1 John 4:16 (God is Love)

1 John 4:16

And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.

God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.

Love is a virtue traditionally associated with Christmastime, however love is not only present in a Christian's life during the Christmas season. More than any other virtue; love must abide in a Christian's heart all year long. So, what is "love"?

Perhaps more than any other virtue, the world misunderstands "love". "Love" in the Bible is nothing like what love is in the world, and there is no near equivalent to Biblical "love" in the world to help us understand "love" outside of the Bible. "Love" in the New Testament is ἀγάπη (agapé). Agape is a type of love; a type of affection, benevolence or appreciation for something much like the love the world understands. Agape, though, is not a love found in the world but a "love" all its own. It's so seperate from the world, that according to the Bible Dictionary, it "is rarely used in extrabiblical Greek texts. It was used by believers to denote the special unconditional love of God." This "love" has been made known to humanity through the Word of God and the person of Jesus Christ.

The Bible clearly says that this "love" is not just from God, but that it is God. God is "love." The disciple John wrote to devout believers, "We know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them" (1 John 4:16). John says that those who believe in God rely on Him, and God lives in them. Since God is "love" and only Christians can have God in their hearts, then only Christians can truly "love." With this knowledge we, as believers, know that we are the only people on earth capable of showing true "love," as a demonstration of the "love" God has for us. The "love" God displays for us, and that we can display for each other, is described by Paul in some very famous verses. Paul wrote this of "love" in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7:

4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

This is the "love" believers have. This is the "love" God has given us, and He gave this "love" to us in the person of Jesus Christ on the first Christmas. This gift of "love" is powerful. Paul describes that the gift of "love" will not pass away, even after the gifts of knowledge, languages and prophecies all cease (1 Corinthians 13:8). Paul concludes on "love" with the following, "these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love" (1 Corinthians 13:13).

Paul wrote of what the virture of "love" is, while John wrote of who the person of "love" is. John writes, "This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters" (1 John 3:16). God is "love", and God came to us on Christmas, as an act of "love." He laid down His life for us, so that we may know what true "love" is, and that we may show that "love" to the world. The world will wonder and ponder at this until the end of time. It is our mission, as Christians, to point those in the world to what "love" is, so that "love" may abide in the hearts of everyone on earth. We must cry out, "Make way for God," because He is with us. He is here.

Here is our King

Here is our Love

Here is our God who's come

To bring us back to Him

He is the One

He is Jesus, Jesus

-David Crowder Band

Sources

• The Bible (New International Version)
• Bible Hub: Love
• The Bible Dictionary
• David Crowder Band: Here is Our King

What did Mary Know?

Mark Lowry's "Mary, Did You Know?" tells of the true nature of Jesus Christ through the perspective of an omniscient narrator asking Mary, the mother of Jesus, if she knows all the amazing things that her baby will do when He becomes an adult. It is a beautiful work of musicality, especially in how it builds in power and passion the more the lyrics reveal about Jesus' divine nature as God's perfect son. It is a truly wonderful song.

Mary, did you know that your baby boy

Is Lord of all creation?

Mary, did you know that your baby boy

Would one day rule the nations?

Did you know that your baby boy

Is heaven's perfect Lamb?

That sleeping child you're

Holding is the great, I Am

-Mark Lowry

Of course, with the existence of this song comes the existence of an important question: What did Mary know?

Mary first knew she would give birth to a son when the angel Gabriel appeared before her. In the first chapter of Luke Gabriel tells Mary that even though she is a virgin she will give birth to a son. Gabriel then says the following about Mary's son, "He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David, and He will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; His kingdom will never end" (Luke 1:32-33). There's alot of amazing parts to what Gabriel promises about Mary's son, but they might not all be clear upon first read. 

One thing Gabriel tells Mary is that her son will be the Son of the most High. The one who is most high is God. The Son of God is typically refered to in the Old Testament as the Son of Man. The Son of Man appears predominantly in two prophetic books in the Old Testament. The first one is Ezekiel. In this book the Son of Man appears before God's prophet in a vision. Ezekiel writes that he saw "what looked like a throne of lapis lazuli, and high above on the throne was a figure like that of a man" (Ezekiel 1:26). Ezekiel also writes, "brilliant light surrounded Him. Like the appearance of a rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the radiance around Him" (Ezekiel 1:28). When imagery of bright light is primarily used in Scripture, it refers to God and His goodness. This is shown at the beginning of the Bible, where God's first words are, "Let there be light" (Genesis 1:3). This is also evident in Isaiah where it is written, "The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned" (Isaiah 9:2). Knowing that light Biblically siginifies God's glory and goodness, it makes sense why Ezekiel's response to seeing the Son of Man was to fall down before Him, as one falls down and worships the LORD (Ezekiel 1:28).

The Son of Man appears also in the book of Daniel. One night in a vision the prophet Daniel sees, "one like a Son of Man, coming with the clouds of heaven" (Daniel 7:13). Daniel then says that the Son of Man entered into the pressence of the Ancient of Days, which is a title for the LORD Almighty, God the Father. Daniel then writes of the Son of Man, "He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and His kingdom is one that will never be destroyed" (Daniel 7:14). From this vision the Son of Man is a figure who is like a man, but is as holy and almighty as God, for only someone like that could stand in God's pressence. The Son of Man is also worthy of worship, the same way only God is. His reign as King over all will never come to an end. This description of the Son of Man is directly related to how Gabriel says of Jesus, "He will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; His kingdom will never end" (Luke 1:33). 

The Son of Man also appears in the New Testament in Revelation 14:14-16
where He is shown as one who reaps the harevest of believers on earth.

Based only on what the angel Gabriel told mary about her child being the Son of Man, and Mary's likely knowledge of these great prophecies from Ezekiel and Daniel, Mary knew that her child would be one who is like God, who is Light, King and has all power and autority and is worthy of worship. The only one who is like God can be someone who is God. This is why it can be concluded that Mary knew she would give birth to a son, and He would be God on earth with us (Isaiah 7:14).

Mary knew this, because she heard the angel Gabriel tell her this, but how come others besides Mary would come to know this as well? They would know because their eyes and hearts would be made open to this truth. Simon Peter after his first encounter with Jesus, upon seeing Jesus demonstrate signs and speak wonders, went up to Jesus fell at His knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!" (Luke 5:8). He rightly knew that Jesus was holy and Lord of all creation, despite that no angel told him. Later in Peter's life, Jesus tells Peter how it is he came to recognize Jesus' true nature. Jesus says to him, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven" (Matthew 16:17). Peter knew who Jesus is, because God made it known to Him.

God does not make known the nature of Jesus to everyone, though. Jesus Himself said of some of those who heard Him speak and preach, "they may be ever seeing but never perceiving, and ever hearing but never understanding; otherwise they might turn and be forgiven!" (Mark 4:12). This is also similar to what God told the prophet Isaiah to tell His people. God said, "'Be ever hearing, but never understanding; be ever seeing, but never perceiving.’ Make the heart of this people calloused; make their ears dull and close their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed" (Isaiah 6:9-10). What all this means is that knowing about God and His ways is entirely in God's hands. God knows who will be His followers, and He has put this destiny in place for them that will believe before they were even born (Romans 8:29). Don't forget, though, that you, as a believer, still had your own part in knowing God. You had to turn from your wicked ways and desire Him, so that you may be forgiven for your sins. It is written that those who turn from their sins and seek God will find Him (Jeremiah 29:13).

We live in an age where we know about Jesus not from seeing Him physically, but from God revealing Him to us through what we hear about Jesus and learn about Jesus through God's words, the Bible. If the true nature of Jesus as the Son of Man and God in flesh has been revealed to you, then consider yourself truly blessed. Jesus said of believers like you and me, "blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed” (John 20:29). Though we have not seen Jesus in His physical body, nor have we seen Jesus perform signs and wonders in person before our eyes, we know who He is, because God has revealed this to us. Just as Mary knew, so do we in Christ know, because God has revealed Himself to us. We know that God is here.

Love has come

For the world to know

As the wise men knew

Such a long time ago

And I believe that angels sang

That hope had begun

When the God of glory

Who is full of mercy

Yes, the God of glory

Sent His son

(Yes! We know that!)

-Amy Grant

Sources

• The Bible (New International Version)
• Pentatonix: Mary, Did You Know?
• Amy Grant: Love has Come
• WWUTT: Why do You Believe or Don't Believe in God?

Luke 2:10 (Great Joy for All)

Luke 2:10

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

Christmas is a time of joy! The happiness that comes at Christmas effects nearly every aspect of this holiday. Many people are singing, smiling and laughing together. We bake sweets and treats that put smiles on our faces and dimples in our cheeks. It seems each and every holiday special and Christmas movie is required to have a happy ending full of the merry-making we desire this season.

Boy, the happiness of Christmas sure is wonderful, but it doesn't take much to derail this joyride. Does it? A fight erupts. A turkey gets burned. A relative offends. A news story is haunting. Your brother doesn't get that one thing he was wanting. Your sister will cry, your father will sigh, and your mom gets up and says "Bye-Bye." It is very hard to hold onto joy at this season. Perhaps, we, as believers, would hold on to it better, if we understood what Biblical "joy" really is.

Now, unlike most Greek words in the New Testament that are translated with one or two word equivalents, there are many Greek words that illustrate and depict "joy." It's the same way in English, where we have the words happiness, gladness and delight that all signify "joy." The word for "joy" used in Luke chapter 2 verse 10, though, is χαρά (chara) and it is used 59 times in the New Testament. Chara comes from another Greek word χαίρω (chairó), which means cheerfulness or calm delight. The Bible Dictionary defines "joy" as "a state of delight snd well being that results from knowing and serving God." Based on this, "joy" is delight and happiness that cannot come from just anywhere. "Joy" can only come from God, and God fills His children who trust in Him with great "joy" and with the Holy Spirit (Romans 15:13).

We, as Christians, have a right relationship with God and are filled with the Holy Spirit. Why don't we have "joy" all the time? It's because we forget to be joyful.

We forget to have "joy" in the LORD our God. We forget that we, as believers, have a reason to be joyful in all circumstances; that God is in control of everything, and everything that comes about to us is for our good and His glory (Romans 8:28). If we know this, why should we be sad? The greatest problems in our life have already been solved, by our joyful Father in heaven. We forget this, and so God through His words continually reminds us and commands us to rejoice, to remember to be joyful again. Paul writes to a group of outcasts Christians, "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near" (Phillipians 4:4-5). We must remember to have "joy" in all our circumstances, because we know that God is with us.

Mary's child, Jesus, was filled with so much "joy", He gave some
 to John the Baptist and his mother even before He was born (Luke 1:44).

We in Christ have every reason to be joyful, and God takes great "joy" in us. In three different parables in Luke chapter 15 Jesus illustrates that God and all His angels are overjoyed for each person who comes back to Him (Luke 15:7,10,24). Our Father is filled with great joy, when we repent of our sins and return back to God. He is so overjoyed by this, that He made a way so that not just some people could come to God but that everyone throughout all of time and the world could come to God. This is the good news that the angels said would bring great "joy" to all people (Luke 2:10). The angels told the shepherds long ago as they tell us today, "In the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger” (Luke 2:11-12). We have a savior, so we have every reason to rejoice with those who rejoice (Romans 12:15). God is with us. With this good news in our hearts let us always remember to "rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus" (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). We have a Savior, so we have "joy!"

Rejoice! 

Rejoice! 

Emmanuel

Shall come to thee, O Israel

-John Mason Neale

Sources

• The Bible (New International Version)
• Biblehub: Joy
• The Bible Dictionary
• for KING & COUNTRY: O Come, O Come Emmanuel

Did you hear about the time St. Nicholas Saved Christmas? (Origin of the Nicene Creed)

Around Christmastime we can hear alot of stories about Santa Claus. Those stories can be fun sources of entertainment, but they are just ficticious fairy tales. Did you know, though, that Santa Claus is a fantastical interpretation of the real St. Nicholas? There is even a true story about a time when St. Nicholas saved the teachings of Christmas. There are several accounts of how this true event happened, however I have written this based on an account to which church tradition typically holds. Grab yourself a chair (if you got one), get cozy next to the fireplace (if there's one close by) and get ready to hear the story (if you read this out loud) about the time St. Nicholas had a part in saving the celebration of Christmas.

'Twas the year A.D. 325 and all through the world, there was contention in the church felt by every boy and girl. 

Men and women gathered to worship on bended knees, wondering if what they just heard may have been heresy.

The Deacons and Bishops argued all through the night, 'cause none of them could agree if what they were preaching was right. 

In every Roman city the pastors caused quite the scene, so a great meeting was called by the Emperor Constantine. 

Across all of Rome from a select group of households, Christians gathered in Nicaea for the first Ecumenical Council.

A depiction of the first Ecumenical Council

To this council came two preachers who were more than opposed, and they may have even thought of each other as foes.

The first was a bold Bishop who was not at all quaint. He is widely known as Nicholas the God fearing Saint.

His love for the Scriptures was deep in his heart. He believed preaching from the Bible is a perfect place to start.

He knew as it is written that on the first Christmas day, God came to the earth as a baby born in a bed full of hay.

If we all read John 1:14 as literal as anyone can, we'll agree with Nicholas that Jesus was fully God and fully man.

Unfortunately opposing this truth was a belief that was scariest, and no one promoted it more than the heretic Arius.

This man showed his followers what every blind heart can see, that God is not Jesus and there is no Trinity.

He told everyone things contrary to Colossians 1:15, that Jesus isn't God but merely a divine created being.

If you believe Jesus was good but maybe not perfect, then you'll be stuck wondering if the cross was all worh it.

You can see how this false preaching caused quite a schism, and you know about the heresy known as Arianism.

During the council when Arius was giving a speech, Nicholas thought his words were just a terrible screech.

On and an on Arius went winning Constantine's ear, and Nicholas couldn't stand it each time the Emperor cheered.

In that room Arius spread such evil and blite, going against what the shepherds heard on the first Christmas night.

Arius believed God didn't come as flesh or the Word, but angels said that Jesus was Savior and He is Christ the LORD.

Every last heresy that Arius cried and did spout, just made Nicholas want to get up and shut close his mouth!

So that's what he did.

"AUGH!!!" They all gasped at what they had seen, Nicholas just struck a Bishop which goes against Psalm 105:15.

So quickly they grabbed Nicholas with sorrowful wails, and threw that Biblical man out and right into jail.

In a prsion all chained up he had time to measure, what might have come about if he kept reign on his temper.

Yes, Christians should fight falsehoods as we understand, but we fight with the Bible and not with our hands.

So Nicholas now apart from that grand council room, wondered if the teachings of Christmas might well meet their doom.

After a long night in prison of thinking and praying, Nicholas was invited back to hear what the council was saying.

And to his astonished surprise what should he hear, that Arius was kicked out that night sent flying on his rear.

The council decided what he preached was a lie, and they hoped Arianism would just shrivel up and die.

They ruled in favor of a literal view of the Scriptures, that you have to hold fast to God's words with fervor and stricture.

And with the council finished as their final deed, they sat down and wrote out the affrimed Nicene Creed.

And it reads as follows:

So at this Christmastime with your sons and daughters, think back to the history of your dear church fathers.

To sing of the virgin birth and the greatest gift, Arianism was kicked out with some thanks to St. Nick.

It's assured in our Bibles we always will read, about the promised offspring from way bach in Genesis 3:15.

He would be called Ruler and Master among us to dwell. He is Messiah, Savior, and King. Emmanuel.

Yes, God came to earth and this we should know, He came to save everyone just as the Bible tells us so.

Merry Christmas, Everyone!

Sources

• The Bible (New International Version)
• St. Nicholas Center: "Persecuted, Jailed and Passionate" and "Bishop Nicholas Loses his Cool"
• Open Bible Info: Jesus Fully God and Fully Man
• Got Questions: What is Arianism?
• Britanica: First Council of Nicaea
• Reformed Church: Nicene Creed

Romans 15:4 (We have Hope)

Romans 15:4

For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.

Hope is a great virtue to keep in mind at Christmastime. We, as believers, know that our hope is in Jesus Christ (Psalm 33:20-22), and we know that our hope was realized on the first Christmas. We even read in Paul's letters that the God of all hope will "fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit" (Romans 15:13). What Christian wouldn't want that? Boy, hope sure is a good thing. That's why I've got one question: What is hope?

We've all got our own ideas about what "hope" is, but what does the Bible say "hope" is? To find out, surprisingly, we'll have to look outside of the Christmas story. Yes, the word "hope" is not used in the Nativity story, and moreso it is seldom used throughout all four gospels. In fact the word "hope" appears most in the New Testament in the book of Romans, where it is used 13 times (five more times than any other book in the New Testament). The word for "hope" in the New Testament, and throughout all of the book of Romans, is ἐλπίς (elpis). Biblical "hope" is defined as an expectation of some event, putting one's trust in something or having confidence in someone. We see "hope" used according to this definition in this verse, "Against all hope [expectation], Abraham in hope [with trust and confidence] believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him," (Romans 4:18).

"Hope" is used to describe the expecting or trusting of things we don't yet have but are awaiting. We don't "hope" for things about which we have not been told. We, as believers, "hope" for things about which we have been told, especially by God.

With this in mind, it makes sense why the word "hope" does not appear in the Christmas story or in the gospels. That story is not about hope, but "hope" being realized. That "hope" being realized was the coming of the promised Messiah, the savior of the world. In the same way Abraham put his "hope" in God's promises, so too did God's people put their "hope" in these promises: The Messiah would be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2), He would have a virgin birth (Isaiah 7:14), He would be called out of Egypt (Hosea 11:1), He would be worshipped and given gifts by distant kings (Psalm 72:10-11), He would be a descendant of king David (Isaiah 9:6-7) and many more. God gave all of these promises, and He fulifilled them all in the Nativity story. This is one of the reasons why after Mary is told she will conceive and give birth to a son, eventhough she is a virgin, she responds saying all generations will call her blessed (Luke 1:48). She knows that the baby she will carry is the realization of her long awaited "hope".

Long awaited precious promise

Son of God and son of man

Heaven's glory in a manger

Has come to us in Bethlehem

-Francesca Battistelli

So, since the people of Israel put their "hope" in God's promises about the coming Messiah, does that mean we, as Christians in this present age, can put our "hope" in those prophecies as well? To be honest, no. Why? It's because we already have a Messiah. We can't "hope" for what we already have. This is why Paul writes, "But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently" (Romans 8:24-25). So, that begs yet another question: Is there anything for which we are patiently hoping? Yes. Paul writes that we, as Christians, "groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved" (Romans 8:23). We are waiting for the day, when our bodies will be made anew, our place in God's kingdom will be revealed, and our "hope" will be realized. I know this, because God promised this to all believers. These are the promises God made about the end of time: God will take His vengeance on His enemies (Jeremiah 46:10), God's holy Temple will be established in the highest heavens (Micah 4:1), our strength will be renewed and we will rise on wings like eagles (Isaiah 40:31), God's perfect kingdom will last forever (Daniel 2:44) and many more. This is for what we "hope"; the coming of God's perfect kingdom.

All of these promises from God about when He will restore all things were given to us in the past to teach us and give us strength. To summarize this, Paul writes "everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope" (Romans 15:4). God's promises revealed to us through Scripture give us hope. If we don't know what Scripture has promised, then we won't have hope, or we will hope for things that have not been promised and as such will never come. We must put our "hope" only in what God promises. When we do that, we will know that what Paul wrote is true, "Hope does not put us to shame," (Romans 5:5). If we put our "hope" in God, He will never let us down, just like He didn't let down all His followers who had been waiting for their Messiah.

Messiah! Messiah!

A baby born to save us all

Messiah! Messiah!

On our knees we fall

-Francesca Battistelli

Sources

• The Bible (New International Version)
• Open Bible Info: Hope
• Biblehub.com: Hope ἐλπίς (elpis)
• Unlocking the Bible: Christmas Prophecies
• Francecsa Battistelli: Messiah

Why are there so Few Nativities this Year?

Every Christmas season I play a game, based on the Christmas decorations I see. For my game, it's minus ten points for every Santa Claus I see, because he's not the true meaning of Christmas, and it's minus five points for every reindeer and light up snowman, because those are abundant where I live and they have very little to do with Christmas. The only way I get points in my game is if I see a Nativity scene. Every Nativity I see is worth 50 points. As the Nativity depicts the Christmas story, seeing it keeps the true meaning of Christmas on people's minds and hearts. It's honestly the only Christmas decoration that's worth any true value.

In previous years when I would play this game I'd score considerably high. Typically when I'd go out, I would see an average of 12 Nativities per drive. This year the number of Nativities I have seen is the lowest ever. As of now, I have seen less than five Nativities total. During an hour long drive to the mall and back, while even taking a different route home, I passed by only one Nativity. That saddens me. Now, while it is not required for believers to put up Nativities, or wear cross necklaces, or dress in shirts with Bible verses, doing these things for God's glory is certainly not discouraged.

When it comes to Christians not putting up their Nativites this year, two bad reasons behind this that come to my mind are "shame" and "fear". Christians should not be ashamed to show everyone that they are believers in Jesus Christ and what He has done, and putting up a Nativity can be a great way to demonstrate this. Paul writes to fellow believers, "I am not ashamed of the Gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes" (Romans 1:16). We should not be ashamed of what God has done for us. Jesus says, "Whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when He comes in His glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels" (Luke 9:26). What a terrible thing it would be to miss out on the everalasting joy at Christ's second coming, simply because we were ashamed to openly proclaim our faith in Jesus. If, for you, showing you are not ashamed of the Gospel means putting up your Nativity, then you should be encouraged in doing so.

What if you're afraid about what will happen to you and your household, if you put up your Nativity this year? I can understand that. I have had personal experience witnessing the desecration of Nativity decorations. I've seen terrible things done to Nativities and houses that display them, but this sense of fear and dread is no reason not to put up a Nativity. If you are a believer in Christ, then you should know that people will tend to not like you or how you celebrate Christmas. Peter writes to fellow believers that they should not be surprised when they suffer for their beliefs (1 Peter 4:12). The early Christians suffered as martyrs for their faith. Perhaps, we as believers should be willing to face the negative pushback that can come from displaying a Nativity. If you do receive negative pushback for putting up your Nativity, then may this encourage you, "If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you" (1 Peter 4:14).

Nativities are a great way to show a household's love for the Gospel, and no Christian household should be afraid or ashamed to show the Gospel by putting up a Nativity. If you strongly believe that your house should put up your Nativity, or you may even feel God is convicting you to be bold for Him and put one up this year, then you should do so. Heed this caution, "If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them" (James 4:17). Don't keep your household quiet out of fear or shame this year or any other year. Spread the good news of Christmas on your yard, in your house, at the mall or wherever you may go. If you do this for God's glory, know that one day He will look upon you and say, "Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your Master's happiness!" (Matthew 25:21).

Go tell it on the mountain

Over the hills and everywhere

Go tell it on the mountain

Our Jesus Christ is born

- John Wesley Work Jr.

Sources

• The Bible (New International Version)
• Open Bible Info: Ashamed of God
• Open Bible Info: Doing what is Right
• Go Tell it on the Mountain

Luke 2:14 (Peace on Earth)

Luke 2:14

"Glory to God in the highest heaven,

    and on earth peace to those on whom His favor rests."

On a night long ago in the first year there were shepherds watching their flocks. Unto these lowly men working an uncoveted profession, God sent His heavenly hosts to deliver this message, "Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is the Messiah, the Lord" (Luke 2:10-11). After they had said this good news, the messengers praised God saying, "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom His favor rests" (Luke 2:14). The shepherds overjoyed went into Bethlehem and saw their Savior as a newborn baby lying in a feeding trough. Amazed to see that what God's messengers said was true, the shepherds went out to spread the word that their Savior, the Messiah, had come (Luke 2:17-18).

A Depiction of the Shepherds receiving
good news from the heavenly hosts

If you are a Christian, then you believe that story. Still, at times I find some of what those angels said hard to believe. I do not doubt whether the virgin conceived and gave birth to the Messiah, according to the prophets (Isaiah 7:14). What is hard for me to believe is that there is peace on earth. Well, I look around the world, and based on what I currently know about "peace", I'm hard pressed to find it on earth.

And in despair I bowed my head

There is no peace on earth I said

For hate is strong and mocks the song

Of peace on earth, good will to men

-Casting Crowns

Of course, I would be a fool if I didn't believe what those angels said long ago on the first Christmas night. I believe what they said about the Savior being born, because there is evidence to show the truth of their statement. I can't just take the evidence that what the angels said is true, and then disregard some of what they said. I can't pick and choose which things God says to believe. God cannot lie (Titus 1:2). I'd better believe everything He says.

So, what does it mean that there is "peace" on earth? Typically, people think of "peace" as a passive virtue relating to non-violence. Well, the word for "peace" in Luke 2:14 is εἰρήνη (eiréné) and it is used nearly 100 times in the New Testament, occuring in every book in the New Testament except for 1 John. Given this word's recurrence in Scripture, it would be wise to truly understand it's meaning. In verses such as Colossians 3:15, which speaks to believers, "Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful," it appears to confirm that "peace" represents a passive virtue with which it is typically associated. In another verse, however, "peace" describes God who "will soon crush Satan under [believers'] feet," (Romans 16:20). Crushing someone isn't a very passive, let alone non-violent, activity. 

According to the NIV Bible Dictionary, "peace" is "a condition or sense of harmony," and in the New Testament it refers "to the condition and sense of being safe and secure." "Peace" is removing hostility and replacing it with saftey and security. With this information, peace in the Bible relates less to today's modern peaceful protesters demanding non-violence and more to today's armed officials safe guarding people with the use of force.

When Jesus said "Blessed are the peacemakers for they will be called
children of God" (Matthew 5:9) to whom do you believe He was referring?

If peace is keeping people safe and secure from hostility, then from what hostility does God keep people safe? We can read the answer to that in the prophecies of Isaiah, where it is written of the Messiah, "He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on Him, and by His wounds we are healed," (53:5). Isaiah continues on to write "it was the Lord’s will to crush Him and cause Him to suffer, and though the Lord makes His life an offering for sin, He will see His offspring and prolong His days, and the will of the Lord will prosper in His hand," (53:10-11). What all this means is that it was God's will for Jesus to come and suffer the rightful punishment all sinners face, God's holy judgement. For those in Christ, Jesus bore God's hostility towards sinners, so that those who believe in God and have been chosen by Him will be kept safe and secure from God's righteous judgement and wrath. That is what peace on earth means, that we, as believers, are safe from God's riighteous judgement.

Not everyone has this peace with God, which is why the Bible says this peace on earth is "to those on whom His favor rests." Those who have not saught favor with God, are not safe from the hostile punishment for their sins that awaits them. If we seek favor with God, He will not hide from us. He says "you will call on Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart,” (Jeremiah 29:12-13). Those who find God will be kept safe from His judgment. Goodness and love will follow them throughout their life, and when they leave this earth they will live in God's house forever (Psalm 23:6). We all deserve God's righteous wrath for our sins, but we believers have found peace with God, and He will keep us safe.

Then rang the bells more loud and deep

God is not dead, nor does He sleep

Peace on earth, Peace on earth

The wrong shall fail, the right prevail

With peace on earth, good will to men

-Casting Crowns

We have peace on earth because of one reason:
"While we were still sinners, Christ died for us," (Romans 5:8b).

Sources

• The Bible (New International Version)
• Biblehub.com: Peace
• Biblical Missiology: Old Testament Prophecies
• Casting Crowns: I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day

What is Biblical about Thanksgiving?

Today in the United States is Thanksgiving, an annual celebration officially recognized by Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War. It is on this day that Americans traditionally join together and celebrate the heritage of one of the first people who colonized this land. These people were known as the Pilgrims.

The Pilgrims were a group of devout Christians who left Europe to worship God in accordance with His word, rather than by the rules of European governments. The Pilgrims wrote a compact to England stating they undertook their journey from Europe to an uncolonized America, "for the glory of God and advancement of the Christian faith and honour of [their] King and country, a voyage to plant the first colony in the northern parts of Virginia."After an awful time crossing the Atlantic Ocean where many Pilgrims passed away due to illness, the Pilgrims landed in Massachusets. They would have likely not survived, but thanks to God's providence, they met the native American Samoset who would introduce them to a man named Squanto.

A depiction of Squanto

When Squanto was young, he was captured by Spanish slavers. He was brought by the Spanish from America to Europe, and was sold as a slave. This would not be Squanto's final fate, though. As God would have it, Squanto was bought and set free by a group of Christian monks. According to historians, Squanto learned the reason behind his being set free was the monks' love for Jesus, the man of God who sets every captive free (Luke 4:18). Squanto embraced the Christian faith from the monks, and became a devout follower of Christ. Later in Squanto's life, after years of working as a guide for sailors on the ocean, Squanto made it back home to his village. Tragically, though, everyone in Squanto's home village had recently been wiped out by a plague that likely originated from other European explorers. It is probable that Squanto's anger towards the Europeans, for bringing the plague that wiped out his village, is why he did not greet the Pilgrims when they arrived a year or so later. He hid from them in fear, but his friend Samoset introduced the Pilgrims to him, assuring Squanto that these Europeans were much different from previous Europeans and were in need of help. By the grace of God, Squanto and some otehr native Americans came to unite with the Pilgrims, and they worked together in the love of Christ to create and run a small village.

The Pilgrims, Squanto and the other native Americans endured a harsh first year together. The winter, to be brief, was brutal and many people died. When the air got warmer, the weather nicer and the grounds more fertile, the Pilgrims and the Native Americans sewed seeds that reaped an abundant harvest. In the autumn of 1621 all of the Pilgrims and the native Americans with them had a grand harvest feast, and they likely invited other neighboring people to join with them in their feast. It is not known or recorded what the Pilgrims and native Americans prayed at this feast, as their prayers were spontaneous. A typical prayer the Pilgrims may have prayed could have been similar to this one (written in its original English):

O Lord our God and heavenly Father, which of Thy unspeakable mercy towards us, hast provided meate and drinke for the nourishment of our weake bodies. Grant us peace to use them reverently, as from Thy hands, with thankful hearts: let Thy blessing rest upon these Thy good creatures, to our comfort and sustentation: and grant we humbly beseech Thee, good Lord, that as we doe hunger and thirst for this food of our bodies, so our soules may earnestly long after the food of eternal life, through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour, Amen.

George Webb, "Short direction for the daily exercise of the Christian,"

London 1625. Courtesy of Plimoth Plantation

A depiction of the Pilgrim's prayer at the harvest feast

It may seem natural reading that the Pilgrims gave thanks for their lives, but upon reading about their lives it should seem prepostorous, certainly to an unbeliever, that the Pilgrims should be thankful for anything. They were under religous supression in Europe, they endured terrible travel conditions that cost many their lives, and they barely survived an awful first winter. Still, in the midst of this, the Pilgrims remained faithful to the LORD, and He was watching over them. They would have surely failed to settle down in America without God, but He made it so that Squanto would suffer as a slave for a time, so that he could be set free by Christians, become a devout believer, return home to America and help the Pilgrims survive their first year as colonists. Only God in His sovereignty could orchestrate this perfect chain of events, and it is these divine chains of events that we as believers refer to as providence. 

We, as Christians, have a lot for which to be thankful. It is not because of all the stuff we have or our life situations. It is because we, as believers, know we are in God's hands. God is sovereign, which means He has control over everything that happens, and He does what pleases Him (Psalm 115:3). We may not always understand why God does what He does, but we know that God is good and His good will shall be done. Sometimes that means having to suffer, such as how the Pilgrims were inflicted with illness or how Squanto was sold into slavery. Still, amidst this suffering, God's will is being done. As Joseph remaked to his brothers who sold him into slavery only for Joseph to become the leader of Egypt, "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives" (Genesis 50:20). Many times God uses terrible situations to bring about His goodness and prosperity. Such is why all the words of Psalm 100 offer thanksgiving to God:

A psalm. For giving grateful praise.

1 Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.

2     Worship the Lord with gladness;

    come before Him with joyful songs.

3 Know that the Lord is God.

    It is He who made us, and we are His;

    we are His people, the sheep of His pasture.

4 Enter His gates with thanksgiving

    and His courts with praise;

    give thanks to Him and praise His name.

5 For the Lord is good and His love endures forever;

    His faithfulness continues through all generations.

Give thanks to God for He is good (Psalm 107:1a), remembering on this day that it is by God's goodness and sovereignty that the Pilgrims as well as all of us who are in Christ are able to live with hearts of abundance and thanksgiving. It is not that we, as Christians, are thankful for the things we have, but rather that we are thankful for the God of all creation who has given us everything we have. It is with this belief, that our faith fills us with thanksgiving. So, it was written of the Pilgrims may it also be written of us as believers, "And thus they found the Lord to be with them in all their ways, and to bless their outgoings and incomings, for which let His holy name have the praise forever, to all posterity." (William Bradford).

Sources

• The Bible (New International Version)
• Open Bible Info: Thanksgiving verses
• Open Bible Info: God's Sovereignty
• Plymothy Patuxet: Thanksgiving History
• Weirton Daily Times: Squanto
• Pilgrimhall.org: Thanksgiving
• Of Plymouth Plantation: Bradford's History of the Plymouth Settlement 1608-1650

Psalm 145:18 (Talk with God)

Psalm 145:18

The Lord is near to all who call on Him,

to all who call on Him in truth.

Hello. How are you doing this week? Has it been rough for you? Have you been enjoying yourself and your time? Is there anything new happening in your life, or do you feel you're stuck in the same old same old? Have you been feeling lonely lately; like you have no one with whom you can talk? I've been feeling that way alittle bit. I've got alot of things on my mind, but sometimes I don't feel like I can tell them to anyone. Sometimes I feel like I have no one with whom I can talk.

God knows how important talking and being together is for human beings. At the beginning of creation God looked at the first man and said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him," and so God made man a female companion with whom man could talk and share his life (Genesis 2:18). God then created the covenant of marriage, so that a man and a woman could deeply share their life together, and have children who could also spend time with them. God designed human-kind to be social beings who talk and commune with each other.

Sometimes, though, I don't want to talk with other people, or maybe I want to talk with someone about something very specific, but there is no one I know who would care about it. What do I do then?

The Bible says I can talk with God. The way people can talk with God is by praying. God promised those who believe in Him, "Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know" (Jeremiah 33:3). It's great to know that when we call on God in faith God will answer. The psalmist wrote, "The Lord is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth" (Psalm 145:18). When we, as believers, talk with God in prayer, we are taking our words and requests directly to God's throne room. We, as believers, are in Christ, so "let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need" (Hebrew 4:16). We have this confidence that God hears us, unlike those who do not believe. One of Jesus' followers once said, "We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the Godly person who does His will" (John 9:31). It is written, "The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, and His ears are attentive to their cry" (Psalm 34:15). Therefore "let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water" (Hebrews 10:22).

Talk with God, because He cares for you. He has kept count of all your tossings and turnings, put your tears in a bottle, and written all of your sorrows down in His records (Psalm 56:8). He is the God of all mercy and comfort (2 Corinthians 1:3). Go to Him, when you feel needy and alone. He says to His children, "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you" (Matthew 7:7). When you talk with God, you do not have to worry about what you will say, or how you will say it. You do not have to "keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him" (Matthew 6:7-8).

When you talk with God, know that talking with God is not a one way conversation. He desires to tell you so much about Him. The word of God says that the sky and everything in it declares God's glory, and even though no sound is heard from the sky, its voice goes out to all the world (Psalm 19:1-4). The beauty and wonder of creation speaks to you on God's behalf every day and every night. God, Himself, speaks to you through the Bible. In the past God spoke to His children in many ways, but in these times He speaks to us through the preserved words of His son, Jesus Christ (Hebrews 1:1-2). Talk with God. Go to Him, and listen to what He says to you.

Pastor Justin Peters once said this Biblically sound quote:

Sources

• The Bible (New International Version)
• Bible Reasons: Talking to God
• Open Bible Info: What does the Bible say about Talking to God
• WWUTT: God Told Me...?

Is There No Place for Hate? (Are Christians All Love and No Hate?)

You may have heard that the biggest conflict in all of human history has been an ongoing war between love and hate. This story is a pretty simple one that has been perpetuated through popular media. The question is: Is this story true? Some in the modern U.S. political climate believe so, as shown through various yard signs that have been put up across the country. On these yard signs is typically written, "Hate has no home here". The Question is: Does hate really have no home in a Christian house?

A Common yard sign that features
the "Hate has no home here" phrase

Most people would say that Jesus teached His followers to love their enemies, and He did, along with telling His followers to pray for their enemies (Luke 6:27-28). Jesus calls His followers to do this, so that they may be children of their Father in heaven (Matthew 5:45a). Jesus says that even God "causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous," showing that God has love for both His followers and His enemies (Matthew 5:45b). In addition to this, Jesus on the night before He was arrested tells His disciples, "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:34-35).

Christians have clearly been called by God to love one another. If love and hate are diametrically opposed forces, as culture tends to show, then it should not be possible for loving Christian households to have any room for hate. This seems like a logical conclusion.

Not so fast. The Bible has more to say, and what the Bible says is always better than what our culture says.

God does not just call His followers to love, but He also calls them to hate. Jesus Himself told His followers, "If anyone comes to Me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be My disciple" (Luke 14:26). Here God is stating that the cost to follow Jesus is to hate anyone who keeps you from serving Him (whether it be your spouse, family or even your own life). God calling His followers to hate others seems like it diminishes the purity of His call to love one another, but in reality our love cannot be sincere, if we as Christians do not hate what is evil and cling to what is good (Romans 12:9). Hating anything sounds terrible in light of some worldly ideas, but Christians are not called to love what the world loves. On the contrary, it is written, "Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them" (1 John 2:15).

Not only are Christians commanded to hate what is evil, but God sets an example for this hatred. God loves righteousness and hate wickedness (Psalm 45:7a). God says, "I, the Lord, love justice; I hate robbery and wrongdoing. In my faithfulness I will reward my people and make an everlasting covenant with them" (Isaiah 61:8). Those who do what God loves will be rewarded, and those who do what God hates will be under His judgement. This is why it is written, "Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God" (1 Corinthians 6:9-10). These are all sinful practices that the Lord hates, and anyone who habitually practices "what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work" (1 John 3:8). Yes, one reason Jesus came to earth was out of hatred for the devil, and one day God will cast the devil into an eternal punishment that He has prepared for him (Matthew 25:41). This is how our God hates what is evil.

Christians should follow God's example. A wise follower of God wrote, "To fear the Lord is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech" (Proverbs 8:13).  It is also written, "The righteous hate what is false, but the wicked make themselves a stench and bring shame on themselves" (Proverbs 13:5). From this verse the real ongoing battle throughout history has not been between love and hate, but is between those who love evil and those who hate it. It is so that everyone has love and hate in them, but only those who follow God can love and hate the right way.

Living in hatred, though, is a detestable thing. The tempation for a Christian to fall into sinful hatred is strong, and it is a daily struggle for a Christian to hate evil without sinning in that hatred. One Biblical writer strugglining with their hatred of God's enemies wrote this in Psalm 139:19-24:

19 If only You, God, would slay the wicked!

    Away from me, you who are bloodthirsty!

20 They speak of You with evil intent;

    Your adversaries misuse Your name.

21 Do I not hate those who hate You, Lord,

    and abhor those who are in rebellion against You?

22 I have nothing but hatred for them;

    I count them my enemies.

23 Search me, God, and know my heart;

    test me and know my anxious thoughts.

24 See if there is any offensive way in me,

    and lead me in the way everlasting.

We, as believers, must ask God to search our hearts in the same way this Psalmist did. We must hate what is evil, but we must keep away from sinning in that hatred. It is written, "In your anger do not sin: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold" of your life (Ephesians 4:26-27). Love well and hate well, but do not become bitter or "anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God" (Philippians 4:6). If we pray for our enemies and cast those prays and burdens on God, then He will sustain us (Psalm 55:22). Yes, there is a place for hate in a Christian home, but that hate must be kept in line with God's word.

Remember, serving God means loving
what He loves and hating what He hates

Sources

• The Bible (New International Version)
• NIV Bible Concordance by Zondervan

Hebrews 10:26-27 (Deliberate Sinning is an Expectation of Judgment)

 

Hebrews 10:26-27

 If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God.

To be a Christian is to put one's trust in the saving blood of Jesus Christ. The Messiah died as the substitute for all believer's, and He took on the wrath of God which we all, as sinners, rightly deserve (1 John 2:2). There's no act or work that anyone can do to save themselves from God's wrath. All someone can do to inherit the gift of salvation is believe that Jesus already paid the price for their sins. It is written, "the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:23).

So, if all someone has to do to inherit salvation is believe in Jesus and what He did, does that mean people can do whatever they want after they are saved? No. It is not right for children of light to continue walking in darkness.

If I say I put my trust in God, that means I believe Jesus is Lord over all. If, however, I don't honor God's lordship over me, I might not actually be saved. Jesus is Lord, and lords have commands for their subjects. To say I believe God is who He says He is, means I should respect His position of authority over me. If I follow my Lord's commands, I show my faith in Him. This is one reason why it is written, "faith without works is dead" (James 2:14-26). A dead faith does not save.

It is not possible for someone to lose their salvation (Romans 8:29-30), but it is possible for someone to feign their faith in Christ, pretend they are a Christian or even deceive themselves. The Bible speaks that this world is full of false believers who "will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them-bringing swift destruction on themselves" (2 Peter 2:1b). There are also people who say they are Christians, and then walk away from their faith, but these people were never really Christians (1 John 2:19). There are even people who think they are saved to the point of going before God saying, "Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name and in Your name drive out demons and in Your name perform many miracles?" and God will look at them and say, "‘I never knew you. Away from Me, you evildoers!" (Matthew 7:22-23).

I state this as a warning. If you claim to be a believer in Christ, and yet you continue to practice and even enjoy what you know to be sin, you should be discouraged in your actions. It's true that those who are saved do continue to sin (1 John 1:8), but it is also true that those who make a practice of sinning are lawless and wicked (1 John 3:4). Paul wrote to those in Rome, "Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?" (Romans 6:1-2). The world is under the curse of sin, and it wants us to keep sinning. This is why John writes to his followers, "Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world-the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life-comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever" (1 John 2:15-17).

The world longs for you to live in your sin,
but you can fight your sinful desires by trusting God's word.

Sinning is following the desires of our sinful natures, our flesh. The desires of the flesh are at war against what Christ desires (Galatians 5:17). For someone to knowingly give in to the desires of the flesh and still believe they are a Christian is self deception. Living this way is described as "trampling the Son of God" and insulting the Spirit of grace (Hebrews 10:29). A terrible punishment awaits those who do this. Galatians chapter 5 verses 19 to 21 reads, "The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God." Delighting in sin is wicked, and all the wicked go to the realm of the dead (Psalm 9:17). Don't test this, because to be proven wrong is to burn in hell forever (Matthew 25:46).

Be of sober mind. God did not breathe these words in vain. "If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God" (Hebrews 10:26-27). If you have received salvation in Christ, then stay away from your sin and anything that may cause you to sin. 

What should we, as believers, do now that we are saved? Jesus said it best. We have been made well by being released from God's wrath, so we must stop practicing our sin or something worse may happen to us (John 5:14).

Sources

• The Bible (New International Version)
• OpenBibleInfo: Jesus Saves from Sin
• Ligonier: Can a Christian Lose Salvation?
• Bible Reasons: False Converts
• OpenBibleInfo: False Preachers
• OpenBibleInfo: Eternal Damnation in Hell