BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY…. “You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever.” Psalm 16:11 NLT

As I come to this final day of 2017, I am reminded of the importance of the commitment reflected in the title of Eugene Peterson’s book, “A Long Obedience in the Same Direction.” When a new year comes the key is not always a commitment to something brand new, but an affirmation of that which is right and solid in our lives. In life consistence is the key.

I wonder if what it would be like to apply the same evaluation to our lives that we do to some of our financial investments. It is normal to look at various investments and see if they have increased in value over the year. We want to know if our financial commitments have shown growth. It is also important to know if our spiritual life has reflected growth.

The confidence of David can still be what fills us with confidence, “the Lord will show us the way of life.” We don’t have to “figure it out on our own.” As we follow Jesus consistently and persistently we can be confident of a life of joy and a glorious eternity in His presence.

Psalm 14 contains observations that are the opposite of this assurance. “The Lord looks down from heaven on the entire human race; he looks to see if anyone is truly wise, if anyone seeks God. But no, all have turned away; all have become corrupt.” (Psalm 14:2,3 NLT)

Wise living is reflected in a commitment to follow the Lord and to continue following the Lord. To seek the Lord and to continue to seek the Lord. When we turn from the Lord we become “corrupt.” When we follow the Lord and live in His presence, He fills us with His joy.

At my service at Morning Star Assisted Living this morning we sang the old song, “It will be worth it all when we see Jesus.” The words of that old song contain a statement of faith and hope and then ends with a challenge, “So, bravely run the race, till we see Christ.” 

In this new year, have confidence in Jesus showing you the way of life. Follow Him closely, follow faithfully, bravely run the race. As you do you will find the joy of His presence and the pleasures of a secure eternity.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… “But Noah found favor with the Lord.” Genesis 6:8 NLT

The fall of Adam and Eve brought the curse and sin into the world. It was like a cliff effect in time. The moral decline escalated over the early generations. So much so, that scripture records that God resolved,  “I will wipe this human race I have created from the face of the earth.” (Genesis 6:7 NLT)

But in the midst of all that was displeasing to God, there was one man who stood out, Noah. But Noah found favor with God. I like the statements of vivid contrast we see in scripture. Here in the midst of sin and judgment is an expression of grace and a life of righteousness. “But Noah….”  What was true for others was not true with Noah. Others were in the eye of the storm of God’s judgment and wrath. But Noah was safe in the grace of God.

In the New Testament, we find another vivid contrast between judgment and mercy. Paul the apostle writes, “By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else. But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much…he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead.” (Ephesians 2:3-5 NLT)

God in the midst of the most dire circumstance is able to make a way. But it takes place through those who are “set apart.” Not only set apart sovereignly by God, but who by their own faith set themselves apart and stand out in the crowd. So much so, that they become those who experience God’s favor and are used by God to do great things.

In a world that is “racing toward judgment” we don’t have to just go along. We don’t need to get tired and give in, but we can resist the downward pull of our own sinful nature and the world around and be those who live under the favor of God.

Noah is described as, “…the only blameless person living on earth at the time, and he walked in close fellowship with God.” (Genesis 6:9 NLT) Our commitment to God’s ways and our fellowship with God will help us to stand out in the crowd and to rise above the “flood” and tide of the world.

Noah’s faith in God and fellowship with God, allowed his family to come under the covering of God’s favor that rested upon him. God selected Noah and his family to be the new beginning for the inhabitants of the earth.

Finally we see Noah’s obedience to the Lord. “Noah did everything exactly as God had commanded him.” (Genesis 6:22 NLT) Noah was asked by God to do something that had never been done, to prepare for an event that had never happened (rain and a flood). It wasn’t an easy task and it was one that required patience and persistence in the midst of ridicule.

The epitaph of Noah life’s is written in the New Testament, “By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that is in keeping with faith.” (Hebrews 11:7 NIV)

May our lives be lived by faith and in God’s favor. We may be condemned by the world, but we will have a commendation from the Lord and be heirs of the life God has promised.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY…. “When it was time for the harvest, Cain presented some of his crops as a gift to the Lord. Abel also brought a gift—the best portions of the firstborn lambs from his flock. The Lord accepted Abel and his gift, but he did not accept Cain and his gift. This made Cain very angry, and he looked dejected.” Genesis 4:3-5 NLT

The first recorded account of the first two brothers lays out a classic story of conflict. Cain and Abel were different as siblings tend to be. While there are some missing facts, and leaves some questions unanswered what we do know is what is important.

Both the brothers brought gifts to the Lord. The Lord accepted Abel’s and not Cain’s. Cain responded in anger toward the Lord. The Lord tells Cain, “…You will be accepted if you do what is right. But if you refuse to do what is right, then watch out! Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it and be its master.” (Genesis 4:7 NLT)

Cain obviously doesn’t heed the correction and submit to the Lord, instead he takes out his anger toward God on his brother by killing him. God then holds Cain accountable for the first murder.

Let’s unpack some of what is in this account. It is appropriate to worship the Lord with the giving of gifts. I believe this has application to giving a tithe (10%) of our income as well as offerings. As the law came into existence it always allowed for both animal sacrifices as well as grain and produce. So, it wasn’t the type of gift that determined acceptance.

The only hint is what we see in the description of the gifts. Cain brought “some.” Abel brought the “first and the best.” The later is a classic description of a “tithe.” But what is important in this account is not just a giving lesson, but a worship lesson.

As The Sovereign One, God has the final say about how He is to be worshiped and what is acceptable in His sight. At the foundation it isn’t about “things” or “money.” A few thousand years later the prophet Micah would ask, “What can we bring to the LORD? What kind of offerings should we give him? Should we bow before God with offerings of yearling calves? Should we offer him thousands of rams and ten thousand rivers of olive oil? Should we sacrifice our firstborn children to pay for our sins?” (Micah 6:6 NLT)

The Lord’s response comes with these words, “…the LORD has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.” (Micah 6:7 NLT)

King David’s prayer of repentance includes this acknowledgement, “You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart.” (Psalm 51:16,17 NIV)

The prophet Hosea announced God’s message, “For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings.” (Hosea 6:6 NIV)

The words of the prophet to King Saul were, “Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice…” (1 Samuel 15:22 NIV)

The Lord’s desire is for our hearts to be right before Him. To submit our lives to Him. Attitude is more important than actions. When our attitude is right our actions will be right as well. In the end submission to God’s ways is always a better response than anger when we don’t get our way.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY….  “You won’t die!” the serpent replied to the woman. “God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it, and you will be like God, knowing both good and evil.” Genesis 3:4,5 NLT

Good and evil have come to describe one of the great classic human conflicts. But that was not God’s original plan and design. When God created the first man and woman, He placed them in a garden paradise. They were to know God and enjoy Him and His creation forever.

The tree in the middle of the garden was known as the “tree of the knowledge of good and evil.” It is interesting that it was in the middle of the garden. Because it became a critical marker. A dividing line that would mark mankind and history.

As Adam and Eve ate of the fruit they became aware of evil. But instead of being more “god-like” they became less than what God had made them to be. That is the impact of evil on the human condition. The first ramification is that they became self aware or self conscious. That is the heart of evil that would become pervasive in human history – a focus on self. What I need or want or desire creates actions of evil.

This would be reflected thousands of years later in the words of James, “You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God.” (James 4:2 NIV) People seek to fill their own needs and always come up short. From the very beginning it was God’s desire to be the One who provided fulfillment for all of life.

Evil came to characterize the human condition. “The LORD saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time.” (Genesis 6:5 NIV)

Evil was a natural trait and a learned response in life. “Can an Ethiopian change his skin, or a leopard his spots? Then you who are trained to do evil will also be able to do good.” (Jeremiah 13:23 ISV)

Evil would become synonymous with the human condition and goodness with God. That is why Jesus response to the rich young ruler was, “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good–except God alone.” (Luke 18:19 NIV)

God’s plan is for His character and nature to not only transform our life, but to become the restored environment in which we live. The glory of the eternal “Zion” is described by Isaiah, “And a great road will go through that once deserted land. It will be named the Highway of Holiness. Evil-minded people will never travel on it. It will be only for those who walk in God’s ways; fools will never walk there.” (Isaiah 35:8 NLT)

In Revelation we read of the curse being removed and then a verse that reminds us of Genesis. “Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates. Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.” (Revelation 22:14,15 ESV)

Adam and Eve were expelled from the garden so they would not eat of the tree of life in a sinful state. Now we read of the day when those made righteous by faith in Jesus Christ will be invited in to God’s city to eat of the tree of life.

Because of Adam we know evil and its consequences, it is because of Christ (the second Adam) that we can know of a day when goodness alone prevails and the blessing of the Lord reigns. Our lives today are best lived to their fullness and experience the greatest contentment and peace when we live under and live our lives by the blessings of the goodness (righteousness) that the Lord alone can provide.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY…. “Serve the Lord with reverent fear, and rejoice with trembling. Submit to God’s royal son, or he will become angry…But what joy for all who take refuge in him!” Psalm 2:11,12 NLT

The end of the year for me is the beginning of new journey of reading through the Bible. Each year I read a different version. While I have referred to the New Living Translation (NLT) in many New Testament passages, this next year will be the first time that I use this translation for my Bible reading program.

My reading begins with Genesis and Psalms. As I read Psalm 2, I noticed a stark contrast in the opening verses and concluding verses in relationship to how God’s rule is viewed.

As this psalm opens we see the “nations in a rage.” They are under God’s rule, but not submitted to God’s rule. This is probably a period when David was winning battles over many of the surrounding kingdoms in Israel. They are quoted as saying, “Let us break their chains,” they cry,  “and free ourselves from slavery to God.”  (Psalm 2:3 NLT)

As the psalm ends we see a call to serve the Lord with fear, to submit to Him and to find in Him true joy and satisfaction.

It is interesting how different people view God and relationship with Him. Many may be cultural “christians.” They view the ten commandments and the “golden rule” as constraints and burdens instead of warnings to keep us from pain and hardship in our individual life and community.

In contrast, we find the greatest joy in life comes when the Lord is served from a willing heart and a response to a God who has demonstrated His love for us and desire for us to know true peace, joy and contentment.

Jesus wept over Jerusalem saying, “…how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing.” (Matthew 2337) In contrast, David prayed, “Grant me a willing spirit to sustain me.” (Psalm 51:12) We are called to “serve the Lord with gladness.” (Psalm 100:2) John the Apostle reminds us, “…this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome…”  (1 John 5:3 NIV)

As the new year approaches, may our hearts reflect a willing submission to the Lord and His ways. I trust we can anticipate a growing relationship with the Lord amidst all the temptations, distractions and contrary voices that believe God’s ways are oppressive and outdated, instead of a path to experiencing God’s best for our life. May we understand more fully that He who made us, knows how to keep us and to guide our lives into an unknown future as we trust in Him.
 

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY…. 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 when it rose and have come to worship him.” Matthew 2:1,2 NIV

Debbie and I find ourselves in an airport on this early Christmas evening; an unusual activity for us. Our son Christian and his family are all on a road trip traveling to Ohio. As Debbie and I returned from Columbus, Georgia on Friday our travel time was extended by about an hour and a half due to heavy holiday traffic.

It is interesting that from the time of the birth of Christ to the present day that traveling is a part of the celebration of the birth of Christ. The first Christmas found the shepherds on a much shorter journey to the stable where Christ was born. The wise men had a much longer and more challenging journey as they followed the star to the house where Christ was found.

Traveling comes with its own set of characteristics, dynamics and challenges. Trips are usually planned with some degree of anticipation. The trip from where we are to where we want to be can filled smooth or filled with unexpected challenges. The Atlanta airport the day after we arrived over a week ago experienced an electrical outage that cancelled over 1,000 flights! Over the years of many family road trips there are all kinds of memories from those various adventures.

Regardless of the journey, arriving is always exciting and it seems the “time flies” and the trip comes to an end sooner than anticipated. Then there is the journey back home. That brings a whole new set of dynamics and feelings as you “return home.” But with each visit to family or friends or special destination there are more memories that become a deposit in our “personal history bank.”

It is interesting to observe some of these common aspects in the lives of the early visitors to the Christ-child. Both the shepherds and the wise men traveled with a great sense of excitement and expectation. That motivation kept them moving forward in their effort.

While their visit was brief in relationship to their effort, they were not disappointed. The shepherds found Joseph, Mary and the baby, just as the angels told them. The wise men traveled home with a “lighter load” because they left behind some generous and magnificent gifts.

Both of these groups carried with them a life forever changed and memories to cherish and to share. The same can be said of our metaphoric “journey” into relationship with Jesus. We don’t take a physical journey, but one of faith and belief. It has often been viewed as a “twelve-inch journey.” The distance from our head to our heart. We move from knowing about to connecting with Jesus as our Savior and Lord.

It was special to see my oldest Georgia grandson make that “journey” on Christmas eve. He responded to the invitation at the end of the Sunday church service. It was interesting because later that evening he was asked if he, “invited Jesus into his heart.” He said, “no” – causing momentary confusion as he responded to the customary cliche describing faith in Christ. His response was, “I asked Jesus to be the Savior and Lord of my life.” I like that better!

When we do that we begin a journey not to Jesus, but with Jesus. A journey which can be as challenging, exciting, emotional and unpredictable as our actual trips we make in our life and especially during the holidays.

Enjoy all your travels and the journey!

Debbie and I have been in Atlanta celebrating Christmas with Stephanie and her family. On Friday we made the trip to Columbus, Georgia to visit my aunt Annalee (Summers) Cogar and her family. It was good to reconnect with some family members that I had not seen in 10 years. That’s what Christmas is all about.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY…. Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?” And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.  Luke 1:34,35 NKJV

Christmas is a time of miracles and prophecies fulfilled. One of the most perplexing is the virgin birth. It was one of the prophetic utterances that has been applied to the birth of the Messiah. Isaiah declared, “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.” (Isaiah 7:14 NIV)

An angel appearing to a young woman would be troubling enough. Fear and confusion gripped her heart. But then then news that she would give birth to a child was more than mind and emotions could comprehend. The “gut level” response in our day would be, “that’s impossible!” or “you’ve got to be kidding!”

Outside of the common response of fear when an angel appears, it seems the next most common response to an announcement of a miracle is the question, “how can this be?” or some variation. For example when Zacharias was told that his wife, Elizabeth, would give birth to a son he asked, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years.” (Luke 1:18 NKJV)

Like Mary, this was a response of, “it doesn’t make sense!” “I am being asked to believe the unbelievable.” But that is exactly what faith is about. We find ourselves constantly trapped in human thinking and the limitations of what we know and have experienced when it comes to spiritual realities.

To embrace a miracle we must believe that which doesn’t make sense to us and that which can take place through no other means than God’s intervention.

It is interesting and without sovereign purpose that the angel ended his message to Mary by telling her how that her aged relative Elizabeth was already six months pregnant. He then uttered the words of encouragement,  “For with God nothing will be impossible.” (Luke 1:37 NKJV)

So can see faith is taking God at His word. It is not giving in to what our carnal minds can “figure out” or accept. God has a way, God makes a way for the impossible to be possible.

Then we can see how our faith is encouraged by God’s faithfulness and the miracles He performs for others. The angel’s news in telling Mary she will conceive through the Holy Spirit is followed by the news that Elizabeth has become pregnant in her old age, a miracle from God, foretold and fulfilled by an angel.

One day Jesus told a pharisee that to see God’s kingdom he had to be born again. He asked Jesus,  “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” (John 3:4 NKJV) But Jesus was talking about spiritual birth and spiritual life. Nicodemus believe Jesus was offering him something better than what he was experimenting, Jesus was offering him a new life and what he had not experienced or known.

It was only possible the same way Mary became the mother of Jesus, “the Holy Spirit will come upon you.” Let’s remember the greatest miracle is the miracle of life. Not just physical life, but spiritual life that changes everything both now and for eternity. That’s the miracle of Christmas.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY…. “But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law.  God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children.” Galatians 4:4,5 NLT

The arrival of the “Christ” – The Messiah was a long waited event for God’s people. The prophet of old had uttered words of the promised “Emmanuel” who would come. There was anticipation of Him who would be known as the wonderful counselor, the Mighty God, the Prince of Peace. There was the longing for Him who would rule over the House of David forever.

God’s plan is certainly a mystery and one that is challenging to piece together. As we stand at this juncture in history, we know that all that was spoken of by the prophets and anticipated by God’s people through the ages is still to be fulfilled.

Eden has not been restored. There is still a longing for “peace on earth and goodwill toward men.” This is especially true was we view international tensions, worldwide conflicts, terrorism and bitter fights over political positions amidst the grabbing for power.

However, one thing that we can observe and know from scripture is that God has a timing. He know what He is doing and He know when He will act. The God that is above time is the One who works within the span of time that He created for this earth.

God’s timing compels us to wait. to wait patiently, to wait expectantly. God’s timing is what enables us to cultivate and hone hope. Hope is a “confident expectation.” It is that which we believe and know will happen, but are not always confident as to when.

God’s timing compels us to trust. The perpetual temptation in God’s plan being fulfilled is to know what the Lord has said is not for us to know. Many seek to “discover” the “unknown” as a means to prove God’s truth worthiness.  But He doesn’t need our help, He just needs our faith and trust.

When Jesus was born, it was not have anticipated that He would be born in a stable, visited by shepherds. It was not anticipated that He would be from Nazareth. It was not anticipated that He would live an obscure life for 30 years.

We don’t know why Jesus was born after 300 years of silence from God called prophetic voices. At a time when it seemed the appearance of Messiah was relegated to nice tales of the past, the Word became flesh and the reality of that which was promised came to be….at the “right” time.

We can look historically how the “stage was set” in so many ways for the birth of Jesus. From the rule of the Romans to the economic and cultural environment. To the religious structures and systems that had complicated God’s purposes and ways.

Jesus was born at the “right” time and He will return to complete all that scripture predicts, at the “right” time. Angels announced Jesus birth and angels had a message when Jesus was taken to heaven after the resurrection,

“This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.” (Acts 1:11 NIV)

The writer of Hebrews lays out the part one and part two of God’s plan of redemption, “…so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.” (Hebrews 9:28 NIV)

Just as God’s timing was right when Christ was born, God’s timing will be right when Christ returns. That is something that should be in the forefront of our hearts and minds at Christmas. We need to recognize what has taken place and anticipate what will take place that is all in keeping with God’s timing. In that assurance we can know His peace and live in hope.