He Understood

Most of us spent much time and effort preparing for Christmas—including time purchasing gifts. Sometimes we hold our breath, not knowing if a gift will be received as an expression of love. When it is, we rejoice.

There was a man in Jerusalem who received a special gift during the first Christmas season. When Mary and Joseph took the baby Jesus to the temple, God gave Simeon a revelation. He knew in his spirit that Jesus was God’s instrument of salvation, and he received the gift of revelation as an expression of God's love. Holding the baby, he said, For my eyes have seen Your salvation which You have prepared before the face of all peoples, a light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of Your people Israel. (Lk. 2:30-32 NKJV)

An exciting detail in this story is that Simeon said all peoples. He looked beyond his unique time and place in history. He looked ahead and saw God had prepared a gift for people outside his culture and his time.

Today God desires that we receive His special gift—through a revelation of His salvation. He wants us to recognize Jesus—know who He is--and He wants us to receive Him in our hearts.

Originally published December 24, 1992.
Picture: Christmas ornament. Photo by Solveig.

They Gave Him Gifts

Worship includes giving. We see this in the Wise Men. When they finally found the baby Jesus after their long journey and after searching for Him throughout the land of Judea, they fell down and worshipped. . . ." (Mt. 2:11b NKJV) They also presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and Myrrh. (Mt. 2:11c NKJV)

We do not know how much the Wise Men understood about Jesus—if they knew He was God in the flesh—a perfect sacrifice sent from heaven to a sin-ridden world.

We do know they were aware of God’s unique stirring in their hearts as they searched for the child. And God supernaturally guided them on their search. After their encounter with Herod, the star which they had see in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. (2:9c)

The Wise Men acknowledged that the child born in lowly conditions was somehow worthy of more than simple admiration. They demonstrated reverence by falling down in front of Him. They worshipped the tiny baby. And they gave Him gifts of great value.

Originally published December 23, 1988.
Picture: Gift boxes. Photo by Solveig.

The Pilgraimage

The Bible tells us that After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea . . . Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born King of the Jews?” (Mt. 2:1a,2 NIV)

What an enigma surrounds the Magi. We know they practiced astrology—not to be confused with astronomy. Astrology was a forbidden activity for the Hebrew people. (Deut. 18:11) Yet the the wisemen were God’s chosen vessels—sent to announce the arrival of King Jesus.

We might also be outside the acceptable codes or practices for God’s children—involved in forbidden activity. But we are not outside God’s grace. The story of the wisemen tells us salvation is for all people. God invites us, just as He invited the Magi, to make a pilgrimage—to seek a revelation of Jesus.

Originally published December 23, 1983.

We Receive to Give

After celebrating Thanksgiving Day, it is a good idea to remember that genuine thankfulness goes beyond simple gratitude. If we are truly thankful, we will take another step. We will move from receiving to giving.

Using an agricultural metaphor, Paul wrote to the Corinthians that if farmers are unwilling to be generous when planting seed, they will not receive an abundant harvest. He who sows (or plants) sparingly will also reap (or receive) sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. (II Cor. 9:6 NKJV)

Paul’s subject was not planting and harvesting crops but giving. He goes on to explain that when people give, God provides abundant grace. The more we receive, the more we have to give—and the more we give, the more we receive.

Giving and receiving do not always seem to directly correspond, but giving and blessings do. And God actually gives to His people so they can, in turn, receive His blessing by giving to others.

Originally published November 23, 1989.

His Gift to Us

Both general sins, the kind committed by people as a whole, and specific sins, the kind committed by an individual, can be overwhelming.

We're often plagued by one of two problems when dealing with our overwhelming sinful nature. We might refuse to acknowledge the sin because the thought is too much for us—so we do not accept God's gift of salvation. Or we might be overcome by guilt because the sin seems so awful that it cannot be forgiven—so we do not accept God's gift of salvation.

A psalmist looked at our dilemma differently. He wrote, If you, O Lord, kept a record of sins, O Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness. . . . (Ps. 130:3,4a NIV)

The psalmist was not downcast or dismayed when he reflected on his sinful state because he looked beyond himself and directed his attention to the One who can provide a solution. He affirmed the nature of God, because God, not people, holds the key. The psalmist recognized that, with the Lord is unfailing love and with him is full redemption. (v. 7b)

God clearly states in His Word—including the Old Testament—that salvation for forgiveness from sin is a gift that He provides. Our sinful nature is real and fearsome—but God’s solution is big enough to take care of it.

Originally published January 14, 1983.
Picture: Como Park Conservatory, St. Paul, 2009. Photo by Solveig.

Rejoice in Suffering?

Most of us do not rejoice if we think we are suffering. In fact, most of us will do anything we can to avoid it.

That is a healthy reaction. Avoiding pain or suffering is a God-given instinct, and we should pay attention to His gifts. God does not want us to approach life by looking for circumstances that bring suffering—not even if they seem to bring a measure of honor or glory.

But if or when suffering occurs, it can have a positive impact upon our development. God can use suffering to lead us into a deeper relationship with Jesus.

Suffering is also intimately connected to a working knowledge of God's sovereign power. If we submit suffering to Him, He reveals Himself to us in our circumstances. He is faithful and He begins working in our hearts to reflect His nature.

Paul wrote, we also rejoice in our suffering because . . . suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit. . . . (Rom. 5:3-5 NIV)

If we take our problems to God, we become aware of His presence and we learn again that He is real.

Originally published May 31, 1985.

God's Ability to Do

Faith is essential. The book of Hebrews says, without faith it is impossible to please [God]. (Heb. 11:6a NKJV)

But the concept of faith is hard to understand. By itself, faith saves no one unless it’s grounded in God’s grace. In fact, faith—believing—in the wrong thing is useless, vain, and harmful. By ourselves, we can’t come to the right type of faith. Our sin nature keeps interfering. Our reality is that we can’t even come to God and talk with Him unless we have faith.

That’s why we need grace. And grace isn’t easy to understand, either.

A common definition—one ‘oft repeated—is, Grace is God’s ability to do in us what we can’t do by ourselves. And because God desires faith, He gives people who come to Him the ability to receive faith. He sent the Holy Spirit to create the miracle of faith in our hearts.

Paul said, For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is a gift of God . . . . (Eph. 2:8) God’s gift of faith and God’s many other gifts are His grace.

Originally published August 17, 1990.
Picture: Daffodils, Patty's garden. Photo by Solveig.

Hope and an Inheritance

Paul knew nothing about Lent as we experience it—about a time of the year when many Christians focus specifically on Christ’s sacrifice for sin. But he knew Jesus. He wrote in one of his Epistles, that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe. . . . (Eph. 1:18b,19a NKJV)

Jesus died to give us hope and an inheritance. Hope because He offers forgiveness to people overwhelmed by guilt and despair. An inheritance because He offers blessings on earth and in heaven. God’s power arranged these gifts for His people.

Think of it. Although Lent is a somber time, it’s also a time of great joy. God loves us so much that He sent His Son to die for us. The Son secured victory over sin when He defeated Satan.

Yes, we should think soberly about His sacrifice. It’s also appropriate to reflect on the joy of Jesus and the Father. They accomplished their purpose by giving us hope and an inheritance.

God is good. He’s very, very good.

Originally posted February 8, 1991.

God's Gift of Hope

Today is Valentine’s Day, a day for sending gifts and messages of affection to tell special people we love them.

Every day is Valentine’s Day for God. He constantly sends gifts and messages of love through the Holy Spirit. We receive them when we read Scripture, when we pray, when we love others, when we receive love from others, when we enjoy His creation. As we live our daily lives, there are times when He breathes a sense of His presence into our hearts. He sends hope to eager hearts.

For hope is one of God’s gifts of love. Paul said in his letter to the Romans that one purpose of Scripture is to strengthen hope in God’s people. For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scripture might have hope. (Rom. 15:4 NKJV)

Life without hope is a bleak affair. When people suffer from hopelessness, they struggle with depression. Sometimes it is hard to receive God’s gift and message of hope. But God never stops giving to them. He never tires of sending His love and His hope. Ask Him to open hearts to receive His messages of hope this Valentine’s Day and throughout the year.

Originally published February 14, 1992.
Picture: Como Park Conservatory, St. Paul, MN, 2008. Photo by Solveig.