Timing Is Everything

T

iming is everything! How often have you hear or said these words?  In today’s world, it is all about timing.  We run our lives by the clock.  Don’t believe me?  Just count the number of clocks in your house.  We are so enamored with time, we even strap clocks to our wrists and are constantly looking at them throughout the day. There is a time to get up, a time to get dressed, a time to eat, a time to leave for work, a time for lunch, etc.  The list just goes on and on. We like to believe that we control time but in reality, time controls us.

It was no different for Mary and Joseph.  No, they didn’t have clocks all around their home and Joseph, as far as we know, didn’t have a designer-label sundial attached to his wrist.  But time played an important factor in their lives.  However, the timing affecting their travel to Bethlehem was under God’s design and control.

Luke 2:6 tells us the following, “While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born…”On the surface this seems to be a very matter-of-fact statement.  We know Mary is pregnant and we know that their journey takes place just prior to the birth of Jesus.  But look very closely within this passage and locate the most important word, time.

The purpose of the journey now takes on a different air.  Joseph took Mary to Bethlehem in order to register for Caesar’s census.  But while they were in Bethlehem, the alarm on God’s clock sounded. From Joseph and Mary’s perspective, the time could not have been worse.  They are not at home.  Friends and loved one’s are not with them and the location of Christ’s birth is anything but what they had imagined it would be.

This is the way God works.  We have our time; he has his.  His timing is always perfect and always serves his purpose.  We may not understand—and in fact we usually won’t—his timing or the reasons for the circumstances he orchestrates; but rest assured that God knows exactly what he is doing and has selected both the time and place for his will to be accomplished.

Remember today as you go down life’s road that God is in full control of your life.  The little twists and turns, the detours, and the awkward and unseemly places into which you journey, are all hand-picked and designed by a loving father. The purpose he has for you may not be evident now, but when the time comes, he will work out his will for your life.  What is God up to?  Only time will tell!

Basking In The Light

O

ur house on Main Street underwent many transformations.  Every time our family grew, the house grew right along with it.  Every few years, or so it seemed, it was time to rip out something, rearrange several rooms, or add something to the house.  My mom and dad loved the end result but living through a remodel was, shall we say, challenging.

One of these remodels provided my brother and me with a new room.  Our sister, Heather, needed her own space so she took our old bedroom and the guest bedroom was transformed into a new bedroom, complete with new closets and a desk.  The carpet was royal blue and the wallpaper was a vibrant mixture of orang, blue, white, black, and yellow stripes.  It was very pretty and fun to see.  I remember our first night in the new room.  My brother and I had no problem falling asleep.  But the next morning, we learned just how “vibrant” that new wallpaper was.

Mom hit the lights at 7 a.m. sharp and with all those bright colors our closed eyelids provided no protection.  One minute I was snoozing in a velvety blanket of darkness and the next I was hit with a wave of light that jolted me into consciousness.  I opened my eyes and for a brief moment I didn’t know where I was.  Nothing looked familiar and I wondered if perhaps I was dreaming.

I believe this is the way the shepherds felt when the angel appeared to them.  Until that moment, everything had been routine.  The hills looked the same, the conversations were the same, the lowing of the sheep sounded the same, it was pretty much business as usual.  Then suddenly, from nowhere, the image of something they had never seen appeared before them.  What’s more, it spoke and there was light everywhere.

Luke records this for us in Luke 2 9b “…and the glory of the Lord shone around them…” Can you say hit the lights?  Just imagine how shocked these men were.  They were catapulted into reality and I’m sure they wondered if they were seeing things or even dreaming.  But notice that this light was all around them.  It dispelled all the darkness and left them only basking in the light of God’s glory.  How fitting this is.  The first thing created was light and the angel was announcing the birth of the “light of the world.”

No matter where you are on life’s road today I want you to grasp this truth.  The light of God’s glory dispels all darkness.  Wherever he is, there is light. Light to show you the way, light to dispel your fear, light to provide comfort, and light to assure that we don’t walk in darkness.  John said it best, that God is light and there is no darkness in him at all.  Are you basking in God’s light today?

Do You See What I See?

S

o the shepherds are in the fields with their sheep and it is dark outside.  There are no street lights. No glaring headlights from the nearby Interstate reflect on them, and the lights of the city are far away.  The shepherds are gathered around the glow of their fire, talking of the day’s events, sharing their hopes and dreams and frustrations with each other, preparing to face the long, dark night ahead.

But in a flash, everything changes.  In Luke 2:9a we read these few words, “An angel of the Lord appeared to them…”  There in the darkness, in the remoteness of those fields, God sent his messenger to share the good news of Christ’s birth. I’m sure the shepherds wondered what was going on and if they were seeing things.  I imagine none of them spoke, afraid the others may not be seeing this strange site and afraid to mention it for fear of being accused of hallucinating or worse!

And yet, all of them did see it.  The darkness around them suddenly grew bright and God shared with them the wonderful news that his promise had been fulfilled.  This is just like God, isn’t it?  When we think we have been forgotten, when the darkness is all around us, when we feel abandoned or rejected, just at the proper time God shows up.  Everything takes on a different look as God reveals to us the wonderful promises and plans he has for us.

Although on the fringes of man’s society, the shepherds were squarely in the center of God’s plan.  He knew where they were and he knew that they, above all others, would take his message to heart, accept his invitation to see the Messiah, and spread the good news to all they met along the way.

This is what God still looks for today.  Will you accept his invitation to come to Christ?  Will you respond to him with the heart of a shepherd? Remember, it is in the dark that God’s presence is felt the most.  Is it dark where you are today?  

Stuck In A Rut

G

et up.  Go to work. Work all day. Come home. Go to bed. Get up. Do it all over again.  Sound familiar?  Life seems like this at times, doesn’t it?  We fall into the same routine and we basically hit the automatic pilot button as we go from one day to another.  Monday looks like Tuesday looks like Wednesday, well you get the picture.  We simply seem to go through the motions and then we wonder what happened and where the week went.

Today’s passage paints just this picture.  We have spent the last several days concentrating on Mary and Joseph and their journey from Nazareth.  Today we look at the other people who play a part in the Christmas story.  Not only is God working in the lives of Mary and Joseph, he is also working in the lives of ordinary, every-day people like you and me, preparing them to receive the good news of the coming of Jesus and of the fulfillment of the promise God made all those many years ago.

Luke 2:8 simply reads, “And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.” Shepherds.  In the time of Christ, these were the lowliest of the low.  They had very little if any social standing.  They were uneducated, poor, and had very few prospects in life.  Their job was to work with sheep, dumb, stubborn animals that were helpless, defenseless, weak, and prone to doing things their own way.  And yet, here these men are, faithfully discharging their duties and notice that the passage tells us it was night. 

So, what is so great about shepherds?  They are loyal, faithful, compassionate, caring; the list goes on and on.  It should come, then as no surprise, that God would reveal the birth of Jesus to ones such as these.  Jesus will say of himself that he is “the good shepherd.”  He will also refer to us as sheep and if you read the description above, you will see that he is right.

Jesus entire ministry can be summed up with his words, “the last shall be first.”  What better way to begin this ministry than by announcing the birth of the Messiah to those who were considered to be the “last” rung on society’s ladder.

And so we leave them here, in the fields, taking care of their flocks, unaware that in a brief few moments, their lives will be changed forever.  Jesus is already in the cradle not very far away.  The shepherds have settled down for the night.  But something is about to happen, something they never expected, and something they will never forget.  Who knows what God has in store for you today? Are you ready to find out?

Mission Accomplished

“A

nd she gave birth to her firstborn, a son” Luke 2:7b.  In other words, mission accomplished!  God’s purpose for moving Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem is now revealed.  It wasn’t because of Caesar’s decree that they made their move, it was because God had said centuries before that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem, “But you, Bethlehem Ephrata, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.” (Micah 5:2).

Here, in this small, unknown, unimportant corner of the world, God chose to fulfill his plans.  It is no accident that the Messiah, the heir to David’s throne, would be born in the City of David.  God’s plan is flawless, right down to the smallest detail.  But Mary and Joseph were probably not thinking about all of that. All they knew was that the baby had finally come and that their lives would never be the same.

God works in our lives, sometimes in the most unforeseen ways.  We do not know his purposes nor do we understand all the details of his plans.  What we do know is that our God is faithful, that he keeps his word, and that everything, and I do mean everything, he promises, he brings to pass.

The birth of Jesus on that night to Mary and Joseph marked the soon-to-be culmination of God’s plan to save and reconcile mankind.  In the form of a helpless baby, the omnipotent God came to help helpless man.  In order to save us, he became one of us.  What could be more confusing to human reason?  The ministry of Jesus would reveal his care for the “least of these.”  He will always preach and proclaim that “the last will be first, and the first, last.”  What better demonstration of this than for the Son of God to be born to an unknown couple, in an obscure part of an obscure city, surrounded by animals, and visited by shepherds who had no social standing and were counted as those living on the fringe of society?

And so, here we are.  Mary and Joseph are now parents to the baby Jesus.  God has entrusted them with the care of his son and given them the responsibility of caring for him, teaching him, and bringing him into manhood. What an assignment!  We know that God will not place on us more than we can bear which means he trusts us, even when we don’t understand his actions.  What has God entrusted to your care today?

No Room

E

xpectant parents the world over go through the same ritual as the time for the birth of their child draws ever nearer.  Baby clothes are bought and stored away, a plethora of “must-have” toys are purchased, and the all-important crib is selected, taken home, and assembled.  The nursery is prepared with a fresh coat of paint, a rocking chair, a bassinette, a changing table and whatever else the soon-to-be parents can fit into the room.  Grandparents, aunts, uncles, friends, etc. also get into the act and before long, enough items have been purchased and stocked to supply the young couple and their child well into first year of life if not further.

As if this weren’t enough, parties are given in honor of the couple and more gifts are showered upon them.  The preparation for the arrival of the newborn child gets underway extremely early and the hardest part is waiting for the child to show up so all these things can be put to use.

The last half of Luke 2:7 stands in stark contrast to today’s ritual of preparing for the arrival of a newborn. Luke tells us “She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.”  Instead of a nursery, Mary had a stable. Instead of a crib, Mary had a manger.  Instead of new clothes, Mary used strips of cloth.  Instead of family and friends, Mary had only herself and Joseph.  And yet, unknown to the world, the Messiah, the King of Kings had been born. God’s promise was fulfilled.

Instead of making everything perfect for the child, God made the child perfect for us. In that manger, nestled in the hay, was the bread of life.  Bethlehem means “house of bread” so how fitting that the one who would bring us spiritual manna should be born there. 

Mary and Joseph used a stable because there was no room anywhere in town.  And yet, shepherds, wise men, the local town’s people, and millions of people since have found room in their hearts for the Messiah.  And how about you?  Is there room in your heart today for the child born in Bethlehem?

Another Purpose

W

hen I was a little boy, I hated going to the doctor.  Not that I love going now, but I really hated it then.  My only concern is whether or not the nurse would stick my finger in order to check my hemoglobin.  This singular event ruined my entire day and left me in a state of perpetual fear. I asked my mom over and over again if my finger was going to be stuck, knowing full well the answer would be yes.  I felt that the entire reason for my appointment was for the nurse to stick my finger when in reality there was another purpose, making sure I was in excellent health.

God always has another purpose, a purpose we don’t see or understand, for placing us into the various circumstances in our lives.  We see the difficulty but God sees the end result!!  It is that way for Mary and Joseph as they travel along the road from Nazareth to Bethlehem.  Yesterday we focused on the arduous journey and the long and winding road leading to Bethlehem.  Today, we will see that there is a dual purpose for the journey.  There is Joseph’s perspective and then there is God’s.

In Luke 2:5 we read, “He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.”  Please notice the purpose of Joseph’s visit. He goes to Bethlehem to register in accordance with Caesar’s edict.  Although we are told that Mary is expecting, at no place in this passage is it stated that Joseph took Mary to Bethlehem in order to give birth.  While the possibility of Mary giving birth may certainly have been on Joseph’s mind, and probably weighed heavily on it; it was not his purpose for her to give birth in Bethlehem.  Joseph certainly intended to register and return home as quickly as possible.

As we shall see tomorrow, God’s purpose was very different.  Bethlehem was the goal, the place where Jesus would be born and the world would forever change.  Already in Bethlehem, the shepherds who will hear the angels’ message are tending their flocks.  In the Far East, the wise men who will eventually make their way westward following a star are going about their daily lives not knowing the role they will lay in such a short time.  Herod is alive, and somewhere, in towns and villages all across the region, the men who will become Jesus’ twelve disciples are growing up or are soon to be born.  John the Baptist has already been born and Pontius Pilate, the governor who will condemn this child to death, is pursuing his political career.

Yes, they are all accounted for and Joseph must take Mary to Bethlehem to fulfill the purpose God has for him.  This is our encouragement today.  God has a purpose for all of us, for me and for you.  We cannot always see that purpose but when the time is right, God will reveal that purpose and we will understand the reason for it all.

Wherever you are today in your journey with the Lord, understand this that whatever you understand about your circumstances there is another purpose behind them that God is using to get you into position for him to use you.  Just keep walking!!

The Long and Winding Road

O

ne of the last songs recorded by the band, The Beatles, was entitled The Long and Winding Road.  While completely removed from the Christmas story, the image of a long and difficult journey is most appropriate for today’s devotional.

In Luke 2:4 we read, “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.” This verse has been read hundreds of thousands of times over the centuries and yet we can find within it fresh insight and encouragement for our journey today.

The road from Nazareth to Bethlehem represented an 80 mile journey.  On a good day, a man leading a donkey could cover approximately 20 miles before retiring for the evening.  This would mean that the journey could be done in 4 days.  Let’s put this into perspective, shall we?  Yesterday I put 60 miles on my car in the space of just 2 hours.  So, 80 miles for us could be just a normal day’s journey.  I can fly 1000 miles in a little over 2 hours and I can be half way around the globe in less than a day.  So, 80 miles doesn’t really affect us, or does it?

Let’s see if we can understand Mary and Joseph’s circumstances.  Mary is 9 months pregnant and almost ready to give birth. Even today, physicians discourage women who are close to term from travelling great distances.  Mary must ride on the back of an animal over roads that are not paved.  I imagine that the donkey didn’t have great shock absorbers and that she felt every dip and bump in the road.  Moreover, there were no hotel chains along the way to offer them comfortable lodging for the evening.  They may have had to sleep on the ground and for a woman at full term, sleep in a good bed is still a challenge.

But the passage says that Joseph went up to Bethlehem.  Despite the circumstances, despite the throngs, despite lack of comfort, Joseph went to Bethlehem.  And during the long journey which could have taken more than a week, God cared for them, provided for them, and kept watch over them because he had a purpose for their lives.

We have this same assurance.   God watches over us and cares for us.  His purpose, while unknown to us, can be trusted and he will ensure we arrive at our destination intact, on time, and ready to be used for his purpose.  In Isaiah, 55:8 the prophet reminds us that God’s ways are not our ways and his thoughts are not our thoughts.  Mary and Joseph do not know what awaits them at the end of the road, but God is already there.  The same is true for us today.  Who knows where your road will lead?

Everyone's Invited

T

iming is everything! How often have you hear or said these words?  In today’s world, it is all about timing.  We run our lives by the clock.  Don’t believe me?  Just count the number of clocks in your house.  We are so enamored with time, we even strap clocks to our wrists and are constantly looking at them throughout the day. There is a time to get up, a time to get dressed, a time to eat, a time to leave for work, a time for lunch, etc.  The list just goes on and on. We like to believe that we control time but in reality, time controls us.

It was no different for Mary and Joseph.  No, they didn’t have clocks all around their home and Joseph, as far as we know, didn’t have a designer-label sundial attached to his wrist.  But time played an important factor in their lives.  However, the timing affecting their travel to Bethlehem was under God’s design and control.

Luke 2:6 tells us the following, “While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born…”On the surface this seems to be a very matter-of-fact statement.  We know Mary is pregnant and we know that their journey takes place just prior to the birth of Jesus.  But look very closely within this passage and locate the most important word, time.

The purpose of the journey now takes on a different air.  Joseph took Mary to Bethlehem in order to register for Caesar’s census.  But while they were in Bethlehem, the alarm on God’s clock sounded. From Joseph and Mary’s perspective, the time could not have been worse.  They are not at home.  Friends and loved one’s are not with them and the location of Christ’s birth is anything but what they had imagined it would be.

This is the way God works.  We have our time; he has his.  His timing is always perfect and always serves his purpose.  We may not understand—and in fact we usually won’t—his timing or the reasons for the circumstances he orchestrates; but rest assured that God knows exactly what he is doing and has selected both the time and place for his will to be accomplished.

Remember today as you go down life’s road that God is in full control of your life.  The little twists and turns, the detours, and the awkward and unseemly places into which you journey, are all hand-picked and designed by a loving father. The purpose he has for you may not be evident now, but when the time comes, he will work out his will for your life.  What is God up to?  Only time will tell!

On The Move

T

oday is the 17th of December and, in case you are wondering, there are now only 8 days left until the big day which means you only have 7 days to make your final preparations.

At this time of year, people are in constant motion, running here and there with greater fervor and focus than at any other time of the year.  That seems to be the mantra of almost anyone to whom you speak.  “I gotta go” or “I’ve got to get all this shopping done” or better yet, “Where has the time gone?”

For the next several days we will be taking a journey through the first 20 verses of Luke 2.  We will take a look at the shepherds, the wise men, and all the circumstances regarding our Lord’s birth and the purpose for his coming to earth.  So, let’s get started.  I invite you to open your Bible and join me with the opening verse of Luke 2.

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world.  You want to talk about movement?  The entire known world was in flux with people packing up all they had to report to their various destinations to be counted and recorded.  What a time that must have been when everyone, and I mean everyone, was going somewhere with no time to spare. 

Joseph and Mary pack up and head to Bethlehem to comply with Caesar’s demand that entire world be recorded.  What lesson are we to learn from this brief passage?  What could God have possibly packed into these 19 words that will help us today?  A lot.

In life, we are seldom in control of our circumstances. Things happen, events occur, and unforeseen situations rear their ugly heads at the most inopportune times.  It was the same with Joseph and Mary.  The day before Caesar’s decree, everything was normal; but the next morning, their world changed.  Joseph had to take his very pregnant wife from their home to the town of Bethlehem to register his family.

Joseph, in all likelihood, was not thrilled about traveling in the first place and he was most certainly concerned about Mary who was due to give birth very soon.  But the circumstances of life dictated that he go to Bethlehem and to Bethlehem he went.

Here is our lesson for today.  God is in control of our circumstances.  We may not understand the events surrounding us and we may not comprehend why we have to move when it would be easier to stay put. But had Abraham never moved there would have been no Isaac.  Had Moses not been moved, there would have been no Exodus.  Had David not moved into the valley, there would have been no victory over Goliath.   We could go on and on but the lesson is the same.  In order for God to bless us and use us, he sometimes will require that we move, leaving everything behind, heading toward a destination and events we do not know or fully understand.  Whatever the circumstance, to receive God’s best, we must move.

And so, we leave Mary and Joseph on the road to Bethlehem, traveling over a rocky road, in the dry and arid climate, on their way to fulfill God’s promise that he would send a deliverer to save mankind. Does God have you on the move today?  If so, get ready for him to do great things both in you and through you

The Spider's Web

D

uring the summer months of 1991, I was doing final coursework for my teaching certification.  I took the courses at Appalachian State University, in Boone, North Carolina. Boone is a small college town nestled in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The town is not far from the Blue Ridge Parkway, one of the prettiest stretches of highway in the entire country.

One of my courses focused on presenting instruction, including the making of lesson plans and the delivering of a specific body of knowledge to my students.  A large portion of teaching involves reflection on the material being taught and the way the teacher intends to deliver it.  The teacher must know what the outcome will be so that all the instruction will be aimed toward that one goal.

Every day we had to keep a journal.  Our instructor wanted us to spend an hour walking in the woods, driving along the Parkway, or looking at a vista.  She then wanted us to reflect on our day and place our thoughts in the journal which she would read at the end of the course.  I wasn’t too sure about this idea at first but I soon learned to enjoy this time and I looked forward to it.

I found a beautiful trail just off the Parkway that wound through a dense grove of trees and ended at a beautiful waterfall.  One afternoon at the waterfall, I sat on a rock and just listened to the falling water.  The sound was almost deafening as hundreds of gallons of water per minute tumbled over the rock outcropping and crashed several feet below.  In the rising mist, not far from the fall itself, I saw a spider methodically building her web.  She was not deterred from her task by the falling water but continued her knitting, piecing together the various parts of her web.

I watched in utter amazement!  Very carefully and expertly, the spider joined one silk thread to another until a finished web emerged. She then climbed to the center of the web to rest and wait.  Her legs were sprawled out in every direction of the web.  Anything flying into the web or brushing against it immediately alerted the spider and she ran to that particular area of the web to take care of business. 

There is a great biblical truth to be found in the spider’s web.  Although the spider is blind, she succeeds in putting together one of nature’s most intricate architectural designs.  She knows exactly how the web is to be constructed and how it will look once it is finished.  That afternoon at the waterfall, the design was lost on me.  I had no idea what the web would look like nor how the spider would put it all together; but when she was finished, it was far prettier and more intricate than I had ever imagined.

God’s ways are just like this. He is always working, always putting things together, and always accomplishing His purposes.  Although we can’t see the end result, God knows exactly what it will be.  This fact is found in Isaiah 46:9-10, “Remember the former things of old, For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me, Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things that are not yet done, Saying, "My counsel shall stand,  And I will do all My pleasure,'”

These are great words of comfort, especially when things in the world seem to be upside down.  We often wonder if everything is falling apart and we also wonder if God is aware of what’s going on!  Rest assured He is.  He knows all that is happening and He is still in control.  If He takes notice of birds when they fall, how much more is He aware of what is happening in the world and in our individual lives?  The last part of this verse reminds us of the immutability of God’s word and that everything is done in accordance with His will.

The next time you have occasion to watch a spider do her work, take a few moments and observe.  In her activity be reminded that God holds the individual threads of your life.  He knows where they should be anchored and in exactly what order they should be joined.  He is busy knitting every facet of your life into an intricate and beautiful piece of architecture that will bring glory and honor to Him.  What are you learning from the spider’s web today?

Expect Delays

T

he flashing sign on the side of the road offered me little hope.  Traffic had already been heavy due to road construction and now the sign promised that farther ahead, delays could be expected.  Now there is nothing more uplifting when you are in a hurry to get somewhere than being told that delays are not only likely, they are guaranteed.  Faced with this prospect, I determined to enjoy my drive and take the delays, and whatever else came along, in stride.

Not too far past the flashing panel, those wonderful little orange cones came into view and slowly but surely the right-hand lane grew narrower.  Finally, the lane disappeared completely and a three-lane Interstate highway was reduced to two lanes.  As you can imagine, this caused all types of “interesting challenges” as drivers waited until the last possible second to leave the right-hand lane and join those of us trying our best to keep our patience and maintain forward momentum.

If you’ve ever been in a similar situation, and I’ll just bet you have, you understand the frustration that comes with moving along at a snail’s pace down a major highway.  It wasn’t so much that I was frustrated with the drivers attempting to join the slow but steady flow of traffic; instead, I was aggravated with the whole idea of being delayed in the first place.  I was on a schedule and it didn’t include delays on the highway.  I was determined to be at a certain place at a certain time, but the delay in the traffic’s flow completely wrecked that idea.  The delay, however, didn’t prevent me from enjoying my ride; it just altered my arrival time.

It should come as no surprise that in the Christian walk there are slow-downs, detours, delays, and sometime complete halts.  The Scriptures are filled with example after example of times when things didn’t go exactly according to plan.  Time after time we see God halting the forward momentum of His people when they would rather have continued going.  But God’s perspective is so different from ours and He knows when delays and detours are necessary in order to teach us to rely on Him.

One man who knew all about delays was Joseph.  Betrayed and sold into slavery by his brothers, having committed no wrong against them, Joseph’s life in Egypt seemed to be one series of delays after another.  He became a slave in Potipher’s household and just when things seemed to be moving forward at a good pace, bam, there was a roadblock and a detour which landed him in prison.  While he was there, Joseph was place in charge of his fellow prisoners and just when he thought he saw a way out, he was forced to sit through a delay.

This delay is found in Genesis 40:23-41:1, “The chief cupbearer, however, did not remember Joseph; he forgot him…When two full years had passed, Pharaoh had a dream: He was standing by the Nile…” While in prison Joseph successfully interpreted the cupbearer’s dream and requested that when he regained his position that he use his influence with Pharaoh to free Joseph.  As the Scriptures tell us, however, the cupbearer forgot Joseph and he experienced a two-year delay.

But at the end of those two years, Pharaoh had a dream and the cupbearer remembered Joseph.  What seemed like another rejection, another bump in the road, was in fact God’s divine intervention.  He had not forgotten Joseph and the Lord had not caused this delay in order to be cruel or overbearing.  Instead, Joseph had a place of service in the prison that prepared him for service to Pharaoh and to all of Egypt.  When the two-year delay was over, Joseph was raised to second in command over all Egypt and was placed in charge of the entire country.  When the delay was over, was no longer on a two-lane road but on a major highway!

Today you may be experiencing a delay in your walk with God.  It may seem He has forgotten you, that you have been sitting still for the longest time and you wonder if you will ever make any forward progress again.  At times such as these, the temptation is to shut down, withdraw from God and from others, and become easily frustrated.  What you may not realize is that God is way up the road, smoothing out rough places, laying new pavement, or putting in more lanes so that your walk with Him will be better than it has before.  These times are also the times God chooses to test your faith and your reliance on Him.  He knows where you are at all times and will never abandon you.  That day on the road the sign read “Expect Delays!” It did not say “Turn off your car and get out!” 

Remember Me!

T

he last year of high school is one of the most memorable and most challenging for students.  All during the year, students constantly speak of their ardent desire for the school year to end.  They can't wait to receive their diplomas, leave home and family, attend university or get a job, and finally be out on their own.  These sentiments usually last until April and then, as the final six weeks of school approach, they suddenly realize that this portion of life is over.  Frantically, they seek some way of applying the brakes, of slowing life down, and avoiding the inevitable.  The excitement of finishing school and breaking all ties with home is replaced by the anxiety of what the future holds and the fear that they will be forgotten.

One of my former high school students embodied these very emotions with frightening precision.  At the start of his last year he was overjoyed to be finishing school and wanted nothing more than to be done with his studies and his hometown.  Yet, on graduation day, he stood before me with tears in his eyes and streaming down his cheeks asking me over and over not to forget him.  He had this terrible fear that no one would remember him, that his life to that point would have had no significance for anyone. 

This student, however, is not alone.  We all suffer from this same fear.  We are afraid that after we have served our purpose, we will be forgotten, thrown out, discarded, much like we discard containers after we have emptied them of their content.  Such a view of life, though extremely common, fails to take into account God's thoughts toward us.

Genesis 8:1a at first seems to be just an introduction to a new chapter.  But if you read it carefully, you will discover just how much God cares for you.  The opening line of chapter 8 begins with these words, "But God remembered Noah and all the wild animals and the livestock that were with him on the ark..." But God remembered?  No, God never forgot Noah.  He knew where he was and he knew what Noah was doing.  I believe the verse might be better understood if read this way, "But God was thinking about Noah...."  That's right, thinking about him.

Although Noah was locked in the ark without knowing what the situation was on the outside, although he tended the animals day after day and week after week, and although he may have believed God had forgotten him, the scriptures tell us that God remembered him.  God's promise to Noah was that he would be saved and God kept that promise.  All the time Noah spent in the ark seemingly forgotten, he was in the process of being saved and perfected for the purpose God had for him.  God thought about Noah.  He saw him in the ark.  He saw him as he performed his daily duties.  He heard him when he prayed, and he sheltered him during the storm.

God does the same things for us on a daily basis. God thinks about us all the time.  He makes plans for us (Jeremiah 29:11), he knows how many hairs are on our heads (Matthew 10:30), his thoughts toward us cannot be counted (Psalm 139:17-18), he hears our prayers (Psalm 55:17), and he shelters us (Psalm 61:3).  When we consider all that he does on our behalf we understand better what Genesis 8:1a means.  Although it may appear that God has abandoned us and that he has forgotten us in our moment of need, nothing could be farther from the truth.  Isaiah 43:3 assures us that whenever we pass through deep waters or walk through fires God is with us.  It is impossible for him to be with us and forget about us.  It simply will not happen. 

Today as you go about your routine and it seems to you that God is nowhere in sight and that he is very far away, let these words from Isaiah 49:14 -ff comfort and reassure you: "But Zion said, 'The Lord has forsaken me, the Lord has forgotten me.' 'Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne?  Though she may forget, I will not forget you!  See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me."  He who remembers Israel and who keeps all his promises is faithful to remember you today!!

Do You Remember When?

T

he screen saver on my computer is set to scroll through photographs from France, New Mexico, my home in Texas, and my hometown in North Carolina.  There are pictures of family, friends, and familiar places I’ve visited.  As I look at those snapshots, I easily remember the events taking place when I took the photographs.  I remember the places, the people, the weather, the conversation, the smells, and the time of day.  All these return to me as I carefully observe the pictures on my monitor.

Isn’t it funny how a single picture can do that?  One glimpse of the picture and our memories are flooded with sights, sounds, smells, and emotions tied directly to the circumstances caught for all time on film.  Everything around us comes to a grinding halt and for a few moments we are transported back in time, revisiting friends, family, places and events that were important to us.

The Children of Israel had several experiences like this in their history.  The Old Testament is full of examples where God reminded them of their past and how He acted on their behalf.  One such occurrence is found in the Old Testament book of Deuteronomy.  In Deuteronomy 5:15, Moses records these words, “Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and that the Lord your God brought you out of there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm.” 

What a photograph that must have been!  Can you imagine walking through the middle of a sea on dry ground?  Can you imagine the sound of the wind and the height of the water as it formed walls on both sides?  Can you imagine what the people must have felt with the Egyptians behind and the open sea before them?  It is a picture that escapes our ability to fully understand and imagine all the conditions surrounding it.  But the Israelites had been there.  They had witnessed this miracle first-hand and now God wants to make sure they don’t forget!

The passage above, though, does not concentrate on the waves, the water, the wind, the dry ground, or on the Egyptians.  The focus of the verse is not on what happened but on who caused it to happen.  God’s intention is clear.  He wants His people to remember all that He did for them and how He brought them from slavery and bondage into freedom.

As Christians, the message given so long ago by Moses is directly applicable to us.  Too often we pray that God will see us through some type of crisis and when it passes we forget His blessings and His actions on our behalf.  We forget all that God has done for us and only come to Him when we are in trouble or in dire circumstances.  But God would have us remember everything He has done for us in all our circumstances.  Remembering God’s love and protection in our past gives us faith and hope that He will continue to lead us through all our difficulties in the future.

God always brings us out from the slavery of sin into the freedom of His love and grace.  He wants us to remember that He loves us that He cares for us, that we are the apple of His eye, that nothing can touch us without His approval, and that He is aware of all that happens in our lives even when we don’t feel as if He does.  God’s word is sure, His love is constant, and His watchful eyes are always upon us.  We need to remember that today! 

So, how long has it been since you reviewed the photographs of your walk with God?  Why don’t you do that today?  You will hear God whispering to you, “Do you remember when….?”  And He will whisper again, “I do.  I remember everything and every trial we’ve walked through together.  I was there then, I am here now, and I will be with you in the way ahead, no matter what!  Remember!”

Wearing Daddy's Coat

T

he temperature this morning was a chilly 37 degrees!  Finally, it’s beginning to feel like winter, even here in Texas!  So, after my morning routine, it was time to head out the door. So, I went to the hall closet to get my coat.  In the back of the closet hangs the wool overcoat that my dad used to wear when both he and I were younger. He gave it to me and it is one of my most valued possessions.

I remember daddy wearing that coat in the winter time when he had to be outside working.  I can see him still walking up the sidewalk to work wearing this very overcoat to keep him warm against the frigid air and drafty winds.

As I slipped the coat on and fastened the buttons, a sense of warmth and security flooded over me. The weight of the coat reminded me of daddy’ arms that he would wrap around me, making sure I felt safe and secure.  The coat fell below my knees, covering me completely, just like daddy’s love. 

As I stepped outside, the wind was blowing.  My face felt the cool breeze but the rest of me was snug and warm inside daddy’s coat. What a great reminder that although we are over one thousand miles apart, daddy is just as close to me as that coat.  Everywhere I went today, I carried daddy with me!

The writer of Psalm 91 knew exactly what it was like to wear daddy’s coat. In fact, in verse 4 of this Psalm he speaks about God covering us with his wings.  Psalm 94:1 reads, “He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.”

What a wonderful display of confidence and faith in God. It is God who covers us, who protects us, and who provides shelter against all life throws in our path.  In him we find our refuge, in him we find our rest, his faithfulness is never ending, and he is our sure and strong defense.

So, how long has it been since you’ve visited your spiritual coat closet?  How long has it been since you surrounded your self with God’s love, mercy, and grace?  It is cold outside in the world.  Won’t you bundle up with God?  Are you wearing your father’s coat today?

Different Sound, Same Song

M

y favorite piece of classical music is Pachelbel’s Canon in D.  I just can’t seem to get enough of it!  When I hear it, or any portion of it, I immediately stop what I am doing, crank up the radio, sit back, and drink in the wonderful strains pouring forth from the speakers.  I love the work so much that I purchased a CD recording of the Canon played in just about every way imaginable.  That’s right, there is only one song on the whole CD but it is played in so many different ways.

Now you may think I’m just a little odd to buy a CD with only one song on it, but I know what I like.  I have purchased a CD that had a whole slew of songs on it I didn’t like just to listen to the one song I wanted to hear.  To my mind, it is less odd to spend money for what you do like than to purchase what you don’t like.  But hey, that’s just me!

In any event, I’m digressing—back to the Canon.  Every time I hear that CD I am amazed by the many different ways that composition can be played.  Yet, no matter how upbeat the tempo, no matter the composition of the orchestra playing it, and no matter how the particular conductor interprets Pachelbel’s work, one thing remains the same—the music!  It is unmistakable and the telltale notes and sounds of the Canon are readily and immediately recognizable.

The writer of the book of Hebrews would have appreciated my recording of Pachelbel’s Canon.  In one sentence, he encapsulated the one overriding theme of the Scriptures.  This statement is found in Hebrews 13:8, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” Every page of the Bible looks forward to the coming of God’s Messiah and the redemption of the human race.  The writings of the prophets are filled with the refrain, the sacrificial system of the Old Testament speaks about him, and God’s own words promise that He would send a redeemer to restore the relationship between Him and man.

That promise was fulfilled with the coming of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Messiah, the Redeemer of mankind.  Jesus said that his gospel would be preached to the whole world and that his followers would be his messengers.  Since the giving of the Great Commission, the good news of Jesus Christ has gone out to the entire world.  Jesus never taught in any language other than his own and yet the gospel has been recorded and told in almost every language known to man.  Jesus never used radio or television and yet the good news of his salvation is beamed to all points of the globe.  Jesus never had a computer yet through the Internet millions have an opportunity to hear and to learn about God and the salvation He offers mankind through His son, Jesus Christ.

Yes, composition of the orchestra, the means of delivery, and even the tempo of the message may be different than it was in Jesus’ day, but the message is the same.  Jesus Christ is the same today as he was yesterday.  He is the same God present at the creation of the world and the same God reconciling man to Himself on Calvary’s cross over two thousand years ago. He will be the same God tomorrow that He is today.  He will not change.  No matter the method of delivery, by Internet, by radio wave, by television antenna, in French, Spanish, Swahili, Polish, Russian, Italian, Arabic, Hebrews, etc, the message is still the same.  Jesus saves!

Are you a part of this orchestra?  Are you reading the music and playing it so that others can hear?  As Christians, we are called upon to share the gospel with all those around us.  The sound may be different; but the music is still the same!  Are you tuned up and ready to go today?

The Stereo Receiver

I

 was seventeen years old with a little bit of money in my pocket which I had received from family and friends for my birthday.  My intention was to hold onto the money and save it.  Ah, the dreams of youth!!!  The money lasted just over a week and then I saw something I simply had to have and I had exactly enough money to pay for it.

One of my good friends from high school and I had gone to eat and on the way home we stopped by one of the popular shopping malls in our area.  There was nothing in particular we were looking for which meant that anything we saw was game for purchase—a very dangerous prospect indeed.

We wondered into a large department store, and, as most seventeen-year-old boys do, we found ourselves looking at stereo equipment.  There were all kinds of systems on display.  Some of them could only be purchased as a complete system while others could be purchased one piece at a time allowing the owner to build and tailor the stereo to his own specific needs and wants.  For this reason, the systems were known as component systems and they represented one of the first rites of passage from teenager to adult.

In the middle of the display area, the store had a special promotion.  They were selling a receiver and speakers for just under $100.  As luck would have it, this is the amount of money I had saved and had promised myself I would hold on to but that stereo looked and sounded wonderful.  Needless to say, I buckled and gave in.  I went home, took my savings out and drove back over to the mall and purchased the receiver and the speakers.  I placed them in the trunk of my car and headed home.

It only took about 20 minutes to assemble the receiver and speakers once I selected a place for them in my room.  There were boxes on the floor, plastic wrap thrown across the beds, and speaker and antennae wires running across the room.  The place was a wreck but it sounded fantastic.  I was happy with my purchase and as time progressed my parents helped me add to the system until it was complete.

Each time a new component was added I would open the box, remove it, and wire it to the receiver.  No matter how many pieces I added, they all had to be wired to the receiver.  Without the receiver, the rest of the stereo was of no value.  Every device sent its signal to the receiver which in turn made it possible for everyone in the room---or depending on the volume, the entire house—to hear whatever music I chose to play.  The receiver was the heart and the center of my system and without it, there would have been no sound, no music, no anything.

In Acts 17:28, Luke reminds us of the important place Jesus must hold in our lives.  He underlines the importance of making him the centerpiece, the very heart of our existence.  Luke pens this reminder with the following words, “For in him we live and move and have our being.' As some of your own poets have said, 'We are his offspring.”

This passage comes from Paul’s speech at the Areopagus in Athens where he was asked to explain his teaching.  Paul pointed out that the men and women of Athens were very religious.  They had erected altars to several deities, even one to “An Unknown God.”  It was this “unknown God” that Paul explained to those listening that day.  He explained that God was the creator of all things and did not live in any temple made by human hands.  Instead, He was the central point of all creation and of all existence and He was much closer than they imagined.

From that point, Paul continued explaining about the coming of Jesus and how he died for all men and how all those who believe in him would have life everlasting.  But the central truth Paul wanted to communicate was that Christ must be the center of our lives.  We must remain plugged into him if we are to reach those around us for God.  As long as we remain connected to Jesus, our lives have purpose and our message is communicated.  However, if we lose contact with him, if we try to send our own message without him, we become as useless as a speaker or a stereo component detached from the receiver.  Our witness simply will not work. This leaves us but one question to consider today.  Are we connected to Christ and is his message getting out through us?