Less Is Best

Matthew 2:4-6 KJV; In less than the best circumstances Jesus was born. The King of all Kings was born in a stable in a small village to a teenager.

Attached To The Vine

Matthew 3:5-12 KJV; Attached to the vine, who is Jesus the Christ, we produce good fruits. Without the abiding presence of the Spirit of Christ we can do nothing good.

Empowered By The Spirit

Zeba, MI; United Methodist Camp Meeting

 

And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.

For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.

When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?

And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.

But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.

And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;

Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven. 

                                                                                      (Act 1:4-11 KJV)

Just before he ascended into heaven Jesus informed the disciples that they would be baptized and empowered by the Holy Spirit to go out into the whole world to be witnesses of Jesus. And, so they were. And, so they did.

What do you believe you were baptized for? Baptism is a gift from God. It endows us with many gifts. In baptism we are forgiven our sins. We are born again as children of God most high. We, as the first disciples were, are anointed by the Holy Spirit and empowered to go out into the world to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ. Do we use that gift? Do we go out? Do we share the marvelous things that God has done and continues to do through Jesus Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit?

"May God fill us with the desire to go forth '...and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.'" 

                                                                                        (Matt 28:19-20)

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Taxation: A Good Thing

And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.

And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

                                                                                    (Luke 2:1-5 KJV)

It's that time of the year again. My email has been bombarded with advertisements from TurboTax. Yes, the Christmas season will soon be upon us; but, so will the dreaded tax season. 

Although my grandchildren do because they usually get every penny that the government took back, I don't know a lot of people who enjoy doing their taxes. Those who have to pay in after those taxes are done usually are not too excited about it. Nor are we too excited about where our tax money sometimes goes. But, taxes are a part of life. Some form of taxation has been a part of life for just about forever.

Because of the Caesar Augustus' taxation decree Mary and Joseph ended up just where they were supposed to be, according to the prophecies, when Jesus was born. I imagine very few people appreciated having to travel to their home towns to pay this tax. Of course a few may have appreciated the opportunity to see family members they hadn't seen in a long time just as a funeral often brings people who haven't seen each other in a long time together. 

Benjamin Franklin wrote: "In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes." This is true. The world will face both. Whether this Caesar's taxation edict was a good thing or a bad thing probably depended on the individual. Today, it depends on whether we trust God and His plan for us or not. 

There was a time when I felt something close to fear of doing my taxes and of the IRS. But, there came a point in my life when I realized that even if I messed up the taxes nothing that I should fear would actually occur. After all, what can be done that could extinguish the promise of eternal life in the Kingdom of God? 

St. Paul wrote to the Romans: "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Rom 8:35:39)

In Joseph's and Mary's day the journey was probably a hardship for many. But, for all who believe in Jesus Christ it turned out to be a good thing for that journey to pay their taxes was necessary in order for the prophecy to be fulfilled. 

When things don't seem to be going the way we desire; when such things as taxes and death interfere in our lives we can still rejoice for as St. Paul wrote: "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." (Rom 8:28)

God's Peace - Pr. J.

In His Time

Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha.

Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick.

When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.

Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus.

When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was.

Then after that saith he to his disciples, Let us go into Judaea again.

                                                                                       (John 11:1,3-7 KJV)

Jesus did not run to keep his friend Lazarus from dying. He took his time so that God might be glorified. He takes his time so that the power of God will be revealed. 

One of the most interesting parts of the story for me is found in the two words of verse 35: "Jesus wept." Jesus surely did not weep for Lazarus as he knew Lazarus would be rising from the dead when he called to him in the grave. Jesus was weeping for those who grieved; whose hearts were breaking over the loss of their loved one. They were the ones suffering. They were the ones living in the shadow of the valley of death (Psalm 23:4 KJV). Jesus cares for them. 

He loves them and He loves you. He does not wish to see in you in sorrow or pain. This does not mean that you will not suffer in this world. But, when you do, trust him for in God's time, he will raise you up, again, for the glory of God our Father. 

Just as knew all about what was going on with Lazarus, he knows exactly what is going on in your lives and he has a good plan for your future. Listen to him. When he calls you out of darkness, listen to him! Follow him and live life!

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Children Are A Joy

Now Elisabeth's full time came that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son.

And her neighbours and her cousins heard how the Lord had shewed great mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her.

And it came to pass, that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; and they called him Zacharias, after the name of his father.

And his mother answered and said, Not so; but he shall be called John.

And they said unto her, There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name.

And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called.

And he asked for a writing table, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they marvelled all.

And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spake, and praised God.

And fear came on all that dwelt round about them: and all these sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill country of Judaea.

And all they that heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, What manner of child shall this be! And the hand of the Lord was with him.

                                                                        (Luke 1:57-66 KJV)

So much excitement over the birth of John the Baptist! His father, Zacharias, praised the Lord at his circumcision.

Reading these verses this morning caused me to think about the joyless pregnancies we hear about today. What if Elizabeth or Mary had opted to terminate the pregnancies? Of course, Elizabeth would never have. She and Zacharias had for so long wanted a child. Mary, so young, was in a pretty inconvenient position when she became pregnant, though. But, the mothers of both John and Jesus loved their children and would have done them no harm; neither before or after birth.

Times were not easy in Zacharias' and Elizabeth's day nor are they for everyone today. But, the thought of having a child brought joy to them. If only it were so for those who find themselves with child today. 

I thank God for the birth of John and most especially for Jesus. I do not even want to consider what the world would be like today without their ministries and mission.

God's Peace - Pr. J