why would Jesus even ask me to do anything else, even if I felt like I could?”

I think the half-brother of Jesus can answer this.  Please hear the argument James makes in the 2nd chapter of his letter to the early church, verses 17 through 19…

17 Faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless.

18 Now someone may argue, “Some people have faith; others have good deeds.” But I say, “How can you show me your faith if you don’t have good deeds? I will show you my faith by my good deeds.”

19 You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror.

--James 2:17b-19 (NLT)

I love that last part – even the demons know and believe that there is only one God, yet they are certainly not saved.  Maintaining our faith requires more than that.  Listening to James, we can see that our faith drives our call to action.  We are driven to do good because of our faith.  Our action for Jesus, our good deeds, are the external indication of our internal faith.  Much like our baptism is the outward sign of our inward commitment to Jesus.

And make no mistake, Jesus calls us to action, to climb out of the boat, to come out of that tree.  He always has a task for someone, or some ones.  For instance, after sending the 12 disciples out as apostles into the villages and towns He intended to visit soon, Jesus sent 72 more disciples out on the same mission.  Here is how Luke reported this in the first 3 verses of the 10th chapter of his Gospel account…

1 The Lord now chose seventy-two other disciples and sent them ahead in pairs to all the towns and places he planned to visit. 2 These were his instructions to them: "The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields. 3 Now go, and remember that I am sending you out as lambs among wolves."

--Luke 10:1-3 (NLT)

This is pretty much the forerunner of our command to go into the world making disciples.  We are to be some of those workers bringing in the harvest.  Going out as lambs among wolves, we are to be humble, compassionate, and kind, even if the wolves try to tear us apart.  We are not to react “in kind” when evil strikes.

Family, we can do nothing if we don’t try.  Jesus is calling us to come out of that tree, for He has something for us to do.  He is calling us out of our comfort zone and into a new and different course in our life.  He is calling us to serve Him, with all our heart and all our souls and all our mind.  And if we love Him, we will willingly do as He commands.

So come out of that tree, and get to work.  Make a difference in the world, even if it's only for one person.  In the blessed name of Christ Jesus our Lord.  Amen.

Let us pray…  Almighty God, thank You for inspiring Your Son’s disciples and apostles to record at least some of the things that Jesus said and did.  Through their letters and Gospel accounts, we can not only come to know Jesus better, but we also gain greater clarity in how He wants us to serve Him.  Sadly, though, we’re not always very willing to do what He commands.  Fear often stops us, the fear of how others will react, the fear of not knowing what to do, the fear of failure.  We confess our failure, Father, and seek Your help toward better servitude.  Please encourage us and help us reach out and share the Gospel message with everyone we come into contact with. 

Please hear us now, Father, as we pause for just a moment to speak to You through Your Spirit within us, promising to be more obedient to Your word, and seeking Your help to do so…

Lord Jesus, You gave us a very few straightforward commands.  We are to love others as You love us, and we are to go out and make more disciples by telling others the things You did and said.  If we truly love others, we will want them to be saved from eternal damnation, just like You wanted us to be saved.  And that means we will reach out to them, sharing the Gospel message at every opportunity.  Thank You, Lord, for keeping it that simple.  But Lord, it’s just not all that easy for us.  We love You, Jesus, and thank You for all You have done and continue to do for us, but we’re either too afraid to approach other people, especially complete strangers, or we’re just too comfortable in our life as it stands, too comfortable in the status quo.  Please forgive us when we hesitate to do what we know You want us to do.  We don’t want to disappoint You and our Father God any more.  Please help us reach out to the non-believing world, sharing the Gospel message, showing Your love through our love.

Holy Spirit, please shield our minds and our hearts from Satan’s lies and the world’s empty promises.  Guide us around all the devil’s traps and snares.  Help us see though his temptations.  Help us keep our focus on the things of heaven and the needs of others rather than on anything this world might offer.  All this we pray in the blessed name of Christ Jesus our Lord.  Amen.