Silent Night, Holy Night

Here is my servant … I will put my Spirit on him and he will bring justice to the nations. He will not shout or cry out, or raise his voice in the streets.    —Isaiah 42:1-2

If you attended a Christmas Eve candlelight service you may have sung the beautiful carol, Silent Night, as you lit your candle. The words were originally written in German by Joseph Mohr, a young priest, and the melody was composed by Franz Gruber for guitar accompaniment. It was first sung at the 1818 Christmas Eve service at the St Nicholas parish church in Oberndorf, Austria. The English lyrics begin, “Silent night, holy night, all is calm, all is bright.”

The touching quietness of the carol makes me think about the awesome and terrible silence of God on that first Christmas night. Mary and Joseph were turned away from the inn to deliver God’s Son in a stable and lay Him in a manger. We find no mention of God’s anger with lightning strikes or peals of thunder. The Gospel of Luke alone records this short phrase, “She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn” (2:7).

We hear nothing of Mary’s pregnancy except her brief visit to Elizabeth. No details are given of Mary and Joseph’s journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem. The only break in this silence on the first Christmas is made by an angel chorus singing God’s praises to lonely shepherds in the wilderness far from the ears of the sleeping townspeople. Is it any wonder that they were afraid? When God speaks out of the silence, His voice can seem deafening.

Where were the birth announcements? There was no news media, but the announcement of Christ’s birth was sent across the universe. A star silently shone its light telling the entire creation of Jesus’ birth, but only those who were ready and able to see and hear understood. Probably two years later, Wiseman came from the east bringing gifts and homage.

The busyness and loudness of our Christmas celebrations seem out of place in light of our Savior’s quiet entrance. Even Jesus’ childhood and upbringing remains a mystery. God says through Isaiah, “Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight.” Isaiah goes on to describe Jesus, “He will not shout or cry out, or raise his voice in the streets” (42:1-2).

As your busyness halts and the noise ceases this Christmas season, rather than becoming sad and depressed, pause and reflect on the loveliness, peace, and silence of our Savior’s birth. Many Americans try to cover their loneliness with activities and their sadness with noise but with no success. Without Jesus Christ, there is no Christmas. Without Jesus, there is no joy, no contentment, and no peace on earth.

The birth announcements came, but only to those who had time and interest to listen. Let us be those folks this year. Let us pause and listen. Let us quiet ourselves to hear from God. Let us be the ones who hear a fresh word that transforms our communities and points others to Jesus. A flourish of activities and noise won’t bring God’s transforming Holy Spirit, but openness to God’s Kingdom, a listening soul, and a heart hungry for God’s ways will hear from heaven in our days. When was the last time you truly experienced a “Silent and holy night?”

Source of Joy

“Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.”  —Luke 2:10-11

I feel very blessed to live in America and to be able to celebrate patriotic and religious holidays. Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Thanksgiving Day give every American an opportunity to reflect upon their spiritual heritage and give thanks and praise to Our God and Heavenly Father. But, patriotic holidays with a religious twist often confuse many nominal believers about what it truly means to be a Christian.

Watching the many Thanksgiving specials, I found each one focused on giving thanks. Even the national news anchors urged everyone to give thanks. What was missing was to whom one gives thanks. Do we thank our pillow for the good nights rest? Do we thank the bank teller that we have enough money in our account? Do we thank the pediatrician for having a family? As Christians, we know exactly whom to thank, our God and Father of the Lord Jesus.

I see the same kinds of thing happening at Christmas. At staff meeting the other day, trying to encourage our staff and give them some Christmas cheer, I happily showed off my Panera Bread coffee cup that read, “Brimming with Joy.” Matt, our Director of Worship, then showed me his McDonald’s cup. It read, “Unwrap a Little Joy.” These secular companies cannot give true joy because they do not promote the source of joy. Brimming with joy encourages me to get my Christmas joy in a cup of coffee or in a stylish soup or sandwich. We cannot unwrap Christmas joy by sipping a McDonald’s coffee or opening a bag containing a Big-Mac and fries.

The Christian’s source of joy is a Person, the Person of Jesus Christ. The Christian message of Christmas is that God has come to us in the flesh. The angels told the shepherds, “I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people” (Luke 1:10). The next verse gives the source of that joy, “A savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.” The all of the “will be for all people” includes you, me, our friends, and enemies. Christmas joy is given by God through His Son, Jesus Christ, to all who will receive.

I still remember the first time I heard that heaven, eternal life, and acceptance by God were free. As a red-blooded, church-going American, I was quite certain that could not be true. I actually began reading the Bible to check for myself. Sure enough, Romans 6:23, “The gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord.” Ephesians 2:8, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.” How did I miss this truth for so many years? I was an American Christian who celebrated patriotic and Christian holidays like everyone else but never knew the Savior who is the source and reason for our celebration.

We can watch touching Christmas specials and listen to all the Jingle Bells Rocks without finding true joy. The Christmas specials usually offer the joy of families coming together, special romances working out, or Santa Clause successfully fulfilling his duties in opposition to those who have no Christmas cheer. True Christmas joy comes from Jesus. You can receive it as you receive Him. Jesus is the only true source of joy.

Joy Today, Hope Tomorrow

“Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.”   —Psalm 30:5b

The Christmas shopping buzz has begun with fervor. Many search for that perfect gift for the person who already has everything. For my grandchildren, I am personally looking for that unique gift that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg but will also not end up broken in the yard or discarded in the land fill before the winter is over. We all joke about how the children will spend weeks playing with the boxes while they throw away the expensive toy or gadget that came in the box.

The familiar phrase “Here today, gone tomorrow” reflects our culture’s acceptance of throw away household items, relationships, and our very lives. Many no longer attempt to repair mixers, TVs, lawnmowers, or marriages. We discard them and head off to WalMart or shop online for the next bargain. I can still remember the day when things were built to last.

The truth of human frailty underlies the idiom “Here today, gone tomorrow.”  “Man is like a breath; his days are like a fleeting shadow” (Psalm 144:4). Human lives are very fragile and vulnerable. Our lives may be moving along nicely, and everything changes with the slip of a foot, a call from the doctor, or a text message from a significant other.

“Joy today, hope tomorrow” better describes the Christian’s life. Joy is a present reality looking forward to a future hope. “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning” (Psalm 30:5b). We may live in difficult times. Earthly possessions and relationships may become broken and discarded, but Jesus Christ remains the same. How quickly we forget that God created human beings for eternity.

Christians are interesting creatures. I say creature because Christians are a whole new life form. 2 Corinthians 5 states, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God” (5:17-18a). We live with the same weaknesses and shortcomings as others but possess an abiding joy that sets us apart. Yes, we face all the same challenges but “In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us” (Romans 8:37).

As you do your Christmas shopping, remember there is only one perfect gift. Jesus Christ is God’s perfect gift to all people. He came to earth, lived a sinless life, died in our place, and rose again from the grave to offer us eternal life. Eternal life begins when we acknowledge and receive God’s gift and continues forever. Be thankful we are not throw-away items to God. God loves us and plans to enjoy loving us for all eternity.  The greatest gift you will ever receive has already been purchased and offered to you on Christmas.  May God fill you with joy and hope this season. Happy shopping. 

A "Free" Offering

“Let them also offer sacrifices of thanksgiving, and tell of His works with joyful singing.”   —Psalm 107:22

What would you say if we took up a sacrificial offering that was truly “free,” an offering that cost no money and didn’t break the wallet? Usually, when we speak of an offering, even a free-will offering, we are thinking of giving money. King David, in the later years of his life against God’s will, took a census of Israel against. God punished Israel with a terrible plague. When acquiring the threshing floor to offer a sacrifice to stop the plague, David refused to give a sacrifice to the Lord that cost him nothing (2 Samuel 24:23). Offerings usually cost.

The sacrificial thank offering mentioned in Psalm 107:22 costs no money. The Bible does prescribe a peace offering of thanksgiving that involves giving animal, flour, and oil offerings that would cost money (Leviticus 7:15), but I believe the sacrifices of thanksgiving above refer to verbal praises and thanks to God. Notice verse 22 exhorts us, “Tell of His works with joyful singing.”

Over the past few months, I have been completely immersed in stewardship issues. Our Church began designing and planning a stewardship campaign, entitled, “Rise Up!” back in the summer. In October, I preached stewardship messages challenging each of us to make our three-year commitment on November 4. Now, I am encouraging everyone to give a First Fruit offering, a down payment, on their pledge. As the pledges and moneys come in, it’s time to turn the focus away from money and to praising God with a sacrifice of thanksgiving for all He has done.

As we celebrate Thanksgiving and spend some quality time with family and friends, hopefully, we will take advantage of the opportunity to give a “money-free” offering of praise and thanksgiving to God. A thank offering to God may cost you time, a bit of your pride, some vulnerability, a measure of courage to speak out, but no money.

An offering of thanksgiving requires us to use words, to speak or sing. Have you ever asked a child, “What are the magic words?” Of course most children reply, “Please and thank you.” Often when giving a gift to my grandchildren, I pause for a verbal response from them, and if I don’t receive one, I add, “And what do you say?” They usually respond, “Thank you.”

Many Christians find it difficult to talk to their unchurched family members about God. Thanksgiving is an excellent time to introduce spiritual conversations into family activities. It’s natural, it’s almost patriotic, and it’s a holiday. The scripture tells us, “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have” (1 Peter 3:15). I believe Thanksgiving is one of those times to give such an answer.

God is good all the time. God has blessed each of us in numerous ways this past year. Let us pause and recognize how God’s hand has moved. Then let’s offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving to God. Let us offer a free offering to God. Just maybe God will turn a national holiday into a family holy-day. Happy Thanksgiving.

A Thorough Checkup

“May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”                 —1 Thessalonians 5:23

I went to the eye doctor for a check up this past week. This is really big news as I have never been to an optometrist in my life. I always had good vision and never needed anything until recently as my eyes began to mature.

As I prepared to leave for my appointment, someone asked me who was going to drive me home. Drive me home? Why would I need someone to drive me home? They told me that eye doctors often put drops into your eyes in order to do a thorough exam. Your pupils remain dilated and you see poorly for several hours. I replied, “I don’t really want a thorough exam, I just want better reading glasses.”

Most of us like to avoid those thorough tests prescribed by our doctors. You know the mammograms, pap smears, prostate exams, and colonoscopies, to name a few. We don’t want the doctor to thoroughly examine us, we simply want this wart removed, or this headache cured, or this tingling to go away. Interestingly enough, doctors and surgeons usually like to know what’s going on inside the engine before they start rotating the tires.

Spiritually, we often come to Jesus because of some problem we are having in life. I’d like my marriage fixed (really, we just want our spouse fixed). I need my finances transformed—rather than making Jesus Lord of our finances; we simply want a better job or someone to pay our electric bill. I am having anxiety attacks and need Jesus to give me peace. God is the Great Physician and not only wants to give us peace and health but desires to sanctify us entirely: spirit, soul and body. God isn’t concerned with quick fixes and minor repairs. God wants to do a complete life make over in us.

The word “sanctify” used in 1 Thessalonians 5:23 means “to make holy.” Usually we think of holiness to mean not doing anything wrong. Although holiness may imply holy living and doing right things, holiness has a relational aspect to it. Holiness for the Christian also means belonging to God. If I am completely God’s, I am holy. Holiness has to do with being in love with God. Jesus said, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength.”

I believe it is God’s desire to sanctify us wholly. God wants to make us completely His, but this can only be done if we invite the Lord to search and know us completely. The Psalmist concludes Psalm 139 with a beautiful prayer of surrender and consecration, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting” (139:23-24).

Are things in your life not working correctly? Maybe it’s time for a thorough entire-life checkup. Good checkups usually include eyes, heart, and other body parts, but a thorough checkup would include asking the Lord to search our lives completely and to sanctify us wholly unto Him. It may be time for you to call upon the Lord and surrender to His will and way in your life.

A Storm is Coming

“The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house.”    —Matthew 7:25

As we prepared for, watched, and now clean up after the terrible hurricane Sandy, we may feel a false sense of relief that at least the storm has past. But, I am concerned that many greater storms are just around the corner. I am not necessarily referring to weather and nature storms like tornadoes, earthquakes, tsunamis, and blizzards which will surely come. I am thinking of moral, social, political, and spiritual storms that are brewing around us.

I am writing this article a few days before a presidential election day. From every analysis, from every political perspective, we are in the midst of a political tornado. The parties are diametrically opposed to each other. Each party morally opposes the other’s stance. One party disagrees entirely with the other on how to best lead our country. The personal attacks and slanted rhetoric could surely not get any worse.

For myself, I am probably not helping the situation as I am very committed to one moral and political viewpoint. However, I personally believe the economy cycles up and down. Unless we are in the last days before the return of Jesus Christ, I believe the economy will improve in the next four years regardless of what either party does to correct it. I am certain that the political party in power will take all the credit for this turn around.

Morally and spiritually speaking, we are in the midst of a brewing storm as well. Jesus, at the end of the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew chapters 5-7 said, “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock” (Matthew 7:24). Regardless of whom you would like to blame, most people around me are not hearing (reading or listening to) Jesus’ words; therefore, they are certainly not putting them into practice. Jesus goes on to say, “The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house.” Jesus said the storm came. He did not say the storm might come, or the storm will hit the east coast or the southern coast. Jesus simply said the storm came.

I fear for many around me as the storm comes. Most are not living their lives on a solid foundation. Many are not grounded spiritually, morally, emotionally, or financially. Jesus promises to keep safe all who ground their lives on Him. If we hear Jesus’ words and put them into practice, our lives and homes will be kept safe and secure. Jesus also said, if we do not build our lives on Him and His word, we are building on shifting sands. Just like the beachfront homes destroyed by the hurricane Sandy, the shifting sands of the latest fad, most recent opinion poll, and newest belief system will not keep us safe when the storm hits.

A storm is coming, but I am not afraid. As Ira Stanphill wrote in the old Gospel song, “Many things about tomorrow I don’t seem to understand; but I know who holds tomorrow, and I know who holds my hand.” You may already be in the midst of your own storm. I urge you to call out to Jesus. The disciples called out to Christ to save them from drowning on the Sea of Galilee. Jesus spoke, calmed the sea, and rescued them all. Call upon, and follow Jesus today. He will never let you down, and He will keep you safe in the coming storm.

The Power of Words

“He grants sleep to those he loves.”   —Psalm 127:2 (NIV)

Many of you have heard sermons or teachings about watching what you say or how you criticize your children because there is power in your words. This past week, I received a whole new understanding how words have power.

I often quote Psalm 127:2 in the New American Standard Version (NASB), “It is vain for you to rise up early, to retire late, to eat the bread of painful labors; for He gives to His beloved even in his sleep.” I claim this verse to rest at night when many things are left undone and deadlines loom. I go to bed trusting in God’s promises to provide for what is needed. God always comes through. Often between the times my eyes open in the morning and my feet hit the floor, huge problems are solved or entire sermons planned and thought out.

Recently, however, I have had trouble getting my mind to slow down when I lie down to sleep. I can be dead tired, but when my head hits the pillow, a flurry of thoughts begin racing through my mind. In the morning I may have something all worked out, but I spent the entire night figuring it out rather than sleeping. I have told God several times in my morning prayers that I claimed Psalm 127:2 (NASB) to mean He works things out while I sleep.

I jokingly said the other day, I think I better start quoting Psalm 127 from the New International Version (NIV), “In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat—for he grants sleep to those he loves.” I quoted verse 2 from the NIV two days ago, and for the last two lights, I slept soundly. Maybe there is more power in our words than we think.

If we think our words are powerful, consider how powerful and sure God’s Word, the Bible is for us. “For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God” (2 Corinthians 1:20). Yes, all of God’s promises are true and certain in Jesus Christ. Hebrews tells us, “For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart” (4:12). God’s Word is certain, living, and powerful.

Many Christians live in defeat and exhaustion because they do not spend time in God’s Word. In order to know God’s powerful and effective promises, we must read and meditate on God’s word. We can memorize specific passages to recall them when we need faith, comfort, or direction. The more time we spend reading and studying The Bible, the better able we are to claim God’s promises.

What need or challenge are you facing today? Does God’s Word say anything about it? What instruction does it give? What promise can you claim? The old gospel song says, “Every promise, in the book, is mine, every chapter, every verse and every line. All are blessings, of his love, Divine. Every promise, in the book, is mine.” You cannot know the promises of God if you are not reading chapter, verse, and line. I encourage you to claim the promises of God. There is definitely power in God’s words.