Healing Rays of Righteousness

Be-Resolutions for the New Year

Read Colossians 3:12-17

I suggest that this set of Christian virtues become our “Be-Resolutions” for the New Year.

To better understand Paul’s thinking regarding these virtues, I give you my edited summary of the prior verses 1 through 11.  “Since you have been made alive in Christ, set your hearts and minds on things above, for your life is now with Christ in God.  Put to death whatever belongs to your earthly nature, the things you did in the life you once lived. Get rid of these things and put on the new self which is being renewed in the image of your Creator God.”

That being true, Paul addresses us in verse 12 as “God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved.”  The Scriptures repeatedly affirm that this is who we are.  They also declare that how we live and what we do flows out of who we are.  Being and doing cannot be separated.

“Holy” has to do with our character, which shapes our attitudes and actions.  That’s why in the previous verses, 5 through 9, Paul urges us to put away the sins in our lives that flow from our earthly nature.

“Holy” also has to do with “being set apart,” that is, being dedicated for special purpose.  God lays his claims upon us, calls us, and we respond to his love.  Then we are made alive and have a new vocation, that is, to be his beloved and to think, feel, and live like him in our world.

Both meanings of “holy” help to define our identity.  But there is more.  We are “dearly loved.”  Is there anything more important than knowing that you are loved?  I don’t think so.  The witness of Scripture is that God’s love is unconditional and not dependent upon our merit.  His love is a constant embrace of grace which sustains and strengthens our journey onward, no matter what.    “Therefore …”

Be Caring (vv.12-13)                                                                                                                                           “… clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.”  God’s royal garments are graceful, beautiful, and life changing.  Each morning, God lovingly invites us into his dressing room to be clothed with garments from his priceless collection.

• Compassion – I will care about my world and do my best to bring it help.                                                        I will be moved by your pain and seek to act in your behalf.
• Kindness –       I will do useful things to improve your well-being.
• Humility –        I will remember who I am in relation to God and other persons.
• Gentleness –   I will exercise self-control because I am God-controlled.
• Patience –        I will tolerate and bear unpleasant situations, unexpected hurts,                                                         and  unwanted problems.
• Forgive –         I will graciously forgive because God has forgiven me.

Be Loving (v.14)                                                                                                                                                   The difference between a nice wardrobe and stylish look is the “tied-together” appearance of the accessories.  Love is the garment that brings the parts of our character into a single whole.  Love “binds them all together in perfect unity.”

Be At Peace (v.15)                                                                                                                                            Living with others in family, community, and church, is sometimes difficult and stressful. Frequently our hearts are arenas of conflict and competition.  All sorts of feelings clash within. How can these feelings to be arbitrated and harmonized?  What feelings are allowed to rule?

The literal meaning of the word “rule” comes from the athletic arena, and Paul is literally saying, “Let the peace of God be the umpire in your heart.”  In the peace that only Christ can give, are we motivated and empowered for getting along with ourselves and with all others.

Be Thankful (v.16)                                                                                                                                              The body-life of the Christian congregation is described in this verse. The “word of Christ” is a synonym of his living presence within us.  We are admonished to “Let the word of Christ dwell in us richly.”  The Lord Christ is to be “at home” in our hearts.

Our response to Christ’s being “at home” in our hearts is to be thankful and to express that in celebration of joy by singing “psalms, hymns and spiritual songs.”  We are to be a grace-filled, grace-equipped, grace-celebrating people, in whom Christ dwells richly and through whom grace flows to the people around us.  The church is to be the Kingdom of God in the midst of this world.

Be Purposeful (v.17)                                                                                                                                         The name of Jesus Christ stands at the center of Christian living, and provides both our identity, “I am a Christian,” and our authority, “I do this in Jesus’ name.”  As a Christian acting in his name, I need not cower nor bully, neither whine nor despair, in my conduct and conversations.

I believe being in Christ, being filled with his Spirit, and being committed to the above “Be-Resolutions, will assure our being adequately prepared for the new year of 2019.  And whatever the year may bring into your life, remember you are chosen, holy, and dearly loved by God.

“Healing Rays of Righteousness”  –  January 16, 2019

Be-Resolutions for the New Year

Read Colossians 3:12-17

I suggest that this set of Christian virtues become our “Be-Resolutions” for the New Year. 

To better understand Paul’s thinking regarding these virtues, I give you my edited summary of the prior verses 1 through 11.  “Since you have been made alive in Christ, set your hearts and minds on things above, for your life is now with Christ in God.  Put to death whatever belongs to your earthly nature, the things you did in the life you once lived. Get rid of these things and put on the new self which is being renewed in the image of your Creator God.”

That being true, Paul addresses us in verse 12 as “God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved.”  The Scriptures repeatedly affirm that this is who we are.  They also declare that how we live and what we do flows out of who we are.  Being and doing cannot be separated.

“Holy” has to do with our character, which shapes our attitudes and actions.  That’s why in the previous verses, 5 through 9, Paul urges us to put away the sins in our lives that flow from our earthly nature.

“Holy” also has to do with “being set apart,” that is, being dedicated for special purpose.  God lays his claims upon us, calls us, and we respond to his love.  Then we are made alive and have a new vocation, that is, to be his beloved and to think, feel, and live like him in our world.

Both meanings of “holy” help to define our identity.  But there is more.  We are “dearly loved.”  Is there anything more important than knowing that you are loved?  I don’t think so.  The witness of Scripture is that God’s love is unconditional and not dependent upon our merit.  His love is a constant embrace of grace which sustains and strengthens our journey onward, no matter what.    “Therefore …”

Be Caring (vv.12-13) “… clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.”  God’s royal garments are graceful, beautiful, and life changing.  Each morning, God lovingly invites us into his dressing room to be clothed with garments from his priceless collection.

Compassion – I will care about my world and do my best to bring it help.  I will be moved by your pain and seek to act in your behalf.

Kindness –       I will do useful things to improve your well-being.

Humility –       I will remember who I am in relation to God and other persons.

Gentleness –   I will exercise self-control because I am God-controlled.

Patience –       I will tolerate and bear unpleasant situations, unexpected hurts, and  unwanted problems.

Forgive –         I will graciously forgive because God has forgiven me.

Be Loving (v.14) The difference between a nice wardrobe and stylish look is the “tied-together” appearance of the accessories.  Love is the garment that brings the parts of our character into a single whole.  Love “binds them all together in perfect unity.”

Be At Peace (v.15) Living with others in family, community, and church, is sometimes difficult and stressful. Frequently our hearts are arenas of conflict and competition.  All sorts of feelings clash within.  How can these feelings to be arbitrated and harmonized?  What feelings are allowed to rule?

The literal meaning of the word “rule” comes from the athletic arena, and Paul is literally saying, “Let the peace of God be the umpire in your heart.”  In the peace that only Christ can give, are we motivated and empowered for getting along with ourselves and with all others. 

Be Thankful (v.16) The body-life of the Christian congregation is described in this verse. The “word of Christ” is a synonym of his living presence within us.  We are admonished to “Let the word of Christ dwell in us richly.”  The Lord Christ is to be “at home” in our hearts.

Our response to Christ’s being “at home” in our hearts is to be thankful and to express that in celebration of joy by singing “psalms, hymns and spiritual songs.”  We are to be a grace-filled, grace-equipped, grace-celebrating people, in whom Christ dwells richly and through whom grace flows to the people around us.  The church is to be the Kingdom of God in the midst of this world.

Be Purposeful (v.17) The name of Jesus Christ stands at the center of Christian living, and provides both our identity, “I am a Christian,” and our authority, “I do this in Jesus’ name.”  As a Christian acting in his name, I need not cower nor bully, neither whine nor despair, in my conduct and conversations. 

I believe that being in Christ, being filled with his Spirit, and being committed to the above “Be-Resolutions, will assure our being adequately prepared for the new year of 2019.  And whatever the year may bring into your life, remember you are chosen, holy, and dearly loved by God.

“Healing Rays of Righteousness”  –  January 16, 2019

Forgiveness and Pressing On

Read Philippians 3:10-14

The Christian life is a journey, a process of growth in which I “press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.”  We have been loved, saved, and reconciled into a new relationship with Christ.  We claim that Christ has made us new creatures, but every day we humbly confess that we have not yet fully become what Christ wants us to be. 

The beginning of a new year offers us a time to reflect on our past year, enjoying our accomplishments, and remembering God’s blessings in our life.  But most likely we will also remember and regret our painful mistakes, failures, and unloving behaviors. 

If asked whether or not we always did our best, most of us would probably ashamedly answer, “No, I did not.”  If asked whether or not any of our conversations and actions caused unnecessary pain, again most of us would sadly answer, “Probably so.”

Mistakes and regrets of the past can and often do become heavy baggage for us.  And the baggage is real and cannot be easily dismissed, for it represents the consequence of mistaken judgment and unwise decisions that have left painful wounds and sometimes deep scars in relationships.

There always seems to be something about the past that troubles us, even if it is nothing more than the nagging belief that we could do better if given another chance.

Many years ago, Louisa Fletcher Tarkington, wrote a perceptive poem entitled, “The Land of Beginning Again.”  It begins and ends with a verse which gives voice to the regret we feel when we realize what we’ve done or haven’t done.

•             I wish there were some wonderful place
•             Called the land of beginning again
•             Where all our mistakes,
•             And all our heartaches,
•             And all of our poor selfish grief,
•             Could be dropped like a shabby
•             Old coat at the door,
•             And never be put on again.

I think that being Christian in relationship with God through Jesus Christ, makes us uniquely equipped to leave the past behind.  The baggage of our past that continues to drag us back, weigh us down, and make us stumble, is our sense of failure, our guilt over past sin, our pain from past hurts.  And I’m thinking that this inability to leave the past behind contradicts everything we profess to believe about the forgiving, healing, redeeming power of Christ.    

I’m thinking that this is what the apostle Paul was referencing when he wrote, “But one thing I do; Forgetting (forgiving) what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”

There is great value in looking back.  We look back to learn.  We look back to affirm the places, faces, and circumstances from where we have come, to remember what and who has shaped us.  There is a time to look back if it carries with it a positive purpose.

Paul is urging us not to look back in ways that keep us from going forward, in ways that make us a prisoner of our past mistakes and sins, in ways that do not allow for healing of old hurts and painful memories.

The past is always with us with its potential to rob us of freedom, making us heavy-hearted, preventing us from being able to use all our spiritual energy and gifts for coping with the new day and moving with joyous anticipation into the new year.

However, the Bible is filled with the idea of forgiveness and beginning life over again.  The possibility of new beginnings is God’s good news to us, individually and corporately. 

And so I say, whatever loose ends of mistakes and unloving behaviors that may be staking you from your past, God can help you gather them into confession and new beginnings of pressing on “toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called (you) heavenward in Christ Jesus.” Forgiveness is for the asking.  Instead of fretting, find forgiveness, and move forward through God’s open door of opportunity and excellence into the new year of 2019.

“Healing Rays of Righteousness” – January 9, 2019

Arise, Shine, Your Light Has Come

A new year begins.  A new set of 365 days to plan, pursue and perfect our hopes and dreams of  a better life.  A new opportunity to reach new spiritual maturity in becoming the Jesus-like person we have committed ourselves to be. 

We hope it will be a good year of health and happiness, but we also fear that it may not be as good as we would hope it to be.  Many of us are anxious, wondering what difficulties or disappointments may lie ahead.  So, what are you thinking?  What do you see as you step into this new year of 2019?

Sadly, I see a world of darkness, of pain and fear.  I see people victimized by hate, greed, and violence.  I see nations and churches, divided by politics, racial prejudices, and national pride.  I see major tragedies happening almost every week, both near at home and far away.  I see a world of misery with suffering people and hopeless darkness covering the earth.

The prophet, Isaiah, was writing to God’s people in a time of deep darkness and despair.  The return to their homeland after exile in Babylon was very difficult.  Much of their property had been destroyed and the economy was very poor.  And many of their friends had chosen to remain in Babylon, causing those who did return to feel lonely, weary, and forgotten.

But God has a good news message for them.  Through their prophet/pastor, Isaiah, God says to them, “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.  See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you and his glory appears over you.” This is similar to the voice of a parent calling to their sleeping children; “Wake up! Rise and shine! It’s a new day!”

Isaiah’s analogy of light in this chapter fills in the details of his earlier prophecy (9:2) “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.”  This analogy of light represents the majestic, redeeming glory of God’s presence, awakening hope and a future. 

This glorious light links us forward to what the apostle John’s says about Jesus Christ – “In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.  The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” (John 1:4-5). 

And a few chapters later, Jesus declares himself to be light – “I am the light of the world.  Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12).

On the day of Epiphany, we remember the coming of the light of Christ into the world, driving away the darkness of sin, loneliness, and despair.  Epiphany is all about the glory of God being revealed to the world in the birth of Jesus Christ; a birth confirmed and affirmed to be the Messiah by Magi from the east.  (Matthew 2:1-12).

The glory of God’s new promised world shines brighter and brighter as the glory of the Lord sweeps away the darkness of sin in every person and nation.  As the apostle Paul says in his second letter to the Corinthians (3:18) – “And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”  

When the full glory of the Lord is upon us, there is no way to remain in the shadows of doubt and despair.  God has come to us.  Our salvation is here!  So, arise and shine!  “Wake up, your light has come!  Arise, shine …the glory of the Lord rises upon you.  …and his glory appears over you.”  

Let us encourage one another to enter this new year of 2019 with confident faith, believing Christ’s new world of redeeming light, hope, love, peace, joy and life has dawned upon us and is on the way to complete fulfillment as the glorious eternal Kingdom of Jesus Christ. 

“O star of wonder, star of night, Star with royal beauty bright, Westward leading, still proceeding, Guide us to thy perfect light.”

“Healing Rays of Righteousness” – January 2, 2019

The Christ Is Among Us

For the past few weeks, we focused our thoughts on God’s coming down to us and being near to us as “Emmanuel,” God with us. On Christmas Eve we remembered and celebrated the angels announcement of Jesus’ birth to the shepherds; “Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.” 

But within the next few days, we begin to take down the Christmas lights and decorations and move back into our daily routines.  Soon thoughts of Christ’s birth into our world seem more distant and often discarded with the used wrapping paper or boxed up with the nativity scene to be brought out again next Christmas.  Soon God is once again sent back into the heavens, no longer the Word made flesh; no longer the Word that dwells among us, full of grace and truth; no longer the ever-present Lord in our midst.

Over the next several days weeks we may be asked, “What did you get for Christmas?”  For me, the answer would be, “I got a Savior, and he is with me, down here in my world.”  And, I hope to be more intentional in claiming and living this reality as I move beyond the celebration of Jesus’ birth and prepare to enter into the new year of 2019.

In her book, At Home in Mitford, Jan Karon writes of a time when Father Tim, an Episcopal priest, heard a horrible scream from the sanctuary of his church.  As he came closer, he began to understand the anguished words that made up the scream:  “Are…you…up…there?”

And Jan writes, “Father Tim slid into the pew across the aisle and knelt on the worn cushion.  “You may be asking the wrong question,” he said quietly.  Startled, the man raised his head.  “I believe the question you may want to ask is not, ‘Are you up there?’ but, ‘Are you down here?’”  

Before Jesus was born, God would visit His people by performing mighty and miraculous works.  Whenever He made such visits, God’s people would stack stones or build a monument or erect a synagogue in honor of God’s visit.  The physical erection of monuments and buildings was their way of saying, God was here.  The power and presence of God had visited them in a place, and so in order not to forget the event, they constructed a reminder.

But when Jesus entered the world the verb tense changed from the past to the present tense, from “was” to “is.”   Jesus stepped down out of heaven and made His dwelling place among us.  He moved into our neighborhood.  He took up residence on this planet so we could better understand and know God.  His Spirit lives within us, giving us life and light and love.

John’s Gospel tells us that the Word was made flesh and made his dwelling among us.  This Word, the Word that was at the beginning, the Word that was with God, the Word that was God, became something we can grasp and understand.

Jesus Christ, the Word, certainly is “up there,” but we must never forget that he is also “down here.”  Because of Jesus’ birth, who is the incarnation of God, we now say, “God is here.” 

In Jesus, God “… became flesh and made his dwelling among us.  We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14).  In Jesus, God came into our world and into our every day, mundane things of life.

In his act of becoming human, God experienced and shared in the pains of human life on earth.  He felt the pain of loneliness, the hurt of rejection.  He felt the pain of grief in losing a loved one to death.  He felt the pain of mental and physical abuse.  And so, he understands and empathizes with us completely, feeling our pain.  God is here – he feels, he hurts, and he cries.

We may often think of God as being up there – far removed from the cares and concerns of this world.  But, the good news truth is that knowing we could never reach him in heaven, and because he so greatly loves us, God became human in Jesus and came down to live among us.

Pray with me: “Be near me, Lord Jesus; I ask Thee to stay   Close by me forever, and love me I pray. Bless all the dear children in Thy tender care, And fit us for heaven, to live with Thee there.” 

“Healing Rays of Righteousness” – December 26, 2018

The Christ Is Among Us

For the past few weeks, we focused our thoughts on God’s coming down to us and being near to us as “Emmanuel,” God with us. On Christmas Eve we remembered and celebrated the angels announcement of Jesus’ birth to the shepherds; “Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.” 

But within the next few days, we begin to take down the Christmas lights and decorations and move back into our daily routines.  Soon thoughts of Christ’s birth into our world seem more distant and often discarded with the used wrapping paper or boxed up with the nativity scene to be brought out again next Christmas.  Soon God is once again sent back into the heavens, no longer the Word made flesh; no longer the Word that dwells among us, full of grace and truth; no longer the ever-present Lord in our midst.

Over the next several days weeks we may be asked, “What did you get for Christmas?”  For me, the answer would be, “I got a Savior, and he is with me, down here in my world.”  And, I hope to be more intentional in claiming and living this reality as I move beyond the celebration of Jesus’ birth and prepare to enter into the new year of 2019.

In her book, At Home in Mitford, Jan Karon writes of a time when Father Tim, an Episcopal priest, heard a horrible scream from the sanctuary of his church.  As he came closer, he began to understand the anguished words that made up the scream:  “Are…you…up…there?”

And Jan writes, “Father Tim slid into the pew across the aisle and knelt on the worn cushion.  “You may be asking the wrong question,” he said quietly.  Startled, the man raised his head.  “I believe the question you may want to ask is not, ‘Are you up there?’ but, ‘Are you down here?’”  

Before Jesus was born, God would visit His people by performing mighty and miraculous works.  Whenever He made such visits, God’s people would stack stones or build a monument or erect a synagogue in honor of God’s visit.  The physical erection of monuments and buildings was their way of saying, God was here.  The power and presence of God had visited them in a place, and so in order not to forget the event, they constructed a reminder.

But when Jesus entered the world the verb tense changed from the past to the present tense, from “was” to “is.”   Jesus stepped down out of heaven and made His dwelling place among us.  He moved into our neighborhood.  He took up residence on this planet so we could better understand and know God.  His Spirit lives within us, giving us life and light and love.

John’s Gospel tells us that the Word was made flesh and made his dwelling among us.  This Word, the Word that was at the beginning, the Word that was with God, the Word that was God, became something we can grasp and understand.

Jesus Christ, the Word, certainly is “up there,” but we must never forget that he is also “down here.”  Because of Jesus’ birth, who is the incarnation of God, we now say, “God is here.”  In Jesus, God “… became flesh and made his dwelling among us.  We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14).  In Jesus, God came into our world and into our every day, mundane things of life.

In his act of becoming human, God experienced and shared in the pains of human life on earth.  He felt the pain of loneliness, the hurt of rejection.  He felt the pain of grief in losing a loved one to death.  He felt the pain of mental and physical abuse.  And so, he understands and empathizes with us completely, feeling our pain.  God is here – he feels, he hurts, and he cries.

We may often think of God as being up there – far removed from the cares and concerns of this world.  But, the good news truth is that knowing we could never reach him in heaven, and because he so greatly loves us, God became human in Jesus and came down to live among us.

Pray with me:  “Be near me, Lord Jesus; I ask Thee to stay   Close by me forever, and love me, I pray. Bless all the dear children in Thy tender care,   And fit us for heaven, to live with Thee there.”

“Healing Rays of Righteousness” – December 26, 2018

Listen To The Angel

In the first two chapters of his Gospel account, Luke records that an angel appears on three separate occasions bringing a very special message of good news from God. Let’s listen to the angel and let the messages from God penetrate our hearts and minds as good news to us today.      

The first appearance is to a childless priest named Zechariah, who is startled and gripped with fear at the sight of an angel standing by his side.  The angel said to him, “Do not be afraid; Zechariah, your prayer has been heard.”(1:13).

The second appearance is to a virgin named Mary, who is greatly troubled and wondering about the angel’s words to her. “Greetings, you who are highly favored!  The Lord is with you. … “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God.” (1:28-30).

The third appearance is to a group of terrified shepherds on a night-time hillside near Bethlehem. “Do not be afraid.  I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.  Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.” (2:10-11). 

In all three occasions, the angel’s sudden and unexpected appearance caused great fear and anxiety.  And in all three occasions, the angel reassured the recipients of God’s special message that there was nothing to fear.  To Zechariah, “your prayer has been heard.”  To Mary, “ you are highly favored!  The Lord is with you. … Mary, you have found favor with God.”  And to the shepherds, “I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.” 

That same message continues to be spoken to all persons “gripped with fear” “greatly troubled” and “terrified” today.  To all I say, listen to the angel speak the same words to you personally. I say this because I believe the purpose of God’s coming into our world as a human being is to save us from our fears and bring light and life into our darkness. 

One of the great spiritual writers, Henri Nouwen, a Dutch priest, wrote that “fear is the single most important and tragic emotion in our lives.” He’s right.  Fear is the emotion that controls us most often in our decision-making and actions.  There is a healthy fear that causes us to be cautious and careful, to give respect toward, and make good life-giving decisions.  Then there is the opposite kind of fear that handicaps, paralyzes and separates us from experiencing life as God would have us enjoy.

The prophet, Isaiah, spoke to our fears in a prophecy concerning God’scoming to us as the Messiah (Isaiah 35:4) – “Say to those with fearful hearts, Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, …he will come to save you.”

To believe that God is greater than us is one thing.  To believe that God is a strength sufficient for us in every circumstance, inspires us with confidence.  But to believe that God is not only almighty and all-sufficient, but that he is also the sovereign, loving, forgiving God who is with us, and that he is God who best understands us, is unquestionably the best truth we can have and hold for all of life.

Let the startling truth grip you. Get emotional about it.  God came down to us in Jesus, taking on the flesh of a vulnerable, helpless, human baby, so that he could become deeply involved in our human situation.  God became what we are, in order that we might become what he is.  He came to resolve once and for all our human sin problem and to reconcile us back into a close, intimate, forever relationship with himself.  He came to save us from all our fears and darkness.

Christmas is about God coming to down us, to be a very close companion in our experiences of sin, sickness, sorrow, and the often difficult routines of life and work.  He wants his caring love, peace, and joy to daily overshadow and indwell us; and for the same to be reflected in our relationships with all persons and in every situation.

Christmas is about “Emmanuel,” that is, God with us and continually speaking into my life and your life, “Greetings, you are highly favored!   The Lord is with you.” 

And so, if darkness and doubts cloud your thoughts and spirit this Christmas week, listen again to the angel’s message to you, “Do not be afraid. Your prayer is heard. I bring you good news.  Today a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ, the Lord.”

Sing with me – Hark!  The herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King;

                        Peace on earth, and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled!”

                        Joyful, all ye nations, rise, join the triumph of the skies;

                        With th’angelic host proclaim, “Christ is born in Bethlehem!”

“Healing Rays of Righteousness” – December 19, 2018

Believing God’s Promise

Read Luke 1 & 2

We love to hear the story and music of Jesus’ birth during the Christmas holidays because it is portrayed as a beautiful, wonder-filled, serene event.  But isn’t that a misreading of the story?

Think about the many difficulties and pain Mary experienced in giving birth to Jesus.  When her pregnancy became evident, she suffered the scorn of her neighbors.  Most likely Mary could not walk anywhere in her hometown without hearing derogatory remarks about her pregnancy and Joseph, the man she loved.   We can rightly assume that there were many times when her joy of carrying the promised Christ child was mixed with the painful hurt of cynical neighbors.  The pregnancy was often not enjoyable.

The trip to Bethlehem was a trip imposed on Mary and Joseph by the government.  And the timing of the mandated trip could not have been worst.   Mary is now heavy with child, making walking very difficult and riding atop a donkey most uncomfortable to say the least.  During the many days and many miles that it takes to travel from Nazareth to Bethlehem, she alternates between walking and riding, feeling every bump in the road, every misstep of the donkey as it was pulled along by Joseph.   The journey was neither easy nor enjoyable.

By the time they reach the little town of Bethlehem, Mary and Joseph’s bodies ache with soreness and exhaustion.  They must find a room to rest.  But the inn was filled and the only space available was in a smelly stable with the animals.  But at least they could rest on the straw, and there was a manger that could be used as a protected place for the baby if it should be born that night.  The night’s lodging place was neither pleasant nor comfortable.

Some months later the government again interfered, causing Mary and Joseph the need to flee to Egypt with their baby until the ruler died.  We can be reasonably certain that when Mary and Joseph left home in Nazareth they never planned for this trip into Egypt.  Everything seemed to be happening contrary to the way Mary dreamed it would be.  This political intrusion into their lives was neither expected nor joyous.

From the moment of the angel’s announcement to Mary of Jesus’ birth, until the moment of his death at Calvary, life for Mary and Joseph took many unplanned, difficult, and painful turns.  And yet, they both remained faithful in believing God’s word to them that the baby they were parenting was indeed the long-awaited promised messiah; and they willingly submitted to God’s plan for their lives, knowing that their child would be a blessing to them and to all the world.

Likewise, life may not have been easy or comfortable for many of us.  There have been those unexpected and difficult experiences that have silenced our dreams and dimmed our hopes for a better life.  There have been painful losses and detours that have caused us much pain and confusion.  It seems that the Love, Joy, Peace, and Hope of Christmas are far removed from us, and we find it difficult to feel any Christmas happiness or reason to celebrate during the joyous Christmas season.

Nevertheless, and for that reason, I encourage myself and you to listen carefully and hear the loving invitation of the Christmas carol;

“And you, beneath life’s crushing load, Whose forms are bending low,

Who toil along the climbing way  With painful steps and slow;

Look now, for glad and golden hours  Come swiftly on the wing; 

Oh, rest beside the weary road  And hear the angels sing.”

My own faith is encouraged as I listen to the many Christmas carols and hear the angels sing about the heartbeat of God’s love for me and you; and his promise of presence and salvation.

“Joy to the world, the Lord is come; let earth receive her King. 

Let every heart prepare Him room, and heaven and nature sing.

He rules the world with truth and grace, and makes the nations prove

The glories of his righteousness, and wonders of his love.”

Christmas is God’s answer to our broken and joyless life.  Christmas is the good news that God wants to do something about our failures and fears, our pain and confusion.  And so he comes down into our personal world to forgive, heal, and restore us to wholeness and life with him.  Christmas is the celebration of God’s ageless promise to bless us with his amazing love.

Let us pray;

“O holy Child of Bethlehem, Descend on us, we pray. 

Cast our sin, and enter in; Be born in us today. 

We hear the Christmas angels  The great glad tidings tell. 

O come to us;  abide with us, Our Lord, Emmanuel.”

 

“Healing Rays of Righteousness” – December 12, 2018

Joyous Hope-Filled Good News

Read Isaiah 61:1-3

Filled with the Spirit of God, the prophet Isaiah promised great joy to the world — through the proclamation of the good news, through the binding of the brokenhearted, through liberty for captives and release for prisoners (61:1-3).

Hundreds of years later, the angels proclaimed to the shepherds the “good news of great joy that will be for all the people.  Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:10-11)

When Jesus launched his ministry 30 years later in the Nazareth synagogue, he read the prophetic scripture from Isaiah 61 and then rolled up the scroll and said to the gathered worshippers, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”

Another hundreds of years later, Isaac Watts echoed the angel’s message in poetry and George Frederick Handel set those words to music:                                                                                                 Joy to the world!  the Lord is come; Let earth receive her King.                                                                    Let every heart prepare Him room, And heav’n and nature sing.                                                                He rules the world with truth and grace, And makes the nations prove,                                                 The glories of His righteousness, And wonders of His love.

Nevertheless, worldwide stories of human depravity – sin, carnality – capture the news headlines and fill the airwaves on a daily regularity.  The news clearly indicates that we are an ethically, morally, and spiritually bankrupt people.  There is very little good news to be found here.  Hope is in scarce supply.

Even so, hope is the joyous good news of Christmas.  John Greenleaf Whittier said it so well when he wrote:                                                                                                                                                                                  I heard the bells on Christmas day, Their old familiar carols play;                                                              And wild and sweet the words repeat, Of peace on earth, good-will to men.                                        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.                                       Then pealed the bells more loud and deep, “God is not dead, nor doth he sleep;                               The wrong shall fail, the right prevail, With peace on earth, good-will to men.

I remember as a young teen-ager walking home from the neighbor’s house after darkness had settled across the field, railroad tracks, small stream, and meadow that separated our two houses.  I remember how much less fearful I was when I could see the porch light of our house, and how relieved I was to have the darkness of the night give way to the bright lights of home.

This is the story and message of Christmas.  God enters the darkness of our world and replaces the darkness of fear with the peace of his light and presence.

On one dark night a mother said to her fearful child as she put her into bed, “There’s nothing to fear in the dark.  And besides, the angels are near you.”  The child replied, “But, mommy, I don’t want angels.  I want a skin face to be with me.”

In the opening verses of his gospel of Jesus Christ, John declares that God came to fearful man with a skin face, namely Jesus; “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. …In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.  The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.  … The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.  We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (1:1-4, 14).

There is not a more amazing and beautiful picture of the almighty, holy God than that which shows him coming down to us human men and women as our companion and provider in our experiences of sin, sickness, sorrow, and the daily routines of living.  In Jesus Christ, God made himself human, visible and tangible so that we could become his beloved sons and daughters.

CHRISTMAS is more than just lights and trees and presents. CHRISTMAS is all about God’s answer to our brokenness.  CHRISTMAS is about the good news that God comes down to earth to do something about our sinfulness, our failures, and our fears.  He comes to forgive, heal, and restore us to wholeness, because he so greatly loves us.

When darkness and fears arise in your thoughts and spirit this Christmas season, hear the message of the heavenly angel, “Do not be afraid.  I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.  Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.” (Lk. 2:10-11).

When you hear the joyous singing of Christmas hymns and carols, listen intently to the heartbeat of God’s love for you.                                                                                                                                           “Joy to the world, the Lord (of light and hope) is come!”

“Healing Rays of Righteousness” – December 5, 2018

Anticipating Advent 2018

Read Isaiah 64:1-9

Advent 2018 bursts upon us with the impassioned cry of the prophet to God that things are not right in this world; “Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down, that the mountains would tremble before you!” (Isaiah 64:1).

Isaiah gives voice to a soul-deep longing for God to show up in their midst as he did in the past.  “For when you did awesome things that we did not expect, you came down, and the mountains trembled before you.  Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him.” (Isaiah 64:3-4).

Most of us have probably prayed a similar prayer at one time or another.  Like Isaiah, we too are filled with longing to see God coming down to act on our behalf. We too hunger for the transforming, authoritative presence of God in our world, church, and families.  In many ways we feel threatened by the evils of war and violence, corrupted authorities, injustices, and agnosticism. Innocent and powerless people suffer as victims of evil and selfish greed.

And conversely, people who do evil and live in disobedience to God’s commands often appear to never have trouble or difficulties.   And so, we too, with Isaiah, beg God to come down and do something about this world of evil and injustices.

From such an emotional and spiritual depth of despair, Isaiah speaks in verse 8, the most unexpected, unthinkable, and unsupportable word “Yet.”  It is a word of faith that stands up against all the apparent defeatism and gloom of the previous verses.

“Yet you, Lord, are our Father.  We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.”  The claim has been made.  God has made us, and we are his people.  In spite of all the threats, crises, troubles and tribulations, that fact of faith, pivoting on the one small word “Yet,” gives voice to the grand and glorious solid-rock truth that lies beneath and supports all other truths.

Isaiah’s words reveal to us the heart and soul of Advent. “Come, Lord Jesus” is a prayer that points both backwards and forward; that is, backward to the baby in the manger but also forward to the Lord’s continual entering into our world.

God enters our world in many ways; some large and dramatic, and others, maybe most, small and subtle.  Isaiah’s imagery about mountains falling down, valleys standing up, and unlikely people appearing on the road is not so much about a dramatic event as it is about a decisive, transforming change happening.  And that’s what happened at Christmas.

The Advent and Christmas season is all about remembering and celebrating the day God, in Jesus Christ, left the glories of heaven, and taking on human flesh, came down to earth to be one with us and to experience what human life is like in this world.

What Isaiah and the other prophets could only pray and hope for, based on God’s promise of a Messiah, we now look back on as the hope that has already come!  God, in Christ, came down from heaven to be in human relationship with us, and to be our Savior.

God did rend the heavens, not in the mighty way Isaiah may have expected, but when the angelic chorus burst forth in song at the birth, all heaven broke loose in praise.  God came down from heaven as a human baby, and lived and walked as one of us.  And the world still trembles in awe and wonder at the miracle of that birth.  God came down and through the infant Jesus said, “I dearly love you.”

Nothing pictures the surprising nature of God’s love and presence better than God’s coming in the person of Jesus as a human baby.  No one anticipated seeing God in an unwed pregnancy, in a small-town stable, in a blue-collar worker, in a family of refugees.  Yet, that is how God came, and that is how God worked in response to Isaiah’s plea for God to come down.

What we celebrate and anticipate this Advent season is the unexpected manner of God’s coming in Jesus, and the unexpected ways God is still coming to up-end and transform our lives and our world in each new day.  I invite you to meditate on God’s coming yesteryear and today, often in places we would not think to look.

During this Advent season, let us join the prophet, Isaiah, in remembering God’s mighty presence in the past and let us prepare ourselves to be surprised and amazed by the appearance of our God at any time and in any place.

“Healing Rays of Righteousness” – November 28, 2018