Crosswalk.com--The Devotional

[Judy Harder]

November 24, 2011


A Thankful Tomorrow
By Ryan Duncan, TheFish.com Editor

"How great is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you, which you bestow in the sight of men on those who take refuge in you." – Psalm 31:19

I've always really enjoyed Thanksgiving. Sure, the family can be pretty crazy at times, and I usually end up on dish duty after the meal, but Thanksgiving has always been a time for me to stop and realize how blessed I am. Friends, family, a warm meal, there are many simple things in this life that are easy to take for granted, so it's good to have a day that reminds us to be thankful for all God has given us. The problem is that's usually how long it lasts, a day. After the food has been eaten and prayers have been said, many people wake up the next morning and jump head first into the madness of Black Friday.   

I can only remember shopping twice on Black Friday, and I regretted it both times. It's complete chaos, with people running, screaming, and sometimes even fighting each other over things they want to buy. I've never had any crazy experiences myself, but my brother-in-law remembers a particularly strange incident that happened while he was in college. One year, while he and my sister were still dating, he drove up to visit her on the Friday after Thanksgiving. He had left his house at 3am with hopes of avoiding the holiday rush and was making good time on the freeway when suddenly, out of nowhere, a long line of traffic appeared in the distance.

At first he thought there had been an accident, but as he got closer he realized that the stalled traffic was due to cars making complete stops on the freeway so their passengers could get out, jump the guard rails, and climb a small hill to a nearby outlet mall. It's ironic, and a little sad, that a day which celebrates American greed happens after the holiday about being thankful. At times like these, it's important that as Christians realize we cannot live Christ-centered lives when we leapfrog between God and possessions.   

"No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money." (Matthew 6:24)   

So don't throw out your thankfulness with the evening leftovers, but hold onto it as the Advent season begins. Remember the blessings Christ has given us and use them to prepare yourself for Christmas, when we celebrate the birth of Christ, the greatest gift of all.     

Intersecting Faith and Life

Don't let the crazy shopping season distract you from what's really important.

Further Reading

1 Timothy 4:4


November 25, 2011



The Thrill of Hope
Shawn McEvoy, Crosswalk.com Managing Editor

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13

"A thrill of hope; the weary world rejoices, for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn." ~~ O Holy Night

Does Christmas thrill you?

Children get excited at the coming of the season, and often we might feel a bit of a charge through experiencing their amazement, but the chores we go through to provide that for them are often the very things that rob us from knowing the wonder for ourselves. Plan the party, trim the tree, max out the MasterCard, wrap, ship, take a trip. And that's assuming we aren't one of the multitudes who find themselves with a case of the Holiday Blues.

So if Christ's coming into this world offers hope, and hope, as the song says, provides a thrill, how do we locate that experience amid the distraction and disillusionment of December?

Well that's the cool thing about Hope. Just as total darkness can't hold back the light of a tiny flame, so does even the smallest increment of Hope provide joy and purpose.

Here are a few scriptures I've been mulling over on the subject:

Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen" (Hebrews 11:1).
Notice the parallel between "things hoped for" and "things not seen." Talk about a paradox; try applying "assurance" to something your five senses can't detect. It's a challenge. The plus side is that hope, through Christ, is available to you no matter what you see, hear, or feel. It's above your circumstances.

"We also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance [brings about]proven character; and proven character [brings about] hope; and hope does not disappoint because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us" (Romans 5:3-5).
Do you ever hear people say, "I don't want to get my hopes up" because they're afraid of being disappointed? What would you make of Paul's claim that "hope does not disappoint"? Might the disconnect have something to do with what we're hoping for or expecting? Max Lucado thinks so:

"Hope is not what you'd expect; it is what you would never dream. It is a wild, improbable tale with a pinch-me-I'm-dreaming ending... Hope is not a granted wish or a favor performed; no, it is far greater than that. It is a zany, unpredictable dependence on a God who loves to surprise us out of our socks and be there in the flesh to see our reaction."[1]

"Love... hopes all things...but now abide faith, hope, and love; but the greatest of these is love" (1 Corinthians 13:7,13).
Ever wonder why faith, hope, and love are the greatest virtues, and apparently in that order?

Maybe hope isn't actually something we do, but something we receive, like grace. If it's true that "without faith it is impossible for us to please Him" (Hebrews 11:6), perhaps it's conversely true that without Hope it would be impossible for Him to please us. The same verse says that God is a rewarder of those who seek Him. Is hope that reward?

I mean, if faith is what we give to God, and hope is what He gives to us, then we have the dynamic of a relationship. With that in place, we can love. So love is built on hope, which is built on faith.

For hope to exist, unfortunately it looks like there has to be hopelessness first. A perfect world wouldn't have any need of hope. Deliverance arrives undeservedly and perhaps unexpectedly, just as in the unlikely way God came to earth to provide a once-and-for-all substitute for the sins of all men on the first Christmas. That's why things can look bleak, but that's where hope lives.

The good news is: you simply can't hope big enough, which goes back to the idea of our minds and senses being inadequate to judge God's design and methods, and hope being more a function of God's involvement than our desires. I readily acknowledge I could not have conceived of the plan of salvation or the virgin birth. I couldn't have imagined the plan for the walls of Jericho to crumble, for hungry lions to turn into Daniel's pet kittens, or the Red Sea to part and offer up dry land. So neither do I know how my problems will be solved, or what miracles I'll be blessed to see this Christmas.

Isaiah 9:6-7 concerns the hope of the prophecy being fulfilled that brought us a "Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, and Prince of Peace." The last sentence of verse seven says it's "the zeal of the Lord" that will accomplish this. God is excited! He's zealous (enthusiastic, passionate, obsessive even) to bring us this hope!

Romans 15:13 is my Christmas prayer: "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."

Why is there hope? Because Jesus was born. O holy night. What a thrill. God is at work. 

[1] From God Came Near, page 89

Intersecting Faith & Life: What does hope out of despair look like? There are lots of examples in any Christian's life, but in terms of contemporary cinema, I know of no better example than the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Go back and watch those movies again over the holidays, keeping an eye out for allusions to hope and hopelessness. 

Further Reading

Isaiah 9:6-7
The Promises of God 

[Judy Harder]

Nov. 28, 2011

The Last Days
Sarah Phillips, Crosswalk.com Family Editor

"And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and upon the earth distress of nations in perplexity at the roaring of the sea and the waves, men fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world; for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.  Now when these things begin to take place, look up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near." Luke 21: 25 - 28

Most of us don't love to wait. We want to get on with things. Tie things up neatly so we can move on to the next thing. We often forget that in some cases, the opportunity to wait is an expression of God's mercy.

You see, this past Sunday was the first Sunday of Advent. It came quickly this year. I was so busy preparing for Thanksgiving, I almost forgot about Advent. Thankfully, our reliable pastor was decked out in purple this Sunday, scripture readings and hymns ready to go.

Advent isn't really an event so much as a season set aside to wait for an event. We can choose how we want to practice Advent. We can see it as a burden, an afterthought, or a hindrance. Or we can see its greater application to all of life. We can recognize it for what it is: a reminder to stop, clear away some of the normal "stuff" of life, and remember that throughout our life here we are waiting for something big, something that needs our attention and preparation: The second coming of Christ.

Many times I've heard fellow Christians express the desire for the day to just get here already. Can't we just end the wars and suffering... the waiting... and get on with Christ's return? Many pick apart the Scriptures, looking for details, for signs, that Christ is coming soon. Groups form and debates rage about the finer details of the end times.

While I am sure God appreciates our interest in and desire for his arrival, I am not so sure we really know what we're asking for when we say we wish he would hurry up and appear.

Think about it. Are we really ready? Is the world really ready? If you had to stand before Christ tomorrow, would you be ready? I don't mean "ready" as having correctly predicted the dramatic events that would unfold during the end times. I mean would your life reflect service to him? Love of him? Submission to him?

Mine wouldn't. At least not to the extent that it should. I'd like a few days, or um decades, to straighten things out. And to the best of my humble abilities, help a few more of those living in the dark find the light.

Suddenly, waiting doesn't seem too bad. God's plan to give me and the rest of the world a little more time doused with a lot of his grace doesn't seem so frustrating.

After reading the dramatic scriptures above, our pastor did not delve into prophecy or speculation about the last days. He backtracked a little, and instead opted to focus on the here and now. He challenged us to avoid the "drowsiness" that comes with our everyday cares and concerns. He challenged us to become disciplined people, Christians whose lives are truly transformed by Christ instead of by the seductive "spirit of the age." He held up examples of fellow Christians who came before us and conquered their own contemporary challenges.

He reminded us that we will each have our own "last day" even if our lives here do not witness the Last Day.

That's what Advent is really about... grace today for whatever may come tomorrow. It's about God's incredible patience and love for children who have much to learn and need plenty of precious time to allow for stumbling along the way. As for the final days, set aside the speculation and leave that to God's perfect timing. He'll know when we're ready. 

Intersecting Faith & Life:  Our pastor wisely pointed out that a disciplined prayer life opens our lives to God's transforming graces. Set aside a little extra time every single week, from now until Christmas, to spend time in prayer.

Further Reading

Jeremiah 33:14-16
Psalms 25:4-5, 8-9, 10, 14
Luke 21:25-28, 34-36

[Judy Harder]

Nov. 29, 2011


Are We Immune to Blessing?
By Shawn McEvoy, Crosswalk.com Managing Editor

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 5:3

Our company has a set of really great tickets to the local minor league baseball team, just three rows behind the home dugout. This past summer, I got to use them to take my son to his first game. My wife and I took Jordan and his pal Victor, watched them gorge on hot dogs and sno-cones while dancing hilariously to every song blared over the loudspeaker, and had a grand ol' time.

Making the experience even richer was that the boys, who brought their baseball gloves, got not one... not two... but THREE baseballs that night! One was given by an older gentleman who had snagged a foul ball during batting practice. Another we caught ourselves. The third came when one of the fielders who had caught it as the final out of an inning tossed it into the crowd on his way back to the dugout. Of course, the moment that made me the most proud was when the boys, already with one ball each, decided that it would be nice to give the third one to a kid who hadn't gotten a ball yet. It was hard not to get a little misty watching my son seek out a younger boy of a different race and ask if he'd like to have a ball. I just love baseball.

Then came game two.

The next time we got to use the tickets, we took Jordan and his little sister. Again it was an idyllic evening, but this time... no foul balls. My son was hard to console on the walk to the parking lot. The little guy had no framework to understand what I was telling him:  that of all the games I have been to in my life, I have never come away with a ball, outside of our last trip to the park. Most fans don't. The reason we bring our gloves just boils down to faith, hope. But he still couldn't get it. How could we have gotten so many balls last time, but none this time? What did we do wrong?

Game three came a few nights later. It was the sixth inning, and still no baseballs. Jordan was losing hope, getting a little grumpy. He looked up at me and said, "I've decided that if we don't get a ball I'm not going to be happy. If we do get a ball, I'm going to be happy."

Well... My 'teachable moment' alarm went off, but as usually happens, so did my 'not just for Jordan' alarm. I had a second to carefully consider what to say and use as an example.

I put my hand on his little Red Sox cap and bent down to whisper to him. "That's pretty wise what you said, son, and you might not even realize it. It IS your decision. Since that's true, if you wanted to, you could make a different decision. You might decide to be happy anyway, just because you're here with me, and not in bed yet, and watching a great game on a beautiful night, and hoping like crazy for a shot at a ball. That way, whether we get one or not, we still win, because we're still happy."

He didn't say anything, but somehow, I could tell I'd hit home, probably because his demeanor changed ever so slightly. Then, I spent most of the next inning silently considering the ramifications for myself of what I had just sold my son. Words from my own past and present came to mind. "If I get this job... if I don't hit traffic... if the house isn't a mess... if I get recognized for what I did... if I'm appreciated... if I get a raise... then I'll be happy..."

There's a reason why the Beatitudes intermingle the word "blessed" (meaning happy) with a lot of circumstances that don't sound altogether happy. Meekness, being poor in spirit, and making peace hardly seem like the parts of a happy life or time. But being happy based only on whether things work out how we think is almost as odd to consider as being happy at all because there's so much suffering and hardship around us, whether it's happening directly to us at the time or not.

Joy is consistent, happiness is fleeting, and blessedness is always going on whether we take time to recognize it. But when we do? It's like catching a baseball at every game you attend.

Incidentally, we did end up getting a ball in that third game. A player threw it to me, and a pre-teen snatched it out of my glove. But when he saw who I was catching it for, he handed it to Jordan. I didn't expect that, and neither did my son. That was the blessing that night. On the way out of the park, Jordan walked to the boy's seat to thank him, as did I. The kid was shy about it, possibly even regretting having given up his prize.

Intersecting Faith and Life: Do you ever regret showing mercy, doing right, or making peace? If life is like a baseball game, what do you think - should we attend expecting or not expecting a foul ball to come our way?

Further Reading

Blessed are the Persecuted

[Judy Harder]

November 30, 2011

Oops! Advent Began Last Sunday?
Alex Crain, Christianity.com

"Revive us, and we will call upon Your name. O LORD God of hosts, restore us; Cause Your face to shine upon us, and we will be saved."
Psalm 80:18-19

Yes. If you meant to include Advent in your Christmas celebration this year, it officially started on Sunday, November 27, 2011. Sorry. But, if you're like me—sometimes a few days late and a few dollars short for things—don't let a little detail like that stop you from joining in now.

Advent is meant to focus our thoughts on Christ, and there's never a wrong time for that.

This ancient Christian tradition—often eclipsed in modern times by glitter and gifts—helps us ponder why we need a Savior and teaches us to anticipate Christ's coming with joy. To be honest, I'm not an expert on Advent. I didn't grow up in a family that celebrated it. I've read about it and heard others say how helps them slow down and focus on God amid the hustle and bustle of the holidays. More importantly for my wife and me, Advent has been said to help make a lasting impression about spiritual truths on the hearts of children. So, this year, we've decided to formally celebrate Advent for the first time. I'll hopefully be able to give a positive update about how it went for the Crain family in a future edition of Crosswalk the Devotional.

If you missed the first Sunday of Advent, don't let that deter you from catching up. Today's Scripture in Psalm 80 was from the list of readings this past Sunday, so be encouraged. You're already on your way! Advent wreaths, candles, and calendars can be found online or in local bookstores. Most important is the reading, sharing, and reflection on God's Word. In fact, here is a 25-day Christmas Bible Reading Plan with selected Scriptures for each day in December up to Christmas Day. It begins tomorrow, December 1, 2011.

See? You're not late for everything.

Intersecting Faith and Life

Pause and thank the Lord that He takes you just as you are. Ask Him to revive you, to restore your appetite for His Word, and to keep your eyes focused on Him this Christmas season.

Further Reading

The Christmas Bible Reading Plan at BibleStudyTools.com

[Judy Harder]

December 1, 2011


Lessons from a Superhero
Ryan Duncan, TheFish.com Editor

"And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth." John 1: 14 NAS

Who is your favorite superhero? If you asked me, the answer would be Aquaman. Most people might find this surprising since, let's face it; Aquaman has never been that popular of a superhero. He doesn't strike fear into the heart of evil, like Batman, or block bullets like Wonder Woman. Heck, even most sidekicks are able to fly, but Aquaman needs to hail a seahorse to get anywhere.       

For me though, that's why I like him. Whenever Aquaman fights, he's always at a disadvantage. His ocean powers never help him on the land, but despite that he still fights the bad guys and wins. It's easy to be brave or strong when you have the home field advantage, but what happens when the tables are turned and you find yourself in enemy territory?       

This all sounds pretty corny, I know, but things like this remind me of what Jesus faced when he became a man. We Christians are quick to quote Jesus' death on the cross, the sacrifice he made so that we could be forgiven, but sometimes I think we forget about his life.  We forget the miracle that occurred when a Holy God chose to step into a world overrun by sin.   

Can we even begin to imagine what it must have been like for the all-knowing, all-powerful God of the universe to become a human? To understand the indignity of stubbing a toe or skinning a knee, the frustration of being confined to a small desert when the whole universe could not contain him, the humility required to endure hunger and thirst? Meanwhile, the devil stood in the background promising release, offering to make everything the way it was if Jesus would only pay a small, insignificant price.   

I think C.S. Lewis says it best in Mere Christianity when he writes,

"Only those who try to resist temptation know how strong it is. ... We never find out the strength of the evil impulse inside us until we try to fight it: and Christ, because He was the only man who never yielded to temptation, is also the only man who knows to the full what temptation means—the only complete realist."

Jesus greatest triumph was His death and resurrection, there can be no mistake. Yet every day he lived, he battled the temptations of lust, envy, greed, pride and triumphed over them. So this December I encourage you to read the Christmas story and remember the miracle of Jesus' birth. Remember that our Heavenly Father became a small baby so that we might one day live in eternity with him. Remember that Christ lived as a man, was tempted as we were, and has defeated sin.

We are His, and He is ours.

Further Reading
Luke 2: 1 - 21

[Judy Harder]

Dec. 2, 2011

Ho Ho Hum . . . Merry Christmas!
Laura MacCorkle, Crosswalk.com Senior Editor

Hear the snow crunch
See the kids bunch
This is Santa's big scene
And above all this bustle
You'll hear
Silver bells, silver bells
It's Christmas time in the city
Ring-a-ling, hear them sing
Soon it will be Christmas Day

"Silver Bells"

Songwriters: Jay Livingston & Ray Evans

The beginning of December can certainly feel like "Santa's big scene," can it not? Especially as the real meaning of Christmas continues to be watered down like a fast-melting icicle.

When I focus on the hustle and bustle, the holiday concerts and the parties, the "what gift should I get for whom?" and so forth, I am quickly put into a "ho ho hum" state of mind. It can easily become the season of "how can I get through this?" instead of the season of "Emmanuel, God with us!"

But when I draw closer to Christ, then the meaning of Christmas become like an oasis of calm to me even though the snow may crunch or the kids may bunch. As the saying goes, "Jesus is the reason for the season." And whether that sounds tired or gimmicky to you or not, I fully embrace it. Because it's true!

The verse 1 John 4:19 so aptly reminds us that "we love because he first loved us." And that's it in a nutshell when it comes to Christmas, isn't it? It's a season about God's love for his people. The incarnation of his son, Jesus Christ. When Light came to the world and gave us a way out of darkness.

Recently a wonderful reminder of what Christmas is all about came to me in the form of a gift catalog from Samaritan's Purse. When I opened up my mail box and saw it, I wondered what types of gifts this international Christian relief and evangelism organization would be promoting to me. I had participated in their Operation Christmas Child shoe-box program before at my church, but had never seen a gift catalog. Perhaps there would be some really cool bracelets made by ladies in an African village or some woven ponchos from somewhere in South America. I was excited to flip through and see what I wanted to get.

But what I quickly learned was that the gift catalog was not for me. Not really. It was for others. As in, here were gifts that I could purchase to help other people all over the world at Christmastime and beyond.

For example, a gift of $45 will help save the lives of mothers and babies by training Christian birth attendants and providing them with equipment and medicine to provide crucial prenatal care. I flipped through some more pages and saw that $20 will give Gospel booklets to 40 children in their own languages with colorful pictures and a clear presentation of the story of our Savior. Near the middle of the catalog I found out that $150 will help build a church for suffering believers. The church pictured was one that had been built in Sudan to replace those destroyed during the civil war. And then I also discovered that for those who travel to preach the Gospel in the remotest of areas, a gift of $35 will provide audio/visual equipment, a month of Bible instruction or other resources to help reach people for Christ.

Well after taking in all of the many gifts that were available to be given, I set down the catalog. My heart was moved. And I couldn't help but cry a little. This is what the season is all about.

And I tell you about this catalog today not because I'm being paid, nor did anyone from this organization ask me to do so. This is just an experience that helped to remind me that Christmas is not "Santa's big scene." And giving a gift through an organization like Samaritan's Purse is just one way of giving to others because of a Savior who was given to us.

I pray that we will all be inspired, in whatever way God leads, to share the real meaning of Christmas today and in the days of Advent that are still ahead. 

Intersecting Faith & Life: If you're feeling "ho ho hum" today, why not take some of the funds you've earmarked for Christmas presents and give a gift to help others in honor of your friend or loved one? Imagine their faces when they see that a gift has been given to someone else in need in their honor!

Further Reading:

John 1:14, NIV

2 Cor. 9:15, NIV

"Emmanuel God with Us"
Songwriters: Amy Grant, Chris Eaton and Robert Hall

[Judy Harder]

December 5, 2011


Becoming Real
by Sarah Jennings, Crosswalk.com Family Editor

All this took place to fulfil what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: "Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and his name shall be called Emmanuel" (which means, God with us)." (Matthew 1: 18-24)

The story is about a toy rabbit given to a boy for Christmas. The rabbit befriends one of the oldest, wisest toys in the nursery – The Skin Horse. One day, he asks the Skin Horse what it takes to become a real rabbit instead of a sawdust-filled bunny. Here is an excerpt of their conversation from Margery Williams', The Velveteen Rabbit:

"Does it happen all at once, like being wound up," he asked, "or bit by bit?"

"It doesn't happen all at once," said the Skin Horse. "You become. It takes a long time. That's why it doesn't happen often to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept. Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in the joints and very shabby. But these things don't matter at all, because once you are Real you can't be ugly, except to people who don't understand."

My stepmother, a family counselor, would smile at the Skin Horse's words to his young friend. She approaches her calling as more than patching up broken lives, but helping each person become what she calls "real." A "real" person is one who has shed all that is false and embraced what is true and pure. A theological word for becoming "real" would be sanctification.

I am often tempted to approach Christmas like I often would like to approach sanctification – as something that happened all at once and can now be relegated to a box from the past, marked "done." Yet this Christmas, I am struck with how the first Christmas is very closely tied to our ongoing journey towards "realness."

That's because Christmas is the day God became Real. Oh, sure God's always been real, but on that day, he became real to us in a special way. He entered the world as a baby that could be cuddled and held by people like you and me.

Theologians have a fancy word for God becoming Real: the Incarnation.

What is so amazing about the Incarnation is that God didn't merely become similar to us -- He wasn't like an angel who experimented with a few human experiences. No, God became fully human, through and through. And he didn't just become human to empathize with us (although He certainly does), but to quite literally transform us, through and through. You see, if God hadn't become Real, we would have no hope of becoming real.

St. Athanasius, a great defender of the doctrine of Incarnation explained it like this:

"He sanctified the body by being in it ... Just as the sun is not defiled by the contact of its rays with earthly objects, but rather enlightens and purifies them, so He Who made the sun is not defiled by being made known in a body, but rather the body is cleansed and quickened by His indwelling."

Even before the Cross, Jesus' birth began the reversal of the divorce between creation and the Divine caused by Adam and Eve's fall from grace. By becoming man, God didn't merely descend to our human level but lifted humanity up to His Divine level. Sin and its effects on the body and soul met it's match in the mere existence of this Child. As our former pastor used to say, "Christmas was a marriage between heaven and earth."

The miracle of the Incarnation not only changes humanity's relationship with God, but also with each other. After the Fall, Adam and Eve hid from one anther. Family life was forever affected, tainted by our first parents. Now, can you imagine the first Christmas? Mary and Joseph, husband and wife, held God Incarnate in their arms. This humble couple peered into the Face of the very same God who, in the Old Testament scriptures, could not be directly looked upon or touched. The same God from whom their first mother and father fled in shame. Jesus' quiet birth to Mary and Joseph elevated family life beyond its natural and legal purposes, opening the door for family life to unite us with God and thus, more closely unite us with each other.

"Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. (Luke 2:9)

On the first Christmas, Jesus, Mary and Joseph still had a journey ahead of them. You and I also have a journey ahead of us – we are not finished products yet. As we walk life's road, shedding the old for the new along the way, let's imitate Mary by "treasuring up" the miracle of the Incarnation in our hearts. Soak in the fact that Our God became Man so that all that was once lost could be restored, and we as His people, could share in His glory. That is as real as it gets.

Further Reading

Titus 2: 11-14
Luke 1: 26-38
The Beauty of an Ugly Christmas Tree, by Whitney Hopler

 

[Judy Harder]

December 6, 2011

Peace on Earth?
by Shawn McEvoy, Crosswalk.com Managing Editor

And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:7



Our Adult Bible Fellowship class just finished a study of Rick Warren's The Purpose of Christmas. First, I'd like to tell you that I highly recommend this material, especially the DVD for families or groups who will have Christmas visitors. It's easy to watch and delightful to follow as Pastor Warren - as always - delivers the gospel in such a warm and welcoming manner.

During the program, as Warren is speaking of the angst and dis-ease in the world, here is one of the claims he makes in Part 3 of The Purpose of Christmas DVD:

"There will never be peace in the world until there is peace in nations.
There will never be peace in nations until there is peace in communities.
There will never be peace in communities until there is peace in families.
There will never be peace in families until there is peace in individuals.
And there will never be peace in individuals until we invite the Prince of Peace to reign in our hearts.
Jesus is the Prince of Peace."

I think he's right. One criticism unbelievers often have about Christ is that if he was supposed to bring peace, why do we have wars, why is there strife? The answer, as well as the question, is summed up in Warren's quote above.

But one question remains - how to achieve peace? The angel did say, after all, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men" (Luke 2:14). Yet the world is in conflict! What to do? Do we need Compromise? Tolerance? Conquest?

None of the above. We need Reconciliation, the catalyst of peace.

Warren's DVD cites 3 kinds of peace that begin with a person reconciling their sin with God, which can only be done through Christ:

1.     Peace WITH God, which is Spiritual peace, and brings...

2.     Peace OF God, which is Emotional peace, and fosters...

3.     Peace WITH OTHERS, which is Relational peace.

Interesting how that works - from the inside out. It's something we all know about the peace Christ brought, but perhaps we don't always feel or apply.

That's why today's verse struck me in a new and interesting way today. Not only is God's peace mind-boggling ("beyond comprehension"), and calmly assuring (minds and hearts at rest), but it is also its own gate-keeper.

That's right. Paul writes here that such peace - once reconciliation is achieved - serves as the very GUARD against the agents and circumstances of unrest. That's a pretty amazing thing when the very bridge you hope to erect is self-sustaining and the very wall you seek to build is self-defending! 

Intersecting Faith & Life: Follow Paul's charge to young Timothy, and "pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart" (2 Tim. 2:22). Start with reading the verses below. Merry Christmas! Peace on Earth, good will toward men!

Further Reading 

Hebrews 12:14
1 Thessalonians 5:13
Psalm 34:14

[Judy Harder]

December 7, 2011

Romans 8:28 Does Not Mean Giving Thanks with a Plastic Smile
Alex Crain
Editor, Christianity.com

"And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose."
Romans 8:28

Catastrophes like recent earthquakes, hurricanes, and even terrorist attacks remind us that, indeed, we live in a sin-cursed world. Not only do tragedies like these cause many to lose their lives, they often leave countless others in their wake---roiling in doubt and disbelief. The horrors of human suffering can stain our minds and souls and often obscure our vision of the God who is there. How are we supposed to respond?

Closer to home, we experience the curse of sin in personal ways through losses or disappointments that grieve the heart. We may wonder in all honesty at such times what verses like Romans 8:28 mean. Does Christ His followers to simply put on a plastic smile and somehow grin and bear it?

Hardly.

Francis Schaeffer offers a helpful explanation to this dilemma in the first chapter of his classic book, True Spirituality. In fact, he says that a proper grasp of Romans 8:28 is crucial to understanding the world.

First of all, he takes care to point out that the Bible's view of life in the world is clear-eyed and realistic: At the Fall of man, everything became abnormal. The whole world is not what God made it to be. Therefore, Scripture verses like Romans 8:28 cannot be calling us to think...


"...that in some magical way everything is really fine when it isn't. Rather, we are to say "thank You Lord" knowing that God will somehow bring good ultimately, though we may not know how all the pieces fit together.



            "It is not that Christians are to give thanks with a plastic smile, saying things are wonderful when they are hard.

             It is knowing that the hard things are really hard things, a result of the abnormality of the Fall, yet not revolting

            against God when the hard things come."



"We do honor to God and the finished work of Christ as we throw the words 'all things' in Romans 8:28 like a circle around all things..."



"...we are contented before God... not complacent about the suffering of the world."



In other words, Christ neither calls us to be indifferent nor to put on a plastic smile. Rather, we are to face the facts of hard reality and then sink our roots more deeply in who He is.

What a privilege that we who are naturally God's enemies can have a relationship of trusting Him—the faithful, sovereign, covenant keeping God who is incapable of failure. He makes and keeps great promises not only for His glory but for the ultimate good of those who are His.

Intersecting Faith & Life:

In what situations are you tempted to be shaken from trusting God?

Clearly, this is a sin-cursed world.  Still, do you sometimes catch yourself expecting a rosy path? Why? What do we really deserve? (Read Romans 3:10-20)

Further Reading

Jonathan Edwards' sermon: "Men Are Naturally God's Enemies" 

[Judy Harder]

December 8, 2011

The Angel 
Ryan Duncan, TheFish.com

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests." – Luke 2: 13-14

My family has a tradition. Each Christmas, when the whole family has gotten together, we take an evening to decorate the tree. My sisters and I unwrap our favorite ornaments and try to get them some premium tree-placement while our parents take out some older decorations to fill in the gaps we leave behind. The crown jewel of our Christmas collection is the angel, which is always put on last and always at the top of the tree. Only one of us got to put up the angel, and as kids, every year we would fight like crazy over whose turn it was (Actually, even as adults I think we still flight like crazy over whose turn it is). There was just something so wonderful and amazing about that angel that you couldn't help trying to get it, even if you knew it wasn't your turn.       

Looking back on those nights now, I can't help but envy the shepherds of the Christmas story. Of all the Christmas gifts that have ever been given, they hands-down received the best. They witnessed the declaration of Christ's birth from a host of angels.   

"And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "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. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests." When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about." So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told." – Luke 2:8-20           

I doubt you or I will ever be able to fathom what the shepherds experienced in those moments, but the wonder of the angel's message still remains. Christ the Lord was born on earth, and his birth signaled the beginning of our freedom from sin. This Christmas season, don't let cold weather or crazy shopping cause you to forget the splendor of the angel's message. Instead, be like the shepherds, glorifying and praising God for all the things you have seen and heard.     

Intersecting Faith and Life

This Christmas, consider taking part in Operation Christmas Child through Samaritan's Purse, and bring the hope of Christmas to a child in need.   

Further Reading

Read Luke 2