Do Not Dwell on the Past

 

This is what the Lord says, “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.”

—Isaiah 43:16, 18-19

On the very last day of what has been one of the most confounding years that we have had to face in our lives, the verse at the beginning of this blog post is a good reminder that we must not linger in the past. God declared to the people of Israel through the lips and pen of Isaiah the Prophet that He is continually providing a new thing.

You see, God is the one who is always creating. Just as He created the world and all that is in it, so He constantly creats new and exciting possibilities for us. We do not need to linger in the past. Rather, we can always look forward, knowing that He is doing a new thing.

As this old year ends and a new year begins, lets cling tightly to the reality that God is creating a new thing for us. He has our best interest in mind. He will give us all we need to faithfully serve Him and bring honor to His name. Let’ forget the past and move forward, following the pathway that God opens up before us.

 

_{Copyright © 2020 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Take Heart!

 

[Jesus said,] “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

—John 16:33

Are you a natural overcomer? An overcomer is someone who takes everything that happens in stride and works his or her way through the difficulty, knowing that such a challenge is just for a season.

If you are not an overcomer, then you need someone to overcome in your behalf. Let me introduce you to the best overcomer of all time. His name is Jesus. In the Scripture verse at the beginning of this blog post, Jesus declares that He has overcome the world. That means He has overcome every negative aspect of this world. There is nothing that He has not faced and overcome. We have a quite accurate description of His ability to overcome in the four Gospels of the New Testatment.

In the previous two blog posts, I have shared some of the truths that underpin this concept that we can face anything when we recognize that God holds us in the hollow of His mighty hand. This blog post continues that same theme. But, in this blog post, we come to the understanding that we do not need to have the power in and of ourselves to overcome the trials in our lives. Jesus has promised to give us peace because He has overcome everything that may face us.

If I want to learn how to perform some task, it is helpful to either watch someone perform that task who has become an expert at performing the task, or at the very least listen to someone describe how to perform that task. When we face rough patches in our lives, we can learn how to move forward by remembering that no matter what we face, Jesus has faced that same issue and He has overcome it.

Each one of us can become an overcomer by allowing Jesus to overcome those things in our lives that we cannot face alone. Even if we do not believe that we have the strength or ability to overcome, we can rest in the reality that Jesus does have the power, strength, and ability to overcome anything that we must face.

 

_{Copyright © 2020 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Trust in Jesus

 

[Jesus said,] “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.”

—John 14:1-3

The Scripture verses at the beginning of this blog post are often used by pastors during funeral services. These words of Jesus intend to give comfort to those who may be grieving the loss of a loved one. The very fact that Jesus has promised to prepare a place for those He loves in a many-roomed mansion gives us hope for an eternity spent in His presence and with each other.

But, the very first part of this Scripture passage has real meaning for us in the here and now. It is in our best interest in every situation we face in life to trust in God and in His Son, Jesus. Nothing happens in our lives by accident. Our lives are purposeful and God is involved in everything that comes our way.

Whether we experience times of sorrow, or times of great joy, or even times that we could best describe as “so, so,” God stands at the center of everything that happens to us. He always has His purpose. The best action we can take in every situation is to trust in God.

For just a moment, think back on the events of your life. In the times when you went through great difficulty, did you not come through those times? And, if you trusted in God, didn’t it make it easier to move through the bad times? If you can answer in the affirmative, then you already know the truth that the verses above describe.

Maybe you are still in the middle of some difficulty. If so, trust in God. He will see you through this time into a better time. The more you put your trust in Him, the better you will feel and the brighter outlook you will have.

 

_{Copyright © 2020 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Rest-Giving

 

[Jesus said,] “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

—Matthew 11:28

Every person needs someone to listen to them. One of the reasons why so many people idolize their pets derives from the fact that they can speak to their pets, even pour their hearts out to their dogs or cats, and the pet offers no disagreement or argument. Of course, the pet offers no advice either. But, that doesn’t seem to matter to most pet owners.

Some people seek the help of a professional counselor, who will listen to them describe their innermost thoughts and feelings. Sometimes the counselor may offer advice. In many cases, the counselor simply listens and guides the individual toward self-discovery. In either case, the person receives assistance because he or she has someone to listen to them.

Ideally, in a marriage relationship, each spouse can speak to the other partner in the relationship and pour out his or her heart in a way that brings healing. Sadly, in far too many marriages today, this kind of intimate listening does not take place. This is one reason why so many marriages today fail. For whatever reason, the partners do not take the time to carefully listen to each other in a non-judgmental way.

In the Scripture verse at the beginning of this blog post, the Lord Jesus Christ welcomes those who belong to Him to come into His presence and set whatever burdens them aside, so that He can take that burden and help them carry it. Jesus is the very best listener. He is patient beyond comprehension. He always has our best interest in mind. He offers the best advice.

This is why it is important to set aside time each day to talk to God in prayer and read His written Word. This two-way communication gives us the ability to bear the burdens that afflict our lives.

It is also helpful to find a fellow believer in whom we can place our trust and share the struggles and victories in our lives. This believing friend can give us the kind of attention that we need to struggle with and overcome the negative forces that attempt to unwind our lives. It also gives us someone with whom we can share the many good things that God brings into our lives.

This day, be certain to spend time talking to God and reading His written Word. And, find someone you can truly trust with whom you can share your joys and your sorrows.

 

_{Copyright © 2020 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

A Son Is Given

 

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

—Isaiah 9:6

In the last several blog posts, I have shared my observations about how startling it was for the shepherds to hear the good news of the birth of the Messiah. Imagine for a moment, if you will, how equally startling it must have been for the Prophet Isaiah, who lived 700 years before the birth of Jesus, to receive from God the message contained in the Scripture verse at the beginning of this blog post.

The Prophet Isaiah had received many messages from God, which he had dutifully reported to the people in the Southern Kingdom of Judah. Living under the constant threat of capture by neighboring enemies, the people of the Southern Kingdom needed all the hopefulness they could obtain. So, the message that the Prophet Isaiah shared with them was filled with hope for the future.

As we celebrate the birth of Jesus this day, let’s imagine what it must have been like for the Prophet Isaiah to receive this news. And, let’ glory in the excitement and hopefulness this news brings, knowing that it has already happened and we, too, are the recipients of God’s amazing mercy, grace, and boundless love.

 

_{Copyright © 2020 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Exactly As They Were Told

 

They [The shepherds] hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby [Jesus], who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed… But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just exactly as they had been told.

—Luke 2:16-20/span>

Later, after the events described in the Scripture passage at the beginning of this blog post took place, the shepherds spoke to everyone who crossed their pathway:

“We couldn’t sit still. We couldn’t stay where we were. We had to get up. We had to start moving. We had to fairly run and run as fast as we could. We had to—we just had to go and see this miracle that the angel had told us about.

It was as if we couldn’t control our own legs. As fast as we could, we gathered our sheep and moved faster than we had ever moved before until we reached the stable where the baby was resting in a manger surrounded by his mother and father. We found them there exactly as we were told.”

I do not know when you dear ones reading this blog post first heard about Jesus. I can share with you that I cannot remember a time in my life when I did not know about Jesus.

I attribute this to the fact that, within days of my adoptive parents picking me up from the place where the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania had insisted I be sequestered for six weeks after my birth, I was laying in my mother’s arms in church. As I grew older and began to attend Sunday School, I had many wonderful teachers share with me about Jesus. So, it is no surprise that I cannot remember a time in my life when I did not know about Jesus.

Perhaps you, dear one, had an experience similar to my own. Or, maybe you first heard about Jesus as a teenager when one of your friends invited you to attend church with him or her. It is possible that you didn’t really learn about Jesus until you were in college, or maybe even as an adult. It is also possible that you did not hear about Jesus, or truly understand who He was, until you had reached middle age or even older.

Whatever your particular circumstance, if you are reading this blog post, it is almost certain that you are someone who at some point in your life came to know about Jesus. It is also very likely that once you came to know about Him, there came a time in your life when you realized what Jesus had done for you—that He had died to forgive your sins and to re-connect you with the God who loves you with His everlasting love.

As someone who sincerely believes in what scholars call “Reformed theology,” I believe that, if what I have written describes you, then in fact, you are someone who, before the foundation of the earth, God chose to claim you as His very own special child. I also believe that, at some point in your life, God sent His Holy Spirit to guide you to a place where you had the opportunity to come to understand the great gift of salvation that God had given you through the Lord Jesus Christ. I also believe that upon coming to an understanding of what God had done for you, through Jesus, you were irresistibly drawn to Him.

In response to what God has chosen to reveal to you about Himself and about His precious Son, Jesus, you have responded in the only reasonable way and have done exactly what God intended you to do. And, you continue to do that right up to this present moment. As you read God’s written Word, the Bible, you strive each day to do exactly what you are told to do.

When the shepherds had their encounter with Jesus, they went out from that experience miraculously changed. They had met the Son of God. Even though Jesus was a baby, His divine presence was so embued by the power of God that the shepherds went out praising God and telling others that they had found Jesus in the exact manner in which the angel had described.

That is one of the most amazing things about an encounter with the living Lord Jesus Christ. Once we meet Him, we find that He is exactly what we have been told. And, having encountered Jesus, we find ourselves overwhelmed with a desire to tell others what He has done for us, what He means to us, and what He longs to do for them.

And that, my dear ones, is the heart of the gospel. We have found good news of great joy. And, we want to share that good news with everyone who crosses the pathway of our lives.

 

_{Copyright © 2020 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Suddenly

 

[An angel of the Lord said,] “Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”

—Luke 2:11-14

In my blog post for yesterday, I shared some thoughts about how startling it was for the shepherds to hear the “good news of great joy” about the birth of our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. Even more startling to the shephers was the host of angels who joined the one giving the shepherds the good news.

Now, the heavens surrounding that Judean hillside were filled with the vast chorus of heavenly beings giving praise to God for what He had done in offering His one and only Son as an indescribable gift to the human race. Truly, the heavens were filled with the glory of God. In fact, we cannot comprehend how amazing this chorus of angels must have been.

I am convinced that they filled not simply the heavens surrounding earth, but they filled every bit of space in the millions of galaxies that God has created. The chorus of their praise to God for His matchless gift must have resounded throughout all corners of God”s creation.

As we celebrate the birth of Jesus, wouldn’t it be a wonderful event in our lives if we became totally consumed with the good news of Jesus’ birth? Wouldn’t it be an amazingly and overwhelmingly wonder if our hearts and minds could be so filled with gratitude that we would just break out in a great chorus of praise to God?

Let’s join with the heavenly host of angels who suddenly appeared and give God all the praise and glory we can find within ourselves. After all, Jesus is born. Our Lord and Savior is born. Our King is born. The One who loves us the most is born. He is born! Hallelujah!

 

_{Copyright © 2020 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Do Not Be Afraid

 

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “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.”

—Luke 2:8-11

In our modern age, we become used to receiving news that shocks us. Some think that we become so used to news that nothing moves us. But, this simply is not true.

News of a diagnoses of some dreaded health crisis can shake us to the very core of our being. The unexpected death of a loved one can strike us into a great ourpouring of grief. News about some world-shaking event can stun us. Even something that a friend might tell us can momentarily shock us.

Recently, I had been struggling with overwhelming emotions about certain past events in my life that I found very perplexing. Then, someone I respect made a somewhat offhanded comment that stopped me dead in my tracks. The person making the statement had no idea of the struggle through which I was going. And, the comment this person made did not even directly relate to what was grinding through my thought processes.

Nevertheless, a rather simple statement—an admission to a certain experience this person had had—nearly knocked me over. Instantly, I had insight into my own unrelated struggles. While I was grateful for the insight, the reality of how that insight had come to my attention truly startled me.

Imagine the shock that the shepherds must have felt when their quiet hillside was suddenly shattered by the appearance of an angel of God. It is important to note that the angel anticipated the shock this news might bring. The angel told the shepherds: “Do not be afraid.”

The news the angel brought them was beyond their ability to comprehend. And yet, the angel was right in saying that this news was most certainly “…good news of great joy.”

What news might shock us today? What message will cause us to stop and look around us that we might see the events of our lives in a new and exciting way?

As we contemplate what the shepherds must have experienced, let us rejoice that the good news of great joy has permeated our world, too. Jesus has come. He has been born, lived, suffered, died, rose again from the dead, and ascended into heaven so that we might become free from the penalty for our sins and have our relationship with God permanently healed. If that doesn’t shock us, likely nothing else will.

 

_{Copyright © 2020 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

The Time Has Come

 

While they [Joseph and Mary] were there [in Bethlehem], 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 room for them in the inn.

—Luke 2:6-7

In the Book of Ecclesiastes, we find this declaration in Chapter 3:

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:

a time to be born, and a time to die;
time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
a time to kill, and a time to heal;
time to break down, and a time to build up;
a time to weep, and a time to laugh;
time to mourn, and a time to dance;
a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
a time to seek, and a time to lose;
time to keep, and a time to cast away;
a time to tear, and a time to sew;
a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
a time to love, and a time to hate;
a time for war, and a time for peace.

This week marks the ever-closer celebration of the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ. For centuries, Christians have marked this occasion with an enormous sense of awe. The very fact that God would choose a virgin from a poor town in Galilee to become the human vessel by which He would introduce His one and only Son to the world, through the miraculous conception of the Holy Spirit, simply takes our breath away. So many questions flood our minds.

• How did God choose this particular time to fulfill the Old Testament prophescies about the coming Messiah?
  
  
• Why this particular young woman?
  
  
• Why this particular town of Nazareth when the Prophets has foretold the birth would occur in Bethlehem?
  
  
• How did God plant the idea in the Roman goverment officials’ minds to require a census so that Joseph and Mary would have to travel from Nazareth to Bethlehem?
  
  
• Why was there no room in an inn so that the baby would have to be born in a stable?
  
  
• What did Mary think when the shepherds arrived and later the three wise men?
  
  

So many questions arise. The Scripture passage at the beginning of this blog post states that “…the time came for the baby to be born.” Thus, the words of King Solomon rings true: “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven…”

As we begin another new day, and particularly as we contemplate the celebration of the birth of our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, we should keep in mind that all things—especially the things in our own lives—occur in a time determined by God. He is the One who holds our future in the hollow of His mighty hand. How fortunate we are that this is so.

 

_{Copyright © 2020 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Ever Thankful, Ever Praising

 

And his [John the Baptist’s] father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying, “Praise be to the Lord, God of Israel, because he has come and has redeemed his people. He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David, as he said through his holy prophets long ago.”

—Luke 1:68-70

Zechariah had been silent for nine months. God had taken away Zechariah’s ability to speak because of his reluctance to believe the news that the angel had brought about the birth of a son in his old age. Thus, Zechariah knew what it meant to be punished by the Lord for a lack of faith—a serious breach of obedience.

In contrast, upon the birth of his son, God restored Zechariah’s ability to speak. And, the very first thing Zechariah does is prophesy because of the filling of the Holy Spirit. The words Zechariah speaks are flowing with praise and joy over what God has done in providing a means of salvation through the soon-to-happen birth of God’s one and only Son, Jesus.

Zechariah’s own son, who would become known as “John the Baptist,” will play a key role in preparing the people of Israel to receive the good news that his cousin, Jesus, will preach. In fact, John the Baptist will die for expressing his unwavering faith.

As we consider how we will respond to the circumstances that invade our lives, we can learn from Zechariah that the best thing we can do is to bend our human, selfish wills to God’s divine and perfect will. Then, when we observe the miracles that God performs in our lives, we can give Him all the glory that is due Him. We can truly become ever thankful, ever praising.

 

_{Copyright © 2020 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Message in a Dream

 

An angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.

—Matthew 1:20-21

Joseph must have considered himself to be one of the most fortunate men on the earth. He had worked hard all his life. He had labored intensely to learn the trade of a carpenter. He had honed his trade until he had become recognized as a skilled craftsman and one upon whom the community could depend.

Joseph had faithfully worshipped in the tradition his ancestors had followed for countless generations. In fact, he was descended from the family line of the great King David. Even though he was a humble man, Joseph had within himself the integrity of the generations of those who had gone before him.

Now he was going to become a married man. And, he was fortunate, very fortunate, to have won the hand of one of the most beautiful young women in all of Nazareth. His wife-to-be, Mary, was a truly beautiful woman. Not only was she a joy to look at, she was skilled in all the qualities that would make her a most excellent wife and mother to Joseph’s future children.

Like the majority of young women in his community, this future bride of Joseph’s would come to her marriage as a virgin. The purity of her body was a reflection of the purity of her mind, heart, and soul.

In light of these circumstances, can you even begin to imagine the shock that Joseph must have felt when the angel appeared to Joseph in a dream and gave him news that would rock his world? His bride-to-be was pregnant. And, she had become pregnant by a means that no other human in the face of history had ever experienced. She was pregnant by an act of God through His Holy Spirit. The Son she would bear was not from the seed of Joseph. This Son was the very Son of God.

Joseph revealed the depth of his character, as the Scripture verse at the beginning of this blog post declares, when he responded to the angel’s appearance in the dream. Scripture tells us that Joseph did exactly as the angel had commanded him to do. Despite all of the criticism he would endure, Joseph took Mary as his wife. And, when this miraculous baby was born, Joseph gave the baby the very name that God had intended: the name of Jesus.

There is so much we can learn from Joseph’s example. Joseph bent his selfish human will to the divine, perfect will of God. When God told Joseph what to do, Joseph did exactly as God had commanded. That kind of obedience is exactly the kind of obedience that God expects from us. The question remains: are we willing to do what God instructs us to do?

 

_{Copyright © 2020 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Holy is His Name

 

Mary said, “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.… The Mighty One has done great things for me—holy is his name.”

—Luke 1:46

In the Scripture verse at the beginning of this blog post, Mary sets an excellent example for us. Upon receiving rather startling news from the angel Gabriel that she will bear the Son of God, Mary glories God, rejoices in Him, and praises Him for what He has done. Do you notice the pattern?

When confronted by anything in our lives, we do well if we follow Mary’s example and do the following:

• Glorify God
  
  
• Rejoice in God
  
  
• Praise God for what He has done
  
  

Following those three key suggestions seems relatively easy when whatever has happened is viewed by us as a “good thing.” But, when troubling events assail our lives, we naturally have more difficulty in following the wise pattern of Mary’s example.

But, stop for just a minute and consider the actual circumstances of Mary’s life when she receives this amazing news. First of all, she is a relatively young woman, probably an early teenager. While it was not uncommon for such a young woman to become married, nevertheless her age does play a role in the shaping of the circumstances in which she finds herself.

Secondly, while Mary has been betrothed to Joseph and will become Joseph’s wife, she has not had sexual relations with him or any man. The whole idea that she is pregnant by the intervention of the Holy Spirit of God is so outlandish on its face that Mary can likely hardly process this news.

How can she become pregnant when she has not had sexual relations with a man? Even though she has been told by the angel that the father of her baby is really God through His Holy Spirit, who is going to believe her? Won’t they think she has lost her mind? Surely, they will accuse her of lying.

“Of course,” they will say, “she must have had sexual relations with some man. This baby is the result of that sinful act.” She will be shunned. She will have harmed the reputation of this man to whom she is betrothed.

Even faced with these unusual, even unthinkable, circumstances, Mary makes a conscious choice to do something quite unique. She will exercise the opportunity to glorify God, rejoice in God, and praise Him for what He has done.

As we begin another day, when circumstances arise in our lives, let us not hold back from doing exactly what Mary did. If we follow Mary’s example, we will do very well, indeed.

 

_{Copyright © 2020 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Do Not Be Afraid

 

The angel said to [Mary], “Do not be afraid, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever.”

—Luke 1:30-33

The verse at the beginning of this blog post contains the greatest news that this world has ever heard. Mired in the depths of sin because of Adam’s disobedience, all creation hears the good news that God has provided a Savior through the birth, life, suffering, death, resurrection, and ascension of His one and only Son, Jesus.

The mystery surrounding Christ’s birth astounds us. We cannot comprehend how God, through the Holy Spirit, can cause a virgin girl in the poverty of Nazareth to become pregnant and bear a Son who would be born sinless and remain sinless throughout His life, so that He could bear our sins on the cruel Roman cross of torture and death. He would pay the penalty for our sins and for the sins of everyone who had ever lived and for everyone who would ever live.

In this Season of Advent, we celebrate the waiting and watching for the birth of Jesus. And, we celebrate the waiting and watching for His second coming to earth. The mystery surrounds us and grips our minds and hearts.

May this time of waiting for the fulfillment of all that God has promised draw us closer into the center of His perfect will for our lives. And, may the excitement we feel motivate us to share with others the great joy that belonging to God has brought into our lives.

 

_{Copyright © 2020 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

The Lord is With You

 

God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”

—Luke 1:26-28

I sincerely hope that you have enjoyed excellent health all the days of your life. Health is a very special gift from God. And, because of the sin curse that has fallen upon all of creation because of Adam’s sin, health is not something that we will all enjoy forever.

For most people, there will come a time in their lives when they will become ill and need medical attention. For some, the incident may be short lived. For others, they will suffer for an extended period of time. No matter the length of the illness, it is a fact that eventually we will all die. Our time of excellent health will end with a finality that seems shocking.

In the Scripture passage at the beginning of this blog post, an angel appears to a virgin girl named Mary. His opening line is electrified:

“Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”

This greeting of the angel intended to put Mary at ease for the startling news that would follow. Hearing such words from the mouth of a heavenly being must have calmed Mary’s heart and given her a sense of great peace.

Over the last 22 years, I have had a series of crises relating to my health. I have mentioned these in some of the nearly 1,900 blog posts that I have written in recent years. In several cases, I had to have surgery. Sometimes, the surgery was very serious, including one three years ago when I had to have my right leg amputated below the knee due to a chronic infection in my right foot.

Just before one of the very first recent surgeries that I had back in 1998, I can clearly remember how frightened I was as they wheeled me into the operating room. My doctor and the surgeon that he had summoned to help me had both warned me that the infection they intended to treat might well take my life. I was shaking in fear as the attendants helped me transfer from the gurney to the operating table.

Suddenly, I was overcome by a sense of deep calm. In the depth of my mind I heard these very words that the angel Gabriel spoke to Mary:

“Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”

At that moment I knew for certain that, whether I lived or died, God was with me and that He would always be with me. In the intervening years and numerous health crises, I have heard this same message in the depth of my mind. I know for certain that, whatever may befall me, the Lord is with me.

As I write these words, in the depths of my heart, I long for these words to become true for you who may be reading what I am writing. I very much hope that you will come to the place where you recognize that God is with you, too. Out of His boundless store of mercy, grace, and love, I pray that God will assure you of His divine presence in your life.

 

_{Copyright © 2020 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

A Sign

 

The Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.

—Isaiah 7:14

Have you ever found yourself in the midst of some adventure when suddenly you did not know what to do next? Then, as if your brain went into overdrive, you suddenly knew exactly what you should do. It was as if you received some sign that led you in the right direction.

That is the kind of experience that the Prophet Isaiah narrates in the verse found at the beginning of this blog post. God has sent the Prophet to speak to King Ahaz. Ahaz is the grandson of King Uzziah. One of the interesting aspects of the life of the Prophet Isaiah derives from the fact that he lived a much longer life than people of his day tended to live. So, Isaiah had the privilege of representing the word of God to several generations of the Kings of Judah.

(Just a reminder that in this part of the history of the Jewish people, the twelve tribes have become divided. Ten tribes occupy the land to the north and two tribes—Judah and Benjamin, along with most of the tribe of Levi—occupy the land to the south. Thus, we refer to these two political divisions as the Northern Tribes, or the Nothern Kingdom of Israel, and the Southern Tribes, or the Southern Kingdom of Judah.)

God sends Isaiah to speak to King Ahaz. The prophecy that Isaiah shares with the king contains the verse at the beginning of this blog post. From our place in history, we know that these words of God, spoken by the lips of Isaiah, refer to the coming of God’s precious and only Son, Jesus. But, to Ahaz’ ears, they sound like an encouraging event that might very well take place shortly.

The Kings of Judah were always looking for some help from God. The Northern Kingdom of Israel was a constant threat to the security of Judah. Those ten northern tribes, along with the hostile nations that surrounded this portion of the world, always gave the King of Judah reason to fear that his nation would become overrun and conquered. In fact, what would happen, as time moved on, was that the Northern Kingdom of Israel would be carried off into captivity in 722 BC and the Southern Kingdom of Judah would be carried off into captivity in 586 BC.

Hearing that God would provide a sign must have made King Ahaz breathe at least a partial sigh of relief. And, for us today, knowing that God had provided good news about the birth of His Son, more than six centuries before Christ was actually born, should give us comfort, as well. God loves us with His unfailing love. He sent His Son, Jesus, to die in our place to save us from the penalty brought on us by our sins.

During this Season of Advent, let us rejoice, as we celebrate God’s great gift to us through His Son. And, let’s be willing, even eager, to share with others what God has done for us because of His great love for us.

 

_{Copyright © 2020 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Listen to Him

 

The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me [Moses] from among your own brothers. You must listen to him.

—Deuteronomy 18:15

Have you noticed that in our lives we occasionally encounter someone to whom we absolutely must listen? I have felt that way on a number of occasions during my professional life. Here’s just one example:

Early in my career as a fire protection engineer for a major Highly Protected Risk (HPR) property insurance company, I was assigned to oversee the training of new engineers for the Eastern Regional Office that stretched from Maine, along the east coast, all the way to and including Texas. We had thirteen field offices in that region and accounted for 70% of the company employees, including nearly 270 fire protection engineers.

Part of my responsibility was to oversee the field trainers. Each newly hired engineer had been assigned to a more experience engineer who served as a field trainer. The advantage to this particular portion of the assignment was that I became very familiar with a large number of our very best engineers throughout the Eastern Region.

One field trainer came to my attention very soon after I began my new assignment. His name was Larry Davis and he worked out of the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, office. I can use his name in this account because, sadly, Larry passed away several years ago from lung cancer. I still feel his loss both deeply and personally.

Larry had begun his career in fire protection as a very enthusiastic volunteer fire fighter in western Pennsylvania. Following graduation from high school, he joined the U.S. Air Force during the Viet Nam War and became an Air Force fire fighter. Once his military career ended, Larry joined the Pittsburgh office and quickly became one of its most valuable fire protection engineers.

In every way, Larry stood out. He had a very friendly personality. He was distinctly sure of himself. He had a great deal of knowledge. He had a unique ability to share his knowledge with others. He was decisive. And, perhaps most importantly of all, he had the ability to motivate others to do the right thing.

I soon became exposed to all of these traits and began to wish that other field trainers had some, if not all, of the qualities that marked Larry’s life. As a result, I began to channel newly hired engineers to the Pittsburgh office for their training, hoping that Larry would give them such a solid foundation that these new hires would become excellent employees. This strategy certainly worked.

A few years later, I had the opportunity to recommend that Larry receive a promotion to the home office of the insurance company in Hartford, Connecticut, to assume the role of instructor in our nationally recognized fire safety training laboratory. It was a wise decision on my part. Larry blossomed in this role of added responsibility.

Now, all of our newly hired engineers had the opportunity to learn from Larry and become influenced by his work ethic, attention to detail, and vast knowledge of the science of fire protection engineering. In addition, countless thousands of individuals from our insured facilities and numerous governmental agencies had the opportunity to learn from Larry’s extensive background.

On one occasion, a newly hired engineer asked to meet with me in my role as Director of Loss Prevention Training. It seems that he had an encounter with Larry that had left him confused. This new hire had been taught some procedure in his field office that Larry insisted was neither efficient nor correct. The new hire wanted to know what he should do.

My answer? I told the new hire that he needed to listen to Larry. And, I explained some of Larry’s background, his superior knowledge of the field of fire protection engineering, and his significant number of years in implementing the procedures in the field office setting.

You may wonder what point I am trying to make with this account regarding Larry Davis. There are times in our lives when we need to understand that when certain people speak, we need to listen carefully to what they say.

The Scripture verse at the beginning of this blog post records a time when Moses spoke to the people of Israel. Moses told them that God would raise up a prophet like himself from among the people and that the Israelites should listen carefully to what that prophet said.

Bible scholars offer varying opinions as to whether Moses was talking about Joshua, who would succeed Moses as the leader of the people, or someone else whom God would raise up at a later time. Some scholars believe that God had prompted Moses to speak about someone that Moses would not even know, namely God’s one and only Son, Jesus. Whomever Moses was speaking about, the point is clear. The people were to listen carefully to whatever this prophet had to say.

In our modern 21st century world, God has given us His written Word. The Bible contains the words of God Himself, the words of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the words of God’s annointed Prophets, Priests, Kings, and Apostles. In each case, when we read the words from these God-ordained leaders, we should listen very carefully to what they have to say. And, all the more so, we should do what they instruct us to do.

How blessed we are! How very fortunate we are to have such a great number of individuals who speak to us today of the mysteries of God. May we show our thankfulness for these great gifts by giving careful attention to what we read in God’s written Word.

 

_{Copyright © 2020 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Hold On Tightly

 

[Jesus said,] “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.”

—John 15:5, 8

If you look closely at the photograph that appears at the beginning of this blog post, you will notice that each plant in the grape orchard has three distinct parts: the vine, the branches, and the cluster of fruit. The fruit depends on both the vine and the branches.

In the Scripture verse at the beginning of this blog post, Jesus shares with His followers an important truth. This teaching comes at the period of time immediately before Jesus will become arrested, beaten, crucified, resurrected, and ascended. He is trying to teach His followers very important truths to which they can cling when they experience watching their leader suffer and die for their sins.

Jesus tells us that He is the vine. He is the One who is planted deeply into the nourishing soil. He is the one who draws nutrients from the earth, along with the moisture from the rain that will give the vine its sustenance and strength. He also tells us that we, His followers, are the branches. We are the ones who draw our sustenance and strength solely from the vine. We are totally dependent on the vine—on Jesus—for all that we need to grow and prosper.

This intimate relationship that we have with Jesus allows us to grow and become strong in our faith. Totally dependent on Him, we prosper because of Him. It is by Him, and in Him, and through Him that we are ultimately able to bear fruit. And, the fruit that we bear because of Jesus will feed the world around us.

As we begin another new day, let’s experience joy at the realization that God has created an intimate relationship between us and Himself through His precious, only Son, Jesus. It is that intimate connection that gives us all we need to survive and thrive in this place where God has planted us. The fruit we bear for Him will come only as a result of our unbreakable connection to Jesus. Thus, all the glory and praise for what He does, in and through us, flows back to Jesus, who is the author and finisher of our faith.

 

_{Copyright © 2020 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

The Only Way

 

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

—John 14:6

To select the Scripture verse that appears at the beginning of each of my blog posts, I use an on-line service that provides a verse for each day of the year. So as to not become redundant with that service that some of the readers of my blog may use for themselves, I always choose a time frame several years in the past. That way, my daily choice of a verse for a particular day, will not be the same verse as that service is offering for the actual day of the month for this current year.

Even so, over the many years I have posted blogs, certain verses seem to appear at least once each year. This is the case for the Scripture verse at the beginning of this blog post. The verse found in John 14:6 is one that many students of the Bible often quote. It is a key verse in understanding why followers of Jesus have a very exclusive spiritual connection to God.

In these days of forced diversity for political and social engineering purposes, it is not at all popular to hold to exclusive beliefs. If we follow the cultural leaders of our day, we will adopt either no religion at all, or we will adopt the attitude that all religions are the same, and all offer an acceptable pathway to a relationship with God. The Scripture verse at the beginning of this blog post, which contains the very words of the Lord Jesus Christ, belies the cultural impetus of the current norms for our society.

Christianity, or at least orthodox Christianity, is a very exclusive religion. As Christians, we accept Jesus’ teaching in this verse that He, and He alone, is the only one through whom we can connect with God and have a relationship with Him. This belief disturbs many people, even many so-called Christians of a less orthodox theological position. Nevertheless, I choose to take Jesus at His word.

The exclusivity of orthodox Christianity can prove to serve as a solid bedrock upon which an individual may construct the entire theological formation of one’s life. It’s not that we hold other people’s faith expression in derision or disdain. Rather, we simply believe what Jesus said and hold securely to the truth that belief in Him is the only pathway to God.

I can’t discern how this particular verse may affect you. But for me, I derive a great deal of comfort from knowing that, through Jesus, I can have a vital and active and fulfilling relationship with God—knowing that He loves me and that before the foundation of the earth He chose me to belong to Himself. I hope that reality is true for you, too.

 

_{Copyright © 2020 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Resurrection Promise

 

[Jesus said,] “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

—John 11:25

Over the course of your life, how many people have kept the promises that they have made to you? If you’re like me, very few people have actually kept the promises they have made.

In fact, one of the most admired individuals I have encountered in my life was a person who often said, “I can’t promise you that I will do what you ask. You see, I very well just might not be able to keep that promise, or even want to keep it.” That person’s honesty, while a bit annoying at first, ultimately made me feel grateful that he had such integrity.

In the Scripture verse at the beginning of this blog post, the Lord Jesus Christ makes a promise to Martha, the sister of Jesus’ friend, Lazarus, who had recently died. Jesus will shortly raise Lazarus from the dead. But, His statement in the verse above comes in response to Martha misunderstanding a statement Jesus makes about her brother coming to life again.

As the verse states, this promise from Jesus applies to everyone who believes. That is to say, the statement applies to everyone whom God has called to belong to Himself through the sacrifice of His Son on the cruel cross. If we believe that God has sent Jesus to suffer and die in our place, taking on Himself the punishment for our sins, then the promise of Jesus’ statement will become fulfilled in us.

In the midst of these times of great stress due to the worldwide pandemic, we can rest in the assurance of Jesus’ promise. And, unlike most of the people I have experienced in my life, Jesus will keep His promise.

 

_{Copyright © 2020 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

The Great "I Am"

 

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

—John 8:12

No two words in our English language have more power than the simple phrase: “I am!” We first find an introduction to this powerful phrase in the story of Moses found in Exodus 3:1-15:

Now Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian, and he led his flock to the west side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. And the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush. He looked, and behold, the bush was burning, yet it was not consumed. And Moses said, “I will turn aside to see this great sight, why the bush is not burned.”

When the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, “Moses, Moses!”

And he [Moses] said, “Here I am.”

Then he [God] said, “Do not come near; take your sandals off your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.” 6 And he said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.

Then the Lord said, “I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters. I know their sufferings, and I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites.

“And now, behold, the cry of the people of Israel has come to me, and I have also seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them. Come, I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.”

But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?”

He said, “But I will be with you, and this shall be the sign for you, that I have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain.”

Then Moses said to God, “If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what shall I say to them?”

God said to Moses, “I am who I am.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘I am has sent me to you.’” God also said to Moses, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.’ This is my name forever, and thus I am to be remembered throughout all generations…”

Thus, the words from the Scripture verse at the beginning of this blog post carry with them the same power as the words spoken by God in the passage from Exodus 3. The very words of Jesus declare the power of God when He says, “I am the light of the world.” Jesus, the one and only Son of God, is the illumination that shines brightly into every dark corner of our sinful world. His light reveals every hidden thing. His light illuminates the pathway of our lives. His light penetrates into our sin-sick hearts and minds and reveals the salvation that He has provided through the shedding of His precious blood on the cruel cross at Calvary.

May we bask in the glow of His eternal Light. May His light grant us the ability to see clearly the pathway that God has laid out before us. And, may we be very quick to share with others who cross the pathway of our lives how wonderful it is to belong to the One who provides the powerful Light of the Great I Am.

 

_{Copyright © 2020 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Never Hungry

 

Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.”

—John 6:35

As you read this blog post, if you happen to be someone who regularly attends church, you will have encountered the sacrament of the Christian faith that we call the Eucharist or Holy Communion. Your particular church may celebrate this sacrament every time the believers gather for worship. Or, in your particular church, you may celebrate the sacrament once each month or on other special occasions. Whatever practice your church employs, you have likely become quite familiar with this sacrament.

Our dearly loved brothers and sisters, who worship Christ in the Roman Catholic tradition, believe that the elements of the Eucharist—the bread and the wine—become miraculously transformed into the actual body and blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. Almost every other Christian tradition has come to believe that the elements of communion represent Christ’s body and blood in an actual spiritual sense, but do not believe that a literal, actual transformation takes place upon the consecration of the elements. Whatever Christian tradition to which an individual may belong, the concept of partaking of a sacramental element that joins us to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ becomes a very precious and important part of our walk of faith.

To grasp the entire context of the verse at the beginning of this blog post, it seems helpful to understand that the event follows the occasion where Jesus fed the five thousand with five loaves and two fishes given by a young boy from the lunch his mother had packed for him. Let’s carefully read and meditate on the entire passage of Scripture from which this verse is taken:

On the next day the crowd that remained on the other side of the sea saw that there had been only one boat there, and that Jesus had not entered the boat with his disciples, but that his disciples had gone away alone. Other boats from Tiberias came near the place where they had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks. So when the crowd saw that Jesus was not there, nor his disciples, they themselves got into the boats and went to Capernaum, seeking Jesus.

When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you come here?”

Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.”

Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?”

Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.”

So they said to him, “Then what sign do you do, that we may see and believe you? What work do you perform? Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’”

Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”

They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.”

Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe. All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”

So the Jews grumbled about him, because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” They said, “Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How does he now say, ‘I have come down from heaven’?”

Jesus answered them, “Do not grumble among yourselves. No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day. It is written in the Prophets, ‘And they will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me—not that anyone has seen the Father except he who is from God; he has seen the Father. Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life.

“I am the bread of life. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.”

The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?”

So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him.

“As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever feeds on me, he also will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like the bread the fathers ate, and died. Whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.” Jesus said these things in the synagogue, as he taught at Capernaum.

Because before the foundation of the earth God has called us to belong to Himself, so we have the great privilege of partaking the sacrament of Holy Communion or the Eucharist. How blessed we are to have this opportunity to remember the life, suffering, death, resurrection, and ascension of our blessed Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who sits at the right hand of God the Father, making intercession for us. And, who has given us the Holy Spirit to dwell within us as our guide along the pathway that God has laid out before us.

Come, dear ones, let us worship and adore the God who loves us with His everlasting love.

 

_{Copyright © 2020 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

The Voice of God

 

In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe.

—Hebrews 1:1-2

In yesterday’s blog post, I wrote to you about the impact God’s Living Word—the Lord Jesus Christ—has had on our lives in these days through God’s written Word—the Bible. We could go to almost any church service in our great nation and ask the congregation if anyone has a testimony of what the Bible has meant to them. Many raised hands would indicate the pervasive power of God’s written Word.

In the Scripture verses at the beginning of this blog post, the writer to the Hebrew Christians, scattered about the then known world of the first century A.D., reinforces the very fact that God has sent His Son, the Living Word, to allow humankind the opportunity to hear first-hand about what He has done for us and what He wants us to do in response.

The question that every living human must ultimately answer: “Do you hear what God is saying to you?” For it is not enough to read the Bible and enjoy the stories of God’s interaction with His creation in humankind. Every human must consider how he or she will respond to the love that God has poured out on them through His Living Word, the Lord Jesus.

The hymnwriter, Albert B. Simpson, penned these relevant words:

Jesus is standing in Pilate’s hall—
Friendless, forsaken, betrayed by all;
Hearken! What meaneth the sudden call!
What will you do with Jesus?

Chorus:
What will you do with Jesus?
Neutral you cannot be;
Someday your heart will be asking,
“What will He do with me?”

Jesus is standing on trial still,
You can be false to Him if you will,
You can be faithful thro’ good or ill:
What will you do with Jesus?

Chorus:
What will you do with Jesus?
Neutral you cannot be;
Someday your heart will be asking,
“What will He do with me?”

Will you evade Him as Pilate tried?
Or will you choose Him, whate’er betide?
Vainly you struggle from Him to hide:
What will you do with Jesus?

Chorus:
What will you do with Jesus?
Neutral you cannot be;
Someday your heart will be asking,
“What will He do with me?”

Will you, like Peter, your Lord deny?
Or will you scorn from His foes to fly,
Daring for Jesus to live or die?
What will you do with Jesus?

Chorus:
What will you do with Jesus?
Neutral you cannot be;
Someday your heart will be asking,
“What will He do with me?”

“Jesus, I give Thee my heart today!
Jesus, I’ll follow Thee all the way,
Gladly obeying Thee!” will you say:
“This I will do with Jesus!”

Chorus:
What will you do with Jesus?
Neutral you cannot be;
Someday your heart will be asking,
“What will He do with me?”

 

_{Copyright © 2020 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

He Dwelt Among Us

 

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. 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 1:1-2 and 14

The Lord Jesus Christ represented God’s message to humankind. He is the Living Word of God. No message could have been given in clearer terms. His life, suffering, death, resurrection, and ascension all provide us with starkly drawn messages that lead us to the place where we understand exactly what God expects of us.

How fortunate we are that God not only give us His message in the Living Word, He also gave us a record of His message in the written Word—the Bible. As we read and meditate on God’s written Word each day, we have the opportunity of learning and understanding more and more about what God has done for us and what He expects of us.

For a couple of years at one time in my life, I had the distinct privilege of becoming a member of The Gideons International. This group of businessmen have dedicated themselves to placing copies of the Bible in as many locations as possible. As a part of their ministry, The Gideons receive testimonies from people who have found one of the Gideon Bibles available to them in some of the most startling of circumstances. The ones giving the testimonies tell of how, in their hour of need, God reached out to them through the Bible. The result was life changes so profound that they render those hearing the testimonies nearly speechless.

God’s written Word is powerful. And, it has become powerful because it tells the story of God’s interaction with His dearly loved creation, humankind, in and through God’s one and only Son, the Living Word—the Lord Jesus Christ. The story of God’s great love flows from the pages of the written Word into the uttermost parts of the earth.

It is reasonable for me to ask: “Have you spent time reading God’s written Word today? Have you taken a few moments to think deeply—to meditate—on what you have read? Have you sensed God speaking to you through His written Word? And, if so, what do you intend to do about what He has said to you?”

 

_{Copyright © 2020 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Everything Laid Bare

 

The day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives.

—2 Peter 3:10-11

“What kind of people ought we to be?” Said another way: “ Exactly what do you expect of us?”

Many years ago, during a training session at the insurance company where I worked, a program from the American Management Association entitled “Supervisory Management - II” posited that, more than anything else, employees want to know exactly what management expects of them. If you think about that concept for a minute, I think you will agree that it makes sense.

Whether one is dealing with an employment situation, or a marriage, or a church, or any other relational gathering of individuals, each person really wants to know exactly what is expected of him or her. It behooves those in charge to always do everything they can to make certain that everyone present in the relationship knows, in detail, what is expected of them.

In the Scripture verses at the beginning of this blog post, the Apostle Peter describes, for the benefit of those receiving his letter, what will happen when the Lord Jesus Christ returns to earth—an event that we commonly refer to as “The Second Coming.” Peter not only describes how the current heaven and earth will be destroyed to make way for the new heaven and hew earth, he uses this description as a motivator for the Christians to understand exactly what God expects of them in this current age.

Peter’s sage advice applies equally to us. Exactly what does God expect of us? He expects us to live holy and godly lives. So, whenever we look at the circumstances of our lives—the challenges we face, the lack of resources, the abundance of God’s blessings, the fellowship of others who follow Christ, and any number of other events or conditions that mark our lives—our behavior in the face of all this is clear.

God wants us to live our lives in a way that honors Him. He wants us to strive for godly living. Another way of stating that is to say that God wants us to live in a god-like way. If we study the characteristics or attributes of God, we will come up with a list that describes what it means to be god-like.

If God is loving, then we should be loving. If God is kind, then we should be kind. If God hates sin, then we should hate sin, particularly the sin that infects our own lives. If God is patient, then we should be patient.

In fact, the Apostle Paul gives us some keys to understanding god-like-ness in Galatians 5:19-26. As you read these verses, I sincerely believe you will find “everything laid bare”:

Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

As we begin another new day, let’s determine to follow the advice of both the Apostle Peter and the Apostle Paul. Let’s determine to live godly lives, moving always towards holiness, as we seek to become more and more like our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

_{Copyright © 2020 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}