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.

God Incarnate

Everyone loves a baby. During the Christmas season, we are especially aware that God sent His Word to us in just such a form.

God sent His Word to Mary through an angel and she responded, Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word. (Lk. 1:38a RSV) Jesus was conceived when Mary opened her heart to receive.

The sweet baby—God Incarnate—came for the express purpose of wooing and winning sinful people. And God continues to send forth His Word through revelation of the person called Jesus. He waits for our response and He rejoices when His truth and life are conceived in the hearts of people who open their hearts to receive.

Originally published December 18, 1981.

Unique Identities

We reason that if everyone becomes Christ-like, everyone would become the same. But the God who created a physical world with seemingly infinite variety expresses Himself through variety in all of creation—including people.

Three beings in the form of men appeared to Abraham near the great trees of Mamre. . . . (Gen 18:1b NIV) One was the Lord; the others were angels. Each was a separate manifestation of God’s nature.

This is also true of Biblical heroes. As they followed God—allowed Him to form them in His image—they did not become clones of one another. Each stands out as an individual because God ignited their unique abilities.

We might be searching for an identity—be struggling to develop. When we strive on our own to be unique, we almost always end up conforming to the latest trends. But if we follow Christ, we becomes expressions of His nature—with His infinite capacity for variety. The more we yield to Him, the more He reveals our unique identity—the unique creation He had in mind when He fashioned us.

Originally published September 7, 1984.

Active Meditation

A psalmist wrote, Within your temple, O God, we meditate on your unfailing love. (Ps. 48:9 NIV)

The word meditate or meditation means different things to different people. Eastern religions promote passive meditation—emptying of the mind to receive outside impulses.

In contrast, Christian meditation is active. When we practice Christian meditation, nothing overrules our minds or our self-control. God never forces Himself.

Christian meditation could be defined as deep thought, studying, pondering, focused thinking—over an extended period of time.

But although Christian meditation is active, it is more than mental exercise. When we truly meditate, Scripture becomes personal. We may focus deeply on God—think deeply about any aspect of His person. We may have a specific question. We may become interested in a Biblical character. If, as a result of our thinking, God somehow reveals Himself so He is more real—more vital—we are meditating.

Originally published June 6, 1986.
Picture: Como Park Conservatory, St. Paul, 2009. Photo by Solveig.

A New Dimension

People’s desire for insight is usually superficial. And that is the way it was for the Greeks who came to the apostle Philip. Sir, they said, we would like to see Jesus. (Jn. 12:21b NIV) They assumed a simple introduction would give them understanding.

Of course, we learn from every exposure to Jesus. How else would we receive the challenges that draw us into a deeper relationship with Him. But Jesus’ response to their request did not even seem relevant. I tell you the truth, He said, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. (v. 24)

Rather than introduce Himself, Jesus made it clear they could not receive spiritual insight without entering a new dimension. If they wanted to truly see Him, they would have to participate in the type of life He lived and receive the revelation He offered.

All knowledge is helpful and worthwhile. But revelation and spiritual insight require more than occasional or superficial exposure.

Originally published March 22, 1985.

Julius, a Centurion

A centurion named Julius had the job of delivering Paul to Rome. A tough job because at least one of his prisoners—Paul—was unjustly incarcerated, and because some of his prisoners were surely dangerous.

Julius respected Paul. They'd become friends of sorts. When the ship stopped at Sidon, he arranged for Paul to receive assistance from friends.

Yet he failed to heed Paul’s revelation from God. When the owner wanted to make up for lost time, Paul recommended waiting out the winter in a port named Fair Havens, but Julius agreed to leave. [He] was more persuaded by the helmsman and the owner of the ship. . . . (Acts 27:11a NKJV)

Of course, they had problems. During a storm, Paul received another revelation: all must stay aboard until the ship ran aground. Meanwhile, they should strengthen themselves by eating.

The soldiers routinely planned to kill all prisoners. But Julius, wanting to save Paul, kept them from their purposes, and commanded that those who could swim should jump overboard . . . the rest, some on boards and some on broken pieces of the ship. And so it was that they all escaped safely to land. (v. 43a,44)

Paul prayed, trusted God, and shared his insight. And so, after making a mistake, Julius adjusted and God's plans prevailed.

Originally published May 27, 1988.

He Regained Strength

The man named Saul traveled to Damascus with a plan. He would take Christians as prisoners and deliver them to Jerusalem where they would be judged and found guilty. But he was in for a surprise. As he traveled, a voice and a bright supernatural light overcame him. The voice said, Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? (Acts 9:4b NIV)

What could he have thought when the voice identified itself as the voice of Jesus? To make matters even worse, Saul was affected physically: For three days he was blind and did not eat or drink anything. (v. 9)

But nothing was outside God's plan. Paul followed the instructions of the voice by going to Damascus and staying with the very people he'd planned to persecute. Then God sent Ananias, a human instrument of healing and encouragement. Ananias laid his hands on Saul and said Jesus sent him so Saul's sight would be restored and so Saul would be filled with the Holy Spirit.

Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, and after taking some food, he regained his strength. (v. 18)

God had prepared everything in advance. With new eyes Saul would receive revelation. It was a beginning. Strength would be important for the man Saul who was about to become the disciple named Paul.

Originally published June 7, 1985.

No Partiality

Leaving prejudice behind is never easy; it’s part of our human nature to desire superiority over others. Rich are prejudiced against poor and poor against rich, educated are prejudiced against uneducated and uneducated against educated, men are prejudiced against women and women against men, ethnic groups are prejudiced against different ethnic groups, etc.

The Apostle Peter was prejudiced, too, and he couldn’t change his mind on his own. He needed a revelation from God to do the work for him. When on the roof of Simon the Tanner in Joppa, he experienced a trance. He saw a sheet come down from heaven not once but three times. Each time the sheet was filled with creatures that he, a Jew who observed dietary laws, could not eat. Then he heard a voice say, Rise, Peter; kill and eat. (Acts 10:13b NKJV)

Almost immediately—while he pondered the meaning of the trance—men sent by a Gentile named Cornelius who was a Roman centurion came to the door asking for him. They told their story and said God had revealed he should preach to them.

But the Gentiles were not Jews. They were of a different ethnic group and a different religion. In that moment God gave Peter opportunity to receive and obey the revelation he received as well as the revelation the Gentiles received. And he rose to the occasion. In truth, he replied, I perceive that God shows no partiality. (v. 34)

Peter recognized that the kingdom of God through Jesus belongs to all people.

Originally published April 14, 1989.
Picture: Tulips, West Fargo, 2009. Photo by Solveig.

Knowing by Revelation

Paul said, For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. (Rom. 8:19 NKJV)

The word revealing in this verse refers to a specific type of knowing—knowing or understanding with a spiritual heart.

This isn’t the same as knowing through memorization—or even knowing through using the ability to reason. Even though the ability to reason is a wonderful and useful gift, it is limited. Reasoning does not move us to love. It does not encourage forgiving when we have been hurt. In fact, a life directed totally by reason is impossible because we cannot deny our feelings.

Although all types of knowing are gifts from God, when reason fails, we long for another type of knowledge. If we do not have it, we are susceptible to emotionalism.

So let us seek all of God’s knowledge. Let use our gift of reason—try to develop it fully to God’s glory. And let us seek spiritual revelation or knowing as well. Only spiritual revelation has power to bring life from the heart.

Originally published December 28, 1990.

An Effective Pair

That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord . . . he sprang into the sea. But the other disciples came in the boat. (Jn. 21:7b,8a RSV)

People respond differently to the presence of Jesus. On this occasion, Peter did not recognize Him—not even His message. He could have continued working and missed the Lord’s invitation to a special breakfast.

John did identify the Savior. He was in tune to the voice of Jesus and understood His words. How disappointing that he fell short in response and was content to follow by boat.

Each of the men was incomplete. But each acknowledged their inadequacy and drew from the other’s strength. Together—with John’s discernment and Peter’s action—they made an effective pair.

Originally published August 14, 1981.

Fish for Breakfast

“I’m going out to fish,” a weary Peter told his friends. (Jn. 21:3 NIV) Several eventually joined him and they spent a long night in a boat without catching anything. Then, Early in the morning Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize it was Jesus. (v. 4)

People often fail to recognize God when they are discouraged, so we should not be surprised that the disciples failed to identify Jesus after His death and resurrection. It wasn’t until He filled their nets with fish—met a pressing need—that John identified Him. (v. 7)

But Jesus did not stop with a revelation—even a glorious one. And He did not stop after giving them the miracle of overflowing nets. He also invited them into His presence—invited them to join Him. Jesus said, “Come and have breakfast.” (v. 12b)

If we are overwhelmed by problems, we can remember He is with us. We can also ask Him to give us a revelation and meet our needs. We can even ask Him to bless us with His Presence.

Originally published June 1, 1984.
Picture: Persian Gulf from the shore of the United Arab Emirates, 2007. Photo by Marta.

How Slow of Heart

Isn’t it strange how we can fail to recognize God’s entrance into our lives? As human beings with limited sensitivity to the Holy Spirit, we can misread, misunderstand, or miss Him altogether.

It happened to two disciples shortly after Jesus death and resurrection. They walked to their village called Emmaus, discouraged because they did not believe women who told them Jesus had risen. How could they recognize Jesus in that frame of mind?

Jesus asked them what they discussed so earnestly. They wondered about this stranger who did not know the tumultuous events of the past few days. But they told him about the prophet of God—“we had hoped that He was the one who was going to redeem Israel,” they said. (Lk. 24:21a NIV)

“How foolish you are,” declared their mysterious companion., “and how slow of heart. . . .” (v. 25a) With great care, from the books of Moses through the prophets, Jesus taught them that God’s Son would suffer and die before a resurrection. Later, eating with them, He took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened. . . . (v. 30b,31a)

Originally published April 6, 1985; April 7, 1989; April 24, 1992.
Picture: Japanese Garden, Como Park, 2009. Photo by Ken.