I remember as a child there were certain rules in our home that were steadfast. For example, my father gave me a curfew. If I was told to be home at a certain time, 30 minutes later was unacceptable. There was no watering down my father’s word. Obedience brought joy and reward. Disobedience brought undesired consequences.
It’s the same in spiritual relationship with our Heavenly Father. God has given us His Word. We have the guidebook. In Psalm 119:89 we read, “Forever, Oh Lord, Your Word is settled in heaven.” Therefore, there is no watering it down. Obedience will bring blessings. Disobedience will bring undesired consequences. We see this today on a larger scale. Look at America. Once a nation founded with the goal of obedience to God’s Word. This endeavor brought great joy and reward. Today, those in government seats have watered down God’s Word. They’ve inserted their own philosophies which are blatantly against what God has already declared in heaven to be so.
In Revelation 22:18 we read, “…If anyone adds anything to what is written here, God will add to that person the plagues described in this book.” What is happening in that western super power of a country called
America? Evil roams the streets. Mass shootings, once a shocking horror, are commonplace. Today is January 27, 2023. How many mass shootings has there been thus far this year? 38. Why? Men and women in roles of governmental leadership have embraced a watered down version of God’s Word. Such embracing has trickled down into cities and towns, schools and homes. In fact, God has been told to take a backseat. When mankind turns away from the Light, there is only darkness. There is no grey area of acceptance in disobeying God’s Word, because His Word is already settled in heaven.
Mankind has added to God’s Word, saying it’s okay to accept what was once evil as good, but God’s Word can never be changed. It’s steadfast. A light to guide our way. It is perfection. Until Jesus returns, because mankind has turned away from God’s Word, evil will grow. It will be harder to stand strong in the teachings of God’s Word. Persecution will grow in the guise of hate crime, just for standing on the truth of God’s unchangeable Word. Take heart! Be strong! Be courageous! You have the Holy Spirit to fill you with God’s peace and stamina. Never forget — obedience brings blessings that will last for eternity. Refusing to walk in the ways of God will bring unwanted consequences.
May we each one pray for one another as we see a majority turning from the Light to walk in darkness. Hold each other up. As we are reminded in Hebrews 10:24-25, “Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of His return in drawing near.” Be kind. Help the poor and homeless. Support the sick and hungry. Speak the truth. Share the Good News. Seize every opportunity to be the love of God in action.
In these days of darkness, remember brothers and sisters — obedience brings blessings.
“The love of God to people is omnipotent; there is no force in nature that can for a single moment be compared with it.” Charles Spurgeon
Our world is hurting. Every government is suffering inflation and political angst. The whole world groans beneath unprecedented fires, floods, storms, volcanic eruptions, hurricanes and tornadoes, avalanches, mudslides, earthquakes, disease and poverty. Our world hurts and its people despair — but God’s children needn’t be overcome by things negative because we know the certain, positive outcome of our future.
God loves us, all of us, and He desires that we all want to live with Him for eternity in that place where no tears or sorrow exists. It’s a glorious future He has promised for all who receive the gift of salvation. His Son died to pay our sin penalty, but He won’t force anything on us. It’s ours for the wanting and receiving. Just reach out, declare you believe in His love for you, that He indeed died so you may live, receive His forgiveness, and go forth with assurance that your future awaits you with joy and peace that is literally out of this world!
What do we do until that glorious time comes of no more tears and sorrow? Every child of God has within him or her the Holy Spirit of God. He whispers reminders of God’s love when we are hurting. He gives us wisdom when we feel we have lost our way. He gives us courage to press on when we can’t see what’s around the corner. He endows us with inner peace that surpasses all human understanding. He speaks to us through His Word which is more than printed ink on paper; it is the Living Word of God! When we read, asking the Holy Spirit to speak to us through it, He reveals deep spiritual truths that we could not otherwise know.
In this hurting world in which we physically live, He lifts us higher in our spirits, out of the drudgery and despair, giving us instead, hope and quiet joy that cannot be shattered no matter what takes place around us. How can this be? The answer lies in Acts 17:28, “For in Him we live and move and have our being. As some poets have said, ‘We are His offspring.'” He is our everything to get us through anything.
It’s so interesting to follow the life of the twelve disciples Jesus chose to travel with Him. In Mark 6 we come to a moment when Jesus fed the five thousand with only five loaves of bread and two fish — with twelve baskets of leftovers! It is what happened prior to this event that captures my attention today. In this story thus far, the disciples have listened to Jesus teach through parables. They have seen Him calm a storm, cast out a demon, and then, amazingly, Jesus gave them authority to teach in His name. In Mark 6:13 we are told, “They cast out many demons and healed many sick people, anointing them with olive oil.” That’s amazing, right? More amazing, when a little time had passed, Jesus was teaching five thousand people. As evening approached the disciples suggested that Jesus send the crowds away so they could buy something to eat. Jesus answers, “You feed them.” What did they do at this command? They looked at the purse.
Isn’t it astonishing that, after watching Jesus perform absolute miracles, when such a moment of daily need presented itself, they didn’t think to look to Jesus for instructions; they looked at the practical, seeing the task at hand as impossible. They had not yet learned that Jesus isn’t just on the mountaintop of miracles; He walks with us through the daily routine of in the valley.
We love the experience of joy and the unexpected. To see a miracle (and many of us have seen them) sends us to the heights, but daily life isn’t a continuous journey on the mountaintop. Most days we are taking kids to school, going to work, cleaning house, cooking dinner, looking at the budget and the rising food prices, feeling concern at making ends meet. We fret, and we always will, as long as we keep looking at the purse.
Just like the disciples, we can be thrilled at watching Jesus’ miraculous provisions, but how soon we forget He is just as present in the ordinary, even the hum-drum situations of life, as He is on the mountaintop. What was the disciples mistake? What is the same mistake we make? We look to an experience to be our joy, rather than believing it’s our relationship with Him that brings lasting peace which sweetly fills our being in any storm of life.
Sadly, there are many of God’s disciples who chase experiences. For example, they may attend a church where fabulous things are happening, but when the experience fades and life takes on routine again, they flitter away in search of another experience. Jesus is indeed on the mountaintop, but He isn’t any less present in the valley. In fact, it’s often in the valley where we come to know the sweetness of His nearness when we hurt. It’s in the valley when we are most pliable to be molded into His image. It’s in the valley where that, “peace that passes all understanding,” penetrates into the depths of our being. (Philippians 4:7)
The experience of the mountaintop is fabulous, but it’s in the valley that we come to know the depths of His unfailing love for us. It’s love that surpasses all, that no wind of worry can blow away, that no experience can overshadow. Enjoy the mountaintop; the views are amazing, but do not despair the valley. Jesus is there, too, waiting to lead you on a daily, amazing journey. It’s in the valley where we most often hear Him say, “this is the way, now walk in it.” (Isaiah 30:21)
I find it interesting to observe our dog, Jack, on his daily explorations. He runs ahead, whether in the woods, open fields, or along the beach. He sniffs here and there and lopes on in great happiness. He regularly glances back to see where I might be. If I have turned to go in another direction, he quickly runs over, then rushes ahead to continue his sniffing and running activity, but always looking back at me.
It occurred to me that I can take Jack’s example into the New Year. I quit making a New Year’s resolution years ago, mainly because after a week or two, not only was I not keeping it, but most of the time I had even forgotten what it was that I had set as my goal. Learning from Jack sets a worthy objective indeed.
This year, as I determine to go forward in the things God has set for me, I want to look back, also. When I get discouraged, I want to look back and remember His past comfort to me. When I become fearful of what tomorrow may bring, I want to look back and remember all the times I knew my Father was there, giving me His own courage. When I grow weary with the pursuit, I want to look back at God’s promises, which never fail, and gain strength from His Word which stands the test of time. When I am misunderstood, I want to look back and identify with Jesus, because He was also misinterpreted. When I forge ahead in my aspirations, I want to look back to see if God is turning in a different direction, at which time I will also turn to follow Him. When I feel alone and vulnerable, I want to look back and be reminded that the One I love and serve never leaves nor forsakes me.
I want to be as faithful to my Heavenly Father and His plans, as Jack is to me, and when I make a mistake, I want to run to my Father, accepting His forgiveness and loving encouragement, just as Jack does to me. Yes, this New Year, I want to take Jack’s example. I want to look back, gain my Father’s strength and encouragement, and then I will, “Press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.” (Philippians 3:14)
Happy New Year, everyone! May your own pursuits be blessed with those moments of looking back as you move forward.
On that night over two thousand years ago, the most wonderful event in the world happened. The King of kings and Lord of Lords came to earth! The most high and most glorious! But He arrived as a baby and He was born — in a feeding trough!
The news was first shared with a group of shepherds who were tending their sheep. Angels appeared in the sky above them. One spoke, telling them how to find this Savior of the world. It’s recorded in Luke 2:12, “You will recognize Him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.”
A manger? A feeding trough? What? We remind ourselves; of course, there was no room in the inn, but we must look deeper. You see, it had already been prophesied in the Old Testament, hundreds of years previously, that the Savior would be born in Bethlehem. It was God’s plan. He orchestrated every detail. He planned who would give birth to Jesus. He planned how to get Mary and Joseph from Nazareth to Bethlehem; and yes, He planned that His Son would be born in a feeding trough. It was no unintended mistake or oversight. It was all for purpose.
The Savior began His earthly life in a lowly feeding trough; He would end His earthly life by execution on a criminal’s cross. It was all God’s plan. It wasn’t easy but it was necessary. His lowly birth lets us all know that everyone is invited to come to Him. His lowly death lets us know that everyone is precious to Him. He was born with a purpose to die so we may live. Because of Jesus, we have promise of life after death where no tears or sorrow exist.
He lowered Himself to be born in a feeding trough that anyone from any walk of life may come to Him. We are asked to lower ourselves, to kneel at the cross, to ask His forgiveness, in humility to realize we are less than who we can be without Jesus. Then we may stand up! Stand and be counted His own! Stand and walk forward with new purpose; purpose that brings meaning to life as never before, joy and peace that reigns even in our most grievous moments.
God had a perfect plan for His Son to be born in a feeding trough. It was no mistake. From feeding trough to cross was a difficult road — but the end a most glorious one.
God has a perfect plan for you and me. It has no mistake. From our kneeling at the cross to breathing our last breath will have its own difficulties — but the end result is a most glorious one, too.
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