Why the Shepherds?

Luke 2:8–15

I wonder, why the shepherds?  Why were the shepherds the audience for God’s heavenly birth announcement?  Why were they the first recorded visitors of the baby Jesus?  Shepherds occupied one of the lowest rungs on the ladder of Jewish society when Jesus was born.  Most were not well educated, not well spoken, and in many cases, not well spoken of.  


Why not the priests, or scholars, or even the leading businessmen of Jerusalem?  These people would have been almost everything that the shepherds were not.  Wouldn’t they have been a more fitting audience for the angel’s message?  Wouldn’t they have been more appropriate visitors of the new born king?  Why the shepherds?


I wonder if God wanted to make a special invitation to a group of people leading simple lives and capable of a simple faith.  People who took time to witness the beauty and majesty of His creation every day (and night!).  People who weren’t consumed by a sports team or the latest news delivered by the latest technology from the capital city of Jerusalem.  People who weren’t blinded by so called “success”.  I wonder if that is at least partly why God made a special announcement to the shepherds.   

As we celebrate Christmas it seems good to wonder, why the shepherds?  It seems good to think about their lives and make some comparisons to our own.  It seems good to examine our faith and think about the One we celebrate on Christmas day – and every day.

Dear God, thank you for extending a special invitation to each of us to know and be known by your Son.  Thank you for loving us just like the shepherds, as we are and where we are.  Thank you for Christmas. Thank you for the shepherds.  Thank you for Jesus!

“The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him…”

“The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him…”


Lamentations 3:19-27


The book of Lamentations is a collection of poetic laments (“passionate expression of grief or sorrow”) over the destruction of Jerusalem, the temple, and the exile of Judah’s inhabitants by the Babylonians in 586 BC.  My study bible says the authorship of  Lamentations is uncertain, although ancient tradition claims that the prophet Jeremiah wrote it.  The book consists of five chapters with one, two, four, and five each containing 22 verses of lament (the number of letters in the Hebrew alphabet).  Chapter three, (today’s reading) which has 66 chapters (3 x 22), brings hope!  


If we review today’s reading we learn of a God of hope, love, compassion, faithfulness, and salvation.  Verses 26 and 27 read as follows:  “The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks Him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.”


We are currently in the season of Advent.  Based on the Latin word “coming”, Advent is a time of anticipation and preparation for Christ’s coming to us, not only at Christmas as a baby, but through the Word and Sacraments, and ultimately as “Christ Triumphant” on the last day.  


Like the author of Lamentations, we have sorrows and failures that are part of the sinful world that we live in.  But we have so much more -- the fulfillment of God’s love for us through the gift of His Son, Jesus Christ. Let us give thanks during this season of Advent for Jesus and our God of hope, love, faithfulness, and salvation!


Dear God, thank-you for Christmas.  Thank you for remembering us and sending the gift of your Son to rescue us from sin and our “sorrows”.  Help us share that gift with others during this Advent season. Amen.

God's Word Speaks

Jesus said, "Go to the village ahead of you, and just as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here shortly.’” (Mark 11:2-3)

This is a fascinating passage. Jesus told his followers what to do, in fact, He told them what they would see and encounter while completing the task.  And, guess what. It all came to pass. It is stories like this which encourage me to keep reading God's word every day, just looking for something like this. 

When I bring a problem, or question to God, I am confident He will respond, in some fashion. He will direct me in the correct direction, or He will put someone in my path to speak into my life with a kind word, or a comment or question. It always amazes me how He works in my life.

Just as the people lined the path to Jerusalem to praise and honor a King, we can also line the road and expect the same Jesus to pass by. When we expect Him to show up, He does. When we turn to Him for praise or worship or conversation, He shows up.

I am faced with an important decision right now and I am looking forward to my quiet time with Him tomorrow morning. I will be praising and worshiping and scouring His Word for guidance. I know that He will answer me. He always leaves me excited and feeling so blessed because I know He hears me and cares about the big and the small things of my life. He is like no other. 

Mark 11:1-11 

Luke 24:13-33

On The Road To Emmaus

Two men traveling down a dirt road from Jerusalem to Emmaus were talking about everything that happened in Jerusalem to Jesus of Nazareth. They were approached by a stranger and asked what they were talking about. They could not believe he did not know of the event. He seemed oblivious. The two men share that “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people.” They had hoped Jesus was going to redeem Israel, but shared great disappointed that it had not happened. That Jesus was not the one.

As they traveled on foot together, this stranger shared with them what was in the scriptures about Jesus. He knew the complete version of the story, for He WAS Jesus, but they did not recognize him. He wanted his followers to know that His life, death, and resurrection were all foretold in the Hebrew Scriptures. Can you imagine walking and talking with Jesus, and not knowing it’s him?

These two unknowing believers even got to share dinner with Jesus. At their table, Jesus broke bread and shared it with them. At that moment their eyes were opened and they recognized Jesus. Then in an instant, He disappeared. Just when they would have had the opportunity to have really had great conversation with Jesus, He vanished.

Perhaps there are times we too, unknowingly see, walk or talk with Jesus. He certainly has the power to arrive on the scene in a moments notice. If perchance Jesus does show up unannounced and in disguise, will we love Him as He modeled for us; unconditionally and without hesitation, with our whole heart?

This relational God we serve expects that of us. His sacrifice was for everyone. His love knows no boundaries. His forgiveness is unending. Is ours?

Read/Listen to: Luke 24:13-33

Luke 19:28-44

Palm Sunday a Prophecy

According to http://bibleistrue.net/prophecy/ the Bible contains 1,817 individual predictions (prophesies) concerning 737 separate subjects found in 8,352 verses.

As Zechariah said the Lord would come some 500 years earlier, “humble and mounted on a donkey” (Zechariah 9:9). This prophesy came to be in Luke 19.

Isaiah 35:4-6 …say to those with fearful hearts, “Be strong, do not fear; your God will come with vengeance; with divine retribution He will save you. Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped. Then will the lame leap like deer and the mute tongue shout for joy. Water will gush forth in the wilderness and stream in the desert.” 

This prophesy from approximately 700 BC came true as well. Jesus performed a multitude of miracles during his time on earth making it clear he was not of this world.

In Isaiah 40 the coming of Our God was proclaimed and in Luke 3 John the Baptist humbly spoke of Jesus making himself known; “I baptize you with water. But one who is more powerful than I will come, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.” Jesus did indeed come, and you know the rest.

While the crowd (referred to in scripture as disciples) shouted for joy as He was carried into Jerusalem on the colt, Jesus wept over the city and its impending destruction. Those who lined the street knew who Jesus really was and what his coming meant to the world.

Though we read about the second coming of our Lord in many books of the Bible, we cannot understand just what it will be like. We can trust however, that it is right and true, just as all of the other predetermined events of this world. Rest in the words and deeds of Jesus, for He came to sacrifice His life so WE may live. 

 Read/Listen to Luke 19:28-44

The Lord Keeps His Promises

I can’t believe it is December already, with Christmas but a mere two weeks away. My mind is still stuck in October, with thoughts of Halloween.

When I was a child, we annually watched, “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown.”

 

If you’ve watched it, then you know that Linus skips trick-or-treating and the ensuing Halloween party to sit in a pumpkin patch. Linus is waiting for the Great Pumpkin to come and bring him toys and other fun stuff. Sadly for Linus, the Great Pumpkin never comes.

 

Today’s reading is Ezekiel 34:7-16. Ezekiel and a large group of exiled Jews were living in Babylon. During their exile, Jerusalem was a vassal state to Nebuchadnezzar, a  Babylonian king. Nebuchadnezzar tore down the walls of Jerusalem and leveled King Solomon’s Temple to squash a rebellion against him in 586 BC.

 

The Lord, speaking through Ezekiel, tells the Jews that he will come to his people, rescue them and take care of them.

 

History tells us that Cyrus, a Persian King, defeated the Babylonians and returned the Jews to Jerusalem in 539 BC, just as the Lord promised.

 

Ezekiel spoke words of comfort to the Jews 2500 years ago, yet these same passages speak comfort to us today. The Lord tells us that he will tend his sheep, a reminder that he sent “The Good Shepherd” to take care of us. The “lost” sheep will be found and not suffer the eternal ravages of sin, a reminder that the “Good Shepherd”, also was a “Sacrificial Lamb” who suffered for our sin.

 

Yes, God came to the Jews and took care of them. In the person of Jesus, God also came to us for our eternal benefit! History and the Bible tell us that Jesus lived on earth and died for us, just the Lord promised.

 

We also know that Jesus, our Good Shepherd and Sacrificial Lamb, will come again to rebuild a new creation for us. We know that we will live with him in eternity.

 

History tells us that the Lord keeps his promises.

 

Unlike the Great Pumpkin!

It is Time to Celebrate!

Everybody loves a celebration. A birthday party, the Fourth of July and New Year’s Eve are favorites of many people. And let’s not forget the celebrations that occur when your favorite sports team wins a championship.

Today’s reading is Ezra 6:13-18. The Israelites rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem and a new Temple to the Lord. The exiled Israelites will soon return from Assyria. It was time to celebrate!

 

But, what is the significance of what they were celebrating?

 While in exile, the Jews were strangers in a foreign land. They were away from the Holy Land, away from God, so to speak.  They did not have an identity.

 Those Jews who were not exiled lived without the safety of a walled city. They were very vulnerable to their neighbors and other invaders. And since the Temple had been destroyed, they could not turn to God who previously dwelled among them.

When the exiles return, the Jews will be re-united. They once again will have an identity. They will be a nation. They will be united with their Lord who will once again dwell among them. And the rebuilt walls will provide them safety.

 Today Christians do not have a walled city, or a single spot for the Lord to dwell. We are not even united, we are scattered all over the world.

 Yet we should celebrate!

 Jesus is our wall; his death on the cross keeps sin from harming us.

 Jesus does not need a Temple; he dwells in heaven and here on earth. He lives among us. The earth is his footstool!

 And Jesus is the great unifier. All Christians everywhere are part of his heavenly kingdom whose job is to spread the Good News of Jesus. As citizens of heaven, Jesus gives us an identity!

 Jesus gives us everything we need.  That is something to celebrate!

Nehemiah 1: 1-11

 A Wall Rebuilt, a Nation Revived

As we move forward on our quest through the book of Nehemiah, we will learn together about his many gifts, his heart for our Lord, and the leadership that evolved within him to bring about miraculous change and the return to faithfulness in Jerusalem and beyond. Most of this book is taken from Nehemiah’s own memoirs, so the insight is personal, and the account, very real.

Some background information is important at this time:

Nehemiah was serving as a royal official in the court of King Artaxerxes in Susas, the capital of the Persian Empire. He was a cupbearer to the King, which is a considerable responsibility, as he tasted the king’s food and wine before serving them to him. While serving the king, Nehemiah got word that though thousands of Jewish exiles returned to Judea, Jerusalem’s wall was still in ruins and the city remained exposed to danger. Nehemiah’s response to this information is the subject of the book of Nehemiah.

You will also hear of Ezra throughout the book of Nehemiah. He was a priest and teacher of the law, with a humble heart for the Lord. He led many Jewish exiles back to Israel. The books of Ezra and Nehemiah are intricately related as you will see.

We will learn of the tremendous will of Nehemiah as we delve into his book. The pulse of this man’s devotion is constant and brisk, and the personality that shines through as we read and reflect on his words and actions, is nothing short of inspiring!

Please join us, as we learn of this devoted servant of God, and experience the zeal with which he peruses his goals in the face of scandalous irreverence in the name of the Lord!

Nehemiah 1: 1-11

A Pain in the Side

Have you ever had to get something done and something or someone becomes a barrier? It could be someone who is opposed to your good idea at work, or it could be as benign as someone interrupting you while shoveling snow to talk and talk and talk.  Either way, such people, as nice as they can be, are sometimes a pain in the side.

 

Nehemiah Inspecting the Walls

Today’s reading is from Nehemiah 2:11-20. The Israelites had turned away from God. As a result, many of them had been exiled to Babylon. The walls of Jerusalem had been destroyed. God promised to restore the Israelites, and Nehemiah, sent by King Artaxerxes, was inspecting the damage to the walls prior to their return.

The walls, of course, needed to be rebuilt to provide for the defense of the Israelites once they returned.

 

Nehemiah ran into his pain in the side in the persons of Sanballat, Horonite and Tobiah. (As an aside, the name Sanballat means “The moon god Sin has given life”, which speaks volumes.) These three were stirring up trouble for Nehemiah.

 

This story is a lot like my life. I was born a sinner, with no redeeming qualities, yet God restored me. Just like Nehemiah was sent by Artaxerxes, Jesus was sent by God for my restoration, both now and later. Because of Jesus, I am a member of Christ’s Kingdom now, and I will be a member of a perfect, restored creation when Christ returns.

 

I still have a pain in the side to deal with, and that is Satan. Like Sanballat, Horonoite and Tobiah, he will falsely accuse me of many things. He will make the trip to the restored creation as difficult as he can. His goal is to see to it that I do not make it.

 

Yet God promised my restoration.  He promised me eternal life and He keeps his promises.

 

Jesus is my wall of defense against Satan. My salvation is ensured. Satan will try to attack, but Satan will always be on the other side of the wall. At best, he can only be a pain in the side.

Sometimes You Have to Let Things Happen

Have you ever had a feeling that things were not going to turn out properly or that disaster was looming? Maybe you had these feelings the first time your child got behind the steering wheel of a car. Or, worse yet, you bit your lip when a friend was about to get married to a person of questionable character.  Sometimes you have to let things happen.

Greek Merchant Vessel

Today’s reading (Acts 21:1-6) tells us that the disciples at Tyre had that feeling about a trip Paul was taking to Jerusalem. Paul was delivering a donation to the poor Christians in Jerusalem from the Corinthians (1 Cor 16:1-4).

 

“Through the Spirit, they (disciples at Tyre) urged Paul not to go” (verse 4). The disciples knew Paul would suffer hardships in Jerusalem, and they selfishly advised him not to go.

 

Yet Paul went. He was “compelled by the Spirit” (Acts 20:22). In spite of the fact that everyone knew that Paul would have a difficult time in Jerusalem, Paul understood that this was God’s plan. Paul was on a mission and he had to let things happen so that God’s plan would be accomplished.

 

Before he left Tyre, Paul and the disciples prayed.

Believe it or not, these mere six verses of scripture contain elements of a good model for mission work.

1.       Pray: The disciples and Paul prayed.

2.       Give: The disciples in Corinth gave and Paul was delivering the gift.

3.       Go:  After prayerful preparations, Paul continued to Jerusalem.

The disciples may have been wrong in urging Paul to stay with them. Bear in mind that their love for Paul was strong and his well being was their motivation. Nonetheless Paul was compelled to go, and we know he was persecuted. Yet God accomplished great things through Paul because he went.

Paul witnessed to Jews in Jerusalem. He witnessed to two Roman governors in Judea.  He witnessed to King Herod Agrippa II. Ultimately, Paul was sent to Rome, where he witnessed to many Roman soldiers and citizens, and most likely the emperor himself.

Sometimes you have to let things happen!

Palm Sunday

Luke 19: 28-44

Though we may be familiar with the story of Jesus mounting a donkey and making his way through the streets of Jerusalem, have we truly considered the condition of his heart? As I read the words in Luke 19, I paused for a long time on the phrase, “he wept over it.” Though Jesus knew his ultimate destiny, the human piece of him likely could not be somewhat hopeful that the world would realize what they were doing and rest in the peace of the Lord.

The vision I have of Jesus weeping as he journeyed through the city is hard on the heart. His strength, grace, and peace were immeasurable, and his love for man unreasonable considering how they behaved, yet He

wept for them, knowing what they were missing. Jesus knew what was to come, but he rode into Jerusalem anyway.

According to: www.thisisyourbible.com, it is recorded specifically in the bible that Jesus wept twice, once when Lazarus died in John 11, and again in Jerusalem as he entered the city in Luke 19. Consider however, Hebrews 5: 7: “During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission.” His prayers were so sincere and intense that it would have been impossible to hold back tears. Isaiah 53:3 illustrates Jesus as “….a man of sorrows, familiar with suffering.” Deep sorrow and suffering accompanied with heartache bring forth genuine, heartfelt tears. So even though there are only two times Jesus is recorded publicly weeping in the bible, understanding his heart clearly reveals frequent cries to God for the love, grace, and forgiveness of his people….that’s us.

Jesus prayed, pleaded, begged, and mourned for us. “He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:5)

Read/Listen to Luke 19: 28-44

Watch Music Video “By His Wounds” by Third Day     -It is intense, but real!