Not About the Story But the Man
November 30, 2009
by Duane CarebPresident of RVchurchesUSA
Remember? Caesar orders all people (the whole world!) to their go back hometowns to be counted (Luke 2:1-5). It was there that Mary gave birth to Jesus – heralded to shepherds by angels and a Heavenly Army (Luke 2:8-14). This account of Jesus’ miraculous birth is validated in Matthew 1:1-20.
The story, itself, is enough to cause anyone (even Christians) to become awestruck and celebrate with joy and “good cheer”. Wouldn’t you agree?
But it’s not about the story, it’s about the man! We need to focus not just on the events of His birth but rather on the incarnate person of God – Jesus. His character, His mission to do the will of His Father (John 6:37-40), His unconditional love for all who are brought to Him by God and His final gift (His death for our sins) given to each of those who believe in Him and have asked to be with Him in heaven.
It is said that to refuse or reject the ambassador, it is the same as rejecting the one whom he represents. Think of that – if we refuse to accept Jesus, we are really refusing or rejecting God (John 7:28-29) because Jesus is God (John 12:44-45). It stands to reason, then, that if we celebrate the birth of Jesus, we celebrate the presence of God!
Jesus’ birth is the revelation that we can trust Him to be the mighty “I am”, the Healer of the weary, the Rescuer of the oppressed, the Purveyor of the “bread of life” (John 6:50-51) and “rivers of living water” (John 7:37-38) and Redeemer of our sins who, by His death on the cross, gave us the gift of Eternal Life with Him in Heaven.
So during this time of celebrating with family and loved ones this “holiday season”, keep in mind that the story of Christmas is not just about the virgin birth of a child, but about the man who lived among us – Jesus. He is God among us.
That, my Brothers and Sisters in Christ, is why we are called to be “merry”.
Without apologies, Merry Christmas!
Why Does Trouble Come? (3)
November 29, 2009
by John ImlerJohn is the author of It’s Never Too Late As we discussed in my previous article, sometimes trouble comes to us for disciplinary reasons, as God seeks to get our attention. It may be not be so much to correct something but to simply nudge us closer to other believers and to Himself.
We are encouraged to “carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ” (Gal. 6:2). Paul states that believers are all members of one body in Christ and “that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, each part suffers with it” (1 Cor.12:25).
Requesting others to join in prayer when trouble comes is one way believers seek relief from trouble and realize the peace of God. It is one of the believer’s greatest privileges (Matthew 18:19) and one way we “encourage one another” (Hebrews 10:24-25).
If the Lord is allowing trouble to move you closer to Him, take a little time to read and meditate on the Psalm 23. In a book entitled A Shepherd Looks at Psalms 23 (published by Zondervan in 1970), Phillip Keller portrays a unique view since he was sheep rancher.
Verse by verse is unlocks the various uses of the staff and rod, the love of the shepherd for his sheep, his constant vigil over them, their utter dependence upon the shepherd for survival, and dangers encountered when one strays from the flock.
Psalm 23:4 says, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff they comfort me.” The rod gives us comfort, for it is used primarily as a weapon to drive off predators. That He is with us to help in our times of trouble to drive off our enemy brings us great comfort (Psalms 145:15).
The Shepherd’s staff is a comfort when used to gently guide His sheep onto the right path. He gently places it against His sheep to guide it up those valleys. Occasionally He simply walks along side it with his staff placed gently against its side to assure it of His constant presence.
I cannot tell you why trouble comes into your life. However, I do know that God is “an ever-present help in trouble” (Psalms 46:1). If the storm clouds are gathering in your life, perhaps it is time to pray as David did in Palms 139:23. For our Heavenly Father is faithful (Ezekiel 34:11).
I have found these promises to be true in my own life. You can read my story of God’s love, patience and forgiveness in my book Its Never Too Late – A Prodigal Pastor Returns available at www.faithrescued.com.
John welcomes your comments either below or email him directly at john@faithrescued.com
Why Does Trouble Come? (2)
November 29, 2009
by John ImlerJohn is the author of It’s Never Too Late In Proverbs we are warned not to “despise the Lord’s discipline” or “resent his rebuke, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in” (Proverbs 3:11-12). In the Old Testament, we find story after story about God’s judgment on the ungodly and His discipline of His chosen people Israel.
The Apostle Paul explains why these stories were recorded (Romans 15:4 and 1 Corinthians 10:11). Our Heavenly Father, like our earthly fathers and mothers, disciplines His Children when they go astray.
I recall one of my sons coming home from the neighbors and telling his mother, “Joey’s mom must not love him; she lets him do anything he wants to.” Sometimes trouble comes our way because God is trying to get our attention and discipline us. Unlike some earthly parents, His discipline is always administered in love—a love far greater than that known by any earthly parent (Heb 12:7). For He gave His only son to suffer and die on Calvary’s cross that He might adopt us as His children (Gal. 4:5-7).
So, if you find yourself besieged with trouble, perhaps it is time to seek God’s reason through prayer and Bible reading. It would also be good to do as David did in Psalms 139:23-24 when he cried out for God to search his heart. Ask God to help you see the reason for His discipline.
As I have told in my book It’s Never Too Late – A Prodigal Pastor Returns (www.faithrescued.com), after turning my back on God and becoming an agnostic for 45 years, I personally experienced God’s discipline before returning to His arms. As I now look back on those years, I can see His unbelievable patience with me as He disciplined me through trouble after trouble in my life—but always with His unfathomable love.
Yes, trouble sometimes comes as God seeks to correct our paths and draw us nearer or even back into His adopted family. This discipline is never pleasant and often painful, depending upon the reason for it. However, it is always for our good (Heb. 12:11).
It is also important that we learn from the discipline God allows to come our way, for “whoever heeds correction gains understanding” (Proverbs 15:31-32). We are advised to “consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance” (James 1:2-3).
John welcomes your comments either below or email him directly at john@faithrescued.com
Why Does Trouble Come? (1)
November 29, 2009
by John ImlerJohn is the author of It’s Never Too Late We know that trouble will come, since the Master Himself told us it would; however, just why is a question most of us have asked many times. We feel that if we are believers we should be sheltered from trouble.
Looking at Job’s situation might give us a clue. We must never forget that as believers we along with God are engaged in a spiritual battle between good (God) and evil (Satan) Ephesians 6:12. Job found himself caught in the middle of that battle. There is no indication that Job had displeased God in any way. In fact, God pointed him out to Satan as his faithful servant (Job 1:8).
God allowed Satan to attack Job’s possessions and finally even his health to the point where his friends forsook him and even his wife suggested that he “curse God and die” (Job 2:9).
When troubles come our way, reading Job’s story can lift our spirits and faith. It can remind us that it is important to maintain our faith in God as Job did. It is recorded that “In all this, Job did not sin in what he said” (Job 2:10). In the end of this traumatic ordeal, (1) Satan was reminded that God was in control, (2) Job’s friends were punished for their words of condemnation, (3) God gave Job double all his previous possessions (Job 42:10), and (4) God was glorified through it all.
We must remember the words of the Apostle Paul for he certainly had trouble and understood the battle between God and Satan. In 1 Thessalonians 2:18 he wrote that Satan directly interfered with his desire to visit the church there. In Romans 8:28 he reassures us with these words: “For we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him..,” yes, just as he did in Job’s situation. For Job said, “Shall we accept good from God and not trouble” (Job 1:10)?
While we can expect some trouble just because we are endeavoring to follow Christ’s teaching and Satan seeks to defeat us and destroy our faith in them, there are other reasons trouble comes our way. Join me next week when we will look at more of the reasons.
John welcomes your comments either below or email him directly at john@faithrescued.com
Just Do It!
November 9, 2009
by John ImlerJohn is the author of It’s Never Too Late God’s words to Cain in Genesis 4 seem to translate into words that have become a present day cliché: Just Do It!
He said in verse 7, “If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it.” In essence He said: You know what is right, just do it and you will be accepted. We see here the age old battle of making right or wrong decisions and choices.
God implied that Cain knew right from wrong and He must make the right choice. I recall hearing: the Lord helps them who help themselves and don’t ask God to do for you what you can do for yourself. In our Christian life there are some things God wants us to do ourselves to show our love for Him and our devotion to Him.
We know that we ought to pray more and read the Bible more. There may be old habits that need to be changed. Perhaps God is saying: Just Do It! Throughout the Bible we are admonished to use self-control or, in other words, control our own desires, emotions, minds, and bodies (I Thessalonians 4:4 and 5:6-8; Titus 2:1,12).
But how do we do this? It is a matter of our being willing to do what we know is the right thing—to make the right choice or decision. We must first make the decision. In this sense, the Lord does help those who help themselves. However, we soon realize that we need God’s help since we cannot live the Christian life without it.
The Apostle Paul said, “I can do everything,” but then adds “through him (Christ) who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:13). Yes, Christ is waiting to help us, for He knows we cannot do it alone. Jesus said in John 15: 5 “apart from me you can do nothing.”
As we realize our own weakness in doing what is right (2 Cor. 12:10), we will turn to Christ for the strength that Paul spoke about. Yes, the Lord does help us; however, we must first make our own decision to do that which we know is right.
John welcomes your comments either below or email him directly at john@faithrescued.com
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