What Did Jesus Do?
In him was life, and the life was the light of men.
John 1.4
Having begun the year with the commitment to do all things in and through Jesus Christ (See WDJD for 1/1/11), the “him” in John 1.4, let's think about the year that lies before us. We're all here at the beginning, we could call it point “A,” and far off in the distance, twelve months from now, is point “B,” December 31, the end of 2011. What is yet to be determined is how we are going to get from “A” to “B.” And the “how” makes all the difference as to where the “B” ends up. If we have decided that every step of every day from now through next December will be taken in Christ, we have already ruled out a lot of possible point “Bs.” What we've done in actuality is turn over our life to the “him” in John 1.4, he alone will be the one who will make it possible for us to get from where we are today, to where we need to be 364 days from now.
Determining to walk with Jesus every step of the way in 2011 might not tell us at this very moment exactly where we will be in a year, but, knowing that wherever we will be we will be with him, frees us from any and all worry about the outcome of the next twelve months—being with the Lord is all that matters. At this point I suppose it might be a good idea to say a few words about what the coming year would be like apart from Christ.
For starters, John makes it clear that life, real life, is only found in, through, and with the Word (Jesus Christ). Apart from Jesus one cannot truly be alive. To put it rather crudely, everyone who goes through 2011 without the Lord is really nothing more than a zombie, appearing to be alive while in reality being quite dead. Why is this so? Because life is in “him.” Not some life, but all life is in Christ. Apart from the Lord there is only death. I know it sounds harsh, but wouldn't it be cruel to allow people to operate under the false assumption that there is any chance of life apart from Jesus?
So, choosing to live for, in, and through Jesus this year is to truly choose to live. Regardless of where our starting point, our “A” is in 2011, making the choice to travel every day of the year with Jesus guarantees that when we reach finishing point, our “B” at the end of the year, we will be alive in Christ!
But there's more than life in Christ, there is light, the “light of men.” The importance of this cannot be overstated. What kind of life can we live if we are in darkness? Even more, how could we, in the midst of deep darkness know where we are now, at point “A”? We would be lost. Not knowing where we are, we could hardly begin to make any real progress to where we want and need to be a the end of the year at point “B.” In darkness we can neither know where we are or where we are going. But in the light, we can see exactly where we are now, and the light can show us the precise path we need to follow to get where we need to be.
Again, it is only those who are in Christ who are in the light, everyone else is in darkness, they have no clue, regardless of how detailed a plan they may have worked out, where they are going. To return to that crude label, apart from Jesus people are nothing more than zombies, at best pretending to be alive. And, more, they are zombies doomed to stumble about in utter darkness—in other words dead and lost. I cannot imagine a worse condition.
To receive Jesus, to make him the center and object of each and every one of our days is to have both light and life; it is the promise that, whatever transpires in the next twelve months, we can have complete assurance and confidence in where we will be a year from now. I hope that Jesus, his life and his light, is your choice for 2011.
Before winding up this WDJD I need to digress a moment to comment on the matter of choice. Anyone's “choosing” of Christ rests completely in their election, their being chosen, by the Father to eternally belong to him in and through the Son. No one “chooses” Jesus without the Father having first chosen them. For it is only the ones he has chosen whom the Father sends the gift of the Holy Spirit, the gift of becoming a new creation in Christ Jesus. The capacity to “choose” the Lord is not something we are born with, but rather re-born with. The desire to “choose” Jesus is not something we determine to do on our own, but rather have been determined by the Father to do. In short, it is only the chosen who choose.
The work of the Church is to be the life and the light of Jesus Christ in and for the world. Each one of us who decide to live in and for Jesus every day become vessels by which the Father brings others to the Son—the the dead and the lost to life and light. Jesus, the Word, “lit it up,” and he has called us in turn to be the “light of the world” (Matthew 5.14-16) in order that others now in darkness may come into the light of the Lord. In 2011 let us determine that our light (The light of Jesus) will shine before others, and give glory to our Father in heaven!
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Saturday, January 1, 2011
Jesus Did Everything
What Did Jesus Do?
All things were made through him,
and without him was not any thing made that was made.
John 1.3
In the beginning (To borrow from Genesis and John 1.1) everything depended on Jesus. The Father spoke, but, if he had opened his mouth and there was silence, nothing would have happened, nothing whatever would have come into being. Without the Son, without the Word—let's put it plainly—without Jesus, you've got nothing.
I confess that I have devoted very little time to studying various scientific theories about the origins of the cosmos, and the reason is, none of them include the one absolutely essential ingredient to the creation of anything and everything—Jesus. It doesn't matter what the theory is, what so-called empirical data is offered (As if one could fashion an experiment, or observe actual creation ex nihilo), if Jesus isn't part of the equation, nothing happens; Christ is, if you will, the absolutely necessary catalyst to all things.
So, here at the beginning of a new year, all of us have the opportunity to decide right now if our year is going to be packed full of meaning and purpose, or if it is going to amount to, well, nothing. We can choose, right this very moment, to make Jesus the building block for each and every day of the coming year. Starting and filling each moment, each thought, each word, each action of each day with the Lord, there is no limit to what can happen in 2011. It is pretty simple, really. Either it's all about Jesus, or it's all about, well, nothing.
Think of it this way. Someone spends 365 days of 24/7 effort doing all manner of things without Christ for an entire year. Maybe they build a skyscraper twice as tall as the old Twin Towers of New York. Maybe they invent a plane that travels at the speed of light. Maybe they find a cure for cancer. Take all the accomplishments of that person, and put them in a balance against someone who does one thing in Jesus. The one thing done in and through Christ would tip the balance as sure as an anvil would outweigh a feather. Even the greatest of accomplishments, achieved apart from the Lord, add up to naught in the end. But the smallest of acts, done in and through Jesus Christ, achieves more than we can ever measure.
The question is, what is Jesus going to do this year in and through us? Are we going to set out to make this a Philippians 4.13 year (“I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”), or should we go ahead a write off 2011 right now? Just imagine what it would be like, a year from now, to look back on 2011 and survey 365 days of Jesus making things happen. I dare say, were everything written down that Jesus did in such a year, the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. (See John 21.25). That's what Jesus can do in 2011.
How about it? Are we willing to say, “In the beginning of my 2011 is the Word, and the Word will be with me from this beginning of the year to its ending, and all things in my life this year will be through him, and without him not any thing in my life will be done.” That is a New Year's resolution worth making!
Happy New Year, A.D. 2011—the Year of our Lord 2011!
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4
All things were made through him,
and without him was not any thing made that was made.
John 1.3
In the beginning (To borrow from Genesis and John 1.1) everything depended on Jesus. The Father spoke, but, if he had opened his mouth and there was silence, nothing would have happened, nothing whatever would have come into being. Without the Son, without the Word—let's put it plainly—without Jesus, you've got nothing.
I confess that I have devoted very little time to studying various scientific theories about the origins of the cosmos, and the reason is, none of them include the one absolutely essential ingredient to the creation of anything and everything—Jesus. It doesn't matter what the theory is, what so-called empirical data is offered (As if one could fashion an experiment, or observe actual creation ex nihilo), if Jesus isn't part of the equation, nothing happens; Christ is, if you will, the absolutely necessary catalyst to all things.
So, here at the beginning of a new year, all of us have the opportunity to decide right now if our year is going to be packed full of meaning and purpose, or if it is going to amount to, well, nothing. We can choose, right this very moment, to make Jesus the building block for each and every day of the coming year. Starting and filling each moment, each thought, each word, each action of each day with the Lord, there is no limit to what can happen in 2011. It is pretty simple, really. Either it's all about Jesus, or it's all about, well, nothing.
Think of it this way. Someone spends 365 days of 24/7 effort doing all manner of things without Christ for an entire year. Maybe they build a skyscraper twice as tall as the old Twin Towers of New York. Maybe they invent a plane that travels at the speed of light. Maybe they find a cure for cancer. Take all the accomplishments of that person, and put them in a balance against someone who does one thing in Jesus. The one thing done in and through Christ would tip the balance as sure as an anvil would outweigh a feather. Even the greatest of accomplishments, achieved apart from the Lord, add up to naught in the end. But the smallest of acts, done in and through Jesus Christ, achieves more than we can ever measure.
The question is, what is Jesus going to do this year in and through us? Are we going to set out to make this a Philippians 4.13 year (“I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”), or should we go ahead a write off 2011 right now? Just imagine what it would be like, a year from now, to look back on 2011 and survey 365 days of Jesus making things happen. I dare say, were everything written down that Jesus did in such a year, the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. (See John 21.25). That's what Jesus can do in 2011.
How about it? Are we willing to say, “In the beginning of my 2011 is the Word, and the Word will be with me from this beginning of the year to its ending, and all things in my life this year will be through him, and without him not any thing in my life will be done.” That is a New Year's resolution worth making!
Happy New Year, A.D. 2011—the Year of our Lord 2011!
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Jesus Blessed With Grace And Truth
What Did Jesus Do?
And the Word became flesh, and we have seen his glory, full of grace and truth.
John 1.14
We have noted that words can be hurtful and devastatingly destructive (See WDJD for 12/21/10). It would be hard to calculate how much harm has been done by even careless and thoughtful words, to say nothing of hateful and mean-spirited speech. My wife's grandmother, who used to teach us in Sunday School when we were kids, would tell us, “If you are going to say something bad, bite your tongue first!” Sad to say, I have often ignored her sage advice (Of course, had I heeded it I probably would have chewed my tongue to bits years ago).
Given the abysmal level to which we have sunk as a culture, and the incivility of most conversation these days, I believe emergency rooms would be overflowing with patients with bleeding tongues if everyone were to follow Granny Woodruff's counsel. What pours forth from many mouths today is an all but constant stream of foul, nasty, and wicked words that could blister paint off a battleship.
The Father well understood long ago the awful tendency of humans to assault, insult, murder, and wage war with words. The Father also knew the matchless power of words, specifically the Word, to heal, mend, give life, and establish perfect peace. In answer to the wicked words of the world, the Father made the Word become flesh; and so the Son was born, and dwelt among us, full of irresistible grace and incontrovertible truth. If we could somehow get past the glitz and glitter of the secular, and sadly much of the religious, celebration of Christmas, we might get back to what the day is all about—the birth of the Savior in the person of the Word made flesh.
When we are talking the Word made flesh, words can become powerfully restorative and transformational. When we are talking the Word made flesh, words can become truly liberating and enlightening. When we are talking the Word made flesh, words can become illuminating and life-giving. When we are talking the Word made flesh, words can become redeeming and forgiving. When we are talking the Word made flesh, words can become help-full and hope-filled. When we are talking the Word made flesh, the constructs of grace and truth become incarnate and eternally material.
If all human speech would be seasoned by the grace and truth of the Word made flesh, the world would quickly become a radically different place that it is today. In fact, the Father announced the commencement of the re-creation of the world when he commanded his angel to proclaim what Louis Giglio calls “The Twelve Words of Christmas,”
“A Savior has been born to you. He is Christ the Lord.”
Luke 2.11
Just imagine what conversations would be like if their content was to be informed by these twelve words. For that matter, why don't we try memorizing and meditating on “The Twelve Words of Christmas” every morning, and pray and ask the Father that the Son, the Word made flesh, might fill our speech? How might the conversations in our homes be changed? What might be the impact in our schools? Could workplaces become something different, something more, than places to go and earn a living?
Jesus, the Word made flesh, blessed with grace and truth; should we not likewise bless by taking the Word upon our lips and proclaiming it to all, every where, every day?
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4
And the Word became flesh, and we have seen his glory, full of grace and truth.
John 1.14
We have noted that words can be hurtful and devastatingly destructive (See WDJD for 12/21/10). It would be hard to calculate how much harm has been done by even careless and thoughtful words, to say nothing of hateful and mean-spirited speech. My wife's grandmother, who used to teach us in Sunday School when we were kids, would tell us, “If you are going to say something bad, bite your tongue first!” Sad to say, I have often ignored her sage advice (Of course, had I heeded it I probably would have chewed my tongue to bits years ago).
Given the abysmal level to which we have sunk as a culture, and the incivility of most conversation these days, I believe emergency rooms would be overflowing with patients with bleeding tongues if everyone were to follow Granny Woodruff's counsel. What pours forth from many mouths today is an all but constant stream of foul, nasty, and wicked words that could blister paint off a battleship.
The Father well understood long ago the awful tendency of humans to assault, insult, murder, and wage war with words. The Father also knew the matchless power of words, specifically the Word, to heal, mend, give life, and establish perfect peace. In answer to the wicked words of the world, the Father made the Word become flesh; and so the Son was born, and dwelt among us, full of irresistible grace and incontrovertible truth. If we could somehow get past the glitz and glitter of the secular, and sadly much of the religious, celebration of Christmas, we might get back to what the day is all about—the birth of the Savior in the person of the Word made flesh.
When we are talking the Word made flesh, words can become powerfully restorative and transformational. When we are talking the Word made flesh, words can become truly liberating and enlightening. When we are talking the Word made flesh, words can become illuminating and life-giving. When we are talking the Word made flesh, words can become redeeming and forgiving. When we are talking the Word made flesh, words can become help-full and hope-filled. When we are talking the Word made flesh, the constructs of grace and truth become incarnate and eternally material.
If all human speech would be seasoned by the grace and truth of the Word made flesh, the world would quickly become a radically different place that it is today. In fact, the Father announced the commencement of the re-creation of the world when he commanded his angel to proclaim what Louis Giglio calls “The Twelve Words of Christmas,”
“A Savior has been born to you. He is Christ the Lord.”
Luke 2.11
Just imagine what conversations would be like if their content was to be informed by these twelve words. For that matter, why don't we try memorizing and meditating on “The Twelve Words of Christmas” every morning, and pray and ask the Father that the Son, the Word made flesh, might fill our speech? How might the conversations in our homes be changed? What might be the impact in our schools? Could workplaces become something different, something more, than places to go and earn a living?
Jesus, the Word made flesh, blessed with grace and truth; should we not likewise bless by taking the Word upon our lips and proclaiming it to all, every where, every day?
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4
Friday, December 24, 2010
Jesus Received Gifts
What Did Jesus Do?
Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts...
Matthew 2.11
Christmas is all about gifting, isn't it? I mean, how would the wise men have felt if they had arrived in Bethlehem empty handed, pretty embarrassed to say the least. I wonder, how did they choose what gifts to bring? All of us have wrestled at one time another with the ages old question, “What do you get the man (Or woman, or, in this case, the child) who has everything?” The fact is, Jesus truly does have everything! (See Colossians 1.16) I suppose the gifts the wise men chose to bring were ones they truly believed any king would appreciate, but then this was a king like no other.
While I am sure that Joseph and Mary appreciated the treasures given to their new-born son, I suspect that Jesus would have elected a different gift. When everything has been created through you and for you, well, there can't be to much on your “Christmas list.” Please don't think me silly for thinking about this, because, well, it is Christmas, and (hopefully) many will be going to church today or tomorrow or Sunday, and we don't want to go empty handed anymore than the wise men did. And, I am sure, most of us would like to bring the right gift to Jesus. But, again, what would the Lord of all truly desire from us?
I think there has only ever been one thing Jesus has ever wanted from us. Can you guess? It's us! Jesus, who owns the cattle on a thousand hills, doesn't need clothes, or food, or CDs or DVDs, but, he truly desires our lives and souls. Clothes, come on, Jesus is clothed in the finest raiment. As for food, well the Lord himself said that his food is to do the will of the Father (John 4.34). And, as far as entertainment goes, Jesus has an eternal front row seat for the never ending performance of the host of heaven, do we really thing he needs a CD?
Our lives, however, are something that the Lord has a real use for. With our lives Jesus can glorify the Father. With our lives the Lord can build his Kingdom. With our lives Christ can send the Good News to the ends of the earth. You know, there is a value that can be attached to all treasures. We could figure out just how much the gold, frankincense, and myrrh of the wise men was worth in the day, and in 2010 dollars. Clothing, food, and electronic goodies all come with a price tag on them. But a life, why, I am sure that Jesus would tell us that each one of us is priceless.
While many of us can't afford to go out and buy expensive clothes, or rich foods, or the latest CDs and DVDs as gifts, each of us has a life to spend. Christmas is the prefect time to ask ourselves what or who we will spend our life on. I guarantee, Jesus will be thrilled with the gift of us! And, even if we don't make it to church the next couple of days, there is nothing stopping any of us from saying to Jesus right now, “Lord, from the tips of my toes to the hair on my head; from my skin to the deepest part of my heart; for today, tomorrow, and forever—I'm yours” Imagine, with those simple words we can give Jesus the gift beyond measure, the one thing he wants more than anything in all of creation.
Christmas is all about gifting. On the first Christmas Jesus received gifts. What would Jesus like to do this Christmas? Receive the gift of us.
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4
Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts...
Matthew 2.11
Christmas is all about gifting, isn't it? I mean, how would the wise men have felt if they had arrived in Bethlehem empty handed, pretty embarrassed to say the least. I wonder, how did they choose what gifts to bring? All of us have wrestled at one time another with the ages old question, “What do you get the man (Or woman, or, in this case, the child) who has everything?” The fact is, Jesus truly does have everything! (See Colossians 1.16) I suppose the gifts the wise men chose to bring were ones they truly believed any king would appreciate, but then this was a king like no other.
While I am sure that Joseph and Mary appreciated the treasures given to their new-born son, I suspect that Jesus would have elected a different gift. When everything has been created through you and for you, well, there can't be to much on your “Christmas list.” Please don't think me silly for thinking about this, because, well, it is Christmas, and (hopefully) many will be going to church today or tomorrow or Sunday, and we don't want to go empty handed anymore than the wise men did. And, I am sure, most of us would like to bring the right gift to Jesus. But, again, what would the Lord of all truly desire from us?
I think there has only ever been one thing Jesus has ever wanted from us. Can you guess? It's us! Jesus, who owns the cattle on a thousand hills, doesn't need clothes, or food, or CDs or DVDs, but, he truly desires our lives and souls. Clothes, come on, Jesus is clothed in the finest raiment. As for food, well the Lord himself said that his food is to do the will of the Father (John 4.34). And, as far as entertainment goes, Jesus has an eternal front row seat for the never ending performance of the host of heaven, do we really thing he needs a CD?
Our lives, however, are something that the Lord has a real use for. With our lives Jesus can glorify the Father. With our lives the Lord can build his Kingdom. With our lives Christ can send the Good News to the ends of the earth. You know, there is a value that can be attached to all treasures. We could figure out just how much the gold, frankincense, and myrrh of the wise men was worth in the day, and in 2010 dollars. Clothing, food, and electronic goodies all come with a price tag on them. But a life, why, I am sure that Jesus would tell us that each one of us is priceless.
While many of us can't afford to go out and buy expensive clothes, or rich foods, or the latest CDs and DVDs as gifts, each of us has a life to spend. Christmas is the prefect time to ask ourselves what or who we will spend our life on. I guarantee, Jesus will be thrilled with the gift of us! And, even if we don't make it to church the next couple of days, there is nothing stopping any of us from saying to Jesus right now, “Lord, from the tips of my toes to the hair on my head; from my skin to the deepest part of my heart; for today, tomorrow, and forever—I'm yours” Imagine, with those simple words we can give Jesus the gift beyond measure, the one thing he wants more than anything in all of creation.
Christmas is all about gifting. On the first Christmas Jesus received gifts. What would Jesus like to do this Christmas? Receive the gift of us.
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Jesus Set People Searching
What Did Jesus Do?
Wise men from the east came asking, “Where is the One...”
Herod, assembling the priests and scribes, inquired where the Christ was to be born.
Matthew 2.1-4
The birth of Jesus launched what was nearly a global manhunt, or, more accurately, an infant hunt. From the east, likely Persia, wise men, or Magi (Astrologers), were compelled to follow a star. Guided by his priests' knowledge of the Hebrew Scriptures Herod followed a prophecy. Both the wise men and Herod sought Jesus, but with very different motives. And, motives matter.
The wise men were responding to a deep sense of reverence and awe inspired by a celestial sign—there was a new king. And, though the infant had been born to be “king of the Jews,” the Magi recognized someone greater had come into the world. For his part Herod was responding to a deep sense of insecurity, and fear for his throne--Jerusalem wasn't big enough for two kings to rule the Jews, and Herod was not about to abdicate!
When talking about motives for seeking Jesus I believe it boils down to the two just mentioned. Either we acknowledge in Jesus' complete lordship over all things, including our lives, or we have no place for him because the throne of our life is already occupied by someone or something else.
Christmas is a particularly good time to consider what motivates us to seek Jesus. While many people are devoted to the Lord, and genuinely seek him every day, and worship him passionately and sincerely throughout the year, there are others who go “looking” for Jesus perhaps only at Christmas and Easter because he adds something to their experience of the holidays. These folks don't seek a Savior and Lord so much as an accessory to a life ruled by anyone but Jesus.
This is not to say that everyone who regularly attends Sunday worship throughout the year is necessarily motivated by a desire to adore and glorify and praise their king. Some seek a certain cultural approval that comes from being identified as a “church goer.” Some find it a social time to catch up with friends they don't see during the week. Some go because the church gives them opportunities to do community service and help others, not a bad thing at all, but hardly the worship of the king. There are “idols” that people bring into church every week, and just like ancient Jerusalem, no one's life is big enough for both an idol and Jesus to rule.
The thing about searching after anyone or anything other than Jesus is that, even if we find what we seek, we will sooner or later be disappointed. Not so with those who seek and find Jesus, for Christ never disappoints.
There's a bumper sticker that says, “Wise men still seek Him.” It's true enough, I suppose, but all kinds of people still seek Jesus, just as the Magi sought the newborn king to worship him, while Herod sought after a feared rival whom he wanted to murder. Jesus still sets people searching for him, what we need to do is examine our motives. If not today, Christmas Eve might be a good time to start. Will we be going to worship because we like the candlelight? Will it be the chance to sing some familiar carols? Maybe it will be nostalgia that draws us, as we try to recapture memories from when our parents used to bring us to church once or twice a year. Perhaps we'll go to try and create some memories for our own children. But unless we go to exalt the king, not only of the Jews, but of your life, and affirm that he alone occupies the throne of your heart, we would do well to question our motives.
Jesus set people searching long ago. If he is not yet our king, today would be a great day to seek him; we will find that he has in fact been seeking us!
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4
Wise men from the east came asking, “Where is the One...”
Herod, assembling the priests and scribes, inquired where the Christ was to be born.
Matthew 2.1-4
The birth of Jesus launched what was nearly a global manhunt, or, more accurately, an infant hunt. From the east, likely Persia, wise men, or Magi (Astrologers), were compelled to follow a star. Guided by his priests' knowledge of the Hebrew Scriptures Herod followed a prophecy. Both the wise men and Herod sought Jesus, but with very different motives. And, motives matter.
The wise men were responding to a deep sense of reverence and awe inspired by a celestial sign—there was a new king. And, though the infant had been born to be “king of the Jews,” the Magi recognized someone greater had come into the world. For his part Herod was responding to a deep sense of insecurity, and fear for his throne--Jerusalem wasn't big enough for two kings to rule the Jews, and Herod was not about to abdicate!
When talking about motives for seeking Jesus I believe it boils down to the two just mentioned. Either we acknowledge in Jesus' complete lordship over all things, including our lives, or we have no place for him because the throne of our life is already occupied by someone or something else.
Christmas is a particularly good time to consider what motivates us to seek Jesus. While many people are devoted to the Lord, and genuinely seek him every day, and worship him passionately and sincerely throughout the year, there are others who go “looking” for Jesus perhaps only at Christmas and Easter because he adds something to their experience of the holidays. These folks don't seek a Savior and Lord so much as an accessory to a life ruled by anyone but Jesus.
This is not to say that everyone who regularly attends Sunday worship throughout the year is necessarily motivated by a desire to adore and glorify and praise their king. Some seek a certain cultural approval that comes from being identified as a “church goer.” Some find it a social time to catch up with friends they don't see during the week. Some go because the church gives them opportunities to do community service and help others, not a bad thing at all, but hardly the worship of the king. There are “idols” that people bring into church every week, and just like ancient Jerusalem, no one's life is big enough for both an idol and Jesus to rule.
The thing about searching after anyone or anything other than Jesus is that, even if we find what we seek, we will sooner or later be disappointed. Not so with those who seek and find Jesus, for Christ never disappoints.
There's a bumper sticker that says, “Wise men still seek Him.” It's true enough, I suppose, but all kinds of people still seek Jesus, just as the Magi sought the newborn king to worship him, while Herod sought after a feared rival whom he wanted to murder. Jesus still sets people searching for him, what we need to do is examine our motives. If not today, Christmas Eve might be a good time to start. Will we be going to worship because we like the candlelight? Will it be the chance to sing some familiar carols? Maybe it will be nostalgia that draws us, as we try to recapture memories from when our parents used to bring us to church once or twice a year. Perhaps we'll go to try and create some memories for our own children. But unless we go to exalt the king, not only of the Jews, but of your life, and affirm that he alone occupies the throne of your heart, we would do well to question our motives.
Jesus set people searching long ago. If he is not yet our king, today would be a great day to seek him; we will find that he has in fact been seeking us!
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Jesus Divided and Divined
What Did Jesus Do?
“Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many...
and for a sign that is opposed,
so that the thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”
Luke 2.34-35
Everyone has a destiny, an appointed future. This is not fatalism, rather it is the providence of God, the working out of the divine will for all of creation, including our lives. Even though we all have a personal destiny, there was One who played a determining role in the destinies of all of humanity. You see, it was appointed by the Father that the Son would be responsible for the appointed futures of all of us. Aged Simeon recognized this in the baby Jesus, as he revealed to Mary and Joseph the destiny of their child.
It's like this, all of humanity has been predestined to be part of one of two groups: the elect, or the reprobate. Salvation or destruction await all of us. The sole factor in sorting out which future awaits us is Jesus Christ, he will divide and separate forever the wheat from the chaff, as it were, when God gathers in the final harvest of creation.
The dividing of humanity will not be at all arbitrary, there will be a definite and distinct measure. For, there is no middle ground when it comes to Jesus. One either receives Christ as Savior and Lord, or one opposes him. The “receivers” will celebrate in God's eternal end zone, if you catch my meaning; while the “opposers”, well, darkness, weeping, and the gnashing of teeth, and much worse will fill their eternity.
And, just in case some believe they can get by masquerading as Christ's own, Simeon pointed out that the thoughts of all hearts will revealed. Outward appearances and lip service count for nothing when it comes to our destiny. The most secret thoughts of our hearts will reveal which future is appointed for us.
If, by any chance, you are somehow yet unsure of whether or not you are a “receiver” or an “opposer” as you read this, it would be a good thing to take some time for your heart to be divined today. We don't need an appointment to meet with the One who has appointed all futures, the Great Cardiologist, so to speak, is ready to see us whenever we ask. And it is important to ask, because it is foolish to leave the divining of our heart's deepest thoughts to ourselves. We wouldn't perform a heart transplant on our ourselves, would we? And, the truth of the matter is, a new heart is exactly what we need. The good news is, God is eager and ready to perform “surgery” on everyone who comes to him admitting their old heart is no good, and asking for a new one. There is but one diagnostic test to be performed—either Jesus is in our heart, or he is not. If he is—fantastic! If he is not we have two choices: 1) We reject him, leaving our hearts just as they are (And in so doing confirm our reservation for eternity's “smoking section.”), or 2) We confess to the Father our desperate need for the Son, and ask him to send the Holy Spirit to put Jesus right were he needs to be in our lives (Confirming our destiny with God in and through Jesus, the Son.).
You want to know something, Christmas, the birth of Christ, may very well not have been December 25. But, today can be Christmas for you, or someone you know, by making this the day to receive the Father's gift of the Son. The truth is, some celebrated their Christmases yesterday, and others will be celebrating their Christmases today, and still others will be celebrating their Christmases tomorrow. That's what Jesus does every day when he divides and divines hearts that belong to him.
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4
“Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many...
and for a sign that is opposed,
so that the thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”
Luke 2.34-35
Everyone has a destiny, an appointed future. This is not fatalism, rather it is the providence of God, the working out of the divine will for all of creation, including our lives. Even though we all have a personal destiny, there was One who played a determining role in the destinies of all of humanity. You see, it was appointed by the Father that the Son would be responsible for the appointed futures of all of us. Aged Simeon recognized this in the baby Jesus, as he revealed to Mary and Joseph the destiny of their child.
It's like this, all of humanity has been predestined to be part of one of two groups: the elect, or the reprobate. Salvation or destruction await all of us. The sole factor in sorting out which future awaits us is Jesus Christ, he will divide and separate forever the wheat from the chaff, as it were, when God gathers in the final harvest of creation.
The dividing of humanity will not be at all arbitrary, there will be a definite and distinct measure. For, there is no middle ground when it comes to Jesus. One either receives Christ as Savior and Lord, or one opposes him. The “receivers” will celebrate in God's eternal end zone, if you catch my meaning; while the “opposers”, well, darkness, weeping, and the gnashing of teeth, and much worse will fill their eternity.
And, just in case some believe they can get by masquerading as Christ's own, Simeon pointed out that the thoughts of all hearts will revealed. Outward appearances and lip service count for nothing when it comes to our destiny. The most secret thoughts of our hearts will reveal which future is appointed for us.
If, by any chance, you are somehow yet unsure of whether or not you are a “receiver” or an “opposer” as you read this, it would be a good thing to take some time for your heart to be divined today. We don't need an appointment to meet with the One who has appointed all futures, the Great Cardiologist, so to speak, is ready to see us whenever we ask. And it is important to ask, because it is foolish to leave the divining of our heart's deepest thoughts to ourselves. We wouldn't perform a heart transplant on our ourselves, would we? And, the truth of the matter is, a new heart is exactly what we need. The good news is, God is eager and ready to perform “surgery” on everyone who comes to him admitting their old heart is no good, and asking for a new one. There is but one diagnostic test to be performed—either Jesus is in our heart, or he is not. If he is—fantastic! If he is not we have two choices: 1) We reject him, leaving our hearts just as they are (And in so doing confirm our reservation for eternity's “smoking section.”), or 2) We confess to the Father our desperate need for the Son, and ask him to send the Holy Spirit to put Jesus right were he needs to be in our lives (Confirming our destiny with God in and through Jesus, the Son.).
You want to know something, Christmas, the birth of Christ, may very well not have been December 25. But, today can be Christmas for you, or someone you know, by making this the day to receive the Father's gift of the Son. The truth is, some celebrated their Christmases yesterday, and others will be celebrating their Christmases today, and still others will be celebrating their Christmases tomorrow. That's what Jesus does every day when he divides and divines hearts that belong to him.
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Jesus Kept God's Promises
What Did Jesus Do?
“Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace,
according to your word.”
Luke 2.29
“Sticks and stones can break my bones, but words can never hurt me!” Remember that playground retort to name-calling? Of course, even as we said it, we knew it wasn't true, the taunting words of classmates did hurt us, or we wouldn't have needed to say anything. Mean spirited words are hurtful, no doubt about it, but there are words which, I believe, are even more destructive. Think about the following.
Your boss promises you a promotion, then gives it to someone else. Tell me that doesn't hurt. Mom or dad promise you that they'll take you to the movies on Saturday, but when Saturday comes, they're “too busy.” Ouch! A candidate for office promises, “No new taxes,” but when elected signs a bill loading a bunch more of taxes on your back. THAT's painful! Your spouse, who made vows of life-long fidelity on the day you were married breaks them. Feel betrayed? I'm not sure that there are any words that hurt worse than words of a broken promise. And, they are costly words too. Consider, if “A man (woman) is as good as his (her) word,” what can we say about someone whose “word” is worthless?
I cannot write these thoughts without confessing that I have broken a promise or two...alright, more than a couple! There is nothing I am more ashamed of than promises I've broken. But, be honest, have you always kept every promise you've ever made? If you have, congratulations, for you are in rare company! Oaths, promises, and vows should never be uttered without much thought, for the cost in breaking them is steep, more than we can pay. I believe that is why Jesus cautioned that it is better not to take an oath at all (See Matthew 5.33-37).
Speaking of Jesus, and you knew I would sooner or later, he is THE Promise Keeper when can all trust (With no disrespect to Coach McCartney). In fact, I might suggest that the only promises we really should ever rely on 100% are the promise made by the Father and fulfilled by the Son. We could be here a long time if I were to try and enumerate all the promises of God that are fulfilled in Christ, so let me just take one example that seems particularly appropriate at this time of year when we remember and celebrate the Savior's birth.
You see, for us Christ's birth is something we look back upon with great joy and thanksgiving to God. But there was a time when the coming of the Christ was looked forward to with an anticipation and longing hard for us to imagine. Luke tells about Simeon, who had awaited the coming of the Messiah his whole long life. Through all his years Simeon clung to a promise God had made to him—he would not die before he had seen the Lord's Christ (Luke 2.26). When Joseph and Mary brought their newborn son to the Temple to dedicate him Simeon immediately recognized in the child the very fulfillment of God's promise to him—his eyes beheld the salvation of God! And Simeon burst into a spontaneous song of praise, for God graciously granted the faithful old man to “depart in peace.”
If you will, the sum of all the Father's promises to his people add up to this—the Son was born to die in great affliction, that all we should, like Simeon, depart this life in perfect peace, knowing that in and through Christ we shall yet live forever in God's eternal kingdom of glory. These words, the Father's promises fulfilled in Christ Jesus the Son, don't hurt, they heal all hurts. Christmas this side of the cross should inspire the voices of millions of “Simeons” to bless the Father for the salvation he has revealed to us in the Son, who kept all the Father's promises.
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
“Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace,
according to your word.”
Luke 2.29
“Sticks and stones can break my bones, but words can never hurt me!” Remember that playground retort to name-calling? Of course, even as we said it, we knew it wasn't true, the taunting words of classmates did hurt us, or we wouldn't have needed to say anything. Mean spirited words are hurtful, no doubt about it, but there are words which, I believe, are even more destructive. Think about the following.
Your boss promises you a promotion, then gives it to someone else. Tell me that doesn't hurt. Mom or dad promise you that they'll take you to the movies on Saturday, but when Saturday comes, they're “too busy.” Ouch! A candidate for office promises, “No new taxes,” but when elected signs a bill loading a bunch more of taxes on your back. THAT's painful! Your spouse, who made vows of life-long fidelity on the day you were married breaks them. Feel betrayed? I'm not sure that there are any words that hurt worse than words of a broken promise. And, they are costly words too. Consider, if “A man (woman) is as good as his (her) word,” what can we say about someone whose “word” is worthless?
I cannot write these thoughts without confessing that I have broken a promise or two...alright, more than a couple! There is nothing I am more ashamed of than promises I've broken. But, be honest, have you always kept every promise you've ever made? If you have, congratulations, for you are in rare company! Oaths, promises, and vows should never be uttered without much thought, for the cost in breaking them is steep, more than we can pay. I believe that is why Jesus cautioned that it is better not to take an oath at all (See Matthew 5.33-37).
Speaking of Jesus, and you knew I would sooner or later, he is THE Promise Keeper when can all trust (With no disrespect to Coach McCartney). In fact, I might suggest that the only promises we really should ever rely on 100% are the promise made by the Father and fulfilled by the Son. We could be here a long time if I were to try and enumerate all the promises of God that are fulfilled in Christ, so let me just take one example that seems particularly appropriate at this time of year when we remember and celebrate the Savior's birth.
You see, for us Christ's birth is something we look back upon with great joy and thanksgiving to God. But there was a time when the coming of the Christ was looked forward to with an anticipation and longing hard for us to imagine. Luke tells about Simeon, who had awaited the coming of the Messiah his whole long life. Through all his years Simeon clung to a promise God had made to him—he would not die before he had seen the Lord's Christ (Luke 2.26). When Joseph and Mary brought their newborn son to the Temple to dedicate him Simeon immediately recognized in the child the very fulfillment of God's promise to him—his eyes beheld the salvation of God! And Simeon burst into a spontaneous song of praise, for God graciously granted the faithful old man to “depart in peace.”
If you will, the sum of all the Father's promises to his people add up to this—the Son was born to die in great affliction, that all we should, like Simeon, depart this life in perfect peace, knowing that in and through Christ we shall yet live forever in God's eternal kingdom of glory. These words, the Father's promises fulfilled in Christ Jesus the Son, don't hurt, they heal all hurts. Christmas this side of the cross should inspire the voices of millions of “Simeons” to bless the Father for the salvation he has revealed to us in the Son, who kept all the Father's promises.
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
