.....season

Although many of our beloved traditions came to America only a couple of centuries ago, other countries have celebrated Christmas in a similar manner for a lot longer. And of course, the history of Christmas dates back to that quiet night in a smelly stable, more than 2000 years ago, when our Savior came to this world to bring us hope and salvation. 

Even in a world where many still reject Jesus as Savior, the word "Christmas" brings honor to the one whose name is uttered. It is hard to say, "Merry Christmas" to someone without saying "Christ". It's hard to sing "Silent Night" without giving reference to the events of that 'Holy Night'. And the star atop the tree still announces the birth of Christ so long ago. 

So, the reason for this beloved season and all the joy it brings is none other than our Lord Jesus Christ!

This Season, as you go about in the "hustle and bustle" of the holiday, make sure your focus stays on the real reason for the celebration, giving honor to the birthday Joy-giver. Let the words "Merry CHRISTmas" ring true to all those you wish it to!

- adapted from charles innes 

.....race

“For if we are faithful to the end, trusting God just as firmly as when we first believed, we will share in all that belongs to Christ.” Hebrews 3:14 For if we are faithful to the end, trusting God just as firmly as when we first believed, we will share in all that belongs to Christ.

We all will leave a legacy of sorts. It will be a positive one or a negative one. But eventually our lives will come to an end, and we will leave a legacy. People might say some nice things about us at our funerals, but afterward, the truth will come out.

We don’t know how much time God will give to each one of us. We may live long, productive lives. And maybe we will be able to look back eventually and say that we finished well, our lives may be cut relatively short. We might not live quite that long. That is why we want to make sure that every day counts.

On more than one occasion, the Bible likens the Christian life to running a race. Writing to the church in Corinth, the apostle Paul said, “Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win!” 1 Corinthians 9:24. And the writer of Hebrews urges us, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us”.

The objective in the Christian life is not only to start our race well but also to cross the finish line. We must finish this race. The Bible warns us of failing to do that. Again, “Be careful then, dear brothers and sisters. Make sure that your own hearts are not evil and unbelieving, turning you away from the living God. . . . For if we are faithful to the end, trusting God just as firmly as when we first believed, we will share in all that belongs to Christ”.

It doesn’t matter whether we’ve been in first place for nine laps in a ten-lap race. We have to cross the finish line. That is why Paul also said, “I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified” 1 Corinthians 9:27.

Paul, addressing the elders of Ephesus prior to his departure, spoke of his impending imprisonment. He told them, “But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God” Acts 20:24. That was Paul’s goal. He wanted to finish his race.

In the race of life, we’re not competing with each other. I’m not running against you. And you’re not running against me. Our goal is not to outrun each other, our goal is to stay in our lane and finish the race that God has set before us.

- greg laurie

.....unopened

Did you see it? You may have missed it...but it was there. Don't feel bad; most people overlook this one, but there is still time. Today, before the new year gets here, before all the decorations are put away, before all the other gifts are set aside, open it!

"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."Romans 6:23

The gift of God. Why do so many people miss His gift? One reason might be the rather ordinary wrapping; "He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him" Isaiah 53:2. 

And you can't get less majestic than the way He was born; "He made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness" Philippians 2:7. Yes, such a great gift in such common wrapping could easily be missed. But perhaps there is something else, something in the very makeup of our nature which keeps us from opening His gift.

A prince does not have a problem accepting a gift meant for a prince. And a common person does not have a problem accepting a gift which is common. But a common person can be quite uncomfortable accepting a gift meant for a prince. We know what’s inside the gift - eternal life! A gift meant for a prince. And deep down we know we are so very common, so unworthy! This gift is too great, too much above what we feel we deserve. This gift makes us feel uncomfortable: "If we accept the gift, will we then feel a debt? How could we ever repay such a debt? Maybe it's best to ignore it and just leave it wrapped under the tree."

I suppose we shouldn't be too hard on ourselves. This is a natural reaction to such a gift. Ever since the gift was first made available, people have felt unworthy and refused to open or even give it much notice. They would rather try to somehow work and feel deserving; "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast" Ephesians 2:8-9. The gift cannot be earned, and working does not make us more deserving.

Jesus Christ came in ordinary wrapping. He died for the forgiveness of our sin. Why? So we could be given the greatest gift of all, the gift of eternal life! Let's not let another day go by without receiving His gift. Sure we might feel uncomfortable. 

Sure we might feel a debt we can never repay. 

But His gift is given in love and is worth it all. Let's honestly examine what is keeping us away. Let's humbly recognize our need; and in the quiet of our heart, let's be sure to receive the last unopened gift.

- steve troxel

.....move

In our celebration of the birth of Christ, we know the focus of Christmas should be the eternal gift given through the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. This season ought to irresistibly draw us nearer to God as we reflect on His wonderful gift of love. But perhaps there are times we need to be reminded of the true significance of this gift.

The birth of Jesus gives great insight into the character of God. For one, we see His methods are far different from our own; "My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways" Isaiah 55:8. How many of us would bring the King of Kings into the world through two common young people in a dirty area reserved for the animals? But God had a purpose!

These lowest of beginnings set the example for a life of humility. Jesus Christ is the Creator of the Universe! "For by Him all things were created" Colossians 1:16. Yet, He humbled Himself to the point of being born with the animals and continued by humbly walking all the way to the cross.

As we reflect on His humility, how can we then make prideful demands on life? How can we assume there is a standard to which we are entitled? Jesus set the standard for humility, and we are now called to follow; "Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus" Philippians 2:5.

But perhaps the greatest insight we can learn from the birth of our Savior is simply that He came. Our sin must have been detestable and vile to One so holy, but He came to live with us...and love us! Without Jesus Christ, we have absolutely no hope; we can do nothing to save ourselves from the bondage of sin and an eternal separation from God. We can do nothing, yet God came to love us and set us free. He took the initiative in our Salvation by providing a way and calling us Home.

"This is how God showed His love among us: He sent His one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him." 1 John 4:9

God clearly saw our sinful condition, yet He loved us enough to send His Son so we might be restored to a right relationship with Him. He sent His Son so we might live! God made the first move over 2000 years ago and He continues to make the first move in our lives today. He calls long before we even recognize His voice, and He continues to call us now to surrender our life and live with Him in a deeper and more intimate relationship.

If you hear His call today, please respond! It's a great privilege to hear His call, so be encouraged...but then respond! His call cost Him dearly, and it represents a love we will never fully understand. Let's boldly answer and follow wherever He leads. And remember, He loved us enough to look past our sin and make the first move. 

- steve troxel

.....know

The presence of God is a wonderful gift which is available to every believer. No longer is His presence confined to a specific location or available to only a few; "I am with you always, even to the end of the age" Matthew 28:20. 

But the gift of His presence requires discipline in order to be received and maintained. We don't earn this gift; it truly is a gift! But we live in such a noisy and hectic world that we often simply miss His blessing unless we are willing to actively order our time and priorities...and this takes effort!

We are all given the same 24 hours in every day. Yet most of us generally try to put far too much into this precious time. We become frustrated with the constant busyness, but when given the opportunity we add even more to our schedule. Each of our activities may be good, but the result is often a frantic pace void of the true blessings from God. 

As our activity level increases, it becomes more and more difficult to hear God and nearly impossible to ponder the meaning of His truth. The result is that the contentment of walking in His presence is often missed. For this reason, God gives us a gentle reminder - actually, He gives us a firm command.

"Be still, and know that I am God."Psalm 46:10

There are many things in life which are good - many good people and good activities that require, or at least desire, our time. While God definitely calls us to serve and minister to one another, we must understand that constant busyness hinders our ability to hear God. To maintain effective communication with God and nurture a sense of His peace, we must make time, and put forth the "effort," to simply stop and rest in His strength.

Perhaps the writer of this Psalm knew we needed a great assurance and trust in God in order to be still; he begins with: "God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging" Psalm 46:1-3. God will always be at our side as a source of strength. We need not fear being still!

We must never forget that what our Heavenly Father desires more than anything else is for us to love Him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength Mark 12:30, or what Jesus says is most important: "...only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her" Luke 10:42.

As we see our pace beginning to increase, let's draw near to God by quietly worshipping Him and giving thanks for the awesome gift of His Son. Let's protect our schedule such that we have time for God's very best. 

Let's receive and enjoy His true blessings as we make time every day to simply be still and know.

- steve troxel 

.....forgiveness

It's hard to believe there are only a few more days until Christmas. Yes, as the song says: "It's the most wonderful time of the year!" It really is wonderful! We are flooded with Christmas music, Christmas lights, and lots of Christmas "activities." And although the season contains many distractions which attempt to pull us away, we generally make time to gather with family and friends and celebrate the true meaning of Christmas. 

But many will find this time of year to be very painful. The memories of past hurt, which may remain hidden throughout the year, are now driven to the surface. Many are required to face someone who caused them pain, or face the memory of a past Christmas which brings the person, and pain, back into view.

Obviously, this is not the turmoil which God intends for our life...especially not as we celebrate the birth of His Son.

"Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you." Ephesians 4:32

We cannot properly celebrate the birth of Jesus without reflecting on why He was born. Through His life He offered us a message of eternal hope, and through His death on the cross He offered us the complete forgiveness of sin. With this single act of unbelievable love, Jesus removed the sin which would otherwise keep us eternally separated from our Heavenly Father. This is the manner in which we are to love and forgive others.

Jesus told a parable about a servant who had an enormous debt canceled: "The servant fell on his knees before him. 'Be patient with me,' he begged, 'and I will pay back everything.' The servant's master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go" Matthew 18:26-27. But when the servant went away, he refused to cancel the relatively minor debt a fellow servant owed him; "Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt" Matthew 18:30.

Jesus used this parable to show that unless we completely forgive others from deep within our heart, we have somehow failed to understand the forgiveness we have already received; "Shouldn't you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?" Matthew 18:33. Any sin which others may commit against us is small when viewed in light of the many sins we have committed against God! We have been completely forgiven of sooooo much!!

During this most wonderful time of the year, let's reflect on the awesome gift we have been given through our Savior. Then, let's give to others as we have already received. Let's love and give the gift of true forgiveness.

- steve troxel

.....knees

God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble James 4:6

A small cathedral outside Bethlehem marks the possible birthplace of Jesus.  

Behind a high altar in the church is a cave, a little cavern lit by by silver lamps.  

You can enter the main edifice and admire the ancient church.  

You can also enter the quiet cave where a star embedded in the floor recognizes the birth of the King.  There is one stipulation, however. You have to stoop!!!  

The door is so low you can't go in standing up.    

The same is true with Christ.  

You can see the world standing tall, but to witness the Savior, you have to get down on your knees.  

- max lucado

.....consume

Despite many calls and pleas from Jeremiah, the people of Israel failed to repent of their sin and turn toward God. After many years of rejection, God finally turned them over to their own evil desires; "Even if Moses and Samuel were to stand before Me, My heart would not go out to this people" Jeremiah 15:1.

Jeremiah was in an extremely lonely position. He had faithfully preached God's message to his fellow countrymen but received only rejection in return: "{I am} a man with whom the whole land strives and contends...everyone curses me" Jeremiah 15:10. This rejection caused Jeremiah to also feel rejected by God, so he tried to remind God of his deep commitment and devotion.

"Do not take me away; think of how I suffer reproach for Your sake. When Your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart's delight, for I bear Your name, O Lord God Almighty."Jeremiah 15:15-16

Jeremiah hungered for God's Word and often thought of his next "meal" with the Lord. Though he was frustrated with his ministry effort, Jeremiah loved God and desired to diligently serve Him. God saw the devotion in Jeremiah's heart and encouraged him to continue on the path of faithful service; "I will restore you that you may serve Me; if you utter worthy, not worthless, words, you will be My spokesman" Jeremiah 15:19.

What type of devotion and hunger does God see when He looks inside our heart?

Several years ago, I had the opportunity to take an extended hiking trip with my son. We hiked 120 miles in ten days and ate mostly nuts, raisins, and peanut butter. As we hiked along the beautiful trails of Northern Maine - through woods, across streams, and over mountains - I spent many hours thinking of scripture verses. But I confess I also spent many hours thinking about pepperoni pizza with extra cheese. By the end of the trail, I had a DEEP hunger for pizza; a longing that made my mouth water; a hunger which had to be filled...immediately!

We must approach God's Word with this same anticipation and hunger. We must recognize the world's diet as being filled with empty "snacks" which ruin our appetite for real Food! The Word of God is a nourishing and satisfying meal which deserves our full attention as well as our appreciation. We ought to sit down and eagerly clean our plates; we should not play with our food and nibble around the edges. We must also be careful not to over season with doctrinal spices which tend to overpower and mask the natural flavor.

Many of us are spiritually starving and yet keep His life-giving Food sitting on the shelf! Let's pray for an increased hunger - a focused hunger which is satisfied only in our Heavenly Father. Let's commit to being a well-nourished Child of God and passionately consume The Word.

- steve troxel

.....fall

When my daughter was beginning to ride her bike she discovered an all-important truth. After a particularly difficult afternoon she came inside and said; "Daddy, you know the hardest part about riding a bike? It's learning how to fall!" 

At five years of age she had discovered that falling was an inevitable part of the riding experience; but to have a "successful" experience, she needed to learn how to fall without causing damage to her body.

When we follow the call of God and step into the great unknown, we are ALWAYS successful. We are successful because success is defined as being obedient to His call, regardless of the physical results or accomplishments. We must never evaluate our walk with the Lord based on worldly criteria. Rather, we are to walk by a faith which is lived out each day through trust and obedience.

When John the Baptist was in prison, he sent his disciples to ask Jesus, "Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?" Matthew 11:3. This question indicates some great turmoil. John preached a message of repentance to "Prepare the way of the Lord" Luke 3:4, and he described Jesus as, "one more powerful than I will come, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie" Luke 3:16. And when John baptized Jesus, he heard a voice from Heaven say, "This is My Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased" Matthew 3:17. But while in jail, John needed to ask, "Are You really the One?"

"Jesus replied, 'Go back and report to John what you hear and see: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear... Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of Me.'"Matthew 11:4-6

The first part of this reply is what we expect. Jesus is saying, "Of course I'm the One! Don't you see the evidence?" But then Jesus answers John's real question with "Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of Me." John was doubting because he had been sent to jail for following Christ. He had taken a discouraging fall and was questioning his chosen path. Was it possible that he should experience such hardship if Jesus was really the Christ?

Our walk with Jesus is never promised to be easy - it is promised to be eternal! We are never promised success in the eyes of the world; we are promised the true success which only His peace can give, as well as an eternal glory in the presence of God! His plans and purposes are perfect and will most surely include aspects we cannot understand, include times when we become discouraged and appear to fall. These are times we must fall without falling away! 

In falling we must fall closer to Jesus and learn to trust Him even more. We can have a successful journey even through apparent failure; we will always be successful if we continue to follow where He leads and learn how to fall. 

- steve troxel

.....remembrance

Why is December 25th so special? What really is this day we call Christmas?

The early church did not give much thought to the birth of Jesus. Of the four Gospels, only Matthew and Luke even mention His birth, and these accounts are relatively brief. Certainly, the emphasis of the Gospels was on Jesus' ministry, death, and resurrection. And after Jesus ascended to Heaven, the focus of the church was on living for Him, sending out His message, and waiting for His return.

No one is really sure when Jesus was born. The first recorded celebration didn't occur until 200 years after His birth, and it wasn't until the year 330 that the birth of Christ was assigned to December 25th. Some say Jesus was actually born in September or October and others are sure He was born in March or April; in fact, a case has been made for His birth in each of the twelve months! But it’s generally agreed that, due to the relatively colder weather, December was an unlikely time for the birth of our Savior, at least as it is recorded in the Bible. So what really is Christmas?

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us John 1:1,14

The very Word of God became flesh! Though it is difficult to understand, the Word of God came to live among us and began life as a little baby. He "made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant" Philippians 2:7. This sacrifice of transformation represents a whole lot of love!

Christmas is a day to remember the most profound event in the history of the world. On that first Christmas - whenever it was, God came to earth to live among us! He was born into the most humble circumstances, grew and taught us His truths, died on a cross for our sin, and was raised, all so we might live with Him for eternity.

December 25th is a day to celebrate with quiet reflection, as Mary "treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart" Luke 2:19. It’s also a day to celebrate with great rejoicing, as the shepherds "returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen" Luke 2:20. The world has tried to remove Christ and insert many activities into this season which do not glorify God, but this need not hinder our worship. We have the ability to turn away the evil and embrace that which is honoring and good.

We can and should glorify God and celebrate the gift of our Savior every day throughout the year. Let's celebrate with a focused and thankful heart, and have Christmas a blessed day of remembrance.

- adapted from steve troxel

.....why

Bethlehem is located on a ridge some 2500 feet above sea level, and five or six miles southwest of Jerusalem. Why, with all the grand locations in the world to choose from, did God choose for His Son to be born in Bethlehem? I can think of three good reasons.

1 TO FULFILL PROPHECY

Seven hundred years earlier, the prophet Micah quoted God: "As for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah... from you One will go forth from Me to be ruler in Israel, His goings forth are from long ago, from days of eternity."

Now, some Messianic prophecies are cryptic - they are identified and understood only after the event has occurred. Psalm 22 and Isaiah 53 must have perplexed readers for hundreds of years as to their meaning. Only after the Savior went to the cross did the followers of Jesus realize how the first seems to be the thoughts of the Lord on the cross, and the second an eyewitness description of that event. God placed such prophecies in the Bible so that when they happened, His people would be comforted to know He had planned it from the beginning.

However, Micah 5:2 stands out there in the open. God wanted everyone to know the Savior would be arriving in Bethlehem. And everyone did know, at least those familiar with the Scriptures. When the magi arrived in Jerusalem asking at every street corner where the newborn King could be found, word filtered up to King Herod in the palace and he called in his advisors. "In Bethlehem," they all agreed, quoting Micah 5:2.

God keeps His word; Jesus was born in Bethlehem.

2 TO IDENTIFY WITH DAVID

The Messiah would be a Son of David and sit on the throne of David. Old Testament prophecies emphasized both points again and again. Since both Mary and Joseph were of the lineage of David, Jesus was doubly covered. When the census of Luke 2:1 called everyone to his ancestral home, they made the journey of a hundred miles south to Bethlehem.

Bethlehem was where Ruth lived and where she gleaned the fields behind Boaz' harvesters. Boaz spotted the lovely young widow and the rest, as they say, is history. Their son Obed became the father of Jesse, who raised a large family of sons and daughters, the youngest son being David. Thereafter, Bethlehem would forever be known as the city of David. Even the angels called it that. "Unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior," they said to the shepherds. Doubtless many of the psalms of David which God's people have loved and sung for thirty centuries were inspired by time spent in the same fields and meadows where the shepherds met the angels that wondrous night.

One day as the Lord and His entourage were approaching Jericho, a blind beggar sitting beside the gate began to call out to Him. "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!"  Again and again, he repeated that refrain. When our Lord came within earshot, He had the man brought to Him and restored his sight.

The Son of God is the Son of David! Jesus was born in Bethlehem.

3 TO MAKE A CONNECTION

Bethlehem in the Hebrew means "House of Bread"   What more fitting place for One to be born who would be known as the Bread of Life.

One day, Jesus fed thousands of people with the lunch of a child. Soon afterward, He taught the people the meaning of the miracle. "There is a bread that endures to eternal life," He said. He Himself was the living and true Bread from Heaven, "which a man may eat and live forever." John 6

Isaiah asked the people of God in his day: "Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread?" Isa. 55:2 That is to say, why are you working and worrying and spending your life for things that do not nourish you, do not strengthen you, and do not satisfy you? A good question for our day, also.

Jesus is the fulfillment of prophecies given hundreds of years earlier. Jesus Christ is the Son of David, born in the City of David. Jesus is the Bread of Life, born in the House of Bread.

How much plainer can God make it? Jesus is Lord. 

- dave langerfeld

.....thank

What can I offer the Lord for all he has done for me? Psalm 116:12

David asked, “What can I offer the Lord for all he has done for me?” Then he goes on to say, “I will lift up the cup of salvation and praise the Lord’s name for saving me” Psalm 116:12–13. One of the most well-known stories in the Bible is that of the wise men who came to visit the child Jesus.

These men were advisers to the king and more like king makers than actual kings. They were very powerful. They studied the stars and were into astronomy and astrology. These were pagan men who did not believe in the Lord God of Israel. So, God came to them in a way they would understand.

He went to these stargazers, these magi, with a star. And that star brought them to the child Jesus, who had already been born. First they came through Jerusalem, where they met the paranoid King Herod. They told him they had come to worship the King of the Jews.

Then they found their way to Bethlehem. Matthew tells us, “The star they had seen in the east guided them to Bethlehem. It went ahead of them and stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were filled with joy! They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him” Matthew 2:9–11.

They came to worship the newborn King. And how did they express their worship? Verse 11 tells us, “They opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh”. They didn’t give Jesus their leftovers. They were meeting the living King, and only the best would do.

Serving others is an act of worship. In Billy Graham’s home, there was a sign near the kitchen sink that read, “Divine service done here three times daily.” Even doing the dishes can be an act of worship. So, let’s not limit our worship to singing.

At Christmas we celebrate God’s gift of His Son, Jesus Christ, to us. There’s nothing that we ever could give to God that would be even close to being equal to the gift that God has given to us. But there are things we can do for Him to show our thanks.

When someone gives us a nice gift, we say thank you. If someone does something for us, we say thank you. In the same way, God has given us this amazing gift. So, we should say, “Thank you, Lord.” The real happiness we are looking for is not in Christmas; it is in Christ. It comes from His presence in our lives. 

- adapted from greg laurie

.....hear

There will always be temptations to take other paths to "get ahead," but God's ways are flawless, and He calls us to follow Him with every step.

Jeremiah was appointed God's spokesman to call the people of Israel back to a relationship filled with true worship. But despite many pleas for the people to repent, their hearts remained cold and closed to God's wonderful truth; "They go from one sin to another; they do not acknowledge Me" Jeremiah 9:3.

After many years of living in rebellious sin, the calling of God ceased and Israel was taken captive by the Babylonians: "'You have rejected Me,' declares the Lord. 'You keep on backsliding. So I will lay hands on you and destroy you; I can no longer show compassion'" Jeremiah 15:6.

God dearly loves His children; "He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance" 2 Peter 3:9. He sent His Son to die as a sacrifice for our sins and gave His Spirit to strengthen and guide us along His path. He continues to call! But constant rejection will cause our heart to harden and be subject to God's discipline.

A hardened heart has chosen to live separated from God. It can no longer hear God's call and cannot even recognize His truth. When this occurs, our Loving Father responds with great sorrow and allows the hardened heart to follow the path it desires; "Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts" Romans 1:24. Dear Lord, do not allow us to follow our own path!

God calls us today through His Word. He calls us through those He has sent into the world to proclaim His truth. He even calls right now through messages such as this. Is there a tug on your heart to place your trust in the forgiveness offered through Jesus? Is there a desire for a deeper commitment, a greater worship, a life of greater holiness and purity? These desires, pulls, and tugs are all the call of God being made through His Spirit.

"Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion."Hebrews 3:15

When we hear the call of God's voice, we must respond. He is calling us to Salvation through faith in Jesus; calling us to know Him better through His Word and prayer; calling us to serve others with love and to nurture Godly relationships; and calling us to draw near through a deeper and more intimate worship. His call is a wonderful confirmation of His love, but we must follow and not turn away. 

Today, let's answer His call and resolve to never again allow our heart to harden when we hear His voice.

- steve troxel

.....gift

For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6

The story of Jesus coming into the world is not so much the story of a birth as it is the story of a gift. From Earth’s perspective, it was the entrance of Jesus into Planet Earth. But from Heaven’s perspective, it was the departure of Jesus Christ from Heaven. Jesus is God. Therefore, He is eternal. He has always existed. But at just the right time, the Son of God came to this earth. The Bible says, “But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law” Galatians 4:4.

Jesus made a choice to leave the glory of Heaven and walk among us as a man. The very Son of God was born into the most unsanitary conditions imaginable, laid in a little bed of straw, and wrapped in pieces of cloth. This is how the Creator of the universe came to us in human form. The first Christmas was not about a gift to a child; it was about the gift of a child. “For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” 9:6. Each word describes a different insight into the nature, character, purpose, and plan.

His name is Wonderful Counselor. That takes care of the dullness of life. We no longer have to settle for the cheap substitutes but instead can experience what God has for us. It also takes care of the decisions of life. No longer do the problems we face need to plague us, because there is One who wants to counsel us.

His name is Mighty God. That takes care of the demands of life. We must never forget that Jesus was God incarnate. This means that Jesus has unlimited power. And if we put our trust in this Mighty God, He will give us the power to live the life He has called us to live.

His name is Everlasting Father. That takes care of our future. We know that life is not merely what we experience here and now on Earth. According to the Bible, we will live forever. The big question is where we will live. If we put our faith in Jesus Christ, then we will live in Heaven. Because He was born, crucified, and resurrected, we can have this hope beyond the grave.

His name is Prince of Peace. That takes care of the disturbances of life. Life throws us a lot of curve balls. Frightening things happen, and we often don’t know what to do. We need the Prince of Peace to step in. We don’t have to wait for Christ to return before we can experience His rule and reign in our lives. That can happen right now. We can surrender our lives to Him and experience the purpose and plan that He has for us. 

- adapted from gregory laurie

.....shortcuts

When we stand with our Heavenly Father, we will see the awesome purpose in the path we have traveled. If we continue to trust and follow His leading, we will see how each twist and turn in His path was designed to navigate us through the jungle and keep us moving toward a closer relationship: "As for God, His way is perfect; the Word of the Lord is flawless" Psalm 18:30. His way is perfect and without flaw; but, by God's sovereign will, we are given the freedom to choose whether to follow.

Many times we see what appears to be a shorter route, and we leave His path. These perceived shortcuts are filled with weeds that entangle us and slow our walk with Christ to a pathetic crawl; "But the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful" Matthew 13:22. All our time spent away from God's path clearly hinders our relationship and diminishes our ability to produce anything of lasting value for the Lord.

"Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on His Law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither."Psalm 1:1-3

To remain on God's path and continue to bear good and lasting fruit, we must be wise regarding the counsel we seek. Many people willingly give advice on following a "successful" path and yet ridicule any path directed by God. This counsel must be avoided since the very definition of success is in error! A truly successful path IS the path directed by God!!

Staying free of the weeds requires an active pursuit of God; "on His Law he meditates day and night." If we do not consume ourselves with the ways of God, we will, by default, become consumed by the ways of the world. Jesus made a similar statement to His disciples: "I am the vine, you are the branches. If a man remains in Me and I in him, he will bear much fruit" John 15:5. Remaining in the vine is a process of clinging to Christ and loving Him with ALL our heart. Our life then becomes defined and consumed by the life of the vine.

As we allow God's Word to flow through our life - as we become planted by the stream of His water - we develop deep roots. These roots become a solid anchor which will not be pulled up during the storm nor dragged along by the swift currents of temptation.

God's path is perfect and His burden is light; but remaining on His path and staying free of weeds requires commitment, perseverance, discipline...and a strong reminder that there are NO shortcuts!

- adapted from steve troxel

.....challenge

Why are so many "believers" content to live a life of mediocrity in Christ - a life partially devoted to following God and partially devoted to following the ways of the world? Without question, some have only put on the face of a Christian and have never given their heart to God through a saving faith in Jesus. But others are true believers in desperate need of a spiritual kick!

Paul's letters comprise much of the New Testament. They were written to give instruction on the Christian faith and to encourage perseverance through times of testing. Paul often wrote of the simplicity of the gospel message; "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God" Ephesians 2:8. But he also wrote to encourage those who truly put their faith in Jesus to live a life of service, holiness, and unity.

When we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, we begin a new life. We are set free from the bondage of sin Romans 6:22 and are called to follow Christ as we are conformed to His image Romans 8:29. But Paul saw many believers sitting on the sidelines of the Christian life; "I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received" Ephesians 4:1.

Paul gives encouragement by "urging" a life worthy of Salvation. This has nothing to do with earning our way to Heaven; rather, we are encouraged to live in holy thankfulness for the gift we have received. The word Paul uses for urge can also be translated as beseech, beg, implore, exhort, or challenge. He's not giving a gentle pat on the back which says, "You're doing well, keep running a good race." Rather, Paul is presenting a firm challenge to draw nearer to God and give our lives more fully to Him. Paul uses the same word in his letter to the Romans.

"Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act of worship."Romans 12:1

We have been set free and made new! We are a new creation and CANNOT continue to walk with one foot on God's path and the other being allowed to tiptoe along worldly desires. These simply have no place in the life of a worshipper of the One True God!

Today, we are being urged (challenged) to trust God more; to talk with Him more and seek His presence more diligently; to not get pulled away by the lies of the world! We are being challenged to love Him with ALL our heart, soul, mind and strength Mark 12:30. As we face this day with its multitude of struggles, let's live a life worthy of the calling we have received and forevermore answer the challenge!

- adapted from steve troxel

.....eternity

Ruth lived in the land of Moab just east of Canaan. She was not an Israelite but she married one of the sons of Naomi who had recently moved to Moab from Judah because of a famine. After ten years, Ruth's husband died. Naomi was going to return to her homeland and thought Ruth should remain with her people in Moab. 

But Ruth loved Naomi and desired to stay by her side.

"Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried."Ruth 1:16-17

Life back in Canaan was difficult for Naomi and Ruth. Without anyone to care for them, Ruth had to pick left over grain from the fields simply to have enough to eat. Fortunately, Jewish law made provisions for this type of charity to the poor. As a poor foreigner in a strange land, this was a very humbling time for Ruth.

After two harvesting seasons of faithfully gathering food for herself and Naomi, Ruth married Boaz who owned the field where she worked. They soon had a son, and Naomi was allowed to help care for the boy. Their life had suddenly, and wonderfully, improved. And though Ruth must have been relieved and pleased to have a son, imagine her amazement when she is allowed to look back and view the results of her life from God's perspective.

Ruth's husband, Boaz, was an Israelite from the tribe of Judah. Their son was named Obed: "He was the father of Jesse, the father of {King} David" Ruth 4:17. From this same family line (fourteen generations later), Mary would give birth to a boy named Jesus.

Our view of God's Kingdom is VERY limited. No matter how much we desire otherwise, there are simply pieces of the puzzle we are unable to fit together. While we walk this earth and breathe this air, we most likely will never see the purpose of our struggles. Yet, we must closely follow the One who leads and give ourselves wholeheartedly to each task we are given. We must learn to trust His perfect plan!

A shining light will always penetrate the darkness. And though we may not see the impact we have on others, one day we will stand with our Heavenly Father and rejoice as He reveals how we were used for His glorious purpose. One day we will watch our life unfold and clearly see the use of every helping hand, every encouraging word, and even every smile we shared in the midst of our trials. The shining light of our life has great meaning and purpose - true meaning and purpose which we will joyfully witness when we are allowed to look back from eternity.

- steve troxel

.....need

If our greatest need had been information,

   ...God would have sent us an educator;

If our greatest need had been technology,

   ...God would have sent us a scientist;

If our greatest need had been money,

   ...God would have sent us an economist;

If our greatest need had been pleasure,

   ...God would have sent us an entertainer;

But our greatest need was forgiveness,

   ...So God sent us a Savior.

One Solitary Life

He was born in an obscure village

The child of a peasant woman

He grew up in another obscure village

Where he worked in a carpenter shop

Until he was thirty

He never wrote a book

He never held an office

He never went to college

He never visited a big city

He never traveled more than two hundred miles

From the place where he was born

He did none of the things

Usually associated with greatness

He had no credentials but himself

He was only thirty three

His friends ran away

One of them denied him

He was turned over to his enemies

And went through the mockery of a trial

He was nailed to a cross between two thieves

While dying, his executioners gambled for his clothing

The only property he had on earth

When he was dead

He was laid in a borrowed grave

Through the pity of a friend

Nineteen centuries have come and gone

And today Jesus is the central figure of the human race

And the leader of mankind's progress

All the armies that have ever marched

All the navies that have ever sailed

All the parliaments that have ever sat

All the kings that ever reigned put together

Have not affected the life of mankind on earth

As powerfully as that one solitary life

Adapted from a sermon by Dr James Allan Francis in "The Real Jesus and Other Sermons" (c) 1926 by the Judson Press of Philadelphia. 

.....privileged

We become a "new creation" when we place our faith in Jesus Christ. When we are brought into a right relationship with God through the transforming power of the Holy Spirit, we begin a process of learning what it means to "put on the new self" and live a life of "true righteousness and holiness" Ephesians 4:24. 

Some view holiness as an unnecessary set of rules and cling to "there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" Romans 8:1. Others simply don't give holy living any thought. They take Jesus to church on Saturday morning but then return Him to the shelf for the rest of their "normal" week. In either case, the point of true freedom and a loving relationship with the eternal God has been sadly missed.

"We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life."Romans 6:2-4

Salvation involves death and new life! When we truly believe in Jesus, we become united with Him in His death; "our old self was crucified with Him" Romans 6:6. But we also become united with Him in His life; "count yourself dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus" Romans 6:11.

A child of God is no longer controlled by the sinful nature; "But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life" Romans 6:22. The result of being set free is eternal life but the benefit is holiness. How often do we recognize holiness as a benefit - a gift to all who believe?

Holiness is a wonderful privilege (not a burden or obligation) and can only be accomplished by living a new life in Christ. When Jesus truly resides in our heart, His thoughts become our thoughts and His desires become our desires. 

Without Christ, a holy life is not even possible. When Jesus said "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full" John 10:10, He was talking about the blessings in this present life which come through a life of commitment and trust. Following Jesus in all things is truly living life to the fullest!

Jesus Christ is the Creator Who gave His life so we can be restored. Let's walk with Him every moment of every day. Let's begin to truly live the new life in Christ and gratefully receive the privileged gift of holiness.

- adapted from steve troxel

.....contend

We are responsible to share the absolute truth about God and His unchanging plan of forgiveness, grace, faith, and love.

Jude wrote only one short letter 25 verses of the Bible. He began the letter with a desire to encourage believers with the joy of Salvation; but as he sat down to write, he realized God was directing him to write a different message.

"Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt I had to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints."Jude 3 There is great joy in our Salvation, a joy which must be shared. But we have been entrusted with the truth of the gospel message, and this truth is often under attack!

As we draw closer to God and begin to understand His perfect holiness, we are also made aware of the utter sinfulness of man and our hopelessness without Jesus. Each of us is born with a sin nature, and if left to ourselves we would become "filled with every kind of wickedness" Romans 1:29. It's not surprising how much evil abounds in the world. To a large degree, the world has rejected the Light of Christ and is living in an empty and confusing darkness.

The church is definitely not immune to the darkness of the world. We are attacked from those who are openly outside the church, but we are also under attack from those who have "secretly slipped in among you" Jude 4a. These are people who claim to be called by God, but live an immoral life and "deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord" Jude 4b. They seek to cause division and "follow their own ungodly desires" Jude 18. We are told to fight this form of attack by strengthening our faith; "build yourself up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit" Jude 20.

Yes, we must know the truth, protect the truth, and share the truth. If we are to become a light which leads others to the saving grace of Jesus, we must not allow the gospel which has been entrusted into our care to become distorted for personal gain or diluted for greater acceptance. 

We can personally fight this battle on a daily basis by drawing closer to the presence of God and knowing Him better through study and prayer. And we can fight as groups of believers as we encourage one another to live without compromise. Let's test all teaching against His Word. Let's share the absolute truth of our Lord and Savior and be prepared to stand as we contend for the faith. 

- steve troxel

.....self

How does (or should) a Christian live? We might say a Christian is "made" by grace through faith in Jesus Christ; and we might define a Christian as a child of God who will spend eternity in His presence. And while these are true statements, it still seems there ought to be something about Christians which make them different from the rest of the unbelieving world; "if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" 2 Corinthians 5:17.

The moment we truly believe in Jesus Christ and accept the forgiveness offered through His sacrifice, we are transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit and become a "new creation." But at the very instant of what we call our new birth, there is little recognizable difference between the old creation and the new. The transformation is done on our heart when we receive His Spirit, but there still remains a long process of maturing and allowing this transformation to consume every area of our life.

Much of the letters written by Paul were devoted to this same subject. He spent most of his ministry preaching the good news of Salvation through faith in Jesus; but most of his writing was to Christians, instructing them on how they should live.

"You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness."Ephesians 4:22-24

These verses are part of a three chapter passage Ephesians 4-6 which begins with "I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received" Ephesians 4:1 and includes teaching about unity, love, humility, anger, purity, husbands, wives, parents, children, slaves, masters, and the full armor of God - all teaching about what is meant by the new self! Some find it hard to understand that a Christian must be taught and urged how to live, but Paul understood. In fact, it's clear in the original language that Paul is saying to put on the new self...and to KEEP putting it on!!

This is perhaps the most important, yet also the most neglected, teaching of the church today. We seem to have lost the understanding that the Christian life is designed to be a radical transformation process which lasts all the rest of our days. The call to "come as you are" is also a call to prepare for, and expect, change.

The new life we have been given is not like the old; it is "created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness." Let's rise up every day and be determined to put away the old and live according to the new. Let's show the world that our walk is different, that we walk hand in hand with Jesus, and that we have and will continue to put on the new self.

- steve troxel

.....true

In the last hours of His earthly ministry, Jesus spoke with His disciples and gave a command which was considered new: "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another" John 13:34.

Should this command really have been new? Shouldn't the disciples have known they were to love one another? Or is it possible to spend three years with a Master Teacher and yet not understand that learning must translate to action, and that we teach truth by first being an example of truth? If we desire to teach love, we must first be loving; to teach the concept of grace, we must first be gracious; and in order to "make disciples of all nations" Matthew 28:19, we must begin by first being a true disciple!

As I continue to study and learn the wonderful truths of God's Word, and as I diligently try to teach these truths to others, I never want to stop at simply being better educated: "Do not merely listen to the Word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says" James 1:22. I'll be the first to admit that I fall short in many ways, but I sincerely strive to make His Word real and apply it in all areas of my life.

Our spiritual growth must never be measured by how much we know, but by how much we are transformed - by how much the Word penetrates to the innermost part of our heart. We have all been blessed by God's love far more than we deserve. We must now better understand this love and then learn how to become His expression of love to others.

"I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge."Ephesians 3:17-19

The ultimate expression of love was that God gave His Son to an undeserving world so "that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life" John 3:16. This is a love we will never fully understand.

Paul had such a deep appreciation for the love contained in God's plan of Salvation through the sacrificial gift of Jesus, that he was often completely overwhelmed; "When I think of the wisdom and scope of God's plan, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father" Ephesians 3:14. When we begin to truly grasp His love, all we can do is say, Thank You!

Let's pray for a greater understanding of His love and then return His love through a devoted life of worship. Let's make His love real by demonstrating love to those He places in our path. Let's begin to grasp, and then give back and share, the true love of Christ. 

- steve troxel

.....art

Do you ever wake up and wonder if you are where God wants you? Do you ever wonder if you are really following God's plan for your life? These are normal questions and ought to be asked by every true believer in Jesus Christ. We should desire to follow His plan; and the only way to know is to ask, listen for direction, and obediently follow.

The most important part of God's plan is that we trust in Jesus for the forgiveness of sin; "He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance" 2 Peter 3:9. God wants us all to repent, turn to Jesus, and receive His gift of Salvation. He wants us to step from eternal death to eternal life through faith in His one and only Son!

But many people receive His gift and then continue life with no real change, no new direction. This should not be! When we receive God's gift of Salvation, something wonderful occurs; "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" 2 Corinthians 5:17. When we place our life in His hands, He wipes away the ugliness of our sin and begins to grow and mature us into the likeness of His Son Romans 8:29. This process of maturing growth IS His plan!

"For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."Ephesians 2:10

When we become a new creation in Christ, we become God's workmanship. The Greek word for workmanship is "poiema" - it's where we get the word poem. And though it might be difficult to think of our life as a poem, the idea being presented is that God is creating something beautiful, something almost poetic which touches His heart.

It might be easier to switch analogies and think of God as the Master Painter. When we give Him our life, we hand Him our old canvas covered with the grotesque ugliness of sin. But by grace, the canvas is wiped clean, and the Artist begins to paint a work of art with Jesus as the model. Every stroke of His brush is to make our canvas look more and more like Christ.

Are we where God wants us? Are we following His plan? To help find the answer we should ask: Is the likeness of Christ beginning to form, or is my canvas still filled with ugliness and confusion? Am I allowing Him to paint, or am I trying to take the brush at every opportunity?

God really is the Master Painter, and He really does know what He is doing. If we will allow Him to finish His work, the end result will be better than anything we can imagine!! Let's give Him our canvas and allow Him to paint. Let's follow His plan and allow our life to become His work of art.

- steve troxel