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Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. 

dxBecause narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.

There is an old saying, “50 million Elvis fans can’t be wrong.” It takes on the notion of consensus and whether something is true or not. This logical fallacy is called argumentum ad populum that we sometimes fall prey. Just because something is widely held as true or accepted, doesn’t make it so. Elvis is talented, regardless of his 50 million fans. The Bible implores us, “Do not follow a crowd to do evil” (Exodus 23:2).

We are tempted to imitate the groups that we find ourselves in, whether it is a peer group or the larger culture. Theologian Reinhold Niebuhr, went so far as to say, “Evil is not to be traced back to the individual but to the collective behavior of humanity.” Jesus unequivocally warns, many are on the road to destruction because of the universal problem of selfishness and sin. We are called not to live according to the many but the One, the Lordship of Jesus.

We also find a powerful motivation in what sociologists’ call “group think.” It is a phenomenon of when people can make irrational or even immoral decisions based on the social pressures of conformity. The scriptures speak of our peculiarity compared to popular culture, “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people'' (I Peter2:9).

One of the reasons that we find so many on the path of destruction is because of ignorance. People simply do not know a better way. Ultimately, it is the mission and responsibility of the church to remedy this through evangelism and teaching. The church is commissioned by Christ Himself to teach and preach throughout the world (Mark 16:15,16; Matthew 28:18-20). The Apostle Paul goes to great lengths to clarify that our knowledge of good and evil is what makes us culpable for sin through our conscience or the law (Romans 2:15, 3:9). It is only the Gospel that can save us from sin (Romans 1:16).

We also find so many on the path to destruction because of the love of worldliness. The Apostle John says, “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world- the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life- is not of the Father but is of the world” (I John 2:15). We must not mistake this teaching for the material world as evil like dualists or the Manichaeans. It is rather the temptation to be ruled by the flesh, eyes, and pride which dominate the world value systems. We see so much of humanity ruled by insatiable flesh instead of the Spirit, trusting their eyes through only empiricism instead of genuine faith, and an artificial allegiance to prideful self instead of humbly walking with God.

Don’t be fooled by the crowd. “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” (Romans 12:2).

Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. 

dxBecause narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.

There is an old saying, “50 million Elvis fans can’t be wrong.” It takes on the notion of consensus and whether something is true or not. This logical fallacy is called argumentum ad populum that we sometimes fall prey. Just because something is widely held as true or accepted, doesn’t make it so. Elvis is talented, regardless of his 50 million fans. The Bible implores us, “Do not follow a crowd to do evil” (Exodus 23:2).

We are tempted to imitate the groups that we find ourselves in, whether it is a peer group or the larger culture. Theologian Reinhold Niebuhr, went so far as to say, “Evil is not to be traced back to the individual but to the collective behavior of humanity.” Jesus unequivocally warns, many are on the road to destruction because of the universal problem of selfishness and sin. We are called not to live according to the many but the One, the Lordship of Jesus.

We also find a powerful motivation in what sociologists’ call “group think.” It is a phenomenon of when people can make irrational or even immoral decisions based on the social pressures of conformity. The scriptures speak of our peculiarity compared to popular culture, “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people'' (I Peter2:9).

One of the reasons that we find so many on the path of destruction is because of ignorance. People simply do not know a better way. Ultimately, it is the mission and responsibility of the church to remedy this through evangelism and teaching. The church is commissioned by Christ Himself to teach and preach throughout the world (Mark 16:15,16; Matthew 28:18-20). The Apostle Paul goes to great lengths to clarify that our knowledge of good and evil is what makes us culpable for sin through our conscience or the law (Romans 2:15, 3:9). It is only the Gospel that can save us from sin (Romans 1:16).

We also find so many on the path to destruction because of the love of worldliness. The Apostle John says, “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world- the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life- is not of the Father but is of the world” (I John 2:15). We must not mistake this teaching for the material world as evil like dualists or the Manichaeans. It is rather the temptation to be ruled by the flesh, eyes, and pride which dominate the world value systems. We see so much of humanity ruled by insatiable flesh instead of the Spirit, trusting their eyes through only empiricism instead of genuine faith, and an artificial allegiance to prideful self instead of humbly walking with God.

Don’t be fooled by the crowd. “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” (Romans 12:2).

Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

One of the most significant and widely known teachings of Jesus is the “Golden Rule.” It has been taught in homes, schools, and churches to the benefit of all humanity for over two millennia. Many have remarked and preached on the progression of human history as envisioned through the iron, silver, and golden rules. The “iron rule” is one of sheer power, strength, and force. The story of Cain and Abel illustrates the iron rule. We see this rule played out among men and nations and stated as, “might is right.” This rule is the law of the jungle and has very little ethical considerations and sophistication. Nietzsche says, “this world is the will to power—and nothing besides! And you yourselves are also this will to power—and nothing besides!” The “silver rule” was stated by Confucius, "Do not impose on others that which you yourself do not desire.” One could say the chief strategy is to do no harm and characteristic of jurisprudence. The Rabbi Hillel likewise said, “that which is hateful to you, do not do to your fellow. That is the whole Torah; the rest is the explanation; go and learn." Most of the Ten Commandments would be a great example of the silver rule which is encapsulated by the phrase, “Thou shalt not.”

The “Golden Rule” is the call to active goodness. Christ challenges His listeners to “Do.” There is no limitation or restriction on this command. We are to extend our grace to all. It is through our “good works” that we glorify the father (Matthew 5:16). Our actions are the expression and manifestation of God’s eternal workmanship (Ephesians 2:10).

We are to pray for our leaders and all people. The Apostle Paul writes, “Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence” (I Timothy 2:1,2).  Furthermore, we are to “remember the poor” (Galatians 2:10) and “as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith” (Galatians 6:10).  We are to help orphans and widows (James 1:27, Acts 6:1-7). Even the stranger is considered a neighbor. The story of the “Good Samaritan” reminds us that a neighbor is anyone in need and thus subject to our love and mercy. Jesus proclaims, “Go and do likewise.” We are also to share the good news of the Gospel so that others can know God and find inner peace and eternal hope (Matthew 28:19, 20).

The “Golden Rule” includes self-love and care. The command insists, “whatever you want men to do to you.” It is through the lens of our shared humanity that mercy is found. God has gifted us with His image that gives insight to our ethical responsibility and reciprocity. We have the capacity to feel for each other through our self-awareness and imagination.

The “Golden Rule” is truly a sublime treasure and catalyst to a higher ethical consciousness. If only we would heed the wise words of our teacher.

Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone?  Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent?  If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!

Prayer is the key to the intentional life of a disciple. Our prayer life needs to be centered and focused on the will of God. This is the very power of prayer! When we bring our hearts before God in prayer, then we examine ourselves in the light of God’s goodness and sovereignty. The Apostle John relates, “Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him” (I John 5: 14,15). The first act of prayer is not to seek our own, but the will of God. It is in the submission that we find God’s generosity and love. Luther proclaimed, “Prayer is not overcoming God's reluctance. It is laying hold of His willingness.”

God expects our actions to be consistent with the words uttered in prayer. Jesus doesn’t resign our request to merely words but requires the disciple to “seek and knock”. Our lives should not be in contradiction to the requests made in our prayers. Our actions must be congruent and consistent with what we ask. If we are praying for discernment, then we should be seeking wisdom from trusted friends or legitimate sources of knowledge. If we are asking for a job, then we should be submitting applications. Our prayers ought to lead our lives of action and obedience. The Apostle James reminds, “But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways” (James 1:6-8).

Is the will of God the driving force within our prayers? If the will of God is not primary in prayer, then it will probably be lacking in our daily life. Our Lord is the prime example of surrender when agonizing in the Garden of Gethsemane to God’s plan and purposes. May we follow His example of saying and living, “Thy will be done.” 

Jesus reminds through a fortiori reasoning that if we being evil know how to give gifts then how much more does God? A loving father would never give a stone or serpent. Our heavenly Father who is infinitely loving and beneficent knows what we need. So, open your heart to the will and goodness of God. Ask! Jesus tells us the story of the unjust judge who hears the persistent widow and acts in her favor because of her dedication and commitment (Luke 18:1-8). It is through God’s goodness and our faithfulness that prayer becomes reality.

Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces.

Jesus offers practical wisdom about the reception and rejection of the Christian life. Some unbelievers will chide, mock, and misunderstand aspects of Biblical truth because of ignorance and obstinance. The Bible explains, “that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.”

Our culture is becoming more secular and less religious. According to Pew Research, “Currently, about three-in-ten U.S. adults (29%) are religious “nones” – people who describe themselves as atheists, agnostics or “nothing in particular” when asked about their religious identity.”[i] Biblical literacy is also on the wane. A recent survey concluded, “A survey from 2021 found that 11 percent of Americans read the Bible daily. Trends in reading habits over four years showed that the majority of Americans never read the Bible, however in 2021 this number dropped to 29 percent of respondents.”[ii]

Responses to the teaching of the Bible can bring a myriad of negative responses from ridicule, disdain, and even physical persecution. Recall the Apostle Paul’s defense before Festus, “Festus said with a loud voice, “Paul, you are beside yourself! Much learning is driving you mad” (Acts. 26:24). In Athens, Paul was “mocked,” and in Lystra, “they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be dead.”

Carrying the Gospel is the responsibility of every Christian (Matthew 28:19,20). But we must be wise and discerning about our approach and teaching. It is of little use to talk to someone about baptism, communion, or divinely sanctioned sexuality, if they do not believe in God or the Bible. We will merely be “casting pearls” before an unappreciative and ignorant crowd. People also must have an existential preparedness for the Gospel. Jesus chose not to work miracles in certain cities because of their inability to receive the message (Mark 6:5).

Christians must begin with appropriate teaching for the person and be ready to move on, if met with defiance. Jesus encouraged, “And whoever will not receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet” (Matthew 10:14).

The Gospel is powerful, and God promises, “My word will not return to Me void.”

[i] https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2021/12/14/about-three-in-ten-u-s-adults-are-now-religiously-unaffiliated/
[ii] https://www.statista.com/statistics/299433/bible-readership-in-the-usa/#:~:text=A%20survey%20from%202021%20found,to%2029%20percent%20of%20respondents.

Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

Have you ever considered how little we know of each other? Yet, we can make drastic judgements based on extraordinarily little information. We are so much more than we see. We all have a story which is unknown in its entirety, even unto ourselves. We try to put the pieces together to understand ourselves and others through stories, pictures, conversations, and memories. Jesus sternly warns against presumptuous judgements beyond our ability and adjudication.

We also are unable to perceive the hearts of others. We have no direct access to intentions, motivations, beliefs, thoughts, feelings, and attitudes. These realities can be manifested through words, deeds, and body language. But the externals do not always correspond to the internal realities. Robin Williams painfully reminds us, “People don’t fake depression. They fake being okay.”

The future is also beyond our purview. We have no idea of the changes that will occur in a person for good or bad. God has not called us to judge the eternity of others but to love them, in this very moment. Goethe famously penned, “If you treat an individual as he is, he will remain how he is. But if you treat him as if he were what he ought to be and could be, he will become what he ought to be and could be.”

Judging is a reality. It happens every day out of necessity. We all are trying to interpret who a person is, for survival and relationship. Jesus knows the whole story, the heart, and the future of every person. He warns, “For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.” This imperative is remarkably similar to the Lord’s Prayer, “forgive our debts as we forgive our debtors.” Our judgements on a person are like a Rorschach Test revealing our own minds and imagination. It discloses our hearts and empathy or lack thereof.

Jesus reminds us that our spiritual focus should be on our own relationship to God and others. “And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye?” If we are busy concentrating on others, then do we have time to accurately assess ourselves? Spurgeon preached, “None are more unjust in their judgements of others than those who have a high opinion of themselves."

So, do you really know the whole story of the person that you are judging? A wise person once said, “be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.” God thoroughly knows our story. The Psalmist declared,

O Lord, You have searched me and known me. You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thoughts afar off. You comprehend my path and my lying down,
And are acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word on my tongue,
But behold, O Lord, You know it altogether. You have hedged me behind and before,
And laid Your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is high, I cannot attain it.

The Lord can perceive the heart, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (I Samuel 16:7). The Lord knows the future. Jesus chose unlikely men that showed no signs of exceptional skill or knowledge to become His apostles and they changed the world through the power of the Spirit. Remember, “First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”

“Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?

"So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

“Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Fear is a primal and powerful emotion that can consume our lives. Fear in some situations is a healthy response. It triggers needed adrenaline for fight or flight reactions in dangerous circumstances. However, Fear can take the shape of worry or anxiety.

Worry is prolonged fear which is unhealthy and detrimental to the psyche and relationships.

Our bodies and nervous systems are not made for this kind of elaborate and extended emotional response over long periods of time. God has called us to lives of circumspection and caution at times. (Proverbs 22:3) “A prudent man foresees evil and hides himself, But the simple pass on and are punished.” Jesus does command, “Do not worry about your life.” The first question that may arise is how do we distinguish between sinful worry and legitimate concern?

Legitimate concern becomes worry because it is exaggerated. When something is a bona fide concern, it is rooted in truth, thus worthy of thoughtful response. However, worry is a form of a lie that makes us ruminate and think the worst of our circumstances. Duplicity is a hallmark of the enemy and Satan is described as the “father of lies.” Jesus reminds, “Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them.”

Worry is ineffectual thought. Mark Twain famously quipped, "I've had a lot of worries in my life, most of which never happened." Excessively thinking about things beyond our control and influence are futile. This type of thinking robs us of our contentment, joy, and power. Jesus states, “Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?”

Worry is when our thoughts are substantially removed from the present and relegated to the dead past or a mere imagined future. Our lives become less effective when we are detached from the place of choice and action-which is this very moment!  There is a proper place for remembrance and reflection, but we can become paralyzed by the intoxicating past. Our past failures and successes can upend the choices today. Even our planning for the future can derail us from meaningful work now. Jesus preaches, “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”

Our minds and hearts can be dominated by anxiety instead of faith. Jesus contends, “O you of little faith.” When consternation erodes our trust in our loving Father then we fashion an idol of our worry and fear. What a poor replacement for a loving Father! “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”

“No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. 

You cannot serve God and mammon.”

The foundation of all commandments is the first. The Ten Commandments begin with, “You shall have no other gods before me.” Theologian John Calvin poignantly declared, “The human heart is a perpetual idol factory.” All sin is ultimately derived in replacing God’s will with something else, which means that we exchange God Himself as sovereign with another.

Humanity has dressed up our own self-will with other “gods” which were made in ancient times of wood, stone, and precious metals. God declared, “Hear, O, Israel: The Lord our God is one! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength” (Deuteronomy 6:4, 5). Yahweh is not material and made of many particular things but is Spirit and one. God is our Creator and distinct from His creation (Romans 1:23).

In modern times, we have fashioned “gods” of our own conceptions which require something different from us than what God has revealed in His Word.  People create gods of sensuality, the state, or of even virtues themselves. Some claim the virtue of love as a god. The Scriptures do not say, “love is God,” but rather, “God is love.” Love proceeds from the nature of God and is not equivalent to God.

What we serve and worship is profoundly important. Jeroboam recognized the power of worship. “And Jeroboam said in his heart, ‘Now the kingdom may return to the house of David: If these people go up to offer sacrifices in the house of the Lord at Jerusalem, then the heart of this people will turn back to their lord, Rehoboam king of Judah, and they will kill me and go back to Rehoboam king of Judah” (I Kings 12: 26,27). Israel’s king understood that our hearts are directed by the object of our worship.

The throne room of our heart can only be occupied by one. Jesus mentions “mammon” as a chief competitor for our adoration and allegiance. The word mammon means money and is a vestige of Christ’s original language of Aramaic. Jesus warns, “it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God” (Matthew 19:24). Avarice can consume our soul and cheat us out of eternity. 

The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!

Our perceptions are so powerful. In fact, philosophers have struggled with how exactly our perceptions and consciousness relate to reality itself. The English philosopher George Berkeley famously questioned, “If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?” In fact, Immanuel Kant shockingly concluded that we know nothing as a “thing in itself.”  Our perceptions are not just about the brute facts or appearances of reality but also how we interpret and understand those things which are around us. Imagine traveling back in time and letting ancient people “see” a computer. How would they relate to it? What would they really see?

Jesus speaks of our spiritual sight and vision. If our perceptions or awareness of truth is damaged or diminished, then our whole being is darkened by the absence of light. Firstly, our consciousness itself is an extraordinary truth in our vast universe. The eminent psychologist Carl Jung observed, “As far as we can discern, the sole purpose of human existence is to kindle a light in the darkness of mere being.” Our self-consciousness and awareness are an amazing insight to the status of being or ontology in the Cosmos.

The Scriptures relate that our perceptions need help through Christ and the Gospel. The Apostle Paul describes, “in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them” (II Corinthian 4:4). Jesus rebukes, “For the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, so that I should heal them” (Matthew 13:15,16).

The Apostle John instructs that our hatred is moral blindness. “But anyone who hates another brother or sister is still living and walking in darkness. Such a person does not know the way to go, having been blinded by the darkness” (I John 2:11).

We need our eyes to be opened by the light and truth of Christ or otherwise we will be lost in the darkness of vanity and nothingness.

The Apostle Paul on the road to Damascus was physically blinded by the sight of the risen Jesus. Later, he was taught by Ananias, “At once something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he got up and was baptized” (Acts 9:18). Not only did Paul receive the sight of his eyes but also, the sight of his soul. He would later write, “For we walk by faith and not by sight” (II Corinthians 5:7). 

Our faith helps us to realize the full scope of reality which is beyond our senses or perceptions. Faith is the “evidence of things not seen.” Furthermore, The Apostle reveals, “while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal” (II Corinthians 4:18). When we begin to see by the light of Christ then our whole being is illuminated by eternal truth and love. 

Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Anne Frank once wrote, “No one has ever become poor by giving.” Jesus reminds us of the heavenly economy, which is beyond the reach of earthly corruption, materially or morally. We are to strive for this heavenly economy which is vastly more valuable than the riches of this world because of its permanence and proximity to God. The “treasures of heaven” are spiritual and eternal in nature.

The “treasures on earth” find allurement and power in their immediacy. Our hearts and minds struggle with the relationship to the infinite and absolute. We find that we grow attached to our earthly possessions and forget that we really own nothing. The Apostle Paul stated, “For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.” At best, we are only temporal managers of our money and possessions. Solomon laments his labor, “Then I hated all my labor in which I had toiled under the sun, because I must leave it to the man who will come after me. And who knows whether he will be wise or a fool? Yet he will rule over all my labor in which I toiled and in which I have shown myself wise under the sun. This also is vanity” (Ecclesiastes 2:18, 19).

 Our lives, however, can be enriched spiritually and eternally by working in the Kingdom of God. We “lay up treasures” by giving of ourselves to the greater purposes of God.

God calls us to live generous lives with others. The early church was known for their radical love. Church Father Tertullian writes of how Christians were thought of by the pagan culture, “Look,’ they say, ‘how they [Christians] love one another.” They gave liberally to one another as they had need. The book of Acts records, “now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need” (Acts 2: 44, 45). Their giving was so pervasive, that it was reported, “Nor was there anyone among them who lacked” (Acts 4:34). The predominant Gentile churches of Corinth, and Macedonia provided relief for the Judean Christians in Jerusalem (I Corinthians 16, II Corinthians 8, Romans 15:26, 27).

The Scriptures reveal many things which are of greater value than earthly possessions. The Word of God is eternal. “Forever, O LORD, Your word is settled in heaven” (Psalms 119:89). Our souls are described as being worth more than the entire world (Mark 8:36). The Apostle Paul relays, “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” It is so easy to be swept up into thinking that we own things as the rich man in (Luke 12:15). We own nothing but our choices in this life. John Wesley soberly reminds us, “Not, how much of my money will I give to God, but how much of God's money will I keep for myself?" What we treasure and hold valuable reveals the status of our heart.

In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
As we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation,
But deliver us from the evil one.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

Jesus continues to instruct His disciples in matters of authentic religion by giving this simple but profound prayer as an example to His disciples. The prayer has found a holy place in countless hearts, homes, and churches over the millennia since first uttered by our Lord. In fact, the last phrase, “For yours is the kingdom, the power, and the glory forever. Amen,” is not found in the earliest of manuscripts but was an interpolation by the early church because of its probable liturgical usage in an ancient worship service. So, within our English Bible, we have a beautiful vestige of the primitive Church for our edification. The life of a Christian is led by the light of prayer in every age and moment. “Pray without ceasing.”

“Our Father Who art in heaven”

Jesus begins by addressing God as Father. Most scholars suggest that Jesus probably originally used the Aramaic term “Abba” as specified in the Mark’s account of the Garden of Gethsemane (Mark 14:36) and further explicated by the Apostle Paul (Galatians 4:1-7, Romans 8: 15). The Old Testament is filled with various addresses and names for God but very rarely, “Father.” Jesus’ usage of name Father or Abba is unparalleled in Jewish history and theology. Theologian Jeremias Joachim remarked, “in the Lord’s Prayer Jesus authorizes His disciples to repeat the word Abba after Him. He gives them a share in His sonship and empowers them, as His disciples, to speak with their heavenly Father in just such a familiar, trusting way as a child would with his father.” Jesus also speaks of the eternal abode of God as heaven which describes God’s transcendence and otherness. The origin of the Son is with the Father in heaven and our eventual home (John 6:41,17:5, Philippian 3:20, Revelation 21:4).

“Hallowed be Your name”

The name of God represents His total revelation to man. The shepherd and emancipator Moses heard the name of God as Yahweh or “I Am” (Exodus 3:14). God’s name reveals His aseity and holiness. There is none like the Lord (Jeremiah 10:6). We must hallow or reverence His name which means to uphold His righteousness, both in word and deed. The Ten Commandments require that we do not take the “Lord’s name in vain” (Exodus 20:7).  The Apostle Paul declares that Jesus Himself is the great revelation, Yahweh, that His name is “greater than any other name” (Philippians 2:9-11). The Son has perfectly revealed the Father. Hallowed be Your name! 

“Your Kingdom come”

Jesus came preaching the coming of the Kingdom of God (Mark 1: 15). The Kingdom is the reign of God now over sin and later in an eschatological victory over death through the atoning sacrifice and life-giving resurrection of Jesus Christ. The Kingdom is a spiritual reality that is neither here nor there but “within” (Luke 17:21). It is “not of this world” and “unshakable” (John 18:36, Hebrews 12:26). It will destroy all enemies of God and finally death itself (I Corinthians 15:26).

“Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven”

The will of God is inextricably bound to the Kingdom. The will and reign of God are expressions of absolute sovereignty exercised over the cosmos. Yet, the Son of God completely submitted while on earth, thus revealing the perfection of inexpressible dominion, as God in man Himself. The mystery of God’s eternal predetermination of all things fulfilled in the finite freedom of man, once more in the garden together. “Father, if it is your will, take this cup from me; nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done” (Luke 22:42).

“Give us this day our daily bread.”

Jesus knows our human needs and appetites. He was hungry in the wilderness and felt unquenchable thirst on the cross (Matthew 4: 2, John 19:28). We must acknowledge and never forget that we are at every moment dependent on our Father for His sustaining power and goodness. God provided for the children of Israel when they wandered in the wilderness and delivered “daily” manna for their needs (Exodus 16). The petition for bread is also a commandment to live in the present moment trusting God. Jesus points above, “Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?”

“And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors.”

Forgiveness is the spiritual need of every soul, as the bread is physically for the body. Jesus powerfully reminds us of our moral responsibility to each other, as we ask for grace from our Creator. Forgiveness is not free but comes at a price or debt in our lives through sacrifice. The shape of forgiveness is a bitter cross. We are tempted to resist because of fear, ego, and selfishness. The spirit of forgiveness must pervade or otherwise, we live in a world desolate of grace brought on by our own obstinate heart.

“But deliver us from the evil one.”

The prayer of salvation describes both the enemy and the righteousness of God. God in His goodness will deliver us from the “evil one.” The Apostle Peter depicts the devil as a “roaring lion” desiring to devour us. We cannot help ourselves but need God’s power to overcome the darkness through deliverance. Jesus proclaimed, The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me,
Because He has anointed Me, To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind,
To set at liberty those who are oppressed; To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord” (Luke 4: 18,19).

May we join our unknown brothers and sisters, who gathered and first prayed as Christians in churches, houses, caves, and prisons, “For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.”

Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven. Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.

And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words.

Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.  But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.

“Your Father who sees in secret” is a phrase repeated by Christ to remind us fundamentally that religion is not about the approbation of men, but God. The religious elite had taken charitable deeds, prayer, fasting and distorted them into self-aggrandizing efforts only to bolster social standing and appearance. 

The Devil did a similar thing by trying to corrupt the very temple and Scripture by utilizing them both in the temptations of Jesus. “Then the devil took Him up into the holy city, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, ‘If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written: ‘He shall give His angels charge over you,’ and, ‘In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone” (Matthew 4:5,6). We must be warned that the Devil can use even the holy temple and sacred Scriptures to tempt us. Such was the case with these bright pious acts darkened by hypocrites. Our charitable deeds, prayers, and fasting can be profaned by our own hearts if motivated by ulterior selfish reasons.

Jesus commands us to religiously act in secret to reveal our hidden motivations. It is through the secrecy of prayer and charitable deeds that our hearts can be revealed to the Father. If we find a reluctance to act in seclusion, then we should pause to reflect on why we so diligently seek the approval of men. We see in Scripture the danger of such attitudes which could prevent our full obedience to God. (John 12:42,43) “Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.

We see Jesus personifying His teaching by seeking secrecy with His own kindness and miraculous deeds. (Mark 1:43-45) “And He strictly warned him and sent him away at once, and said to him, ‘See that you say nothing to anyone; but go your way, show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing those things which Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.’ However, he went out and began to proclaim it freely, and to spread the matter, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter the city, but was outside in deserted places; and they came to Him from every direction.” Our Lord would often seek prayer in strict solitude (Mark 6:46, Luke 6:12, 9:18, 9:28, 11:1, Matt. 26: 36-45). 

Our reward will not be with capricious men and women but with our heavenly Father, who loves unconditionally and blesses boundlessly.

You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?  And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so?  Therefore, you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.

Jesus refers to the common grace of the Father as exemplar par excellence which forcefully articulates the unbounded beneficence and love of God in no uncertain terms. His goodness is not limited to the familial or provincial but universal in application. This message is consistent with the mission of the Messiah to bring “blessing” and “light” to all the nations (Genesis 22:18, Isaiah 49:8).

If God’s goodness is universal then we are to express the same love, blessing, and intercession for all image bearers of God. Even to those who are numbered as our enemies. God’s love isn’t just restraint of judgement but in making “His sun to rise” and “rain” to those who are evil and unjust. Not only has God sent the heavenly resources of sunshine and rain but His Son Jesus for all people (John 6:38, I John 2:2).

God requires us to vanquish our enemies not with a violent sword or character assassination but with the sacrifice of the cross. Jesus died not only for His friends but enemies. Our hearts are to take on the shape of the cross when dealing with friend and foe alike. It is the cross that will distinguish our lives from the pagan because they naturally love their own. It is in loving our enemies that we closely resemble our Savior. This love is not a fleeting feeling but an ethic of eternal goodwill for the soul and body of all humanity.

Christ commands that we pray for our enemies. This important act identifies the enemy as a child of God. It also forces the followers of Jesus to open their heart before our sovereign God and brings light to our own intentions, motivations, and pride. When the enemy becomes an object of concerned prayer then the supernatural power of God is unlocked for wisdom and a spirit of self-control (James 1: 5, Galatians 5:22).

The phrase, “Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect” has more to do with how we treat enemies than anything else. Jesus says when we keep His sacred command, we are “sons of your Father in heaven.” This is a most exceptional love and is found in the very heart of Jesus. “For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life” (Romans 5:10). If we were given such love, shouldn’t we continue to bear its cross in honor of our Lord.

You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also.  And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away.

The spirit of non-violence and radical generosity is the way of Christ. Our first natural response to this section is to downplay the severity of the command and to begin to think of exceptions to the rule. Gandhi reiterated, “An eye for an eye will leave everyone blind.” Our legitimate love and desire for justice can be vitiated by our self-will and unrestrained emotions into vengeance which is evil. Jesus emphatically declares that the cycle of hatred and violence stops with His followers. We see this attitude vividly displayed in the life of Christ which The Apostle Peter reminds us,  

For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: “Who committed no sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth”; who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously. (I Pet. 2:21-23).
 

God has ordained mechanisms for justice. The Apostle Paul articulates that the civil authorities are for the very purpose of restraining evil and administering justice, “For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil” (Roman 13:4). 

A great deal of ink has been spilled about pacifism, coercion, and “just war” theory. The Scriptures are very explicit that Christians are to abide by the laws of the land because of their validity and that the state is a “minister” of God. If the state is thereby an institution by de jure, then it follows, Christians in service and vocation to these institutions are too. Obviously, there are many complications to the subject, especially when the state is involved in immoral actions. Augustine argued, “An unjust law is no law at all.” Reinhold Niebuhr wrestled with the subject and worked towards an approximation, “a society in which there will be enough justice, and in which coercion will be sufficiently non-violent to prevent his common enterprise from issuing into complete disaster.” There are no easy answers to these thorny issues, but we understand that violence should be personally avoided at all costs and only initiated by legitimate powers for exclusively moral and legal reasons. Niebuhr also warned that a state’s self-preservation seemed to be an ever-expanding rationale which can seemingly justify almost any deleterious war. 

Jesus goes further and requires that we not only restrain ourselves from violence but that we are to be generous in our efforts even to oppressive forces. The “second mile” was a Roman law which required the conquered Jewish people to carry a pack or load for a Roman citizen or soldier if asked. Jesus radically says, obey the law and exceed it in your submission to God and love for others. “Go with him two,” It argues with nationalistic spirit, pride, and every other reason to resist but Jesus commands and not just for our friends, or paying customers, but captors. Jesus reveals an ethic and freedom beyond the imagination called the Kingdom of God.

Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform your oaths to the Lord.’  But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is God’s throne; nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black. But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.

Pilate famously quipped, “What is truth?” It was not because he was unable to understand the concept of truthfulness, but that truth did not matter in his affairs with men. We live in a world in which the aphorism, “truth is perception” is the cardinal truth, which was Pilate’s very point. The spirit of Machiavelli pervades, “Everyone sees what you appear to be, few experience what you really are.” Yet, Christ calls us to tell the truth. We must recognize the essential layers of the truth that we are challenged to live.

Internal

The first responsibility of truth is to ourselves. This duty is neither easy nor convenient. There are psychological factors and impulses which can sway us from the emancipation or burden of truth. We can find that truth incites fear, anxiety, and intellectual defensiveness which prevents our assent to its sovereignty. Plato’s “Allegory of the Cave” so vividly portrays,

At first, when any of them is liberated and compelled suddenly to stand up and turn his neck round and walk and look towards the light, he will suffer sharp pains; the glare will distress him, and he will be unable to see the realities of which in his former state he had seen the shadows; and then conceive someone saying to him, that what he saw before was an illusion.

The Scriptures relentlessly challenge us to be seekers of the truth. (I Thessalonians 5:21) “Prove all things and holdfast to that which is good.” The Apostle John encourages us to “test the spirits, whether they are of God” (I John 4:1). The truth does not always promise to be convenient or aligned with our preconceived ideas. It is only until we find this internal honesty that we can deal with others likewise. Shakespeare observed, “This above all: to thine own self be true, And it must follow, as the night the day, Thou canst not then be false to any man.”

External

Our words are of vital importance and an extension of our very character. Christ commands that we need not tier our truthfulness with levels of authenticity in swearing by “heaven or earth.”  It is because, firstly, our swearing does not affect the truthfulness of the statement and secondly, only gives doorways to falsehoods which are not spoken by the same incantations or formula. We open ourselves up to the “evil one” by speaking “whatever is more.” The truth is sufficient unto itself and sacred. Swearing is superfluous and dangerous.

 Our lives must also accord with the truth of God and who we really are. Jesus’ ministry was one also about rebuking religious hypocrisy which abounded in the ancient Jewish world. They said one thing but did another, “For they bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers” (Matthew 23:4). God sees us for who we really are. The Hebrew writer declares, “And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account” (Hebrews 4:13). 

“Furthermore it has been said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ But I say to you that whoever divorces his wife for any reason except sexual immorality causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery."

Tolstoy famously wrote in Anna Karenina, "Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.” The family is of paramount importance in Scripture beginning with the marriage bond. The “hardness of heart” had caused God to “permit” divorce in the Old Law even though the prophet declared God’s “hate” for it (Malachi 2:16). The Mosaic legislation of Deuteronomy 24 was debated among Rabbis of Jesus’ day especially the exception clause, “it happens that she finds no favor in his eyes because he has found some uncleanness in her” (Deut. 24:1). The “uncleanliness” was interpreted broadly by those who followed Rabbi Hillel and strictly by Rabbi Shammai with immorality.

Jesus’ exception clause for fornication is only found in the Matthew account which is probably an interpolation (textual addition) by the later church. Textual expert Bruce Metzger explains:

Two reasons, among others, why the Matthean form of Jesus’ saying on divorce must be regarded as a modification of his teaching are: (1) If it is original, then the report without the excepting clause in Mark and Luke represents an advance made by the early church upon the standards set by Jesus – and this is not likely to have happened; and (2) the excepting clause does not harmonize with the context in Matthew. (If Jesus sided with the Shammites, why should the disciples be amazed at the strictness of His teaching and exclaim, “If such is the case,….it is better not to marry” (Matt.19:10)? And in the context of Matthew 5:32, Jesus is substituting the perfect standard of God for the standard recognized by the Jews of His day (Matt. 5:17-48); but if the exceptive clause is retained, His teaching is no higher than Shammai’s.)

Jesus’ teaching on marriage reaches the highest ideals of morality. The reasons for the permanence of marriage are imbedded deeply in the Scriptures. Marriage is covenantal faithfulness. The Prophet Hosea painfully illustrates the faithfulness of Yahweh to His people, “I will take you to be My wife forever. I will take you to be my wife in righteousness, justice, love, and compassion. I will take you to be my wife in faithfulness, and you will know the Lord” (Hosea 3:19,20). The covenant is kept through the faithfulness of Yahweh. Marriage is the sacred domain of procreation (Gen. 1:28, Heb. 13:4). The task of creating eternal souls is specified for sacred space of committed marriage. It is also for the mutual satisfaction and enjoyment of sexual gratification (I Cor. 7:1-5). Marriage represents the integrity of our word. Jesus commands honesty and keeping our vows to God and each other (Matt. 5:37, Deut. 23:21). Marriage reflects the very relationship of Christ and His church. Jesus used the metaphor of a bride and groom repeatedly in His teaching (Mark 2:19, Matt. 25:1-13). The Apostle Paul proclaims the mystical intimacy of Christ and His Church. 

Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. So, husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself.  For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church.  For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones. “For this reason, a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church.  Nevertheless, let each one of you in particular so love This own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.

Christ is clear in His teaching on the permanence of marriage. However, Divorce is real and a painful experience. The church needs to be faithful, not only in teaching, but compassionate to those severely hurting. Despite our sinfulness, there is hope, strength, and forgiveness in Christ if we seek His will for our lives. Issues of marriage, divorce, and remarriage can be very distressing. Not only do we know Christ teaching, but we also know His heart. “Let not your heart be troubled or afraid.”

You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery. ‘But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.  If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.
 

Jesus fiercely gazes into the heart of man. There are no dark recesses beyond His sight and exposure. It is unnerving to hear His unapologetic proclamations of divine and holy expectations for our lives. It is tempting for the modern mind to recoil or make excuses for our behavior, but He will have none of it! “He knew all men and had no need that anyone should testify of man, for He knew what was in man.”

We find in humanity’s imagination an insatiable desire for more.

Solomon expressed, “The eye is not satisfied with seeing, Nor the ear filled with hearing.” Jesus not only affirms the Torah but drills down to the origin of our immorality and malevolence. It resides in our heart. The Prophet Jeremiah preaches, “The heart is deceitful above all things,
And desperately wicked.” Jesus describes the human predicament perfectly, “For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies” (Matthew 15:19).

Christ also reveals the primacy of the spiritual over the physical. Jesus forcefully uses the plucking of the eye and the cutting off the hand to show that our finite flesh is incomparable to value of eternal life. We struggle with the immediate because it is empowered by the present tense, but we must find our way to the Rock of Ages. 

All people are tempted with the present season of recalcitrant pleasures. It is written of Moses, “Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season” (Hebrews 11:25). 

Our culture is drowning in lust, which overpromises and under delivers. People devour the vanity of pornography and remain hungry. They reach out to the titillating image on the screen but find deeper loneliness. The emperor indeed wears no clothes, and the subjugation of the senses is ruled by another click or swipe. The Prophet Ezekiel promises emancipation, “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.  I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them” (Ezekiel 36:26). Submit to the Savior now.

“Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of our religion: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated in the Spirit, seen by angels, preached among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory.” ~ 1 Timothy 3:16

Merry Christmas! The “great mystery” is the knowledge of God revealed in Christ! Christmas is about God showing up. Yahweh has manifested Himself in all of reality. He is known in the highest of heavens as the great I Am. He is known in our creatureliness as an infant subdued by the finiteness of space and time. He is known in our suffering and death, crucified as the “man of sorrows.” He is known in our heart of hearts through belief as the risen Lord. Have faith dear friend! God is here!

Athanasius so eloquently stated, “The Self-revealing of the Word is in every dimension - above, in creation; below, in the Incarnation; in the depth, in Hades; in the breadth, throughout the world. All things have been filled with the knowledge of God.” All things have been filled with the radiance of the Son of God! All things are possible and you are loved! God is here!! Merry Christmas!!!

The arrival of Christ to the world was at the exact moment God had destined. Time and eternity, spirit and flesh, created and uncreated, God and man converged in the person of Jesus Christ for the salvation of the world. There was nothing coincidental or accidental in His life. “And Jesus answered them, 'The hour has come for the Son of man to be glorified.'” (John 12:23)

The first advent of Christ is the testimony and validation of the second. There stands another hour when all things will be delivered unto the Father. “Truly, truly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.” (John 5:25) Christ will come again with the clouds of heaven and great power. “Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain will be made low; and the uneven ground shall be level and the rough places a plain, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”

There was no room for the holy family at the Bethlehem inn. We must open our hearts to receive Christ and not turn him away. “But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God; who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God” (John 1:12,13). When we receive Christ through faith, we become children of God. “So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls” (Acts 2:41).

When we receive Christ our lives are transformed by His presence. Zacchaeus received Christ into his home and was forever changed! “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold” (Luke 19:8). Receive the Lord through faith and obedience.

No Room in the Inn

No beautiful chamber, no soft cradle bed;

No place but a manger, nowhere for His head;

No praises of gladness, no thought of their sin,

No glory but sadness, no room in the inn.

No room, no room, for Jesus,

O give Him welcome free,

Lest you should hear at Heaven's gate,

"There is no room for thee." No sweet consecration, no seeking His part,

No humiliation, no place in the heart;

No thought of the Savior, no sorrow for sin,

No prayer for His favor, no room in the inn.

No one to receive Him, no welcome while here,

No balm to relieve Him, no staff but a spear;

No seeking His treasure, no weeping for sin,

No doing His pleasure, no room in the inn.

“Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, 'Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the East, and have come to worship him.'”
~ Matthew 1:2

The “men from the east” were also called “wise men” in Matthew 2:7. These wise men traveled great distances seeking the Savior. Wise men and women still seek Him today.

God’s word says, “Draw near to God and he will draw near to you” (James 4:8). Christmas is a time of seeking God and His will. What lengths will you go to know Him? The Scriptures are a great place to begin in the search for the will of God. “All scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work” (II Timothy 3:16,17). God also promises to provide us wisdom if we ask: “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives to all men generously and without reproaching, and it will be given him” (James 1:5-6). The wisest thing you can still do is seek Christ and His kingdom just as those ancient men from the East (Matthew 6:33).

When from the East the wise men came,

Led by the Star of Bethlehem,

The gifts they brought to Jesus were

Of gold and frankincense and myrrh.

Bright gold of Ophir, passing fine,

Proclaims a king of royal line;

For David's son in David's town,

Is born the heir of David's crown.

The incense clouds, with fragrance rare,

The presence of a God declare;

Lo! kings in adoration fall,

For Mary's Son is Lord of all.

The myrrh, with bitter taste, foreshows,

A life of sorrows, wounds, and woes;

The deadly cup, that overran

With anguish for the Son of Man.

Our gold upon Thine altar lies;

Our prayers to Thee, as incense, rise;

Accept as myrrh our tears and sighs;

O King, O God, O Sacrifice

Christmas is not just about the blessing and favor of God but also faithful obedience. Mary was given tremendous honor and favor by God in giving birth to His only begotten Son. Mary acknowledged, “For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed.” (Luke 1:48) The angel declared, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.” (Luke 1:30) The continued words of Mary, “let it be to me according to your word” express obedience to His divine will.

God’s intervention into Mary’s life was far from convenient or even comforting. She was pregnant and unmarried. The nativity story goes on to share many hardships and challenges. Can we forget, a grieving mother standing eventually at the cross? Simeon prophesied concerning Mary’s favor and blessing at the presentation of the holy child at the temple: “a sword will pierce through your own soul also.” Mary was blessed as much as obedient.

Let it Be
When I find myself in times of trouble,

Mother Mary comes to me

Speaking words of wisdom, let it be

And in my hour of darkness

she is standing right in front of me

Speaking words of wisdom, let it be

Let it be, let it be

Let it be, let it be

Whisper words of wisdom

Let it be

And when the brokenhearted people

living in the world agree

There will be an answer, let it be

For though they may be parted,

there is still a chance that they will see

There will be an answer, let it be

 

Prayer

Father,

We pray as Mary,

Let it be according to thy word,

In the name of Christ,

Amen

"My soul magnifies the Lord,

and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

for he has regarded the low estate of his handmaiden.

For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed;

for he who is mighty has done great things for me,

and holy is his name.

And his mercy is on those who fear him

from generation to generation.

He has shown strength with his arm,

he has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts,

he has put down the mighty from their thrones,

and exalted those of low degree;

he has filled the hungry with good things,

and the rich he has sent empty away.

He has helped his servant Israel,

in remembrance of his mercy,

as he spoke to our fathers,

to Abraham and to his posterity for ever.”

Luke 1:46-55

Christmas is a time of song. The season is inaugurated by the beautiful carols heard everywhere. The song of Mary is recorded in the Gospel of Luke and sometimes referred to in the Latin as the Magnifcat. Just as John the Baptist leaped in the womb of Elizabeth, Mary’s heart leaped in praise to God for His blessing and favor. The song is in the lineage of the song of Moses, Miriam, David, and especially Hannah. The words reveal God using the humble to achieve His great purposes. God acknowledges the “lowly state of His maidservant” in contradistinction to the proud. We see God’s sovereignty by putting “down the mighty from their thrones.” God’s faithfulness is emphasized by the “remembrance of His mercy, as He spoke to our Fathers, to Abraham and to his posterity for ever.” Let your heart magnify the Lord as did Mary for His purposes, sovereignty, and faithfulness.

Prayer

Father,

We magnify Your name,

You choose the humble and meek,

To accomplish Your good pleasure,

Thank You for Your sovereignty

and faithfulness.

In Jesus name,

Amen

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid. Nor do men light a lamp and put it under a bushel, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”

Matthew 5:14-16

The light of Christ is meant to be shared with others. Christ in His sermon of the mount declared, “Let your light so shine.” One of the first observations of this command is the word, let. The Divine imperative is one that is to be spiritually animated through a power from elsewhere and not in ourselves.

Christ doesn’t require us to make, ignite, or build, but to simply "let" the power of the light reside in ourselves through the Holy Spirit. Christ commands us to acquiesce to His strength, control, and elucidation. This light, however, is personal and described as yours with its own color and purpose.

God has created you for this special reason in your corner of the Kingdom! It is to “so” shine that others see and understand that your light glorifies the Father in “whom there is no variableness or shadow of turning.” (James 1:17) Shine on Christmas lights!!!

The Gospel of John’s nativity story begins in the unfathomable eternity. The prologue of John presents Jesus as the eternal Word (Logos) united with the very essence of God even before the beginning. It reminds us of the creation story and the true home of Jesus of Nazareth which is with the Father from everlasting to everlasting. The Gospel challenges us to see behind the veil of humanity and see Jesus for who He really is, God. The Gospel of John opens our eyes to seeing the glory of God revealed in Jesus.

Church father Athanasius spoke no truer words when he said, “Whom I know as my Redeemer cannot be less than God.” The great Apostle Thomas, when confronted with the risen Savior, declared, “My Lord and my God!” Christmas is the story of God dwelling with man. The word “dwelt” carries the meaning of “pitching a tent.” Our minds shift back to the tabernacle of Moses when God’s radiance was found in the wilderness among Israelites. Now, we have truly beheld His glory in the tabernacle of His Son.

O Come, All Ye Faithful

Yea, Lord, we greet Thee,

Born this happy morning;

Jesus, to Thee be the glory given;

Word of the Father,

Now in the flesh appearing,

O come, let us adore Him,

O come, let us adore Him,

O come, let us adore Him,

Christ the Lord.

Prayer

Father in heaven,

Help us to see you in your son,

Reveal to us who you are,

Let us see your glory,

In Jesus name,

Amen

Anne Frank echoed these sentiments by saying, “No one has ever become poor by giving.” Christ clarifies where the blessing of Christmas and life resides. It is in our generosity and giving that we find the greatest blessing.

It should be apparent that having the ability to give is the initial commendation but that the blessing of giving doesn’t end there. Our gifts become a part of the eternal economy in the Kingdom of God. So, it is in giving that we truly gain and never lose. Moreover, Jesus declared from the mount, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Matthew 6:19-21). The greatest gift is to be the giver.

The Magi representing the Gentile nations bring their homage to the newborn king of Israel. The gifts are of important significance and distinction: gold, frankincense, myrrh. The word treasures carries the connotation of abundance in measure.

These first Christmas gifts express great symbolic meaning for us. The gold was a gift worthy of royalty and conveys Jesus' regal status as the rightful King. The frankincense carried the idea of something offered to God or a substance of anointing and epitomizes Christ’s divinity. The myrrh had medicinal value but also could represent the humanity of Christ. Myrrh was commonly used in burial, and it provides a foreshadowing of His death. (John 19:39) “And Nicodemus, who at first came to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds.”

The gifts of the Magi come full circle at the end of Matthew when it is revealed that the Gospel is not just for Israel but for Gentiles too. “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”

Shakespeare is often quoted, “A rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” Yet, we know that there is power in a name. There is a significant difference in the feeling you get from seeing your mother’s name on an arrived letter than the I.R.S.

The name Jesus or Yeshua came from a Heavenly origin. The angel of the Lord that appeared to Joseph announced His name (Matthew 1:18-21). The name Jesus is a derivative of the name Joshua, meaning savior. This name holds prophetic resonance. Moses prophesied in Deuteronomy 18:18, “I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brethren; and I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him.” The name of the prophet in succession was amazingly the same Joshua. The English transliteration of the Greek is JESUS. The prophets and angels testify of His name which is exalted above all names (Philippians 2:12, Acts 3:22).

Light of the World by Lauren Daigle

The world waits for a miracle

The heart longs for a little bit of hope

Oh come, oh come, Emmanuel

A child prays for peace on Earth

And she's calling out from a sea of hurt

Oh come, oh come, Emmanuel

And can you hear the angels singing

Glory to the light of the world

Glory, the light of the world is here

The drought breaks with the tears of a mother

A baby's cry is the sound of love

Come down, come down, Emmanuel

He is the song for the suffering

He is Messiah, the Prince of Peace has come

He has come, Emmanuel

Glory to the light of the world

Glory to the light of the world

Glory to the light of the world

Glory to the light of the world

For all who wait

For all who hunger

For all who've prayed

For all who wonder

Behold your King

Behold Messiah

Emmanuel, Emmanuel

Glory to the light of the world

Glory to the light of the world

Glory to the light of the world

Behold your King

Behold Messiah

Emmanuel, Emmanuel

The world waits for the miracle

The heart longs for a little bit of hope

Oh come, oh come Emmanuel

Isaiah outlines the prophetic picture of the Messiah that is so brilliantly painted in the colors of Jesus’ life. The “son is given” hearkens the voice of the Apostle John, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son.” Jesus came preaching the kingdom of God is at hand and now sits at the right hand of God reigning (Matthew 3:2, Acts 2:33). His ministry was filled with wonder, miracles and signs (Acts 2:22). The lame, blind, leprous, and even dead became whole before the witness of Israel. The demons and storms were shushed by His mighty voice. He, as a counselor, exceeded the wisdom of all the sages over the millennia. He truthfully declared, “I and the Father are one.” The Prince of Peace in the order of Melchizedek ushers forgiveness and communion among all nations. Only one person in all history can answer to the myriad of names given by Isaiah: Jesus of Nazareth.

Christmas is a time of adoration and worship. The wise men seeking the Messiah fell down and worshiped Jesus in reverence and veneration. Some have estimated that they journeyed over 400 miles to worship Christ. How long was your commute last Sunday? This season offers many opportunities to keep the first commandment of worship to Almighty God.

What do we mean by worship? William Temple gave one of the most comprehensive definitions: "Worship is the submission of all of our nature to God. It is the quickening of the conscience by his holiness; the nourishment of mind with his truth; the purifying of imagination by his beauty; the opening of the heart to his love; the surrender of will to his purpose—all this gathered up in adoration, the most selfless emotion of which our nature is capable."

Worship involves all the endowments of the human soul. Take a moment to take in the grandeur and glory of God!

O Come All Ye Faithful

O come all ye faithful

Joyful and triumphant

O come ye,

O come ye to Bethlehem

Come and behold Him

Born the King of Angels

O come let us adore Him

O come let us adore Him

O come let us adore Him

Christ the Lord

 

Prayer

Father, Creator,

Fill us with wonder and adoration,

We worship your Son, Jesus,

We fall down in the sight of our salvation.

In Jesus name,

Amen

G.K. Chesterton’s poem recalls, “A Child in a foul stable, where the beasts feed and foam, only where He was homeless, are you and I at home.”

The thought of Christmas is usually a warm home with loved ones but the picture of the nativity of Jesus is far from home. Mary and Joseph left the comfort of their town and house to give birth in a stable. Can you smell the animals and hear them neighing?

Furthermore, Jesus is from a place more distant yet. “Father, glorify thou me in thy own presence with the glory which I had with thee before the world was made” (John 17:5). “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man has nowhere to lay his head.” (Matthew 8:20)

This Christmas remember as you nestle in the warmth of your home that Christ was homeless at birth so that you and I could have an eternal home.

Away in a Manger
Away in a manger

No crib for His bed

The little Lord Jesus

Lay down His sweet head

The stars in the sky

Look down where He lay

The little Lord Jesus

Asleep on the hay

The cattle are lowing

The poor Baby wakes

But little Lord Jesus

No crying He makes

I love Thee, Lord Jesus

Look down from the sky

And stay by my side

'Til morning is nigh

Be near me, Lord Jesus

I ask Thee to stay

Close by me forever

And love me, I pray

Bless all the dear children

In Thy tender care

And take us to Heaven

To live with Thee there

Can you imagine how dark this world would be if Jesus had not been born? Dr. James Allen Francis spoke of the paradoxical and powerful influence of Jesus:

He was born in an obscure village, the child of a peasant woman. He grew up in another village, where He worked in a carpenter shop until He was thirty. Then for three years He was an itinerant preacher. He never wrote a book. He never held an office. He never had a family or owned a home. He didn’t go to college. He never visited a big city. He never traveled two hundred miles from the place where He was born. He did none of the things that usually accompany greatness. He had no credentials but Himself. He was only thirty-three when the tide of public opinion turned against Him. His friends ran away. One of them denied Him. He was turned over to His enemies and went through the mockery of a trial. He was nailed to a cross between two thieves. While He was dying, his executioners gambled for His garments, the only property He had on earth. When He was dead, He was laid in a borrowed grave, through the pity of a friend. Nineteen centuries have come and gone and today He is the central figure of the human race. All the armies that ever marched, all the navies that ever sailed, all the parliaments that ever sat, all the kings that ever reigned, put together, have not affected the life of man on this earth as much as that one solitary life.

The solitary life of Christ is the greatest light among all the Christmas bulbs. Christ is the light of the world! Have you ever considered all of the good that has resulted from the teaching of Christ? Christ brought a new consciousness to humanity! Many earthly blessings developed as a result of Christianity such as the modern hospital, orphanages, care for the poor, democracy and science itself! This is not to mention the most important thing, eternal hope!

“Who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God as a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

~ Philippians 2:6-12

God did not exempt Himself from our tears, sorrows, struggles, sin, or suffering. The “Man of sorrows” is “fully acquainted with our grief.” Life brings victories and joy but also defeat and death. Jesus occupied another place removed from earth; condemned, cursed, crucified on a criminal’s cross suspended between Heaven and earth.

The joy of Christmas is forged in the shape of a cross, which reveals God’s own broken heart. “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted, and saves the crushed in spirit” (Psalms 34:18). It is in His utter humiliation that God brings exaltation.

Christmas might bring tears to you because of the sorrow of this age. Remember, that even on the first Christmas, there was a shadow of a cross. A shadow that brings light. “For it is the God who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ” (II Corinthians 4:6).

“Ask, and it will be given you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For every one who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Or what man of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him?”

~ Matthew 7:7-11

What do you want for Christmas? It is a common question, but do we trust God for His answer? Take a moment to relish the goodness and wisdom of God in His providential care. The Father is not content in giving you a stone or serpent, but the very best for your eternal well-being. If we, being evil, know how to give gifts to our children or grandchildren, how much more is our heavenly Father able and willing to do so for us? “Every good endowment and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.”(James 1:17) Spend time in prayer with the Father and trust Him for the many gifts from His immutable goodness.

Hosea's words are remarkably both remembrances and prophecy.

Israel was called God’s son. Moses was told, “Thus says the Lord, Israel is my firstborn son” (Exodus 4:22). During the Passover, God’s firstborn son is spared through the blood of the lamb. Egypt is judged and the firstborn perishes by the obstinacy of Pharaoh's heart.

The holy family now escape to Egypt in their flight from Herod’s bloodthirsty pride. They will eventually return to Nazareth from Egypt just as Israel. (Matthew 2:19-23).

Jesus also fulfills His own exodus when He is baptized as Israel (I Corinthians 10:2) and journeys through the wilderness for forty days and forty nights to meet the temptations of Satan. Jesus is the perfect Son who fulfills “all righteousness.”

It is “in Christ” that we truly become sons and daughters of the Father (Galatians 4:1-7).

A Christmas Alleluia by Chris Tomlin

Alleluia, Alleluia

Christ, the Savior of the world

He has come!

Alleluia, Alleluia

To the highest name of all, Alleluia

Alleluia, Alleluia

Christ, the Savior of the world

He has come!

Alleluia, Alleluia

To the highest name of all, Alleluia

The heavens roar, the Angels sing

All glory to our God and King!

O night Divine forevermore, Alleluia

The heavens roar, the Angels sing

All glory to our God and King!

O night Divine forevermore, Alleluia

Alleluia, alleluia

Christ, the Savior of the world

He has come!

Alleluia, alleluia

To the highest name of all

Alleluia!

You're the highest name of all

Alleluia!

The nativity of Jesus is not just the story of His birth, but of the cosmic saga of good versus evil. Herod the Great (misnomer) plays a part in Satan’s attempt to foil God’s plan by his bloodthirsty and covetous heart. Herod’s brutality is historically well-known. Augustus once said, “It’s better to be Herod’s pig than son.” Herod executed three of his sons and wife Mariamne. Herod lived as a Jew, so a pig was safer from slaughter than his own sons. Satan tries to destroy Jesus before He can bring salvation through His atoning sacrifice and resurrection.

In Revelation, we see the cosmic saga unfold. “And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to bear a child, that he might devour her child when she brought it forth.” Satan was attempting from the very beginning to thwart the will of God. Christ prevails in His birth and death!

The Scriptures reveal an amazing scene on the night of Jesus’ birth. A multitude of Heavenly hosts caught up in rapturous praise to God! Did you know that the angels of God “desire to look into” the blessing of the Gospel that we share (I Peter 1:12)?

Even though we are made a “little lower” than the angels, God chose humanity to be crowned in Christ (Psalms 8:5-9 & Hebrews 1: 9). “You have made Him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under His feet.”

The purest praise also comes in relationship to each other. The angels declare peace among men. The greatest peacemaker is Christ who promises, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you; not as the world gives; do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid” (John 14:27). Christ proclaims," Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God” (Matthew 5: 9). Christmas is a time to join the angels in praise to God and peace among men.

Hark the Herald Angels Sing

Hark! the herald angels sing

"Glory to the newborn King

Peace on earth and mercy mild,

God and sinners reconciled!"

Joyful, all ye nations rise;

Join the triumph of the skies;

With angelic host proclaim

"Christ is born in Bethlehem!"

Hark! the herald angels sing

"Glory to the newborn King!"

Prayer

Father,

We join with the hosts of Heaven,

We praise your Son’s name,

We pray peace on earth among men,

In Jesus name,

Amen

The Heavens literally declared “the glory of God” by announcing the birth of the Savior (Psalm 19:1). The Magi beheld the star and were guided by the light.

The children of Israel were led by the Lord in similar fashion: “And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them along the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night” (Exodus 13:21).

The darkness of night can overwhelm us at times, but it was in the smallest of starlight that the world found its greatest hope. Christ is our polar star, our celestial guide through the shadows of dark night. “I Jesus have sent my angel to you with this testimony for the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, the bright morning star” (Revelation 22:16).

Noel by Chris Tomlin

Love incarnate, love divine

Star and angels gave the sign

Bow to babe on bended knee

The Savior of humanity

Unto us a Child is born

He shall reign forevermore

Noel, Noel

Come and see what God has done

Noel, Noel

The story of amazing love!

The light of the world, given for us

Noel

Son of God and Son of man

There before the world began

Born to suffer, born to save

Born to raise us from the grave

Christ the everlasting Lord

He shall reign forevermore

Noel, Noel

Come and see what God has done

Noel, Noel

The story of amazing love!

The light of the world, given for us

Noel

Noel, Noel

Come and see what God has done

Noel, Noel

The story of amazing love!

The light of the world, given for us

Noel, Noel

GK Chesterton once remarked, “When we were children we were grateful to those who filled our stockings at Christmas time. Why are we not grateful to God for filling our stockings with legs?”

God is the grand giver. He not only has put legs in our stockings but given the indescribable gift of Heaven itself, Jesus Christ. God spared nothing on the first Christmas and has created a perpetual, eternal gift in His son Jesus. This season should be one of enormous gratitude for all that the Lord has provided. “Rejoice always, pray constantly, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (I Thessalonians 5:16-18). Thanks be to God!

The loneliness of sin has befallen our world. It has created an eternal chasm between God and humanity. The Gospel of Matthew echoes the words of the prophet Isaiah desiring Immanuel, “God with us.” The patriarchs of the distant past knew his presence, prophets saw visions and heard His voice, but now was the time of God’s visitation. Jesus drew near to the city of Jerusalem weeping and said that judgment was imminent “because you did not know the time of your visitation.”

• Immanuel, there is healing. “And he went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every infirmity among the people” (Matthew 4:23).
• Immanuel, there is forgiveness. “And he said to her, ‘Your sins are forgiven'” (Luke 7:48).
• Immanuel, there is rest. “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).
• Immanuel, there is love. “By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35).

Emmanuel God and humanity are finally united in the One named, Jesus.

O Come, O Come Emmanuel

O come, Thou Day-spring, come and cheer

Our spirits by Thine advent here;

And drive away the shades of night

And pierce the clouds and bring us light!

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel

shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Key of David, come,

And open wide our heavenly home;

Make safe the way that leads on high,

And close the path to misery.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel

shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, O come, Thou Lord of might,

The miraculous birth of Jesus is foretold by the forlorn Isaiah. It was shrouded in the deep mystery of prophetic utterances which were a “lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.” The ancient confession of the early Church, “born of the Virgin Mary,” goes back to the Garden of Eden. God spoke the promise that through “her seed” the curse of death would be vanquished. Mary was “overshadowed” by the power of the Most High and the “child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God.” The daughter of Eve becomes the mother of the new creation found in Christ Jesus (II Corinthians 5:10). The church of our Lord continues against the “gates of Hades” to restore what was lost in Eden. “The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet” (Romans 16:20).

O come, O come, Emmanuel

O come, O come, Emmanuel
And ransom captive Israel
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel
O come, O come, Thou Lord of might
Who to Thy tribes, on Sinai's height
In ancient times didst give the law
In cloud, and majesty and awe
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel
O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free
Thine own from Satan's tyranny
From depths of hell Thy people save
And give them victory o'er the grave

This prophecy of Micah was written over 700 years before the birth of Christ. The prophetic word gives us the exact town in which the Messiah would be born.

“Little” Bethlehem holds great significance because of its connection to King David. It is through the Davidic lineage that the Messiah would come. The story of Ruth primarily takes place in the town of Bethlehem (Ruth 1:1, 2, 19, 22; 2:4; 4:11). King David was a descendant of Ruth and Boaz and regarded as “the son of an Ephrathite of Bethlehem in Judah, named Jesse” (I Samuel 17:12). Jesus was a descendent of David (Matthew 1:1, Luke 3:1).

Hear the people call His name. The blind man desperately pleaded, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” During the triumphal entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, they call out, "Hosanna to the Son of David!"

Bethlehem literally means “House of Bread.” The Scriptures weave an intricate tapestry of the Son of David, who says, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to me shall not hunger, and he who believes in me shall never thirst” (John 6:35). Christ, newly born in Bethlehem is from the “ancient days.”

O little town of Bethlehem

O little town of Bethlehem
How still we see thee lie
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
The silent stars go by
Yet in thy dark streets shineth
The everlasting light
The hopes and fears of all the years
Are met in thee tonight
For Christ is born of Mary
And gathered all above
While mortals sleep, the angels keep
Their watch of wondering love
O morning stars together
Proclaim the holy birth
And praises sing to God our King
And peace to men on earth

The first Christmas involved a substantial journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem. Joseph was required by the Caesar Augustus decree and census to return to the place of his lineage. The journey of Joseph and Mary took anywhere from four to seven days. They most likely took the shortest route, given the pregnancy of Mary.

The Jewish historian Josephus Flavius said, “It is the custom of the Galileans at the time of festival to pass through the Samaritan territory on their way to the Holy City.”

Christmas and the season of Advent can be a spiritual journey for each of us. Welcome to this 27-day devotional journey to Bethlehem. I invite you to ponder the greatest event known to man, which is the advent of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. What begins in the lowly manger of Bethlehem is crowned in the glory of God.

Sometimes the greatest worship is simply silence. Mary treasured these thoughts of Jesus’ childhood. Scholars believe that the Nativity story presented in Luke may have come directly from Mary herself because this phrase is repeated in the early stories of Jesus. Luke begins his Gospel by relating, “they were delivered to us by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word.” Mary kept these memories and pondered them throughout her life, trying to make sense of all that was happening to her.

Christmas is a time to lose ourselves in the mystery of God which brings utter silence.

“But the Lord is in his holy temple; let all the earth keep silence before him.” (Habakkuk 2:20)

Silence is a beautiful sign of trust and contentment. Have you ever enjoyed the company of a dear friend or loved one in silence? It is a sign of trust and love to be silently content with each other.

Silent Night

Silent night, holy night
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon virgin Mother and Child
Holy infant so tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace
Sleep in heavenly peace
Silent night, holy night!
Shepherds quake at the sight!
Glories stream from heaven afar;
Heavely hosts sing Alelulia!
Christ the Savior is born!
Christ the Savior is born!
Christ the Savior is born!
Silent night, holy night
Son of God, oh, love's pure light
Radiant beams from Thy holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace
Jesus, Lord at Thy birth
Jesus, Lord at Thy birth
Jesus, Lord at Thy birth

 Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.  Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are on the way with him, lest your adversary deliver you to the judge, the judge hand you over to the officer, and you be thrown into prison. Assuredly, I say to you, you will by no means get out of there till you have paid the last penny

Forgiveness and love are the outworking and inworking of worship. It is through my deepest contemplation and adoration of God that I find reconciliation with people. It is also through my attempts of reconciliation that I find the deepest contemplation and intimacy with God Himself. Human beings are image bearers of God. We cannot deface and hurt image bearers of God and be in complete submission to His will.

The Apostle John reminds us,  If someone says, “I love God,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.” We also notably find that the Ten Commandments begins ethically- not with the horizontal relationships between fellow creatures but our worship to Almighty God! It is through our recognition of the one true God that we begin to appraise each other in the fullest measure morally. Our offerings to God must be made in good conscience with one another because of the interrelatedness of the Father and His children.

Jesus also challenges to “agree with your adversary.” This command doesn’t always come naturally, but is nevertheless necessary to the follower of Christ. The principle motivates us to pick our battles and to find resolution in an urgent fashion. If the conflict is handed off to others in authority, then the detached judge or officer will care less about the outcome. We must try and settle our disputes with the primary party and not leave it to others.

Our worship is not limited to the altar but finds expression in our relationships with each other. CS Lewis observed, “Next to the Blessed Sacrament itself, your neighbor is the holiest object presented to your senses.” Isaiah writes how Yahweh recoiled at the worship of Judah, “Bring no more futile sacrifices; Incense is an abomination to Me. The New Moons, the Sabbaths, and the calling of assemblies-- I cannot endure iniquity and the sacred meeting. Your New Moons and your appointed feasts My soul hates; They are a trouble to Me, I am weary of bearing them. When you spread out your hands, I will hide My eyes from you; Even though you make many prayers, I will not hear. Your hands are full of blood. Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; Put away the evil of your doings from before My eyes. Cease to do evil,  Learn to do good; Seek justice, Rebuke the oppressor; Defend the fatherless, Plead for the widow” (Isaiah 1:13-17).

You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’ But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire.

Jesus begins to describe the righteousness that exceeds the Pharisees and scribes by teaching about the condition of the heart. The focus is not on externalities but motivations, attitudes, and beliefs which conspire against God’s kingdom and our eternal wellbeing. Jesus warns concerning unbridled and unjustified anger. 

The Ten Commandments are very clear about the sanctity of life and the prohibition against murder. Yet Jesus is asking for a deeper commitment and purification. It presents the opportunity to address root cause and be preventive in nature. Thoreau said, “There are a thousand hacking at the branches of evil to one striking at the root.”

The admonition is to remove murder from our hearts. Have we forgotten the slaughter of our brother Abel echoing through the millennia? His “blood cries out to Me from the ground,” says the Lord. The origin of Abel’s death was found in Cain’s uncontrollable jealousy and wrath which destroyed even the familial bond of brotherhood. We have seen this broken bond persist through generations of racism, war, crimes of passion or greed. Violence will only be restrained when man’s soul is released from fetters of carnal passions and hate. “Sin lies at our door” and we continue to struggle with the recognition of brotherhood in each other. Mother Teresa brilliantly summarized, “If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other.”

Violence happens because of hateful anger which can be momentary or premeditated and then stoked.  We hate each other because of our differences whether it be skin color, religion, socio-economic status, politics, or actions. The spiral of dysfunction receives more energy as people increasingly resort to baser instincts and tactics of aggression. We give greater thought to retaliatory actions than to the rationale of our mindset. Rabbi Abraham Heschel rightly observed, “Racism is man's gravest threat to man - the maximum of hatred for a minimum of reason.” Our reasoning and mind lose power as anger swells within the chest. 

We could dismiss the anger in our hearts as benign or insignificant. Smoke resulting from hate in a burning room chokes inhabitants elsewhere in the house. Likewise, no place is safe that harbors hatred. Jesus further reminds us of the judgement most consequential. He is the ultimate adjudicator in eternity and will annihilate hatred in Hell fire.

For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.

The religiosity of the Pharisees was well known and mostly commended by the Jewish people. They represented a small cohort of very pious followers of the Torah. They were notorious for their attention to detail and obedience to the minutia of the law. Their name literally means to be “separate.” Other sects of the times were the Sadducees, Essenes, Herodians, and Zealots. 

The Pharisees had also fought and died for their devoutness. In previous years, many Pharisees rebelled against Alexander Jannaeus, who had offended them by being both, ruler, and High Priest. He was careless with ceremonial law, very shrewd, and bloodthirsty. As a result of the civil war, he crucified 800 of the rebelling Pharisees. Josephus recalls terrifyingly:

He besieged them therein; and when he had taken the city, and got the men into his power, he brought them to Jerusalem, and did one of the most barbarous actions in the world to them; for as he was feasting with his concubines, in the sight of all the city, he ordered about eight hundred of them (Pharisees) to be crucified; and while they were living, he ordered the throats of their children and wives to be cut before their eyes.

The words of Christ to “exceed the righteousness” of the scribes and Pharisees was a startling commandment. How could His followers surpass the strictness and fanaticism of the Pharisees?

Christ instructs that we are to focus on relationship over religious externalities. 

This can be found in Jesus’ response to the question of the which are the greatest commandments. Jesus emphasizes that the complete law and prophets hang on the commands of loving God and neighbor (Matt. 22:37,38). It is all about our relationships, connection to God and people which best informs our righteousness.  Jesus reiterated, “I desire mercy, and not sacrifice” (Matt. 9:13; 12:7).

Our righteousness is found in Christ and not in ourselves. Isaiah opined, “But we are all like an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags” (Isa. 64:6). Our goodness cannot fulfill the demands of the law. Jesus pronounced eight “woes” on the Pharisees because of their hypocrisy and greed in Matthew 23. He forcefully says, “For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness” (Matt. 23:27). 

Christ is our righteousness. The Apostle Paul emphasizes, “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (II Cor. 5: 21). 

Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.  Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

The authority of Christ was palpable to all who witnessed his divine demonstrations whether in healing the multifarious sick or teaching the masses. The Messiah’s arrival was unprecedented in His display of power over nature. The Apostle John says that Jesus was endowed with the Holy Spirit without measure. 

His followers might be tempted to now disregard their prophetic heritage because of His ostensible divinity. Jesus clarified that He is not something totally new but the very fulfillment of the “Law and Prophets.” He was not abolishing what came before but the perfection of it. The Greek word πληρόω translated fulfill means to finish, complete, or to make full. 

People have struggled with whether the Old Testament is congruent with the New. The primitive Church dealt with the heresy of Marcion of Sinope, who went so far as to posit two “Gods.” One for the Old law and another related to the teachings of Christ. However, Jesus not only consistently confirms the authority of Scripture but claims to be the very personification of it! “You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me” (Jn. 5:39).

Jesus’ attitude towards the “Law and the Prophets” was one of veneration and respect. Jewish religious culture and thought had developed a very complex oral tradition from rabbis and religious experts which had been elevated to the level of Scripture or even beyond it. Such examples are the additions to the law related to the stringent Sabbath observance, tithing, or washing of hands. Jesus warned, “And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men” (Matt. 15:9). 

 Jesus always affirmed canonical scriptures over the oral tradition in His teaching. We as followers of Christ must teach the truth of Holy Scripture from Genesis to Revelation. The Apostle Paul confirmed, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God.” The Apostle Peter remarked, “Holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.”

Jesus illustrates that the smallest “jot or tittle” of the law will stand even if heaven or earth passes away. “The Scriptures cannot be broken” (Jn. 10:35). The Old Testament foreshadows our Savior with the promise to Abraham, sacerdotal and sacrificial system, Davidic dynasty, and prophetic utterances. Christ completely obeyed the law of God and is the perfect picture of righteousness and thus stands forever through Him (Matt. 3:11) (Heb. 4:15). 

You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lamp stand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

The biggest question of life is meaning and purpose. As a hospital chaplain, I would listen to this issue brought up time and time again from the sick bed. A patient would have a near death experience, and remark, “I know that God saved me for a reason.” Or others, would question after falling ill, “why?” These powerful and poignant moments would sharply focus the person on this pervading riddle. Philosophers have been so hopeless as to say incredulously like John Paul Sartre, “Man is a useless passion. It is meaningless that we live, and it is meaningless that we die.”

Jesus confronts the issue of meaning with the transcendent. He compares our purpose in life to three things: salt, light, city on a hill. These three rich metaphors give us insight to ourselves and our reason to live. 

First, the comparison to salt is one of usefulness. If we live bereft of God’s purpose, then we are “good for nothing.” What good is salt if it loses flavor? It is destined to be thrown out and trampled. Jesus affirms that the question of purpose is significant and of highest importance. Second, the comparison to salt reminds us of the concentrated power of believers’ influence. Think about how much salt you put on an entrée compared the portion of food. The small amount of salt has an immense impact because it’s intensity in flavor. It transforms the food into something delicious despite its paucity. Thirdly, salt is a preservative. It was used in curing of fish and food. Christians preserve the presence of God in a sinful world. Abraham interceded for Sodom knowing that God would preserve the cities if righteous people were found living among the wicked. Yet, none were found, and the cities destroyed. 

Jesus also elucidates our purpose by comparing our lives to light.  Light was the first act of creation and thus identifies the complete manifestations of God amidst the alternative of nothingness. Our lives highlight the activity and creativity of God’s goodness. The darkness has absolutely no power over light. St Francis of Assisi observed, “All the darkness of the world cannot extinguish the light of a single candle.” We can become overwhelmed by the expanse of moral darkness within our world and heart. Yet know, it is incapable of anything against the piercing light of God’s creative Word. We confess, Jesus is “the true Light which gives light to every man who comes into the world” (Jn. 1:9). 

Lastly, Jesus compares His people to a “city on the hill.” The hearers of the sermon pictured Jerusalem perched among the mountains with the lights of the many houses illuminating the night sky. It brought the sojourner joy as they neared the festival city of worship from far distances. It was impossible to hide the luminous city and temple built in adoration to the one true God. We are called to live communally with one another as His people. (I Pet. 2:9, 10) “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light, who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.”

Our purpose is ultimately tied to the transcendent by glorifying God Himself. We do not find our meaning in ourselves or things but in showcasing the works of God through our own hands. God works in and through you and there is no greater cause or meaning anywhere because He is the source of all truth, goodness, and love. 

Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Bonhoeffer strikingly observed, “The fellowship of the beatitudes is the fellowship of the Crucified.” It is the last beatitude which is the most confounding and perplexing. Yet, just as the others, exactly personified in the person and work of Christ. Jesus pronounces blessing on those who are rejected and persecuted for righteousness. It is interesting to note that within this beatitude that Jesus changes from third person and directly addresses the disciples in declaring, “Blessed are you.” The disciples had entered the fellowship of the crucified in following Jesus even to Golgotha. When the Apostle Paul was called, Jesus explicitly foretold, “For I will show him how many things he must suffer for name’s sake” (Acts 9:16).

This beatitude challenges our natural inclinations of avoiding pain and desiring acceptance from others. It focuses our lives in a profound way on the primacy of the spiritual over the physical and the pleasing of God rather than men.

The Apostles’ chief mission was to “witness” to the fact of the resurrection of Jesus Christ (Acts 1:21,22). The Apostles were credentialed through miraculous signs but also in astonishing suffering. In fact, the Greek word μάρτυς (martus) for “witness” is the same transliteration for the word martyr. To become a witness of Jesus Christ is to become a martyr. The Apostles remarkable faith in the risen Lord was validated by not only how they lived but in how they died.

Jesus confronts us to the existential truth of the Gospel. To suffer for righteousness is find blessing and that to die for Christ is to live. There is no greater reality than the eternal truth found in Jesus Christ which eclipses all earthly concerns which includes bodily health and societal acceptance. 

We find this exceptional beatific vision lived out so vividly in the Apostles ministry. After being forbidden to speak Jesus and beaten, “So they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name. And daily in the temple, and in every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ” (Acts. 5:41,42). 

Let us join the “fellowship of the Crucified” which began with the prophets and furthered endured by the apostles. “Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to glorify God in this name” (I Pet. 4:16). Jesus bookends the eight beatitudes with the phrase, “for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” buttressing the Messianic promise of eternal life. Soren Kierkegaard explained, “The tyrant dies and his rule is over, the martyr dies and his rule begins.”

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

Can you imagine, if on the 5 o’clock news, the story was that violence had stopped and there was peace on earth? Oh, how we yearn for such a world! We can hardly fathom a reality of such harmony and accord. But, even if it were true, would we be at peace within ourselves? 

It is only from this inner life that true serenity and peace can originate. The book of James declares, “Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members?  You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war” (James 4:1,2). The battle for peace must first be won in our hearts. 

The Greek word for peacemaker is ειρηνοποιος. It is obscure and only found in the New Testament. The word connotes not just a passive avoidance of conflict but one who is actively working and promoting peace. The follower of Christ is an agent of peace in a world riddled with strife. Our peacemaking is not born out of our own powers of arbitration but tied to the very character of Christ. 

The way to peace is through Jesus. He promised His disciples, “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (Jn. 14:27). The earliest description of the church depicts a peace and fraternity universally praised but rarely emulated:

“Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divide them among all, as anyone had need. So, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved” (Acts 2:44-47).

Christians are to work for a world free of barriers of distinction which harm and hurt. Paul boldly declared, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Gal.3:28). Our sole identity as individuals and collectively is Christ which brings peace. We will be called “sons of God!”

Will you live out this peace? The prayer of St. Francis of Assisi displays the way of Christ and peace. Pray with me.

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace:
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy.

O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Amen.

Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God
 

Oscar Wilde tells the haunting story of Dorian Gray. A young man whose outer appearance does not fade or diminish with age but a painting of him bears all the sinful blemishes of his heart and soul. The portrait grows hideous as he lives a life of depravity and hedonism. He hides the painting away but eventually Dorian Grey must face his real self and his sinful repugnance. 

Christ commends and commands an inner beauty, purity of the heart to his followers. 

God cannot be seen with physical eyes. In fact, it is certain death, even for the eminent prophet Moses (Ex. 33:20). It is the heart which perceives God and not merely the senses. The word heart occurs in the Bible around 955 times. The heart spiritually represents the whole of man’s inner life combining the emotions, imagination, intellect, volition, memory, and consciousness. It is through this collective and comprehensive lens that God is experienced. Jesus says that the requisite for this experience is a pure and clean heart. This is because of God’s unyielding holiness and transcendence. The Psalmist echoed this truth by detailing, “The fool has said in his heart, there is no God” (Ps. 14:1). We become blinded to God from the inside out.

Jesus came to cure the heart’s blindness to God. Christ encountered a man “blind from birth.” He not only heals him of the physical malady but also illuminates the darkness of his very being. Jesus commands him to “wash in the pool of Siloam” (Jn. 9:7). He came back seeing! But then something amazing happens after the Pharisees fail to believe and see Jesus for who he was.

Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when He had found him, He said to him, “Do you believe in the Son of God?” He answered and said, “Who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him? And Jesus said to him, “You have both seen Him, and it is He who is talking with you.” Then he said, “Lord, I believe!” And he worshiped Him. (Jn. 9:35-38)

The formerly blind man sees beyond his eyes by having faith. His belief is the “evidence of things not seen.” He sees Jesus for who He truly was, the Son of God. His pure heart sees God! Our hearts must be cleansed of sin to have this experience of God or otherwise, we are hopeless and drowning in the gloom of unbelief.

Wilde’s Dorian Grey becomes so hardened of heart that he can find no forgiveness. He laments, “There was purification in punishment. Not 'Forgive us our sins,' but 'Smite us for our iniquities' should be the prayer of a man to a most just God." He confronts the hideous portrait and stabs it through and dies. The picture is restored to its youthful luster while the mortal remains bears the true ugly marks of his recalcitrance. 

The Bible gives us the assurance of forgiveness and fellowship with God. David prayed, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from your presence, and do not take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation.”  (Ps. 51:5-12a). The pure in heart will realize a vision of God never imagined when united in eternity. We will “see his face” and faith will be transformed into everlasting light (Rev. 22:4).

Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.
 

The saga over the throne of Israel finds no greater drama than the story of Saul and David. It is a history filled with victories, defeat, jealousies, friendship, violence, and surprisingly- mercy.  We find David introduced to King Saul as a musician. David plays his harp to mercifully relieve the distressing spirit within King Saul. Over time, the relationship becomes strained with David’s amazing victory over Goliath and his reputation as warrior eclipsing Saul’s. It becomes apparent that God and the people of Israel are with David in his ascendancy to the throne. King Saul attempts to kill David many times, but his acts of violence are always returned in mercy. David says, “I will not stretch out my hand against my lord, for he is the Lord’s anointed.”

We find the apex of David’s mercy to Saul’s house in his treatment of Mephibosheth. He was the son of Jonathan and lame since the age of five and the last heir of King Saul. He was dropped by his nurse as she fled upon hearing the news of Jonathan and King Saul deaths (II Sam. 4:4). 

King David asks, “Is there still anyone who is left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness” (II Sam. 9:1). Monarchs would normally dispose of heirs and scions of previous courts to prevent any regal claim or possibility of uprising. King David remembered his covenant with Jonathan and showed mercy to Mephibosheth (I Sam. 18:3, 20:14-17). 

King David expressed the “kindness of God” to the house of Saul and gave Mephibosheth a permanent place at his table. The Hebrew word for kindness is hesed, which is sometimes translated as lovingkindness or mercy. Hesed was demonstrated by King David. It represents God’s eternal goodness and covenantal faithfulness (Ex. 34:6,7). God’s people are required to live this mercy out in our daily lives, “He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you, but to do justly, to love mercy (hesed), and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah. 6:8).

God has proclaimed his perfect hesed or mercy in Jesus Christ. The Apostle Paul state, “But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses and sins, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)” (Eph. 2:4,5). God showed his mercy not to people who were merely lame but spiritually dead and invites us to the table of King Jesus. God has called us to extraordinary lives of mercy to friend and foe alike. James writes, “For judgement is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgement” (James 2: 13). Albert Barnes was correct when he profoundly wrote, “Nowhere do we imitate God more than in showing mercy.”

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.
 

 We have all been in those awkward moments when the room is quiet, and our stomachs start to growl and ache for food. We lose focus and our mood becomes grumpy. How many couples have driven around hungry and unable to decide on a restaurant only to become the ill-fated, “Hangry?” Our appetites are inexorable and relentless.  

We read of Christ fasting in the wilderness for 40 days and nights. The Scriptures say, “afterward he was hungry” (Matt. 4:2). Can you imagine the spiritual discipline required to deny your most basic of appetites for that long? Yet, Christ was not ruled by his natural instincts. He was able to withstand even through great temptation from the Devil himself.

The natural instincts of hunger, thirst, sleep, and breathing are necessities of life. We must have them to survive or else. Christ spoke of a deeper need, an unfathomable spiritual hunger and thirst for righteousness that only He can gratify. Jesus uses the word filled (χορτασθησοντα), which means to feed and fatten with grass. Jesus alludes to a farming scene reminiscent of the Shepherd. The Psalmist proclaimed, “I shall not want” with the Lord leading and shepherding. 

Our physical appetites can get the best of us and consume us if we are not spiritually centered in Christ. How can we forget the cautionary story of Esau? He came home hungry and weary from the field. He traded his birthright for a pot of stew from his shrewd brother Jacob. Esau lost his very identity, as the firstborn which came with great blessing through custom and law. As firstborn, He was to receive a double portion of the inheritance and recognized as the leader of the family. But it was “despised” because his appetite for food overcame him. Not only did he miss out on so many earthly blessings, He also, loses his place as the heir and ancestor to Israel and the Messiah. It was all for a pot of stew.

There is an appetite for so much more than this world has to offer. God has set eternity within our heart (Eccl. 3:11). It is only in Him that we can find true fulfillment, but we must be hungry and thirsty for righteousness. 

The disciples urged Jesus to eat in Samaria to which He replied, “I have food to eat of which you do not know” (Jn. 4:32). The disciples soon learned that He was the “bread of life” and the “living water” (Jn. 6: 48, 4: 10). The greatest yearning of the heart is the spiritual needs for truth, purpose, worship, forgiveness, and love which are found in relationship to the Savior. The Psalmist of old wrote, “As a deer pants for the water brooks, So my soul pants for you, O God” (Ps. 42:1).

Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
 

God ordained earth to be placed under the stewardship of humanity. This is the original blessing and covenant of creation. The book of Genesis says, “So God created man in His own image; in the image of God, He created him; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them, and God said to them, be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth” (Gen. 1:27,28). Mankind has fulfilled this primeval vocation of dominion but only in a truncated manner. Humanity became subdued by the earth itself because of mankind’s rebellion to God in the fall. The ground is cursed, and pronouncement was made, “For dust you are, and unto dust you shall return” (Gen. 3:17-19).

The restoration of the inheritance of earth was initiated in Abram. God entered a covenant which included a promise of making the descendants of Abram- a great nation, great name, and great blessing among all the families of the earth (Gen. 12:1-3). Israelites, the seed of Abram, subdued the earth by capturing Canaan but only as a “shadow of the good things to come” (Heb. 10:1). The people of Israel entered the promise land after centuries of slavery and nomadic life and conquered through many battles and bloodshed.

The people of Israel expected the Messiah to reinstate their standing as a nation long lost. Christ came not to merely subdue Israel from the Romans but to fulfill humanity’s most ancient vocation over the entire creation! This inheritance would not come through violence, as with Joshua, but through the meekness or gentleness of Jesus. The word “meek” is almost synonymous with weakness in our language but the original Greek word (πραΰς) carries the meaning of strength under control. Jesus quotes (Psalms 37:11) which expresses the Messianic hope emergent in His ministry and eventual kingdom.

The Scriptures speak of Moses as “meek” or humble, “more than all the men who were on the face of the earth” (Number 12: 3). Moreover, we find in Christ, the greatest strength under control or meekness, which will vanquish all the powers of evil and death. Jesus remarked, “I am meek and lowly in heart” (Matt. 11:29). It is through the dominion of Christ that the original blessing of creation is fulfilled. The Hebrew writer states that God has “put all in subjection under Him, He left nothing that is not put under Him. But now we do not yet see all things put under Him” (Heb. 1:6-9). 

We must follow Christ in his humility and gentleness knowing, all things are under His control. It is through the means of the Gospel that the greatest victory can and will be won. Our meekness will ultimately be revealed and rewarded in the fullest sense when Christ returns. He will eschatologically create the “new heavens and new earth” which will be His and His people. Not only will Christ subdue the creation, as originally intended, but will transform us into the “image of God” which was defaced by the fall (Rom. 8:29, II Cor. 3:18, Phil. 3:21). Truly, the meek are blessed.

Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
 

We can hardly imagine the horrific scene of Jesus on the cross. Beaten and scourged within an inch of His life and suspended by nails before the holy city of Jerusalem. He struggled for every breath in the race against asphyxia and blood loss. His nerves radiated with pangs and paroxysms. His soul shadowed in the darkness of evil and injustice. The Apostle John recollects, “Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother” (Jn. 19:25).  Mary witnessed the excruciating death of her own son. Her own soul pierced through by the sword of sorrow and grief (Lk. 2: 35.) 
 

The word “mourn” (πενθέω) connotes severe grief as with the loss of a loved one or family member.  It is the kind of sorrow that cannot be shrouded or hidden but overwhelms like the unrelenting waves of the sea. It is the anguish of the heart and soul which brings uncontrollable tears. Tragedy and suffering will find all of us in due time as with our Savior. Jesus mourned for His friend Lazarus (Jn. 11:35). Jesus wept for Jerusalem because of the catastrophic estrangement from Yahweh (Matt. 23:37-39). 

The capacity for grief reveals the courage to see the suffering within ourselves and others. It is so much easier to look away than to emotionally invest. The good Samaritan “saw” the wounded man and “had compassion on him” (Lk. 10:33), whereas the other more prestigious men saw but “passed by the other side.” They lacked the ability to really see the person and feel another’s pain. Jesus blesses those able to empathize with others and act accordingly. 

The blessing of grief is also indicative of one’s ability to love. Our grief is a mirror to the heart. It is with those we love the most, that we feel the greatest bereavement. Jesus wept so much for Lazarus that the people remarked, “See how he loved him!” We can hardly contend that the greatest of virtues, eternal love- is not worth inevitable finite losses. Anyone, who has ever loved knows its immense value. As the poet Tennyson says, “tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.”

Also, the “Franciscan Blessing” urges, “May God bless you with tears, to shed for those who suffer pain, rejection, hunger, and war, so that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and to turn their pain to joy.”  It is when we have the spiritual capacity to mourn that we can love in the deepest sense and find the greatest comfort. The promise of God’s intimacy is even through our darkest moments of despair. “The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart and saves such as have a contrite spirit” (Ps. 34:18).

Mary endured the crushing heartbreak that no mother should endure. She found, however, interminable comfort.  Mary was gathered with the disciples 50 days later, on the day of Pentecost, as directed by her risen Son in Jerusalem. “These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers” (Acts. 2:14).

 Mary’s mourning gave light to the greatest joy ever known. (Rev. 21: 4) “And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying; and there shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven

The sublime sermon begins with the blessings of the Messiah on an unlikely list of personalities known as the Beatitudes. The kingdom of Heaven is proclaimed by Christ to be of immeasurable value throughout the Gospels. Jesus compares it to a “treasure hidden in a field” or a “pearl of great price” (Matt. 13:44-46).  The Kingdom is eternal and “not of this world” (Jn. 18:36). Yet, we will find it totally victorious over the kingdoms of this world (Rev. 11:15). Moreover, Christ in His temptation, yields not to their fleeting earthly glory but upholds the majesty of the one true God of Israel (Matt. 4: 8-10).

The kingdom of heaven is promised to be possessed by the improbable “poor in spirit.” Those who are spiritually destitute, dependent, and impoverished have the real capacity to receive His kingdom. Those whose hearts are filled with frivolities of pride, possessions, and self-will are unable to receive the innumerable riches of His Kingdom. Jesus, rejected in his own hometown of Nazareth, identified Himself with the “poor in spirit” by proclaiming the words of Isaiah, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor. He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord” (Lk. 4:18,19)

We are reminded of the young man who questioned, “Good teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” The inquirer rejected the counsel of Christ for the vanity of the world. First, we see that his heart had fallen prey to pride and self-righteousness. Christ gave a partial list of the ten commandments that the young man carelessly dismisses as “kept” in justifying himself without further thought or introspection. It is the very unnamed first commandments along with covetousness that we find him guilty by story end.

Jesus reveals that the rich young ruler “lacks one thing” and lovingly commands him to “sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come follow me.” His heart was filled with pride and possessions because he will not relent the earthly riches in the pursuit of eternal life with Christ. His allegiances are with the world and himself. He became sorrowful because he had not the poverty of spirit required for the inheritance of eternal life (Lk. 18:18-23). 

In contrast, the apostles Peter and John find at the temple gate, a man totally incapacitated and deprived by lameness. He is “carried” daily to beg from those who enter at the place called “Beautiful.” He had not any pride but begs in humiliation, he had not possessions but dependent on the daily mercy of almsgivers, his own will becomes powerfully superseded by the grace of God. “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give to you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” 

What begins in richness and self-righteousness ends in sorrow with the young ruler. What begins in total deprivation and poverty ends in joy. “So he, leaping up, stood and walked, and entered the temple with them- walking, leaping, and praising God” (Acts 3:1-11). The lame man, who was prohibited to enter the temple by law and tradition (Lev. 21:15), is now welcome into the full fellowship of God by the blessing of Jesus. 

We must empty ourselves of the pretension of pride, possession, and self-will. Let the true richness of God’s kingdom find reign in our hearts with this blessing.

Blessed

We are all in search of that elusive thing called happiness. We have felt happiness’ effervescent glow but found the promise fleeting in our natural circumstances. The ancients, like us, pursued the “good life.” Aristotle used the Greek work εὐδαιμονία to describe happiness and fulfillment which was to be found in achieving the “golden mean” of moderation and balance. The stoics spoke of ἀταραξία, which was described as discovering a state of mind which was emotionally unperturbed or numb to the assault of life’s troubles and trials. Moderns have found consolation in narcissistic adages like Joseph Campbell’s “follow your bliss” or “do you.” All these definitions depend on a human capacity which is psychologically false and unfeasible.

The world advertises that we can find happiness in the endless products of convenience and status. We are always just one purchase away from total fulfillment as we peruse Amazon and Pinterest. It seems everyone else is achieving something that appears like happiness on social media because we find ourselves envious and left with feelings of inadequacies as we scroll through the smiling pics of new lovers, houses, cars, and tropical vacations. All the while, the house needs cleaning, and our spoiled children keep asking for something else that cost too much and that we never had growing up.

Jesus begins the sermon by saying the word μακάριοι or blessed. The word means happiness, fortunate or favored. Christ pronounces the blessing of the Kingdom on eight different states of human character. These states of character are inversions of what we hold to be elite by the world’s standards then and now. It is a total reevaluation of where happiness can be found. First, we must acknowledge that happiness begins with Jesus Himself. He is the One, who speaks reality into existence and can pronounce happiness into your soul and life.  There is no sustaining happiness apart from Himself. 

The Scriptures reveal that our joy is not circumstantially based in this world but found in our eternal relationship with God. Our relationship is opened through these eight spiritual states of character that Jesus blesses: poor in spirit, mourning, meekness, spiritual appetite, merciful, pure in heart, peacemakers, and persecution. It is through these often-avoided doors that we find true fulfillment and happiness because Christ’s personality is revealed thoroughly. The Apostle Paul had discovered this beatific vision in his own life. He was chained but could say, “I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things, I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Phil. 4:11-13). 

The experience of God Himself is the greatest felicity and happiness. Other experiences only vaguely allude to God’s goodness or are counterfeits altogether. “Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him! Oh, fear the Lord, you His saints! There is no want to those who fear Him. The young lions lack and suffer hunger; but those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing.” (Ps. 34:8-10)

Mountain Top Living: A Deeper Look Into the Sermon on the Mount

And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him.  Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying.

The sermon on the mount represents the single longest recorded teaching of Jesus in the New Testament. The breadth and depth of the sermon are utterly amazing despite its brevity by modern standards. The sermon can be read in just twelve minutes, but covers a plethora of subjects including character, ethics, marriage, authentic religion, and happiness.  Jesus challenges His hearers to ascend to the mountain top of Christian living. Today, we will embark on that journey for the higher perspective in Christ. But first a warning, Jesus’ teachings are not always easy, comforting, or agreeable, but neither is climbing a mountain. 

“And seeing the multitudes”

Jesus was surrounded by need. We may recall that people clamored for Him in various situations (Mark 2:4, 5:31). The multitudes were sick, hungry, desperately alone, and spiritually broken.  The multitudes were gathering around Jesus because of His immense power, pure life, and pervading voice. Multitudes need this sermon more than ever! We pride ourselves in our individualistic modernity and pluralism, in which everything seems relative, but Jesus emphatically says, not so! The only way to achieve mountain top living is under the mantle of His lordship and teaching.

“He went up on a mountain”
 

The Messiah ushering in the new covenant from the mountain is typologically tied to Moses delivering the law at Sinai. The Hebrew writer declares that Jesus is “counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as He who built the house has more honor than the house” (Heb. 3:3). Jesus is the fulfillment of prophecy and successor of Moses as promised centuries beforehand (Deut. 18:15,16) (Acts 3:22). The mountain plays a central role in Jesus’ life. It was a place of solitude and prayer (Matt. 14:23), temptation (Matt. 4:8), transfiguration (Matt. 17:1-13), and redemption on Golgotha (Mark 14:22). Jesus preaches from the mountain and urges us to see things from a higher perspective. But more importantly, to live out what we learn.

“He was seated”
 

Jesus assumed the position of sitting which was the traditional posture for teachers and rabbis during their discourses. His teaching was marked by unprecedented spiritual authority. Jesus made no reference to other notable rabbis as was custom but only to the law and his declaration, “But I say unto you.” The sermon concludes with Matthew’s observation, “He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes” (Matt. 7:29). Jesus’ teaching was sometimes described as a “hard saying,” and caused questioning, anger, or astonishment (Jn. 6:60, Mk. 2:20, Lk. 4:28). Yet, when chosen as with Mary, the sister of Lazarus, described as that “which will not be taken away” (Lk. 10:42). Jesus’ teaching was not limited to his words but was divinely demonstrated in His life (I Pet. 2:21) (Heb. 4:15).

His disciples came to Him
 

Will you answer Jesus’ call to follow even unto the mountain or the cross? Albert Schweitzer famously wrote, “He comes to us as One unknown, without a name, as of old, by the lakeside, He came to those men who knew Him not. He speaks to us the same words: "Follow thou me!" and sets us to the tasks which He has to fulfill for our time. He commands. And to those who obey Him, whether they be wise or simple, He will reveal himself in the toils, the conflicts, the sufferings which they shall pass through in His fellowship, and, as an ineffable mystery, they shall learn in their own experience Who He is.”

“Her Children Rise Up and Call Her Blessed”

Edgar Allen Poe eloquently wrote, “Because I feel that, in the Heavens above, the angels, whispering to one another, can find, among their burning terms of love, none so devotional as that of Mother.” Mothers are truly special and leave an indelible mark on our hearts and lives. I thank God for the grace of a godly mother growing up. I treasure every moment with her today.  Mother’s Day can also be extremely tough as we remember those who are no longer with us. Heaven is filled with the smiling faces of mothers. This gives us great reason to live faithfully to God so that we may be reunited with them in eternity. 

Mothers are not only biological relationships but spiritual ones. The church is composed and described as the “family of God.” The Apostle Paul says that we are to treat older women as mothers and the younger as sisters “with all purity.” I can think of many “mothers” that I have known in my life from schoolteachers to family friends who nurtured and loved me as their own. I am forever grateful for their compassion and patience.

Mothers demonstrate the valuable lesson of unconditional love. It is an utterly amazing thing to see the powerful transition of a woman to a mother. I remember seeing my wife Stacey care for our newborn daughter with almost complete abandonment of herself. A mother will go to any length for her child and even God compared His unfailing love to a mother. (Isa. 49: 15) "Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you!”

Mothers are our first teachers. It is through their touch, words, and actions that our very consciousness is conceived. Mothers do not settle but help actualize who their children are really supposed to be. I remember when I was younger that an elementary teacher thought I would not amount to much. (No comments please) She said that I was going to fail, and we were just two weeks into 2nd grade. My mother got all the workbooks, and I went to her school at night! I passed, maybe, without flying colors, but I passed!

Mothers reveal to us true beauty. Our world myopically focuses on surface appearances to the disregard of character and piety. The Scriptures tell us that God looks at the inner person (I Sa. 16:7). The Apostle Peter declares, “Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.”

This weekend, as we honor mothers, remember God’s unfathomable love and grace. Pay homage to the mothers of your life. Appreciate their amazing love and learn from it. Mothers demonstrate unconditional love, teach us invaluable lessons, and reveal true beauty.  “Her children rise up and call her blessed, her husband also, he praises her.” Love you Mom. Amen.

“Serenity Prayer”

Spurgeon boldly proclaimed, “We know not what prayer cannot do!” Prayer has been the comfort and catalyst of saints for countless generations. Prayer leads the intentional life as Christ followers. It also releases the anxiety of things beyond our control to the sovereign God. It is a grand act of faith when we close our eyes to the world and enter the throne room of God. A prayer that has been exceptionally helpful to me personally and organizationally is the “Serenity Prayer.” It was written by the American theologian Reinhold Niebuhr. It has long been uttered by those in recovery from addiction or distress.

God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
courage to change the things I can,
and wisdom to know the difference.

Peace only comes through relinquishing control to God. We do this in two ways. First, we trust God for those things beyond our purview or choice. Secondly, we align our lives with the will of God through knowledge of His word and discernment from the Holy Spirit. We all struggle with the unknown and overwhelming situations such as sickness, divorce, death, money issues that push us over the brink of our mental and spiritual health. Finding serenity in these moments are only possible through trusting God for His immense goodness and faithfulness to His word.

We need courage to face our true choices. People often evade responsibility by hiding or blurring the lines of control. We focus on issues beyond our reach such as how others believe, think, and behave while avoiding ourselves and personal difficulties. It takes real mettle to truly accept the obligations we have relationally with our spouse, neighbor, God, and live up to them.

Wisdom is required for knowing how to trust God in the vast unknowns of life and to face what he has placed in our actual hands. Sometimes we fret over the feeling of powerlessness and then shirk our responsibility to those we love. God promises us wisdom, if we ask, as in the Serenity Prayer. “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally.” So, as you live, remember the Serenity Prayer to help you focus on our loving God, to inspire courage to face your true choices, and the wisdom to do all the above knowing the difference.

“Heart of RCA”

It has been an incredible year at Riverside Christian Academy. Our school has rallied together amidst immense challenges and amazing opportunities. Students, faculty, and families have come together and championed the theme of unity through increasingly volatile times. Our verse this year was, “endeavoring to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace.” Our commitment to each other has been a radiant light to the soul and community. We have protected our students from the pandemic and the loss of learning through substantial planning and extremely hard work.

The “Heart of RCA” is more than an event that takes place every year. It is our parents putting in the required time with a child on homework. It is our students volunteering in a community ministry, or teachers going above and beyond with hybrid instruction, so our students do not miss out on invaluable learning. The heart of RCA has been clearly seen through the generosity of our sponsors and donors in both “Giving Tuesday” and “Heart of RCA.” Our PTO has organized wonderful improvements to our landscaping and facilitated Junior Pro basketball to great success.

It is all about heart at RCA.

The heart of a person represents the internal reality of beliefs, values, motivations, and conscience. Jesus said, “Blessed are the pure in heart for they will see God.” It is through the instrument of the heart that we perceive God in all His glory. Our words and deeds are the manifestations of the heart.  Jesus declares, “A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him.”

Let us continue the work!  We have many great things on the horizon for RCA. We are seeing tremendous interest in enrollment for 21/22.  This will drive many improvements from our strategic plan which include academic enhancement and tech advancement. If we continue to focus on the inward reality of our heart, then God will bless our school externally to show His grace and favor. “Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.” See you tomorrow night at “Heart of RCA!”

J. O. Y.

The Baylor Bears stunned the world in their first college men’s basketball championship over Gonzaga. It is difficult to quantify or explain all the required magical elements in a championship team. Many point to the talent and execution of crucial players or clutch plays and rightly so, but team culture contributes immensely to the psychology of a team when it comes to hard work, resilience, teamwork, and winning. 

Baylor were unified in their message after the championship game. From the Head coach to the MVP, the acronym J.O.Y. was used to describe their championship season and team. It means Jesus, Others, then Yourself. The team huddled in prayer almost immediately after the game. The gratitude to God and mutual love among players was palpable as the celebration ensued.

In a world, in which, “first place” matters most, Baylor reminds us that Jesus can bring the absolute best in people cooperatively. It was not about the final score but who they were together with Christ, which was the ultimate victory. I pray that we can find this truth. Jesus prayed for our unity. 

“I do not pray for these only, but also for those who believe in me through their word, that they may all be one; even as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. The glory which thou hast given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and thou in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that thou hast sent me and hast loved them even as thou hast loved me.” (Jn. 17: 20-23)

Unity comes through Humility. Paul reflected, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others” (Phil. 2:3). The Baylor team mantra was, “others then yourself.” Our natural inclination is towards selfishness and pride. Christ taught and lived something much different. Greatness is achieved in service, which means giving of ourselves to others. This can be monetarily, emotionally, spiritually or a pass for a jump shot!

As we get closer to Jesus, we get closer to each other. AW Tozer once illustrated, “Has it ever occurred to you that one hundred pianos all tuned to the same fork are automatically tuned to each other? They are of one accord by being tuned, not to each other, but to another standard to which each one must individually bow.” Jesus can bring an amazing joy that unites people of faith together in incomprehensible ways like a championship trophy. But, beyond that, it can even show up in you. 

Headlines and Fine Print

The recent headline from newspapers around the world state that church membership has fallen under the majority in the United States this year. This seismic shift of values is happening on every level. The research points to a generational detachment to religion declining to an abysmal low with millennials at just 36 percent engaged in church membership. Many are beginning to worry, who will be able to fill the vast vacuum, if the church continues to decline? Churches have been responsible for much of the charity work performed in the last 100 years. Shadi Hamid, at the Brookings Institution, recently concluded that political fervor has replaced religious consciousness. This may be why, in part, many understand social issues on a surface level philosophically or not at all. Menacing fanaticism is increasing on the far left and right and threatening good will and peace, as a result too.

Crisis of Authority and Trust

The decline of church attendance is a part of a bigger problem in the widespread crisis of authority. Poor leadership and misinformation have eroded trust, not only in faith institutions, but also in the government, media, medical, scientific institutions, educational system and in some cases for particularly good reason. Social engineers and political hacks are cornering the market of every fear and prejudice to exploit for power and money. Our pluralistic society seems exceptionally vulnerable as we lose grip, in the reach for progress.

Misunderstanding of Tolerance

Many have a misunderstanding of what tolerance means. They think, it is either accepting all few points as equal and true or insisting their own “good” values in others by coercing speech and thought. Tolerance actually means that we forbear alternative views despite our non-acceptance or disagreement peacefully. In the coming years, free speech will be our greatest friend and ally and under the most threat. It is the only mechanism that genuine dialog can happen, and truth championed. 

Mission Drift in the Church

The Apostle Peter contended, “For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God.” We must begin to assess what the church has done or not done to contribute to the loss of confidence in so many. It seems the church has lost its calling and must remember the original mission through the eyes of Christ. Jesus proclaimed, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.” The church has fallen prey to political aversions, pyramid schemes, and false prophets for too long. We must expect more of ourselves and pluck the beam from our own eye so we can see clearly again. We are here for the lost and hurting primarily, even for those we disagree.

May God bless and help us as we strive to regain a sense of legitimate authority trusting in Christ and His word. Jesus said, “All authority is given to me in Heaven and in earth.” Jesus proclaimed that we are to share common grace for all people whether good or evil as our heavenly Father. We should aspire to be at peace as much as depends on us. The church must renew its mission that has set it apart from every earthly institution through service and holy living, then maybe we will have a different headline.

Easter Promise
 

I remember when my father’s spirit quietly left this world in the early hours of somber morning. My mother held vigil with him, holding his hand for hours as the waves of grief washed through her sore eyes. The nurse came in and ceremonially washed his body. In some sense, I was relieved that his suffering had ended, but my life emerged with a never-ending emptiness in his shape. It wasn’t until my father’s passing that I truly realized just how much I looked to him for approval and motivation. A couple of months later, I defended my dissertation after years of doctoral toil. I longed to hear him say, “I’m proud of you.” I wept, as I looked at my phone, knowing his earthly voice was stilled.

Easter isn’t just about what happened 2000 years ago. It is a glimpse into the future through God’s greatest sign, the resurrection of His Son.

We have always struggled with the fact of death. It is the great equalizer and comes to all of us, whether we are rich, poor, intelligent, average, powerful, weak, healthy, young, old. It can be so unfair and take folks too soon or even too late. Tyrants and despots have wielded the power of death as a final control device over the masses, yet, it rules them too. Philosophers of antiquity gave us the phrase, memento mori, which means remember death. The modern mind remains distracted with entertainment and snake oil promises of staying young but death’s ominous darkness looms greater with each passing day for each of us.

The Scriptures begin with death from the very inception of life. It rose from humanity’s rejection of God in the garden. Our lives are characterized by brevity and declared to be like a “vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.” Then, we are forgotten. It is often said that we die twice, when we stop breathing and when our name is uttered the last time. These inalterable facts bring us to despair, absurdity and anxiety.

There is Jesus. 

A teacher who came onto the historical stage without the usual credentials of riches or earthly power like other renowned actors. He came as a paradox. His unlikely austere and lowly life was crowned with heavenly miracles, wonders, and signs. His message was identical to his very person. I am salvation. Other teachers talk of the afterlife and ask for faith, but faith in what? Faith in faith? Faith in our dying selves? Jesus presents a divine demonstration of the power over that which has held claim over every sage, king, and peasant. Jesus says, “I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.”

If we follow Jesus today, we will follow him out of the tomb into eternal life. The future looks like Jesus for His people! The prevailing darkness has been dispelled by the begotten Word of God, “Let there be light!” History’s sway is not held by those who shed the most blood but by the one whose blood was shed for you. Repent, for the Kingdom of God is here! Rejoice! He is risen! He is salvation.

I will see my father again. I will hear his voice. Christ has made a promise beyond just hollow words or pithy sayings. He has given us an Easter morning with the full assurance of something much more. An Easter for His church and the world at his return. Lord, Come quickly, Amen.

“Life’s Garden”

I remember my friend Theophilus Gipson contemplating his garden, “It’s not time to plant, too much rain.” He was a man in tune with the seasons and the sky. I respected his discernment and wisdom and knew it came from many years of experience. Jesus rebuked those who were spiritually bereft of this capacity.  “When you see a cloud rising in the west, you say at once, ‘A shower is coming’; and so it happens. And when you see the south wind blowing, you say, ‘There will be scorching heat’; and it happens. You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky; but why do you not know how to interpret the present time?” (Lk. 12:55, 56)

The seasons are shifting, and we see the sovereignty of God. The earth is so ordered that humanity can cooperate with God’s prevailing will and goodness. The Scriptures speak of humanity’s first vocation, “Then the Lord God took man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend it and keep it” (Gen. 2:15). God’s perfect creation included not only freedom of will but hearty responsibility to earth and God.

Our very lives can be thought of as a garden. The Bible uses plants, trees, gardens, and vineyards as symbols for various spiritual truths. Remember the words of the Psalmist concerning the one who delights in the law, “He is like a tree, planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth fruit in its season.” The words of Jesus vividly portray Himself as the “true vine” and we as the “branches.” Jesus compared the Kingdom to various gardens and vineyards (Matt. 13:1-9, 31,32) (Matt. 20:1-16)

Our lives can be known by the fruit or the externalities. “For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit; for each tree is known by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thorns, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush. The good man out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil man out of his evil treasure produces evil; for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks” (Luke 6:43-45). 

We are responsible for the garden of our lives. Yes, there are aspects of life which are way beyond our control, but the Bible promises, “Do not be deceived; God is not mocked, for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap” (Gal. 6:7). We have a direct influence on what is growing in our garden. Paul further states, “For he who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption; but he who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.” The Spirit of God produces extraordinary fruit like “love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” (Gal. 5:22,23).

 It is not only time to work in our earthly gardens but the spiritual ones too. God will give the increase a hundred-fold.

“Beginning of the Future”

The world of K-12 education is fast paced, ever evolving research with new trends, curriculum, testing, theories, books, software, testing, programming, governmental initiatives with experts and consultants all offering a better way. 

The one constant in successful education is the teacher.

For all the bells and whistles on the market and there are some great products and technology. Nothing compares to the teacher! It is a tried-and-true institution, from single room schoolhouses to modern virtual classrooms. The teacher is truly irreplaceable and integral to whoever we are.  Someone once said, “teaching is the profession that creates all others.” All lawyers, doctors, presidents, generals, scientists, preachers have been created from the diligence of teachers.

Teachers create miracles. When a student begins to sense the bigger world that is out there and even within themselves, something quite extraordinary happens. Dreams and possibilities merge with reality and choices. The trajectory of lives and history intersect in the classroom with the open sky.

Teachers put up with a lot. I have seen amazing patience in our faculty with seemingly insuperable challenges with many twists and turns. Parents can be myopically focused and not understand the range of tensions and needs in managing a full classroom over the course of an entire school year. Teachers not only educate but put play nurse, counselor, friend, and cop, all in a matter of minutes. Oh yeah, they teach too!

Teachers are learners. The rules change at the drop of hat. The greatest teachers are students first. A love for learning is vital and cannot be faked in classroom full of geniuses and clairvoyants. 

Teachers are human beings. Yes, they have faults and weaknesses just like anyone else. Sometimes they trip over their own cape in expecting too much or assigning a lot of homework but, they love your kid! The great ones love them like their own.

In conclusion, do not make teachers lives more difficult than they have to be. We do this quite easily by undermining their authority, unkind words, or apathy at home. Secondly, encourage them. Remember, just how difficult your child can be. Lastly, Pray for them. They are the beginning to your child’s future.

“God or Chaos”

Reinhold Niebuhr famously began his magna opus, “The Nature and Destiny of Man” with these words, “Man is his own most vexing problem.” What once seemed a distant thunder has swelled to a deafening crescendo of uncertainty and anxiety as to the moral health of our country. The innocent blood of millions of unborn children is lauded as a “right.” Ostensible racism has found a new comfortable place in the public square on both sides of the political spectrum. Unchecked nationalism and amnesiac socialism are peddled to secure the votes of masses as money flies out the window. “Me too” came after sexual mores had been dismantled and exploited by our media and society at every turn. Throw in a pandemic with rising deaths, suicides, and substance abuse and here we are. All the lines that are sacred and profane have been blurred, crossed to reduced to a scribble with no meaning.

All the while, our children have been watching and learning. 

The home is the last bastion of hope against the continued assault of relativism and colliding self-centered universes. Parents must be resolved in protecting and spiritually educating their children. The word that first comes to mind is the German expression, Weltanschauung. The word literally means “world view”. It is our perceptive lens in interpreting who we are and why we are here. Jesus alludes to this by saying, “but if your eye is not sound, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!” (Matt. 6:23, RSV). The way we see our world through the lens of our heart is the key to combating the darkness.

If God is not the center of your home then chaos will be. 

The Bible speaks of the home as a spiritual school. The Torah says, “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord;  and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might. And these words which I command you this day shall be upon your heart; and you shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. And you shall bind them as a sign upon your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. And you shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates” (Deut. 6:4-6, RSV).

Russian Alexander Solzhenitsyn painfully detailed the brutal regime of atheistic communism and the Gulag death camps and concluded:

“Over a half century ago, while I was still a child, I recall hearing a number of old people offer the following explanation for the great disasters that had befallen Russia: "Men have forgotten God; that's why all this has happened." Since then I have spent well-nigh 50 years working on the history of our revolution; in the process I have read hundreds of books, collected hundreds of personal testimonies, and have already contributed eight volumes of my own toward the effort of clearing away the rubble left by that upheaval. But if I were asked today to formulate as concisely as possible the main cause of the ruinous revolution that swallowed up some 60 million of our people, I could not put it more accurately than to repeat: "Men have forgotten God; that's why all this has happened.”

Let us pray and live in such a way that it will never be said of our homes that we have “forgotten God.” We will join with Joshua, “But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”

History gives us the ability to stop and remember significant past events that have shaped the world in which we live. This is why every year the month of February is designated as Black History Month. In 1926, Black History Month was initiated to raise awareness and acknowledge the accomplishments and influential experiences of black men and women. Black history is not merely the history of African Americans; it is our history as the American people.

One of my first exposures to the accomplishments and influential experiences of Black Americans was in fourth-grade. My fourth-grade teacher’s name was Mr. Orr. He was a very tall man who towered over his 10-year-old students, but he spoke with a love and sincerity that made him seem like an oversized teddy-bear that you might win at the skating rink.

Mr. Orr was a great teacher who not only taught us the facts, but also challenged us to love learning, think critically, find answers for ourselves, and help our peers. He was tasked with teaching us Alabama History during our social studies class time. Mr. Orr assigned Alabama History projects in the form of book reports and visual posters. He allowed us to choose the subject of our projects from a list of famous Alabamians, and then gave us the opportunity to teach our classmates about everything we had learned while doing research. Several Black Alabamians were included on the list like: Rosa Parks, Civil Rights Activist; General “Chappie” James, America’s first four-star Black General; WC Handy, the Father of the Blues; Jesse Owens, world-record-breaking track and field athlete; and George Washington Carver, a professor and scientist at Tuskegee University.

George Washington Carver, though not a native Alabamian, taught and studied at the famous Tuskegee University, a historically Black college in Alabama. I was so fascinated with his research and development for the many uses of peanuts, but what I never learned about was Carver’s faith in God and the role his prayer life played in his scientific research until last year when I read Mark Batterson’s book Draw the Circle. In the book, Batterson shares many inspiring stories of God’s answers to prayer. This is George Washington Carver’s story from Draw the Circle:

George Washington Carver is considered one of the greatest scientific minds of the twentieth century. Around the turn of the twentieth century, the agricultural economy of the South was suffering as the boll weevil devastated cotton crops. The soil was being depleted of nutrients because farmers planted cotton year in and year out. It was George Washington Carver who introduced the concept of crop rotation. He encouraged farmers to plant peanuts, and they did. The strategy revived the soil, but farmers were frustrated because there was no market for peanuts. Their abundant peanut crop rotted in warehouses. When they complained to Carver, he did what he had always done. Carver prayed about it.

Carver routinely got up at 4:00 a.m., walked through the woods, and asked God to reveal the mysteries of nature. He circled Job 12:7-8: Ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds of the air, and they will teach you; or speak to the earth, and it will teach you. 

Carver literally asked God to reveal the mysteries of nature. And God did.

In Carver’s own words:

I said, “Lord, why did you make the universe?”

The Lord replied, “Ask for something more in proportion to that little mind of yours.”

“Then why did you make the earth, Lord?” I asked.

“Your little mind still wants to know far too much,” replied God.

“Why did you make man, Lord?” I asked.

“Far too much. Far too much. Ask again,” replied God.

“Explain to me why you made plants, Lord,” I asked.

“Your little mind still wants to know far too much.”

So I meekly asked, “Lord, why did you make the peanut?”

And the Lord said, “For the modest proportions of your mind, I will grant you the mystery of the peanut. Take it inside your laboratory and separate it into water, fats, oils, gums, resins, sugars, starches and amino acids. Then recombine these under my three laws of compatibility, temperature and pressure. Then you will know why I made the peanut.”

On January 20, 1921, George Washington Carver testified before the United States House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee on behalf of the United Peanut Association of America. The chairman, Joseph Fordney of Michigan, told him he had ten minutes. An hour and forty minutes later, the committee told George Washington Carver he could come back anytime he wanted. Carver mesmerized the committee by demonstrating dozens of uses for the peanut. In the end, Carver discovered more than three hundred uses for the peanut. Or maybe more accurately, the Lord revealed more than three hundred uses. They included everything from glue, to shaving cream, to soap, to insecticide, to cosmetics, to wood stains, to fertilizer, and linoleum.

So the next time you shave or put on makeup, the next time you stain the deck or fertilize your garden, the next time you enjoy a good old-fashioned PBJ, remember that all of those things trace back to a man who had a habit of prayer at 4 AM.  They weren’t good ideas. They were God ideas.

“Family of God”

Family is the masterpiece of God’s creation and crowned in the garden of Eden with faithful marriage (Matthew 19:1-10). God has, furthermore, revealed Himself fully and absolutely through the familial relationship of Father to Son, in Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit. Christ ushered an intimacy into the life of a Christian by naming God, Abba! There is a special disclosure of tenderness and trust unheard till spoken by our Lord concerning His Father.

Joachim Jeremias describes, "Jesus' use of the word Abba in addressing God is unparalleled in the whole of Jewish literature. The explanation of this fact is to be found in the statement of the fathers Chrysostom, Theodore, and Theodoret that Abba, (as jaba is still used today in Arabic) was the word used by a young child to its father; it was an everyday family word, which no one had ventured to use in addressing God. Jesus did. He spoke to His heavenly Father in a childlike, trustful, and intimate way like a little child to its father."

Christ did not come to merely moralize or reform but to transform us into children of God through his own life. (John 1:12) “But to all who received him (Jesus), who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God; who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.” Our kinship with the Father is the spiritual rebirth into the Kingdom of God by “water and the spirit” realized in baptism and regeneration of the Holy Spirit. (John 3:1-5, Acts 2:38). 

Jesus in his life and ministry contrasted the family of flesh to the spiritual family by this shocking incident, “And his mother and his brothers came; and standing outside they sent to him and called him. And a crowd was sitting about him; and they said to him, “Your mother and your brothers are outside, asking for you.” And he replied, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” And looking around on those who sat about him, he said, “Here are my mother and  my brothers! Whoever does the will of God is my brother, and, sister, and mother.”

We are united in the eternal family of God (Ephesians 3:15). Now, we as God’s children, have been given the name Abba to annunciate in our darkest and brightest days with everlasting hope,  “For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the spirit of sonship. When we cry, “Abba! Father!” it is the Spirit himself bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.”

Once Upon a Time

“Once upon a time” is a familiar opening to many children’s stories. We may be tempted to dismiss fairytales and fables away to the dustbin of irrelevance in our modern age of megabytes and malware. But maybe, these stories explain more of who we are and what we are missing than can be imagined at first glance. Children’s hearts and minds need to be nurtured by the imaginative world of story and fantasy. 

The true hero is very elusive in our adult world with spiritually anemic athletes, political posers, and stunt doubles. 

C. S. Lewis once observed, "Since it is so likely that children will meet cruel enemies, let them at least have heard of brave knights and heroic courage." Children need to hear the stories of yore and be called to lives of courage, virtue, and true love in a world of malevolent chaos.

There are monsters. Evil does exist and children need to be warned through the allegories and parables. The old witch, dragon and goblin disguise and present themselves with a gift of forbidden fruit or tempting cake. The scriptures emphasize that, “Satan is transformed into an angel of light.” There will be battles. Life throws difficulty and duplicity early on. Children need to know that the battle can be won and not through mere power but virtue. G. K. Chesterton once wrote, “Fairy tales do not tell children the dragons exist. Children already know that dragons exist. Fairy tales tell children the dragons can be killed.” 

There is magic. Life is filled with beauty, mystery and should inspire us to awe, wonder and enchantment. Have you ever been struck by the majesty of the stars, relentless spirit of the wave, or the tenderness of a mother’s love? The fairytales of old magnify the mystery of life and remind us of how truly special every moment really is. The poet Yeats remarked, “The world is full of magic things, patiently waiting for our senses to grow sharper.” The grandeur and mystery only deepen into the mind of God. The Scriptures substantiate, “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!”

We need heroes. Children must be inspired to live according to a different code. Brave knights of the past practiced the rules of chivalry. It was about such forgotten virtues of honesty, loyalty, honor, and bravery. The Bible says, “Be not conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your minds.” These stories can galvanize the hearts of children accept the challenge of life with beneficence and courage. So, remember Jack and the Beanstalk, The Three Little Pigs, Pinocchio, Aesop’s Fables, Narnia, The Hobbit, and King Arthur. “Once upon a time” can begin again by simply opening a book to your child’s delight and spiritual wellbeing.

Potemkin Village

When a guy is smitten with a girl; He will do almost anything to impress her. Such was the case with Grigory Potyomkin. He was an 18th century nobleman trying to impress Catherine the Great as she toured the Russian Empire. As the legend goes, Grigory constructed fake towns in the distance to show how well the country was doing despite the abject poverty. It would be like the prop towns used in the movies for old westerns. These facades became known as Potemkin villages and have become synonymous with self-interested deception. 

We have been called to authentic lives which places the emphasis on the real and not merely appearance. I am mindful of the motto of Trevecca, where I completed my doctorate which is Esse quam videri (To be, rather to seem). Jesus was forthright in his focus on the genuine practice of faith which is rooted in the heart of man. The Sermon the Mount is absolutely concerned with internal realities as opposed to the external. The words of Christ shine light into the deepest recesses of our hearts and minds and challenges us to observe the inner religion.

There can be hindrances to our spiritual pursuit of genuineness which we must be conscious:

Bias: We all can be guilty of judging a situation before having all the pertinent facts which makes for an ingenuine and dishonest mindset. Have you ever considered how much you really do not know about anything or anyone? If knowledge were an ocean, we might have a drop of actual knowledge. We should be incredibly careful in not assuming things that are beyond our reach or experience. Jesus warns, “For what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the same measure you use, it will be measured back to you” (Matt. 7:2).

Fear: This natural reaction can make us blind to the truth. Fear is a primal emotion and protectant in dangerous circumstances but has been expanded in the imagination of man to precipitate worry, anxiety and even hate. Jesus reminds us of the goodness of God and not live in the shadow of consternation. (Matt. 6:25,26) “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?” 

Pride: One of the perennial dangers going all the way back to the garden is a false sense of self with egotism. Pride is artificial and delusional. CS Lewis sternly alerts, “The vice I am talking of is Pride or Self-Conceit: and the virtue opposite to it, in Christian morals, is called Humility...According to Christian teachers, the essential vice, the utmost evil, is Pride. Unchastity, anger, greed, drunkenness, and all that, are mere flea bites in comparison: it was through Pride that the devil became the devil: Pride leads to every other vice: it is the complete anti-God state of mind.”

Living authentic lives can be challenging but we must resist the urge of building Potemkin villages through bias, fear and pride. (Prov. 11:3) “The integrity of the upright guides them, but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them.”

Fast Forward
 

“I do”
 

“If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”
 

The phrase doesn’t consist of the best grammatical usage but profound nonetheless. RCA has been gifted with some great traditions and policies. There can be a temptation to change things for change's sake and to give the illusion of forward thinking when in reality, we are moving away from what is actually working efficiently. As we move forward, let’s strive to work on the things that really need to be improved and not try and reinvent the wheel at every turn to our own peril.

“Carpe Diem”
 

This Latin phrase which means “seize the day” was popularized by the movie Dead Poets Society. We are at a pivotal point and now have an extraordinary opportunity to make an even bigger impact on the lives of so many students. Our vision must be one which honors the greatness of God and the commission that we have been given. Let us resolve to change the world through Christian education, one student at a time. Let us seek to fully educate our students through discipleship to Christ, academic excellence, and character formation in a loving community.

We have created a 5-year plan in conjunction with our accreditation process that focuses on several areas from financial stewardship to academic improvement. We plan on streamlining our enrollment process to include continuous enrollment which simplifies the process for our families and requires less paperwork. We are looking to improve our curriculum and introduce elements of classical education into our program of study to give broader depth and analytical skills to students. There are many great things on the horizon for RCA which means an even brighter future for our students!

Click here to read the 20th anniversary edition of The Vision Newsletter
 

Reflection and Anticipation

God wants us to remember.  I suppose it is because He knows that our nature is to be somewhat narrowly focused.  We see everything in terms of the “now” – in terms of this moment.  Things were always like they are now.  History began when we were born.  The past is past, and we need to focus on the future.  To have this mindset is to miss out on so many blessings.  It is a blessing to remember.

Remembering accomplishes a lot of things.  It gives us perspective and humility.  It helps us appreciate the gifts we have been given and the ones who have given them.  It builds our faith and our character, and it reminds us of the true nature of life and of God.  Think back through scripture.  Over and over again, God commands His people to remember, and He gives them special gifts to help them.  Whether it was a rainbow, a special feast to commemorate a great miracle, a stack of stones from the Jordan River, or a single standing stone on the battlefield, God gave His people markers to help them remember.  To this day, part of the richness of the Jewish culture is their diligence in observing traditions, feasts, and holidays that originated in Biblical times.  Jesus, Himself, specifically commanded Christians to remember Him through the practice of the Lord’s Supper.  It is through the long, retrospective view of history that the hand of God is most easily seen.  We may not recognize God’s work in our lives today; we can be too close to it.  Looking back at yesterday, however, provides perspective.  We see the path more clearly, and His direction and influence on our circumstances become more obvious.  Remembering where we started helps us realize where God has brought us.

This year marks a special milestone for RCA.  It was 20 years ago that the school opened its doors to 62 students in preschool through 6th grade.  The rustic campus was housed among a few portable classroom trailers, an old store, and even an old house.  In those early days, the school offered a before-school program, and some students arrived as early as 6:15 each morning.  At 7:45, teachers walked their classes along the covered, wooden sidewalks to the chapel area where everyone gathered for songs, lessons, and memory verses.  Lunch was served in each classroom from the grocery cart donated by a local grocery store.  The daily menu was from McDonalds, Pizza Hut, Whitt’s Barbeque, or some other local restaurant.  Recess was either on the dusty lot with the tire swing or, on rainy days, in the basement of the store building.  Many of the teachers taught combined classes: Mrs. Sain taught 1st and 2nd grades together, Mrs. Bolton taught 3rd and 4th grades together, and Mrs. Arndt taught 5th and 6th grades together.  At the end of each day, parents would drive down the old Southway Drive, round the cul-de-sac, and pick up their children from the sidewalk by Mrs. Bolton’s trailer.  Those days were both wonderful and difficult.  

Those first families exhibited a great deal of faith in this young school.  I sometimes marveled that they chose to take a chance on RCA.  I have thought a lot about that over the years, and I believe they were motivated by two things.  First, the energy, commitment, and dedication of our teachers in sharing God’s love to their students was so evident.  It was obvious that they had a heart for the ministry of Christian education and for the students and their families.  Parents can easily recognize a true servant’s heart, and they want their children learning from that kind of example each day.  Second, despite all the challenges of that rustic campus, the hope for a better future lay just up the hill.  The new 68,000 square foot building was under construction, and everyone could watch with excitement the progress that was being made each day.  That new building represented an unmistakable commitment to the future, and parents knew the school was in it for the long haul.  They were right.

I enjoy thinking about those days and how far we have come over the years.  I have so many good memories, and I love to reminisce.  As I look back, I can see so many different ways in which God blessed and provided for the school.  I believe scripture teaches us, however, that while God does want us to remember, His point in that is not just for the sake of nostalgia.  God asks His people to remember the past, so that they are better equipped to impact their future.  We talk in terms of “building” our faith and of cultivating spiritual “growth”.  Rest is scriptural; idleness is not.  As I think about how far God has brought RCA, I believe that only shows how He has been equipping us for even greater things in the future.  After 20 years, we have not arrived.  We are only beginning.

The past year-and-a-half has been difficult for the school.  Like every organization or church or family, there are those pivotal moments that cause us to reassess and re-evaluate things.  Those times can be painful, but also very beneficial in the long run.  I believe we have now emerged stronger and more focused, and I could not be more optimistic about the future of RCA.  I am thankful that God brought us the right leader in Dr. Rushing.  As I have gotten to know him over the past several months, I have seen that he truly has a servant heart.  As we collectively look toward the future, let us look again to what lay up on the hill.  An exciting future, firmly committed to building character, changing lives, and impacting the future.  If looking back to remember the past can teach us anything, it is that God has great things in mind for the future of RCA!

“And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”   -- Philippians 1:6

Written By: Daniel Eldridge, RCA Board Chairman

Click here to read the 20th Anniversary edition of The Vision Newsletter
 

“Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, 'I am the light of the world; he who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.'” ~ John 8:12

Can you imagine how dark this world would be if Jesus had not been born? Dr. James Allen Francis spoke of the paradoxical and powerful influence of Jesus:

He was born in an obscure village, the child of a peasant woman. He grew up in another village, where He worked in a carpenter shop until He was thirty. Then for three years He was an itinerant preacher. He never wrote a book. He never held an office. He never had a family or owned a home. He didn’t go to college. He never visited a big city. He never traveled two hundred miles from the place where He was born. He did none of the things that usually accompany greatness. He had no credentials but Himself. He was only thirty-three when the tide of public opinion turned against Him. His friends ran away. One of them denied Him. He was turned over to His enemies and went through the mockery of a trial. He was nailed to a cross between two thieves. While He was dying, his executioners gambled for His garments, the only property He had on earth. When He was dead, He was laid in a borrowed grave, through the pity of a friend. Nineteen centuries have come and gone and today He is the central figure of the human race. All the armies that ever marched, all the navies that ever sailed, all the parliaments that ever sat, all the kings that ever reigned, put together, have not affected the life of man on this earth as much as that one solitary life.

The solitary life of Christ is the greatest light among all the Christmas bulbs. Christ is the light of the world! Have you ever considered all the good that has resulted from the teaching of Christ? Christ brought a new consciousness to humanity! Many earthly blessings developed as a result of Christianity such as the modern hospital, orphanages, care for the poor, democracy and science itself! This is not to mention the most important thing, eternal hope!

This blog article is an excerpt from The Weary World Rejoices, a 27-Day Christmas Devotional Journey, written by Dr. Laws Rushing II. Click here to download the ebook.

“Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, 'I am the light of the world; he who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.'” ~ John 8:12

Can you imagine how dark this world would be if Jesus had not been born? Dr. James Allen Francis spoke of the paradoxical and powerful influence of Jesus:

He was born in an obscure village, the child of a peasant woman. He grew up in another village, where He worked in a carpenter shop until He was thirty. Then for three years He was an itinerant preacher. He never wrote a book. He never held an office. He never had a family or owned a home. He didn’t go to college. He never visited a big city. He never traveled two hundred miles from the place where He was born. He did none of the things that usually accompany greatness. He had no credentials but Himself. He was only thirty-three when the tide of public opinion turned against Him. His friends ran away. One of them denied Him. He was turned over to His enemies and went through the mockery of a trial. He was nailed to a cross between two thieves. While He was dying, his executioners gambled for His garments, the only property He had on earth. When He was dead, He was laid in a borrowed grave, through the pity of a friend. Nineteen centuries have come and gone and today He is the central figure of the human race. All the armies that ever marched, all the navies that ever sailed, all the parliaments that ever sat, all the kings that ever reigned, put together, have not affected the life of man on this earth as much as that one solitary life.

The solitary life of Christ is the greatest light among all the Christmas bulbs. Christ is the light of the world! Have you ever considered all the good that has resulted from the teaching of Christ? Christ brought a new consciousness to humanity! Many earthly blessings developed as a result of Christianity such as the modern hospital, orphanages, care for the poor, democracy and science itself! This is not to mention the most important thing, eternal hope!

“His name shall be called Immanuel.” ~ Matthew 1:23

The loneliness of sin has befallen our world. It has created an eternal chasm between God and humanity. The Gospel of Matthew echoes the words of the prophet Isaiah desiring Immanuel, “God with us.” The patriarchs of the distant past knew his presence, prophets saw visions and heard His voice but now was the time of God’s visitation. Jesus drew near to the city of Jerusalem weeping and said that judgement was imminent “because you did not know the time of your visitation.”

• Immanuel, there is healing. “And he went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every infirmity among the people” (Matthew 4:23).
• Immanuel, there is forgiveness. “And he said to her, ‘Your sins are forgiven” (Luke 7:48).
• Immanuel, there is rest. “ Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).
• Immanuel, there is love. “ By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35).

Immanuel, God and humanity are finally united in the One named, Jesus.

O Come, O Come Emmanuel
O come, Thou Day-spring, come and cheer
Our spirits by Thine advent here;
And drive away the shades of night
And pierce the clouds and bring us light!
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come, Thou Key of David, come,
And open wide our heavenly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come, O come, Thou Lord of might,

This blog post is an excerpt from The Weary World Rejoices, a Christmas devotional ebook written by Dr. Rushing.
Download the ebook here.

“O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
for his steadfast love endures forever”
(Psalms 107:1)

God’s grace is inescapable. The very air you breathe, the tender hug of a mother, or even the taste of turkey are the results of God’s goodness and will. His lovingkindness prevails even beyond humanity’s indifference and disobedience. Jesus preaches, “He makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.” God’s goodness is immutable as His nature, word, and eternal will.

God raised the stakes of grace with Christ! The Apostle Paul declares, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing.” All spiritual blessings reside in the begotten of God who gives not just life but spiritual abundance. Our thanksgiving begins in an unabandoned acceptance and recognition of His love in Christ.

Our assurance and thanksgiving is articulated in the new covenant found in Christ. It is described in the instituting of the Lord's Supper: “And he took bread, and when he had given thanks he broke it and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.’ And likewise the cup after supper, saying, ‘This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.’” (Luke 22:19-20). 

The Greek word for “given thanks” is eucharisteo. It has been transliterated to Eucharist in English. The Lord's Supper, Communion or Eucharist is a perpetual thanksgiving meal that is fulfilled in what was lost in eating the forbidden fruit. Let the goodness of God not just fill you on this holiday but with the partaking of the bread of life in the Lord's Supper called Thanksgiving. 
 

Our Father in Heaven,
Hallowed be thy name,
We are grateful for the prosperous and free land in which we live,
Today, we pray and remember the veterans,
Those who have secured our right to this prayer,
To assemble peaceably, 
To live safely and freely.
We remember those who valiantly fought,
By sea, air and land.
The unknown soldier who our families know as Father, mother, son, daughter, and friend.
We pray that not only will we honor our veterans by word but in deed.
We promise to remain committed to each other as a nation,
And as a nation among nations,
You have endowed us with inalienable rights,
Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness,
Inviolable to man and tyrant,
Image bearers of you.
We honor you, Oh Lord, by honoring our veterans,
Those who have given of their days, nights and very lives,
So that we might live as others have only dreamed,
We see their starlight,
And are guided by their courageous hearts,
Into the morning sun of freedom and favor.
Bless our veterans, as they have blessed us.
In Jesus name,
Amen

Nebuchadnezzar knew power only a few men have ever known in history. His vast empire extended over many lands and people. His reign was renowned for the opulence and grandeur of the Hanging Gardens, a gift to his wife, which was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The monarch was brutal as he was seemingly romantic. Jeremiah records that Nebuchadnezzar had Zedekiah’s sons murdered right before him. He then put Zedekiah’s eyes out so that the last thing he saw was his sons perishing. He imprisoned Zedekiah until his eventual death. The armies of the emperor destroyed Jerusalem and Solomon’s temple and many Jews were taken into captivity for decades

The Scriptures emphatically say, “the king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever he wishes” (Proverbs. 21:1)

The proud and powerful king began to encounter the true living God through the Jewish people, he had conquered. The book of Daniel chronicles his dealings with the three Hebrew boys that wouldn’t bend, bow, or burn. The King dreamed prophetically about the futility of the kingdoms of men and that one day God’s sovereignty would be known with the coming Messiah. “And in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed” (Daniel 2:44). 

The presumptuous king said of himself, “Is this not Babylon the Great that I myself have built for the royal house by my own strength and might and for the glory of my majesty?” (Daniel 4:30). Nebuchadnezzar was brought to madness for seven years and ate in the field like an ox. He finally came to the realization of the sovereignty of Almighty God after this humiliating period. Sometimes, we can become disheartened by the powers and hubris of this world. It can seem that our world is in the hands of people beyond the reach of God. Nebuchadnezzar reminds us that there is only One, who is entirely in control. Nebuchadnezzar’s own “heart was in the hand of the Lord.” Hear the words of King Nebuchadnezzar, whose madness humbled him to see clearly,

“At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and praised and honored him who lives forever, for his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom endures from generation to generation; all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing; and he does according to his will in the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand or say to him, ‘What doest thou?’ At the same time my reason returned to me; and for the glory of my kingdom, my majesty and splendor returned to me. My counselors and my lords sought me, and I was established in my kingdom, and still more greatness was added to me. Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven; for all his works are right and his ways are just; and those who walk in pride he is able to abase.”  (Daniel 4:34-37).

The profound hymn by Horatio Spafford says, “Lord, haste the day when faith shall be sight.” The song reveals the longing in each of us for a resolution to the vast unknown and enigma of our existence. Life is uneasy, disturbing, difficult, alarming and conflicting. C.S. Lewis acutely observed, 

“It is a profound mistake to imagine that Christianity ever intended to dissipate the bewilderment and even the terror, the sense of our own nothingness, which comes upon us when we think about the nature of things. It comes to intensify them. Without such sensations there is no religion. Many a man, brought up in the glib profession of some shallow form of Christianity, who comes through reading Astronomy to realize for the first time how majestically indifferent most reality is to man, and who perhaps abandons his religion on that account, may at that moment be having his first genuinely religious experience. . . . Christianity does not involve the belief that all things were made for man.”

It is in this present milieu of mystery that God has ordained the miracle of faith in our lives. One of the comforting things about the Scriptures is that the disciples were in search of this faith despite being witnesses to the greatest wonders ever known. The familiar refrain, “Oh ye of little faith” was common to their ears despite their eyes beholding the majestic healings of the sick, Christ’s power over nature itself, and the dead risen. “Increase our faith” was the disciples’ request because the world was filled with fear and anxiety for them too.

 Faith is the awareness of God. It does not come without questions, struggles or doubts. Christ reveals that our weak faith holds great potentiality. Faith is a strong concentrate and like that of a mustard seed that unlocks the greatest of growth. Faith is not a leap in the dark but into the light. Once we begin to be led by the Spirit, we begin to see beyond the horizon. “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” 

Our faith is a part of the grand miracle of Christ Himself. The Risen Lord exclaimed, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” Paul emphasized that “we have known Christ by the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer.” The miracle of faith is happening in you. It is by and through faith that we are saved (Eph. 2:8)(Heb. 11:6).  It is in our faith that we find even more to believe! Faith moves the mountain, knocks at midnight, loves the enemy, turns the cheek, crucifies the self and lives. The miracle of faith gives life to the impossible everyday which makes me a firm believer.

“What Social Media is Saying About Us”

The new iPhone 12 was just unveiled boasting supersonic speed and coolness. The smartphone with Apple began a veritable revolution just over a decade ago with modern pied piper and genius Steve Jobs opening the door to the world’s biggest library or Pandora’s Box. It ushered in a new era of consciousness as did the printing press and internet. It is an amazing human accomplishment that billions of people now hold a piece of technology with more computing power than NASA during the moon landings. Those NASA computers cost 3.5 million dollars and were the size of a car. The smartphone created a new phenomenon of social media. We are now connected through a maze of pictures, websites, videos and browsing habits with “friends” to whom we share. These share items say a lot about who we are and who we are becoming.

The “selfie” hit the mainstream a few years ago when our favorite subject for the camera became ourselves with various filters to make us look neat, cool, old, young, daring, smart, or just clueless. Is the selfie indicative of a spiritual condition? It’s not that a “selfie” is a sin or even shallow but it can be a metaphor for a deeper issue within the human heart. The spiritual journey of faith is the surrender of the self. Christ was explicit in His teaching on living in the selflessness of the cross (Matt. 16:23-25).

Another contribution of social media to our culture is the meme. A meme is an illustration with a picture, video and some sort of statement that is humorous or “factual.” We see many of them as benign and good for a momentary chuckle. There are many memes that are either insulting, non-factual or trying to solve a difficult social issue with another trifling comment. Hopefully, the rule still applies that we need to be kind, truthful and thoughtful on social media as in our personal conversations.

“Trolls” appeared on social media after we seemingly vanquished them to medieval times and bridges. A troll is someone that purposely provokes and writes incendiary things for their own amusement and fun. We have reached the zenith of modernity with the resurgence of such fictitious creatures that run around prodding us into winded arguments with no finish lines to their own amusement and our befuddlement. 

We also have the “cancel culture.” This is the public shaming and withdrawing of our society on someone who has made a mistake even after contrition and apologies. I remember a time when we spoke of second chances and comebacks as a good thing in our country. This is not commonplace anymore. I think Jesus spoke of it as forgiveness. We all need forgiveness. Yes, people can lose their credibility and trust in the public square, but we must remember that these folks bear the image of God. We are forgiven as we forgive others. 

Social media shines a light on many great things but there is also a darkness we can lose ourselves and our testimony. We lose when we love our politics more than people, post statements with partial truths, argue with people as mere sport, shame and cancel people without the benefit of a doubt and make ourselves the center of the universe, even if, in our own mind. 

Social media is really saying that we need a Savior. He was the opposite of all those extremes mentioned. Jesus was selfless, truthful, profound, noble, and forgiveness personified. Those are things worth posting. Please share Jesus.

Artists have a way of articulating the most complex of feelings and subjects. Maybe this is why we are so drawn to the arts because of the visceral communication that penetrates the heart and mind. My cousin Danny Dill was a songwriter in Nashville’s coming of age era and wrote many notable songs including “Long Black Veil” and “Detroit City.” The latter song tells the common story of a country boy that moves to Detroit City and builds cars but pines for home. The chorus is simply, “I wanna go home, I wanna go home, Oh how I wanna go home.” 

My Father was a talented singer and began to dream about Nashville and maybe sharing in the success of his first cousin. Danny Dill was on the Grand Ole’ Opry and even had a radio show right before legendary Hank Williams in his early days. My father went to Nashville to inquire of his potential success and tracked down his esteemed songwriter cousin. He eventually found him in the bar and Danny told my father, “Go home and love your family.”

I wonder what might have happened if the advice would have been different. My cousin struggled in his domestic life but enjoyed a storied career that has earned him a place in the Songwriters Hall of Fame. Maybe, there is something to going home. We are inviting all of our alumni back to RCA this week to celebrate their success and lives. What does it mean to go home?

Home is ultimately more than a place but a relationship. I think of all the houses that Stacey and I have lived in as family. I would only choose the house that has them because they are my home. The familiar story of the Prodigal son that journeys to a “far country” returns home and the story emphasizes the person rather than the place. The son thinks, “I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you.” 

Home is about the people we love and our heavenly Father. We are so excited to have many of our students returning home to Riverside this week. The songwriter had it right when he penned, “I wanna go home.” Welcome home. We love you.

There is something magical in the changing of the seasons. We see the grand orchestration of God’s providential hand in the natural order, all around us. The Scriptures speak of God not leaving “Himself without witness, in that He did good, gave us rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.” Nature’s transitions are a witness to God’s presence and goodness. God is sovereign over time itself, as His creation. (Daniel 2:21) “He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding.” 

Timing is everything. There is a rhythm to nature and to our very lives that we are bound. It is within these seasons that we have our own fluorescent beauty and fulfillment. The Autumn foliage and crisp air bring new activities and harvests, in the likeness of life itself. The existential poet Camus commented, “Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower.” We must live and content ourselves in the moment and time that we find ourselves. The familiar trope of Ecclesiastes reminds us that, “To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven: A time to be born, And a time to die; A time to plant, And a time to pluck what is planted.”

The true harvest of our lives is sometimes difficult to quantify or articulate. We have “casted our bread on the waters” to be received in the places unseen or hardly known. Thoreau captures this sentiment by saying, “The true harvest of my life is intangible - a little star dust caught, a portion of the rainbow I have clutched.” We may not see the returns of every seed planted but God is faithful in His gleaning “filling our hearts with food and gladness.” The Father assures us that His word does not “return void.”

We must remember to never give up. “Let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” It is also imperative that we pray for fellow workers in the Kingdom of God. We stand on the precipice of eternity in every moment of time. Jesus reminds us that the harvest fields are ready for fellow laborers.  (Matthew 9:37,38) “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field." He is the Lord of the harvest and I can trust Him in this season too.

The family is the first school, church, and state. It is a holy institution created by God to imbue blessing, happiness, love, education, and life eternal into her members. The Scriptures are abounding in the importance of faithful marriages, parental instruction, and obedient children. RCA is committed to the success of your homelife.  It is our prayer that we can support and encourage all of our families as you grow in the “grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”

All families are unique. We recognize that even in our small community that there is a diversity of family make-ups with single mothers or fathers, blended families and intergenerational homes. We all come from different backgrounds but have the same central requisites as human beings. The psychologist Abraham Maslow described these needs in his famed hierarchy of needs beginning with the physiological, psychological and self-actualization. Many of these hierarchies have spiritual implications and connotations.

Strong marriages are the foundation to the home. Children are blessed by the union of a mother and father unconditionally committed to one another. Jesus speaks of the inviolability of marriage and ushers into humanity the highest view of matrimony ever known (Matthew 19:1-9, Mark 10:6-9, Matthew 5:32). One of the greatest things we can do for our children is to love our spouse and provide a stable environment for flourishment.

Homes are the location where children learn authority. Parental authority is the testing ground for school and society. The Apostle Paul reminds us of the Ten Commandments by commanding, “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), that it may be well with you and that you may live long on the earth.” We also learn in the family emotional intelligence and the rules to relationships. Someone once humorously said, “that family members know how to push our buttons because they are the ones who installed them.”

We are offering a new program through RCA Family Services to enable, equip, and enrich our families spiritually through educational resources for parents. Please sign up for our new program, “The Heart of Parenting” in the month of October. We look forward to offering more support and programming through our partners in ministry and community.

Home and family can be the sweetest place on earth and all of us yearn for a beautiful homelife. The poet Maya Angelou said, “I long, as does every human being, to be at home wherever I find myself.” We hope RCA can be that home for all of our families as we work together.

The biggest question of the night, “Is it going to rain?” The dark clouds had amassed in the sky over the sounds of the bluegrass band performing the classic John Hartford song, “Gentle on My Mind.” The grill was smoking, ice cream machine idling, and people smiling and chatting. A bolt of lightning picked up the tempo of the band and drops began to fall. The drops turned quickly into a gully-washer, deluge. Everyone made for cover. And….. Just like that and all my planning was as soggy as my shoes and head.

The weather, like many other occasions, did not cooperate with the plans of man. It is a grand metaphor for all the things beyond our control. It forces our choices into another place or domain of emotion and thinking. So, the question comes to each of us, How is your inner weather? There is a place so remote from the rain that the sunshine can live on. It resides in our attitudes and responses to even the things beyond our control.

The great psychologist Carl Jung would tell the story of an old dried-up, Chinese rainmaker; who came to a town during a drought and made it snow! 

“The only thing he asked for was a quiet little house somewhere, and there he locked himself in for three days. On the fourth day clouds gathered and there was a great snowstorm at the time of the year when no snow was expected, an unusual amount, and the town was so full of rumors about the wonderful rainmaker that Wilhelm went to him to ask the man how he did it. In true European fashion he said: “They call you the rainmaker, will you tell me how you made the snow?” And the little Chinese man said: “I did not make the snow, I am not responsible.” “But what have you done these three days?” “Oh, I can explain that. I come from another country where things are in order. Here they are out of order, they are not as they should be by the ordinance of heaven. Therefore, the whole country is not in Tao, and I am also not in the natural order of things because I am in a disordered country. So I had to wait three days until I was back in Tao, and then naturally the rain came.”

The little story illustrates that our power lies in adjusting our inner weather and the interrelatedness to life. We might not be able to control the rain but our responses do have power in ourselves and others! The Scriptures speak of the ability to spiritually transcend our circumstances. The Apostle Paul wrote, “Not that I complain of want; for I have learned, in whatever state I am, to be content. I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound; in any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and want. I can do all things in him who strengthens me.”

We also know the rainmaker! (James 5:17,18) “Elijah was a man of like nature with ourselves, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. Then he prayed again and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth its fruit.” The good Lord will always change the weather through prayer. It’s just sometimes, He wants to change us more than the crops! 

“Yes sir or ma'am'' is a recurrent phrase that has strongly entered my daughter’s vocabulary since enrolling at Riverside Christian Academy. She has always been very polite, but we see the difference the school is making every day. This tradition of greeting goes all the way back to the 1200’s originating in the titles of sire and madam. It is a sign of respect and acknowledgement of those who are senior to you. It is so very nice to see that the mascot of knights is not the only thing chivalrous about the school. 

The Bible says, “give honor to whom honor is due.” The Scriptures also provide us instruction to give veneration to our elders. (Leviticus 19:32) “Stand up in the presence of the aged, show respect for the elderly and revere your God. I am the Lord.” The Torah is very clear on the connection of respecting elders and revering God. It is a sign of reverence to God, when we respect our elders. Our culture seems obsessed with youth to the exclusion of our older generations. We do so at our own peril.

Our elders are a living history. They are an indispensable link to our past that is so easily forgotten. The philosopher George Santayana said,“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” It seems that we continue to make the mistake of Rehoboam, “But he rejected the counsel which the elders gave him, and consulted the young men” (I Kings 12:8) The elders had a firm understanding of history and what the moment called for whereas the young men were woefully ignorant. The Apostle Peter writes, “In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, ‘God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble” ( I Peter 5:5).

I had the pleasure of hearing a senior minister speak on his 80th birthday in recent weeks. He recalled the story of Barzillai, who like him was eighty years old when he came before King David. Barzilla showed great courage and humility in desiring to serve the king in his old age and asked, “How long have I to live, that I should go up with the king to Jerusalem?” Barzilla went on to request that he go “a little way across Jordan” but then allowed to return to his own city that he may be buried with his father and mother. King David honored his request and blessed him, and he returned ( II Samuel 19:31-39). King David honored the elder Barzillai and said, “Yes sir.”

A Detroit mortician unzipped the body bag to begin the embalming process and found Timesha Beauchamp eyes open and breathing!! The twenty-year old was pronounced dead by a doctor in the emergency room after paramedics tried reviving her for 30 minutes in her home. This alarming story was published by the Associated Press this past week. Can you imagine the simultaneous relief and horror when loved ones were notified? We, also, are pronounced dead by the guilt of our sinfulness. Paul characterizes our spiritual condition as, “dead in trespasses and sins.” 

Our great physician did not make the pronouncement of our death remotely but rather stepped into our flesh and sinfulness to be the very cure in our malady. Jesus said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick, I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance” (Mark 2:17). One of the greatest distinguishing features to Christianity is the extent to which God goes Himself to save humanity. In Contrast, the world religions offer a “works based salvation.” It is fraught with man’s inability to attain the transcendent and moral perfection. The story of Jesus is God reaching down to man. “God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh.”

Jesus came to give us spiritual life through His righteousness. The life of Jesus is without parallel or equivalence. Jesus not only lived a perfectly moral life but one which fulfilled all the requirements of the law (Matthew 5:17,18; John 5:39-47). The haunting words of Jesus from the cross, “It is finished” is a summary of His atoning life work completed on Calvary in His death. The Gospel is the “righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith.” Jesus came to give us eternal life through His resurrection. (I Peter 1:3) “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you.

Our response to the righteousness and resurrection of Jesus Christ is repentance. Repentance is a turning away from our sinfulness to His light and life. Peter proclaimed, “Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.” On Pentecost, “Repent and be baptized.” (Acts. 3:18; Acts 2:38). The great Physician doesn’t pronounce death but breathes life into us through the Holy Spirit (Genesis 2:7, John 20:22, Romans 8:11). 

Receive His care today!

There was an interesting story in the news this week. It was about a giant safe suddenly appearing in a farmer’s field. There was a note attached saying, “If you can open this, you can have what’s inside.” There were various attempts at “cracking the safe” but all were unsuccessful. The farmer has since removed the safe and it is now in a secret place. My mind ventured to the parable of Jesus concerning the hidden treasure in the field, “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys the field” (Matthew 13:44). 

The parable of Christ illustrates an important lesson in life which is universal. We all make an exchange in this life. This is a profound spiritual truth. The greatest economy of life isn’t money but time and attention. We trade our moments for things which are necessary like work and matters of priority. Christ always challenges us in our list of priorities. Jesus reveals that the kingdom of God is of the greatest value. It is a “treasure hidden in the field.” It is worth the burden of exchange which is everything and even “for joy.” 

I wonder what’s in that uncrackable safe found in the farmer’s field? I know what the treasure of the kingdom is! It is eternal life and that is knowing the Father through Jesus. (John 17:3) “And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.” So, you don’t have to wait for the safe to be cracked. Eternal life is opened in Christ today.

Nobody could crack that mysterious safe in the field. The contents were protected from whomever. Yet, There is a place of trust more remarkable and protected. It isn’t a safe but a Savior. (I Corinthians 1:9) “God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.” We all feel the uncertainty of our time. Maybe, an uncrackable safe captures our imagination and the mystery therein. The real treasure and safe, though, can be found in the field of the Savior.

“Surely This Great Nation is a Wise and Understanding People”
 

A scientist once lamented, “We are drowning in information, while starving for wisdom.” We have come to the point in human history where knowledge has flourished to our very fingertips, as we google the answer to who said that phrase. Yet, for all of our advancement, we find ourselves lacking. The answers to the political fractures, abject poverty, mindless racism, pandemic disease and bloody war still haunt the global landscape while we boast our modernity and shallow fashions.

Wisdom is in high demand and short supply. Wisdom is differentiated from knowledge, data and information because it occupies a moral capacity and situational awareness. One definition of wisdom is “the soundness of an action or decision with regard to the application of experience, knowledge, and good judgment.” We may know a lot of facts but are ignorant as to how to weigh importance and incorporate into good decisions called wisdom. 

Wisdom begins with our knowledge of God. If we know everything but God then our comprehension is indeed darkened. (Proverbs 1:7) “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.” It is within the knowledge of God that our values are best informed. Some of our greatest minds achieved devastating calamity because they were enabled by intelligence coupled with depravity. Ted Kaczynski  (better known as the unabomber) was reported to have an IQ of 167. Many of the Nazi leaders tried at Nuremburg scored on the genius level but were perpetratiors of the greatest acts of inhumanity ever witnessed.

 (Proverbs 2:6) “For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth comes knowledge and understanding.”

Christ is our wisdom because He is the fulfillment of God’s divine purposes for humanity. “He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, whom God made our wisdom, our righteousness and sanctification and redemption” (I Corinthians 1:30). We find wisdom through the instruction of parents and elders (Proverbs 13:1), through prayer (James 1:5), through the Word of God (Psalms 19:7). 

May we open our hearts and minds to the wisdom of God so that we may be described as people who kept the covenant in (Deuteronomy 4:6) “Keep them and do them; for that will be your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples, who, when they hear all these statutes, will say, ‘Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.”

The scriptures speak of the return of God’s people to Judah after exile and portray a beautiful picture including, “The streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in its streets” (Zechariah 8: 5). What an enchanting verse that expresses a truth about children that we all know and cherish. Play is essential in the development of children. It reveals much about a person and teaches tremendous things. 

1. Imagination: Thinking isn’t always about being rational. Yes, we love to enhance logical sequences and abstraction but imagination is a special endowment of the brain and is important to problem solving. Play encourages this form of thinking that creates and sees beyond our own eyes.

2. Physical health: Children’s bodies and minds work together and are interconnected. Healthy activity promotes brain health and also increases dexterity. 

3. Intellect: Play also presents problems to solve for children and energizes conversations. Children also role-play and mimic adults with situations they encounter by playing house, church or school.

4. Interpersonal and emotional health: It is vital for children to learn about others’ feelings and how to restrain their own impulses if inappropriate or hurtful. Play presents these opportunities for such growth.

5. Fairness: There are rules to how we engage each other. Games, life, school, and sport have rules for fairness and equity. Play promotes fairness which is the beginning to the graver ideas of  justice and mercy.

So, grab a Barbie, ball, or stick and find a way to connect to a child at play. You might learn something. As the old saying goes, “You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than a year of conversation.”