An Act of Kindness

 

Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience…

—Colossians 3:12

Among the many other wonderful attributes of this special time of the year, Advent, Christmas, and the beginning of a New Year are all times of remembering. First of all, we remember the mercy, grace, and love of God that caused Him to send his one and only Son to earth, so that Son could ultimately die in our place on the cross of Calvary, bearing the penalty for our sins and the sins of all humankind. We also find ourselves at this holy season remembering loved ones who have died and other individuals who have had a profound impact on our lives. Please permit me to illustrate:

An obituary in the weekly newspaper from my hometown of Bradford, Pennsylvania, caught my eye. Michael A. Ross, 93, of Lewis Run, PA, had died on Friday, November 26, 2021, after a short illness. Mike Ross, I thought to myself. Mike Ross—he was the kindest man. He helped me when I needed help the most.

Mike Ross was my barber for many years. I can remember the very first time my mother took me to the barber shop where Mike Ross worked. He very gently lifted me up onto the children’s platform that he had placed on his barber’s chair. He talked to me in a soft, kind voice to calm my fears as I received my first professional haircut. I was probably four or five years old. It was a somewhat terrifying experience for me. But, Mike Ross made the time pass swiftly and as pleasantly as having someone cut your hair could be.

The incident that cemented who Mike Ross really was occurred during the summer that I turned seven years old. My mother had signed me up to take swimming lessons at the YMCA. As I have shared several times on this blog over the years, I had spent the first five years of my life in near isolation, except for Sunday mornings at church. An only adopted child, living in a neighborhood where there were no children on my side of a busy city street that was also a major north-south route, I had developed very few social skills.

In any case, my mother believed that I needed to learn how to swim. On the first day of swimming class, my mother and I rode the city bus from our home to the downtown area where the YMCA was located, just across the street from the church we attended. After registering me for the class, she gave me a little coin purse with a single dime in it. That dime was for my ride home on the city bus.

Swimming class turned out to be a terrifying experience for this isolated, socially awkward little boy. As I donned my swimming trunks in the locker room, I was told that I didn’t need to wear them. “We all swim naked here,” an older boy explained. I was horrified.

With some reluctance I left the locker room and entered the large room where the pool was located. Sure enough, all the boys were naked. I kept looking down at the floor. I was embarrassed and confused.

Suddenly, an older and much larger boy pushed me into the pool. It happened to be the deeper end and I couldn’t swim. After all, that’s what I was there to learn. I struggled in the water, gasping for air and swallowing the wretched chlorine-laced water. For what seemed like hours, but was only a few seconds, the instructor jumped into the pool and lifted me out.

Struggling to breathe, I ran to the locker room, crying in deep sobs, dried off and got dressed. I ran up the stairs and out of the YMCA. I ran to the bus stop. Then, like a slap across the face, I realized I had left my little purse in the cubbyhole where I had registered. I didn’t have my bus money. How was I going to get home?

The bus stop happened to be right next to the barber shop. With tears streaming down my face, I opened the door and spied Mike Ross cutting hair in the last of four chairs in the shop. He looked up, saw my tear-stained face, stopped cutting his customer’s hair, and walked toward me.

“Dean! What’s wrong!” he said in a soft, but concerned voice.

As best as I could, I tried to explain that I needed to get home, but I didn’t have the dime for the bus. Without hesitating even one second, Mike Ross reached into his pocket, pulled out a dime and gave it to me. He patted me on the head and told me everything would be all right. And, it was.

I got on the next bus and was home in fifteen minutes. My mother was very surprised when I walked through the front door of my house. I spent the next few moments tearfully explaining, or trying to explain, what had happened. But, the center of my story then—and today—was the kindness of Mike Ross, my barber.

I share this story with you because I want to remind myself of the kindness of someone in my life who helped me when I needed it the most. The fact that I remember this incident that took place in the summer of 1954, tells you how significant this act of kindness affected my memory.

Mike Ross was a faithful member of the Our Mother of Perpetual Help Roman Catholic Church in Lewis Run, PA. He and his wife of 73 years raised three sons. His obituary celebrates his life of service to his church and to his community. He continued to cut hair right up until one month before he died.

During his career as a barber, which spanned 80 years, Mike Ross gave thousands upon thousands of haircuts. But, I will always remember him for the time he showed a simple act of kindness to a frightened nearly seven-year-old little boy. My mother insisted that we stop by that barber shop the very next day to repay the dime that Mike had given to me. He seemed almost shy when he extended his hand to take that dime from my mother’s hand.

I am quite certain that Mike Ross would not remember his act of kindness to me. That’s what true acts of kindness are like: the person extending the kindness may not remember. But, the one receiving such kindness never forgets it. Oviously, I have always remembered this act of kindness.

The first phrase of Ephesians 4:32 states:

Be kind and compassionate to one another…

Down through these intervening years since that summer day in 1954, when I think of kindness, I think of Mike Ross. During this special season of the year—a time of remembrance—I am moved to pray that God will prompt each of us to extend kindness in the same way that Mike Ross showed compassion to me on that hot summer day so very long ago.

 

_{Copyright © 2021 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Total Accuracy

 

The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God …

—Luke 2:20a

There seems to be fewer and fewer sources we can fully trust. In our digital age, the internet can become a cacophony of inaccurate and deceptive information. It has proven itself to be a repository of outright lies and significant distortions.

God is the only One we can trust for reliable truth. He is the only One who speaks with total accuracy.

The shepherds discovered this after they saw the Christ child, as recorded in Luke 2:19-20:

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 as they had been told.

The shepherds discovered one of the most critically important truths regarding a relationship with God: things are always exactly as He says they will be.

In just two days, we will transition into a New Year. Let us remember that when God says something will happen, it will happen in exactly the way He describes. God is one we can trust for total accuracy. When God promises something, He will always prove faithful. Let us rejoice in that truth this day, and every day.

 

Based on a blog originally posted on Thursday, December 24, 2015

_{Copyright © 2021 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Let Us Go and See

 

“Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

—Luke 2:15b

When someone is told about a spectacular event, the natural reaction is a desire to go and view this occurrence first hand. Notice how the shepherds respond to the angel’s announcement, as recorded in Luke 2:12-18:

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 heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 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 at what the shepherds said to them.

When the Holy Spirit speaks to our inner person and reveals to us that we are sinners who have grieved a holy God by our sins, we begin to have a sense of deep sorrow. Next, the Spirit speaks into the depths of our hearts and reveals to us the gift of love and salvation from our sins that God has given us in His Son. It is no surprise that our natural reaction is to open our minds, hearts, and lives to God’s redeeming power.

As we celebrate the birth of our Savior and Lord, let us remember, once again, that overwhelming desire we felt when we first realized what God had done in giving us new life in Christ. Then, as people cross our pathway, let us urge them, in the most winsome way possible, to go and see Jesus. Let us share the mercy, grace, and love of God through Christ our King.

 

Based on a blog originally posted on Wednesday, December 23, 2015

_{Copyright © 2021 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Unlikely Recipient

 

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.

—Luke 2:8

When something spectacular happens in your life, who is the first person with whom you share your good news? Your spouse? Your parents? Your best friend? Or, do you stop strangers walking along the street and enthusiastically tell them the wonderful thing God has done in your life?

The most significant event in all of human history was the incarnation—the birth of Jesus. The one and only Son of God comes to earth in human form. To whom does God choose to announce this miracle of miracles? Dr. Luke records this in Luke 2:8-11:

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 that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.”

But, why make this most spectacular announcement to a bunch of shepherds? It seems as if they were unlikely recipients of this wonderful news. Could it be because the greatest of all shepherds had just been born? Did God choose these lowly, ordinary folk to hear such a glorious announcement because God does not show partiality? Did God want the first ones to come and see God incarnate to be the very ones He came to save?

As we celebrate the birth of Jesus, let us remember that He came to seek and to save those who were lost. That includes lowly shepherds, foreign kings, and you, and me, as well.

 

Based on a blog originally posted on Tuesday, December 22, 2015

_{Copyright © 2021 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Joy to the World, the Lord is Come!

 

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

—John 1:1

Each of the writers of the four Gospels gives a somewhat unique insight into the nature and character of God’s Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. It is instructive to analyze the points of view of these writers:

• Matthew writes to the Jewish mindset and portrays Jesus as King. Matthew’s portrayal of Jesus is like a richly textured oil painting, full of light and shadow.
  
  
• Mark writes to the Roman mindset and portrays Jesus as a servant. Mark’s portrayal of Jesus is like candid photographs that provide snippet views of the events in Jesus’ earthly life.
  
  
• Luke writes to the Greek mindset and portrays Jesus as a man. Luke’s portrayal of Jesus is like a motion picture that smoothly dissolves from scene to scene and captures all the intensity of the action.
  
  These first three gospels are what Bible students call the Synoptic Gospels—the story Gospels. They tend to weave a loose timeline of the events in Jesus earthly life.
  
  
• Then there’s John. Of the four gospel writers, the Apostle John offers the most penetrating view of Jesus. John writes to all humankind and portrays Jesus as God’s Son, or the Son of God. John’s portrayal of Jesus is like an X-ray examination of all the internal thoughts and motives of Jesus. Thus, there is more than a little mysterious flavor to this Gospel.
  
  

John writes about the birth of Jesus—the Incarnation—in a most unique way. Here's that account, as found in John 1:1-14:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.

In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

There was a man sent from God whose name was John (that is, John the Baptist). He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.

The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.

Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

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

John reveals many important truths in this passage. Among them is the startling revelation that not all humans are children of God. Yes, all humans do bear the image of God—the Imago Dei—and all humans hold access to the common grace of God. But, only to all those who “… receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God …”

Saturday, two days ago, we celebrated Christmas Day. We who believe have reason to celebrate. We also have an enormous responsibility to partner with the Holy Spirit in sharing God’s love and the good news of God’s salvation through His one and only Son. We want everyone whom God has chosen to belong to Him to hear of the great gift He has given them. Yes, it is a great mystery that has come alive in our hearts and minds.

Truly, with all the host of heaven, we can gloriously sing:

“Joy to the world, the Lord is come! Let earth receive her king!”

 

Based on a blog originally posted on Friday, December 25, 2015

_{Copyright © 2021 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Have You Any Room for Jesus?

 

She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

—Luke 2:7

God shaped the inherent humility of the incarnation of His one and only Son by having Him born in the most stark possible place. Here’s what Dr. Luke records in Luke 2:6-7:

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.

There was no room for the Son of God to be born in a proper setting. Thirty-three years later, the Jewish religious leaders would find no room for Jesus in their institutionalized religion.

The question stands for men, women, boys, and girls today: “Do you have room for Jesus in your heart and in your life?” The gospel songwriter D. W. Whittle wrote this challenging song:

Have you any room for Jesus,
He who bore your load of sin?
As He knocks and asks admission,
Sinner, will you let Him in?

Refrain:
Room for Jesus, King of glory!
Hasten now, His word obey;
Swing the heart’s door widely open,
Bid Him enter while you may.

Room for pleasure, room for business,
But for Christ the Crucified,
Not a place that He can enter,
In the heart for which He died?

Refrain:
Room for Jesus, King of glory!
Hasten now, His word obey;
Swing the heart’s door widely open,
Bid Him enter while you may.

Have you any room for Jesus,
As in grace He calls again?
O, today is time accepted,
You will never call in vain.

Refrain:
Room for Jesus, King of glory!
Hasten now, His word obey;
Swing the heart’s door widely open,
Bid Him enter while you may.

Room and time now give to Jesus,
Soon will pass God’s day of grace;
Soon your heart left cold and silent,
And the Savior’s pleading cease.

Refrain:
Room for Jesus, King of glory!
Hasten now, His word obey;
Swing the heart’s door widely open,
Bid Him enter while you may.

Evie Tornquist sings an appropriate reminder of what Joseph and Mary experienced:

 

 

 

Based on a blog originally posted on Monday, December 21, 2015

_{Copyright © 2021 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

An Inconvenient Journey

 

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.

—Luke 2:4

The prophets have said that God’s Son, the Messiah (or in Koine Greek, “the Christ”) would be born in Bethlehem. But, Jesus’ birth-mother lives in Nazareth, a significant distance in the opposite direction. How will God move her from where she is to where she needs to be?

That happens in our lives, too. God needs us free from our current circumstances, so that He can use us in some new venture. How does He accomplish His purpose? How does God disintangle us from the present and move us forward into the future that He has designed for us?

Dr. Luke records the lengths that God will go to do what He wants to do. It may not be convenient. It may cause heartache and distress. But, God will do whatever He chooses to do to accompish His divine purpose. Notice these words recorded in Luke 2:1-5:

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.

When God wants to accomplish His perfect plan, He does whatever He wants to do in order to move us to where He needs us to be. Sometimes this disruption to our normal routine is painful. But, in the end, God accomplishes His perfect plan. As hard as it may be for us to trust Him, ultimately trusting Him is always what we need to do.

Let us move out into this day remembering that God is ever faithful. Even when we do not see or understand His plan for us, we can rest in the fullness of His grace. God may have placed us on an inconvenient journey in order to accomplish His purpose. He will work in and through us to His glory. Therefore, without hesitation, we must learn to trust Him.

 

Based on a blog originally posted on Friday, December 18, 2015

_{Copyright © 2021 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Because of God's Tender Mercy

 

And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High…

—Luke 1:76

The gift of God’s Son, Jesus, to occupy human flesh and become fully man while remaining fully God, was an act of God’s tender mercy. You see, we deserved eternal death because we inherited a sin nature from Adam and then added layer upon layer of our own sins. But in His mercy, grace, and love, God provided the perfect substitutionary sacrifice in the person of His one and only Son. This gift of salvation through the shed blood of Jesus was an act of tender mercy.

In his prophetic prayer, Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist, explains the role God’s mercy plays in this salvation equation through his own son, as recorded in Luke 1:76-79:

And you, my child, 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.

The pathway of peace with God was provided by God’s tender mercy. In response, let us more and more become people who display God-breathed tender mercy. Let us intentionally reach out to those God brings across our pathway with mercy, grace, and love. Let us remember that apart from God's tender mercy, we would remain condemned and unforgiven for our sins.

 

Based on a blog originally posted on Thursday, December 17, 2015

_{Copyright © 2021 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

The Horn of Salvation

 

Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel

—Luke 1:68

If you live in the country or in a small town you may seldom hear the blaring of a horn. But, if you live in a major city, you hear the cacophony of horns all the time. In ancient times, the sounding of the ram’s horn signaled a call to get ready for battle. It also served to warn a portion of an army that had become surrounded by the enemy that reinforcements had arrived.

When God sent His one and only Son to earth, the maximum reinforcements came with Him. No longer was mankind battling sin alone. Jesus would once and for all seal our salvation on the cross. Notice what the father of John the Baptist prays when he learns about God’s plan, as recorded in Luke 1:67-69, 74-75:

His father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and 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 to rescue us from the hand of our enemies, and to enable us to serve him without fear in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.

By the power of the Holy Spirit, who dwells within the hearts and minds of all who believe, God enables us to serve Him and share with others His great love. Let us go forth into this day as instruments of God’s mercy, grace, and love. Let us allow the horn of God's salvation open up the path of obedience before us.

 

Based on a blog originally posted on Wednesday, December 16, 2015

_{Copyright © 2021 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Profound Obedience

 

…an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream…

—Matthew 1:20

Doing exactly what God tells us to do takes courage, determination, and willful strength. Fortunately, the indwelling Holy Spirit enables us to walk this pathway of obedience.

A prime, but often little noted, example of the best kind of profound obedience is reported to us in Matthew 1:20-21:

But after he had considered this, 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.

This was startling news to be sure. Yet somehow, Joseph trusted this word from God and, in profound obedience, did exactly what God told him to do. I sometimes wonder if we give Joseph too little credit. After all, Joseph raised Jesus in his carpenter shop to be a skilled worker. There is no evidence to suggest that Joseph ever treated Jesus in any way other than as a dearly loved son.

Joseph was a man of obedience. He sets a good and godly example for all of us who live as “Christ’s-ones.” Let us live in such obedience today. Let us bend our frail, misguided human wills to God’s perfect will. In profound obedience, let us serve God today and love Him with all of our hearts, souls, minds, and strengths.

 

Based on a blog originally posted on Tuesday, December 15, 2015

_{Copyright © 2021 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Respond with Praise

 

My soul glorifies the Lord…

—Luke 1:46

Nothing makes me smile more than the squeal of delight from a child opening a present. There is something about that unabashed joy that can’t be duplicated. And, such joy is surely contagious. Dr. Luke records that intense kind of joy expressed from the heart of a mother-to-be in Luke 1:46-50:

And Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me—holy is his name. His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation.”

When God intersects with our lives each day and reveals Himself, our hearts should well up with praise and fill to overflowing with great joy. The very fact of His unquenchable love for us, and the reality of His powerful Presence in our lives, surely give us reason enough to praise Him.

As we look carefully to see His hand at work in our lives, let’s be prepared to respond with praise this day and every day. Let’s let out our own squeal of joy because God loves us with His unfailing, undying love.

 

Based on a blog originally posted on Monday, December 14, 2015

_{Copyright © 2021 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

It is Impossible!

 

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

—Luke 1:28

Many years ago, an older man in my church at that time engaged me in a conversation. One of the things he wanted to tell me went something like this:

“You see, Dean, I’m a Christian, but there are certain things in the Bible that I just don’t believe. The virgin birth, for example. I just don't believe it. It's impossible!”

My dear friend, for whom I hold deep respect, has passed from this earth several years ago. I wonder if he continues to doubt. At the time of our conversation, he didn’t understand that, without the virgin birth, Jesus cannot be “fully God and fully man.” It’s a foundational truth of Christianity. The virgin birth simply cannot be an optional belief.

Of course, I’m talking about the event Dr. Luke records in Luke 1:26-35:

In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, 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.”

Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.

But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him 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 Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”

“How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”

The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.

What more can I say? Either you believe what the Bible describes, or you don’t. But understand this: without the truth of what Dr.Luke records, Jesus cannot be “God the Son.” So, the entirety of Christianity rests on the truth of these few words.

 

Based on a blog originally posted on Friday, December 11, 2015

_{Copyright © 2021 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Such Treachery!

 

Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared.

—Matthew 2:7

The Bible contains love stories, battle tales, mysteries, drama, and even treachery. Notice these words from Matthew 2:7-8:

Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.

We know of course that Herod lied. He did not want to worship this baby who came as an already-crowned King. No! Herod wanted to kill Jesus. Such treachery makes my blood run cold. Why, I haven’t ever experienced such treachery except—well, except within the church. That’s right, within the church.

The most singularly harmful experiences in my life have all been at the hands of godless pastors, godless elders, godless church members, and other godless individuals in the church who decided to try destroy me—without legitimate reason or just cause. It breaks my heart to admit that reality.

At the same time, I’m grateful and humbled to be able to say that in each case, without fail, God chose to protect me from the most damaging effects of these individual’s sinful attacks. Oh, I felt wounded and deeply hurt in my inner being, but certainly not destroyed.

There’s something about diligently striving to serve God for virtually one’s entire life that opens a person up to such attacks. But, God will always protect His own.

Pleases let me be very clear: I have long ago forgiven what was done to me. And, I have tried to guard myself to make certain what happened to me won’t happen to others under my watch. It’s one thing to attack me. It is quite another to attack someone else whom I have the power to protect.

Today, and every day, let’s determine to steer clear of any so-called “leaders” who bring a harmful and destructive spirit into our churches. Watch out for the leader who speaks ill of others. Don’s listen to the leader who speads lies or false rumors. Make certain that you demand information from first sources. Don’t allow jealous leaders to bring harm to the pastor of your church, or anyone else in your church, unless there is irrefutable proof of misconduct.

Let us constantly follow the instruction from Psalm 139:24:

…and see if there be any wicked way in me.

Then, relying on the unfailing leadership of the Holy Spirit, let us praise God that He protects us from treachery, just as He sent His Son to Egypt to protect Jesus from Herod’s bloody sword.

 

Based on a blog originally posted on Thursday, December 10, 2015

_{Copyright © 2021 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Wise Men Still Seek Him

 

…Magi from the east came to Jerusalem…

—Matthew 2:1b

A very popular Christian bumper sticker boldly declares the title of this blog post. In this post-modern, post-Christian culture, some women are offended that they have been left out. But, of course, they really haven’t been left out at all.

In the Koine Greek language of the New Testament, the word “men” often has the meaning of “mankind”—that is “male men” and “female men.” We should not let our own cultural sensitivities cloud the underlying message.

Wise ones still seek Jesus. As the Apostle Matthew records in Matthew 2:1-2:

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.

Yes, wise men and wise women, wise girls and wise boys, do still seek the Great King Jesus. If you have a longing in your heart to “love Him more dearly and to follow Him more nearly,” God has placed that desire in your heart.

Let us rejoice this day that we seek Jesus because in God’s mercy, grace, and love—before the foundation of the earth—God chose us to belong to Himself.

 

Based on a blog originally posted on Wednesday, December 9, 2015

_{Copyright © 2021 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

In the Fullness of Time

 

But when the set time had fully come…

—Galatians 4:4a

Have you ever waited for exactly the right moment to do or say something? Maybe you wanted to tell someone that you loved them very much, but you felt you needed to wait until the time was right. Or, perhaps you wanted to object to something that someone did or said, but you felt reluctant to speak for fear that someone will think ill of you. Maybe certain things needed to happen before you could take your planned course of action. You knew exactly what you intended to do. Still, you needed confirmation that the right moment to act had arrived.

From before the foundation of the earth, God knew He would send His one and only Son, Jesus, to be the Savior of everyone God had chosen to belong to Himself. But, God also knew the time had to be exactly right before He sent His Son to save us. The Apostle Paul explains this in Galatians 4:4-5:

But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship.

Frquently, authors have stated: “Timing is everything.” That statement seems to ring true. Many things in life depend on variables converging at just the right moment. How fortunate we are that God’s love for us never changes. The timing of His mercy, grace, and love is always perfect.

Let us celebrate God’s faithfulness this day, knowing that when the time is right—in the fullness of time—He always does exactly what He intends to do.

 

Based on a blog originally posted on Tuesday, December 8, 2015

_{Copyright © 2021 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

The God of the Impossible

 

…the Lord himself will give you a sign…

—Isaiah 7:14a

Many times Scripture records impossible situations in which God acts to the benefit of His people. Here’s one example from Isaiah 7:14:

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.

The Prophet Isaiah is writing this approximately 700 years before the birth of Jesus. These words of the Prophet represent a seemingly impossible prediction to be sure. And yet, that is exactly what happened.

At the appointed time, God sent His precious Son to earth in the form of a human baby. That baby grew to manhood and eventually died a terrible death on a Roman cross of torture. In obedience to His Father’s command, Jesus sacrificed His life. He did so, in order to satisfy the penalty required to cover the sins of all humankind. This was the only way that the sins could be forgiven, in order to restore humankind’s relationship with a holy God. It took the spotless Lamb of God to take away the sins of the world.

Our God is the God of the Impossible. No matter what we may need in our lives today—not want, but truly need—God will loving supply that need. If it seems impossible, then we can absolutely count on the fact that He is the One who can make it happen.

 

Based on a blog originally posted on Monday, December 7, 2015

_{Copyright © 2021 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Then, Jesus Came

 

The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet

—Deuteronomy 18:15

The love of God for those He has chosen to belong to Himself plays out so clearly across the span of history. Notice this account described in Deuteronomy 18:15-18:

The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your fellow Israelites. You must listen to him.

For this is what you asked of the Lord your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly when you said, “Let us not hear the voice of the Lord our God nor see this great fire anymore, or we will die.”

The Lord said to me: “What they say is good. I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their fellow Israelites, and I will put my words in his mouth. He will tell them everything I command him.

So, from this time forward and for hundreds of years, God did exactly as the people asked. Because they were afraid to face God’s awesome power directly, He spoke to them through His prophets that He provided. But this did not last. Because, in a miracle of God’s mercy, grace, and love, He sent His one and only Son to earth in the form of a human baby—fully God and fully man. The birth of Jesus changed everything!

Now mankind would have a direct contact with God through His Son. Before this, humans needed to hear from God’s anointed prophet. Now, Jesus will serve forever as Prophet, Priest, and King.

Not only will Jesus live on this earth inside a human body, He will suffer and die in the place of humankind on the cruel cross of Calvary. He will be buried in a borrowed tomb. Then, on the third day, He will rise from the dead. Forty days later, He will ascend to heaven, and sit down at God’s right hand, where Jesus will make intercession on behalf of those humans whom God has chosen to belong to Himself.

Yes, everything was moving along the pathway of history. Then, Jesus came. And, nothing would ever be the same again.

In 1992, at the age of 83, George Beverly Shea sang a powerful gospel song at the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association’s Philadelphia Crusade. As we listen to Bev Shea sing, let’s allow a sense of thankfulness rise up in our hearts.

 

 

 

Based on a blog originally posted on Friday, December 4, 2015

_{Copyright © 2021 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Revealed by the Holy Spirit

 

What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard…

—1 Corinthians 2:9a

Do you like mysteries? I do—as long as the solution to the mystery is revealed at the end of the story. I don’t like mysteries that leave me hanging without a nice wrapped-up ending.

I delight in reading mystery novels. I greatly enjoy police procedural television programs. Both of these appeal to my sense of justice. You see, in the end, I want the good guys to win and I want to see the bad guys punished. I don’t at all like mysteries that remain unsolved.

In real life, not all mysteries become revealed. I have a mental list of several events in my life that remain a bit of a mystery because I’ve never come to fully understand what happened in the particular situation.

The Christian life and its beliefs have more than a little mystery to them. That’s why some people just can’t seem to understand and accept the truth of Christianity.

God is the One who chooses to whom He will unfold the mysteries of faith and the mysteries of His mercy, grace, and love. In fact, if you are able to comprehend the basic tenets of Christianity—and by faith believe them—that’s because the Holy Spirit has revealed these truths to you. Simply left to one’s own ability, it is truly impossible to comprehend, and more so to apprehend, the truth of the relationship between God and the humans He has created.

Notice the explanation the Apostle Paul gives in 1 Corinthians 2:9-10:

However, as it is written:

“What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived”—the things God has prepared for those who love him— these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit.

The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.

Yes, God chooses to reveal even the deep things about Himself to those He has chosen to belong to Himself through the power of the Holy Spirit. Of course, after the initial revelation, God then reveals more and more about Himself to His children over time. And, even then, much about God will always remain hidden from us this side of heaven.

We should greet this day with thankful hearts that God has chosen to reveal Himself to us by the Holy Spirit. This act of kindness on God’s part is yet one more assurance of how very much He loves us.

 

Based on a blog originally posted on Thursday, December 3, 2015

_{Copyright © 2021 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

No Greater Commandment

 

Love the Lord your God with all your heart…

—Mark 12:30a

Over the years of creating blog posts, I’ve written several times about the all-inclusiveness of Jesus’ answer recorded in Mark 12:28-31:

One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”

“The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.

“‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’

“The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.

Jesus points out the depth of devotion expected of His disciples in the four human modalities: emotional, spiritual, intellectual, and physical. Or, to use Jesus’ expanded quotation from Deuteronomy 6:4-5: “heart, soul, mind, and strength.”

Left to our own human abilities, we cannot achieve this level of obedient devotion. We must rely on the power of the in-dwelling Holy Spirit to enable us to love with such completeness. And, all the more so, when it comes to loving our neighbors with the same intensity and commitment that we love ourselves, we need that same enabling of the Holy Spirit.

Today, let us kneel before God and surrender our stubborn human wills to Him. Let us allow the Holy Spirit to flood all four human modalities of our being with God-breathed love, so that we will be able to love God and love our neighbor. This kind of obedient surrender is truly the pathway that leads to everlasting joy.

 

Based on a blog originally posted on Wednesday, December 2, 2015

_{Copyright © 2021 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

He is Listening

 

Hear my prayer, Lord…

—Psalm 86:6a

Do you ever try to talk with someone and wonder if they heard a word you said?

Recently I learned about a father who spoke at some length to his daughter. He poured out his heart to her and shared some very important observations. He spoke to encourage her and also to challenge her in a most loving way.

When she didn’t seem to respond, he looked at her more closely. To his surprise and chagrin, he discovered she had earbuds in her ears and had not heard a single word he had said over the sound of the music from an app on her iPhone.

The Psalmist assures us that God is not at all like that young lady. He is always attentive to His dearly loved children. He hears us whenever we speak to Him in prayer. Notice the words in these verses from Psalm 86:5-7:

You, Lord, are forgiving and good, abounding in love to all who call to you.

Hear my prayer, Lord; listen to my cry for mercy. When I am in distress, I call to you, because you answer me.

We can begin a new day with a quiet time spent in Bible reading and prayer, knowing that the God who loved us enough to send His one and only Son to die in our place will listen to us and answer us. Yes, sometimes the answer is: “Not yet.” Sometimes the answer is a gentle, yet firm: “No.” Sometimes the answer is: “Just wait awhile, but keep asking.” Sometimes the answer is a very positive and even overwhelming outpouring of His mercy, love, and grace—given to us in a measure that is far more than we dared to ask.

No matter whatever answer God gives us, we can rest assured that He lovingly and patiently listens to our prayers. And, God always hears and always answers. We can most certainly place our full trust in Him.

 

Based on a blog originally posted on Tuesday, December 1, 2015

_{Copyright © 2021 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Living a Worthy Life

 

“As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.”

—Ephesians 4:1

A battle of words rages around us. Spend just a few minutes watching cable news and you will hear sharp accusations spoken with arrogance and pomposity. Yet neither side is really convincing when talking in such a way.

In a culture and society with so much harshness and strident speech, we believers in the life-transforming power of the Lord Jesus Christ can bring an entirely different attitude into every situation. Rather than diminishing our passion for truth and for what’s right, we can channel our passion into a much more effective way of expressing the depth of what we believe.

The Apostle Paul offered these words of wise counsel in Ephesians 4:1-3:

As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.

Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.

Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.

As we interact with the people whom God brings across our pathway this day, let us allow the Holy Spirit to enable us to represent God’s love in all humility. With a humble spirit, we can bring the peace of Christ into every situation. Using gentle words rather than harsh ones, we can live out our calling in the best possible way.

 

Based on a blog originally posted on Monday, November 30, 2015

_{Copyright © 2021 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Servant of All

 

“Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.”

—Mark 9:35b

We have a leadership crisis in our society today. Many want to ascend to positions of so-called leadership where others will cater to their every need. In situation after situation, it seems as if these exalted leaders do not have the courage to act decisively to protect the best interests of those they lead. This phenomenon occurs in government, in business, in the church, and even in our homes.

But in the Kingdom of God, Jesus wants His followers to become genuine leaders by learning to serve. Please take note of Jesus’ words in Mark 9:33-35:

They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the road?”

But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest.

Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.”

This day we can learn a valuable lesson from Jesus’ instruction. In order to lead, we must serve. We must do the opposite of most human leaders. Instead of demanding that others serve us, in sincere humility, we must look for ways to serve others. For those who follow Jesus, such is the way of the cross.

 

Based on a blog originally posted on Friday, November 27, 2015

_{Copyright © 2021 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

True Worshippers

 

“Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth”

—John 4:23a

We Christians spend at least some of our time in worship. For me, this is a special time. Unlike many of my generation, I have been drawn toward a more liturgical form of worship. The form of worship in which I participate at my Evangelical Presbyterian Church is not at all representative of either the EPC denomination, nor of my fundamentalist upbringing.

But, the form of my worship matters much more to me than it does to God. The Lord Jesus Christ made it quite clear when He discussed worship forms with the Samaritan woman, as recorded in John 4:23-24:

“Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.

“God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”

So, God wants us to approach Him in worship through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit. He desires us to very truthfully express our appreciation for who He is. After all, worship doesn’t depend on a particular form, or on a set of written or unwritten rules. Worship depends on our sincere and truthful efforts to express to God our recognition of, and appreciation for, who He is.

In our worship, we attribute worth to God by acknowledging who He is—the God of the Universe, the Creator of All Things. Then, we can move on to praising Him for what He has done in our behalf—saving us from our sins through the precious blood of His Son, Jesus.

Let’s respond to Jesus’ instruction by renewing our determination to approach God in the Spirit and in truth. Let’s allow of hearts and minds to soar, no matter what form of worship we may prefer. And, let’s not confine our worship to one day or one place. Even this day, let’s begin the day with worship in our hearts and on our minds.

 

Based on a blog originally posted on Wednesday, November 25, 2015

_{Copyright © 2021 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}