God is Committed

Do you like hearing your name called? Do you enjoy it when others want to be with you? Do you want to rid yourself of fear? Would you like to be confident you have been redeemed? Have you read God’s Word and his promises? Have you read your name in Scripture?

We like having our name known by people for good reasons. We like it when they call upon us for something good. Yet, we may have a bit of fear spark inside us when our name is called by someone we do not know. If not fear, we may be skeptical, wondering what the person wants.

To alleviate our fears, we can read our name in Scripture, in the promises God gives his people. How? Replace the name you see with yours. In today’s passage, replace ‘Jacob’ and ‘Israel’ with your name. Just as God created Jacob, he has created you. Just as he formed Jacob into Israel, he is forming you into the new person he desires you to be.

God redeemed Israel, bringing them out of Egypt. He has also redeemed us, bringing us out of the prison of sin into the freedom of worshiping him. We are no longer oppressed by sin. I no longer wear the shackles nor are bound by it. Through Jesus, our chains have been broken, cast aside, and no longer restrict us from truly worshiping God as we were designed to do.

God has called each of us by name. He has brought us into a relationship with him that no one can break nor take away. God has committed himself to us. It is not a short-term commitment nor a flaky commitment. God didn’t call our name on a whim. God’s promises will never be broken. Therefore, we can rest assured that we belong to him now and forever.

I pray we all know that God created us. I pray we trust that God is forming us into the person he wants us to be. I pray each one of us know that God has called us by name into a relationship with him. God created you. God is forming you. God has called you. God is committed to you.

Isaiah 43:1

But now thus says the Lord, 

he who created you, O Jacob, 

he who formed you, O Israel: 

Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; 

I have called you by name, you are mine.

Salvation Has Come

What do you think of when you are told the wise men visited Jesus and gave Him gifts? Do you immediately think there were three of them? Do you think of the three gifts—gold, frankincense, and myrrh? Have you researched to determine if it is true?

We often sing We Three Kings shortly after Christmas. We may allow this song to corrupt our thinking about who visited Jesus. Tradition can be very good and can also be misleading or non-factual. The idea of three kings visiting Jesus is just such a case.

Matthew tells us in chapter 2 that wise men (or magi) came to bring gifts to Jesus and worship Him. Wise men were not kings. They were very learned men who knew prophecy, astrology, and other areas of high education. But notice Matthew does not say how many of them there were. Therefore, we do not know how many.

Why would anyone suggest there were three? Isaiah 60:6 states people from three locations who will praise the Lord. Many will come with camels from Midian and Ephah. People from Sheba will bring gold and frankincense. Isaiah uses the plural and implies there will many who will come.

Psalm 72:10 is where we get the idea of kings. It states kings from Tarshish will render tribute. The kings of Sheba and Seba will bring gifts. Is it logical to assume there was only one person from each location? If so, there should be five, since there are five different locations mentioned between the two passages.

Rather than focusing on the number of wise men, let’s focus on their desire to worship the King. They brought gifts that were fit for a king. They traveled a great distance to see Him and worship Him. These learned men knew there was something special going on and desired to see it take place.

Perhaps we should recognize there is something special going on. Jesus promised to never leave us. He promised to send the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit lives within us. Why then would we choose to trust in worldly culture when we have the heavenly culture available to us? As we start this new year, let’s focus more on Jesus and God’s plan than on the world and its false ways.

Isaiah 60:6 

A multitude of camels shall cover you, 

the young camels of Midian and Ephah; 

all those from Sheba shall come. 

They shall bring gold and frankincense, 

and shall proclaim the praise of the LORD.

Pay Homage

The wise men we have been discussing for the past couple days finally reach the home where Mary and Joseph are with the infant Jesus. When they arrive and enter the house, they see the child with Mary. Perhaps she is holding Jesus in her arms or maybe feeding Him.

The wise men kneel before Jesus. This is a customary action when coming before royalty. The wise men recognized Jesus as king of the Jews. Perhaps they even recognized Him as the King of kings. As they knelt, they paid homage to Him. They likely spoke words of praise and honor.

The wise men did not end there. They opened their treasure chests and brought forth gifts. We all know gold has a great worth. But we may know less about frankincense and myrrh. They are both resinous gums from the region of Arabia, specifically the modern country of Yemen. They were used in the best perfumes.

These were gifts fit for a king. The Queen of Sheba brought gold, spices, and precious stones to Solomon. The gold is obvious to us. Yet, the gifts of frankincense and myrrh were used to not only make the body smell good, but used to make incense smell good, therefore enhancing the smell of an entire room.

What do we bring as a gift to Jesus? Do we contribute to the church financially? If our mind is properly on Jesus, we can count that contribution as giving to Him. Do we bring a sweet-smelling attitude of grace and mercy? If we do, we imitate Jesus. Do we seek to follow Him and His commands? If so, we are being obedient to the King of kings.

I pray we all kneel before Jesus. I pray we praise and honor Jesus. I pray each one of us are filled with grace and mercy, seeking to follow Jesus, who is the King of kings. Kneel before Jesus. Praise Jesus. Honor Jesus. Be filled with grace. Be full of mercy. Follow Jesus. See Him as the King of kings.

Matthew 2:11 On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

Sly and Conniving

How do you deal with sly people? Do you like dealing with them? Would you prefer to avoid them? What if you have no choice in the matter? Can you identify them as being sly? Do you try to be sly in return? What if the sly person you are dealing with is a government leader?

We may remark that someone is trying to be sly, but we have caught them in it. We then change our behavior or how we will react to their attempt at being sly. We may even chuckle at their attempt. But there are some who can be sly while appearing to be completely honest.

King Herod was being sly. He was conniving. He was a ruthless ruler who killed members of his own family because he thought they were seeking to usurp his authority. The Jews feared him. When he was frightened at hearing the ‘king of the Jews’ was born, so were the Jews who heard the news. They could foresee more killing being commanded by King Herod.

Notice that after King Herod was told by the chief priests and scribes where the Messiah would be born, he secretly gathered the wise men to learn the exact time the star appeared. Herod’s mind was already working on a plan to kill the child. Yet, he pretended he would pay homage to child in an effort to trick the wise men.

We may encounter sly and conniving people as well. It becomes more difficult to react appropriately to them when they are managers or leaders appointed over us. We must be both discerning and conscientious. To obtain the discernment we need, we should pray. God knows the entire situation and will guide us in the path we should take, which may include avoidance, specific opposition, or walking away from the situation entirely.

I pray we all ask God for discernment. I pray we seek to identify conniving and sly people. I pray each one of us ask God to guide us and follow his guidance on the pathway he wants us to walk. Spend time in prayer. Ask God for guidance. Ask God for discernment. Follow God’s guidance.

Matthew 2:7-8 Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.”

Put the Pieces Together

How old do you think Jesus was when the wise men visited? Do you envision Him being just a few days old? A few weeks? From where have you gotten that image? Has it been influenced by popular culture? Would it impact your faith if your image was incorrect?

The liturgical calendar of the church has us recognizing this Sunday as Epiphany Sunday. Epiphany is celebrated twelve days after Christmas. This year, it is Monday, January 6. Therefore, we celebrate is Sunday. Epiphany is when we recognize the wise men’s visit.

Unfortunately, we may think it was twelve days after Jesus’ birth that the wise men made their visit, which is not necessarily true. We can state it was more than eight days after Jesus was born for Luke 2:21 tells us that Jesus was circumcised according to Jewish custom on the eighth day and named Jesus. The Jews would formally name their male children on the day of their circumcision. This also confirms that Mary and Joseph followed the Jewish law.

Another interesting fact is Matthew states Bethlehem of Judea to indicate the Bethlehem that was just five miles south of Jerusalem rather than the Bethlehem of Zebulun, which was north. Yes, there were two different Bethlehem’s, and it was important to indicate the City of David, which fulfilled prophecy.

It is also very possible these wise men were Jewish. Minimally, they were familiar with the Jewish Scriptures and prophecy. These wise men knew a significant event had occurred. It is possible, and even likely, God guided these wise men to Jerusalem. They King Herod to enquire about the newborn king. We would be wise to enquire about the King of kings as well.

I pray we all seek the truth rather than cultural traditions. I pray we seek to understand Jewish customs. I pray each one of us will seek to know more about Jesus, the King of kings. Seek the truth. Understand Jewish customs. Put the pieces together. Seek to know more about Jesus.

Matthew 2:1-2 In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.”

A New Thing

Are you ready for the calendar to turn over? Are you hoping the new year will be better than the last one? Are you setting goals for yourself in the new year? Have you decided you will change direction in the coming year? What is your motivation for the new year?

When the calendar turns over to a new year, many people have renewed hope and renewed determination. Unfortunately, many of their resolutions fall to the wayside within a few weeks. They have good intentions. They may want to change. Yet, their resolve wains.

A new year may open new possibilities for us. Some will be graduating from high school or college and looking to get into the workforce full time. Their dreams are in front of them. They have high hopes. Their desire to be productive members of society is strong. As parents and grandparents, we wish them well and cheer them on.

Some are starting new jobs and hoping they turn out to be the right job. They have spent months (and maybe years) looking for the right job while working another job to pay the bills. Their hope is high. The new job is exciting. There is a lot to learn. They dive into the new job headfirst, seeking to make a good first impression.

Some are looking for a new relationship. They may have broken off a bad relationship late in the previous year. They are being more selective with who they decide to date. They may be looking for specific qualities for a future mate. They feel some trepidations yet are also filled with hope.

God did a new thing. We just celebrated it last week. He sent his Son to be an infant born of a virgin. His Son would grow into an adult and minister to the people He encountered for a little more than three years. His teachings would amaze the people of the day, and they still amaze us today. His miracles of feeding thousands with very little food, healing the sick, healing the lepers, and raising people from the dead would both amaze people and draw them to Him.

As we seek to start something new in the coming year, perhaps we should start by spending more time focusing on Jesus and all He has done. We should also seek to see Him working in our daily lives. Jesus has promised to never leave us (Matthew 28:20). Might I suggest we remember each and every day that Jesus is with us.

If we want our new year to be better, we must focus more on Jesus and less on this world. That doesn’t mean everything will go as we plan. It does mean that we can count on God to get us through whatever we may face with more peace, comfort, and joy than we would otherwise. Life can be hard. It is made easier by depending on God in all situations.

Isaiah 43:19

I am about to do a new thing; 

now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? 

I will make a way in the wilderness 

and rivers in the desert.

Paying Tribute

To whom do you pay tribute? How do you pay tribute? What is the reason beyond you paying tribute? Is your tribute financial? Is it paying respect? Is it honoring someone else? Is it praising someone else? Or are you only focused on your own accomplishments?

We don’t often use the word tribute for paying taxes, honoring someone, or praising someone for a significant accomplishment. Yet, that is what we are doing. Paying taxes is a requirement, even if one we wish we did not have to do. Honoring or praising someone else is voluntary.

When the Magi brought gifts to the baby Jesus, they were doing so voluntarily. They had read the prophecies, saw the signs, and were paying tribute to the King of kings. We may think it foolish that they brought such gifts as frankincense, gold, and myrrh to an infant. Yet, this was God’s plan. Each gift was valuable. Mary and Joseph were poor. And God was going to send them to Egypt to stay for a while. The gifts would have paid for their travels.

We, too, can bring gifts to Jesus. We can give financially to the church we belong to. Rather than viewing it as giving to an institution, we should view it as giving it to Jesus. Churches have a group of leaders who determine how those funds are spent. Being part of that leadership, I can truthfully state the leaders pray about how to be good stewards of those funds. They pray for God’s guidance.

We can also pay tribute to Jesus in other ways. We can bring our spiritual gifts and physical talents to the work He has set before the church. We can praise Him every day and especially when we are in corporate worship. We can honor Him through obedience to His commands—namely by loving God and loving our neighbor.

I pray we all decide to pay tribute to Jesus. I pray we give financially to God’s work in this world. I pray each of us will put our spiritual gifts and physical talents to work to execute God’s plan for the local church. Pay tribute to Jesus. Give financially. Give your spiritual gifts. Give your physical talents.

Psalm 72:10

May the kings of Tarshish and of the isles 

render him tribute, 

may the kings of Sheba and Seba 

bring gifts.

Praying for Leaders

What is your opinion of your nation’s leaders? Do you think it matters? Have you become indifferent? Do you pray for them? Don’t you think you should? What would you include in a prayer for them? Would pray they turn to God? Would you pray that God would guide them?

Praying for our leaders may feel odd to us at first. However, if we want to see God working in our nation, we need to pray for our leaders at all levels. We need to pray that God guide them and that they turn to God for guidance. God can and will do amazing things.

In today’s passage, the Psalmist is the king of Israel. Yet, this Psalm is viewed as having a dual intention. Yes, the Psalmist is praying for the king but is also prophesying the coming of the Messiah. It is common for prophesies of the Old Testament prophets to have dual meanings. Often there was a short-term meaning and a long-term meaning.

The seventy-second Psalm is credited to Solomon. He may have been praying for himself in this Psalm or perhaps his son who would take the throne. At the same time, he is prophesying of the coming Messiah. Solomon, regarded as the wisest man to live, had his faults. He needed God to guide him to rule Israel wisely. Still, he made mistakes.

Our leaders are human. They make mistakes. They need God’s guidance to rule justly. They need God’s wisdom to make wise decisions. They need God to be with them every moment of every day. That is where our prayers come in. As we pray for God to open their hearts and minds to him and pray that God be their guide, we will see God working in them.

I pray we all decide to pray for our nation’s leaders. I pray we pray for our leaders at all levels. I pray each one of us will follow the example of Solomon and pray for righteousness and justice. Pray for our nation’s leaders. Pray for all leaders. As God to guide them. Pray they rule with righteousness. Pray they rule justly.

Psalm 72:1-2

Give the king your justice, O God, 

and your righteousness to a king’s son. 

May he judge your people with righteousness, 

and your poor with justice.

Treasured Word(s)

Have you ever been curious about something you heard? Was the curiosity due to what you heard being amazing? Did you decide you had to go see it? Did you think it could not possibly be true? What did you find when you went to where it was?

We may hear of amazing things. If it is within driving distance, we may choose to go see it for ourselves. We may not think it is possible. We will only believe it if we see it. But how do we react when we find that it is true?

The shepherds had an amazing sight with the angels visited them and gave them the message about Jesus. Yet, the shepherds were not done for the evening. They decided they had to go see for themselves. So, they headed out right away to Bethlehem to find the newborn King along with Mary and Joseph.

Once they had seen the babe, they left rejoicing. Do we rejoice? Imagine how our lives would change if we rejoiced regularly. Imagine how big an impact we could make on those around us and in our world by rejoicing and celebrating Jesus all year long.

Though Mary did not go trotting down the street with the shepherds rejoicing, she treasured their words and pondered them. Imagine how our lives would be changed if we treasured God’s Word. Imagine how our thinking would change if we pondered them. Our entire life would be turned upside down, just as Jesus intended.

I pray we all celebrate Jesus and rejoice at His coming. I pray we treasure God’s Word and spend time reading it. I pray each one of us will ponder God’s Word and renew our minds in doing so. Celebrate Jesus. Rejoice at Jesus’ coming. Treasure God’s Word. Ponder God’s Word. Renew your minds.

Luke 2:15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.”

In Jesus’ Name

How do you approach the things you need to do? What is your attitude at work? Who is your inspiration for all you do? What is your motivation to accomplish your tasks? Are you striving for high achievements? Do you wish you had a great inspiration for those daily tasks?

Our attitude toward daily life, its daily tasks, and the mundane determines not only how we approach them but how well we will do them. Think not? We don’t typically like cleaning. We do enough to make things look decent but not always a deep cleaning.

Yet, if we approach every task as though it was for God, we might take them a little more seriously. If we cleaned our house as if cleaning it for Jesus, we might spend a little more time on those corners and the baseboards. But rather than cleaning because we want to impress, we should clean with the joy of the Lord. By the way, substitute any other task for cleaning.

Notice in today’s passage that we are to thank God while we are completing those daily tasks. Why? God has blessed so that we can complete them. We like to say there is always someone worse off than us. We should thank God we are as able to walk, see, speak, and listen. So, thank God while working on those daily tasks.

Having a positive attitude, an attitude of Christ, can make all the difference in how we go about our daily tasks. Giving thanks to God is a good way to change our attitude. Therefore, as we give thanks, our attitude gets better and as our attitude gets better, we perform better and as we perform better, we give thanks more.

I pray we all choose to give thanks to God. I pray we choose to have the attitude of Jesus. I pray each one of us do everything we do and say everything we say in the name of Jesus. Give thanks to God. Have the attitude of Jesus. Do everything in Jesus’ name.

Colossians 3:17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.