A Study in Contrasts

 

“For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.”

—James 3:16

The Bible is chock full of contrasts. Basically, the Scriptures describe the war that rages between God, who represents eternal righteousness, goodness, and love, and Satan, who represents everything that is the opposite of God—evil, deceit, hatred, enmity, anger, and so much more.

That Satan began as one of God’s most favored angels is far more than ironic. As C. S. Lewis describes in his magnificent little book, Mere Christianity, Satan wanted to be God without God.

Satan had organized a significant number of other angels to follow his lead. Because of Satan’s defiance of God’s authority, God essentially banished Satan to earth, along with the angels who had followed him. Thus, when God created humans, Adam and Eve, Satan—and his legions of demons—was already present to reap as much destruction as possible.

The whole condemning element for Satan, and for us, as well, is that summary written by Lewis: Satan wanted to be God without God. And, in our state of sinful rebellion, we, too, want to be God in our lives without God. Thus, our very existence is fraught with conflict: the righteousness of an eternal, holy, and loving God vs. the sinful, selfish, temporal, hate-filled life we lead when God is not present within us.

The Apostle James summarized this state of being quite succinctly when he wrote these words found in James 3:16:

For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.

Without the Presence of God in our lives, we are envious and selfish. This envy and selfishness leads to a warped ambition that, in turn, leads to disorder and every evil practice. One of the blessed aspects of the Incarnation is that the Lord Jesus Christ brought divine order to the chaos of our sin-filled lives. Through this magnificent gift of God’s mercy, grace, and love, we have the possibility of banishing chaos forever and fully embracing peaceful order in our daily lives.

As we think about what God has so graciously done for us this day, let’s praise Him that He is One who created and sustains a straightened pathway for our lives. He brings order. He brings peace. He brings our redemption from the penalty of sin. He does all these things for one reason: He loves us with His eternal, unfailing, undying love.

 

_{Copyright © 2018 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

A Blessed Farewell

 

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

—1 Thessalonians 5:28

As family gatherings wind down following the many holiday celebrations, one of the more difficult aspects is saying good-bye to family and friends after a wonderful time of fellowship. It’s always hard to say good-bye to those we love. Even when we know we will see them very soon again, when people hold a place in our hearts, it is wrenching to say farewell.

The Apostle Paul recognized how difficult it was to say good-bye, even when he was writing a letter to people he wanted to draw into the fellowship of God’s love and grace. Paul had deep affection for the ones God had placed in Paul’s charge. Even the folks in Rome, whom Paul had not had the opportunity to visit in person, evoked within Paul a strong bond of love.

In response, we find, time and again in his letters, that Paul says good-bye in a way that extends a blessing to those from whom he is parting. He does this as a final way of encouraging them in their faith and sealing the bond of love that he feels for them.

We find one of these blessed good-byes at the end of the Book of 1 Thessalonians. Notice what Paul writes in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24, 28:

Rejoice always, pray continually, give
thanks in all circumstances; for this
is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Do not quench the Spirit. Do not treat prophecies
with contempt but test them all; hold on to
what is good, reject every kind of evil.

May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify
you through and through. May your whole
spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at
the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one
who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

Christianity, the belief in the life-transforming power of the living Lord Jesus Christ, transcended traditional divides among peoples. The Jews typically had nothing whatsoever to do with the Gentiles in a social context. Gentiles were not invited into Jewish homes. Every contact between a Jew and Gentile was guarded carefully to avoid any “contamination” that the Gentile might bring to the Jew.

But in Christ, all men and women, boys and girls, were now on an equal footing. There was no longer any divide between Jews and Gentiles. In fact, not only was the divide abolished when the veil of the temple was torn in two at the time of Jesus’ crucifixion, but Gentiles were grafted into the family that heretofore had only been populated by Jews, with a very few notable exceptions.

Jews and Gentiles were now brothers and sisters in Jesus. And, this was a wonderful family bond that Christ had wrought through His unfailing, undying love.

As we go forth into this new day, let’s rejoice that we are a part of this great family of God. It’s a family that God has created out of all humankind. For it is God who has drawn those He has chosen to belong to Himself. He is the one who has chosen the ones who will become drawn irresistibly into His mercy, grace, and abiding love. We can rejoice that we are numbered among those who believe and who belong to God and to each other.

 

_{Copyright © 2018 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

The Seed Supplier

 

“Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.”

—2 Corinthians 9:10

The seed supplier is the one who gives the gardener or farmer the ability to plant crops and grow those crops to a successful harvest. The crop must begin with the seed. If there is no seed, there will be no crop.

In our lives as followers of the Lord Jesus Christ, we must have an adequate supply of the seeds of faith, hope, and love. We must have sufficient seeds of God’s mercy and grace. We must rely on seeds of truth from God’s written Word.

In each case, the One who supplies those necessary seeds is God Himself. He gives us the bountiful supply of every seed we need in order to love and serve Him with all of our hearts, souls, minds, and strength.

The Apostle Paul reminded the Corinthians of this with these words found in 2 Corinthians 9:10:

Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.

Our harvest of righteousness does not come from our good deeds, or good behavior, or good, well, anything. Just as God provides our salvation through His precious Son, Jesus, so God provides the necessary seeds that will produce a harvest of righteousness when we follow God in obedience.

This day, let’s praise God that He supplies the seeds that will grow a harvest of righteousness within us. Let’s thank Him that He is the One who gives us all we need when we are totally unable to supply what we need through our own efforts.

 

_{Copyright © 2018 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Why Did Jesus Come to Earth?

 

“For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”

—John 3:17

As the world watches with puzzlement and concern that so many Christians take the celebration of Advent and Christmas seriously, those same people ask themselves, “Why did Jesus come to earth? Why would God want to leave heaven to come to earth?”

A couple of years ago, our local newspaper had a full-page ad placed by David Green and the Green Family, the owners of Hobby Lobby. It featured a decidedly Evangelical Christian message about the birth of Jesus and His redemptive act on behalf humankind. Naturally, my heart soared upon seeing this unabashed testimony of God’s mercy, grace, and love.

But I am quite sure that many, especially those with a more liberal or left-leaning or progressive religious, political, social, and economic persuasion were deeply offended when they read that full-page ad. I am sad that they would feel this way. It seems as if, in the minds of such people, the Freedom of Speech only applies to secular, progressive speech and not to speech uttered by religious and social Conservatives.

But, the ad does bear on the question, “Why did Jesus come to earth?” Jesus explained in His own words, as recorded in John 3:17:

“For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”

God’s intent was to provide a sinless substitute who would die in our behalf. By having a holy and sinless sacrifice to pay the penalty for our sin, God made a distinct choice to reconcile us to Himself.

As we march toward the beginning of another new year, let’s not forget the great challenge we have in clearly, yet tenderly, explaining the purpose of Jesus and the reason why we lovingly share the hope He has placed in our hearts.

 

_{Copyright © 2018 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Christ is Born

 

“In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world… And everyone went to their own town to register.”

—Luke 2:1-7

The miracle of the Incarnation continues to fascinate Christian scholars, as it has for centuries. Dr. Luke tells the story with straight forward elegance in Luke 2:1 and 3:

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria. And everyone went to their own town to register.

So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.

While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

God used His power to motivate the Roman government to move Joseph and Mary from Nazareth to Bethlehem.

As we begin another day, let’s remember that God rules over all the governments of the world including our own. Nothing happens apart from His divine permission.

We can rest in confidence that His protection will guard us and keep us safe. We belong to an eternal Kingdom that surpasses all earthly rulers and their kingdoms.

 

_{Copyright © 2018 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

The Most Precious Gift

 

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

—John 3:16

If you are a parent and you had a precious only son, would you give up your son to certain death in order to redeem the lives of other people you loved? Most parents would have a difficult time making that decision.

To some lesser—yet very important—extent, every parent who has had a child enter military service, or become a police officer, or a firefighter, has struggled with the reality that their dearly loved child might well die in service to the needs of their country or community. But, though death surely haunts all three of those professions, it is not a absolutely certain death.

When we consider the celebration of Christmas, we must understand the most precious gift that Christmas represents. Because God so loved the people in the world that He had created—people who had sinned and turned their backs on God, and because His holiness demands that a price be paid for that sin—God sent His one and only Son, Jesus, to become a human being and ultimately die on the cruel cross of Calvary to redeem all those God would draw irresistibly into His mercy, grace, and love.

I recently heard the December 22, 2016, edition of the “I’ll Tell You What” podcast on the internet from Fox News. One of the co-hosts, Chris Stirewalt, shared why he doesn’t hype the concept of Santa Claus to his own children. He explained that the idea expressed in the Santa Claus myth is one that, if children would only be good enough, Santa would reward them by bringing them presents. Mr. Stirewalt stated that this concept is antithetical to the real meaning of Christmas, which is God so loved sinners—people who, on their own, could never be “good enough”—that He sent His only Son to die in their place and bring them salvation.

To say the least, I was impressed with this statement. And, my already growing esteem for Chris Stirewalt jumped a few more notches upward.

The real meaning of Christmas is captured in our Lord’s own words, recorded in John 3:16:

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

As we celebrate the birth of our King, and eagerly await His return, let’s not lose sight of this most precious gift that God has given us through His one and only Son, Jesus.

Georg Friedrich Händel expressed this most precious gift in this way from his famous Oratorio, Messiah:

 

_{Copyright © 2018 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

He was There at the Beginning

 

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

—John 1:1

The Trinity is beyond our ability to fully comprehend. The concept that God exists in three distinct persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—and yet exists as One being. The “Three in One” has troubled people for many ages past. There is nothing like this in all of our human experience.

Oh, people have tried to explain this reality by comparing God to water that can exist as a liquid, solid, and a gas. But, the same water cannot exist simultaneously in all three of those states. So, the analogy falls apart. We simply have to accept that the Triune God is beyond our comprehension. Accepting the reality of the Trinity is truly an act of faith.

We see ample evidence of the Trinity. For example from Genesis 1:26 where the Scripture records:

Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”

The use of the plural pronouns “us” and “our” illustrates the “three-in-one” nature of God. The creation of humankind was a joint effort, as was all of creation. Yet, who can fathom that while three are present in distinction, the three are also one eternal being?

Speaking of the pedigree of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Apostle John begins his gospel with these words found in John 1:1:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

So, our Savior was not only present at creation, He was an active participant because He is, in fact, God. Yes, He is the Son of God. But, He is also God.

We frequently sing the hymn by Reginald Heber, “Holy, Holy, Holy,” which contains these words:

Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
Early in the morning our song shall rise to Thee;
Holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty!
God in three Persons, blessed Trinity!

Holy, holy, holy! All the saints adore Thee,
Casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea;
Cherubim and seraphim falling down before Thee,
Who was, and is, and evermore shall be.

Holy, holy, holy! though the darkness hide Thee,
Though the eye of sinful man Thy glory may not see;
Only Thou art holy; there is none beside Thee,
Perfect in power, in love, and purity.

Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
All Thy works shall praise Thy Name, in earth, and sky, and sea;
Holy, holy, holy; merciful and mighty!
God in three Persons, blessed Trinity!

As we continue to celebrate the Season of Advent, let’s rejoice that our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, is both the Son of God and also, simultaneously and completely, God, as well.

 

_{Copyright © 2018 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

A Generous Command

 

“Command them [the rich] to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.”

—1 Timothy 6:18

Christmas is a time of year where people’s minds and hearts turn towards giving. That’s why so many charities and other non-profit organizations make a concerted effort to attract donors during this time of the year.

But giving should be something we do generously all year long. Of course, not everyone has the means to give large sums of money to charity. But, even with the most meager resources, it is good to give as much as one can spare. Remember the story of the widow’s offering—often referred to as “the widow’s mite”—found in Luke 21:1-4:

As Jesus looked up, he saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. “Truly I tell you,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”

Generosity is not an option for “Christ’s-ones.” We must become such good stewards of the resources that God has given us that we are able to give generously whenever the Holy Spirit moves us to do so.

The Apostle Paul offered these instructions to his “son in the faith,” as found in 1 Timothy 6:18:

Command them [the rich] to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.

When God has uniquely blessed certain individuals with an abundance, He expects those so blessed to give generously. So, at this special time of year, let’s examine whether we are willing to help others by sharing with them what God has given to us.

 

_{Copyright © 2018 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

He Dwelt Among Us

 

“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

—John 1:14

Just seven days from now, as we move through the Season of Advent, we will come to the day when we will celebrate the Incarnation of the Son of God. The Lord Jesus Christ was sent to earth by His Father in order to take on our human flesh, live a godly, sinless life in this world, and ultimately give His life on a cruel Roman cross of torture and death. By so doing, Jesus became the fully sufficient, once-and-for-all sacrifice for our sins.

Jesus was buried. And, on the third day, He rose from the dead, conquering sin, death, and Satan. After forty more days of fellowship with His disciples, Jesus ascended into heaven where He now sits at the right hand of His Father, ever making intercession for us.

In the musical review, For Heaven’s Sake, Helen Kromer begins a song with these words, sung by a baritone soloist:

I’m nothing, I’m nobody, no one.
But Someone made something of me.
He put on my flesh.
And he walked in my bones.
And he saw all the grief that I see.

That is the essence of the Incarnation. Jesus took on human flesh in order to become the One sinless man who could finally become a blameless sacrifice for all other men and women who had ever lived and who ever would live.

The Apostle John described the Incarnation this way in John 1:14:

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

As we move ever closer to the time when we will celebrate this holy—yet joyful—day, let’s remember that through Jesus our sins are forgiven. As we respond to the wooing of the Holy Spirit, who draws us irresistibly into God’s mercy, grace, and love, we can truly rejoice that Jesus paid the full price to redeem us. We are free from the penalty of sin. Once we belonged to sin. But, now we belong to Jesus.

Philip Doddridge wrote these words to a hymn published in 1755:

O happy day, that fixed my choice
On Thee, my Savior and my God!
Well may this glowing heart rejoice,
And tell its raptures all abroad.

Refrain: Happy day, happy day,
When Jesus washed my sins away!
He taught me how to watch and pray,
And live rejoicing every day:
Happy day, happy day,
When Jesus washed my sins away!

 

_{Copyright © 2018 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

From the Least

 

“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.”

—Micah 5:2

Sometimes, the most precious and powerful gift can come from the least likely source or location. If you look at the biographies of some of the great men and women who have had an overwhelmingly significant positive impact on our nation, you will find that many of these individuals came from families, circumstances, or locales that might genuinely be considered unlikely sources of such greatness.

No person has had more of an impact on the early success of freed slaves than George Washington Carver. Born under slavery in Missouri, his family became free as a result of the Emancipation Proclamation issued by President Abraham Lincoln. As Carver grew to adulthood, he recognized the plight of southern farmers who had far too long relied solely on cotton to provide a major source of income. He suggested several other far more lucrative crops, including peanuts, that would eventually help thousands of newly freed slaves rise from sharecropping poverty to heights they would never have dreamed. Out of a very humble beginning, came a man who would change the world.

As we consider this Season of Advent, we must also recognize that the Incarnation of God’s one and only Son, Jesus, came at place considered lowly and unimportant. The Prophet Micah had shared these words, found in Micah 5:2, hundreds of years before the birth of the Christ child:

But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.

When we consider our own lives and spend time to carefully examine who we are, we need to put aside any fears we have that we are too unimportant to really matter. It is God who determines who’s important. He chooses to use those who are willing, ready, and able to be used no matter who we are or from where we have come.

Take comfort this day from the reality that God doesn’t care about our origins or our pedigree. He chooses to use those who offer themselves as living sacrifices day after day on behalf of His Kingdom. Just as our Savior came from an insignificant place, born into an insignificant family, who we are or from where we’ve come means little to the God who chose us, before the foundation of the earth, to belong to Himself.

 

_{Copyright © 2018 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

To Rescue Us from the Hand of Our Enemies

 

“Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come to his people… to rescue us from the hand of our enemies…”

—Luke 1:68a, 74a

Do you believe you have any enemies?

I have often said—in reference to people who have launched an attack against me, particularly within the church:

I do not have anyone in my life that I consider my enemy. But, I do seem to have people in my life who have chosen to make me their enemy.

That distinction is important to me. I want to meet all people on a level ground. I also realize that some individuals, for a variety of reasons, have made a conscious choice to view me as their enemy. By treating me as someone hateful, they have chosen to make me their enemy.

The truth is that we all have at least one enemy: Satan. Satan desires to destroy us (1 Peter 5:8). Fortunately, as we consider this Season of Advent, we celebrate the coming of One who conquers our enemy and totally neutralizes that enemy’s power.

As recorded in Luke 1:68-79, the Priest Zechariah—who was married to Mary’s cousin, Elizabeth—prophesied:

“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 (as he said through his holy prophets of long ago), salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us—to show mercy to our ancestors and to remember his holy covenant, the oath he swore to our father Abraham: 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.

“And you, my child (John the Baptist), will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him, to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, 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.”

Jesus came to earth to “rescue us from the hand of our enemies”—especially the powers of darkness led by Satan. On every occasion where Satan wants to see us defeated and destroyed, Jesus steps in and guards us by the Presence of the Holy Spirit within us.

Part of the joy we can experience this day, and every day, is the knowledge that we are under divine protection from the forces of evil. We don’t need a StarWars Resistance to protect us. Nor do we need to concoct a “Resistance Movement” of our own to guard us from an attack.

We have the power of the living Lord Jesus Christ to guard and guide us, to protect and save us, to keep and nurture us, to grow and strengthen us along the pathways of our lives. That is a real and vital part of the good news of this Season of Advent.

 

_{Copyright © 2018 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

A Cherished Greeting

 

“Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ…”

—Galatians 1:4

Do you enjoy receiving Christmas cards and letters? I greatly enjoy reading the greetings from friends and family. And, while I understand some people don’t like Christmas letters that tell of a family’s events over the past year, I enjoy reading these missives very much. In fact, I look forward with great anticipation to see what arrives in each day’s mail delivery.

Imagine if you were a Christian in one of the early churches and you suddenly found a letter waiting for you from the man who had so significantly contributed to your personal spiritual formation and to the growth and vitality of your local church. That’s how the Galatians felt when they received a letter from the Apostle Paul.

A significant part of their excitement was elevated when they read the very first words of greeting that Paul wrote to them, as recorded in Galatians 1:4-5:

Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

My! What a cherished greeting this was. Paul gave them a blessing, as well as stating a reason for them to praise God. And, he did this all in a few short words. Nothing could encourage these new Christians more than to have their spiritual mentor offer a blessing of God’s grace and peace.

You must remember that these believers lived in very troubled times. Rome had conquered most of the then-know world. The Roman rule was harsh and relentless in taking money from their captives in order to continue the many construction projects in Rome. To think that, in the midst of such chaos, someone would offer them words of comfort and encouragement was a blessing beyond belief.

We live in a world that has its own unique kind of harshness. And, that harshness has certainly increased over the course my life. So, words of comfort, encouragement, and peace mean all the more in these troubled days.

Wait! I have an idea!

Why don’t you and I, as followers of Jesus, make it a point to spread words of encouragement, comfort, joy, and peace to everyone who crosses our pathway this Christmas season? I think we could actually make a difference in someone’s life. While many people are feeling heartbroken and discouraged, we could bring a moment or two of genuine joy into their otherwise darkened existence.

I’m up for this. How about you?

 

_{Copyright © 2018 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Nothing is Hidden from God

 

“You know my folly, O God; my guilt is not hidden from you.”

—Psalm 69:5

One of the classic ways that moms and dads try to corral their children’s behavior is to admonish them, “Remember: God is watching what you do!”

While that statement is true, for God is everywhere present and knows and sees all things, He is not a hall monitor or cafeteria guardian. He is not sitting on His throne in heaven watching to see what bad things we will do next. Quite to the contrary, when He looks on the lives of those He has called to Himself—“Christ’s-ones” or Christians—He sees us as redeemed by the shed blood of His one and only Son, Jesus. The Presence of the indwelling Holy Spirit gives us a “marking” that God sees as a symbol of His mercy, grace, and abiding love.

King David understood this. David was not a perfect man. Though called by God and marked by God’s hand on David’s life, there were a number of significant occasions when David was not the obedient servant God may have desired. Nevertheless, David knew that he belonged to God. That’s what prompted David to write these words found in Psalm 69:5-6:

You know my folly, O God; my guilt is not hidden from you. May those who hope in you not be disgraced because of me, O Lord, the Lord Almighty; may those who seek you not be put to shame because of me, O God of Israel.

Here David sings a song that we could very easily sing ourselves. He acknowledges God’s “knowing”—God’s knowing all about David’s actions. Yet, David’s concern is that his behavior will not lead anyone astray. He does not want the shame that he feels for his sins to become a barrier to others.

In this world of darkness, and in a society where evil is often cloaked as “normal” and “cool,” we must long, as David did, to live in such a way that the shame we feel for what we do wrong will not impede anyone who might be drawn to God. That’s quite a challenge in this day and age. But, it’s one that we must embrace. After all, as Christ’s ambassadors, we need to set aside our own selfish desires and seek only to live in such a way that will bring glory to Him.

 

_{Copyright © 2018 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

He Shares in Our Humanity

 

“Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity…”

—Hebrews 2:5-18

The miracle of the Incarnation causes such wonder and amazement among those who believe in the life-transforming power of the living Lord Jesus Christ. The miracle of the Incarnation causes such skepticism, rejection, scorn, and mockery on the part of those who do not believe.

The very idea that one of the three persons of the Trinity, God the Son, would come to earth, be born as a baby, and live here in subjection to all of the temptation and troubles of this world simply boggles the mind. Yet, the Incarnation is a foundational truth throughout both the Old Testament and the New Testament of Holy Scripture.

The writer to the Jewish people across the then-known world who had accepted the fact that Jesus was, indeed, their Messiah, explained the miracle of the Incarnation in the most vivid imagery possible when he wrote these words found in Hebrews 2:5-18:

It is not to angels that he has subjected the world to come, about which we are speaking. But there is a place where someone has testified:

“What is mankind that you are mindful of them, a son of man that you care for him? You made them a little lower than the angels; you crowned them with glory and honor and put everything under their feet.”

In putting everything under them, God left nothing that is not subject to them. Yet at present we do not see everything subject to them. But we do see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.

In bringing many sons and daughters to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through what he suffered. Both the one who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters. He says, “I will declare your name to my brothers and sisters; in the assembly I will sing your praises.” And again, “I will put my trust in him.” And again he says, “Here am I, and the children God has given me.”

Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil—and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham’s descendants.

For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

As we begin a new day, let’s ponder the reality that “God with Us”—Emmanuel—shares our humanity. Yet, He who knew no sin became sin for us (2 Corinthians 5:21). May God fill our hearts with joy as we consider the miracle of the Incarnation that leads to our salvation and to our eternal glory.

 

_{Copyright © 2018 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

He is Like Us

 

“He had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people.”

—Hebrews 2:17

The birth of Jesus, the Son of God, marks the end of the year with a celebration of glad tidings and great joy. More and more this event has become so secularized that it is very possible to move through this season and never think, even once, about the miracle of “God with us.”

For many people, the story of Jesus is viewed as a fable. Sadly, they don’t think of Him as a real person—someone who needed to eat and drink and function in every way as you and I do each day. But, Jesus was fully human, while, at the same time, He was fully God. That is the miracle of the Incarnation.

The writer to Jews who had embraced the gospel, in the years immediately following Jesus’ death, expressed it this way in Hebrews 2:17:

He had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people.

“The Son of God became a human so that humans could become Sons of God.” Thus writes C. S. Lewis in his marvelous little book, Mere Christianity. Jesus could not have been the perfect sacrifice to pay the penalty, make atonement, provide the propitiation for our sins had He not been fully human.

As we begin a new day during this Season of Advent, let’s ponder the wonder of this great miracle. We celebrate the birth of our Savior and we celebrate our expectant hope of His soon return. This God-man Jesus is our Savior, Lord, and King. But, He is also our brother, our companion, and our friend.

 

_{Copyright © 2018 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

May Your Hearts Live

 

“I will praise God’s name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving. This will please the Lord more than an ox, more than a bull with its horns and hoofs. The poor will see and be glad—you who seek God, may your hearts live!”

—Psalm 69:30-32

One of the reasons why we go out into the world as ambassadors of the Great King Jesus is to share with those who do not know Him the glories of our relationship with Him.

In so doing, we recognize that we do not deserve this relationship with God. We had no choice in the matter. Rather, before the foundation of the earth, He chose us to belong to Himself. In due season, He sent the Holy Spirit to speak to our needy hearts and draw us irresistibly into His mercy, grace, and unfathomable love.

The songwriter, Eugene Bartlett, penned these words in 1939, which I’ve shared before on this blog, that captures the truth of this great mystery:

O victory in Jesus,
My Savior, forever.
He sought me and bought me
With His redeeming blood;
He loved me ere I knew Him
And all my love is due Him,
He plunged me to victory,
Beneath the cleansing flood.

The words “He loved me ere I knew Him” talk about the uniqueness of a relationship where our Lover (Jesus) loves us before we even knew about Him. The Apostle Paul, writing in Romans 5:8, explains it this way:

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

So, we have every reason to share joyfully with others what God means to us and what He has done for us. In this way, we give glory to Him and also represent Him well to others. King David expressed it this way in Psalm 69:30-32:

I will praise God’s name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving. This will please the Lord more than an ox, more than a bull with its horns and hoofs. The poor will see and be glad—you who seek God, may your hearts live!

When God sends the Holy Spirit to one He loves in order to reveal what He has done for them, a longing is placed in that one’s heart. That longing causes the one God has sought to, in return, seek God. We know that God is “seek-able” or, as Isaiah puts it in Isaiah 55:6-7:

Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts. Let them turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will freely pardon.

So, as we begin this new day, let’s not hesitate to glorify God, knowing that such glory will be used by God to make the hearts of those He seeks, and who seek Him in return, to live.

 

_{Copyright © 2018 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

No Longer Mastered by Sin

 

“In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.”

—Romans 6:11

As believers in the life-transforming power of the Lord Jesus Christ, what is our relationship to sin? We know that we were cursed by the sin of our parents, which they inherited from their parents all the way back to Adam. Therefore, we were born already sinful.

We also know that as we have progressed through our lives, because the enticement to sin is built-in to our human nature, we have sinned over and over and over again. We are twice guilty: first because of our inherited sin and, secondly, because of the sin we have willfully committed on our own.

God has redeemed us—paid the penalty for our sin—through the death of His precious Son, Jesus. And, through the power of Christ’s resurrection from the dead, we have been given a guaranteed place in heaven for all eternity.

This prompts me to ask again, as believers in the life-transforming power of the Lord Jesus Christ, what is our relationship to sin

To answer this, we can turn to a very instructive passage of Scripture from the pen of the Apostle Paul. In writing to the Christians gathered in the newly formed church in Rome, Paul writes these words, found in Romans 6:1-14:

What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.

For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his. For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin—because anyone who has died has been set free from sin.

Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God.

In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness. For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.

Sin is no longer our master. As long as we live on earth in these frail and sin-scarred human bodies, we will sin. But, we can make a determined effort to choose to set aside as many besetting sins as possible. We can choose to not sin.

Will we still sin? Of course! We simply can’t help ourselves. But, we can sin less and less the more we give our selfish human will over to God through the power of the Holy Spirit who dwells within us.

At the beginning of this new day, let’s determine to follow Paul’s instruction. Let’s choose to set aside those sins that we can conquer through the power of the Holy Spirit and through God’s love and grace. Let’s also recognize what a tight grip many of these sins have on us.

Once we begin to devote ourselves to following Jesus with sincerity and determination, we will find that we can overcome a long list of besetting sins. Effort to do so will bring us a great sense of peace and joy. And, most importantly of all, it will please God that we love Him enough to make this effort.

 

_{Copyright © 2018 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

"Know that I Am the Lord"

 

“I will show my greatness and my holiness, and I will make myself known in the sight of many nations. Then they will know that I am the Lord.”

—Ezekiel 38:23

God shows Himself to us in many ways each day. Most of the time, because the focus of our attention is elsewhere, we hardly notice His divine Presence.

My dear friends, Dr. David and Karen Mains at Mainstay Ministries, have long ago developed a very well-thought-through reminder of God’s daily interaction with His children. They call it the “God Hunt.”

I’ve written about the “God Hunt” in this blog several times in the past. But, in looking at the Scripture for today, I am reminded of how powerful a tool the daily “God Hunt” can become in the lives of believers.

Basically, the “God Hunt” prompts us to look for God’s hand on our lives in the following specific ways:

1. Any obvious answer to prayer, or...
   
   
2. Any special evidence of God’s care, or...
   
   
3. Any help to do God’s work in the world, or...
   
   
4. Any unusual linkage or timing

In each of these four elements, if we watch the circumstances of our lives unfold each day, we will become aware of those times when God answered our prayers, showed He cares for us in some special way, gives us help to do His work in the world, or provides some unusual linkage or timing that obviously comes from Him.

We can’t really consider what happens to us in the course of our daily lives as mere coincidence. No, the evidence of His hand is there for us to see, if we simply sharpen our eyes and look for it.

The Prophet Ezekiel records a direct instruction from God in the 38th chapter of the Bible book that bears the Prophet’s name. This is one of the end-times passages that ties in so very well with the Book of Revelation at the end of the New Testament.

Basically, God is speaking through the pen of Ezekiel to remind His people that at the end of the age He will conquer all evil and will rule over the nations. The particular passage for today is found in Ezekiel 38:23:

I will show my greatness and my holiness, and I will make myself known in the sight of many nations. Then they will know that I am the Lord.

God will reveal His Presence to all people in all nations when this age comes to an end. No one will be able to doubt that God is the Lord. He alone will be worshipped. He alone will be praised. His children, Israel, and all those of us whom He has grafted in to the line of His chosen people, will receive vindication for our faithful devotion to Him.

But, as we continue in the here and now to walk daily in the Presence of the Great King, Jesus, through the in-dwelling power of the Holy Spirit, it’s important for us to sharpen our eyes, tune our ears, and focus our minds on becoming more and more aware of His daily Presence with us. Therefore, let’s determine to go on that daily “God Hunt” and look for those times when we can clearly see God at work in our lives.

If we do this simple task, we will be rewarded with a strong sense of His Presence and a great joy will overtake us when we realize that we truly belong to Him and live under His watchful and loving care.

 

_{Copyright © 2018 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Tremble Before Him

 

“Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness; tremble before him, all the earth.”

—Psalm 96:9

The magnificence of God’s holiness is so overwhelming that all who enter His Presence must bow before Him and even hide their faces from Him. Yet, part of the wonder of belonging to Jesus is that, as God’s one and only Son, we can stand in His Presence and experience the reality of God.

The songwriter, N. B. Herrell—in a piece entitled “The Unveiled Christ”—has penned these powerful words:

Once our blessed Christ of beauty
Was veiled off from human view;
But thro’ suffering, death and sorrow
He has rent the veil in two.

Chorus: O behold the Man of Sorrows,
O behold Him in plain view;
Lo! He is the mighty conqu’ror,
Since He rent the veil in two.
Lo! He is the mighty conqu’ror,
Since He rent the veil in two.

Now He is with God the Father,
Interceding there for you;
For He is the mighty conqu’ror,
Since He rent the veil in two.

Chorus: O behold the Man of Sorrows,
O behold Him in plain view;
Lo! He is the mighty conqu’ror,
Since He rent the veil in two.
Lo! He is the mighty conqu’ror,
Since He rent the veil in two.

Holy angels bow before Him,
Men of earth give praises due;
For He is the well-belovèd
Since He rent the veil in two.

Chorus: O behold the Man of Sorrows,
O behold Him in plain view;
Lo! He is the mighty conqu’ror,
Since He rent the veil in two.
Lo! He is the mighty conqu’ror,
Since He rent the veil in two.

Thro’out time and endless ages,
Heights and depths of love so true;
He alone can be the giver
Since He rent the veil in two.

Chorus: O behold the Man of Sorrows,
O behold Him in plain view;
Lo! He is the mighty conqu’ror,
Since He rent the veil in two.
Lo! He is the mighty conqu’ror,
Since He rent the veil in two.

This song so wonderfully depicts the fact that in Christ we meet God face to face. Our only reasonable response, is to worship Him. The Psalmist writes these words in Psalm 96:9:

Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness; tremble before him, all the earth.

At the beginning of this new day, let’s remain conscious of the fact that, in all that we say and all that we do, we worship the God who loves us and gave His Son as the sacrifice for our sins.

Let’s revere His Name, serve Him with devoted hearts, and lovingly and tenderly share what He has done in our behalf to a world who needs to hear this critically important message.

Here is a lovely version of the song I mentioned in this blog post.

 

_{Copyright © 2018 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

A Consuming Fire

 

Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our “God is a consuming fire.”

—Hebrews 12:28-29

Have you ever felt jealous? Or, has anyone ever felt jealous about you

Human jealousy is an interesting emotion. It derives from the sin of covetousness. One person wants something or someone that another person possess, or that they fear another person might take away from them.

In a modern junior high school, now known generally as middle school, some of the most violent fights occur between two females who want to be the girlfriend of the same guy. Of course, the guys love this. Most teenage males revel in the attention, strutting around school like peacocks. The very idea that two females might want them creates nearly a hormone overload. And, it should be noted that the jealous war between two teenage females has a gut-wrenching violence to it that stuns we older folks.

We think of jealousy as a generally bad emotion. Yet, there is something to be said for the positive side of jealousy. A husband may feel justifiably jealous if his wife seems to dote on some other male. Likewise, a wife may feel justifiably jealous if her husband seems to have an “office wife” with whom he communicates far too often—even when he’s not at work.

This positive kind of jealousy should promote a time for the bonded parties to sit down and have a calm, rational discussion about their marriage vows and responsibility to each other.

One of the beautiful passages in the traditional marriage vows is the phrase: “Will you love her (him), comfort her (him), honor, and keep her (him) in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all others, keep yourself only unto her (him), so long as you both shall live?” The whole idea in marriage of keeping yourself only unto your spouse is of paramount importance in this mysterious love bond that the Apostle Paul indicates mirrors the relationship between Christ and His Church.

The Ten Commandments given to the children of Israel in Exodus 20, clearly state that God expects His children to have no other god in front of Him, or in place of Him. That’s the kind of covenantal responsibility that we have toward this God who loves us.

The writer to the Hebrews emphasizes this covenant in the words found in Hebrews 12:28-29:

Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our “God is a consuming fire.”

In verse 29, the last phrase in the Scripture passage above, the writer of Hebrews quotes Deuteronomy 4:24. In fact, Moses, speaking to the children of Israel that he has led out of captivity in Egypt, declares in Deuteronomy 4:21-24:

The Lord was angry with me because of you, and he solemnly swore that I would not cross the Jordan and enter the good land the Lord your God is giving you as your inheritance. I will die in this land; I will not cross the Jordan; but you are about to cross over and take possession of that good land. Be careful not to forget the covenant of the Lord your God that he made with you; do not make for yourselves an idol in the form of anything the Lord your God has forbidden. For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.

The holiness of God does not tolerate the worship of any other substitute god. For whether that substitute god consists of one’s reputation, one’s work, one’s leisure activities, one’s house, car, or boat, or even one’s family or friends, nothing must substitute for the worship of the one and only true God.

As we begin a new day, let’s make certain that we only worship the God who loves us with His eternal love; the God who forgave our sins, because of His Son’s sacrifice on the cross. That God, and He alone, is worthy of our worship. Let us not put anyone or anything in front of Him.

 

_{Copyright © 2018 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Cheerful Admonitions

 

“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

—1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Quite frequently, in these unusual days, when I hear one person make a suggestion to another person, I also hear the second person respond, “Don’t tell me what to do!” Sometimes that phrase is said in jest. More often than not, it is said with a tinge of anger and rejection. People just don’t like to be told what to do.

Many years ago, I read a study published in the Journal of Psychological Research on why people in the United States, second-generation or greater, seem to so strongly resist the wisdom of others. The researcher posited that this somewhat rebellious spirit stems from the origin of our great nation. Because we rebelled against the authority of England, that sense of rejecting the guidance of others has become deeply rooted in our culture and in our society.

I encountered this societal enigma years ago when I served on an international code-making panel regarding fire alarm systems. The subject of installing a lock on the door of a fire alarm control unit came up in the discussion of possible regulations. The representatives from Japan were puzzled as to why it would be necessary to lock the door of the fire alarm control unit. They explained that, in Japan, no one would dare touch something for which they were not directly responsible. Thus, the fire alarm control units in Japan did not have locks on the doors.

We Americans were aghast at such an idea. We explained to our Japanese counterparts that here in the U.S., without a lock on the door, people would constantly mess with the fire alarm control panel rendering it inoperative.

How many people in the U.S. strictly obey the speed limit? How many people obey almost any of the rules and regulations without at least grumbling a bit? We just don’t want anyone to tell us what to do.

Sometimes, admonitions are very good for us. We need to heed such words. An example comes from the writings of the Apostle Paul. In sharing admonitions with the Christians in Thessalonica, Paul wrote these words found in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18:

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

We should hope that when we read Paul’s words we respond much more positively than, “Don’t tell me what to do!” Rather, we should take to heart these encouraging words and apply them to our lives as we begin another new day.

“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances.” Certainly, if we do these three things, we will reap a significant benefit.

 

_{Copyright © 2018 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}