If You Want God’s Mercy, Then Give Mercy to God’s Children

“God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy” (Matthew 5:7 NLT).

We all sin and want mercy. God is quick to forgive and offer mercy when we approach Him with an earnest desire to repent from our sin. Why is it then that as children of God we are so reluctant to offer mercy to our brothers and sisters in Christ? Yes, forgiveness is not easy, but nobody ever promised us that a life with God would be easy. Jesus says in Matthew 5:7, “God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy” (NLT). In short, what you give, you’re going to get. You’ve got to learn to give mercy if you want God’s mercy for your sins. We all want mercy for our sins and transgressions.

But why does God want you to show mercy to others? Why is being merciful so important? We love the mercy we get from God, but we often feel that we are entitled to withhold mercy from others. So why should we show mercy to others?

God Has Shown Mercy To Us

Our blessings from God are not meant to be hoarded. God wants us to pass on the mercy that you’ve received from Him. Ephesians 2:4-5 reads, “God’s mercy is so abundant, and his love for us is so great, that while we were spiritually dead in our disobedience, He brought us to life with Christ. It is by God’s grace that you have been saved” (GNT).

God Commands Mercy

God has clearly told us what is required of us. “The Lord has told you what is good. This is what the Lord requires from you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to live humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8 GW).

We All Have A Constant Need For Mercy

We will all make more mistakes and sins between today and the day of our death. So, we will all need God’s mercy in the future as much as in the past. God will not give to us what we will not give to others. James 2:13 teaches, “You must show mercy to others, or God will not show mercy to you when he judges you. But the person who shows mercy can stand without fear at the judgment” (NCV).

Showing Mercy Brings Joy

We reach in Matthew 5:7 that God blesses those who are merciful. “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy” (NIV). The word “blessed” also means “happy,” so the more you practice giving mercy, the happier and more blessed you’re going to be.

Prayer: Dear God: Thank you for the mercy and forgiveness that you have given to us all. Please help us to offer mercy to others in the same way that you offer it to us. Amen.

Meet the Author

Todd Shupe is a Men’s Ministry Specialist through the General Commission of United Methodist Men and is in training to be a Certified Lay Minister through the Louisiana Conference of the United Methodist Church. He currently serves as the President of the Baton Rouge District of United Methodist Men and is a Board Member for Gulf South Men and serves on the Action Team for The Kingdom Group. He is a volunteer for the Walk to Emmaus, Grace Camp, and Iron Sharpens Iron. Todd resides in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

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Knowledge

“My child, listen to what I say, and treasure my commands. Tune your ears to wisdom, and concentrate on understanding. Cry out for insight, and ask for understanding. Search for them as you would for silver; seek them like hidden treasures. Then you will understand what it means to fear the LORD, and you will gain knowledge of God. For the LORD grants wisdom! From His mouth come knowledge and understanding” (Proverbs 2:1-6 NLT).

I think society tends to confuse knowledge with education. However, a person can have extensive education and college degrees and not necessarily be very knowledgeable. Perhaps they were a poor student and just did the minimum to get by or maybe they have not kept current in their field over the years. If I memorize chemical reactions, mathematical equations, and even scripture, then I have developed some knowledge on the subject, albeit somewhat superficial.

Education is fine and knowledge is great. However, a person that has understanding of a subject has mastered the topic and is on the path to wisdom. To understand something goes far beyond education and knowledge. A person with understanding can use their education and knowledge to figure out (understand) any new situation or problem Proverbs 2:1-6 gives us insight into knowledge. “My child, listen to what I say, and treasure my commands. Tune your ears to wisdom, and concentrate on understanding. Cry out for insight, and ask for understanding. Search for them as you would for silver; seek them like hidden treasures. Then you will understand what it means to fear the LORD, and you will gain knowledge of God. For the LORD grants wisdom! From His mouth come knowledge and understanding.”

It is important at this point to acknowledge that everything we have is from God, and this includes our education, wisdom, and understanding. God wants us to “tune your ears to wisdom” which means listen to those who know more than you do. “Concentrate on understanding” is an invitation to use your God-given brain to move beyond memorization or superficial knowledge and strive to understand. God is giving us advice on how to better understand Him. Once we better understand God we can use this knowledge to live a Godly life and bring others to Him. Knowledge of God is essential for discipleship. How can you follow God if you have no understanding of Him?

Prayer: Dear God, Thank you for the blessings of wisdom, knowledge, and understanding. Help us to use these gifts to make wise decisions that bring honor and glory to You. Amen.

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Resolve to Rest

“Crowds of people were coming and going so that Jesus and his followers did not even have time to eat. He said to them, ‘Come away by yourselves, and we will go to a lonely place to get some rest’” (Mark 6:31 NCV).

Each year our lives get busier. We have more responsibilities at home, work, and church. According to a recent ABC news report, 85.8 percent of males and 66.5 percent of females work more than 40 hours per week. Now, add on to this our responsibilities with our family, church, and other community organizations. Each year we all get busier and rest becomes more evasive.

When I think about Jesus, I first think about the miracles. I also think about His teaching and The Sermon on the Mount. I am certainly most grateful for Him dying for our sins and conquering death for us all. One image that does not come to mind is Jesus resting.

Jesus modelled rest to us as a means of obedience to the Father. You may recall that Jesus did not come to replace the law of Moses but rather to fulfill it. Matthew 5:17 teaches, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.” One of the Ten Commandments given to Moses was to set aside time for rest.

“Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. ⁹Six days you shall labor and do all your work, ¹⁰but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. ¹¹For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore, the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy” (Exodus 20:8-11).

Jesus retreated from the crowds to find rest for Himself and His disciples. According to Mark 6:31, “Crowds of people were coming and going so that Jesus and his followers did not even have time to eat. He said to them, ‘Come away by yourselves, and we will go to a lonely place to get some rest.’” God wants us to life a joy-filled life. He also wants us to show His love to others. He realizes that we can do neither if we are worn out. If we recognize the true importance of our bodies as indicated in 1 Cor. 6:19-20, then rest seems more essential than a luxury. “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore, honor God with your bodies.”

As we enter a new year, I encourage you to honor God with your bodies by seeking rest to renew your mind, body, and soul.

Prayer: Dear God, We live busy, hectic lives. We are tired and need rest but often feel guilty if we seek rest. Help us to understand that in rest we honor you and obey your commands. As we rest, give us the assurance that you are with us and we are with you. Awaken us from our rest with a renewed determination to seek your face and do your will.

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Judgment or Grace?

“…Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin” (John 8:11 NIV).

John 8:1-11 tells us the story of a woman caught in adultery. The religious leaders, the Pharisees, tried to use her sin to force Jesus to support their decision to stone her to death, which was in accordance with Mosaic law.

“¹Jesus returned to the Mount of Olives, ²but early the next morning he was back again at the Temple. A crowd soon gathered, and he sat down and taught them. ³As he was speaking, the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in the act of adultery. They put her in front of the crowd.

⁴“Teacher,” they said to Jesus, “this woman was caught in the act of adultery. ⁵The law of Moses says to stone her. What do you say?”

⁶They were trying to trap him into saying something they could use against him, but Jesus stooped down and wrote in the dust with his finger. ⁷They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, “All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!”⁸Then he stooped down again and wrote in the dust.

⁹When the accusers heard this, they slipped away one by one, beginning with the oldest, until only Jesus was left in the middle of the crowd with the woman. ¹⁰Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?”

¹¹“No, Lord,” she said.

And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.”

I think this is very powerful scripture and conveys an example of prevenient grace. I have struggled with this scripture because I felt that it contradicted Matthew 5:17-19.

“¹⁷Don’t misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to accomplish their purpose. ¹⁸I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not even the smallest detail of God’s law will disappear until its purpose is achieved. ¹⁹So if you ignore the least commandment and teach others to do the same, you will be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven. But anyone who obeys God’s laws and teaches them will be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven.”

Upon deeper reflection, we see that Jesus “did not come to abolish the law of Moses.” Therefore, shouldn’t He support the stoning of the woman? However, He gives us some insight as to the purpose of His coming when He states, “I came to accomplish their purpose.” So, this raises the question, what was their purpose? Not to be overly simplistic, but I feel their purpose was to prepare the way for Jesus who offers a new covenant based on grace. The epistles of Paul clearly indicate that Christians are no longer under the rule of the Mosaic law. This is clearly stated in Rom. 6:14; 7:1-14; Gal. 3:10-13, 24-25; 4:21; 5:1; 13; 2 Cor. 3:7-18. It is interesting to note that the Ten Commandments were certainly a component of the law of Moses, but most modern Christians, including myself, believe they are still relevant today.

So, back to the woman that committed adultery. Jesus did not enforce the law of Moses but showed her grace. However, He did not condone her sin. I think it is noteworthy that His last words to her were “Go and sin no more.” Imagine a world in which we all offer grace to sinners (each other) and encouragement rather than judgment. To me, this would be the answer to the Lord’s Prayer in which we pray “your kingdom come” (Matthew 6:10).

Prayer: Dear God: Thank you for the daily grace that you offer us. Please give us the wisdom and courage to offer grace to others. In Jesus name, Amen.

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Seeing Jesus Through the Crowd

¹ “Jesus was going through the city of Jericho. ²A man was there named Zacchaeus, who was a very important tax collector, and he was wealthy. ³He wanted to see who Jesus was, but he was not able because he was too short to see above the crowd. ⁴He ran ahead to a place where Jesus would come, and he climbed a sycamore tree so he could see him. ⁵When Jesus came to that place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down! I must stay at your house today.” ⁶Zacchaeus came down quickly and welcomed him gladly. ⁷All the people saw this and began to complain, “Jesus is staying with a sinner!” ⁸But Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “I will give half of my possessions to the poor. And if I have cheated anyone, I will pay back four times more.” ⁹Jesus said to him, “Salvation has come to this house today, because this man also belongs to the family of Abraham. ¹⁰The Son of Man came to find lost people and save them” (Luke 19:1-10).

Luke 19:1-10 is a short but powerful passage about Jesus and a tax collector by the name of Zacchaeus. The Jewish people were under Roman occupation. An unfair tax was extracted by people like Zacchaeus. They earned their living by adding an extra surcharge for themselves. These Jews were considered traitors. However, they were still Jews, sons of the Covenant and children of Abraham. Zacchaeus wanted to see Jesus more than he wanted to maintain his economic comfort. Jesus knew that. He had come to Jericho that day seeking to save the lost. He knew Zacchaeus like He knows each one of us. The “crowds” around Zacchaeus may have deemed him as unworthy of the encounter that was about to occur, but God did not see him this way. Jesus saw Zacchaeus heart and he drew him to Himself.

Each one of us should find hope in this story because, literally or figuratively, we have compromised in our lives. Perhaps in our family, by failing to love and lead in the way that we know we ought, sacrificially. Perhaps in our church by failing to step out in faith and give a full tithe. Perhaps in our community by not responding to the call of those in need.

The Good News is that, no matter what has happened in our past, Jesus walks into the muddy streets of our own lives this day. He comes for us. We can surely learn some lessons from Zacchaeus from his time in a Sycamore tree.

I think the Lord specifically came to Jericho for Zacchaeus, and He continues to meet each of us wherever we are in life – in church, on a mountain, in a valley, or up a tree.

It is important to note that Zacchaeus did not need to get the Lord’s attention and neither do we. Jesus comes into each one of our lives, searching for us, because He still comes to seek and save what was lost. We often think of the Christian life in terms of our efforts to reach God and to do His will. However, the opposite is what really occurs. God seeks us and we respond. He stands at the door and knocks and awaits our response.

We need to “position” ourselves for the meeting. In contemporary terms, the term “be intentional” is often used to encourage proper positioning. Zacchaeus climbed that tree to see Jesus; he positioned himself for the encounter. Can you imagine his emotions upon hearing Jesus say, “Today salvation has come to this house because this man too is a descendant of Abraham. For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save what was lost” (Luke 19:9).

Salvation is a gift that Christ offers to us all regardless of our profession, race, gender, etc. In Ephesians 2:8 we learn, “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God.” Our faith provides salvation, which provides life everlasting.

The Christian life is about God’s action and our response to what He is already doing. Jesus reminds us “You did not choose me, but I chose you” (John 15:16). Zacchaeus serves to remind us of who does the choosing and who does the responding. Zacchaeus climbed the tree in order to see the Lord, not to be seen by Jesus. He did not care what the crowd thought of a grown man climbing a tree! He went after the encounter with Jesus Christ with a childlike simplicity and a reckless abandon. We should all strive to do the same.

Prayer: Dear God, We want to climb a tree to see your face. Help us to realize that when we see our neighbors, we are seeing you. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

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Why Did Jesus Cry Before Raising Lazarus?

Why Did Jesus Cry
Before Raising Lazarus?

Scripture: “When He heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.”Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So when He heard that Lazarus was sick, He stayed where He was two more days,and then He said to His disciples, “Let us go back to Judea.” (John 11:4-7).

One of the most fascinating Biblical stories is the raising of Lazarus as described in John 11. Many of us learned this story as children in Sunday school. It is an amazing story of how Jesus raised His friend from the dead. It is yet another example of the divinity and love of Jesus. In this story, Jesus cries. Jesus is showing us all, and perhaps men in particular, that it is ok to cry. Jesus was divine and also human. In His human condition, He displayed all of the traits of a true masculine man, which includes weeping and showing empathy for your friends.

Mary and Martha were sisters and friends of Jesus. Their friendship is detailed in Luke 10. The sisters and Lazarus were all from the same village of Bethany and were all friends of Jesus. The sisters sent word to Jesus that Lazarus is sick. “When He heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.” Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So when He heard that Lazarus was sick, He stayed where He was two more days,and then He said to His disciples, “Let us go back to Judea.” (Luke 10:4-7).

Jesus later reveals to His disciples that their friend Lazarus is dead. “So then He told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead,and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.” (Luke 10:14-15). Jesus is indicating that He will use the death of his friend as an opportunity to display His divinity to His disciples.

The chapter reaches its peak upon the arrival of Jesus. “When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, He was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. “Where have you laid him?” He asked. “Come and see, Lord,” they replied. Jesus wept.” (Luke 10:32-35).

As a youth, I was taught that Jesus cried because He was upset because the two sisters were crying over the death of their friend. This is very likely and perhaps is the reason for His display of emotion. However, I was talking with a friend a few years ago, and he indicated a different possible reason that Jesus cried.

My friend suggested that perhaps Lazarus was in heaven rather than the “good” side of Sheol. Jesus knew of the beauty and peace of heaven. Jesus also knew that in order to once again demonstrate His divinity He would bring Lazarus back from the dead. In other words, the death was “for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.” The real reason that Jesus cried is unknown.

However, what is clearly known is that He did raise Lazarus from the dead and through the death and resurrection of Jesus we have forgiveness of our sins and shall be raised from our death and join Him in glory.

Prayer: Dear God: Thank you for the gifts of compassion and empathy. Help us to seek out opportunities to be a vessel of Your peace and grace to others. Amen.

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Boundaries Benefit All

“Moses’ father-in-law replied, What you are doing is not good. You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone” (Exodus 18:17-18 NIV).

I just finished reading a book called “Boundaries” by Drs. Henry Cloud and John Townsend. It is a New York Times Bestseller and has sold over two million copies since it was first published in 1992 and then revised in 2017. This is a Christian book that uses appropriate Scripture to help readers take control of their lives by learning when to say yes and when to say no. The authors tell us, “Any confusion of responsibility and ownership in our lives is a problem of boundaries. Just as homeowners set physical property lines around their land, we need to set mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual boundaries for our lives to help us distinguish what is our responsibility and what isn’t.” This book has largely been bought by parents trying to set boundaries for their children. Also, the book has other chapters on how to set healthy boundaries on your family, friends, spouse, work, and work and even yourself.

Many of us consider boundaries to be selfish and feel guilty about setting a boundary. The authors tell us, “Misinformation about the Bible’s answers to these issues has led to much wrong teaching about boundaries. Many clinical physiological problems, such as depression, anxiety disorders, eating disorders, addictions, impulse disorders, guilt problems, shame issues, panic disorders, and marital and relational struggles, find their roots in conflicts with boundaries.

First, a little clarification on boundaries is in order. We are responsible to others and for ourselves. “Carry each other’s burdens,” teaches Galatians 6:2, “and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” Yes, we are responsible to one another. Galatians 6:5 teaches us that, “each one should carry their own load.” The key to understanding these verses is to understand the Greek word for burden which means “excess burdens” or burdens that are so heavy they weigh us down. The authors state that these burdens are like boulders and we shouldn’t be expected to carry a boulder by ourselves. In contrast, the Green word for load means “cargo” or the “burden of daily toil.” These loads are like knapsacks which we can carry by ourselves. You may see this coming…… “Problems arise when people act as if their “boulders” are daily loads and refuse help, or as if their “daily loads” are boulders they shouldn’t have to carry. The results of these two instances are either perpetual pain or irresponsibility.”

Boundaries are not walls. The Bible does not say that we are to be “walled off” from one another but rather be “one” with them (John 17:11). Cloud and Townsend write that we are “to be in community with others. But in every community, all members have their own space and property. The important thing is that property lines be permeable enough to allow passing and strong enough to keep out danger.” God has set boundaries. He does not allow evil into His house. He does allow in those who “confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead” (Romans 10:9).

In Exodus 18, we learn how Jethro, father-in-law, to Moses helps Moses to set boundaries.

“When his father-in-law saw all that Moses was doing for the people, he said, “What is this you are doing for the people? Why do you alone sit as judge, while all these people stand around you from morning till evening?” (Exodus 18:14). In Exodus 18:17-18, Jethro tells Moses, “What you are doing is not good. You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone.” Jethro encouraged Moses to select Elders to serve as judges for the simple cases and only bring the difficult cases to Moses.

In Mark 6:31, we learn that the crowds following Jesus and His disciples were growing and preventing them from eating. ”Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” Jesus recognized that to do God’s work effectively we need periodic rest and renewal.

Prayer: Dear God, Help us to set boundaries that bring honor to you. Amen.

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Be The Same Person Everywhere

“I hate double-minded people, but I love your law” (Psalm 119:113).

Have you ever heard of the term “Sunday morning Christian?” This is a derogatory term for people that are Christian on Sunday morning but the complete opposite the rest of the week. Some of us are a little bit better and we make sure to “act Christian” in public but not in private. The “Sunday morning Christian” and the “public Christian” are both hypocrites.

The word hypocrite ultimately came into English from the Greek word hypokrites, which means “an actor” or “a stage player.” The Greek word itself is a compound noun: it’s made up of two Greek words that literally translate as “an interpreter from underneath.” That bizarre compound makes more sense when you know that the actors in ancient Greek theater wore large masks to mark

which character they were playing, and so they interpreted the story from underneath their masks. A Christian follows Jesus 24/7 – in public and private. In our “human condition” we strive to impress others and God with our acts of piety. Jesus addressed this issue in Matthew 6:1-8.

¹“Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. ²“So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. ³But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, ⁴so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

⁵And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. ⁶But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. ⁷And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. ⁸Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.”

Good works are how we show Christian love to others. However, our works should flow naturally as a result of our love for Christ and our desire to share His love. Ephesians 2:8-9, teaches us, “⁸For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— ⁹not by works, so that no one can boast.”

Prayer: ⁹“This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, ¹⁰your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. ¹¹Give us today our daily bread. ¹²And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. ¹³And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one (Matthew 6:9-13).

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What Are Your Priorities

What Are Your Priorities?

Perhaps our greatest power is to establish our priorities. These are the things that motivate us. Priorities are based on values, beliefs, ideals, and commitment. They define each of us as a person. Some are motivated by fame or money. Others are motivated by their friends or family. In short, there can be hundreds of reasons that motivate us each day. It is critically important to recognize that we alone have the power to set our priorities and if we do not set them, then society will set them for us. Popular culture will set our priorities to feed our flesh.

If we prayerfully chose our priorities we will use our imagination, intelligence, and desire. An authentic priority will give your life meaning and will be well defined, provide enthusiasm, and be free from the force of our current circumstances. A priority must also be realistic. Some people wait until they are on their death bed to establish their true priorities. This is a shame. Nobody with terminal cancer ever wished that they had spent more time at work.

Our priorities are a product of how we spend our time, money, and thoughts. As a Methodist, all members are called to faithfully participate support the church with their prayers, presence, gifts, and service. Doesn’t this sound very similar to time, money, and thoughts? In short, the church is calling its members to make God a priority and be a disciple of Him

Scripture teaches us that time is important. “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom” (Psalm 90:12). Each day is a gift from God and should be used to bring honor to Him, not ourselves. I think time is our most precious priority. If we use our time to help others, are we not showing the love of God? Consider these holy words from Matthew 25:40. “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

Money is important for all of us to provide for ourselves and our families, but we should not treat it as a “golden calf.” We often pursue earthly wealth with little to no consideration to God’s blessing. The pursuit of wealth is beautifully addressed in Matthew 6:19-21. “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Our thoughts have tremendous power and often lead to action. Perhaps this is why the Apostle Paul instructed us in Philippians 4:8: “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things.” Paul elaborates on this concept in 2 Cor. 10:5: “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ” (2 Cor. 10:5).

We would all be wise to prayerfully set our own priorities. Be blessed.

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The Best Christmas Present

¹⁸ “All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; ¹⁹that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. ²⁰Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of
Christ, be reconciled to God” (2 Corinthians 5:18-20).

I love Christmas and the Advent season. It is a special time of year for families and the church. The Advent season allows us to prepare our hearts for the birth of the Christ child. I also love all of the traditions that come with Christmas – decorating the tree with ornaments that have been passed down from generations, giving and receiving presents, candlelight service at church on Christmas eve, the smell of ginger bread baking and a fresh pine tree in the house, and the anticipation of Christmas day.

One of the traditions of Christmas is the Nativity story. The New Testament contains two Christmas stories. They appear in Matthew 1–2 and Luke 1–2. In the familiar version of the Christmas story, Mary and Joseph travel from Nazareth to Bethlehem. Because there was no room in the inn, the baby Jesus is born in a stable and placed in a manger. It is important to tell the Nativity story each year to help us better understand the Christ portion of Christmas.

I think as fathers and priests of our houses we should also teach our children about the best Christmas present ever – the blood of Christ on the cross at Calvary. John 3:16 tells us, “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. For God so loved the world, that He gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on Him should not perish, but have eternal life.” We are reconciled to the Father by His sacrifice of His son. God has provided us a path for forgiveness of sins that leads to life everlasting and salvation. We do not deserve this, but we receive it as the ultimate blessing. Ephesians 2:9 instruct us that “Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.”

So, this Advent season I encourage you to enjoy your family, church services, and all the special traditions of your family. Tell your children or grandchildren the Nativity story but also tell them that Jesus himself is the best present. A life lived in Him and for Him will help build His kingdom on earth and will lead to life everlasting. Now that is some gift!

Prayer: Dear God, Thank you for sending your son to earth. Thank you for giving us the way, the truth, and the life. Help keep us mindful that His blood is the most precious gift that we can ever receive it. Amen.

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