Do You Know the Rest of the Christmas Story?

There’s part of the Christmas story that we tend to ignore. The dark part with a paranoid king and some wise men from afar. Matthew reports that the Magi followed a star they had seen in the east (2:2) and when they arrived in Jerusalem (2:1) they raised quite a stir looking for “the one who has been born king of the Jews” (2:2). Herod got wind of this and called for the visitors who reported that ancient prophecies (likely passed down from Daniel) said the child would be born in Bethlehem (2:5). Herod ordered the wise men to report back to him after they found the child – saying he, too, wanted to “worship” him (2:7-8).
But that was a lie. He wanted to kill him. He had a reputation for violence and murdered members of his own family whom he viewed as a threat. A Jewish baby was no match for this king. But Herod was no match for this Baby’s Father. The Magi were warned in a dream not to return to Herod (2:12) and the Lord sent an angel to warn Joseph who took his family and fled to Egypt (2:13-14). The king, in a rage, ordered the murder of all baby boys in Bethlehem two years and under to secure his throne – another clue to the timing of the Magi’s’ visit. (2:16-18).
But who was really behind Herod’s actions? Who planted that paranoia in his mind and murder in his heart? Who would have wanted this child dead more than Herod? Satan. Satan was behind every threat God’s people faced because he knew his destroyer would come from the Jewish nation. Herod was reenacting Pharoah’s hatred when he ordered the death of all Hebrew baby boys born in Egypt. But the Lord called two midwives, a believing mother and even Pharoah’s daughter to save the day (Ex 1:15-22; 2:1-10) . Satan enticed Haman to order the -annihilation of the Jews in Persian, but God used Esther to rescue His people (Esther). You see satan’s evil presence over and over in Scripture – but you also see God’s mighty hand preserving His people and His promise.
Satan is also part of the Christmas story, for the Holy Child in the manger was born to break the curse of evil. He was born to set men free from their sins (Romans 6:18). He was born to bring light and life where death and darkness reigned (John 1:4-5). He was born to set right what had gone horribly wrong (Romans 8:22-24). This little baby was the fulfillment of God’s promise, the seed that would crush the head of the enemy (Genesis 3:15). When this newborn baby’s cry pierced the silent night, all of hell trembled.

Run!

I was studying late last night and got hungry. Suddenly an image popped up on my screen – a Mason jar full of cornbread and milk. I remembered the leftover corn muffins from supper the night before. I made a beeline to the kitchen.

This is exactly how satan works to draw us into temptation and sin. James described it perfectly – “ . . . each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed” (Jas. 1:14). Let’s reconsider my snack attack in light of this verse. I had a desire – I wanted something to eat while I studied. I saw an image that tapped into my love for cornbread and milk and aroused my desire. I knew where I could find what I wanted and I went after it. In less than five minutes I was enjoying my treat.

There’s nothing evil about cornbread and milk – except maybe the quantity I eat. But what if that deep desire has been for something else? What if I was craving alcohol or drugs or porn? What if I was addicted to gambling or – pick your own poison. What might satan parade before me then?  And how easily would I have fallen? Just as easily as I did for my favorite snack. Don’t be fooled – satan can read you and me like a book. He knows all about those secret desires we try to hide. He knows what to dangle in front of us to persuade us to follow right into a trap. Paul lamented this internal pull of sin in Romans 7 saying sinful desires still lived in him and waged war within him (vv. 14-23).

So what recourse do we have? We run. We flee from those evil desires (2 Tim 2:22). Paul said, “. . . when you are tempted, [God] will provide a way out” (1 Cor 10:13). Take it. Don’t stand there and try to talk yourself down. Run from the temptation. Get as far away from it as possible. Run to a trusted friend. Run around the block. Put down the phone. Shut off the T.V.  Go play with your kids. Do whatever it takes to distance yourself from the temptation.

Maybe you have even bigger temptations than cornbread and milk. Believe me, I do too. But God promised a way out. Look for it and run to it, Beloved. Freedom is on the other side of the door.

My Redeemer

You may have heard folks talk about “the patience of Job” I don’t know who coined that phrase, but I’ve studied Job a lot and I can say that he was not the paragon of patience he is purported to be. Neither am I. He and I have a lot in common. We both have been attacked by satan and we both have struggled to keep our eyes on God. Granted he had a rougher time of it than I, but I know what it’s like to be in the devil’s crosshairs. Which leads me to another similarity. Like Job, I also tend to whine. A lot. This year has been full of trials and heartaches. I trust God, but man, those fiery darts can be mighty painful.

Here is another point in which Job and I are alike. We both have a Savior.  He said, “I know that my Redeemer lives and that in the end He will stand upon the earth . . . [and] I myself will see him with my own eyes . . .” He was sure with all his heart that God would vindicate him and redeem him. I cling to the same hope And we both long for the day when He destroys the evil one and death forever. He said, “How my heart yearns within me” (Job 19:25,27). Mine too, Job. Mine too.

But there is one way that we differ. Job looked for a Savior he didn’t know. But I have found my Redeemer and His name is Jesus. Job spoke in his pain, wishing God would “guard my steps, but not keep track of my sin.” He wanted God to “seal up my offenses in a bag [and] cover over my sin” (Job 14:16-17). Because I am in Christ, that is exactly what He has done! My sin – “Oh the bliss of this glorious thought”[1] – all my sins are under the blood of Jesus and God watches me – not to keep track of my every offense, but to guard and guide my steps.

Peter wrote, “Love covers over a multitude of sins” (1 Pet 4:8). Jesus’ blood is love poured out lavishly on those who believe and receive God’s gift of salvation. And He didn’t seal our sins up in a bag, but He left them buried in the tomb that could not hold Him. Do you know my Jesus? Do you have the sweet assurance of His forgiveness and grace? You can be set free from your sins, Beloved. He is just a prayer away.

---

[1] “It Is Well With My Soul” Horatio Spafford and Philip Bliss 1873.

Godly Sorrow

So you messed up. Again. You went where you shouldn’t go. You did what you shouldn’t do. Or you didn’t do what you knew you should. You looked at something vile and sinful. You let your mind go into a nasty pit. And now you are feeling the weight of your sin – you are feeling guilty and maybe even ashamed. That’s not entirely a bad thing. Let me explain.

Paul dearly loved the congregation in Corinth, his aim was to build them up, not tear them down (2 Cor 13:10), but this church had serious problems. Sexual sin was rampant among them, an overflow of the culture. Paul chastened them severely for tolerating sexual immorality in the body. A man was immorally involved with his father’s wife (1 Cor 5:1). Not only did the church turn a blind eye to this sinful behavior, but they were proud of it! (v. 2) They boasted about their “open-mindedness” (v. 6). Sound familiar?

Paul said they should have been “filled with grief” over the man’s sin and over their acceptance of it and him. The whole church was sick with sin and he wanted them to feel the fever and the burden of the disease. He wanted them to be ashamed of their immoral condition.

We have done a grave disservice to the church by claiming that guilt and shame have no place in a Christian’s life. This text and many others reject that philosophy. In his second letter, after the church had followed his directive, Paul said he did not regret the sorrow he brought on them. It hurt him to do it, but the result was good. “Your sorrow led you to repentance” (2 Cor 9). “Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret” (v. 10). Because the man apparently repented, Paul insisted he should be restored to the church. He should not be burdened with “excessive sorrow” (2:6-8).

Sin should cause us to feel guilt and shame. Notice I did not say that sin should make us feel that we are shameful. That is the tool of satan. He attacks the sinner personally. The Holy Spirit attacks the sin and leads the sinner into repentance and restoration – or salvation if they are not saved. Repentance leaves no residue of regret or guilt or shame, but you and I will feel its weight until we do.

Beloved, if you are bearing the burden of guilt over your sin, let that godly sorrow lead you to Jesus. Confess and repent and God will forgive you and purify you from all unrighteous (1 Jn 1:9). Get that heavy weight off your back and walk in God’s good grace.

Jerusalem

God called a man named Abram to “Leave your country, your people, and your household and go to the land I will show you.” He promised to make Abram “a great nation . . . and a blessing to all the peoples on earth” (Gen 12: 1-3). Why Abram? Simply because he was God’s sovereign choice. Abram and his wife Sarai obeyed the Lord and set out for an unknown destination. God changed their names to Abraham and Sarah and promised them a child of their own. But after twenty-five years and no baby, she insisted that Abraham sleep with her servant Hagar who would bear a son for Sarah. This they did and they were pleased with the boy named Ishmael. Until.

Sarah miraculously conceived in their very old age – she 90 and he 100 and gave birth to Isaac, the promised child of the Lord. Abraham sent Hagar and Ismael away to protect Isaac’s inheritance. And this is the root of the unrest in the Middle East and the hatred for Israel. The nations that descended from Ishmael – the Arab and Muslim nations today – contend that as Abraham’s firstborn son, he – and thus they – are the rightful heirs to the land God gave his father, the territory of Palestine. But Isaac’s son, Jacob – renamed Israel – and his descendants are heirs to the land according to the Lord.

But the war on Israel goes even deeper than Isaac and Ishmael. It goes back to the Garden of Eden. After Adam and Eve sinned, God declared the destruction of satan through the “seed” of the woman: “I will put enmity between you and the woman and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel” (Gen 3:15). One of Eve’s sons – Seth – was the line through whom Abraham and the nation of Israel came. A Jewish baby – a descendant of Seth and Abraham and Isaac and Jacob/Israel was born. Jesus, who is also the Son of God is the seed of the woman from Genesis 3:15. Until his birth, satan used Israel’s enemies to try to obliterate the Jewish people and stop his destroyer from coming. (See Pharoah’s attempt to kill all the Jewish baby boys and the story of Esther.) But He came anyway. Satan thought he had won when Jesus died and was buried, but He came back to life. Prophecy declares that He will come back again and complete the destruction of satan which God proclaimed way back in the Garden. But the Jewish temple – which the Romans destroyed in 70 AD – must be rebuilt on its original site in Jerusalem before He returns (See Rev. 11). That site is the current location of the Islamic Dome of the Rock – the Muslim’s most holy temple.  

Satan is still trying to destroy the Jewish people – the nation of Israel – to prevent the rebuilding of the temple – and Christ’s return. That is why we must “Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem” (Psalm 122:6). It is about so much more than a strip of land in the Middle East. It is about the return of the Lord, the destruction of evil, and the ushering in of Christ’s eternal rule and reign. Don’t be afraid of what you see in the world, Beloved. God has not lost control. Not even for a second.

The Good Fight

While the modern church sells Christianity as a “love-fest,” Paul talked about the Christian life as a “fight” and a “struggle,” with much suffering, – not exactly warm and fuzzy words. But they are truthful words and we would be wise to pay attention to them. There are many things that he said would be a cause for battle: false teaching, disruption, idolatry, oppression, greed, persecution, quarrels, controversies, dangers, and all sorts of other attacks aimed at the church and at believers. All coming from the bow of satan, the enemy of God and His people.

But sometimes the enemy we must battle is within – our own desires and behaviors.  One fight that Paul emphasized to his mentee – and to you and me – is that of personal holiness. Paul told Timothy, to “flee from” things like discontentment, lust, ungodliness, faithlessness, and evil thoughts and deeds, and to pursue the things of holiness: “righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness” (1 Timothy 6:11). Then he told him to “Fight the good fight of faith” (v. 12). The Greek word that he uses is άγών – agon – you may recognize it in the English word “agony.” Paul told Timothy to “agonize” over the things in his life that lead to unholiness and strive always for holiness.

The church today has changed the message of agonizing over personal sin into approval and license to “do what feels good.” We are told not to speak against sin at the risk of making people feel bad about themselves and we have replaced the call to “holiness” with a call to “happiness.” But according to Paul, we are indeed called to agonize over sin in our life.  God hates sin and so must we.  And we must start with the sin within us. If you claim to be a follower of Christ and are actively involved in what the Bible recognizes as sin, that uneasy feeling in your gut is not the church heaping shame on you – it’s the conviction of the Holy Spirit (John 16:8).

But the beautiful promise of God is that when conviction brings us to repentance there is forgiveness and cleansing and full restoration (2 Corinthians 7:9-10).  And then you are not just happy – but filled with Joy!  How are you dealing with sin in your life Beloved? Let the Spirit lead you from agony to repentance to forgiveness to Joy.  Fight the good fight of faith – it is a battle you are sure to win.

Acts: Divide and Conquer

They were the best of friends, partners in ministry, companions over many miles, compatriots under persecution – until they weren’t. Until conflict reared its ugly head and ripped their partnership apart. Please take a moment to read Acts 15:36 – 16:5.

Paul and Barnabas had traveled throughout the western coastal region of Asia Minor, taking the gospel everywhere they went. Their mission was very fruitful as many came to faith in Christ – and fraught with opposition, persecution, and danger. They had returned to their home church in Antioch where they rested and ministered there for some time, until Paul wanted to go back out and check on his flocks. Barnabas agreed – with one caveat – he wanted to take his cousin back on the road with them but Paul refused. John Mark had deserted them once before and Paul didn’t consider this a wise move. Both men were so insistent that neither would concede, so Luke said “they parted company.”

It is a sad note on the strong movement of the Holy Spirit, but not unexpected in a world ruled by the enemy of God. Satan works constantly at odds with the will and cause of the Lord. Jesus preached harmony to the disciples and asked His Father to bring unity to His followers (John 17:23). Why would He allow His missionaries to come to such a strong conflict and separate a successful team? To divide and conquer. Barnabas and John Mark went to Cyprus and Paul chose Silas as his new ministry partner and went to Syria and Cilicia. Now there were two missionary teams to cover twice as much ground and take the gospel to twice as many people. Paul picked up another team member in Lystra – a young disciple named Timothy whom we will see again.

Jesus called satan “the prince of this world” (John 12:31; 14:30). Paul called him “the ruler of the kingdom of the air” (Eph 2:2), and the “authority of this dark world” (Eph 6:12). John said “the whole world is under [his] control” (1 Jn 5:19). In a temporary sense, Satan does have a measure of rule or authority over “the world” –but only a measure, as determined and controlled by the Lord. Job shows us that God keeps the devil on a short leash, particularly where His people are concerned. Joseph’s story proves that whatever satan means for evil, God will use to fulfill His good, pleasing, and perfect will.

The enemy broke up God’s A-Team, but failed to stop the work of the Holy Spirit. “The churches were strengthened in the faith and grew daily in numbers” (16:5). Just as God intended. Be assured Beloved, in the end, satan loses. God always wins.

In the Heat of the Battle

The Old Testament is filled with battle stories because God’s people were constantly under attack from every direction. There were rare seasons of peace in the land – but it wouldn’t be long before another enemy came at them and the fight was on again. The books of Kings and Chronicles chronicle many of those battles (did you see what I did there?). One of those stands out to me – in 2 Chronicles 20. Jehoshaphat was king of Judah (the southern kingdom of what was once a united Israel) and their enemies, Moab and Ammon “came to make war” (v. 1) These were very powerful armies and as they drew near, the king went to God for help. He knew his nation was not able to fend off the “vast army that is attacking us” (v. 12). But he also knew that the Lord “ruled over all the kingdoms of the nations” and that “power and might are in Your hand” (v. 6). And he knew that they were God’s own precious possession and He would defend them.

I wonder if you, like me feel like you are constantly in a battle. It seems attacks come at us from every side. From the culture, from the forces of evil, from politics and human ideology, from the devil himself, from the stresses and strains of life, from people – sometimes from family, and from our own temptations and desires. What are we to do?

We do what Jehoshaphat did. We take it to our King and Defender, the Lord and we trust Him to fight our battles, just as He did for Judah. The prophet told the king, “Do not be afraid or discouraged . . . the battle is not yours, but God’s” (v. 15). The king commanded the people to “have faith in the Lord your God” (v. 20). And there’s something else I saw in this story that will help us in our battles. Jehoshaphat “appointed men to sing to the Lord and praise Him” – and praise they did, “with a very loud voice” (vs. 21, 19). Beloved, when the battle is on, when the enemy is breathing down your neck, when the culture is trying to shut you up, when people are screaming in your face or scheming behind your back, when temptation is dangling a luscious apple in front of you, call on Jehovah Maginnenu – the Lord your Defender, pick up your shield of faith (Eph 6:16), and sing praises to God – with a very loud voice.

The Secret to the Successful Christian Life

If I could suggest a “secret” to the successful Christian life it would be Paul’s counsel in Colossians 3:1 and 2: “Set your hearts on things above,” and “Set your minds on things above.” That covers everything. Our heart is the seat of our desires and emotions and our minds are the seat of our reasoning, and together they sit in the driver’s seat of our will and actions. Everything you and I think, say and do springs from our hearts and our minds. When satan went after Eve in the garden he went for her mind, refuting what God had said, and her heart, appealing to her desire for something tasty, something pretty, and something that would make her who she wanted to be: God. He hasn’t changed tactics since. He works through the world to discredit God and deny what He has said – enacting laws and cultural influences to turn the truth inside-out and upside-down. He works through education, which is not in and of itself evil. God counsels us to seek wisdom and knowledge and understanding, but our education system is almost entirely anti-God, from the pre-school level to the highest degrees in college. We do well to remember that “The Lord gives wisdom and from His mouth come knowledge and understanding” (Prov 2:6). He works through the media, and our penchant for entertainment. He works through social pressure and – sadly – religion gone rogue. But he finds his greatest success by tickling our hearts – our desires and passions, and emotions. This is the fertile ground in which the enemy plants his most productive seeds. He really doesn’t have to do much work at all. He just taps into what is already in us. James was right: “Each one is templated when, by is own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed” (Jas 1:14). And that is why Solomon said, “Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life” (Prov. 4:23). Guarding our hearts involves guarding our mouth, our eyes, our steps, and our direction (vs. 24-27).That’s why Paul’s words are so powerful and true. The strongest guard we can set is to keep the focus of both our hearts and our minds God-ward. We do that chiefly through the regular, diligent, and purposeful intake of Scripture – nothing you and I can do has as much transforming power. Not only does the Word of God transform our minds (Rom 12:2), but it also changes our hearts (Ps 119:111-112). So start right here. Don’t just read over these references. Look them up and meditate on them. Plant them in the soil of your mind and heart. Beloved, that’s how you harvest righteousness.

Real Questions and Real Answers

When my younger brother was little, he was full of questions and I, being the wise older sister, tried to answer all of them. Until he became obsessed with this one: “Who put outside outside?” None of our answers sufficed. Then our dad said, “When people built buildings there wasn’t enough room for the whole world to be inside, so some of it had to stay outside.” And that satisfied him.

We may not ponder questions as complex as that, but there are questions that every person on earth needs to face:

1. Where did life come from?

2. What happens when we die?

3. How can we explain human behavior?

4. How can I determine right from wrong?

5. What is the purpose of man?

These questions shape our worldview and our worldview shapes our belief system. Our entire outlook on life is informed by our answers to these questions.

The greatest tool of Satan is to numb man’s mind so he does not think about these things. Instead, he has us obsessing over worldly, useless things that have no eternal significance.  We are awed by the opulence of celebrities rather than by the Creator of the brilliant heavens.  We fill our minds with worldly wisdom and ignore the wisdom of the Bible.  We build fortresses to protect us from our enemies and the enemy of our soul laughs as he wanders into our homes through the world wide web.  We refuse to worship God but pour out our highest accolades on athletes who carry a ball down a field.  Republicans and Democrats battle each other while our true enemy has free reign in our nation.  We are chasing after success rather than chasing after God. 

Satan doesn’t want us to ponder these questions because he knows that the answers will ultimately point us to God.  Life came from God (Gen 1-2). After death, we stand before God for eternal punishment or eternal life (Heb 9:27). Human behavior is the result of the first human’s sinful rebellion against their Creator (Gen 3). Right from wrong is spelled out in the Bible (Ps 119:9). The purpose of man is to love and worship God (Col 1:16; Rev 4:11). Until we face the real questions of humanity – and discover the true answers – we will continue to see evil in this world.  We must start asking the important questions, first to ourselves then in our homes and churches and communities.  Beloved, how will you answer these questions?