ListenDaily – 12 January 2011: Read, Pray, Tell; how bright was David’s lamp?
Scripture:
Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long. Your commands are always with me and make me wiser than my enemies. I have more insight than all my teachers, for I meditate on your statutes. I have more understanding than the elders, for I obey your precepts. I have kept my feet from every evil path so that I might obey your word. I have not departed from your laws, for you yourself have taught me. How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! I gain understanding from your precepts; therefore I hate every wrong path.
Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. Psalm 119:97-105
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
How bright was David’s lamp? Not spiritually, I mean his literal lamp.
My guess is that in the middle of a pitch black Israeli night, an ancient type of lamp would have shone just enough to show its carrier a few feet ahead of where they were. The lamp would not have been needed in daylight hours, but would have been constantly needed when traveling in the dark.
One could not light the lamp, set it down, and go on down the road.
Jesus said that when He left this Earth we would be living in darkness. We are in constant need of the light, and The Lamp (God’s Word) is a source of The Light.
We need it with us constantly, to see where to go, how to go safely, when to stop, and to illuminate the obstacles in our way.
So, how are you doing with making God’s Word part of your daily life? There are so many options! The written Word, internet, email, and Facebook devotionals. Don’t overload yourself with some commitment that you cannot keep, but don’t let yourself off the hook too easily either.
In parts of the world people are dying, literally, to receive Scripture. Many of us have multiple Bibles at our fingertips – but untouched by them.
Questions:
How often do you read Scripture?
What is your relationship with the Bible?
Will you try to use this gift from God to come closer to Him?
"You wonder why people choose fields away from the States when young people at home are drifting because no one wants to take time to listen to their problems. I’ll tell you why I left. Because those Stateside young people have every opportunity to study, hear, and understand the Word of God in their own language, and these Indians have no opportunity whatsoever. I have had to make a cross of two logs, and lie down on it, to show the Indians what it means to crucify a man. When there is that much ignorance over here and so much knowledge and opportunity over there, I have no question in my mind why God sent me here. Those whimpering Stateside young people will wake up on the Day of Judgment condemned to worse fates than these demon-fearing Indians, because, having a Bible, they were bored with it---while these never heard of such a thing as writing." Jim Elliot
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. Psalm 119: 105
For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer…1 Peter 3:12
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations… Matthew 28:19
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
New Year’s Resolved?
ListenDaily – 11 January 2011: New Year’s Resolved?
Scripture: Psalm 119:105, 1 Peter 3:12, Matthew 28:19
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. Psalm 119:105
For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer…1 Peter 3:12
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations… Matthew 28:19
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Christmas 2010 has come and gone; likewise New Year’s Eve 2010 and New Year’s Day 2011, and life is returning to normal.
How about our New Year’s resolutions? Did you make any? How are you doing with them?
Certainly there are all sorts of good physically-related resolutions, like eating less and exercising more. But as Paul wrote to Timothy, “Physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.” (1 Tim. 4:8)
I asked the congregation at Wyoming UMC, where I am the associate pastor, to consider “resolving” in three areas of their spiritual lives, and use the three verses above as reference points. “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.” How much time do you spend in and with God’s Word? Will you try to spend a little more? It is OK to commit to some reading program, but even if you don’t you can take a step closer. Do you read only in church on Sunday mornings? Try reading a little each day. Do you read a verse a day? How about moving up to a chapter? The point here is not “how much”, but “how close”. God reveals Himself through the Scriptures; let us look to see more of Him!
The second verse reads “For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer…” The great Jehovah God, the Creator and King of the universe, pays attention to you. Won’t you take a little more time to talk to and listen to Him?
The final verse says “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations…” How are you doing when it comes to telling someone, anyone, about Jesus? What can you do to more closely follow this command?
For the next few days we will look at these resolutions. Ready?
Scripture: Psalm 119:105, 1 Peter 3:12, Matthew 28:19
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. Psalm 119:105
For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer…1 Peter 3:12
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations… Matthew 28:19
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Christmas 2010 has come and gone; likewise New Year’s Eve 2010 and New Year’s Day 2011, and life is returning to normal.
How about our New Year’s resolutions? Did you make any? How are you doing with them?
Certainly there are all sorts of good physically-related resolutions, like eating less and exercising more. But as Paul wrote to Timothy, “Physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.” (1 Tim. 4:8)
I asked the congregation at Wyoming UMC, where I am the associate pastor, to consider “resolving” in three areas of their spiritual lives, and use the three verses above as reference points. “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.” How much time do you spend in and with God’s Word? Will you try to spend a little more? It is OK to commit to some reading program, but even if you don’t you can take a step closer. Do you read only in church on Sunday mornings? Try reading a little each day. Do you read a verse a day? How about moving up to a chapter? The point here is not “how much”, but “how close”. God reveals Himself through the Scriptures; let us look to see more of Him!
The second verse reads “For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer…” The great Jehovah God, the Creator and King of the universe, pays attention to you. Won’t you take a little more time to talk to and listen to Him?
The final verse says “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations…” How are you doing when it comes to telling someone, anyone, about Jesus? What can you do to more closely follow this command?
For the next few days we will look at these resolutions. Ready?
Friday, December 24, 2010
A specific time, all people, a great concert, and peace
24 December 2010 – Christmas Eve, a look at Luke 2:8-14
And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“…keeping watch over their flock by night…"
We do not know, of course, what time of day Jesus was born. We do know, however, that the angelic announcement to the shepherds came at night.
How fitting!
For as the Isaiah prophesied, "the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned."
And as it was said of John the Baptist, "He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light."
And as Jesus Himself said "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."
And so, the angel came, in the middle of the night, dispelling the darkness with Heavenly light -- a foretelling of the Heavenly Light
that had been born into the world -- praise God!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. Do you think it was with intent that the angel appeared at night?
2. Is there a significance to the 'glory' that shone around them?
3. What other passages about light does this remind you of?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.”
“… all people.”
The ancient prophecies of the coming Messiah were held in Hebrew texts -- from Hebrew prophets -- and was believed by many to be only for the Hebrews. He was after all to be the "King of the Jews".
But there is Gospel, there is Good News for the rest of us --
Listen brothers and sisters -- all brothers and sisters, be ye Jewish or not. Regardless of race -- regardless of your race, your heritage, your parents, your past religious beliefs, the color of your skin, where you were born or where you live -- these good tidings -- this great joy -- this Savior is for you all people -- this Savior is for you!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. Do you think that this was with intent of the angel's message?
2. Might this have been the first inkling that the Messiah was for all?
3. What other passages confirm this idea?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger."
The physical presence of the angel and the glory of God was so overwhelming -- that I wonder if they thought it odd, at first, that this newly arrived King was a baby -- and was in a feeding trough in barn. I'm sure that Jesus looked different and was in a different place than anyone expected.
Hmmm -- methinks there is a lesson there.
Are we not often guilty of looking back at the shepherds and the Pharisees and everyone else, and clucking our tongues that they did not recognize this Messiah?
And yet, doesn't Jesus still look different than we think He should and show up in places that we don't expect? Pierced, tattooed teenagers praising God with confidence, one hundred million believers in China, Orthodox Messianic Jews, priests with collars and pastors in Hawaiian shirts -- pews full of three-piece suits and folding chairs filled with blue jeans and t-shirts. Beautifully adorned cathedrals, little frame churches in the middle of cotton fields, soup kitchens, with the homeless huddled under the freeway overpass.
That was not just a baby -- Jesus is never just anything.
He came in a way that was totally unexpected.
He still does.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. Why do you think God decided that Jesus would arrive as a baby?
2. In what ways do you see Jesus today that surprise you?
3. In what places?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God."
The shepherds were a walk into town away from seeing the Savior, the Messiah, Christ the King.
But imagine the sight before their eyes at this moment! First, the angel and the Glory of God -- then joining the angel was a multitude of the heavenly host praising God! Can you imagine? These blessed shepherds got a glimpse into the Heavenly realms -- as it says in John's Revelation, "Day and night they never stop saying: "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty… "
We often talk about the blessing they received by being among the first to see Jesus -- and I do not want to take away from that at all -- but imagine this scene -- as the Heavens opened and God's choir momentarily turned away from the throne to announce the arrival of the Son -- to herald the birth to these blessed few.
God bless the day when we shall all see what the shepherds saw!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. Can you think of anyone else who saw a similar sight ?
2. Why, do you think, did God send the Heavenly Hosts along with the angel?
3. Beyond the obvious shock, what do you think was the shepherds response to this?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
There is much talk during this season, and this year it seems, in particular, about 'keeping Christ in Christmas'. Debates over nativity scenes on public property, Christian songs sung in public schools, store clerks being instructed to say "Happy Holidays" or some other generic greeting. Freedom of speech vs. not being offensive -- my rights vs. your rights. As with many issues, it looks simple from “my” side…
There is a place for public debate, and we as Christians certainly have rights, but,"…on earth peace, good will toward men."
Our ultimate goal as Christians is to bring as many people to Jesus as we can.
Jesus was pretty rough on the established church leaders, but kind and loving to those outside the body -- the tax collectors -- the prostitutes.
I'm not suggesting, ever, that we as believers roll over and let the world squash the church. There is a time to stand and fight. We must just make sure that we are fighting His battle and fulfilling His desires, His will, not our own egos. I do believe some of us are called to debate in the public arena. I also believe that the goal of such debate must be kingdom oriented -- centered, not on achieving civil rights, but bringing people to Jesus. We certainly don't want to be 'right', and drive people away from Him in the process.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. How can we lovingly work at keeping Christ in Christmas?
2. What are specific ways we can do this, using Jesus' life as a model?
3. Does this perspective apply to the rest of the year?
Remember, as much as for anyone else in all of history, Jesus came for you. Merry Christmas, Pastor Jim
And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“…keeping watch over their flock by night…"
We do not know, of course, what time of day Jesus was born. We do know, however, that the angelic announcement to the shepherds came at night.
How fitting!
For as the Isaiah prophesied, "the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned."
And as it was said of John the Baptist, "He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light."
And as Jesus Himself said "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."
And so, the angel came, in the middle of the night, dispelling the darkness with Heavenly light -- a foretelling of the Heavenly Light
that had been born into the world -- praise God!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. Do you think it was with intent that the angel appeared at night?
2. Is there a significance to the 'glory' that shone around them?
3. What other passages about light does this remind you of?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.”
“… all people.”
The ancient prophecies of the coming Messiah were held in Hebrew texts -- from Hebrew prophets -- and was believed by many to be only for the Hebrews. He was after all to be the "King of the Jews".
But there is Gospel, there is Good News for the rest of us --
Listen brothers and sisters -- all brothers and sisters, be ye Jewish or not. Regardless of race -- regardless of your race, your heritage, your parents, your past religious beliefs, the color of your skin, where you were born or where you live -- these good tidings -- this great joy -- this Savior is for you all people -- this Savior is for you!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. Do you think that this was with intent of the angel's message?
2. Might this have been the first inkling that the Messiah was for all?
3. What other passages confirm this idea?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger."
The physical presence of the angel and the glory of God was so overwhelming -- that I wonder if they thought it odd, at first, that this newly arrived King was a baby -- and was in a feeding trough in barn. I'm sure that Jesus looked different and was in a different place than anyone expected.
Hmmm -- methinks there is a lesson there.
Are we not often guilty of looking back at the shepherds and the Pharisees and everyone else, and clucking our tongues that they did not recognize this Messiah?
And yet, doesn't Jesus still look different than we think He should and show up in places that we don't expect? Pierced, tattooed teenagers praising God with confidence, one hundred million believers in China, Orthodox Messianic Jews, priests with collars and pastors in Hawaiian shirts -- pews full of three-piece suits and folding chairs filled with blue jeans and t-shirts. Beautifully adorned cathedrals, little frame churches in the middle of cotton fields, soup kitchens, with the homeless huddled under the freeway overpass.
That was not just a baby -- Jesus is never just anything.
He came in a way that was totally unexpected.
He still does.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. Why do you think God decided that Jesus would arrive as a baby?
2. In what ways do you see Jesus today that surprise you?
3. In what places?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God."
The shepherds were a walk into town away from seeing the Savior, the Messiah, Christ the King.
But imagine the sight before their eyes at this moment! First, the angel and the Glory of God -- then joining the angel was a multitude of the heavenly host praising God! Can you imagine? These blessed shepherds got a glimpse into the Heavenly realms -- as it says in John's Revelation, "Day and night they never stop saying: "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty… "
We often talk about the blessing they received by being among the first to see Jesus -- and I do not want to take away from that at all -- but imagine this scene -- as the Heavens opened and God's choir momentarily turned away from the throne to announce the arrival of the Son -- to herald the birth to these blessed few.
God bless the day when we shall all see what the shepherds saw!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. Can you think of anyone else who saw a similar sight ?
2. Why, do you think, did God send the Heavenly Hosts along with the angel?
3. Beyond the obvious shock, what do you think was the shepherds response to this?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
There is much talk during this season, and this year it seems, in particular, about 'keeping Christ in Christmas'. Debates over nativity scenes on public property, Christian songs sung in public schools, store clerks being instructed to say "Happy Holidays" or some other generic greeting. Freedom of speech vs. not being offensive -- my rights vs. your rights. As with many issues, it looks simple from “my” side…
There is a place for public debate, and we as Christians certainly have rights, but,"…on earth peace, good will toward men."
Our ultimate goal as Christians is to bring as many people to Jesus as we can.
Jesus was pretty rough on the established church leaders, but kind and loving to those outside the body -- the tax collectors -- the prostitutes.
I'm not suggesting, ever, that we as believers roll over and let the world squash the church. There is a time to stand and fight. We must just make sure that we are fighting His battle and fulfilling His desires, His will, not our own egos. I do believe some of us are called to debate in the public arena. I also believe that the goal of such debate must be kingdom oriented -- centered, not on achieving civil rights, but bringing people to Jesus. We certainly don't want to be 'right', and drive people away from Him in the process.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. How can we lovingly work at keeping Christ in Christmas?
2. What are specific ways we can do this, using Jesus' life as a model?
3. Does this perspective apply to the rest of the year?
Remember, as much as for anyone else in all of history, Jesus came for you. Merry Christmas, Pastor Jim
Thursday, December 23, 2010
A Culmination of Amazment
Scripture: Luke 2:18a
...All who heard it were amazed...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Is this entire story not amazing? And just as amazing today as ever.
Who in the Christmas story touches you?
The shepherds, called by the Lord from their work to see something more important than their work.
The wise men, the Magi, called by the Lord to travel a great distance, away from their home.
Zechariah, Elizabeth, and John, called by the Lord to prepare the way for Jesus' ministry.
Herod, called by the Lord with the opportunity to open the doors for the Messiah.
Joseph, called by the Lord to protect Mary and the Babe, to be a guardian of the Word.
Mary, called by the Lord to give her very self as a vessel, and to carry and nurture Jesus until His time.
All of these characters in the Christmas story had vital roles to play, as we have seen. I find it interesting that the lowly, the humble, Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, faithfully followed their instructions. The one individual with the most Earthly power and authority, Herod, succumbed to evil.
With which one of these individuals do you relate to the most?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. (The shepherd question)
Do you ever have to decide between your work and the Lord's calling?
2. (The Magi question)
Has God ever called you out of where you are in order to see Him?
3. (The John the Baptist question)
Have you ever felt that your ministry was strictly in support of another?
4. (The Herod question)
Have you ever let your own personal desires get in the way of God's calling?
5. (The Joseph question)
Have you ever found yourself in a position to protect the Word?
6. (The Mary question)
Have you ever felt that your role was to nurture the Body, such as your church?
Merry Christmas! Blessed Christmas! Pastor Jim
...All who heard it were amazed...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Is this entire story not amazing? And just as amazing today as ever.
Who in the Christmas story touches you?
The shepherds, called by the Lord from their work to see something more important than their work.
The wise men, the Magi, called by the Lord to travel a great distance, away from their home.
Zechariah, Elizabeth, and John, called by the Lord to prepare the way for Jesus' ministry.
Herod, called by the Lord with the opportunity to open the doors for the Messiah.
Joseph, called by the Lord to protect Mary and the Babe, to be a guardian of the Word.
Mary, called by the Lord to give her very self as a vessel, and to carry and nurture Jesus until His time.
All of these characters in the Christmas story had vital roles to play, as we have seen. I find it interesting that the lowly, the humble, Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, faithfully followed their instructions. The one individual with the most Earthly power and authority, Herod, succumbed to evil.
With which one of these individuals do you relate to the most?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. (The shepherd question)
Do you ever have to decide between your work and the Lord's calling?
2. (The Magi question)
Has God ever called you out of where you are in order to see Him?
3. (The John the Baptist question)
Have you ever felt that your ministry was strictly in support of another?
4. (The Herod question)
Have you ever let your own personal desires get in the way of God's calling?
5. (The Joseph question)
Have you ever found yourself in a position to protect the Word?
6. (The Mary question)
Have you ever felt that your role was to nurture the Body, such as your church?
Merry Christmas! Blessed Christmas! Pastor Jim
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
ListenDaily – 22 December 2010: Christmas Surprise #10;The king's choice; everybody's choice
Scripture: Matthew 2:13-16
When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. "Get up," he said, "take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him." So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: "Out of Egypt I called my son."
When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Was Herod called by God to play a part in the Christmas story?
Certainly, if God led them from a far off land all the way to Bethlehem, He could have led them without a visit to Herod. Could it be, that Herod was given an opportunity to open great doors for the new Messiah? Might this have been a chance to bring Gentiles to an earlier understanding of this Jewish Savior? There were, after all, those in his courts who were aware of Hebrew prophecy.
But it was not to be.
Herod's goals were no loftier than his palace walls. The thought of this King, though only a Baby, was a threat -- a threat so great in his perception that it took him to murder.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. Do you think Herod had a choice in His actions?
2. How might things have turned out, if Herod had accepted Jesus and followed through on his promise to worship Him?
3. What effect might that have had on Jesus' later ministry?
May we understand the exponential implications of not accepting Jesus. Pastor Jim
When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. "Get up," he said, "take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him." So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: "Out of Egypt I called my son."
When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Was Herod called by God to play a part in the Christmas story?
Certainly, if God led them from a far off land all the way to Bethlehem, He could have led them without a visit to Herod. Could it be, that Herod was given an opportunity to open great doors for the new Messiah? Might this have been a chance to bring Gentiles to an earlier understanding of this Jewish Savior? There were, after all, those in his courts who were aware of Hebrew prophecy.
But it was not to be.
Herod's goals were no loftier than his palace walls. The thought of this King, though only a Baby, was a threat -- a threat so great in his perception that it took him to murder.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. Do you think Herod had a choice in His actions?
2. How might things have turned out, if Herod had accepted Jesus and followed through on his promise to worship Him?
3. What effect might that have had on Jesus' later ministry?
May we understand the exponential implications of not accepting Jesus. Pastor Jim
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
ListenDaily – 21 December 2010: Christmas Surprise #9; Now and Later
ListenDaily – 21 December 2010: Christmas Surprise #9; Now and Later
Scripture: Matthew 1:1-2, 9-11
The Visit of the Magi
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him."…
…After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We discussed last time that the Magi were important, not only to the Christmas story, but to Jesus' early ministry as well. Did you wonder how? Some have speculated that the gifts they provided were saved by His family, and later used to finance His later endeavors. Makes sense to me, but I don't know.
That is not what I wanted to talk about though.
God provided the wise men a star to follow, which led them from their home to Bethlehem, and eventually “stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.” Does that not make it sound like the star was not visible to them for a time, prompting them to stop and ask “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews?”
Why would they lose track and regain sight of the star?
Could it be that God wanted that interaction? Maybe He wanted to create a stir, a buzz -- get people talking. Here were three non-Jews, strangers in town, talking about the fulfillment of the ancient Hebrew prophecies. How would those who heard them have responded? It had been four hundred years since God's last utterances through the prophets -- now this -- the King of the Jews is here? Now?
I believe, that much like our earlier discussion about the shepherds, that this talk would have spread. Others might have followed these strangers, if only out of curiosity. Would these people not have kept their eye on this family? Then, thirty years or so later, when Jesus proclaimed His Messiah-ship, would those same folks not have remembered their encounter with these men from the East?
If so -- would it not have given credence to His claims?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. Who do you think these men talked to in Bethlehem?
2. Do you think news of who they were and why they were there would have spread?
3. What effect might that have had on Jesus' later ministry?
May we appreciate His vision. Pastor Jim
Scripture: Matthew 1:1-2, 9-11
The Visit of the Magi
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him."…
…After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We discussed last time that the Magi were important, not only to the Christmas story, but to Jesus' early ministry as well. Did you wonder how? Some have speculated that the gifts they provided were saved by His family, and later used to finance His later endeavors. Makes sense to me, but I don't know.
That is not what I wanted to talk about though.
God provided the wise men a star to follow, which led them from their home to Bethlehem, and eventually “stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.” Does that not make it sound like the star was not visible to them for a time, prompting them to stop and ask “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews?”
Why would they lose track and regain sight of the star?
Could it be that God wanted that interaction? Maybe He wanted to create a stir, a buzz -- get people talking. Here were three non-Jews, strangers in town, talking about the fulfillment of the ancient Hebrew prophecies. How would those who heard them have responded? It had been four hundred years since God's last utterances through the prophets -- now this -- the King of the Jews is here? Now?
I believe, that much like our earlier discussion about the shepherds, that this talk would have spread. Others might have followed these strangers, if only out of curiosity. Would these people not have kept their eye on this family? Then, thirty years or so later, when Jesus proclaimed His Messiah-ship, would those same folks not have remembered their encounter with these men from the East?
If so -- would it not have given credence to His claims?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. Who do you think these men talked to in Bethlehem?
2. Do you think news of who they were and why they were there would have spread?
3. What effect might that have had on Jesus' later ministry?
May we appreciate His vision. Pastor Jim
Thursday, December 16, 2010
When did the Magic Men Arrive?
Scripture: Matthew 1:1-17
The Visit of the Magi
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him." When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. When he had called together all the people's chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born. "In Bethlehem in Judea," they replied, "for this is what the prophet has written: " `But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.'"
Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him."
After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.
The Escape to Egypt
When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. "Get up," he said, "take the child and his mother and escape
to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him." So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: "Out of Egypt I called my son." When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi.
Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled: "A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A year or two ago, a national magazine, proclaimed one of the 'discrepancies ‘between the Gospels, is where Jesus was born. Their logic is that Luke tells of the shepherds visiting the manger scene, while Matthew brings the Magi to a house where the Baby was.
There is no discrepancy here.
In spite of our traditional Nativity scenes, with sheep, shepherds, Mary, Joseph, Baby Jesus, and the Three Wise Men -- the Magi probably did not visit Jesus and His family for some time. Note verse 16:
"When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi."
Verse 1 tells is that the Magi came after Jesus was born -- how long after we do not know. The jealous Herod, however, used the time the
Magi gave him and slaughtered all boys two years old and under. So it seems that, even if Herod was giving himself a wide margin of error, that a significant amount of time had passed since the birth.
In addition, if the start appeared the night Jesus was born, and they made the long trek from 'the East' (most scholars believe it was ancient Persia), then they certainly did not arrive in a single day -- more likely several months later.
Now, I would never be the Scrooge to take the Wise Men off the mantle or out of the children's Christmas play -- after all, they are a vital component of Jesus' arrival, and as we'll see tomorrow, of His early ministry. But when the world attacks the Word -- as in the case of this magazine article. --we must be prepared to faithfully, and intelligently, defend it.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. When do you think the Magi arrived?
2. Is it important?
3. In what ways have you heard the Word attacked recently?
May we learn what He would have us say. Jim
A Poem by Susan Stone
O Lord,
You who lift us up in our time of need,
holding us tenderly in the palm of your hand like a parent cradling his newborn child,
teach us to remember your love,
to feel the joy of your presence,
to express the gratitude of our hearts at your faithfulness,
and may we remember you all the days of our lives.
Amen.
The Visit of the Magi
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him." When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. When he had called together all the people's chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born. "In Bethlehem in Judea," they replied, "for this is what the prophet has written: " `But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.'"
Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him."
After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.
The Escape to Egypt
When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. "Get up," he said, "take the child and his mother and escape
to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him." So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: "Out of Egypt I called my son." When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi.
Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled: "A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A year or two ago, a national magazine, proclaimed one of the 'discrepancies ‘between the Gospels, is where Jesus was born. Their logic is that Luke tells of the shepherds visiting the manger scene, while Matthew brings the Magi to a house where the Baby was.
There is no discrepancy here.
In spite of our traditional Nativity scenes, with sheep, shepherds, Mary, Joseph, Baby Jesus, and the Three Wise Men -- the Magi probably did not visit Jesus and His family for some time. Note verse 16:
"When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi."
Verse 1 tells is that the Magi came after Jesus was born -- how long after we do not know. The jealous Herod, however, used the time the
Magi gave him and slaughtered all boys two years old and under. So it seems that, even if Herod was giving himself a wide margin of error, that a significant amount of time had passed since the birth.
In addition, if the start appeared the night Jesus was born, and they made the long trek from 'the East' (most scholars believe it was ancient Persia), then they certainly did not arrive in a single day -- more likely several months later.
Now, I would never be the Scrooge to take the Wise Men off the mantle or out of the children's Christmas play -- after all, they are a vital component of Jesus' arrival, and as we'll see tomorrow, of His early ministry. But when the world attacks the Word -- as in the case of this magazine article. --we must be prepared to faithfully, and intelligently, defend it.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. When do you think the Magi arrived?
2. Is it important?
3. In what ways have you heard the Word attacked recently?
May we learn what He would have us say. Jim
A Poem by Susan Stone
O Lord,
You who lift us up in our time of need,
holding us tenderly in the palm of your hand like a parent cradling his newborn child,
teach us to remember your love,
to feel the joy of your presence,
to express the gratitude of our hearts at your faithfulness,
and may we remember you all the days of our lives.
Amen.
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