Everyone falls / anyone can fly

I haven't posted much.

It could be a sign of a busy life,

it could be a sign that I've got things on my plate

The reality is that it is a sign

that things have been taking precendence when they shouldn't.

This is Christmas.

For me it has always been a time of a kind of excessive joy.

I used to think it was about being around family.

Then I thought it was about hoping for a particular present.

Then I believed it was about Christ.

And later I believed it was about a kind of minimalism of Christ.

I have finally migrated between

    an arbitrary and intense desire

        to see God more clearly this time of year than any other

    and a kind of sadness that

        people would worship the idea of Christ

            more than Christ Himself.

Regardless, there has always been

        SIGNIFICANCE

                associated with it for me.

To quote a song that runs through my head this time of year ...

"And so this is Christmas

And what have you done?

Another year over ...

A new year just begun."

Christ is about many things to me.

But my favorite, the one that always gives me hope

      - is redemption.

Jesus gives us a chance to start over without destroying the past.

He gives us a chance to become something amazing.

Let today be the beginning of a new year for you.

One filled with a choice of hope.

One filled with a desire for life.

One filled with a love of truth.

You've fallen.  So have I.

Don't focus on the failure.

Focus on His grace.

And claim it.

Rebirth and a Promise

The story of Nicodemus is always a touching one and is the story which contains the immortal encapsulation of the gospel message which has brought hope into so many lives throughout history.

Nicodemus was a ruler of the Jews and was likely a very knowledgeable man in matters of scripture and the prophecies and interpretations contained therein. He knew Jesus came from God because no one could do the miracles Jesus did unless God were with him.

Jesus pointed out that the only way a man could see the kingdom of God (and thus have God with him) was to be born again. I can only imagine what went through the mind of Nicodemus. How odd! Born again? Did that mean he would have to re-enter his mother and be reborn? That wasn’t possible!

And physically, it wasn’t. This rebirth must be of water and of Spirit… through no other way could a man enter the kingdom of heaven. Jesus told Nicodemus of his entire mission on earth, tying it all back to Old Testament prophesy.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Jesus wasn’t here to condemn… he was here to save. He was here to save ANYONE who would believe. Not just Jews, but Greeks, Romans, Samaratins, free and bond, rich and poor, whole and maimed. He was the Saviour of the WHOLE WORLD with no exceptions.

The only caveat to this mind-blowing promise… you had to believe in Him.

What an amazing blessing! I don’t know if Nicodemus accepted Jesus as the Saviour; the Bible never tells us. I like to think he did, but I don’t know. What I do know is that I do accept Jesus as my personal Saviour and fully believe that he died for my sins so that I can live with him forever in heaven.

Amen!

THAT is exciting!

A Few Pithy Observations

There can be no more beautiful phrase then that which Jesus uttered and which Luke dutifully recorded in the nineteenth chapter of his Gospel – “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.”

In one brief sentence, Jesus summed up his entire reason for being on earth; his mission was to look for, to find, and to save the lost. No wonder he spent so much time with sinners and unwanted persons. Throughout his ministry, Jesus was called to task time and time again by the Pharisees, the Saducees, and the Biblically-literate elite. And for what cause? Because he repeatedly violated the letter of the law in eating with sinners and tax collectors and prostitutes, in healing the sick and diseased and demon-possessed on the Sabbath, in not washing his hands before eating to make a point.

All these “violations” were, in fact, Jesus’ way to make his point… he had come to seek and to save that which was lost and the only way to do that was to put aside the legalism of the day and show them what true love and forgiveness was.

***

A friend pointed something disturbing (and something I’ve NEVER seen before) in a parable Jesus told about pounds.

Essentially, a nobleman decided to go away to claim a kingdom. Before he left, he charged ten of his servants to occupy until he returned, giving each ten pounds. Apparently, the citizens of his new kingdom didn’t care too much for this nobleman and sent a message letting him know they would not have him reign over them.

After the nobleman returned, having secured his kingdom, he called his servants to see how much they had gained by trading. The first one had gained ten pounds on the one and the nobleman put him in charge of ten cities with deepest thanks because he had been faithful in a little. The second servant had gained five pounds and the nobleman put him in charge of five cities. When the third servant approached, he returned the original pound wrapped up in a napkin and accompanied by protestations of fear of the nobleman.

The nobleman takes the pound away from that servant and gave it to the one who had ten, not heeding the protestations of others who pointed out that the guy already had ten pounds.

The tragic part of this parable – the part I’d never seen before – relates to the remaining servants. What happened to them? There were seven more, yet they are not even given a passing nod or mention. I’m not sure what happened to them, but it is tragic that they are never mentioned again, having fallen out during the wait.

***

God does not condemn increase of wealth. As a matter of fact, He encourages it throughout the Bible. It should be noted that the increase of wealth God encourages must have the correct reason for being gathered and that the heart of the gatherer must be to-Godward.

In Proverbs 13, the point is made that wealth accumulated by vanity or non-meaningful ways will be diminished, but it is the gathering made by one who labors that will increase.

God blesses labor and honest work of man’s hands and brings to nought and confounds the vain increase of those whose hearts are not right toward Him.