Child of God

Are you longing to belong? Do you want someone who will accept you for who you are? Are you looking for a special gift from someone special? Would you like to be set free from cultural expectations? How would you like to inherit more than you can imagine?

We all want to have a feeling of belonging. We want to be accepted by others. Our initial place to find it is family. If our family doesn’t accept us, we start looking elsewhere. Unfortunately, this is why some end up in gangs. Yet, there is someone else who accepts us for who we are.

We like receiving gifts. Gifts make us feel special and they are more special when coming from someone special. We also like giving gifts. And giving a special gift to a special someone makes us feel really good. Gifts can make us feel good whether receiving or giving them.

We often feel trapped, even if we don’t realize it. Our culture pressures us to comply to its expectations. Some expectations are good. For example, having good manners, being kind, and loving others. While others are bad. For example, thinking we need to buy things to be happy, we should put on a smile despite being unhappy, and we need lots of money to be happy.

The Apostle Paul tells us we can find all we desire in God. We are his children. Since we have accepted Jesus as our Savior, the Holy Spirit is planted in our hearts. We are no longer slaves to our culture; we are free as a child of God. As a child of God, we will inherit eternity with him. That means we will inherit more than this earth has to offer.

I pray we all find our acceptance in God. I pray we receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. I pray each one of us realize we are set free from cultures expectations and live as children of God. Know you are a child of God. Accept the Holy Spirit. Know that you have been set free. Trust you are an heir of God.

Galatians 4:6-7 And because you are children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child then also an heir, through God.

Perfect Timing

How do you feel about timing? Do you believe there is a time for everything? Or do you want everything right now? Is there something you are waiting for the right time for it to come to fruition? Do you try to move things forward to occur ahead of the proper time?

We can think of several things that must occur at the right time. Marriage proposals are often thought out and planned to occur at a specific time and place. Though we may not be able to choose the specific time, a baby’s birth occurs at the right time for it.

Our timing is not always perfect. We may be early for some occasions and late for others. For many of them, the timing is not as important as we might make it out to be. On the other hand, there are some occasions when the timing must be right. Delivering the punch line of a joke must be timed perfectly and delivered perfectly to achieve the maximum effect.

God has put his plan in motion and everything in his plan is executed at the right time—perfect timing. It was at the perfect moment that he parted the Red Sea. He perfectly timed Joseph being recognized as an interpreter of dreams. He sent his Son, Jesus Christ, at the right time to carry out His mission.

God continues to have perfect timing for us, even if we do not always think so. He puts us in the right place at the right time. In fact, it is through his perfect timing and putting me in the right place that I am now a pastor. I firmly believe he sent to different places to gain experiences that would help me in my ministry. I’ve lived in a few different states, visited many more, and been to foreign countries. Each of those jobs and locations gave me different experiences.

Might I suggest we take time to look back over our lives, even if just the past year, to take stock in how God has worked in our lives. Think about the experiences. Think about the people you have met. Think about lessons learned or could be learned from them. God’s timing is perfect. He puts us in places to experience and learn what he wants to teach us.

I pray we all review our lives and how God has worked in them. I pray we look back over the past year to learn the lessons God wanted to teach us. I pray each one of us believe God’s timing is perfect. Review your life. Review the past year. Learn the lessons God is teaching. Trust God’s timing. 

Galatians 4:4-5 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, in order to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as children.

Waiting for Righteousness

Are you waiting for something? Are you hoping it will come quickly? Does your object of desire need to grow? Will you assist in its growth? Do you need someone else to provide what you are waiting for? How long will you wait? Are you waiting for God to show you his plan?

We wait for many things. Some of them are deep desires. Others are simply part of life. Sometimes we can help them come to fruition. Other times we cannot. As we wait, we may become impatient. Or we may not need to wait for long.

Waiting for an opportunity to buy a new house may take a long time as we save money and look for the right house. Waiting to buy a new car may take less time or may never happen. Waiting to have children can be both challenging and very rewarding. In our waiting for these things, we can become very impatient. Impatience can cause us to go into more debt than is wise.

As Christians, we also wait for the full implementation of God’s plan. Yet, as we see in today’s passage, through the prophet Isaiah, God promised to bring about his righteousness. In fact, we see that it will spring up before all the nations. What does this mean? It means God’s righteousness will be clearly evident to all people around the entire earth.

Though we still wait, we can be assured that God will bring his righteousness into view for all to see. We can be confident that God will execute his plan in his time. We may wait and not see it before we pass from this earth. Regardless of whether we see it in our lifetime or in eternity, we can trust that God is at work and will complete his plan.

I pray we all trust that God will complete his plan. I pray we are confident that God will bring about righteousness. I pray each one of us will assist God’s plan by spreading his Word to people we meet. Trust God. Be confident in God’s plan. Look for God’s righteousness. Participate in God’s plan.

Isaiah 61:11

For as the earth brings forth its shoots,

and as a garden causes what is sown in it to spring up, 

so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise 

to spring up before all the nations.

The Day After

What do you do the day after a big celebration? What do you do when a several days long celebration has concluded? Do you fall into your bed exhausted? Do you plan a couple days off work to recuperate and rejuvenate yourself? What if it is holy day you have been celebrating?

We all celebrate in a variety of ways for a variety of reasons. Often the day after the celebration feels like a letdown. It can be a depressing day. It’s all over. It’s back to work and the repetitive days that grow tiresome. We may wish it we could relive the celebration.

As with every day of our lives, we can only live the celebration day once. Sure, we can remember and reminisce about them. But cannot relive them. So, what are we to do? We can start by giving thanks to God for the celebration we had. We can praise God for giving us the opportunity to celebrate.

No, giving God thanks and praising him will not replace the feeling of celebration. But it will lift our spirits. You see, a thankful spirit cannot be depressed. When we praise God, our spirits are lifted out of the depths of despair. It is amazing how much better we feel when we are thankful and praising God.

So, as we celebrate and the celebrations end, let us be thankful for the opportunities to celebrate that God has given us. Let’s focus our minds on praising God rather than the celebration that has concluded. When we do, we not only give God the thanks and praise he deserves, but we lift our own spirits.

I pray we all spend time thanking God for his blessings. I pray we praise God for the opportunities he presents us. I pray each one of us lift our spirits while giving thanks and praising God. Celebrate. Remember the celebration. Give thanks to God. Praise God. Lift your spirits. 

Psalm 148:13

Let them praise the name of the Lord, 

for his name alone is exalted; 

his glory is above earth and heaven.

Word Became Flesh

Have you ever thought about the Word of God becoming flesh in the baby Jesus? He is the very Word by which all things were created. As the Word, He existed before time began. Pause a moment and let that sink in. The one we celebrate on Christmas day existed before time.

We celebrate Him coming into His creation as a babe. We celebrate the Son of God, the One who created the entire universe stepping out of heaven and into a broken world. A world that fell when Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit by falling to the temptation of Satan.

And think about the situation of the world in which Jesus stepped. He didn’t live in a perfect town with perfect people. He lived in a nation that had been conquered several times, most recently by the Romans. He lived in a time when it was dangerous to travel the roads alone. Thieves and cutthroats hid in ambush of an easy target. The religious leaders had been corrupted by power. The Jewish people were subservient to the Romans.

Joseph was a construction worker who scratched out a living. When Jesus was born, Mary was still a young girl, likely between the ages of 12 and 14. Both of them were righteous, as recorded in Matthew and Luke. So, they would have loved Jesus and educated as well as they could in the ways of God.

Think about that for just a moment. Jesus, God himself, being taught by humans about God. Sounds a little odd, doesn’t it? Yet, Jesus grew up as a human boy, just as we grow up. His body and mind were human. His spirit was God. These are mysteries to ponder. But do not allow any of the mysteries keep you from celebrating the birth of Jesus. His birth was the first step toward Him becoming our Savior. Certainly, something to celebrate.

I pray we all celebrate the birth of Jesus. I pray we see Jesus for who He is, God in human form. I pray each one of us understand that Jesus did not have the perfect childhood nor grow up in a perfect situation. Know Jesus for who He is. Know there are mysteries of God you will not understand. Celebrate the birth of Jesus. Celebrate your Savior.

John 1:14 And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth.

The Miracle

Have you experienced a miracle? Have you experienced something extraordinary? Have you been overwhelmed with joy? What were your first thoughts when it happened? Did you give credit where credit is due? What are your thoughts reflecting on it?

Miracles are rare, yet common. Many times, we miss the miracle before our eyes. The extraordinary is often a matter of perspective. Being overwhelmed with joy can be fleeting or constant. Our thoughts and reflections on any of these occurrences can change over time.

Though we often think of miracles as being extremely rare, if nearly nonexistent, they are not. The miracle of life and births occur every day. No birth was more miraculous than the birth of Jesus. Why? In his birth God came down from heaven to live among his creation. It is unprecedented and a one-time occurrence.

Because of his birth, we should be overwhelmed with joy. But this joy should not be just on Christmas day. It should stay with us every day of the year. We should continually remind ourselves that God cared enough for us to come be with us. After all, one of the names that identifies Jesus is Immanuel—God with us. No greater event has ever happened.

As we celebrate Christmas, the coming of Christ in infant form, let’s commit to remembering his miraculous birth every day. Let’s also commit to becoming more like Him and living our lives by His commands. We can start by welcoming the Holy Spirit into our lives and learning to listen to him. As we listen, hear his messages, and follow his guidance, we become more like Jesus and experience His joy.

I pray we all commit to remembering the birth of Jesus. I pray we commit to reminding ourselves every day. I pray each one of us will live our lives according to Jesus’ commands. Remember the miracle of Jesus’ birth. Welcome in the Holy Spirit. Listen, learn, and experience overwhelming joy.

Luke 2:6-7 While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

Perfect Timing

Have you experienced a decree stating you are to do something you would rather not do? Did it come from upper management at your place of work? Was it a government mandate you didn’t agree with? What was your reaction? How did the mandate work out in the end?

We sometimes wonder how upper management came to a decision that passed down a mandate that simply doesn’t make sense to us. We gripe and grumble about it. We may be tempted to ignore it. Yet, in the end, we often have no choice but to obey it.

We may discover much later that the mandate was done for a reason, and it worked to the good of the company or country. We didn’t foresee how it would play out. We thought it didn’t make sense. But perhaps months or years later, it made complete sense. As we reflect on how it worked and the good that came from it, we see what upper management saw when they instituted it.

I’m sure Mary and Joseph were not thrilled about the mandate Emperor Augustus handed down. They may have thought it would have been fine if it had come a few months earlier or a few months later. The timing was not right for Mary to travel about one-hundred miles. On the other hand, they may have had purer thoughts, thinking that God was in control and there was a reason for the mandate. As it turned out, God did have a reason for the mandate.

Prophecy stated the Messiah was to be born in Bethlehem, the city of David. Both Mary and Joseph were descended from the line of David. Therefore, they were required to travel to Bethlehem to be counted in the census. The timing was perfect. Jesus was born exactly where God intended Him to be born.

We can learn a lesson from Mary and Joseph’s experience. God is in control. His timing is impeccable. We may not understand it until much later. But make no mistake about it, God is executing his plan in our midst. Much like Mary and Joseph, we merely need to trust in God and obey the mandates passed down to us.

I pray we all learn the lesson of Mary and Joseph. I pray we trust that God is executing his plan. I pray each one of us will obey mandates, go where we are called, and do what we are called to do. Learn from Mary and Joseph. Trust God is in control. Know God has impeccable timing. Hold on to your faith.

Luke 2:1 In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered.

Magnify the Lord

Giving God the glory he deserves can easily slip our minds this time of year. We are busy preparing for gatherings, special services, and Christmas day. We scurry about trying to ensure everything is perfect. We cram in several places to be and many people to meet.

But what was it like to be Mary carrying the unborn Jesus? Have you spent any time thinking about her situation? Have you tried to put yourself in her place? Have you read her song of praise to God for what he had done in her life? Perhaps you should take time to do so.

When Mary heard that her relative, perhaps a distant cousin, was also expecting a baby boy in her old age, Mary took off to go see her. When she arrived at Elizabeth’s house, Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and humbled herself before Mary. She also blessed Mary and told her that even the baby she was carrying had jumped within her when Mary arrived.

What was Mary’s reaction? She sang a song of praise (Luke 1:46-55). Not only is her song a song of praise, but it is a song of remembrance and prophecy. She remembers what God has done in the past and states what God will do in the future. The only explanation for her song is she was filled with the Holy Spirit, too.

How did this happen? Mary was humble, accepting God’s plan for her life. Though she was a young girl, perhaps between the age of twelve and fifteen, she was already mature enough in her faith to trust God was at work for her good. Mary may not have understood God’s entire plan nor exactly how things would play out with her forthcoming son, but she trusted God.

We, too, can trust God, just as Mary did. We are told that God works for the good of those who love him (Romans 8:28). Jesus promised us that whatever we ask in His name He will do so the Father will be glorified (John 14:13-14). Our trust in God, understanding his will for our lives, and asking in Jesus’ name will provide us with confidence of God working for our good.

I pray we all humble ourselves before God. I pray we trust God is working for our good. I pray each one of us will ask in accordance with God’s will and in Jesus’ name for whatever we need. Humble yourself before God. Trust God is working for your good. Ask in accordance with God’s will. Sing praises to God. Give God the glory.

Luke 1:46-48a And Mary said, 

“My soul magnifies the Lord, 

and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, 

for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant.”

Unexpected News

Have you ever received stunning news? Was it unexpected bad news that came out of the blue? Or was it good news that excited you to the point of jumping for joy? Have you not received that kind of news? How do you think you would feel if you were in Mary’s sandals?

We receive unexpected bad news at times. I can still remember the shock that went through me when I received the unexpected news a few years ago that I was fired from my job. I had never experienced something like that in all my fifty-six years. To say I was caught off guard is an understatement.

We may also receive unexpected good news. I have wondered what people who win millions of dollars in the lottery feel. Of course, as I’ve matured, I have also thought that may not be good news. But many in our world would consider it exceptional news. They begin thinking about all the things they can buy with all that money. Therein lies the problem with winning the lottery.

Mary received unexpected news. Gabriel suddenly appeared to her and tells her she is going to have a baby. If that is not enough, he tells her what to name the child and how great her baby boy will be. Since Mary was not yet married, I’m sure there were all sorts of things running through her mind. What will my mother and father think? Will they kick me out of the house? What will the neighbors think? Will I be allowed to go to the market again? And, of course, the question she asked Gabriel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” (Luke 1:34).

Just as Mary likely had several questions, we may have questions when God does something unexpected in our lives. But we must react just as Mary did. She humbly submitted to God’s plan and continued in her faith. We must trust that God has something good planned for us, even if it takes a while for it to be fully revealed to us.

I pray we all believe God’s plan is for our good. I pray we humbly submit to God’s plan. I pray each one of us will react as Mary did, continuing in our faith, and being joyful that God is using us. Expect the unexpected. Know that God has a plan. Humbly submit to God. Continue in your faith.

Luke 1:31-33 “And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”

Angelic Presence

How do you think you might react if you were to encounter an angel? What if it was not just any angel, but the angel of the Lord? What if it was the special angel God always sent to bring a message to someone he specifically chose? Would you be able to stand or fall on your knees?

It is not common for us to encounter angels. In fact, it is extremely rare. It is even more rare for Gabriel to bring a message to someone. As we scour the pages of Scripture, we only see Gabriel bring messages to people who have been chosen by God to complete a specific task.

We only see two angels specifically named in Scripture. Michael is only mentioned when there is a battle against evil. We may even think of him as God’s enforcer against evil. On the other hand, Gabriel is God’s chosen messenger. We see him bring messages to a variety of people, including both Mary and Joseph.

Do not think Gabriel is any less powerful than Michael. I’m sure there is an awesome presence about him. If he were to suddenly appear to us, we would immediately recognize his power and presence. We would also know that he was sent to us by God. We would likely be overcome by a desire to fall to our knees. We would immediately realize we were no match for him.

Mary saw Gabriel face-to-face. I can only imagine that she was shook. How would we react to Gabriel suddenly appearing to us? That might be a good question for us to ponder. Being in the presence of God’s messenger is not something to take lightly. It would be even more knee-bending to be in the presence of Jesus. Imagine being in the very presence of God, being face-to-face with him.

I pray we all take a moment to imagine what it would be like to be face-to-face with God. I pray we ponder the thought of being in Mary’s sandals. I pray each one of us realize the awesome presence of an angel and Jesus Christ. Realize the power of God. Be in awe of angelic encounters. Know that one day you will stand before God face-to-face.

Luke 1:26-27 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary.