Healing Rays of Righteousness

“And we boast in the hope of the glory of God.  Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.  And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.”  (Romans 5:2a-5).

In many church and non-church conversations I hear a lot of despair and hopelessness being verbalized.  To speak of HOPE and the possibility of overflowing with HOPE seems to these people to be just a lot of wishful thinking.

I concluded last week’s meditation by encouraging us to resist leaning into uncertainty and fear by leaning more seriously into the HOPE given us through Jesus’ death and resurrection.  But what is this HOPE that the biblical writers speak of?  How is it characterized?

There are several different meanings to our contemporary use of the word “hope.”  I am convinced that he hope being expressed by the biblical writers is not “wishful thinking” as in “I hope it doesn’t rain on our picnic.”  This is probably the most popular use of the word “hope.”

 And neither is it an expression of “reasonable expectation” as when the doctor says to the family “We have every reason to hope for full recovery” after medical/surgical treatment to the patient.The doctor’s past experiences with similar cases makes it possible for him/her to offer this reasonable expectation of recovery to patient’s family.

The hope we hear expressed by the biblical writers is a dynamic word of “confident assurance.”  It is the confident assurance of a promised future of personally sharing in the glory of God.  That is, we will share and participate in God’s triumph over sin and death.  This is the strong, sure hope that God has given us in Jesus’ death and resurrection.

There are two additional things we must remember about Christian hope.  First, it is not born from our circumstances, but from our faith.  Hope is closely related to faith in the New Testament.  The Hebrew writer spells it out for us in chapter 11, verse 1, “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.”

Remember, Jeremiah had no external reasons to trust that things were going to work out for him.  Human reason and wisdom could only say, “Give up!  Quit!”  This was not a purchase that showed great promise.  All Jeremiah had was God’s assurance and a commitment to act in faith.

Despite what his neighbors might say, despite of what appeared to be irrational and illogical, Jeremiah trusted in the power of God to work for good, even in the circumstance of darkness.  Jeremiah realized that faith is indeed “confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” 

Secondly, Christian hope is expressed in deeds, not in thoughts and words.  Jeremiah did not shout his hope-filled thoughts from behind the bars of the prison.  He did not send messages out to declare his hope.  Instead, in obedience to God’s word to him, he bought a field.

Hope is looking forward with confidence to the future for something better, something good.  When we hope, we anticipate that something that God has promised to us can indeed happen and will happen.

It is hope that gives voice to the Old Testament prophecies that we read during the Advent season leading up to Christmas.  Christmas Day is the proclamation that this God of hope is birthed into our world and lives in our midst now in the person of Jesus and His Holy Spirit.

Easter’s Resurrection Morning is the proclamation that God has given us an assured hope that our life does not end in death.  Peter proclaims the good news; “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!  In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade.  This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.” (1 Peter 1:3-5). 

It is this living hope that gives music to our praise, wings to our prayers, and anchors our salvation.  And I believe that this living hope is the one counter-cultural difference that catches the most attention from our neighbors.  I believe it is this Christian hope-filled response to life’s difficulties and sufferings that is most likely to open doors for conversation and witness with our neighbors.

Paul concludes his letter to the Romans with this benediction in 15:13, and I offer it to you for today and every tomorrow.  “May the God of hope 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.”

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“Healing Rays of Righteousness” – January 27, 2021

www.geigler13.wordpress.com

Ray M. Geigley

Seated at a table in the restaurant reading the morning paper, a man punctuated his reading with deep groans of dismay and discouragement.  Each page of the current national and international news brought a more profound sigh from him. 

The young waitress became very concerned, and so, as she poured him another cup of coffee she asked, “Is everything alright, sir?  You seem to be terribly upset about something.”

The man replied, “You bet I am!  Haven’t you read the morning paper?  I’m sick to death of all the bad news!”  The young waitress timidly stated, “You’ve got to have hope.”  To which the man asked the classic question of pessimistic frustration, “Hope?  How can you have hope in a world like this?”

In the days of the prophet, Jeremiah, many residents of Jerusalem were expressing a similar hopelessness.  Jeremiah is often called the “weeping prophet” and for good reason.  If anyone had reason to cry, it was Jeremiah.  God had promised them so much and the people had such great possibilities as a nation.  But now, their city was surrounded by the treacherous Babylonian army.  The future for God’s people living in Judah appeared to be dark and hopeless.

Sadly, two weeks ago we witnessed a similar darkness in our nation’s capital on Epiphany, the day the Christian church celebrates the great revelation of Jesus as divine light and truth to the Magi and the world.  On this day of Epiphany 2021, Satan attempted to extinguish this magnificent light in our nation by uprooting and deceiving with his evil lies and conspiracy theories the Trumpian mob crowd that violently stormed the capital with destruction, injuries, and death.   

Some of us may be tempted to give up on our commitment to Christian faith and discipleship, to call it quits and throw in the towel.  But that is not what Jeremiah did.  Instead, he listened to and believed God’s word of hope to him and prepared to purchase a field at Anathoth, his birthplace.

Shortly thereafter, Jeremiah’s cousin, Hanamel, visits Jeremiah in jail and asks Jeremiah to buy the field he owns in the village of Anathoth.  The field earlier belonged to Hanamel’s father and Jeremiah’s uncle, Shallum.  And the Levitical law of redemption meant that Jeremiah had the opportunity to purchase Hanamel’s field.

Consider the circumstances.  Anathoth is a little village out in the countryside.  Not much of a place for business or farming.  And with the Babylonian army threatening to confiscate every bit of private property, who is going to risk plowing and planting the field?  Furthermore, Jeremiah himself was in jail.  So why would he act on such craziness?

But God instructs Jeremiah, “Take these documents, both the sealed and unsealed copies of the deed of purchase and put them in a clay jar so they will last a long time.  …Houses, fields and vineyards will again be bought in this land.” (vv. 14-15).  God is saying that even this darkest hour will pass and invites Jeremiah to show great faith by believing that the people of Israel will once again flourish.

We are to believe that Jeremiah bought the field, not for any earthly purpose, but for a heavenly purpose of demonstrating his faith in a God who remains faithful to his people.  Jeremiah affirmed his hope for the future in the purchase of land.  He was saying by his purchase, “Houses, fields and vineyards will again be bought in this land.”  God will restore the devastation.  Crops will again flourish.  Families will return to their homeland.  The good life of community will take precedent over tragedy and sorrow.

And after Jeremiah had given the deed of purchase to Baruch to put into a clay jar so would be preserved for a long time, he prayed, “Ah, Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm.  Nothing is too hard for you.” (v.17).

That was Jeremiah’s faith.  He believed that God was not yet finished with his people in Judah.  So, he invested in the future.  Seeing the possibilities beyond the immediate difficulties, he purchased the field.  He wholeheartedly believed that nothing is too hard for God.  Such faith amid much pain and seemingly hopeless situation is astounding. 

Hope is that which energizes us and enables us to envision possibility, that is a “way through” that shapes our activity.  When we hope, we expect the future to somehow be much better, no matter what our present condition may be.  Hope energizes and gives meaning to life, whereas hopelessness drains us of the energies of life.

Last week I asked how should you and I, who claim to have faith in God, respond to such threatening situations?  The continuing tense and threatening situation in our nation can cause many of us, even though deeply rooted in the Jesus way of Christian faith, to lean into uncertainty and fear.  But rather than leaning into uncertainty and fear, I think it better for us to lean more seriously into the HOPE given us through Jesus’ death and resurrection.

Please join me on this Inauguration Day of new national leadership, in celebrating the blessing of Almighty God who favors neither political party nor race but is alive in our world and rules with love, truth, and justice for all mankind.  He is the basis of our hope for today and tomorrow.  Amen!

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“Healing Rays of Righteousness”  – January 20, 2021

www.geigler13.wordpress.com

Ray M. Geigley

What happened last Wednesday in our nation’s capital was despicable as a violent attempt to destroy our nation’s foundational constitution and democracy.  It was an ugly and destructive  effort to overturn the fair and factual results of our presidential election.  It was a declared war on truth by the president and  those who have chosen to believe lies and conspiracy theories because they do not like nor accept a reality of truth and facts. 

Most grievous is that many who supported and participated in the awful frightening event call themselves Christian and followers of Jesus, whose teachings and behaviors are antithetical to what they had chosen to believe and do. 

In personal conversations I have warned of the dangers of QAnon and its insidious influence in the Christian church.  QAnon evangelists have been successful in attracting and capturing the Christians whose primary  interest is in discovering signs of  “end time” events.  By framing their deep, dark universe of lies and suspicions with biblical apocalyptic scriptures, QAnon has made their deceitful and dreadful message exciting and believable to many, including Donald Trump.

How should you and I, who claim to have faith in God, respond to these threatening situations?  The events of last week  and the continuing tense and threatening situation in our nation can cause many of us, even though deeply rooted in the Jesus way of Christian faith, to lean into uncertainty and fear.  In such times, I find strength, encouragement and resolve in Psalm 46.

This psalm is a statement of faith declaring God oversees history, and that he is more than adequate for every difficult and threatening event of life, so we do not need to be afraid.  This psalm encourages us to always trust God in every circumstance, including the difficult ones.

The writer of this psalm reckoned with the possibility that God may allow the worst to happen in our world and life.  Nevertheless, he renounces fear and reaffirms faith with three great affirmations of faith that can keep us from being robbed of the hope, peace, joy and love that Jesus brings to us in his promise never to leave us nor forsake us. 

The first affirmation is regarding God’s POWER in verse 1-3; “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.”  No matter what storm rages, the almighty God is present in the midst of the trouble to help us.  God’s strength will surround our weakness and protect us.  Therefore, we will not fear, even if the worst is happening.

The second affirmation is regarding God’s PRESENCE in verses 4-7; “There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells.  …The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.”  The powerful, loving presence of God gives us confidence, no matter the tumult swirling around us and threatening to destroy us.  Therefore, we will not faint, nor fall.

The third affirmation is regarding God’s PEACE in verse 10; “He says, ‘Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”  When we look up and see God’s sovereignty, we can rest in confidence of God’s exalted power and presence.  When we believe with certainty that God is present, powerful, and provides all the resources we need in the situation, God’s gift of peace settles upon us and calms our hearts.  The psalmist concludes in verse 11, “The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.”  Therefore, we will not fret.

Martin Luther was going through a personal storm when he meditated on Psalm 46 and was inspired to write the hymn, “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God.”

A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing. Our helper he amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing, for still our ancient foe doth seek to work us woe.  His craft and pow’r are great,and armed with cruel hate, on earth is not his equal.

Did we in our own strength confide, our striving would be losing, were not the right man on our side, the man of God’s own choosing.  Dost ask who that may be?  Christ Jesus, it is he! Lord Sabaoth, his name, from age to age the same, and he must win the battle.

And though this world, with devils filled, should threaten to undo us, we will not fear, for God hath willed his truth to triumph through us.  The prince of darkness grim, we tremble not for him.  His rage we can endure, for lo, his doom is sure.  One little word shall fell him.

That word above all earthly pow’rs, no thanks to them, abideth.  The Spirit and the gifts are ours, through him who with us sideth.  Let goods and kindred go, this mortal life also. The body they may kill, God’s truth abideth still.  His kingdom is forever.

If we can trust the God that this hymn exalts, I believe we will also discover the secret of living with a calm confidence while in the midst of frightening uncertainties.  Amen!

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“Healing Rays of Righteousness” – January 13, 2021

www.geigler13.wordpress.com

Ray M. Geigley

As a young man, former President Jimmy Carter graduated from the Naval Academy and served as an officer on a nuclear-powered submarine.  However, before he was able to assume that position, he had to have a personal interview with Admiral Hyman Rickover, the man who is said to be the father of the nuclear navy.

Carter was understandable nervous, knowing how much was at stake and that only the best, most disciplined officers were chosen to serve in this prestigious force.  As he stood before Rickover, it was soon obvious to Carter that the wise admiral knew more about nearly every subject discussed than he did. 

Finally, Rickover came to the last question on his list,  “Where did you finish in your class, young man?”  Pleased with his accomplishments and thrilled to be asked a question he could easily answer, Carter informed the Admiral that he had finished 59^th out of a student body numbering 820.  Then he waited for a commendation from the old sailor, but it never came.

Jimmy Carter later recounted that the question that broke the uncomfortable silence between the two men was, “Did you always do your best?”  Carter thought a moment and then cleared his throat and hesitantly replied, “No sir, I did not.”  At that point, Rickover turned he chair around, signaling the interview was over, and asked, “Why not?”

This is a good question to ask ourselves as we reflect on our activities during the past year.  How would we evaluate what we have done during past year?  Would we regretfully say poorly, so-so, or just adequate?  Or would we dare to say good, exceptionally good, or outstanding?

Being Christian, we profess that we are committed to excellence.  But then we hear Jesus telling us that “excellence” is measured by our relationship to God and others.  “’You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’  This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” (Mt. 22:37-39 NLT).  And then in his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus expands neighbor to include our enemies and concludes with this measure of excellence, “But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.” (Mt. 5:43-48 NLT).    

Wow!  That raises the bar immensely, and begs the question, “Did we always do our best?” We cannot hide from that question, for God says, “I know all the things you do, and I have opened a door for you that no one can close.  You have little strength, yet you obeyed my word and did not deny me.”  (Rev. 3:8, NLT).  I may be stretching the context of this promise but wish to suggest the open door is that possibility of forgiveness and opportunity to begin again in behaving better.

The beginning of each new year offers us a time to reflect on our past, regret our mistakes and failures, contemplate the future, and make resolutions.  I think most people want to do and be better.     But there is usually something about the past that troubles us, even if it is nothing more than the nagging belief that we could do better if we had another go at it.

Many years ago, Louisa Fletcher Tarkington, wrote a perceptive poem entitled, “The Land of Beginning Again.”  It begins and ends with a verse which is almost a universal wish.

•             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.

Mistakes and regrets of the past can and often do become heavy baggage for many of us.  This baggage is real and cannot be easily waved aside, for it represents the residue of mistaken judgments and unwise decisions that have left scars and, sometimes, openly deep wounds in our relationships with God and others.  Have we always done our best?  Probably not.   Have any of our conversations and actions caused unnecessary pain.  Probably so.  Do regrets weigh us down?  Most likely. 

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.  Whatever loose ends may be lying out there in the past, God can help us gather them up into new beginnings.  God assures us that forgiveness is for the asking.  “But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.”  (1 John 1:9 NLT).   

The psalmist prayed, “O Lord, you are so good, so ready to forgive, so full of unfailing love for all who ask for your help.” (Psalm 86:5 NLT).  Instead of fretting, let us find forgiveness and move forward through God’s open door of “Beginning Again” toward excellence.

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“Healing Rays of Righteousness” – January 6, 2021

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Ray M. Geigley

The prophet, Isaiah, was writing to God’s people in a time of deep darkness and despair, most likely gloomier and more desperate than that in our present time.  The return trip to their homeland in Israel, after 70 years of exile in Babylon, was exceedingly difficult and disappointing. 

But God had good news 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.  …Lift up your eyes and look about you.”  (Isa. 60:1-2, 4).

The back-to-back imperative verbs, “Arise, Shine” constitute a hope-filled wake-up call announcing the Lord’s new day, which is signified by his glorious light.  

Through the prophet Isaiah, God announces a new day has dawned upon them, “your light has come,” and thus renews their hope with the promise of a coming redeemer.  This analogy of light represents the majestic, redeeming glory of God’s presence, awakening hope and a future for those living in darkness. 

We must remember that this is only prophecy, a promise of what was going to happen in the future.  Many of the following generations heard this message but never saw its reality.

This promise of glorious light links us forward to what the apostle John 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.  …The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.” (John 1:4-5,9). 

And it also links us to the story of the “Magi from the east” who were looking for a hopeful sign about the future and then seeing it, followed the brilliant light of a star to Bethlehem.

The star that appeared in the nighttime sky led them to the place where the young child was.  In that child, the Magi recognized that God had finally brought light and hope into the world’s darkness.  They believed this child was the beginning fulfillment of God’s promise of a whole new world called the Kingdom of heaven, and they bowed and worshipped him as King.

Think about this and make it personal.  The Sovereign, Creator God, incarnated in Jesus Christ, clothes himself in human flesh and is born of a woman, comes down to earth as glorious and holy light, and  “rises upon you and his glory appears over you.  …Lift up your eyes and look about you:”

Unlike the people of Isaiah’s day, we have received more than just a promise of light.  As John says, “We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father full of grace and truth.”  (Jn.1:14).  The promise is fulfilled.  We live in the new reality of God’s Kingdom of light and glory shining on us here and now.  Should we not be more confident and enthusiastic regarding God’s presence and goodness to us?

The glorious evidence of a living, loving God in our midst, is made visible with each sunrise over all the world, as people are mobilized by the Christ-like spirit of love and compassion to care for and to help others in their need. 

The remarkable truth is that this glorious light of Christ does more than just make us feel good and confident.  It also changes our attitude toward the world and the people around us.  We see them, all of them, in a new light as human beings created, just like us, in the image and likeness of God, and who are dearly loved by God.

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

Indeed, God has come down to us in Jesus.  Our salvation is here!  So, happy new year, rise and shine!  Let the glory of the Lord shine over you, in you, and through you.  Do not hide it under a bushel.   

Step into this new year of 2021 with confident faith, believing Christ’s new kingdom of redeeming light, hope, love, peace, joy, and life has dawned upon us and is on the way to complete and glorious fulfillment as the glorious eternal Kingdom of Jesus Christ. 

• Let us pray,        
• O star of wonder, star of night,
• Star with royal beauty bright,
• Westward leading, still proceeding,
• Guide us to thy perfect light.       AMEN!

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“Healing Rays of Righteousness” – December 30, 2020

www.geigler13.wordpress.com

Ray M. Geigley

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.

I think of this experience whenever I read the Christmas story from Luke 2 and ponder the many difficulties that Mary experienced in giving birth to Jesus.  It most likely was difficult for Mary to walk anywhere in her hometown without hearing derogatory whispers and remarks about her pregnancy.   Her joy of carrying the promised Christ child was many times tainted with the hurt of cynical neighbors.  The pregnancy was not pleasant.

The trip to Bethlehem was a trip imposed on them by the government authorities.  And the timing of the mandated trip could not have been worst.   Mary is now heavy with child, making walking difficult and riding atop a donkey precarious to say the least.  For many hours and many miles, 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 to Bethlehem was not pleasant.  

And by the time they reach the little town of Bethlehem, Mary and Joseph’s bodies ache with soreness and exhaustion.  They must find a guest room to rest.  But, unfortunately, the only room available was with the innkeeper’s smelly animals.  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 comfortable nor pleasant.

Some weeks later the government authorities again interfered, causing Mary and Joseph the need to flee to Egypt with their baby until the nation’s ruler died.  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 intrusion into their family plans was neither easy nor pleasant.

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.  Nevertheless, they remained faithful in believing God’s promise to them and submitted to his plan for their lives as honored recipients and parents of God’s gift to the world. 

During this past year of the Covid-19 pandemic, life has not been easy for many of us.  There were unexpected bumps in the journey that have shaken us with confusion.  There were twists and turns we did not expect.  There were major detours that caused us much uncertainty, fear, and grievous losses.  With so much confusion, pain, and darkness, robbing us of the Love, Joy, Peace, and Hope of Christmas, we may find it difficult to find a reason to celebrate Christmas.

Nevertheless, I encourage you to hear the 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.  O rest beside the weary road,  and hear the angels sing.” 

I encourage you to listen carefully and hear the heartbeat of God’s love for you;  “Joy to the world,  the Lord is come!  Let earth receive her King;  let ev’ry heart prepare him room,  and heav’n and nature sing, and heav’n and nature sing, and heav’n, and heav’n and nature sing.” 

This is the essence of God’s Christmas gift to all of us.  God enters our world and pierces the darkness of doubt and fear with the joy and peace of his light and presence.

Christmas is God’s answer to our brokenness.  Christmas is the good news that God wants to do something about our failures and fears, our pain and confusion.  He wants to forgive, heal, and restore us to wholeness. 

Even as darkness and doubts may be clouding your thoughts and spirit this Christmas Day, 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).  This is God’s gift to you and me.  Let us open and cherish it into the coming new year.

Let us pray.    

“O holy Child of Bethlehem, descend on us, we pray,  cast  out 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, Immanuel.”

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“Healing Rays of Righteousness” – December 23, 2020

www.geigler13.wordpress.com

Ray M. Geigley

“Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”  So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.  …The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.”  (Luke 2:15b-16, 20).

What did the shepherds see?  What will you and I see as we join them around the manger?

If beauty is in the eye of the beholder, then the shepherds saw what their hearts and minds were looking for.  And that is exactly what you and I will see in this Christmas.  We are going to see only that for which we are hoping and looking for.  If God’s special message had not come to the shepherds from those singing angels, if they had not seen them, nor heard and believed their message, then what they saw in Bethlehem would have been entirely meaningless.

Let us suppose that the shepherds just happened to be passing through Bethlehem, taking their sheep to the sheepfold, and they passed by the stable where Mary and Joseph were busy with the birth of Jesus.  Without the previous knowledge given them by the angels, they would have seen only a messy birth scene, and maybe commenting, “Oh my, what a poor girl.  She didn’t make it to her home.  Too bad.  I hope everything goes alright for them.  She seems so young.”

That is all they would have seen.  But because they heard and understood the angels’ message, they saw and knew that much more was happening in this birth scene that night.  Having seen, and understanding what they saw, they got excited and “spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.” (Luke 2:17-18).

The angels looked and participated in the first Christmas event joyously, celebrating God’s humble incarnation of himself, saying “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”  Why?  Because they saw and understood that this event was in God’s great plan for mankind’s redemption and reconciliation.  From their heavenly perspective they saw and knew that God Himself had come down in human flesh to redeem mankind.  No wonder they exploded through the dark night with glorious light and praises to announce the awesome event.

Mary and Joseph experienced the event with much wondering and amazement.  They saw and believed much that they did not fully understand.  Think of their faith in God.  Both heard from an angel regarding this birth and they dared to believe the message.  Both submitted to receiving this gift of giving birth to the Savior of the world.  They saw, heard, believed, and now humbly held God’s promised savior in their arms.  Their feelings that night were wondrously indescribable coupled with puzzling amazement.  The scriptures tell us that “Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.”  Why me?  Why us?  How is this possible?  What happens next?

Simeon looked and saw this Christmas event prophetically.  He had lived his life eagerly looking forward to this event.  For years he has been reading the prophecy, “Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given.”  And then one day as he enters the temple, he sees two young parents bringing their 8-day old newborn child to the temple to be circumcised and consecrated to the Lord.  And in that moment, he sees, he believes, and knows this is God’s promised Messiah, the Savior for all mankind.  He greets the young parents and then lifts that small bundle of human flesh toward heaven and praises God, saying: “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace.  For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations.”  (2:28-31). 

Simeon, along with Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist, and Anna the prophet who lived in the temple, saw more than just a small baby.  They saw God’s gift of salvation for the world.  How did they see all this?  They saw because they heard, believed and were daily looking for God’s coming into the world of mankind.

Prayer:  O Lord, open our eyes and ears to see and hear the angels’ glorious message to us, and then with the shepherds “go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”  O God, as we gather with the shepherds around the manger, open our minds and hearts to believe and worship the Christ of Christmas, our Savior.  May we better understand and know that this child born in Bethlehem gives birth to Hope, Joy, Peace, and Love, which is so desperately needed in our life and todays world of much darkness.  Amen!

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“Healing Rays of Righteousness” – 12/16/20

www.geigler13.wordpress.com

Ray M. Geigley

“Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”  So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.  …The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.”  (Luke 2:15b-16, 20).

What did the shepherds see?  What will you and I see as we join them around the manger?

If beauty is in the eye of the beholder, then the shepherds saw what their hearts and minds were looking for.  And that is exactly what you and I will see in this Christmas.  We are going to see only that for which we are hoping and looking for.  If God’s special message had not come to the shepherds from those singing angels, if they had not seen them, nor heard and believed their message, then what they saw in Bethlehem would have been entirely meaningless.

Let us suppose that the shepherds just happened to be passing through Bethlehem, taking their sheep to the sheepfold, and they passed by the stable where Mary and Joseph were busy with the birth of Jesus.  Without the previous knowledge given them by the angels, they would have seen only a messy birth scene, and maybe commenting, “Oh my, what a poor girl.  She didn’t make it to her home.  Too bad.  I hope everything goes alright for them.  She seems so young.”

That is all they would have seen.  But because they heard and understood the angels’ message, they saw and knew that much more was happening in this birth scene that night.  Having seen, and understanding what they saw, they got excited and “spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.” (Luke 2:17-18).

The angels looked and participated in the first Christmas event joyously, celebrating God’s humble incarnation of himself, saying “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”  Why?  Because they saw and understood that this event was in God’s great plan for mankind’s redemption and reconciliation.  From their heavenly perspective they saw and knew that God Himself had come down in human flesh to redeem mankind.  No wonder they exploded through the dark night with glorious light and praises to announce the awesome event.

Mary and Joseph experienced the event with much wondering and amazement.  They saw and believed much that they did not fully understand.  Think of their faith in God.  Both heard from an angel regarding this birth and they dared to believe the message.  Both submitted to receiving this gift of giving birth to the Savior of the world.  They saw, heard, believed, and now humbly held God’s promised savior in their arms.  Their feelings that night were wondrously indescribable coupled with puzzling amazement.  The scriptures tell us that “Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.”  Why me?  Why us?  How is this possible?  What happens next?

Simeon looked and saw this Christmas event prophetically.  He had lived his life eagerly looking forward to this event.  For years he has been reading the prophecy, “Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given.”  And then one day as he enters the temple, he sees two young parents bringing their 8-day old newborn child to the temple to be circumcised and consecrated to the Lord.  And in that moment, he sees, he believes, and knows this is God’s promised Messiah, the Savior for all mankind.  He greets the young parents and then lifts that small bundle of human flesh toward heaven and praises God, saying: “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace.  For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations.”  (2:28-31). 

Simeon, along with Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist, and Anna the prophet who lived in the temple, saw more than just a small baby.  They saw God’s gift of salvation for the world.  How did they see all this?  They saw because they heard, believed and were daily looking for God’s coming into the world of mankind.

Prayer:  O Lord, open our eyes and ears to see and hear the angels’ glorious message to us, and then with the shepherds “go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”  O God, as we gather with the shepherds around the manger, open our minds and hearts to believe and worship the Christ of Christmas, our Savior.  May we better understand and know that this child born in Bethlehem gives birth to Hope, Joy, Peace, and Love, which is so desperately needed in our life and todays world of much darkness.  Amen!

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“Healing Rays of Righteousness” – 12/16/20

www.geigler13.wordpress.com

Ray M. Geigley

The preparations we make, the activities that consume our energy during these four weeks of Advent, say a lot about who we expect to come. They reveal the truth about our personal relationship with the WHO of Christmas. The question, who is coming, reminds us that the focus of our Christmas celebration should be on a person, not on a place, thing or season.

The biblical answer to our question is that God is coming into our world in the person of Jesus Christ to save, shepherd and comfort us. He is the promised holy child of Bethlehem.

In the centuries preceding the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem, many prophets insisted that deliverance from the troubles and oppressions of God’s children could only be accomplished by a deliverer sent by God himself. Their hope was for a messiah, an anointed deliverer. “You who bring good new to Zion, go up on a high mountain. You who bring good news to Jerusalem, lift up your voice with a shout, lift it up, do not be afraid; say to the towns of Judah, ‘Here is your God!’ See, the Sovereign Lord comes with power, and he rules with a mighty arm.” (Isaiah 40:9-10).

Following the birth of his son, John the Baptist, Zechariah claimed the prophetic promises regarding a messiah as now being fulfilled. “Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come to his people and redeemed them. He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David … to rescue us from the hand of our enemies, and to enable us to serve him without fear in holiness and righteousness before him all our days. … by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.” (Luke 1: 68-69, 74-75, 78-79).

Jesus Christ, the promised messiah and deliverer, had come. He was not just a great teacher or martyr among other teachers and martyrs, he was uniquely different. He possessed a special relationship to God which others who came before did not and could not claim to possess.

And so, the apostle Paul writes in Galatians 4:4, “But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship.”

And the Hebrew writer begins his letter with these words, “In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, … The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word.” (Hebrews 1:1-3a).

Christmas means incarnation. Incarnation means the complete embodiment of God in a human being. As Christians, we strongly believe that God himself came in Jesus Christ, a human person who was also divine.

The story is told of a mother who told her child, “There is nothing to fear in the dark. And besides, the angels are near you.” And the child replied, “Mother, I don’t want angels. I want a skin face.”

The apostle Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 4:6, “For God who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness, made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.”

We may not be able to fully understand how Jesus was both fully human and fully divine. But we can choose to believe that what mankind saw and experienced in that interlude of 33 years while on our earth, in our world, was God “made flesh.” The saw and experienced God with a skin face as companion, comforter, friend, liberator, and healer.

In his act of incarnation in Jesus, God is no longer remote, hidden, and inaccessible. He does not speak in some strange language to torment and frighten us. Instead, he speaks simply and lovingly in Jesus, making plain to all who are willing to listen, what are his will and purposes for us, and how we can enjoy a trusting, transforming relationship with himself as his children.

The message of Christmas is that the eternal, almighty, ever-loving God has come down into our world’s history clothed in the human flesh and blood of Jesus Christ. He has come as a visible, touchable expression of Himself. Yes, he has come and continues to come as Holy Spirit to dwell with His people and His church. Yes, he brings “Joy to the world, the Lord is come! let earth receive her king; let ev’ry heart prepare him room, and heav’n and nature sing.”

Who is coming to your house this Christmas? God incarnate in Jesus, Santa Claus, or your own crafted idol? Your preparations and activities will most likely expose the truth of your words.

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“Healing Rays of Righteousness” – December 9, 2020
http://www.geigler13.wordpress.com
Ray M. Geigley

Advent is the beginning of a new year in the worship and liturgy of the Christian Church. The Church year begins with the biblical message of “hope-filled waiting” for God’s coming. The prophet Isaiah reassures us that “those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” (Isaiah 40:31).

However, waiting is often not easy for us. It seems to be a waste of precious time. Nevertheless, even though we may not like to wait, it is a part of our living in this world. The important issue is about how we wait, for that matters in shaping our attitudes and perspectives about life and its future.

Advent is about “hope-filled waiting.” Advent is about both the anticipation and preparation for God’s coming into this world, clothed with human flesh, to redeem and restore all of us into a love relationship with Himself.

Advent focuses on the anticipation of God’s promised coming rather than on its fulfillment. Advent is the quiet, confident joy of hope-filled expectation of Christ being born anew in the cradle of my heart and life. Advent is the sincere, soul-searching work of preparing myself to welcome his coming to transform and energize me anew for Kingdom living.

Many years before the birth of Jesus, the Old Testament prophets were writing and preaching about waiting for one who would be like a light in the darkness, who would judge with perfect righteousness, and who would comfort with peace, joy, and healing.

Those to whom the prophets spoke were weary with waiting. They had become impatient and discouraged. They wanted the Messiah to come now, but God kept saying through the events of history and the prophets, “wait.”

It seems to me that we often display the same impatience in our Advent attitudes and activities. In my lifetime, Thanksgiving Day has been diminished to simply a launching pad for our rush toward Christmas Day with its beautiful music and story of Jesus’s birth.

We would much rather go directly to Bethlehem and Jesus’ birth without being reminded of the repeated messages from the prophets and John the Baptist to expectantly wait and prepare. They all insisted that our preparation and repentance is needed before we can appropriately welcome and appreciate God’s coming to our world in human flesh.

The Advent season of four weeks does not give us permission to rush toward Bethlehem and Jesus’ manger birth. Advent is God’s annual appeal for us to wait, repent, and prepare for the new transforming comings of His Kingdom on earth, even as it is in heaven.

Advent provides for us a time for solemn and thoughtful waiting, watching, and preparing for a new experience of Christ’s redeeming, transforming birthings in our life and world.

This mood of “hope-filled waiting” is expressed in the music of our Advent hymns, such as “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” – “Comfort, Comfort Ye My People” – “Come, Thou Long-expected Jesus.” But we often, I think, unwittingly display our impatience when we short-circuit the message and purpose of Advent by prematurely singing the Christmas Day hymns, like “Joy To The World” – “To Us A Child Of Hope Is Born” – “Silent Night, Holy Night.” (Side note) I wish we would continue singing these hymns for at least through January. These hymns carry the “good new” message of Jesus Christ and should not be shelved so quickly after Christmas Day.

The season of Advent is our “time out” to see God at work in our world. Advent is our “time out” to focus again on the coming of God’s kingdom where mercy, justice, joy, and peace dwell. Advent is our “time out” to renew our commitment to preparing the way for His will being done on earth as it is in heaven.

How desperately our world needs to hear the Christmas message of hope, peace, and good will among men. How desperately the world needs each one of us to live that message each day of our lives.

The King of Glory comes. Prepare the way for His coming. He is our only hope. He is the world’s only hope. He is our salvation, the Savior born to us. Are we ready to receive Him into our lives and world?

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Prayer Hymn

“Oh, How Shall I Receive Thee”

Oh, how shall I receive thee, how meet thee on thy way,
bless’d hope of ev’ry nation, my soul’s delight and stay?
O Jesus, Jesus, give me now by thine own pure light
to know what-e’er is pleasing and welcome in thy sight.

Love caused thine incarnation; Love brought thee down to me.
Thy thirst for my salvation procured my liberty.
Oh, love beyond all telling, that led thee to embrace,
in love, all love excelling, our lost and troubled race.

Thou com-est, Lord, with gladness, in mercy and good will,
to bring an end to sadness and bid our fears be still.
We welcome thee, our Savior; come gather us to thee,
that in thy light eternal our joyous home may be.

(Paul Gerhardt, 1653)
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“Healing Rays of Righteousness” – December 2, 2020
http://www.geigler13.wordpress.com
Ray M. Geigley