"My brothers, some from Chloe's household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. What I mean is this: One of you says, 'I follow Paul'; another, 'I follow Apollos'; another, 'I follow Cephas'; still another, 'I follow Christ.' Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized into the name of Paul?"
1 Corinthians 1: 11-13
In order to test my allegiance, the question should always be, "Rachel, who died for you?" If I am following any other ideal other than that of Christ, I'm heading in the wrong direction.
Recently, a co-worker asked me if I wanted to wear a Santa hat to promote festivity. I said, "No, I do not believe in Santa Claus." What did that legend do for me? Did he sacrifice his life for me? I realize this is an extreme comparison, but it matters.
Satan smoothly slips those seemingly innoculous diversions into our lives for a reason. By wearing a Santa hat, do I not promote myself as a follower of a toymaker who resides at the North Pole? How ridiculous is that?
December 25th marks the day that we celebrate Jesus' birth. The Messiah that will crush the head of the Serpent was sent by God to release the prisoner and mend the hearts of those broken by Satan. Of course, Satan does not want the focus of the holiday to be on this Victor, so he forms diversions.
December 25th is not Hannukah, not Kwanzaa, not a compilation of Halloween, Thanksgiving and New Year's Day. Christ was born to us on that day.
Christians, stand up and clearly declare, "Jesus, our Savior, was born in Bethlehem." Celebrate peace on earth and goodwill to men. Swear your allegiance to the One who sacrificed his life for you, one in whose name you have been baptized and cleansed by his blood. There is no other name to trust, no other who rose from the grave and who will come again on the clouds of heaven surrounded by the saints and angels.
Hallelujah! Amen!
Sunday, December 28, 2014
Wednesday, December 24, 2014
The Greatest Christmas Gift of All
"Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me."
Revelation 3:20
Hallmark movies and television commercials portray a profusive Christmas, one is which the tree is weighted down with sparkling ornaments, the gifts are piled one atop the other and the relatives pour through the door, sniffing the aromas of a homemade dinner.
For many, this does not depict their Christmas. There are family estrangements and deaths. There are painful addictions that imprison some. There are bare cupboards, no gifts or painful loneliness. Nursing homes, hospital rooms or prison cells often do not resonate with such joy.
Do you hear a knocking at your door? The King of Kings longs to come in and dine with you, just the way you are. No tree? That's fine; Jesus is the ever-green source of abundant life. No lights? No problem; your Guest is the Light that shines in the darkness. No fine meal with bread and wine? He provides all that is needed to be satisfied. His body is the bread; his blood, the wine.
Isaiah 55:1 says, "Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost." The greatest gift of all is God's free gift of grace. Just answer the door!
Revelation 3:20
Hallmark movies and television commercials portray a profusive Christmas, one is which the tree is weighted down with sparkling ornaments, the gifts are piled one atop the other and the relatives pour through the door, sniffing the aromas of a homemade dinner.
For many, this does not depict their Christmas. There are family estrangements and deaths. There are painful addictions that imprison some. There are bare cupboards, no gifts or painful loneliness. Nursing homes, hospital rooms or prison cells often do not resonate with such joy.
Do you hear a knocking at your door? The King of Kings longs to come in and dine with you, just the way you are. No tree? That's fine; Jesus is the ever-green source of abundant life. No lights? No problem; your Guest is the Light that shines in the darkness. No fine meal with bread and wine? He provides all that is needed to be satisfied. His body is the bread; his blood, the wine.
Isaiah 55:1 says, "Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost." The greatest gift of all is God's free gift of grace. Just answer the door!
A City Without a Cemetery
"And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death - even death on a cross!"
Philippians 2:8
Cemeteries are a common sight in any city or town. Newspapers are not without obituaries. Death is a part of life, but that was NOT the case for Jesus, the Great I Am. In the heavenly city he came from, there are no burials, no calling hours, no sorrow. For an immortal being to lay aside his crown and raiment of glory and be willing to obey the Grim Reaper, one is left to wonder, "Why would he do that?"
Love. Love is the answer. He laid down his life willingly for us, while we were steeped in sin."For God so loved the world that He gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish, but have eternal life." (John 3:16)
The wages of sin is death, yet Jesus, who knew no sin, became sin for us so that we could become immortal like him. I look so forward to seeing this city without a cemetery!
Philippians 2:8
Cemeteries are a common sight in any city or town. Newspapers are not without obituaries. Death is a part of life, but that was NOT the case for Jesus, the Great I Am. In the heavenly city he came from, there are no burials, no calling hours, no sorrow. For an immortal being to lay aside his crown and raiment of glory and be willing to obey the Grim Reaper, one is left to wonder, "Why would he do that?"
Love. Love is the answer. He laid down his life willingly for us, while we were steeped in sin."For God so loved the world that He gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish, but have eternal life." (John 3:16)
The wages of sin is death, yet Jesus, who knew no sin, became sin for us so that we could become immortal like him. I look so forward to seeing this city without a cemetery!
Saturday, December 20, 2014
Life: A Roller Coaster Ride
"When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. 'Get up,' he said, 'Take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.'"
Matthew 2:13
Magi, or Wise Men, from the East had followed a star to a house in Bethlehem, showing them where to find the King of Kings: Jesus. Bowing before the child, they presented priceless gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. Mary and Joseph witnessed this homage in awe.
The door had barely closed on their royal heels, when Joseph was warned in a dream that another king desired to kill this same Jesus, whom the eastern visitors worshiped. Talk about a roller coaster ride! Faithful Joseph, willing to venture into unknown, pagan territory, followed God's instructions and therefore, had a hand in saving the Savior.
The Christmas story is filled with wonder! Kings, dreams, trreasures and angels swirl around the mystery of Immanuel, "God With Us". Yet there is a spiritual battle taking place behind the scenes. Who was it that really wanted to thwart the plans of God but Satan. Throughout history, he did all he could to stop Jesus Christ from building the bridge between God and Man - but he failed. What God says He will do, will happen even if He has to use dreams, a star and ordinary people with extraordinary faith to do it.
Christmas is so much more than a fat elf in a red suit. Who went to the cross for you? Worship him alone.
Matthew 2:13
Magi, or Wise Men, from the East had followed a star to a house in Bethlehem, showing them where to find the King of Kings: Jesus. Bowing before the child, they presented priceless gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. Mary and Joseph witnessed this homage in awe.
The door had barely closed on their royal heels, when Joseph was warned in a dream that another king desired to kill this same Jesus, whom the eastern visitors worshiped. Talk about a roller coaster ride! Faithful Joseph, willing to venture into unknown, pagan territory, followed God's instructions and therefore, had a hand in saving the Savior.
The Christmas story is filled with wonder! Kings, dreams, trreasures and angels swirl around the mystery of Immanuel, "God With Us". Yet there is a spiritual battle taking place behind the scenes. Who was it that really wanted to thwart the plans of God but Satan. Throughout history, he did all he could to stop Jesus Christ from building the bridge between God and Man - but he failed. What God says He will do, will happen even if He has to use dreams, a star and ordinary people with extraordinary faith to do it.
Christmas is so much more than a fat elf in a red suit. Who went to the cross for you? Worship him alone.
Jesus' Amazing Stepdad
"When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus."
Matthew 1: 24, 25
Everytime I see a depiction of the Holy Family, Joseph seems to take a back seat. He stands off to the side, idly looking down at the mother and child.
But I see him as a man of great courage, strength and faith. He had to fight social ostracization and family scorn as he struggled to comprehend Mary's pregnancy. He had to lay aside his own plans as he had to flee to Egypt, then settle in Nazareth, yet he faithfully stepped up to the plate and did all he was commanded. Without Joseph, there is no "family"; how could Mary have done all this on her own?
The next time you see a nativity scene, study the face of Joseph and appreciate all he did in the name of the Lord. I'd like to have such faith!
Matthew 1: 24, 25
Everytime I see a depiction of the Holy Family, Joseph seems to take a back seat. He stands off to the side, idly looking down at the mother and child.
But I see him as a man of great courage, strength and faith. He had to fight social ostracization and family scorn as he struggled to comprehend Mary's pregnancy. He had to lay aside his own plans as he had to flee to Egypt, then settle in Nazareth, yet he faithfully stepped up to the plate and did all he was commanded. Without Joseph, there is no "family"; how could Mary have done all this on her own?
The next time you see a nativity scene, study the face of Joseph and appreciate all he did in the name of the Lord. I'd like to have such faith!
Saturday, December 13, 2014
When Your Strength is Sapped
"The Lord will judge his people and have compassion on his servants when he sees their strength is gone."
Deuteronomy 32:36
Have you ever been at your wit's end? The arsenal's empty, the shelves are bare, your resources are depleted entirely. You've exhausted your efforts and yourself in the process.
When my youngest was little, she desperately wanted to learn to ride her bike sans training wheels. Since I was home most often with her, the task fell to me. Crippled over like Rumplestiltskin, I went up the sidewalk and down the sidewalk, holding bike and child erect, until I could go no more. My exasperated daughter threw her bike down and declared, "I'm never going to learn how to ride this bike!"
Her dad came home from work and, after hearing our sad story, tried the task once with her and she caught on!
The Lord, I believe, waits until we are at the end of our rope to show us that His rope has no end. It is when we have thrown up our hands in despair that His hands can take over.
Give Him the praise and glory He so deserves for we worship a loving, compassionate God who is slow to anger and abiding in love. When your strength is gone, He will carry you.
Deuteronomy 32:36
Have you ever been at your wit's end? The arsenal's empty, the shelves are bare, your resources are depleted entirely. You've exhausted your efforts and yourself in the process.
When my youngest was little, she desperately wanted to learn to ride her bike sans training wheels. Since I was home most often with her, the task fell to me. Crippled over like Rumplestiltskin, I went up the sidewalk and down the sidewalk, holding bike and child erect, until I could go no more. My exasperated daughter threw her bike down and declared, "I'm never going to learn how to ride this bike!"
Her dad came home from work and, after hearing our sad story, tried the task once with her and she caught on!
The Lord, I believe, waits until we are at the end of our rope to show us that His rope has no end. It is when we have thrown up our hands in despair that His hands can take over.
Give Him the praise and glory He so deserves for we worship a loving, compassionate God who is slow to anger and abiding in love. When your strength is gone, He will carry you.
Killing With Kindness
"Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: 'If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.'"
Romans 12: 19 & 20
Being a follower of Christ is hardest when we have to lay aside our natural responses to things of this world. It makes us sputter in unconsummated rage and feelings of injustice.
A person whom your daughter "loves" flies into a rage and leaves bruises on her neck and arms. How do you feel? How should you react? "Who does he think he is?" you fume, "How dare he do this to MY child!" A natural response, yes? And yet we are told in the verses above, essentially, to kill him with kindness. Instead of throttling this person, you are to invite him to dinner.
The Bible says this will be like heaping burning coals on his head. I imagine that to mean he will be cloaked in shame - and so he should be. Even your enemies are afforded God's loving mercy. Even in their clouded eleventh hour, God hopes the errant person will be won over by Christian love. If God can love this enemy, so should I.
Even Jesus did not retaliate against his executioners but was silent as a sheep awaiting slaughter. And He was innocent! We are not. "While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."
Okay, so let's say you follow through and have this guy over for dinner; what's in it for you? The apostle Paul's verses in Romans are a quote from Proverbs 25: 21 & 22, but he omitted the ending: "...and the Lord will reward you." Pleasing God should be my agenda because it will have everlasting affect. Seeking revenge may feel good for the moment, but will ultimately cause more sin and grief.
Father knows best. Listen to Him.
Romans 12: 19 & 20
Being a follower of Christ is hardest when we have to lay aside our natural responses to things of this world. It makes us sputter in unconsummated rage and feelings of injustice.
A person whom your daughter "loves" flies into a rage and leaves bruises on her neck and arms. How do you feel? How should you react? "Who does he think he is?" you fume, "How dare he do this to MY child!" A natural response, yes? And yet we are told in the verses above, essentially, to kill him with kindness. Instead of throttling this person, you are to invite him to dinner.
The Bible says this will be like heaping burning coals on his head. I imagine that to mean he will be cloaked in shame - and so he should be. Even your enemies are afforded God's loving mercy. Even in their clouded eleventh hour, God hopes the errant person will be won over by Christian love. If God can love this enemy, so should I.
Even Jesus did not retaliate against his executioners but was silent as a sheep awaiting slaughter. And He was innocent! We are not. "While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."
Okay, so let's say you follow through and have this guy over for dinner; what's in it for you? The apostle Paul's verses in Romans are a quote from Proverbs 25: 21 & 22, but he omitted the ending: "...and the Lord will reward you." Pleasing God should be my agenda because it will have everlasting affect. Seeking revenge may feel good for the moment, but will ultimately cause more sin and grief.
Father knows best. Listen to Him.
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