Intentional Faith

Sara Parsons is a Christian writer.  She has a unique view of these short winter days.

Mary said, “My heart praises the Lord; my soul is glad because of God, my Savior.” Luke 1:46-47, GNT

The days are short right now where I live, and the nights are long. We North Americans can command light at any moment, with the flip of a switch. I tell myself that natural darkness shouldn’t affect me, but somehow it does.

The changes in my activities and my mood are barely perceptible, even to me. I can still do most of the things I like to do. But in summer, when the days are long, I might go out for coffee in the evenings more; I might go to the park and throw the Frisbee; I am more likely to meet someone for a run.

In the winter, even though I could still do most of those things, it’s harder to get myself out of the apartment. It’s easier to get myself into the bathtub with a book. So I socialize less, and my life changes with the season, partly because of the darkness.

Much of the Christmas story is told in images of light and darkness, images so familiar that I gloss over them in my reading, looking for something else, for a big event.

I take images of light for granted, but this year, for some reason, the images stand out for me: "The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness — on them a light has shined" (Isaiah 9:2, NRSV); "The angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them" (Luke 2:9, NRSV).

FAMILIAR DARKNESS

At a spiritual level, I know something of the darkness the scriptures are talking about. For me, it has to do with a sense of isolation, loneliness, far away from myself, maybe, or from God, or from friends or family.

I recently read an article on "desolation," chronic emotional pain, and the article pointed out that pain is not so much the problem; it’s the accompanying isolation that we really cannot bear: "The human spirit can survive onslaughts of tragedy and suffering, but it cannot abide complete abandonment."¹

As hard as it can be to celebrate some years, Christmas is very timely if it comes in the midst of a hard time: "The people who have walked in darkness have seen a great light … on them a light has shined."

TRANSFORMING LIGHT

If we know what a dark room looks like, we must also know the joy of a candle lit in that room. A small golden light dances on the walls and changes everything.

Suddenly this is a place you want to be; this light is a warm presence with you, even if nothing else about your situation has changed: same room; same furniture; same person sitting in it; same pain, fears and worries; even the same essential darkness surrounding you. But now there’s a candle. This is entirely different. This has gone from being an experience of abject loneliness to one of solitude, maybe peace, maybe warmth.

LONELINESS AND SOLITUDE

We all find ourselves alone some of the time. We enter the world alone and leave it alone; this is the human condition. This is not to say that we don’t need other people; we do, very much, and we get plenty of human companionship along life’s way. But in our deepest inner lives, at our very cores, we find ourselves alone with God.

There are two ways we can turn with this aloneness. In Reaching Out, Henri Nouwen makes a distinction between loneliness and solitude. Depending on how we approach our own inner aloneness, he says, we can experience an excruciating loneliness, or we can cultivate a garden of solitude.

We can run from our aloneness, frightened and disturbed, thereby intensifying the loneliness. Or we can sit quietly in it, knowing that God is with us … easier said than done. Nevertheless, God’s companionship in our solitude is much like the lit candle that changes everything about the room.

To me, Christmas is about this candle; Christmas says: it’s not about the darkness anymore. Focus on the light. It’s just a candle, just a bit of light, just a baby born.

It doesn’t take our aloneness away, yet it changes our entire experience here, our present and our future. In place of loneliness and anxiety, there is comfort and peace to be found in this room. May we focus on that candle this year, and rest and rejoice.

Light a candle in the darkness tonight at your home.  Then light one in a dark world that needs it.

Michael

It’s December and Christmas songs are playing on the radio and in stores. Advent candles are being lit. Homes are being decorated. Choirs are performing their holiday programs and offices are gathering for the annual Christmas parties. But underneath it all is an anxiety that is coming from the current financial crisis. And I’ve been wondering, what does it mean to be a follower of Christ during these scary times?

Do not be afraid. These words are proclaimed over and over again in the Advent story, a message from God in the voice of angels. "Do not be afraid, your prayer has been heard" (Luke 1:13). "Do not be afraid, … for you have found favor with God" (Luke 1:30). "Do not be afraid; for see — I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people" (Luke 2:10).

I think that God is saying, "Do not be afraid, I am with you." "Do not be afraid; trust in me." "Do not be afraid. I am walking with you and everything will be okay."

Have faith. Jesus invites us to have faith, to trust in God. Jesus says, "Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear" (Matt. 6:25). I once heard someone say that faith is the opposite of fear. Faith in God can replace my feelings of anxiety and fear.

God is saying to us, "Have faith in me." "Turn your life over to me and trust in me." "Don’t worry — trust me."

Pray. When times got rough, Jesus prayed. "After he had dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray" (Matt. 14:23). "They went to a place called Gethsemane; and he said to his disciples, ‘Sit here while I pray’" (Mark 14:32). Prayer is the antidote to fear and despair. It’s our lifeline to the God who loves us and wants the best for us.

God is saying, "Turn to me and I will meet you with arms that comfort and support." "Have faith; do not be afraid. I am standing here beside you — let’s talk."

In these days of Advent may you have hope, trust, and faith. Open your hearts to God’s presence with you in every situation. Be comforted. God is with us; we are not alone.

Have a day of courage.

Michael

Nor did I go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was, but I went immediately into Arabia and later returned to Damascus. – Galatians 1:17

The apostle Paul tells us in the first chapter of Galatians some of the facts surrounding his own conversion. He tells us that he clearly understood the call Jesus placed on his life. He did not have to consult other men about this calling. But before he was released to begin his own mission, He went to Arabia for three years. Why did Paul have to go to Arabia for three years before he ever met another disciple of Jesus Christ?

The Scripture does not tell us plainly why Paul spent three years in Arabia. However, based upon many examples of God placing special calls on people’s lives, we know it often requires a time of separation between the old life and the new life. No doubt, Paul had plenty of time to consider what had taken place in his life and time to develop an intimate knowledge and relationship with the newfound Savior. His life was about to change dramatically.

So often, when God places a call on one of His children, it requires a separation between the old life and the new life. There is a time of being away from the old in order to prepare the heart for what is coming. It can be a painful and difficult separation. Joseph was separated from his family. Jacob was sent to live with his uncle Laban. Moses was sent to the desert.

Perhaps God has placed you in your own desert period. Perhaps you cannot make sense of the situation in which you find yourself. If you press into God during this time, He will reveal the purposes He has for you. The key is pressing into Him. Seek Him with a whole heart and He will be found. God may have a special calling and message He is building in your life right now. Trust in His love for you that He will fully complete the work He has started in you.

A thought for all those living in a desert right now.

Michael

Darkness as black as night covers all the nations of the earth,
    but the glory of the LORD rises and appears over you.
All nations will come to your light;
    mighty kings will come to see your radiance. [Isaiah 60:2-3]

In its original setting, this prophecy of Isaiah emphasized the worldwide impact of the Lord’s blessing of Israel. As God revealed his glory to Israel, this glory would be reflected to all the nations, who would be drawn to Jerusalem in order to see the light of God.

This is exactly what began to happen in Jesus Christ. As we read in John’s gospel: “So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.” Jesus, the ultimate revelation of God’s glorious grace, was the Savior, not just of Israel, but also of the whole world. The birth of Christ was the pathway for the world to experience God’s glory through him.

This passage from Isaiah reminds us that we are to reflect God’s glory into the dark world around us. As we communicate God’s truth, as we reach out with his love, as we offer forgiveness and mercy, people will see God’s glory through us and be drawn to him. That is an essential element of this holy season of advent.  Now more than ever, we reflect the glory and goodness of Christ. 

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION: When have you experienced God’s glory this Christmas? How do you reflect God’s glory in your part of the world? What could you do this Christmas to help those around you experience the goodness of God?

PRAYER: All praise be to you, O God, because you are glorious beyond all measure!
All praise be to you, gracious God, for you have revealed your glory to us!
All praise be to you, Lord Jesus, for you are the ultimate revelation of God’s glory!
Help me, dear Lord, to see more of your glory, that my mind and heart might be filled with awe and wonder!
Help me, glorious Lord, to reflect your glory in this world, so that people might be drawn to you!  In the name of Jesus, the glorious Word of God, Amen.

Keep our Gift of Love Christmas service this Saturday in your prayers.  We have over 200 of the local families coming to share in the message of Christmas.  I also hope to see you at one of our Choir Christmas performances this Wednesday or Sunday.

Enjoy the goodness of our King.

Michael

“And this is my covenant with them,” says the LORD. “My Spirit will not leave them, and neither will these words I have given you. They will be on your lips and on the lips of your children and your children’s children forever. I, the LORD, have spoken!” [Isaiah 59:21]

Through Isaiah, the Lord promises that his words will be “on your lips and on the lips of your children and your children’s children forever.” This promise, once given to Israel, speaks to one of the deepest yearnings of our own hearts. Those of us who care about children, whether they’re related to us or not, want so much for God’s words to be on their lips and in their hearts. We ache for the next generations to know the Lord and walk with him.

Though younger people in our society do show considerable interest in “spirituality,” this doesn’t necessarily extend to orthodox Christianity. Moreover, according to the recent book unChristian: What a New Generation Really Thinks About Christianity . . . And Why It Matters, younger people in our day are increasingly negative about the church. If we want God’s words to guide the lives of the next generations, including our own children and grandchildren, then we need to commit ourselves to this goal. It will impact how we live each day and how we function as the church. It will require new authenticity, openness, and integrity. We have no more important calling than to pass on our faith to the next generations.

What an honor it was to see Millie Blair give her life to Christ today.  We have such good young people.
 
QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION: How are you impacting the faith of young people in your world? What can you do to live in such a way that the next generations are drawn to the Lord through you?

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, today I’m praying for my children and for the children of this world. May your words be on their lips and in their hearts. May they know your Word. May it shape their lives and guide their thoughts.
Help me, dear Lord, to speak and live in such a way that younger people are drawn to you through me. Forgive me when my words and deeds don’t match. Use me to reach out to the next generations with love and grace.
Help your church, Lord, to connect with younger generations. May we do this, not simply as a program to build our churches, but as a way of helping young people to know and love you. Give us courage to live out our faith with authenticity. Help us to be open to change, even change that makes us uncomfortable. Amen.

READ | Luke 2:1-14

Galatians chapter four, verse four tells us, "But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son." With those simple words, the apostle Paul sums up much of the Old Testament. The fullness of time refers to all of God’s preparations for sending Jesus Christ into the world to die for our sins. The Father’s hand was organizing world events to bring about the most powerful incident ever. The story of Christ’s coming is the story of human history.

Pleased by Noah’s faithfulness, God saved his family from the worldwide flood. That preserved the Messianic line through Shem (Genesis 7:13; Luke 3:23-38). Later, after the Israelites made it to the Promised Land, they ended up losing it. Eventually the Persian king Cyrus defeated their Babylonian captors and allowed the Jewish people to rebuild Jerusalem.

With Alexander the Great’s conquest of the known world, the Greek language spread, giving people a common tongue. More time passed, and the Roman conquests ushered in a new era of peace. Traveling became easier as good roads were built, and the seas were safe to sail.

Then, when the time was right, Jesus Christ was born. He would be crucified and resurrected in the rebuilt city. His Gospel could be shared in a common language and carried to faraway countries.

We think we do a lot to plan for Christmas.  We pale against the preparations for the first Christmas.  While you are busy shopping, hanging ornaments and such, remember what really went into preparing for Christmas.

Michael

READ | Galatians 4:4-7

Since Creation, God was orchestrating world affairs to set the stage for the arrival of His Son. In the meantime, He used prophecy to keep alive people’s hope for a fresh beginning and a new relationship with Him.

So many Messianic predictions are recorded in the Old Testament that the likelihood of one man fulfilling them all was slim. However, Jesus Christ’s birth, life, and death happened exactly as the prophets foretold. Isaiah proclaimed, "Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name [God with us]" (Isaiah 7:14).

Micah told the Jewish people their leader would come from the tiny town of Bethlehem (Micah 5:2). The timing of Messiah’s arrival was revealed to Daniel, who recorded the timeline in his writings. (Note: The word "week" in Daniel 9:25-26 actually has the meaning of "seven years"—just as in Genesis 29:27.)

God Himself gave a direct prophecy in Genesis 3:15, when He told Satan, "[The seed of woman] shall bruise you on the head." It was an indication that Christ would defeat him. A careful comparison of Jesus’ life with the prophecies of Scripture leads to only one conclusion: Jesus is the promised Messiah, who brings every willing person into a new covenant relationship with the Father.

The hope of a coming Messiah sustained the Israelites through centuries of chaos and captivity. That messianic hope is still available in our day through the One who came, died, and rose again for us. Those of us who have received Jesus Christ as Savior have an unbreakable covenant relationship with God—and the promise of eternity with Him.

Such a Christmas promise should sustain us in the worst of times and prepare us for the best of times.

Michael

"For we also have had the gospel preached to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because those who heard did not combine it with faith" (Heb 4:2-3).

You run into anemic Christians everyday. They have a form of religion but fail to mix their belief with faith and obedience. The apostle Paul described them when he said "these people have a form of godliness but deny its power."

What are the telltale signs of anemic faith? When you no longer pray about decisions, you have anemic faith. When you fail to speak to others about their relationship with God, you have anemic faith. When you’re unwilling to spend time with God everyday, your faith has become anemic. You no longer have a living faith.

God spoke to John, the apostle, through a vision and told him about some Christians who were part of the church in Laodicea:

"To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm-neither hot nor cold-I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see" (Rev 3:14-18).

These are strong words from our Lord. We are all susceptible to growing cold and anemic in our faith. 

This Christmas, review your decisions, witness and time you spend with God.  Is your faith strong or a little bit anemic.

Michael

READ | Revelation 21:22-22:7

Death is inevitable. The thief on the cross knew when his would occur, but we can not predict our own. After his death, the crucified criminal went to live in paradise with Jesus. Some of us will also live eternally in God’s presence. But others will be separated from Him.

If we receive Jesus as our Savior, our penalty for sin is paid. We are adopted into God’s family, and Heaven is our eternal home. If we reject Jesus, we remain alienated from the Lord and under judgment for our sins. We know better.  God won’t accept any of man’s excuses because there is no acceptable defense for unbelief (Acts 4:12).

The Christmas story is familiar to the world.  Every year it is regaled and recounted.  But most still do not see its meaning or worth to their lives.  Can anyone you know imagine standing before God and feigning ignorance? 

Yet many believers will forfeit opportunities to worship or serve Him during this holy time.  They will offer busyness as an excuse.  Unbelief takes on many forms.  The simplest is disobedience and disregard.  Don’t take Christmas for granted.  It is a time to renew the story and our devotion.

What if this Christmas is to be your last?  Would you celebrate it any different?  The choice is yours.

Michael

READ | Luke 23:32-43

In yesterday’s message, I reminded you that death has a place at Christmas.  God was mindful of it when he sent his son.  God offered a answer for death with his Son’s  birth and eventual death.

The thief on the cross—condemned by both God and man—was just hours away from death. But before he took his last breath, something glorious occurred. The criminal, in the very process of dying, was rescued by Jesus right in front of the mocking crowd. The thief’s name was written in the Lamb’s Book of Life, and all of heaven rejoiced. Jesus promised him a place in paradise in the presence of God.

On those three crosses at Calvary, one robber died in his sin. Another man, the Son of Man, died to pay the penalty for sin. And the third, also a thief, was redeemed from sin. His sin-debt was paid in full, and he became part of God’s family.

But what evidence do we have that his deathbed conversion was real? First, there’s his change in behavior. Initially, both thieves hurled insults and blasphemies against Jesus. In a total turnaround, the redeemed robber later chastised the first man for his words (v. 40).

Second, the thief’s admission of guilt is evidence of his conversion. He publicly acknowledged being justly punished for his wicked deeds (v. 41).  The truth had finally sunk in.

The third piece of evidence is the robber’s expression of faith in the Lord. The man called Jesus by name, acknowledged He was a king with a kingdom, believed there was life after death, and asked Jesus to rescue him.

The final evidence of his deathbed conversion is Jesus’ promise to the thief. The Lord told him in Luke 23:43, "Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise."

God will take care of saving us through Jesus but will we take care of turning to him and being truly converted.  What better Christmas could you have then getting your relationship with God worked out.  Then Christmas will truly be Christmas.

Don’t wait till death is at your door.  Make your peace today.  Then celebrate Christmas.

Michael