December 25, 2018

The Birth of Jesus

Luke 2 

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register.

4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
    and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

21 On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.

October 20, 2018

Priorities

Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. – Psalm 90:12

A month ago, their priorities were different. We live in a world filled with college football and lazy days at the beach. Our lives revolve around high school sports and band, little league and soccer and dance. Work and errands and the daily busyness of life rush us along at a rapid pace.

And then the unthinkable happens and our priorities shift forever. It could be a death. It could be a job loss. It could be a major hurricane that destroys your world. And suddenly what you thought was important turns out to be unimportant after all.

We are a people who like to complain about what we don’t have. We are goal-oriented folks who are always striving for the next achievement, the next possession, the next thing we think will make us happy. We’re so focused on future possibilities that we miss today’s blessings.

Oh, we’ve always heard people tell us that. “Stop and smell the roses,” they say. “Count your blessings,” others add. We know it’s all true but we don’t actually do any of it. Until we’ve got nothing left.

Today someone’s priority was finding a place to live. Another person’s priority was diapers for their baby or how their child will get an education when all the schools are destroyed. Another person wonders how he’ll survive without his spouse. One person struggles to find a job, any job, just to keep a roof over his family’s head and food on the table.

Priorities. It all depends on where you’re at in any given moment.

One woman complained that her husband’s business was down and she just didn’t know how they were going to afford things. Really? It’s difficult to have sympathy for someone who lives in an affluent neighborhood, always drives a new car, eats out several times a week and doesn’t work. Her priority is maintaining her lifestyle. She’s never done without, she’s never truly suffered, so her priorities are different from those who have known those things.

There’s a good side to horrible things. Your priorities shift and you come to understand what really matters. Do you remember how Jesus told Martha, who was bustling around preparing a meal, that Mary knew what was really important? Why don’t we realize He was talking to us too?

Spending time with God each day should be our priority. It’s the most important time of our day. And, yet, we act as though everything else is more important.

We always plan to spend more time with people we love. We vow to volunteer one day. Maybe we’ve got a list of things we’d like to do. One day. Why not today?

What would happen if you gave up a Saturday and volunteered with Habitat for Humanity to help build a house? What would happen if you invited an elderly neighbor over to your home for a meal? What would happen if you turned off your phone and went outside and played with your kids?

Be present today. Put God first and the people He loves right after that. Take time to laugh. Be grateful for the small things. Smile often. Be kind. This world can be hard and cruel. Be the light. Show the world what really matters.

Sunday, September 30, 2012

Choose What Is Best

She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. -- Luke 10:39

Most of us are familiar with the story of Mary and Martha. Jesus came to Martha’s house and while she was busy preparing for all the guests, her sister Mary sat and listened to Jesus teach.

We remember that Jesus admonished Martha when she complained and ask Jesus to make Mary help her.

“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” -- Luke 10:41-42

So we learn that it is better to listen to Jesus than to prepare food and worry about the guests. But what else did we learn? And do we really understand how this applies to us?

A few weeks ago our church had a wonderful event on a Sunday afternoon. It was a time of fellowship. Unfortunately, it was at the same time as a women’s bible study that had been scheduled weeks earlier as part of a continuing event. Should we postpone the study? Should we have it anyway? There was quite a division.

I opted to go ahead and have the study as scheduled. Those who could and would came. And others didn’t. Their choice. One woman came but said her husband said she was selfish. For what? For choosing a bible study over listening to him play in the church band, something she does almost every Sunday morning.

Somehow we believe that choosing one church event over another means that all is good. Or one good thing over another means that we’re doing what we’re supposed to be doing. But we can fill our lives up with busyness and never accomplish what Jesus has called us to do.

We’re full of excuses. Absolutely. And they’re good excuses. Like having some fun in the name of fellowship rather than studying God’s Word as we’d previously committed to do. Or going to the beach for a “day off” rather than attending church. Or helping the youth with a project rather than caring for our own elderly relative. The list goes on and on.

We’re full of good intentions and excuses. But are we really doing what is best? The answer varies, of course, because what is best for one might not be best for another. What it really comes down to is seeking God in all things and putting Him first.

We prefer to think that the story of Mary and Martha has to do with sibling rivalry and preparing for guests. But it also has to do with us and the choices we make each day. Are you choosing what is best? Are you sure?

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

God’s Blessings Abound

“Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished.”

-- Luke 1:45

What does a blessing from God look like? What would you expect it to be? Great riches? Amazing success? A bountiful of children and grandchildren? Wonderful health for yourself and those you love?

And yet there was Mary, pregnant and unwed, and Elizabeth called her blessed. Mary immediately traveled to her relative’s home after the angel told her she would be with child and give birth to a son. She likely told no one. Mary was obedient. But don’t you think that she was also afraid?

But the angel had told Mary that her relative Elizabeth, considered to be barren, was pregnant too. Another miracle from God. Elizabeth’s child, the Bible tells us, leaped in her womb when he heard Mary’s voice. That child was John the Baptist.

So what did God’s blessing mean to Mary? She faced the real possibility that she would be an unwed mother. She had to explain the angel’s visit to Joseph, who could completely reject her. She could be stoned to death for being pregnant and unwed.

Of course, those things didn’t happen. Joseph married Mary. And the baby Jesus was born in a stable because there was no room for them anywhere else. She fled with her husband and child to Egypt because King Herod wanted to kill the child. She watched as those in power tried to destroy her son as he began His ministry. And she watched as the baby she had borne died a cruel and merciless death on a cross.

Mary’s blessing came because God found favor with her. God chose her to carry His Son in her womb. Her blessing didn’t make her life easy. It certainly didn’t take away the pain or the challenges. So why do we sometimes believe that God’s blessings on our own lives should come surrounded by spun gold and unending happiness?

We know that God can turn anything to good. We know that. But we don’t always expect it in our own lives. We don’t always understand that sometimes horrible things happen so that God’s glory can shine brightly in the aftermath. Look at Joseph. His brothers sold him into slavery yet God used Joseph to care for His people. Just like Esther. Or Ruth. The Bible is filled with stories of God’s blessings amidst horrible happenings.

Look around your own life. Think of all the times your life has taken a turn you didn’t intend. What happened? Did you see God’s glory? Did you hear His voice? Did you see His blessings settle down on your life? Draw closer. Listen to His voice. Open your heart. Receive all the goodness He wants to give you.

Thursday, December 1, 2011

Mary Believed

But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus.”

-- Luke 1:30-31

God chose a 13-year-old girl from Nazareth to give birth to His Son. Why Mary? Have you ever considered how God came to choose this young girl to give birth to the Messiah? Did God choose her before she was born? Did Mary really have a choice when Gabriel came to her and told her what was to happen?

How would you have reacted to such a proclamation from an angel of God? Most of us would have doubted and made excuses. That’s if we’d even heard his voice over the din of our own busy lives. How many times has God called us to do something and we either couldn’t hear or were just “too busy” to be bothered?

No one expected Mary to be called by God for this task. This young girl lived in Nazareth of all places. Adam Hamilton, in his book The Journey, Walking the Road to Bethlehem, notes that Nazareth was a tiny town with perhaps as few as 100 people up to 400 people. It was about three miles from a large city called Sepphoris.

Nazareth was, at best, the home of the working class people. The other side of the tracks. The bad section that we avoid. God didn’t go to the affluent areas of Sepphoris to find a mother for His Son. Perhaps that should give us pause when we look at the differences between those who have worldly wealth and those who do not.

I am always amazed that Mary did not doubt. She believed. And she agreed. Remember the time when she lived. Mary was engaged but not yet married. A pregnancy would mean Joseph would abandon her, she would be ostracized and ridiculed. She could be stoned to death for getting pregnant out of wedlock. Her response?

“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it be to me as you have said.” Then the angel left her. -- Luke 1:38

Okay. Let’s review this: Mary believed and didn’t doubt and she went along immediately with what God had called her to do. Does that sound like something you would do? Me either. I’m a person always full of questions and insecurities, wavering between doubt and belief. That seems sort of ridiculous in light of what Mary faced and her reaction to it.

So why did God choose Mary? Only He knows but perhaps it had something to do with her faith and her heart. God knows what we’re willing to do for Him. He knows our hearts. Sometimes the answer to “why” is just as simple as that.

　

Friday, August 26, 2011

What Are Your Priorities?

But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are so upset over all these details! There is really only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it -- and I won’t take it away from her.” -- Luke 10:41-42

Many of us know the story of Martha and her sister Mary. Jesus was visiting and teaching. Mary was listening to Jesus. Martha was fretting over all the guests, trying to prepare a meal and take care of all the details.

Jesus gently reminded Martha that Mary understood the importance of listening to Jesus and spending time with Him. We all should learn that lesson. Life has a way of taking over and pushing God aside. At least in our thoughts. We get so stressed about what we must do that we forget what’s truly important.

We could take that a step further when it comes to taking time for people. It’s wonderful to have guests and certainly we want to prepare. But when one or two people spend all their time in the kitchen and don’t even get to visit, then something is really wrong. Maybe the cook needs to prepare something simpler and focus not on the accolades that come from presenting a large meal but on the love that comes from sharing time with people you care about.

Most people aren’t even aware of what they’re doing -- or not doing. It’s just habit. They’ve always worked for days to prepare a large meal when guests are coming. And they always saved Bible reading until everything else is done. It’s no surprise that everything else is never done and the person ends up more stressed than before.

So take a deep breath. Put God first. And relax. Laugh. Keep things simple. Enjoy the people you love while you can. And thank God that they’re in your life.

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Choose God Over Distractions

"But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made."

-- Luke 10:40a

Did you know your television has an OFF button? It does. And it works even when you aren't leaving the room. Same goes for your cell phone and computer. They all come with OFF buttons. Check the directions. You'll see.

Another tidbit: Doors close. I know. It's shocking. But they do. It really is okay to go into a room by yourself and close the door. It's okay to be unavailable to your spouse, kids, parents and friends for a set time. Really. They'll whine but they'll be okay.

Now, let me be clear about something. I am not telling you to leave a crying infant alone or a toddler wandering around by himself. That's child neglect and I'll be the first to call the cops. I'm simply saying that we assume we always have to be available to our loved ones. Sometimes it's okay to not be. Get your husband to take care of the kids for 30 minutes. Don't answer the phone. Shut the door. One woman told me she retreats to her walk-in closet. Just go somewhere and be alone.

The purpose of all this? To get rid of the distractions so you can focus on God. I've read this passage about Mary and Martha numerous times over the years. The focus always seems to be on a whining Martha and a Mary intent on listening to all of Jesus' words. It's easy to rush past that little sentence that tells us Martha was distracted. Aren't we all?

I've come to realize that there will always be someone or something that nags for my attention. It is so freeing to realize I can have a choice. I can choose to spend time with God. I can turn off the distractions. I can close the door. I can pay attention to God without being interrupted.

But it's a choice. That's right. A choice. I used to be one of those people who just didn't have time for serious Bible study. Me? Read the Bible from cover to cover -- every year? I thought that was insane. But I did it anyway. Now I crave it. Spending time with God keeps me sane. It keeps me focused (most of the time). It keeps my priorities straight.

It's so easy to get distracted by all the stuff that fills our lives. Take time to focus on God. He'll bless you in ways you never imagined.