Where Are You From? Who Are Your People?

“When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord.” Luke 2:22

Jesus’ parents took Him to the temple in Jerusalem according to God’s instructions. There were two very devout people in the temple who recognized the fact that the baby Jesus was the Messiah the Jews had been expecting for many years. The Holy Spirit had revealed to Simeon that he would see the Messiah before he died. The Spirit moved Simeon to go into the temple courts at the exact time when Mary and Joseph arrived with baby Jesus. God is always right on time. He is never late, although we are afraid He will be late or think that He is already late, according to our timetable.

Simeon took baby Jesus in his arms and praised God for keeping His promise to allow him to see the Messiah. He said, in essence, “Now I can die in peace.” He said, “For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.” (Luke 2:30-32) Then Simeon blessed them and pronounced this prophecy, “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.” (Luke 2:34b-35)

There was also a prophet named Anna in the temple. She had been married for seven years but now was an 84 year old widow. She never left the temple but prayed and fasted night and day. When she saw the baby, she came up to Mary and Joseph, and “she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.” (Luke 2:38b) These two very devout people were directed by the Holy Spirit to declare that Jesus was not only a very special baby--most parents think that about their children--but they indicated that He was the long expected Messiah Himself. This evidence alone would not be enough to prove that Jesus was the Messiah, but it adds weight to the other evidences that prove His claim.

Father, thank You for all the credentials You gave Jesus when He came to earth so we could know He really is Your Son. Amen.

What Is Your Response to the Birth of Jesus?

“As for you, Bethlehem of Ephrathah, though you are the least significant of Judah’s forces, one who is to be a ruler in Israel on my behalf will come out from you. His origin is from remote times, from ancient days.” Micah 5:2 (Common English Bible)

Mary and Joseph lived in Nazareth, but the prophecy in Micah 5:2 said the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. God moved Caesar Augustus, the Roman emperor, to issue a decree that a census would be taken of everyone in the Roman world. Joseph was required to register in Bethlehem, so Mary and Joseph made the journey there. While they were in Bethlehem, the baby Jesus was born, fulfilling the prophecy in Micah. Don’t you just love watching the sovereignty of God at work?!

One of the most remarkable aspects of the Messiah’s birth was the humble circumstances of His arrival. The birth itself took place in a stable. Jesus’ first bed was a manger, a feeding trough for animals. The birth announcement was given, not to the Bethlehem Daily News, but to lowly shepherds watching their sheep. Jesus came for all people. No one is too insignificant to  be included in God’s plan of salvation.

After Jesus’ birth, an angel appeared to some shepherds who were in the field watching their flocks and said, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.” (Luke 2:10b-11) Then a great company of angels appeared, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” (Luke 2:14)

The shepherds searched until they found the baby Jesus, and they worshiped Him. They they spread the word about His birth.

God sent a special star to guide some wise men from afar to the baby Jesus. They brought gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh to the baby.

In these scenes, we see different responses to the coming of Jesus. The shepherds responded to the announcement of the angel by seeking Jesus until they found Him. Then they worshiped Him. Afterward they shared this amazing news with others.

The wise men brought gifts. Giving is a part of worship. It expresses gratitude for all that God has given us. It has been well said that we can give without loving, but we cannot love without giving.

Herod sought to kill Jesus, and there is much opposition to Him in our world today. The religious leaders paid no attention to Jesus. They made no effort to find Him. So we have possible responses to His coming of opposition, indifference, seeking Jesus, worshiping Jesus, giving Jesus gifts, and telling others about Jesus. How have you responded?

Father, may I respond to the birth of Jesus into the world by seeking His company; by worshiping Him; by giving Him gifts of time, energy, and resources; and, by telling others the amazing story of His birth and helping them find Him, too. Amen.

What Comes in December?

“Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.”  Luke 2:11

I had a sweet surprise this week. I was chatting with my four year old great granddaughter, Annie, and she mentioned that it was December.  Naturally, I asked her what comes in December. I was prepared to hear about Santa Claus or presents but I was thrilled when she answered “Baby Jesus”.

After my younger daughter was married and had children of her own, she was bustling around getting everything ready for Christmas one year. She looked at me and said, “I liked it better when you did all the work and I just enjoyed Christmas!” I guess she did. She is the same daughter who told me recently “making memories is a lot of work”. We love making happy memories for our grandchildren but it is a lot of work.

What does the coming of Christmas mean to you? Is it shopping and decorating and cooking and going to parties and pageants? Are you all caught up in the peripheral parts of Christmas? Overwhelmed by all that needs to be done? Or do you draw apart often during the Christmas season to meditate on what the coming of the baby Jesus means in the world and in your life?

I always loved seeing the children in our family and the wonder and excitement on their faces as Christmas approached. My husband was not what I would call a “Christmas person”.  Now that he is spending his Christmases in heaven, it has become my job to pay property taxes at the end of the year, to decide which financial decisions needs to be made before the year ends, and get ready to pay part of my income tax in January. These business responsibilities have given me insight as to why my husband wasn’t as thrilled to see Christmas and the end of the year roll around as I was.

What about you? Do you feel so overwhelmed with business and financial decisions that must be made before January 1 that you feel like Scrooge? Or do you take time out to thank and praise God for business and finances to support your family? Do you draw apart often during December to meditate on what the coming of baby Jesus means to you, your family, and the way you are living your life?

Who comes in December? Baby Jesus! Are you welcoming him anew this year?

Father, may we focus on the coming of Your Son into this world. Bless in our celebration of His birth. Amen.

God's Everything

"For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and in Christ you have been brought to fullness."  Colossians 2:9-10a

The Reverend Ron Dunn used to say,  "Jesus is God's everything!"  The earmarks of our Christmas celebration highlight some of the major needs of man, and they are fulfilled in Jesus.

We string lights on our Christmas trees and our houses in an effort to counter the darkness of a sinful, painful world and the starkness of our everyday existence.  Jesus is the Light of this dark, evil world, and He brings goodness, brightness, and cheerfulness to our day-to-day lives.  Just as we use bright colors in ribbon, wrapping paper, and decorations, Jesus colors our lives with hope, peace, and joy.

Think of the wonderful, familiar music of Christmas.  Jesus brings music to the souls of those who walk closely with Him.

We give gifts in an effort to express recognition, appreciation, and love in a tangible way.  God has given us the greatest Gift ever given to show us how high and deep and wide His love is for us.  At Christmas we give generously to those who are less fortunate materially, and God gives to us, not only generously, but lavishly.  In fact, all good gifts ultimately come from God.

During the holidays we gather with family and friends with a desire to be loved.  Just as we are born into a physical family when we are babies, when we become Christians, God places us into His forever family with many brothers and sisters.  The fatherhood of God presupposes the brotherhood of man.  And Jesus is our Best Friend who sticks with us through all the parts of life.

When Jesus was born in Bethlehem, the supernatural, the miraculous entered this natural world.  When we light the Christ candle on the Advent Wreath, or as we ponder how we have celebrated the coming of Christ into the world, let us remember always that He is our Light, our Hope, our Peace, our Joy, our Love, our Gift, our Best Friend, and our Miracle--our Everything.

Father, thank You for the gift of Jesus and everything You have given us with Him.  Amen.

4 Gifts on Everyone's Christmas List

The fifth candle of an Advent wreath is the Christ candle. It is the most important candle of all because, without Christ, we would not have the hope, peace, love, or joy represented by the other four candles.  All of these qualities originate in God and come to us through Christ.

We would still be in our sins, without hope for the future, had Christ not died so we could be forgiven and know that we have an eternal home in heaven.  Colossians 1:27 tells us,  "God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory."  1 Timothy 4:10 gives us these words,  "That is why we labor and strive, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, and especially of those who believe."  And Psalm 146:5 says,  "Blessed are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord their God."

Our peace comes to us through the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ our Lord.  Ephesians 2:14a tells us of Jesus,  "For he himself is our peace..."  In John 14:27 we read these words of Jesus,  "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you."  In John 16:37a Jesus said,  "I have told you these things so that in me you might have peace..."  Isaiah 26:3 has this wonderful promise,  "You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you."

We are able to love God and to love others with God's love, which comes to us because Jesus Christ died for us.  Romans 5:5b,  "God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us."  When Jesus returned to heaven, He sent us the Holy Spirit, Who gives us God's love.

Truly it is knowing Christ and walking closely step by step with Him that floods ours hearts with joy,  That joy nourishes our spirits and enables us to endure the trials and tribulations of life with full and grateful hearts.  We might each say with Acts 2:21, "You have made known to me the paths of life; You will fill me with joy in Your presence."

Everything we are and everything we have is a gift from God, given to us because of His precious, holy Son, the Christ of Christmas and of everyday.

Father, thank You for giving us hope, peace, love, and joy.  Most of all, thank You for giving us Jesus, through Whom You have given us so many good things. Amen.  

Is There Any Peace in This World?

"Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.  Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone.  Forgive as the Lord forgave you.  And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.  Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace.  And be thankful."  Colossians 3:12-15

Peace is an elusive commodity in this old world.  From suicide bombers and all the other terrorist acts overseas to fractured relationships with other people to the tragedies of life that may befall us, it seems that the disturbance of peace lurks around every corner.  Is there anything we can do to keep peace in our lives?

There are several aspects to peace.  For instance, there are many calamities of life which we are helpless to prevent, but trusting God through the ones that come to us helps us go through them with peace in our hearts.  God promises to give His perfect peace to those who put their trust in Him.

We need to keep our peace with God by obeying His commands and confessing and repenting right away when we sin.

One of the most painful disturbances of our peace comes when we quarrel with someone we love.  It helps us maintain a peaceful life when we deal with love, compassion, mercy, and forgiveness to the people in our lives.  

We are particularly exhorted to keep the unity and the peace which Jesus has given to His body, the church.  We have some important bonds with our fellow believers.  D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones said,  "We are all equally sinners...We are all equally helpless...We have all come to one and the same Savior...We have the same salvation...We have the same Holy Spirit...We have the same Father...And finally, we are all marching and going together to the same eternal home.  It is a knowledge and appreciation of these things that will draw us together."

So, not only do I wish you a Merry Christmas, but I wish you a Christmas filled with God's peace in your heart and in your relationships.

Father, thank You for that peace that passes understanding that is available to us.  What a precious gift.  Amen.

How to Find Peace

Colossians 3:15a,  "Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace."

There are three kinds of peace discussed in the Bible.  The first kind, peace with God, is a prerequisite for the second kind, the peace of God, and enables the third kind, peace with other people.

The most important thing we celebrate during the Christmas season is peace with God, our salvation, the forgiveness of our sins and the assurance of heaven, all through Jesus Christ.  Isaiah 9:6, "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders.  And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." Isaiah 53:5c,  "The punishment that brought us peace was on him. Ephesians 2:14a, "For he himself is our peace." Colossians 1:19-20,  "For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood shed on the cross." Romans 5:1, "Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ."  

We all seek inner peace in a noisy world where we are surrounded by problems and troubles and evil. God can give us His peace in the midst of turmoil and chaos and opposition. Jesus promised in John 14:27,  "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you." Galatians 5:22 tells us that peace is a fruit produced in lives that are controlled by the Holy Spirit. Romans 8:6 says it this way, "The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace." Isaiah 26:3 tells us that our part is faith, saying, "You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you."

To those who have peace with God and are walking in the peace of God, the Bible gives exhortations to live in peace with other people. Over and over Scripture tells us to live peaceful lives. Psalm 34:14b,  "Seek peace and pursue it." Zechariah 8:19b, "Love truth and peace." Jesus' words in Mark 9:50, "Be at peace with each other." Romans 12:18, "If it is possible,as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone."

As we worship the Prince of Peace this holy season, may we honor and glorify Him by sharing His peace with those around us.

My prayer for us all is found in 2 Thessalonians 3:16a,  "Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way."

What brings you joy?

"But the angel said to them,  "Do not be afraid.  I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people."  Luke 2:10

The coming of Jesus into the world is an event which brings us joy deep within our hearts. Jesus told His disciples,  "I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.” (John 15:11) What did Jesus tell His disciples that brought them such joy? The verses that precede John 15:11 answer our question. They say,  "As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commands and remain in His love." (John 15:9-10)  This is great good news--the omnipotent God who created and sustains this vast universe loves us. These words of Jesus are for us as well as for His disciples.

How should we respond to such a great love from God Himself? Scripture gives us direction. Psalm 47:1 says, "Clap your hands, all you nations; shout to God with cries of joy..."  Verses 1-2 in Psalm 66 say, "Shout for joy to God, all the earth! Sing the glory of His name; make His praise glorious." Isaiah 12:5 exhorts us to "Sing to the Lord, for He has done glorious things; let this be known to all the world."

Not only do we rejoice and worship and praise God, but we pass the wonder of it all on to others. Paul said to Philemon, "Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the Lord's people." (Philemon 1:7) Is there someone who needs your encouragement today?

We walk in obedience to God's commands because He loves us and we love Him. John wrote in 2 John 1:4, "It has given me great joy to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as the Father commanded us.”

The book of Jude closes with a beautiful doxology of praise which stems from the joy Jesus gives to those who are His. May it lead us in our worship of the Lord today.

Jude 1:24-25, "To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy--to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power, and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore.  Amen.”

When Traditions Fail, Where Do You Find Strength?

Nehemiah 8:10c,  "The joy of the Lord is your strength."

Every Christmas season my heart returns to the past, to the house where I grew up, and to the wonderful Christmases I spent with my parents, my brother, and the rest of my family. I can still picture my Aunt Bill unmolding gelatin salads on a tray and piling the carved turkey high on a platter. I still thrill with excitement when I remember my Aunt Johnny and Uncle Fred arriving from out of town with big smiles on their faces, hugs all around, and a car packed full of presents.

The scene often shifts to the Christmases my husband and I spent with our children when they were growing up and Santa Claus was real to them. I could barely contain my excitement on Christmas Eve as I laid out their toys and anticipated their reactions on Christmas morning. These are such happy memories, and I yearn to relive those times and see those precious faces again.

The Christmas season in recent years has changed for me and my family. My children, and even some of my grandchildren, are grown, and there are seven great grandchildren. Because there are so many of us, it is no longer feasible to gather the whole crowd at one time, so we are having several smaller Christmas celebrations. It is not the same, and I miss our traditions.

Christmas past and present can be bitter sweet, but the future holds only joy for those who will one day celebrate this holiday with its honoree, Jesus Christ. Jesus came that we might rejoice in the sweet memories of the past and in His constant presence with us in the present, but, most of all, so we can rejoice in the eternal future which He has lovingly prepared for each of His children. So there can be, and should be, joy even in the middle of our losses in the past and our problems in the present because of all that the future holds for us. Rejoice!

Father, I rejoice in the sweet memories of the past, in Your constant presence with me now, and in the future You have prepared for us. Thank You.  Amen.

"Talk Is Cheap"

Romans 5:8,  "But God demonstrated his own love for us in this: while we were still sinners Christ died for us."

A friend of mine would say of certain people,  "They talk a good game," implying that their words were idle chatter, with no action behind them.  James 1:22 admonishes us,  "Do not merely listen to the word and so deceive yourselves.  Do what it says," and James 2:14,  "What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds?  Can such faith save him?" and James 2:18b,  "Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do."  In other words, what we say should be backed up by our actions to prove that our words are true.  Today we have the saying,  "Talk is cheap."  Actions exact a price--sometimes in time, sometimes in energy, and sometimes we are required to make a sacrifice of money or something else material.

God tells us over and over in the Scripture how much He loves us, but His words are not just cheap conversation.  He has backed them up by action after action.

First of all, God created a world with air, water, food, heat--all the things He knew we would need physically--and He included beauty to minister to our hearts and souls as well.  Then He created us, breathing into our bodies the breath of life.  He sustains us and our world day after day.  Colossians 2:17b, speaking of Christ, says,  "In him all things hold together."

Second, Jesus is our Emmanuel, God with us, and he has promised never to leave us nor forsake us.

Third, God takes us to be His children just as we are, but He loves us too much to leave us like He finds us.  He is always working to make us more and more like His Son Jesus, and He never gives up.

Fourth, our heavenly Father's ears are always attentive to our prayers.  He hears us and answers us.  He works all things that happen to us for our good if we love Him and are obeying Him.

Most of all, God proved His love for us by the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.  John 15:13,  "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends."

Over and over God has proven to us, and continues to show us, how very much He loves us.  Celebrate His love.  Bask in it.  And pass it along all year.

Father, thank You for loving us and showing Your love to us in so many ways.  Amen.  

Where Is Your Hope? What Is Your Anchor?

"We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure." Hebrews 6:19a

"Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful." Hebrews 10:23

One week I was watching a boy at physical therapy as he sat on a rolling stool and pushed himself across the floor with his injured leg.  His progress was slow and laborious because a huge metal weight was attached to the back of the stool by a wide canvas belt.  As the young fellow struggled to drag that weight along, my inclination was to take scissors and cut the weight loose from the stool so he could move unhindered.  Then I thought of all the weights we drag around that hinder our progress, weights caused by problems and circumstances.  The therapists had a broad view, the big picture, of the boy's improvement in mind when they attached the weight to the stool, and God has our improvement in mind when He allows us to struggle with problems and circumstances.  The boy's leg needed to be strengthened, and our faith needs to grow stronger and deeper.  God's promise in Romans 8:28, that all things will work for our good if we belong to Him, gives us hope as we keep struggling against the weights in our lives.

Christians have an even broader view, a bigger picture, than the therapists, because we have an eternal perspective.  Abraham as he rode swaying camels across dry, dusty lands and lived in hot, stuffy tents, had an eternal perspective.  Hebrews 11:10 says of him,  "For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God."

This life is not all there is.  Ahead of each Christian is a heavenly home where we shall see our Father face to face, be able to bow before the Lord Jesus in grateful adoration, and bask in the presence of the blessed Holy Spirit.  Heaven is a magnificent place, specially prepared with love by God for His children.  It is a place of no more sickness nor sin nor sadness nor sorrow, no more guilt or regrets, a place of eternal joy.  Because of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection, there is help for the helpless and hope for the hopeless.  A glorious future is in store for us.  Let us place our hope in God, as Abraham did.

Father, thank You for all that You have lovingly prepared for those who belong to You.  May we always find hope in You and in our future.  Amen.

Heaven

“Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” 1 Corinthians 2:9 (KJV)

I am at the beach at Gulf Shores, Alabama. The sky is that amazing blue with wisps of white clouds. The waves of the ocean are lazily undulating toward the shore against an expanse of crystal white sand. The sun is beaming benevolently on the entire scene, glinting off the water and causing myriads of sparkles. The ocean and the sky meet at the horizon miles and miles away. It is an awesome sight.

One year my daughter Weety took her children to the beach and also took a babysitter who had never been to the beach before. She said the babysitter was so overwhelmed by the immensity and the beauty of the ocean that she pulled up a chair on the beach and sat there for the longest time staring at the sight before her. Then she called her husband and said, “You are never going to believe this!” Hearing about the beach and the ocean and seeing them are two entirely different things.

I think there must be a corollary with heaven. We have some amazing descriptions of it in the book of Revelation. But I’m sure reading about it and seeing it first hand will be two entirely different things. No doubt it will be so incredible we will wish we could phone our loved ones on earth and say, “You are never going to believe this!”

Father, thank You for the eternal place You have prepared for those who love You and all the pleasures You have provided there for us. The greatest joy will be that You are there with us! Amen.

Nothing Is Too Hard for God

“‘I am the Lord’s servant,’ Mary answered. ‘May your word to me be fulfilled.’”  Luke 1:38a

Sometimes the problems that surround God’s call on our lives seem insurmountable, and for us they are. But nothing is too hard for God, and whenever He requires us to do something, He will provide the necessary resources. Even when we don’t fully understand God’s plan, and even though His plan may include hardship and suffering, our part is to say yes to Him and trust Him for the outcome, as Mary did.

A crucial detail concerning Jesus’ birth was the fact that His mother was a virgin. When the angel Gabriel came to Mary, a young girl who was espoused to a man named Joseph, the angel came before the expected marriage had taken place. When Gabriel told Mary she would have a son, she responded, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” (Luke 1:34) Mary wasn’t objecting to God’s plan. She was simply asking how this could happen. The angel gave her this explanation: “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.” (Luke 1:35)

When Joseph, Mary’s intended husband, heard that she was expecting a child, he could have had her stoned since she appeared to be an adulterous woman. But Joseph was a man of mercy. Matthew 1:19, “Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.”

Mary had responded to Gabriel’s announcement with submission to God’s will no matter what it would cost her. No doubt she dreaded Joseph’s reaction when he would hear the news. But God took care of that. God sent an angel who told Joseph not to be afraid to take Mary home as his wife, because that which was conceived in her was from the Holy Spirit. Joseph did as the angel had instructed, taking Mary as his wife.

Jesus came into the world with Mary as His mother, but the Holy Spirit was His birth father. He was born of the seed of Mary but not of the seed of Joseph. When a baby is born of the seed of man, he inherits man’s characteristics--two eyes, a nose, a mouth, two arms, two legs, etc., and a sin nature. But, since Jesus was born of God rather than man, He was born without a sin nature--the sinless Son of God. Therefore, He could die for the sins of others. He had no sins of His own that required atonement; He could pay the penalty for your sins and my sins, and He did. That’s why he came.
Lord Jesus, thank You for donning the garment of humanity and for dying for my sins. Amen.

The Secret of Integrity

Daniel 6

"The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them."  Psalm 34:7

God had allowed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to be tested. They were faithful to worship only God, and God rescued them from the fiery furnace.

Now it was Daniel's turn to be tested. Darius the king appointed one hundred twenty men called satraps who ruled over different areas of the kingdom. There were three administrators over the satraps, and Daniel was one of these. Daniel had so distinguished himself by his exceptional qualities that the king was planning to set him over the whole kingdom. The other administrators and the satraps got wind of Darius' plan. These men were jealous and angry that a Jew, an exile, was about to be promoted to such a high position. They tried to find some grounds for charges against Daniel in the way he fulfilled his position, but they could find nothing wrong. Daniel 6:4 says, "They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent." Daniel's sterling character is a challenge to us. The secret of Daniel's integrity was the regularity of his prayer life. When Daniel got on his knees and said, "God, it's Daniel," God didn't ask, "Daniel who?" Have you made spending time with God everyday your top priority? Can you improve in this area of your Christian walk?

The officials knew that Daniel regularly worshiped his God, and this was the only thing they could find to use against him. The group went to King Darius and persuaded him to issue an edict that anyone who prayed to any god or human other than the king for thirty days would be thrown into a den of lions. Once Darius put this decree in writing, it could not be repealed. Apparently Darius' pride in the fact that he would be the only one in the kingdom to be worshiped for thirty days blinded him to the consequences of his decision.

It was Daniel's custom to pray three times a day. After the edict went into effect, Daniel got down on his knees in front of his windows, which were opened toward Jerusalem, and prayed as always. Daniel's enemies went to King Darius, told him Daniel was still praying to his God, and insisted he be thrown to the lions according to the king's edict. Darius was sick at heart over the turn of events and made every effort that day to save Daniel, but he was caught in a trap of his own making. So the king gave the order, and Daniel was cast into the pit with the lions. The king's parting words to Daniel were, "May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you."

King Darius spent a sleepless night, and he hurried to the lions' den at the first light of dawn. He called to Daniel, and Daniel told him that God had sent an angel to shut the mouths of the lions.

Had Daniel failed to pray as was his custom, he would have betrayed God and lost the opportunity to showcase God's power. God never deserts those who belong to Him.. There was a fourth man with the three men in the fiery furnace and an angel in the lions' den with Daniel. God may not always save His children like He saved Daniel and his three friends. Sometimes He chooses to take us to heaven where we will be safe forever. But, either way, He rescues those who are faithful to Him. May we be as faithful to Him as He is to us.

Father, thank You that You are always with us.  Thank You that You rescue us from our circumstances one way or the other.  Help us to be faithful to You. Amen.

The Handwriting on the Wall

Daniel 5

"Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall."  Proverbs 16:18

King Belshazzar was the son of Nebuchadnezzar. One night the king gave a great banquet for a thousand of his nobles. They were drinking wine, and Belshazzar gave orders to bring in the gold and silver goblets his father had taken from the temple in Jerusalem so he and his guests could drink out of them. As they drank, they praised their gods of gold, silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone.

Suddenly a hand began to write on the wall. The king was so frightened that he turned pale, his legs became weak, and his knees began to knock. He summoned his wise men to tell him what the writing said, but they couldn't understand it. Then the queen told the king about Daniel and his wisdom and ability to interpret dreams and solve difficult problems.

The king sent for Daniel. When Daniel appeared before the king, he reminded Belshazzar of the greatness and power of his father, Nebuchadnezzar. Then he reminded Belshazzar that his father's heart had become arrogant and hardened with pride. God caused Nebuchadnezzar to be removed from his throne and stripped of his glory. He became like an animal, living outdoors and eating grass. When he humbled himself and acknowledged God, God placed him back on the throne and allowed him to rule his kingdom again.

Belshazzar was also filled with pride. He had not humbled himself at all. He worshiped idols rather than God. So God sent the king this message by the hand writing on the wall: Mene--God has numbered the days of your reign and brought it to an end. Tekel--You have been weighed on the scales and found wanting. Peres--Your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians. Daniel 5:26b-28. That very night Belshazzar was killed, and Darius the Mede took over his kingdom.

One of the qualities God hates most in a person is pride, haughtiness, self-sufficiency. He said in Proverbs 8:13b, "I hate pride and arrogance..." He warned in Proverbs 11:2, "When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom." Proverbs 29:23 tells us, "Pride brings a person low, but the lowly in spirit gain honor." Proverbs 6:16 lists seven things that the Lord hates, and at the top of the list is haughty eyes. Paul tells us in Romans 12:3a, "For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought." And Nebuchadnezzar, from his experience, assures us that God is able to humble those who walk in pride. We often say a person has gotten too big for his britches. We need to remember who we are and who God is and not confuse the two.

Father, may we always remember that You are the One with power and wisdom.  We are simply Your creatures, totally dependent on You.  May we worship and praise You with gratitude in our hearts for all that You have given us and done for us.  Amen.

Are you a "self-made" man or woman?

Daniel 4

“God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.” 1 Peter 5:5b-6

“I hate pride and arrogance.” Proverbs 8:13b

“Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.” Proverbs 16:18

In what do you take pride? In your strength or wisdom or wealth? In the things you have accomplished in your life? We really don’t have any basis for pride, because, apart from God, we can’t do a single thing. However, it is always appropriate to thank and praise God for all He has given us and everything He has done through us. But we should always remember we owe it all to Him. King Nebuchadnezzar forgot this.

The king had a dream, and he called Daniel to interpret it for him. In his dream, Nebuchadnezzar saw an enormous tree with beautiful leaves and abundant fruit. The animals found shelter under it, and all the birds lived in its branches. The tree provided food for all the creatures. Then a messenger from heaven came down and commanded that the tree be cut down, the branches trimmed, the leaves stripped, and the fruit scattered. But the stump and the roots were to be bound with iron and bronze and remain in the ground.

A further part of the king’s dream was this prophecy in Daniel 4:16, “Let him be drenched with the dew of heaven, and let him live with the animals among the plants of the earth. Let his mind be changed from that of a man and let him be given the mind of an animal, till seven times pass by for him.”

Daniel was very reluctant to interpret the dream for Nebuchadnezzar, but he did. He said the tree represented the king, who had become great and strong with a far reaching kingdom. But God had decreed that the king would be driven away from people and live with wild animals. The stump and roots signified the the kingdom would be restored to the king when he acknowledged that God is sovereign. Daniel warned Nebuchadnezzar to renounce his sins and perhaps escape the fate described in the dream.

A year later Nebuchadnezzar was walking on the roof of his palace in Babylon, and he said, “Is this not the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty powers and for the glory of my majesty?” Just as he finished bragging, he was driven outdoors, and all the prophecies in his dream came true. He ate grass like cattle. His hair grew like the feathers of an eagle and his nails like the claws of a bird. But after the allotted time, he was restored to his kingdom. He had learned his lesson because he said, “Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything he does is right and all his ways are just. And those who walk in pride he is able to humble.” Daniel 4:37

Father, if I am walking with pride in myself and my accomplishments, let me learn from Nebuchadnezzar. Apart from You, I can do nothing. May gratitude replace pride. Amen.