Crosswalk.com--The Devotional

[Judy Harder]

December 10, 2010 


Be Yourself
Stephen Sanders, Salem Web Network Audio/Video Editor

Have you ever had someone tell you to, "Just be yourself and everything will work out"?  It sounds so simple doesn't it?  "Be Yourself."  What does that even mean? After all, if we could simply "be ourselves," then wouldn't the world that surrounds us be a lot different?

I often wonder what friendships would be like if we could simply be who we are inside; to not feel so much pressure to be less or more of an individual than we think we are supposed to be.  One thing I've begun to focus on in recent months is being the same person everywhere I am no matter who I'm around; but that's a lot easier said that done. 

 

Don't get me wrong.  I totally realize that none of us are exempt to sin. 1 John 1:8-10 says this: "If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us."

 

Can you see how not dealing with sin appropriately keeps us from being ourselves?  Behavior like this causes us to trick ourselves into thinking we are someone who we really aren't. When we ignore or hide sin, it breeds all kinds of issues, not only in us, but also in the body of Christ. 

So how should sin be handled?  How can you "be yourself?"  Well, here are 3 things that will certainly get us going in the right direction: Confession, confrontation and forgiveness.

We all know that we are supposed to confess our sins to God, but what about confessing our sins to one another?  Where does that fit into the picture?  The answer lies within James 5:16, which instructs us to, "...confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working."  Why isn't the confession of sins more of a focus in the church today?  Shouldn't we be doing this every chance we get if it results in "healing and righteousness?"

Secondly, there is confrontation.  Jesus says in Matthew 18:15-17 that, "If another member of the church sins against you, go and point out the fault when the two of you are alone. If the member listens to you, you have regained that one.  But if you are not listened to, take one or two others along with you, so that every word may be confirmed by the evidence of two or three witnesses.  If the member refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church..." Notice that this scenario starts with someone taking the initiative to point out the sin.  Also notice that this person risks not only putting his friend in an uncomfortable situation, but also being humiliated in front of others if he is wrong about his assessment. It's easy to see why the church struggles with this; it's not a simple solution. 

Lastly, we have forgiveness.  After discussing confrontation and confession, doesn't forgiveness make a lot more sense now?  There is a very good reason why Jesus instructed us to forgive, "seventy times seven times " in Matthew 18:22.  Jesus knew we were going to be surrounded by sinful people because we live in a sinful world.  Rather than avoiding it, we need to be brave enough to be the one who chooses to forgive sin unconditionally and infinitely.  Our reaction to sin determines the impact it is able to have on us.  Who knows?  Our reaction may even be so powerful that it may stop that sin in its tracks before it affects others too!

Intersecting Faith and Life: 

I'm totally convinced that this is how we should be handling sin.  And since sin is "at enmity with God" then shouldn't we be doing everything we can to remove it from the bride of Christ?  Shouldn't this be a primary focus in our lives rather than striving for what we can gain in life?  Jesus is waiting for a bride with no blemishes. 

Today, just take about 15 minutes and ask God this simple question: "God, how is the sin in my life keeping me from being who you have created me to be?"

Further Reading

1 John 1
Matthew 18
James 5

Also, check out this song: "Beautiful Bride" by Flyleaf 

[Judy Harder]

December 13, 2010 


The Duty of Living in the Reality of the Supernatural
Alex Crain
Editor, Christianity.com

"...without faith it is impossible to please Him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him."
Hebrews 11:6 ESV

"Doctrine is important," writes Francis Schaeffer in chapter five of his book True Spirituality, "but it is not an end in itself. There is to be an experiential reality, moment by moment... in the power of the crucified and risen Christ, through the agency of the indwelling Holy Spirit, by faith."

Yes, yes, yes... we nod our heads, agreeing with such a fine statement of what ought to be the daily experience of one who follows Christ. But is that our experience? Is it just me, or has anyone else noticed that little by little, the reality of the supernatural is all too easily lost in our generation?

What seems to elude most Christians is a daily experience of living in the reality of the supernatural. We can polish and refine our doctrinal statements and discuss the finer points of what's going on in the world and how to fix our institutions and churches until the cows come home. But what often gets crowded out of the picture is the simple reality of God.  When that happens, the world squeezes us into its way of thinking. To quote Schaeffer on this...

"Our generation is overwhelmingly naturalistic [i.e. meaning everything is the result of natural causes in a closed system]. If we are not careful, even though we say we are Biblical Christians and supernaturalists, the naturalism of our generation tends to come in upon us."

Schaeffer compares this creeping in of the world's naturalistic mindset to barnacles that grow on the bottom of ships, creating drag on vessels that were meant to efficiently cut through the water. So, as an antidote, he points us to classic Scriptures that teach the nearness of the supernatural all around us.

For example, Luke's passage on the post-resurrection appearance of Jesus to two disciples walking on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:31) says that their eyes were opened and they realized it was Jesus, then He ceased to be seen by them. Paraphrasing Schaeffer: "It wasn't that Christ was no longer there, but that they simply did not see Him any longer. John 20:19 and 26 gives the same emphasis."

Another classic text that Schaeffer takes us to is 2 Kings 6:16-17 where Elisha is surrounded by an enemy, and the young man standing with him is overcome with fear. "Elisha prayed and said, 'O LORD, please open his eyes that he may see.' So the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha."

"The supernatural was not something far off; it was there. All the young man needed was to have his eyes opened to see it. As soon as we remove the supernaturalness of the universe, all we have left is Aldous Huxley's Brave New World, in which religion is viewed simply as a sociological tool... a mere psychological mechanism."

Schaeffer rightly notes that this is precisely where the battle rages today. The naturalists are determined to get rid of the supernatural, to argue against it, that it is not there. Therefore...

"...we have thrust upon us the high calling and the duty to live in light of the existence of the two parts of the universe, the seen and the unseen parts, in the realization that the "heavenlies" are not far off. They are about us here."

Losing the reality of the supernatural is no small, insignificant detail. It is not an optional feature of true spirituality. When it is absent from our experience, all we are left with is a dead sociological tool; a mere psychological mechanism for manipulating ourselves and other people. As the Apostle Paul said, "If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied." (1 Corinthians 15:19)

Intersecting Faith & Life: 
Are there any barnacles of naturalism built up on the hull of your "ship" lately? Ask God for renewed eyes of faith as you dig deeper into these Scriptures...   

For Further Study:
Luke 24
2 Kings 6:16-17
1 Corinthians 15

[Judy Harder]

December 14, 2010

Tell Your Story
Laura MacCorkle, Senior Entertainment Editor

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.  We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14, NIV

"Everyone has a story to tell."

I have heard this statement twice recently.  Once by a fictional character and once by a man of the cloth. 

The first time was while watching a movie.  It was Australia, the over-the-top Baz Luhrmann epic starring Hugh Jackman and Nicole Kidman.  And it is Jackman's character, Drover, who says this in reference to the process of finding out who you are.  He implies that in order to have a story, you have to live, take risks and discover what makes you YOU.   

Our stories are what we share with others.  And to them we say:  "This is my story.  This is who I am."   

My pastor also referenced our individual stories at church during a sermon.  In his case, though, he discussed the shepherds in Luke 2:8-20 and what story they had to tell:

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.  An angel 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 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. 

The shepherds sought what they had heard about.  They wanted to discover more about this baby, this Christ.  And when they did, they didn't sit on what they had experienced.  They didn't keep their story hidden from their daily lives or in their interactions with others.

No, they LIVED this story!  They were "glorifying" and "praising" God for what they had heard and seen.  The greatest story ever told had now become their story.

I was really challenged while hearing my pastor preach through this passage in Luke, because I have a story, too.  When I was three years old, my life took an entirely new direction.  It was then that I understood what Christ had done for me. I accepted him into my life, and he took over and began writing my story.  He is the author of my life, and it is he who has made it more satisfying than I could have ever imagined.

Each day, you and I have the opportunity to share the stories of our lives with others.  We must tell them that Jesus is Lord.  He is the One, the Savior, the Divine Rescuer!  And this is why we celebrate his coming to earth.  It is Good News!  And as we surrender to him, we yield our lives in submission so that he may write our life stories.   

Intersecting Faith & Life: Choose one person with whom you will share your story this month.  Schedule a time over coffee or a meal when you can meet and speak from your heart.  Tell him or her what makes you YOU and what Christ has done in your life's story.

Further Reading:

Mark 16:15, NIV
2 Timothy 1:8-10, NIV 

[Judy Harder]

December 15, 2010 

The Humility of Being Human
Katherine Britton, Crosswalk.com News & Culture Editor 

"Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness." - Philippians 2:5-7

I'm a Christmas carol snob, I guess, as I scorn most songs written in the past 30 years. I do have notable exceptions, however, when the lyrics go beyond the kitsch of "All I Want for Christmas Is You" and other such piffle. We have more than enough American Christmas songs, but there's always room for a thoughtful reflection in the canon of carols. So yes, I make an exception for the CCM favorite "Welcome to Our World." Here are some of the lyrics:

Hope that you don't mind our manger
How I wish we would have known
But long awaited Holy Stranger
Make yourself at home
Please make yourself at home

Fragile finger sent to heal us
Tender brow prepared for thorn
Tiny heart whose blood will save us
Unto us is born
Unto us is born

So wrap our injured flesh around You
Breathe our air and walk our sod
Rob our sin and make us holy
Perfect Son of God
Perfect Son of God
Welcome to our world

So many Christmas songs focus on the joy of the season, and rightfully so. It's a joyous time, both culturally and spiritually. But occasionally I need to view the holiday from a different perspective - that is, from the viewpoint of heaven. From God the Son's perspective, becoming human was - to put it mildly - a huge demotion. Christmas began with an act of submission and humility on the part of the Son. The Creator consented to become one of the creation, with all of our blood, sweat, and tears. From the heavenly perspective, the Incarnation arrived with sorrow, as part of the Godhead separated himself physically from the Father. Christmas signals an arrival into our world, but a departure, however brief, from a greater world.

Jesus's demonstrated humility is just one of the reasons the Incarnation should inspire such awe in us. Yes, the Incarnation dignified a downtrodden humanity. But the Incarnation also required sacrifice we can't begin to describe. All this before the ultimate shame of the cross.

The Puritan Thomas Watson meditated on Christ's humility with these words:

"He came not in the majesty of a king, attended with [a bodyguard], but he came poor; not like the heir of heaven, but like one of an inferior descent. The place he was born in was poor; not the royal city Jerusalem, but Bethlehem, a poor obscure place. He was born in an inn, and a manger was his cradle, the cobwebs his curtains, the beasts his companions; he descended of poor parents.... He was poor, that he might make us rich.... He lay in the manger that we might lie in paradise. He came down from heaven, that he might bring us to heaven."

Intersecting Faith & Life: As you consider the joy of this holiday season - whether you're anticipating the unwrapped smiles, lighting the Advent wreath, singing carols, making cookies, or whatever - take time to consider the counterpoint. Our joy is Christ's first sacrifice.

Further Reading:

The Grace and Greatness of True Humility
Hebrews 2:6-11

[Judy Harder]

December 16, 2010

"Blessed are you among women!"

Sarah Phillips, Family Editor Crosswalk.com

In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to the city of Judah, and she entered the house of Zechari'ah and greeted Elizabeth. And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and she exclaimed with a loud cry, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And why is this granted me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For behold, when the voice of your greeting came to my ears, the babe in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord."
Luke 1: 39 - 45,

You don't need me to tell you Christmas is fast approaching. We're approaching the last week to prepare for the big day. Chances are, you're rushing around trying to get last-minute errands completed. I have a mental list of "must do's" running through my own head.

So as I read this gospel for the final Sunday of Advent, I am struck by how Mary prepared for Christ's coming.  Mary received the biggest news of human history, the coming of the Messiah (through her!?), and what does she do? Mary sets aside her own agenda and "went with haste" to visit her cousin Elizabeth. At this point, Elizabeth's pregnancy is entering the final trimester and no doubt this older mother is tired and in need of assistance.

I imagine Mary must have had a lot of thoughts running through her head on the way to Judah. "Is Elizabeth really pregnant in her old age? She must be... but really? And how am I going to explain my situation to Elizabeth? Will she believe me?"

Mary's arrival is one of those great moments in history - a moment that reverberates throughout the ages that follow. This simple story of two pregnant women meeting carries so many implications. Some of the themes that stick out to me include:

1.     Mary's faith. Mary was obedient to God and put faith in him. She set aside her own comfort and questions to help Elizabeth. Mary's virtue shines through here, and God throws in a little reward - a miraculous and joyful greeting from Elizabeth.

2.     Elizabeth's selflessness. Elizabeth's news is a pretty big deal. Her husband receives a vision from an angel and she conceives in her old age after years of waiting. Yet, her first response focuses not on her big news, but on Mary's. This reveals Elizabeth's virtue and also adds emphasis to the reality that Mary's news holds even more profound implications for humanity than Elizabeth's miracle.

3.     The humanity of the unborn. In those days, pregnant women didn't enjoy the luxury of ultrasound technology. Yet, God makes the humanity of these little ones very clear here. Elizabeth exclaims, "And why is this granted me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?" Elizabeth refers to Mary as "mother" in the present tense and she refers to the growing baby inside of Mary (who probably wasn't even showing yet) with his proper title:  Lord. God was "with us" the moment Mary conceived, and even the unborn John the Baptist recognized this!

4.     God works through fellow human beings. God could have found any number of ways to communicate his message that day. He chose to speak through Elizabeth and John and the communion between Mary and Elizabeth. He also brought help to Elizabeth during her last trimester through Mary and comfort to the newly pregnant Mary through Elizabeth.

5.     God's love for women. How can there be any doubt that God has a special place in his heart for the fairer sex after reading of Mary and Elizabeth's stories? God could have arrived on earth in any form he chose... and while the rest of the world remained ignorant, two women basked in the presence and knowledge of the Lord.

I am sure great theologians can extract even more from this story, but I'll leave it here for today. As your schedule ramps up in these final days of Advent, imitate Mary who "treasured up" the mysteries revealed to her and "pondered them in her heart." (Luke 2: 19)

Intersecting Faith & Life:  How is God present in your life this holiday season? Think of the little ways God makes his presence known and brings you comfort and joy even in the midst of trials.

Further Reading

Psalm 80:2-3, 15-16, 18-19
Hebrews 10:5-10
Women of Advent and Christmas: Elizabeth
Women of Advent and Christmas: Mary, Not Just a Womb

[Judy Harder]

December 17, 2010

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]

December 20, 2010 

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]

December 21, 2010


Stop the Madness!
Laura MacCorkle, Senior Entertainment Editor

... for the joy of the LORD is your strength.
Nehemiah 8:10, NIV

Ahhh, the first day of winter.  And the Christmas season, too!  Gift giving, parties and caroling.  School programs, tree trimming and crackling fires.  Shopping, scurrying and migraines and ... stop the madness!

Guess it doesn't take much for the "Christmas joy" to turn into the "Christmas madness," does it?  If that's how you're feeling today, then it might be time to stop and re-evaluate your priorities this month.  Maybe this is the year when you rediscover the joy of the season.

So what is "the joy" anyway?  In a word:  salvation.  God sent his son to earth to save mankind.  Jesus was born so that we might be "born again" and have new life in Christ.  "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us" (John 1:14).  Now THAT is great joy!

The shepherds knew of this joy.  In Luke 2, an angel of the Lord appeared to them while they were in the fields near Bethlehem and told them:  "Do not be afraid.  I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people." 

Meanwhile, back in the east, the Magi knew about the joy as well.  These astronomers saw the star in the East and came to Bethlehem, looking for the "king of the Jews" (Matthew 2). 

Now ... fast forward to the 21st century and let's contrast our societal norms with Bible times.  As a female, I immediately notice that the shepherds didn't bring anything with them to honor the newborn King.  And no one got upset.  (That's right ... no hostess gift.  Perhaps shepherdesses would have brought a simple casserole in a disposable pan.)  No, these men simply received some good news, and then did what they were instructed to d  spread the word about Jesus. 

A little later, the Magi came and brought what they had:  gold, incense and myrrh.  They bowed down, and they worshipped the King.  While these were pretty expensive gifts, I don't think they broke the bank for these wealthy individuals.  The Magi also didn't carry them around in Neiman Marcus shopping bags in a grand display of their worth.  The point is that they gave their very best and from their hearts.  And I'm sure these gifts were of great financial help to Joseph and Mary in the days that followed.

Though they represented different ends of the spectrum, both the shepherds and the Magi came to worship the King.  That was their focus for the season and not meeting perceived expectations of how they should celebrate or give or measure up with the next bearded guy. 

We would do well to focus on this same joy.  Not on who has the best gift.  Not on who serves the best holiday buffet.  And not on who has the best decorated house on the block. 

Why?  Because the joy of the good news is that salvation has come.  Emmanuel is with us.  Our Savior is Jesus.  And HE is the one who puts the joy in our hearts.     

Intersecting Faith & Life: 

What is the joy of your heart this holiday season?  Perhaps rediscovering the joy of Christmas means stopping the madness and scaling back your to-do list.  Ask the Lord to show you how he would have you spend your time and resources so that you may know his joy and share it with others.

Further Reading


1 Peter 1:8, NIV

A Reason to Smile

[Judy Harder]

December 21, 2010


Stop the Madness!
Laura MacCorkle, Senior Entertainment Editor

... for the joy of the LORD is your strength.
Nehemiah 8:10, NIV



Ahhh, the first day of winter.  And the Christmas season, too!  Gift giving, parties and caroling.  School programs, tree trimming and crackling fires.  Shopping, scurrying and migraines and ... stop the madness!

Guess it doesn't take much for the "Christmas joy" to turn into the "Christmas madness," does it?  If that's how you're feeling today, then it might be time to stop and re-evaluate your priorities this month.  Maybe this is the year when you rediscover the joy of the season.

So what is "the joy" anyway?  In a word:  salvation.  God sent his son to earth to save mankind.  Jesus was born so that we might be "born again" and have new life in Christ.  "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us" (John 1:14).  Now THAT is great joy!

The shepherds knew of this joy.  In Luke 2, an angel of the Lord appeared to them while they were in the fields near Bethlehem and told them:  "Do not be afraid.  I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people." 

Meanwhile, back in the east, the Magi knew about the joy as well.  These astronomers saw the star in the East and came to Bethlehem, looking for the "king of the Jews" (Matthew 2). 

Now ... fast forward to the 21st century and let's contrast our societal norms with Bible times.  As a female, I immediately notice that the shepherds didn't bring anything with them to honor the newborn King.  And no one got upset.  (That's right ... no hostess gift.  Perhaps shepherdesses would have brought a simple casserole in a disposable pan.)  No, these men simply received some good news, and then did what they were instructed to do  spread the word about Jesus. 

A little later, the Magi came and brought what they had:  gold, incense and myrrh.  They bowed down, and they worshipped the King.  While these were pretty expensive gifts, I don't think they broke the bank for these wealthy individuals.  The Magi also didn't carry them around in Neiman Marcus shopping bags in a grand display of their worth.  The point is that they gave their very best and from their hearts.  And I'm sure these gifts were of great financial help to Joseph and Mary in the days that followed.

Though they represented different ends of the spectrum, both the shepherds and the Magi came to worship the King.  That was their focus for the season and not meeting perceived expectations of how they should celebrate or give or measure up with the next bearded guy. 

We would do well to focus on this same joy.  Not on who has the best gift.  Not on who serves the best holiday buffet.  And not on who has the best decorated house on the block. 

Why?  Because the joy of the good news is that salvation has come.  Emmanuel is with us.  Our Savior is Jesus.  And HE is the one who puts the joy in our hearts.     

Intersecting Faith & Life: 


What is the joy of your heart this holiday season?  Perhaps rediscovering the joy of Christmas means stopping the madness and scaling back your to-do list.  Ask the Lord to show you how he would have you spend your time and resources so that you may know his joy and share it with others.

Further Reading


1 Peter 1:8, NIV

A Reason to Smile

[Judy Harder]

December 22, 2010

The Joyous Paradox of Advent
by Katherine Britton, Crosswalk.com News & Culture Editor

"Come, Thou long-expected Jesus
Born to set Thy people free...
Dear Desire of every nation,
Joy of every longing heart"

"Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, like men waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him." - Luke 12:35,36

Like so many Christian doctrines, the Advent season represents a bit of a paradox.  I have to thank my colleague Sarah Phillips for expanding my understanding of the tradition, as the three purple candles and one pink candle were mostly a Christmas countdown to me. But Advent has a greater richness if we have eyes to see.

I found a parallel to the Advent paradox on a recent trip. A couple weeks ago, four of my college friends and I met for a rare weekend together, as we live hundreds of miles apart today. We made pizza, giggled, and spent hours "sharing and caring" like we used to in college, despite the fact that half of us are now married and one of us had a toddler in tow. We were delighted just to be with people who once shared so much with us. As I prepared to leave, I was certainly a bit nostalgic for "the good old days." And yet, I was also thinking about the family and friends awaiting me back in Richmond. I think we all felt a similar tension - not unpleasantly - as the goodbyes rolled around.

Advent represents a coming rather than a going away, but holds a similar tension. On the one hand, we look backwards to Christ's first coming in the manger. On the other, we look forward to the Second Coming and the fullness of our reunion with the Lord. And here we are, stuck between the two in the 21st century.

Advent encompasses so many human feelings - hopeful longing, wistful remembrance, renewed wonder, and more. We are twice waiting, first with the nation of Israel waiting for the Messiah, and then with Christians around the world waiting for the time when "God will wipe away every tear from their eyes" (Rev. 7:17). As such, this season is much more than a tradition. It's a season that every person can relate to, because we've all experienced longing. And only one thing can truly fulfill our longings.

That's part of the beauty of celebrating Christ's birth at this dark time of year. We just experienced the winter solstice yesterday; now the days begin to brighten, just as Christ comes to be "the light of men." Our longing for brighter days is literally at hand. The dark night of sin's reign ends as we repent, and joy comes to the world.

Intersecting Faith & Life: Dig a little deeper into the Advent traditions, such as the Advent wreath. We'll light the white Christ candle in just a couple days - are you ready?