“I am committed to loving God and loving others.” - from Believe 365-Day Devotional by Randy & Rozanne Frazee

At this time of year even we Christians, who know that the reason we celebrate Christmas is to acknowledge the birth of the Jewish Messiah and our Savior, get caught up in shopping and buying gifts for friends and loved ones as or a visible show of our love.  The gifts we give, while given sincerely are rarely sacrifices for us.  We’ll charge the purchase to our credit cards, create new installment loans, borrow from friends and family so that the cost of the gift really isn’t a big sacrifice at the time.  

I recommend that you read the short story “Gift of the Magi” by O. Henry for a beautiful picture of sacrificial giving at Christmas.  It’s the story of a young married couple  and how they deal with the challenge of buying secret Christmas gifts for each other with very little money.

In summary , as Christmas approaches, Jim and Della don’t have much money for bills, much less gifts. Jim has a gold pocket watch that was once his dad’s, Della has long, beautiful hair, and they both have an idea! Della cuts her hair and sells it so she can buy Jim a chain for his watch. Jim sells his watch in order to purchase some nice combs for his wife’s lovely hair.  

Although Jim and Della are now left with gifts that neither one can use, they realize how far they are willing to go to show their love for each other, and how priceless their love really is.
The story ends with the narrator comparing the pair's mutually sacrificial gifts of love with those of the Biblical Magi.

Both Jim and Della gave up their most prized possession for each other. What a precious picture of one human being’s sacrificial love for another!

​God gave His Son so that His Son could then give His life  to save mankind from the penalty of sin which is death.

John 3:16 (NLT)16  “For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

Romans 6:23 (NLT)23  For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.

Think about it.  If you were asked to give your child as a sacrifice to anybody for anything would you do it?  Well God did.

The Greatest Sacrifice 

The cross is the ultimate picture of Jesus’ profound, sacrificial, and life-giving love for us sinful human beings.

1 Peter 2:24 (NLT)24  He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By his wounds you are healed.
John 15:13 (NLT)13  There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

1 John 3:16 (NLT)16  We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters.

Think back over your life.  What sacrifices have you made to show God your great love for Him?
                        
What opportunity do you have this week to show your heavenly Father that you love Him? Put that love into action and ask God to teach you how to better love Him with all your heart, soul, and strength.

The Greatest Gift Cost the Giver Everything
By Rick Warren

The greatest gift you’ve ever been given wasn’t bought in a store. No cash exchanged hands. It wasn’t even wrapped.

Yet it cost the Giver everything.

The Bible says God sent his Son to Earth to give you the greatest gift ever. He came to Earth to die and make you right with God. Romans 3:24-25 says, “Out of sheer generosity he put us in right standing with himself. A pure gift. He got us out of the mess we’re in and restored us to where he always wanted us to be. And he did it by means of Jesus Christ. God sacrificed Jesus on the altar of the world to clear that world of sin” (The Message).

Will you accept God’s free gift of salvation? It’s one thing to understand the basics of how to have a relationship with Jesus. It’s another to accept the gift.

I pray you will make that all-important decision today. Here is a prayer you can pray:

Prayer:
“Dear God, I’m scared, but I want to get to know you. I don’t understand it all, but I thank you that you love me. I thank you that you were with me even when I didn’t recognize it. I thank you that you are for me, that you didn’t send Jesus to condemn me but to save me. 

“Today I want to receive the Christmas gift of your Son. I ask you to save me from my past, my regrets, my mistakes, my sins, my habits, my hurts, and my hang-ups. Save me from myself. 

“I ask you to save me for your purpose. I want to know why you put me on this planet. And I want to fulfill what you made me to do. I want to learn to love you and trust you and have a relationship with you. 
~Excerpts from The Greatest Gift Cost the Giver Everything - Daily Hope with Rick Warren - December 23, 2017                                                                                                       

I have preached two sermons and led a Bible Study on worshiping God in Spirit and in Truth (How Do We Worship In Spirit and In Truth,  How Do We Worship In Spirit And In Truth - 2, and Your Worship Is A Weapon In Spiritual Warfare).   In the sermons and the Bible Study I emphasized the fact that worship is our response to God’s presence, and since God is present always we can worship always no matter the time or place.  Worship is not confined to a building or a certain time of day.  Worship can happen anytime even when we don’t feel spiritual.  Worship isn’t about us it’s about God.

That may be the thing that motivated the Magi (wise men) to embark on a long journey just to worship “The King of the Jews”.  

Worship is not only a precious gift to God; it also changes us. Worship puts us in a right position with Christ and adjusts our perspective. It fills our hearts with love for Him and encourages our faith like nothing else can.

No wonder the wise men made such an effort to be where Jesus was. What an honor it is to worship the King, and what a joy it is to love Him! - From 5 Minutes with Jesus by Sheila Walsh​

​Worship the King
by Sheila Walsh, from 5 Minutes with Jesus
​
God is worthy of our worship.

Christmas cards depicting the night Christ was born typically include Mary, Joseph, the baby Jesus, shepherds, a smattering of farm animals, and the Magi, who we refer to as the “three wise men.” Those travelers from the east, however, didn’t actually come until later — probably not until Jesus was a toddler. (Matthew 2:11 tells us they visited the baby in a home, not a stable.) They followed the star of Bethlehem and traveled about nine hundred miles, most likely from Persia, modern day Iran. Why?

They may have been familiar with this prophecy of Balaam, who lived near Persia:

I see Him, but not now; I behold Him, but not near: a star shall come out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel. — Numbers 24:17 ESV

They were educated enough to read the signs, and they knew that this little boy was the promised King. They had said to King Herod,

Where is the newborn King of the Jews?… We have come to worship Him. — Matthew 2:2

We can’t give Christ gold, frankincense, and myrrh the way the Magi did, but we can give Him the greatest gift the wise men offered: the gift of their worship.

Whether we kneel with heads bowed low or we stand with our arms raised high, we declare that He alone is worthy of praise.

Worship is not only a precious gift to God; it also changes us. Worship puts us in a right position with Christ and adjusts our perspective. It fills our hearts with love for Him and encourages our faith like nothing else can.

No wonder the wise men made such an effort to be where Jesus was. What an honor it is to worship the King, and what a joy it is to love Him!

O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord!

Five Minutes in the Word

Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw His star as it rose, and we have come to worship Him. — Matthew 2:2

Because of your unfailing love, I can enter your house; I will worship at your Temple with deepest awe. — Psalm 5:7

Who may worship in Your sanctuary, Lord? Who may enter Your presence on Your holy hill? Those who lead blameless lives and do what is right, speaking the truth from sincere hearts. — Psalm 15:1-2

So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell His disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” He said. They came to Him, clasped His feet and worshiped Him. — Matthew 28:8-9 NIV

I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God — this is your true and proper worship. — Romans 12:1 NIV

Excerpted from5 Minutes with Jesus by Sheila Walsh, copyright Sheila Walsh.
​

In my last post in this series Faith at Christmas, I introduced you to Simeon, the old man that was promised by God that he wouldn’t die before he saw the Messiah.  When Mary and Joseph came to the temple to dedicate Jesus to God Simeon knew right away that this baby was the Messiah (Faith of Simeon).  There was someone else there that day. There was a lady there, a prophetess by the name of Anna. Like Simeon she was well up in age. We don't know much about her but like Simeon she recognized the Messiah and her faith, much like that of the shepherds (Faith of the Shepherds), compelled her to tell others.
​
The people of Israel, especially those who worshiped Yahweh, were anxiously awaiting their Messiah to deliver them from the oppression of Rome.  When He arrived very few recognized Him.  They were looking for a military and political leader who would become a conquering king much like David.  They probably expected Him to arrive with much pomp and circumstance.  But as we now know He was born almost in secret a stable, to a poor peasant family.   

The only Israelites who knew or understood that Jesus was the Messiah, when He was born, were Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, Simeon and Anna.   The Magi knew that He was the Messiah but they weren’t Israelites, they were Gentiles (Faith of the Magi).   All of these people were basically nobodies.  They knew that Mary’s baby, Jesus, was the Messiah because they were told by angels or, as in the case of Simeon and Anna, through some other special revelation.  The common thread through them all was that they all had faith.  The kind of faith that resulted in action.

I’ve written about the faith of Mary, Joseph,  the Magi, the shepherds, and even evil Herod the Great.  In the last post in this series for 2015 let’s look at the faith of this old lady, Anna.  

Who Was Anna?

Luke 2:36-37 (HCSB)36  There was also a prophetess, Anna, a daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was well along in years, having lived with her husband seven years after her marriage,37  and was a widow for 84 years. She did not leave the temple complex, serving God night and day with fasting and prayers.

Everything that we know about Anna is here in these two verses, but there’s enough here to show that she was an extraordinary woman.  

The name Anna means “favor” or “grace.” She is one of only a few women, in the bible identified with the title prophetess.  The others are;  

Miriam, the sister of Moses

Exodus 15:20 (HCSB)20  Then Miriam the prophetess, Aaron’s sister, took a tambourine in her hand, and all the women followed her with ⌊their⌋ tambourines and danced.

Deborah, the judge

Judges 4:4 (HCSB)4  Deborah, a woman who was a prophetess and the wife of Lappidoth, was judging Israel at that time.

Huldah, the wife of Shallum

2 Chronicles 34:22 (HCSB)22  So Hilkiah and those the king had designated went to the prophetess Huldah, the wife of Shallum son of Tokhath, son of Hasrah, keeper of the wardrobe. She lived in Jerusalem in the Second District. They spoke with her about this.

Isaiah’s wife

Isaiah 8:3 (HCSB)3  I was then intimate with the prophetess, and she conceived and gave birth to a son. The LORD said to me, “Name him Maher-shalal-hash-baz,

We know that Anna was at least 84 years or, depending on how you translate the verse, could have been much older.  For example it is also possible to translate the text to mean Anna had lived eighty-four years after her husband died. That would mean Anna was at least 104 years old—if she had married at the age of thirteen. Her exact age doesn't’ really matter.   The point made by Luke is that she was an old lady and that most of her life she was a widow.  We  know that she spent most of her time serving God in the temple complex. Women could not serve in the temple itself but could assist on the temple grounds.   Either way, she had spent most of her life without a husband and after his death she had spent most of her time ministering before the Lord in the temple.

Anna was the kind of widow Paul talked about when he wrote to Timothy about how the church should care for widows who had no children or other relatives to care for them.  

1 Timothy 5:9-10 (HCSB)9  No widow should be placed on the official support list unless she is at least 60 years old, has been the wife of one husband,10  and is well known for good works—that is, if she has brought up children, shown hospitality, washed the saints’ feet, helped the afflicted, and devoted herself to every good work. ​

Let’s set the stage for Anna Meeting the Messiah

Luke 2:21-24 (HCSB)21  When the eight days were completed for His circumcision, He was named Jesus—the name given by the angel before He was conceived.22  And when the days of their purification according to the law of Moses were finished, they brought Him up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord23  (just as it is written in the law of the Lord: Every firstborn male will be dedicated to the Lord)24  and to offer a sacrifice (according to what is stated in the law of the Lord: a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons).  

As I wrote in my last post there was nothing unusual about Mary and Joseph’s dedication of Jesus because the law required that Jewish parents bring their new babies to the temple, to offer a sacrifice and dedicate their child to God.    

Now, let’s use our “sanctified imagination”

Luke 2:25-35 (HCSB)25  There was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout, looking forward to Israel’s consolation, and the Holy Spirit was on him.26  It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he saw the Lord’s Messiah.27  Guided by the Spirit, he entered the temple complex. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to perform for Him what was customary under the law,28  Simeon took Him up in his arms, praised God, and said:29  Now, Master, You can dismiss Your slave in peace, as You promised.30  For my eyes have seen Your salvation.31  You have prepared ⌊it⌋ in the presence of all peoples--32  a light for revelation to the Gentiles and glory to Your people Israel.33  His father and mother were amazed at what was being said about Him.34  Then Simeon blessed them and told His mother Mary: “Indeed, this child is destined to cause the fall and rise of many in Israel and to be a sign that will be opposed--35  and a sword will pierce your own soul—that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”  

Simeon had just picked up the infant Jesus and pronounced a prophetic blessing on Him.  Luke says at that very moment, meaning instantly, Anna who may have been standing nearby heard him.  Maybe she knew Simeon because they were both constantly around the temple so she knew him to be, as Luke described him, righteous and devout” and that he to was looking for the Messiah.  I imagine that he told people that God had promised that he would see Him.  On hearing Simeon’s prophecy Anna would have surely taken notice.  

Luke 2:36-38 (HCSB)36  There was also a prophetess, Anna, a daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was well along in years, having lived with her husband seven years after her marriage,37  and was a widow for 84 years. She did not leave the temple complex, serving God night and day with fasting and prayers.38  At that very moment, she came up and began to thank God and to speak about Him to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.  

Anna would have known of the prophecies of the coming Messiah and that the promises of Israel’s deliverance and future blessing depended on His coming.  She, like Simeon, and certainly countless others were longing to see Him.  

Isaiah 7:14 (HCSB)  Therefore, the Lord Himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive, have a son, and name him Immanuel.

Isaiah 9:1-7 (HCSB)1  Nevertheless, the gloom of the distressed land will not be like that of the former times when He humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali. But in the future He will bring honor to the Way of the Sea, to the land east of the Jordan, and to Galilee of the nations.2  The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; a light has dawned on those living in the land of darkness.3  You have enlarged the nation and increased its joy. ⌊The people⌋ have rejoiced before You as they rejoice at harvest time and as they rejoice when dividing spoils.4  For You have shattered their oppressive yoke and the rod on their shoulders, the staff of their oppressor, just as ⌊You did⌋ on the day of Midian.5  For the trampling boot of battle and the bloodied garments of war will be burned as fuel for the fire.6  For a child will be born for us, a son will be given to us, and the government will be on His shoulders. He will be named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.7  The dominion will be vast, and its prosperity will never end. He will reign on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish and sustain it with justice and righteousness from now on and forever. The zeal of the LORD of Hosts will accomplish this.

Then all of a sudden here He is!  

Think about it.  This old lady who had been hanging around the temple for more than 80 years  was blessed to be one of only a handful of people, at that time, to know and understand the significance of Jesus’ birth.  
Anna may just have been another old woman hanging around the temple but she was obviously special to God.  She believed and loved God so much that she spent most of her life around the temple.   She held on to God’s promise of a Messiah. Very few people had the opportunity to see, and know they had seen, the promised Messiah even before He started His ministry, even before he started talking and walking.  Because of her faith Anna was one of those people.  ​

You can be an Anna

Anna can be an example to you, especially if you’re a woman in ministry.  People may not think you’re important, that all you can do is cook the meal for fellowship after service;  be a member of the Pastor’s Aid Committee; serve in the Nursery, or be the church Secretary.  That may be what people thought about Anna as she was ministering at the temple.   She helps the priests and the other Levites, staying in the place that the religious establishment had assigned to her.  Yet God used Anna because of her faithfulness to be one of the first and most enduring witnesses to Christ.  

Luke 2:38 (HCSB)  At that very moment, she came up and began to thank God and to speak about Him to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem. (Bold mine)

Luke says that Anna was a prophetess and that’s what a prophetess does she delivers the Word of God about redemption.  She, like the shepherds and the disciples, who will follow her, was driven to bear witness to what she has seen. Anna was one of the first to understand and proclaim the good news (gospel).

Like Anna, you don’t have to do anything spectacular, or be anybody special to be used by God.   You just have to be available.  That starts with a longing to know God and to love Him.  To know and love Him you must know and love His Son, Jesus, The Messiah.  

John 3:16 (HCSB)16  “For God loved the world in this way: He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.

John 14:6 (HCSB)6  Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

John 17:3 (HCSB)3  This is eternal life: that they may know You, the only true God, and the One You have sent—Jesus Christ.

Anna’s faithfulness to the first Advent should encourage us to look for the Second Advent.  Anna and all of Israel were expecting their Messiah.  They were waiting for deliverance from Rome.  Anna knew that his child was the promised One.  We see the mess that this world is in today; those of us who love God and His Son Jesus are looking for and expecting the Second Advent.  

The Second Advent will be much different from the First.  This time the Messiah won’t come in secret in a stable in a little dreary town in Israel, with the only people aware of His arrival being His mother and father, a few wise guys, a handful of shepherds, and two old people.  Here is the way He will be announced the next time.

Revelation 1:7 (HCSB) Look! He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, including those who pierced Him. And all the families of the earth will mourn over Him. This is certain. Amen.

1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 (HCSB)16  For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the archangel’s voice, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.17  Then we who are still alive will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and so we will always be with the Lord.18  Therefore encourage one another with these words.

Are you ready for Christ’s Second Advent?

Will you be one of the dead in Christ or one of those still alive and caught up with them?  If you have accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior you will be.  If not you won’t be caught up with Jesus and you will await judgement.  Even if you die before He returns you too will be resurrected but you will like the others not caught up to be with the Lord, and await judgement.  That judgement will be for sin and the penalty for sin is death.  

Romans 6:23 (HCSB)  For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Here is a description of that judgement and it’s penalty;

Matthew 25:41 (HCSB)41  Then He will also say to those on the left, ‘Depart from Me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the Devil and his angels!

Revelation 20:13-15 (HCSB)13  Then the sea gave up its dead, and Death and Hades gave up their dead; all were judged according to their works.14  Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire.15  And anyone not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.
God doesn’t want this for you.  In fact He’s waiting for you to make that decision that will result in eternal life.  

2 Peter 3:9 (HCSB) The Lord does not delay His promise, as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance.
He sent His Son Jesus, the child Anna prophesied about,  to  take the punishment due you for your sin.  All you have to do is admit that you are a sinner and acknowledge that you need a savior.  Here’s how you do that;

Romans 10:9 (HCSB)9  If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

Pray this prayer in all sincerity. Don’t just say it if you don’t really mean it, because if you do you will just be speaking words. But if you are tired of trying to change things in your own power,  and are ready to turn your life over to the One who can change things pray;

“God, I know that I am a sinner. I know that I deserve the consequences of my sin. However, I am trusting in Jesus Christ as my Savior. I believe that His death and resurrection provided for my forgiveness. I trust in Jesus and Jesus alone as my personal Lord and Savior. Thank you Lord, for saving me and forgiving me! Amen!”

​If you prayed this simple prayer, even though Christmas has past this year, you have just received the greatest gift possible, your salvation.  Now like Anna thank “thank God and to speak about Him” and say like Simeon  “For my eyes have seen Your salvation”.

​#6 in the Faith at Christmas series

Imagine for just a minute that you’re fifteen years old.  I know that’s a real stretch for some of us to think back that far, but try. You have just been told that when you reach your 30th birthday you will receive an inheritance.  If you are like most people, with very high expectations, from the time you’re given this news you will be anxiously waiting with very high expectations for that day.  When it arrives you’ll celebrate with a big party, a big spending spree, an extravagant vacation, or all these things plus some that I haven’t thought of.  

​Now consider the case of a guy named Simeon, a man who was born years before the birth of Jesus.  Simeon had been told by the Holy Spirit that he would see Israel’s Messiah before he died.  

Luke 2:25-26 (HCSB)25  There was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout, looking forward to Israel’s consolation, and the Holy Spirit was on him.26  It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he saw the Lord’s Messiah.

He wasn’t told when, just that he would see Him.  Can you imagine the how excited this must have made Simeon?  We don’t know much about Simeon.  He may or may not have been a priest.  We know he was righteous and devout,  a sincere worshiper of God, who almost certainly followed the Law.    

Then one day when he was at the temple something amazing happened.  He saw a young couple who had come to dedicate their baby. Baby dedications weren’t unusual because parents came to dedicate their children everyday.  The Law required that Jewish parents bring their new babies to the temple, to offer a sacrifice and dedicate their child to God.  

Leviticus 12:6-7 (HCSB)6  “When her days of purification are complete, whether for a son or daughter, she is to bring to the priest at the entrance to the tent of meeting a year-old male lamb for a burnt offering, and a young pigeon or a turtledove for a sin offering.7  He will present them before the LORD and make atonement on her behalf; she will be clean from her discharge of blood. This is the law for a woman giving birth, whether to a male or female.  

The young couple that Simeon saw that day was Mary and Joseph, who were rejoicing in the birth of their Son, Jesus.  It’s pretty clear that the Holy Spirit told Simeon that this was the Messiah, the one he had been waiting with such great expectation all these years.  

Luke 2:27-32 (HCSB)27  Guided by the Spirit, he entered the temple complex. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to perform for Him what was customary under the law,28  Simeon took Him up in his arms, praised God, and said:29  Now, Master, You can dismiss Your slave in peace, as You promised.30  For my eyes have seen Your salvation.31  You have prepared ⌊it⌋ in the presence of all peoples--32  a light for revelation to the Gentiles and glory to Your people Israel.

His expectations were based on God’s word as recorded by the prophet Isaiah.

Isaiah 7:14 (HCSB)14  Therefore, the Lord Himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive, have a son, and name him Immanuel.

Isaiah 9:1-7 (HCSB)1  Nevertheless, the gloom of the distressed land will not be like that of the former times when He humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali. But in the future He will bring honor to the Way of the Sea, to the land east of the Jordan, and to Galilee of the nations.2  The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; a light has dawned on those living in the land of darkness.3  You have enlarged the nation and increased its joy. ⌊The people⌋ have rejoiced before You as they rejoice at harvest time and as they rejoice when dividing spoils.4  For You have shattered their oppressive yoke and the rod on their shoulders, the staff of their oppressor, just as ⌊You did⌋ on the day of Midian.5  For the trampling boot of battle and the bloodied garments of war will be burned as fuel for the fire.6  For a child will be born for us, a son will be given to us, and the government will be on His shoulders. He will be named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.7  The dominion will be vast, and its prosperity will never end. He will reign on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish and sustain it with justice and righteousness from now on and forever. The zeal of the LORD of Hosts will accomplish this.

Simeon's expectant hope in the Messiah caused him to live a life of waiting to see Immanuel.  Can you imagine how it must of felt for Simeon to daily go to the temple and come home without seeing the Messiah? He went day after day and nothing, but he didn’t give up.  God had made him a promise and no matter how long it took he continued to look for the Messiah.  He remained faithful to God’s promise.  He didn’t give up just because the fulfilment of the promise was a long time coming.  He believed God.  

Habakkuk 2:3 (HCSB)  For the vision is yet for the appointed time; it testifies about the end and will not lie. Though it delays, wait for it, since it will certainly come and not be late.
Simeon’s faith can encourage you to never forget the promises that the Holy Spirit has spoken into your life.   Simeon went to the temple every day looking for the Messiah and every day went home not having seen Him.  But he remained faithful to God’s promise to him, that he wouldn’t die until he had seen Him, so he continued to go expecting to see the Messiah any day.  That’s the way our faith should operate.  We should expect the answer to our prayers, and the fulfillment of God’s promises to happen any day.​

God has made you promises too!

2 Peter 1:3-4 (HCSB) His divine power has given us everything required for life and godliness through the knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness.4  By these He has given us very great and precious promises, so that through them you may share in the divine nature, escaping the corruption that is in the world because of evil desires.  

He’s promised you eternal life.

John 3:16 (HCSB)16  “For God loved the world in this way: He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.

He’s promised never leave or forsake you.

Deuteronomy 31:3 (HCSB)3  The LORD your God is the One who will cross ahead of you. He will destroy these nations before you, and you will drive them out. Joshua is the one who will cross ahead of you, as the LORD has said.

He’s promised to meet all of your needs.

Philippians 4:19 (HCSB)  And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

He’s promised you eternal security.

John 10:27-30 (HCSB)27  My sheep hear My voice, I know them, and they follow Me.28  I give them eternal life, and they will never perish—ever! No one will snatch them out of My hand.29  My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all. No one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.30  The Father and I are one.”

Are These Promises for You?

These promises are only for those who believe that Jesus was born of a virgin and who believe that He died for their sins, that He was buried and three days later rose from the dead.

If you didn’t believe that then the promises are not for you.  But rejoice, God wants them to apply to you; and He has already put the process in place for that to happen.  He sent His Son Jesus, the child that Simeon held, to the earth  to  take the punishment due you for your sin.  All you have to do is admit that you are a sinner and acknowledge that you need a savior.  Here’s how you do that;

Romans 10:9 (NKJV)   that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

Pray this prayer in all sincerity. Don’t just say it if you don’t really mean it, because if you do you will just be speaking words. But if you are tired of trying to change things in your own power,  and are ready to turn your life over to the One who can change things pray;

“God, I know that I am a sinner. I know that I deserve the consequences of my sin. However, I am trusting in Jesus Christ as my Savior. I believe that His death and resurrection provided for my forgiveness. I trust in Jesus and Jesus alone as my personal Lord and Savior. Thank you Lord, for saving me and forgiving me! Amen!”

This Christmas, remember when you first met Jesus. What was going on in your life? How did you feel after accepting His offer of forgiveness? How has your life changed since that day? Now imagine what it will be like when you finally see Him face to face in heaven.  

What are you looking for this Christmas? If you are looking for the Lord you will not be disappointed.  Like Simeon you can say “For my eyes have seen Your salvation”.  One look into the face of Jesus, and Simeon knew the hope of his life had been fulfilled. One look into the face of our Savior, and we will know the same.  The way he waited for the first coming is a model for how we should wait for the Second Coming.

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 (NKJV) 16  For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.17  Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 

Revelation 1:7 (NKJV) 7  Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen. 


# 5 in the Faith at Christmas series​

Luke 2:8-20 (HCSB)8  In the same region, shepherds were staying out in the fields and keeping watch at night over their flock.9  Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.10  But the angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people:11  Today a Savior, who is Messiah the Lord, was born for you in the city of David.12  This will be the sign for you: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in cloth and lying in a feeding trough.”13  Suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying:14  Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to people He favors!15  When the angels had left them and returned to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go straight to Bethlehem and see what has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.”16  They hurried off and found both Mary and Joseph, and the baby who was lying in the feeding trough.17  After seeing ⌊them⌋, they reported the message they were told about this child,18  and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.19  But Mary was treasuring up all these things in her heart and meditating on them.20  The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had seen and heard, just as they had been told.  

We have heard a lot of sermons about who were the first to learn of the birth of Jesus.  Most of those sermons marvel that the announcement of  the birth of the King of Kings was made to those at the bottom of society's ladder.  

We don’t know much about these shepherds.  We don’t know their names, or how many of them there were.  What we do know was that in those days, shepherds had no authority, influence, or power. After this mention in Luke we never hear of them again.  But the truth is that the shepherds play a major role in the Christmas story.   Their actions upon hearing the announcement of Jesus can be an example for us as we celebrate the birth of Christ.  This Christmas, the Word of God encourages us to celebrate with a shepherd’s faith.​

What Happened that Night?  

God has a purpose for everything so we can be sure that He had a  reason for having this announcement made to these specific shepherds.  

In Jewish tradition as revealed in writings called the Mishnah (the first major written redaction of the Jewish oral traditions known as the "Oral Torah". It is also the first major work of Rabbinic literature. - Wikipedia)  there was the belief that the Messiah would be revealed from the Migdal Eder ("the tower of the flock"). This tower stood close to Bethlehem on the road to Jerusalem, and the sheep that pastured there were not the type used for ordinary purposes. The shepherds working there, in fact, took care of the temple-flocks, the sheep meant for sacrifice.

The sheep these shepherds watched would have probably been used as sacrifice animals at the temple in Jerusalem, which was not far from Bethlehem.   These men who watched the sheep meant for sacrifice got the news about the Lamb who would take away the sins of the world through His death and resurrection.  Think about that.

These shepherds were quietly doing their jobs  when suddenly an angel appeared to them. I'm not surprised they were afraid!  In most of the instances in the bible when angels appeared to men, live and not in a dream, it was by surprise and resulted in fear or panic.  

Daniel 10:4-9, 10-12 (HCSB)4  On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was standing on the bank of the great river, the Tigris,5  I looked up, and there was a man dressed in linen, with a belt of gold from Uphaz around his waist.6  His body was like topaz, his face like the brilliance of lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and feet like the gleam of polished bronze, and the sound of his words like the sound of a multitude.7  Only I, Daniel, saw the vision. The men who were with me did not see it, but a great terror fell on them, and they ran and hid.8  I was left alone, looking at this great vision. No strength was left in me; my face grew deathly pale, and I was powerless.9  I heard the words he said, and when I heard them I fell into a deep sleep, with my face to the ground.10  Suddenly, a hand touched me and raised me to my hands and knees.11  He said to me, “Daniel, you are a man treasured ⌊by God⌋. Understand the words that I’m saying to you. Stand on your feet, for I have now been sent to you.” After he said this to me, I stood trembling.12  “Don’t be afraid, Daniel,” he said to me, “for from the first day that you purposed to understand and to humble yourself before your God, your prayers were heard. I have come because of your prayers.  

Luke 1:11-13 (HCSB)11  An angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the altar of incense.12  When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and overcome with fear.13  But the angel said to him: Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will name him John.

But as in those instances the angel talking to the shepherds calmed them by telling them to not be afraid because he had “good news”.  He told them that this “good news” will be for “all people.”, even those at the bottom of society’s ladder.

Here’s where their faith takes over.  They didn’t sit around trying to figure out what all this meant and why they, lowly shepherds, got this news.   They didn’t debate the meaning of what the angels said.  They didn’t discuss whether it was true or not.  They didn’t think about the meaning of the words that were spoken.  They didn’t seek out officials to justify their faith in what they had heard.  They heard the Word of God by faith and any thought of who they were in the hierarchy of society was left behind, and they went immediately to Bethlehem. The scripture says they left right away.  They heard God’s Word and they acted.  That’s faith.  

But let’s not stop there, unlike the Magi they didn't have a star to guide them.  All they knew was “a baby wrapped snugly in cloth and lying in a feeding trough”.  So they probably had to go throughout  Bethlehem looking for a baby in a feeding trough.  Can you guess what people must have thought about some dirty shepherds going through town looking in people’s stables for a baby?  It didn’t matte;r they keep looking until they found Him.  

Luke 2:16 (HCSB)16  They hurried off and found both Mary and Joseph, and the baby who was lying in the feeding trough.

They didn’t keep the fact that they had found and seen the “Savior, who is Messiah the Lord” a secret.  They told everybody that they saw.

Luke 2:20 (HCSB)20  The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had seen and heard, just as they had been told.

Luke 2:17-18 (HCSB)17  After seeing ⌊them⌋, they reported the message they were told about this child,18  and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. ​

Do you have shepherd’s faith?

The shepherds’ response to the birth announcement and to the newborn Savior revealed hearts of faith that trusted in the words and promises of God.
The message that the angels told the shepherds is the Lord’s message for you.  The baby that the shepherds found in a feeding trough in Bethlehem would one day, years later,  be nailed to a cross where he would pay for your sins and washed away your guilt in his blood. There was another announcement made, by an angel, over 30 years later.

Matthew 28:5-6 (HCSB)5  But the angel told the women, “Don’t be afraid, because I know you are looking for Jesus who was crucified.6  He is not here! For He has been resurrected, just as He said. Come and see the place where He lay.

Do you have this kind of shepherd’s faith; the kind of faith that believes in God’s personal love for you even if you are at the bottom of society’s ladder; even if you’ve done despicable things from which you don’t think you can ever be forgiven? Do you accept God’s love?  If you do pray this simple prayer;

“Dear God, I am a sinner and need forgiveness. I believe that Jesus Christ shed His precious blood and died for my sin. I am willing to turn from sin. I now invite Christ to come into my heart and life as my personal Savior.”

If you have just prayed this prayer, in all sincerity, call, text, email, Tweet, change your Facebook status and tell somebody, leave me a comment here or send me an email with this Link.  Then find a bible believing church and start to fellowship with other believers.  Welcome to the family of God.

* #4 in the "Faith at Christmas Series

This is the third post in this series of the faith of people associated with the birth of Jesus.  The first post was “The Faith of Joseph of Nazareth”, the second “The Faith of the Magi”, now the third (and this is the one that I told you would be a shocker) The Faith of Herod..... false faith but faith nonetheless.  Not saving faith but faith nonetheless.  Believing is an integral part of our relationship in God but what's important is how we act on that belief.

 James 2:19 (NKJV) You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe--and tremble!

 The Story

Those of us who know the story know that Herod was visited by the Magi, as described in the previous post, that he asked them to come back and tell him where the baby they were looking for ,“King of the Jews”, was so that he could go worship him.  We also know that wasn’t Herod's intention because when he found out that the Magi had gone home without coming back to him he ordered that all male children in and around Bethlehem two years and under be killed. 

 Matthew 2:1-8 (NKJV) 1  Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, 2  saying, "Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him." 3  When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 4  And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. 5  So they said to him, "In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet: 6  'But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, Are not the least among the rulers of Judah; For out of you shall come a Ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel.' "
7  Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared.
8  And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also."

Matthew 2:12 (NKJV)  Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way.

Matthew 2:16-18 (NKJV) 16  Then Herod, when he saw that he was deceived by the wise men, was exceedingly angry; and he sent forth and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the wise men.
17  Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying: 18  "A voice was heard in Ramah, Lamentation, weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, Refusing to be comforted, Because they are no more."

Who was Herod the Great

 From thestoryofjesus.com  

 HEROD was not a personal name, but the family surname. It belonged to all the generations of the Herodian house. Much confusion has arisen because this simple fact has not been understood.

 HEROD THE GREAT was born in 72 BC and died in 1 BC. He bore the titles of "Herod the King" and "King of Judea". Herod the Great was greatly stirred when the Magi announced the birth of some great king in his kingdom.

The slaughter of all the children in Bethlehem was not out of character for him, as he had murdered many in his own household in order to make his position secure. Before his death he had all the prominent Jews in his territory arrested and put into the hippodrone at Jericho, with instructions to kill them upon his own death.

Herod ruled from around 37 BC until his death in 1 BC. This is the HEROD who was on the scene at the time of the birth of Jesus.

 Herod’s False Faith

 Micah 5:2 (NKJV)   "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Though you are little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of you shall come forth to Me The One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, From everlasting."

Herod believed, had faith in, this Old Testament Scripture that there would be a king to rule Israel and he feared this king.  Instead of worshiping him he wanted to kill him to protect his position in Israel.  If he didn’t believe then why have all the male children, two and under, in and around Bethlehem killed. 

The Magi Entrance Into the Christmas Story

Matthew 2:1-12 (NKJV) 1  Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, 2  saying, "Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him." 3  When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 4  And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. 5  So they said to him, "In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet: 6  'But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, Are not the least among the rulers of Judah; For out of you shall come a Ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel.' " 7  Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared. 8  And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also." 9  When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. 10  When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. 11  And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 12  Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way.

Who Were the Magi?

This from Grace to You 

The magi first appear in history in the seventh century b.c. as a tribe within the Median nation in eastern Mesopotamia. Many historians consider them to have been Semites, which if so, made them-with the Jews and Arabs-descendants of Noah’s son Shem. It may also be that, like Abraham, the magi came from ancient Ur in Chaldea. The name magi soon came to be associated solely with the hereditary priesthood within that tribe. The magi became skilled in astronomy and astrology (which, in that day, were closely associated) and had a sacrificial system that somewhat resembled the one God gave to Israel through Moses. They were involved in various occult practices, including sorcery, and were especially noted for their ability to interpret dreams. It is from their name that our words magic and magician are derived.

We don’t know how many Magi came and worshiped Jesus Matthew just uses the plural so there were two or more.  According to beliefnet.com, Christian art from the first centuries of the Church shows various numbers of Magi, ranging from 2 to 8.  Matthew records three gifts, gold, frankincense, and myrrh, leading to the thought that each Magi had a gift so there were three but that is purely speculation and really not important to the story.

The Source of the Magi’s Faith – A Star

After the Babylonian exile, many Jews continued to live in the Persian empire. Thus, by the time of Christ's birth centuries later, the Hebrew religion would have long existed in the "east." This might explain how the Magi had knowledge of the Messiah, the King of the Jews. – beliefnet.com 

All attempts to explain the star as a natural phenomenon are inadequate to account for its leading the Magi from Jerusalem to Bethlehem and then standing over the house. Rather, it was a special manifestation used of God both when it first appeared to indicate the fact of Christ's birth, and when it reappeared over Jerusalem to guide the Magi to the place. Since a direct revelation to the Magi is recorded (v. 12), there is nothing improbable in assuming a direct revelation at the beginning to impart the significance of the star. - The Wycliffe Bible Commentary.

Difference between the Magi and the wise men (chief priests and scribes) of Jerusalem

• The Jews had the Old Testament prophecies - The Magi had a star
• The "King" was the "King of the Jews" -  The Magi were surely Gentiles
• The Jews had 7 miles to Bethlehem - The Magi came from afar
• The Jews did not visit Jesus - The Magi did
• The Jewish king Herod sought to kill Jesus - The Magi came to worship, bearing expensive gifts

·         
They disobeyed Herod, going home a different route resulting in the death of many male children two years and under.  

Matthew 2:16-18 (NKJV)16  Then Herod, when he saw that he was deceived by the wise men, was exceedingly angry; and he sent forth and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the wise men.
17  Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying: 18  "A voice was heard in Ramah, Lamentation, weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, Refusing to be comforted, Because they are no more."

Significance of the Magi’s Faith

God revealed the identity of Jesus as Messiah and King of the Jews to Gentiles.  Luke records that Simeon said that  Jesus would be a light of revelation to the Gentiles.

Luke 2:25-32 (NKJV) 25  And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26  And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. 27  So he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when the parents brought in the Child Jesus, to do for Him according to the custom of the law, 28  he took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said: 29  "Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, According to Your word; 30  For my eyes have seen Your salvation 31  Which You have prepared before the face of all peoples, 32  A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, And the glory of Your people Israel."

#2 in the Faith at Christmas Series

It is Christmas week 2014 and the excitement is building for those family traditions, the great food, all the gifts, and for Christians the celebration of birth of our Savoir Jesus.  As Christians we have faith in God and because of our faith in God and His word, along with the indwelling Holy Spirt, we know that Jesus was born of a virgin.  This week, in my next few blog posts, I want to talk about others who had faith in connection with the birth of Jesus.  At least one of these people will surprise you but you’ll find out who that is in a future post.  I’m starting with Joseph.

The Faith of Joseph

Let’s start with what happened when Joseph found out that his fiancé, Mary, was pregnant and not by him.

Matthew 1:18-19 (HCSB) 18  The birth of Jesus Christ came about this way: After His mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, it was discovered before they came together that she was pregnant by the Holy Spirit. 19  So her husband Joseph, being a righteous man, and not wanting to disgrace her publicly, decided to divorce her secretly.

Joseph’s Options

In accordance with the law of Moses;

Deuteronomy 22:13-29 (HCSB) 13  “If a man marries a woman, has sexual relations with her, and comes to hate her, 14  and accuses ⌊her⌋ of shameful conduct, and gives her a bad name, saying, ‘I married this woman and was intimate with her, but I didn’t find ⌊any⌋ evidence of her virginity,’ 15  the young woman’s father and mother will take the evidence of her virginity and bring ⌊it⌋ to the city elders at the gate. 16  The young woman’s father will say to the elders, ‘I gave my daughter to this man as a wife, but he hates her. 17  He has accused her of shameful conduct, saying: “I didn’t find ⌊any⌋ evidence of your daughter’s virginity,” but here is the evidence of my daughter’s virginity.’ They will spread out the cloth before the city elders. 18  Then the elders of that city will take the man and punish him. 19  They will also fine him 100 silver ⌊shekels⌋ and give ⌊them⌋ to the young woman’s father, because that man gave an Israelite virgin a bad name. She will remain his wife; he cannot divorce her as long as he lives. 20  But if this accusation is true and no evidence of the young woman’s virginity is found, 21  they will bring the woman to the door of her father’s house, and the men of her city will stone her to death. For she has committed an outrage in Israel by being promiscuous in her father’s house. You must purge the evil from you. 22  “If a man is discovered having sexual relations with ⌊another⌋ man’s wife, both the man who had sex with the woman and the woman must die. You must purge the evil from Israel. 23  If there is a young woman who is a virgin engaged to a man, and ⌊another⌋ man encounters her in the city and has sex with her, 24  you must take the two of them out to the gate of that city and stone them to death—the young woman because she did not cry out in the city and the man because he has violated his neighbor’s fiancée. You must purge the evil from you. 25  But if the man encounters an engaged woman in the open country, and he seizes and rapes her, only the man who raped her must die. 26  Do nothing to the young woman, because she is not guilty of an offense deserving death. This case is just like one in which a man attacks his neighbor and murders him. 27  When he found her in the field, the engaged woman cried out, but there was no one to rescue her. 28  If a man encounters a young woman, a virgin who is not engaged, takes hold of her and rapes her, and they are discovered, 29  the man who raped her must give the young woman’s father 50 silver ⌊shekels⌋, and she must become his wife because he violated her. He cannot divorce her as long as he lives

If he confessed he was not the father, Mary would be condemned as an adulteress. If he lied and claimed to be the father, the reputations of all and the qualifications of Jesus as Messiah would be tarnished.

Visit from an Angel

Matthew 1:20-25 (HCSB) 20  But after he had considered these things, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, don’t be afraid to take Mary as your wife, because what has been conceived in her is by the Holy Spirit. 21  She will give birth to a son, and you are to name Him Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.” 22  Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet: 23  See, the virgin will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and they will name Him Immanuel, which is translated “God is with us.” 24  When Joseph got up from sleeping, he did as the Lord’s angel had commanded him. He married her 25  but did not know her intimately until she gave birth to a son. 

His decision was to take Mary as his wife, to keep her a virgin until after the birth of Jesus, and to serve as the father of our Lord, protecting him from danger.

The reason for Joseph’s faith was a message from God, delivered by an angel in a dream.

The Content of Joseph's Faith

His fiancé, Mary, was pregnant in a unique and miraculous way, and this was fulfillment of a prophecy about Israel’s Messiah

Isaiah 7:14 (HCSB) 14  Therefore, the Lord Himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive, have a son, and name him Immanuel.

The reality of Joseph’s faith

It appeared that Mary and Joseph had an illegitimate child, and Jesus was, as such, disqualified from normal access and worship, but the reality was that Jesus was indeed the Son of God, supernaturally conceived by the Holy Spirit, and thus sinless and qualified to bear the sins of mankind.   What is Christmas all about?  There’s your answer.

#1 in the Faith at Christmas Series