When Hezekiah became king he reversed what his father Ahaz had been doing and started to lead the nation of Judah back to worshipping God. He was 25 when he became king and his first recorded act, in the first month of his reign, was to put God’s temple in order. This required quite a bit of work in several areas.

First there was the physical building of the temple. Through many years of neglect it was in need of repair. Following this it needed to be consecrated, cleansed of anything that would make it ceremonially unclean. Hezekiah’s father Ahaz had set up idols to be worshipped in the temple and had even moved God’s altar from its central position to be replaced with one to a pagan god. Anything that had been associated with idolatry needed to be removed. What they hadn’t been doing – offering incense and burnt offerings to God – needed to begin to happen again.

Hezekiah recruited those who had been set aside by God to serve in the temple: the priests and Levites. They, too, had been neglecting their duties to God and serving idols. They immediately went to work.

“They assembled their brothers and consecrated themselves. Then they went in to purify the Lord’s temple, just as the king had ordered, in accordance with the word of the Lord. The priests then entered the Lord’s temple to purify it; they brought out to the courtyard of the Lord’s temple every ceremonially unclean thing they discovered inside. The Levites took them out to the Kidron Valley. On the first day of the first month they began consecrating; by the eighth day of the month they reached the porch of the Lord’s temple. For eight more days they consecrated the Lord’s temple. On the sixteenth day of the first month they were finished.” (2 Chronicles 29:15-17 NET)

For over two weeks they worked on just getting the paraphernalia associated with idolatry out of God’s temple. But it wasn’t enough to just get rid of it by dumping it outside the walls of Jerusalem in the Kidron Valley – they needed to put back what they should have been doing.

The day after they were finished Hezekiah brought sacrifices for a sin offering for the kingdom, the sanctuary and Judah. These were offered “to make atonement for all Israel” (2 Chronicles 29:20-24).

Following this they restored the worship of God with the various sacrifices and singing. There were so many animals brought to be offered that there were not enough priests to do it all – the Levites had to help. All of this was to restore the worship of God.

“There was a large number of burnt sacrifices, as well as fat from the peace offerings and drink offerings that accompanied the burnt sacrifices. So the service of the Lord’s temple was reinstituted. Hezekiah and all the people were happy about what God had done for them, for it had been done quickly.” (2 Chronicles 29:35-36)

He then commanded the people to observe the Passover. Even though it was a month late, because there were not enough priests consecrated to do it as they were cleansing the temple, “The Lord responded favourably to Hezekiah and forgave the people” (2 Chronicles 30:20).

What is sad in all of this is this statement: “There was a great celebration in Jerusalem, unlike anything that had occurred in Jerusalem since the time of King Solomon son of David of Israel” (2 Chronicles 30:26).

What happens when we wander away from God? Usually we start doing things we shouldn’t and not doing what God wants us to do. To get back to God we need to get rid of what is sinful and replace it with what God wants of us. Included in this is getting back to worshipping God as we read the Christians did at the first. When we do this we can once again serve God as his people.

Jon Galloway

Self-analysis is recommended. “Put yourselves to the test to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves!” 2 Corinthians 12.5a.

Here are three questions to aid all of us in being obedient to the Lord, for that is exactly the objective self-analysis should have.

1. If Christ returns today, what will he say to you?
2. Based on his words to you (final judgment), what would you have done yesterday?
3. What keeps you from doing today, right now, what you would have done yesterday?

The answers to these questions must be based upon the word of Christ which will judge us in the last day: “The one who rejects me and does not accept my words has a judge; the word I have spoken will judge him at the last day” John 12.48.

It is quite possible that Christ will return today. He tells us to be ready at all times. When he comes, he will say one of two things to every single person:

• Well done, come on in.
• Depart from me, you sinful creature.

Yesterday, in the questions above, stands for not only yesterday but all days in the past, although we’ve narrowed it down to help us focus on specific places, times, and events.

The third question focuses upon impediments to our obedience to the Lord.

“Just as ritual circumcision cuts away the foreskin as an external symbol of dedicated covenant commitment, you must genuinely dedicate yourselves to the Lord and get rid of everything that hinders your commitment to me, people of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem. If you do not, my anger will blaze up like a flaming fire against you that no one will be able to extinguish. That will happen because of the evil you have done” Jeremiah 4.4.

Paul asked the Galatians: “You were running well; who prevented you from obeying the truth?” Galatians 5.7. Relationships are often a big problem to committing to Christ and to remaining committed to him, because we act, change our ways, or bend our wills to please others. “Am I now trying to gain the approval of people, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a slave of Christ!” Galatians 1.10.

Many fail to proclaim the gospel to everyone because they are people-pleasers. And God is not pleased.

“For the appeal we make does not come from error or impurity or with deceit, but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we declare it, not to please people but God, who examines our hearts” 1 Thessalonians 2.3-4.

The disciple Ananias asked Saul, “Now, why wait any longer?” Acts 22.16 NCV. His question sought to sweep away any objections to obedience, any barriers to baptism. It still serves a useful purpose today, even to those who have been baptized, since faith and obedience must be ongoing. If you obedience is not yet complete, the question still stands: Why wait any longer?

Because Christ might well return today. And you’ll wonder why you didn’t do something different yesterday.

J. Randal Matheny

The following New Years conversation is from an old “For Better or Worse” comic strip. The family is seated around the breakfast table, and the father says: “Well, here we are in a brand-new year. I think we should all make some resolutions, don’t you?”
MOTHER: “O.K. I resolve not to criticize, to nag less and to bake more often.”

FAMILY RESPONSE: “Right on! Neat! Yeah!”

FATHER: “I resolve not to lose my temper, and to fix all the things in the house that need repairs.”

FAMILY RESPONSE: “Great! Okay!!!”

ELIZABETH: “I resolve to brush Farley (dog), to keep my room clean and not to fight with Michael.”

FAMILY RESPONSE: “Good!”

MICHAEL: “I resolve to play road hockey, hang out with my friends, and to watch TV.”

MOTHER: “Wait a minute! We all made real promises. Your resolutions are worthless.”

MICHAEL: “I know…but at least mine will be kept!”

It is quite easy to make resolutions; it is quite another thing to keep them. I saw a report on TV a few years ago that said January is the month in which more people sign up in aerobic and physical fitness clubs, and some never show up for the whole year. Others attend a few times and soon are seen no more.

However, the fact remains that making resolutions is a means of challenging ourselves to greater things. It is a good time to take inventory of our lives, and where we see a deficiency, to resolve to make the needed improvements. Someone once recommended the following “tips for success” in keeping one’s resolutions:

• Make “bite size” goals you can keep.
• Be realistic—avoid saying “never ever.”
• Find an “anti-procrastination partner” to keep you from slipping.
• Keep track of progress.
• Don’t set too many goals.

I would add some more. Isaiah voiced the basic one: “Seek the Lord while He may be found: call upon Him while He is near” Isaiah 55:6.

Rather than materially concentrating on enriching ourselves, we should resolve to follow our Lord’s recommendation:

“Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you” Matthew 6:33.

Resolve to look to the Lord for spiritual resources. What we cannot do of ourselves, the Lord can accomplish through us.

As Paul stated it: “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” Philippians 4:13. And he didn’t even have to wait for a new year to do it!

BY RON BARTENAN

1. Grace brings peace (1 Thessalonians 1:1).
2. Grace gives us favor with God (Romans 3:24).
3. Grace is the generous attitude God has towards His people (Ephesians 1:6).
4. Grace brings salvation to sinful man (Titus 2:11).
5. Grace teaches us how to live (Titus 2:11-12).
6. Grace gives us a glimpse of God’s Character (John 1:16).
7. Grace appeared in the flesh (Titus 2:11).
8. Grace originated from God (Eph. 2:4-5).
9. Grace is powerful (2 Corinthians 12:9).
10. Grace helps put Heaven in view (Acts 15:11).
11. Grace helps us be the salt of the earth (Acts 4:33).
12. Grace is an attribute of Christ (John 1:14).
13. Grace is an attribute of Christians (2 Corinthians 8:7).
14. Grace puts the word “Christ” in Christian (John 1:17).
15. Grace is a powerful motivator (Titus 2:13-14).
16. Grace is a gift (that is often left unopened, Ephesians 2:8).
17. Grace gives us hope (Romans 6:14).
18. Grace shows us the love of God (Romans 5:8).
19. Grace brings comfort (Hebrews 4:16).
20. Grace is given to the humble (James 4:6).
21. Grace gives us strength ( 2 Timothy 2:1).

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,

That saved a wretch like me.

I once was lost but now am found,

Was blind, but now I see.

T’was Grace that taught my heart to fear.

And Grace, my fears relieved.

How precious did that Grace appear

The hour I first believed.

Carl Pollard

From 1923 to 1985, Robert Woodruff was president of Coca-Cola. He wanted Coke to be available to every American serviceman around the world for five cents, no matter what it cost the company. That was a bold vision! But it was nothing compared to the bigger picture he could see in his mind’s eye. In his lifetime, he wanted every person in the world to have tasted Coca-Cola. When you look deep into your heart, and soul for a vision for God’s glory, what do you see?

Jesus was the most visionary man the world has ever known. His vision embraced the whole world for the sake of the world. He said, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature…” (Mark 16:15). That is vision! The kind that will provide a new world! How are we going to carry that vision into your community in 2024?

The Bible says, “So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people…” (Gal. 6:10). But it takes vision to see the opportunities. We actually “create luck” when we see opportunity.

With Jesus, the vision started within. He had come to earth to teach men how to honor God. He began teaching and people started following Him, so then He called a dozen of those men and gave them powers and sent them out with His vision. Let’s look at Matthew 10…

1. Focus – Notice verses 5-7.
2. Be equipped – Verse 8.
3. Trust – Verses 9-10.
4. Don’t waste time on infertile soil – verses 11-15.
5. Understand the challenges – verses 16-20.

2024 can be a great year for the church, if we have all our members putting their vision into focus and then acting on that vision.

What is your vision for your contribution to the health and growth of your congregation? Let’s put it into reality.

Paul Holland

Well, we finally got the Christmas tree up…after Thanksgiving…before the Christmas band concerts and parties. In my humble opinion, it was the right time to do it. No doubt there will be two primary responses to our timing. Some of you are thinking, “Cory! What’s wrong with you? It’s way too late for that! You should’ve had that tree up while your turkey was frying!” Others are saying, “Thank you for your sanity and reasonableness. I’ll be over this weekend with my Christmas sweater, Bing Crosby, and eggnog!” This is one of those, mostly, friendly discussions that comes up every year. When is it the right time to put up your Christmas tree? The real answer, whether you like it or not, is, “Whenever you want to.”

However, there are a lot of actions in our lives that require a much more urgent response. Things that, for some reason, we have a tendency to put off “just a little bit longer,” or “until the timing in right.” Sadly, such reasoning tends to result in perpetual procrastination, and we never see them accomplished.

For instance:

• When is the right time to apologize for hurting someone? (Matt 5:23-24)
• When is the right time to use kind words? (Eph. 4:29)
• When is the right time to be a peacemaker instead of a pot-stirrer? (Matt. 7:12)
• When is the right time to tell someone you love them? (Rom. 13:8)
• When is the right time to get rid of sinful and harmful habits? (Pro. 28:13)
• When is the right time to give full control of your life to God? (Act 22:16)

The answer to all of the above is, “Now!” Now is the time to do the right thing.

I think it’s safe to say that all of us have one or more of these situations (or something like them) which need to be dealt with immediately. Why are you putting off handling it? Is it really because the timing is not right? Or is it more an issue of personal, stubborn pride? Only you can answer that, and I hope you will answer it honestly. More importantly, I hope we can all understand that the right time is now to do what we know we should.

Cory Waddell

Beethoven may have poisoned himself – inadvertently. That’s what William Walsh, a scientist from Illinois, suggested after studying strands of hair from the body of famous classical composer Ludwig van Beethoven. Walsh discovered that Beethoven’s body had one hundred times the normal amount of lead. He concluded that Beethoven’s untimely death at the age of fifty-seven was due to lead poisoning.

Beethoven’s lead poisoning may have been due to the mineral spa he went to for relaxation. The very thing he thought was bringing him relief was slowly poisoning him to death.

Spiritual poison is like that. As people engage in practices and embrace ideas that are spiritually poisonous, they think they’re becoming more spiritual. But in reality, they’re gradually being poisoned to eternal death.

Paul encourages the Christians in Rome to leave their sinful lifestyle behind them and “obey from the heart” the pattern of Gospel teaching so that they can be sanctified.

DO NOT LET SIN REIGN IN YOUR MORTAL BODY – 6:12-14:

Verse 12 shows us that it is possible for us to allow sin to reign in our physical bodies. Even if we become Christians, it is still possible for us to live in sin. But Paul says we should not! Verse 13 has a command: “do not present your members of your body for the purpose of sinning, as tools for unrighteousness.”

So instead of grace giving us a license to sin or to live in sin, actually being saved by grace is a motivation to not live in sin!

YOU BECAME OBEDIENT FROM THE HEART – 6:15-19:

Paul speaks from their everyday experiences: when you present yourself as a slave for obedience, it stands to reason that you are a slave of the one whom you obey. So if you are a slave of sin (ver. 16), your life will result in death. If you are a slave of obedience to God, your life will result in righteousness!

But, Paul writes in excitement in verse 17, by the grace of God they have been presented the Gospel of Christ, which brings salvation (1:16) and they have been obedient to it! So that at one time, they were slaves of sin, but they obeyed – notice where it starts: in the heart – from the heart the forms or pattern of teaching to which they had committed themselves – the pattern of the Gospel message. This is a reference back to 6:3-4 and to everything that is involved in becoming a Christian.

So Paul gives us another command in verse 19: Present your members as slaves to righteousness. Serve God in righteousness; live a righteous life. The result will be that you are separated from a sinful world, even as you live in a sinful world, but you will be in the kingdom of God’s beloved Son!

ENSLAVED TO GOD, YOU DERIVE YOUR BENEFIT: ETERNAL LIFE – 6:20-23:

A person who is not a Christian is shackled to sin; he or she is not shackled to Christ (ver. 20).

So Paul asks them this sobering question in verse 21: What benefit did you get from practicing things that you are now ashamed of? Why can’t we live in sin so that grace can about? Because the sinful lifestyle bring shame, that’s why!

The payment or reward or outcome of a sinful lifestyle is death – eternal separation from God. The payment or reward or outcome of living a righteous life in Jesus Christ, which is God’s gracious gift to us, is eternal life in Christ Jesus, our Master.

Don’t live in sin; continue obeying from the heart so that your reward will be eternal life.

Paul Holland

Two men were eager to climb the Matterhorn, a particularly steep and treacherous mountain.  They hired three guides and started the climb.  When they reached the steepest and most dangerous part, the men roped themselves together in this order: guide, traveler, guide, traveler, guide.  On their way up, the guide at the back lost his footing.  The other four men were able to hold him up until the next man slipped and pulled two others down with him.  Being roped together, now all four men were held in place by the first guide at the top.  Wisely, this man had driven a spike deep into the ice and anchored himself to the mountain.  This allowed enough time for all of the men to regain their footing (F.B. Meyer).

So much of our spiritual journey to heaven can feel like this climb. We’ve all lost our footing on the way up (Romans 3:23). Thankfully, we’ve had others there to help us when we slipped (Galatians 6:1-2). Sadly, sometimes our slips have brought others down as well.  Praise the Lord, however, that Christ is leading the way!

Christ will never slip or fall (Mark 16:19). He is our anchor, firm and secure (Hebrews 6:19). He is our rock and our foundation (1 Corinthians 3:11).  He is our Savior (1 John 4:14-16).

Christ will always stand strong.  At times we may slip, but as long as we stay attached to Him, we will not fall.

Brett Petrillo

It is remarkably easy to claim to love and adore God, but how do we even discern our treatment of the Lord? While perhaps there are some other things involved, let’s consider one particular factor that perhaps should startle many Christians.

Consider the thrust of an argument set forth by the apostle John in 1 John 4. In verse 12 he states, “No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.” Love towards one’s brother in Christ is equated with love for an unseen God. In verses 20-21 John goes on to say, “If anyone says, ‘I love God, and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.” When a Christian claims to love God and at the same time hates his brother, John says, “he is a liar.” It is hypocritical to claim to love a God that one cannot see when he does not love brethren he does see.

Now consider what the Lord said to Saul when He appeared and spoke to him in Acts 9. Verse 3 states: “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” Saul was persecuting Christians. But the Lord indicates that there was a sense in which Saul was persecuting Him. There was a corresponding relationship between the way Saul treated Christians and the way He was treating the Lord.

While it is understood that Christians have specific responsibilities toward God (like worship) and that this relationship trumps all others, it is mandatory that they see that in some ways their relationship with the Lord cannot surpass their relationship with brethren and others. In fact, Jesus uses this reasoning concerning how the eternal judgment will work out. When we rightly serve others, we are serving the Lord. When we neglect others, we are neglecting the Lord. Jesus says in Matthew 25:40, “Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.” And then He says in verse 45, “Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.”

Consider one final text pertaining to this matter. The theme of the book of Colossians is the supremacy of Christ in all things (see Col. 1:15-20). Evidently, the supremacy of Christ in our lives demands proper treatment of family and others. Paul indicates it is “fitting in the Lord,” for wives to submit to their husbands (see Col. 3:18); as well as for husbands to love their wives (v. 19); and children to obey their parents (v. 20). And Paul even goes on to discuss the slaves obedience to their masters. Please note that they serve with integrity because they “fear the Lord” (v. 22). But don’t miss the next verse: “Whatever you do, work heartily as for the Lord and not for men” (v. 23).

That person we have a relationship with needs to be treated in a very Christ-like manner. We are responsible to God for this, and doing so will bless our lives beyond measure. Take close inventory of the way you treat others. You can’t treat God better than you do them!

How are you treating the Lord?

Daren Schroeder

Fundamental Idea: Poking one’s nose where it doesn’t belong.

• • II Thessalonians 3.11 – “We hear that some of you are idle, not busy working, but being busybodies.”
    • This person is more likely to accept charity than contribute to the good of others (cf. 3.7-11).
    • Some at the Thessalonian church were confused about the second coming and may have stopped working (2.1, 2).
    • Not being occupied with providing or pursuing the work of the church leaves one vulnerable to pursuit of ungodliness.
  • I Timothy 5.13 – “Besides that, they learn to be idlers, going from house to house – not just idle, but a gossiper and busybody.”
    • Paul is warning about the potential danger of financially supporting young widows (as opposed to older widows) who could be taken care of by family. Those who don’t look out for their own have “denied the faith and are worse than unbelievers” (5.8).
    • By having little to occupy their time, they may end up intruding into things they shouldn’t.
  • Acts 19.19 – “And a number of those who had practiced magic arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all…”
    • Magic arts is the emphasis here, surprisingly. An interest in unhealthy subjects is the same word as busybody.

Being occupied with things that aren’t our business or are spiritually harmful is considered sinful! While we should be vigilant to take care of our spiritual family, we should pursue balance by not having an unhealthy interest in others’ affairs and by filling our time with cultivating godliness.

Who can name this lovable busybody from TAGS?

Gary Pollard

“He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; he who loves Me will be loved by the Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him,” (John14:21).

Let’s look at a few aspects of a lifestyle of obedience this morning. First, as our trust in the Father grows, we get a confidence that comes from believing that the Lord is who Scripture says He is. Our Bibles tell us that He is good as well as faithful to keep His promises. (see 2 Corinthians 1:20; Psalm 86:15). These verses call Him merciful, gracious, loving, and slow to anger. His character remains unchanged by difficult to understand circumstances. “Jesus is the same yesterday and today and forever,” (Hebrews 13:8). Next, we have to develop an ever-deepening ability to “wait on the Lord.” In a society when we have instant answers at our fingertips, delays are not a part of the way we look at things. With that, we need to resist that temptation, and learn to “wait on Him,” rather than running ahead on our own. Third, we must all commit to obeying God. Why? Without this resolve, we may vacillate at decision time or allow fear to prevent us from choosing His way instead of struggling and plodding along. We must allow our obedience to be the foundation of Him guiding us.

 “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm119:105).

Yesterday we began this two-part study about an obedient lifestyle with three basic concepts. First was that our trust in God must grow, remembering that He is good and keeps His promises. Next was that we develop an ever-deepening ability to wait on the Lord rather than trying to run ahead of Him. Lastly we were to make a commitment to obey God, always choosing to follow His way. Today’s verse shows us another way to develop an obedient lifestyle. The verse indicates the importance of God’s Word in our lives, and that our study of Scripture must become consistent. The Bible reveals God’s priorities, commands, and warnings, as the Word acts as a light to illuminate His chosen path for us. It acts as a light that will reveal the obstacles and dangers along life’s way. Without it, we are like someone who walks in a forest at night without a flashlight. Becoming a Christian does not mean that obedience to God is automatic. That is why the term “lifestyle” is in the title of this lesson. Obedience to God is a life-long process that includes our trust in Him and our patience in waiting on Him before acting on our own. This commitment needs to be a steadfast one. With being steadfast in our obedience, we can say no to ungodly choices, and yes to God.

Mark Seim

Since Weezie and I are new to living in the New England area, we are enjoying learning a little history about the area. Five miles from us is the little town of Bethlehem with a population about 2,500. On Christmas day, 1799 the name “Bethlehem” was decided upon for their village which consisted of 33 families and that name was officially recognized on Dember 27 of that year. It soon became a boom town and tourist destination having over thirty hotels and five train depots with seven trains a day rolling into this little village. It attracted visitors from all over, including Robert Frost, the poet, and five United States Presidents.

We find all that interesting, but there is another town named “Bethlehem” which also has an interesting history. It is the little town of Bethlehem, Judea. One learns several interesting facts and lessons from this biblical town by reading Luke 2. Basically, the whole world knows that Jesus was born in this village.

    First, with Jesus’ Birth in Bethlehem, We See God’s Providence at Work. Joseph and Mary came to be in this village where Jesus was born because “In those days, a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth…and everyone was on his way to register for the census, each to his own city,” (Luke 2:1, 3). About 700 years before the birth of Christ, God said in Micah 5:2, “But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, from the days of eternity.” But, Joseph and Mary lived in Nazareth, eighty miles to the north. Had it not been for Caesar Augustus’ decreed, Jesus might have been born in Nazareth. The census was called just at the right time for Jesus to be born in the city of David!

One can tell that Joseph and Mary were poor by the sacrifice they offered (Luke 2:24). We also learn from Matthew’s account of Jesus’ birth that wise men brought gifts to Joseph and Mary (Matthew 2:12ff). Because of the danger of Jesus’ being put to death by Herod, Joseph was told to take the young child to Egypt. How could Joseph afford that trip? Only because the providence of God brought them money they needed to live in Egypt several months, maybe even a year.

It is also providential that Bethlehem was a place caravans going to Egypt formed. How handy for Joseph, Mary, and the young child to be able to get to Egypt! There are several major events which occurred around Bethlehem where God worked out the details by working through natural events to fulfil His will. Let’s not forget that God still works in our lives through providence, even though we do not live in Bethlehem, Judea!

    Second, Jesus’ Birth Was First Announced to Shepherds Keeping Their Flocks Near Bethlehem, (Luke 2:1-20). Early in biblical history, God’s people were known for being shepherds. The biblical scholar, William Barclay, says that by the time of the New Testament, shepherds had a bad reputation. Even though they took care of sheep, they were usually not the owners of the sheep. They had such a bad reputation they were not allowed to testify in legal court. Remember, Jesus spoke of the shepherds who were hirelings and not really interested in protecting the sheep (John 10:12). Shepherds of Jesus’ day were outcast from society.

    “In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terribly frightened. But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people, for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior who is Christ the Lord,’” (Luke 2:8-11).

Isn’t it interesting that God saw fit to call upon those outcasts to be the first to announce the most important birth of all time? God has always taken special interest in those who were outcasts and those who were poor and mistreated.

Those shepherds went to see Jesus and “when they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child. And all who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds,” (Luke 2:17-18). Here, the outcasts of society were the first to announce the birth of the Savior.

God still has a soft heart for those who are outcasts in society. If you feel like you are an outcast from society, rest assured, God wants you! You can be part of His family! Often, those who are Christians are looked upon as outcasts. They are looked upon as being “odd” and out of step with the world’s views. The world thinks we are foolish for believing there is salvation through a cross (I Corinthians 1:23-24).

    Third, Jesus Is Special, Just Like the Sheep, the Shepherds Guarded Were Special. It was only about six miles from Bethlehem to Jerusalem. At the temple in Jerusalem the priest offered a lamb to God as a sacrifice every morning at 9:00 and every afternoon at 3:00. Those were special sacrifices, and those special sheep were kept in the fields of Bethlehem.

Jesus was born right where those special sheep were kept! That is no surprise when one realizes that Jesus is the most special Lamb that has ever been offered. Peter reminds us, “You were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with precious blood as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ,” (I Peter 1:18-19). Those special lambs had to be offered everyday for 1,500 years! Jesus’ blood was offered once for all. It is no wonder that when John saw Jesus he cried out, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world,” (John 1:29).

    Fourth, Bethlehem Means “House of Bread.” How appropriate that Jesus was born in a town with that meaning! Jesus truly is the bread of life! “Jesus then said to them, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread out of heaven,  but it is My Father who gives you the true bread out of heaven. For the bread of God is that which comes down out of heaven, and gives life to the world…I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst,” (John 6:32-33, 35). He went on to explain that one partakes of that bread as one feeds on the words Christ gives (John 6:63, 66-68).

Concluding Reminders

There are several questions each of us needs to ask ourselves: (1) Are we eating the bread of life? We can only do that as we follow closely the Word of God. (2) Have we received the benefit of Jesus’ sacrifice as the Lamb of God? That has not happened unless we have been immersed in water in order to die to self and be forgiven of our sins which is obtained by reaching His cleansing blood (Romans 6:3-4). (3) Are we announcing to the world around us, the message that Jesus is the Savior of the world, as the shepherds did? If not, why not? Have we learned the messages from Bethlehem?

Wayne Burger

In John’s Gospel, we see some insights into the ministry of Jesus that we do not see in the other three accounts. In particular, when we focus in on the last few chapters before His arrest, we see some principles that should be true of how we all minister to others.

1. We should love individuals (11:3).
2. We should be concerned with glorifying the Lord (11:4, 40-42; 12:28).
3. We should love families (11:5).
4. We should develop friendships (11:11).
5. We should encourage others (11:23).
6. We should sympathize and empathize with others (11:33).
7. We should show our emotions (11:35).
8. We should spend time with people (12:1-2).
9. We should go back and visit again after the fact (12:1-2).
10. We should allow others to minister to us (12:7-8).

• We should be willing to do what the Lord expects of us (12:24-27, 30-33).

12. We should be teaching (12:44-50).
13. We should love other ministers (13:1).
14. We should humble ourselves (13:4-5, 13-14).
15. We should serve (13:5).
16. We should help people try to understand (13:7, 12, 17).
17. We should be real (13:21).
18. We should serve all equally (13:22).
19. We should encourage love (13:34-35).
20. We should encourage (14:1).

Whether you are a preacher, an elder, a minister, a teacher, a deacon, or “just” a follower of Jesus, we all are called to minister to others. May we all do so with the love and purpose shown to us by the Master Teacher!

Corey Sawyers

1. The Bible was written by 40 different writers.
2. The Bible was written from 3 continents: Asia, Africa, & Europe.
3. It was written in 3 ancient languages: Hebrew, Aramaic, & Greek.
4. The original manuscripts making up the cannon contain 611,000 words.
5. The longest book is Jeremiah.
6. The shortest book is 3rd John.
7. The Bible contains around 185 songs.
8. The Bible records around 21 dreams.

The Bible is more than just fascinating trivia. It is the only book God ever wrote. Let’s make sure we’re spending time in His Word daily.

Dale Pollard

For everything there is an appointed time, and an appropriate time for every activity on earth…a time to keep silent, and a time to speak (Ecclesiastes 3:1,7 NET).

There is just so much noise. Twenty-four-hour news channels, talk radio, and social media provide a ceaseless surge of sound. Unfortunate news is twisted, amplified, and replayed into an unremitting feedback loop. To add to the noise seems almost like pouring a cup of water into the Pacific. I long for silence.

In the midst of all that noise, there are moments of deafening silence. There are occasions when voices must rise and cut through the clamor, speaking with clarity, conviction, and compassion.

When should we speak and we should we be silent?

Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters! Let every person be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger (James 1:19).

People like to talk. We all believe our opinions are correct, else we would have different ones. Furthermore, we generally feel like others should share our opinions. After all, they are the correct ones.

It seems most people only listen to speak, not to understand. We all want to contribute to the conversation, so we either anxiously wait for our time to speak, or we lift our voice and make it our time. Rarely do we actually hear the person. In this regard we are quick to speak.

Our personal experiences are naturally limited. Wisdom demands listening to others to understand.

In this way, silence is a sacrifice of our desire to be heard. It is a sacrifice of our pride. We willingly sacrifice our voice, so that others may be heard, and that we may learn.

Job’s three friends sat with him in silence for seven days and nights. The only sound they shared was weeping as a greeting (Job 2:11-13).

But there is a time to speak.

When told to be silent about Jesus, Peter and John responded, “for it is impossible for us not to speak about what we have seen and heard” (Acts 4:20). They had a mandate from God to share the objective truth about the Christ.

Speaking the truth will cause some to be offended. Jews accused Stephen of “speaking blasphemous words against Moses and God” (Acts 6:11). Speaking the truth cost Stephen his life. Being silent would have cost him much more.

Paul was compelled to preach the gospel, “Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!” (2 Corinthians 9:16). Paul was imprisoned, beaten, and stoned, and still he spoke. He was the target of spiteful slanders, and still he spoke. His life was threatened, and still he spoke.

When it is time to speak, silence is a sacrifice of principle, character, and dignity. Silence, in moments where speech is demanded, costs us far more than we should want to pay.

When should we speak and when should we be silent?

Scripture and wisdom should dictate what our duty is in each situation. As Job’s friends demonstrated, silence is always preferable to speaking foolishly. Keep silent and learn. As our Lord and his servants demonstrated, the truth must be spoken. Speak it with love and grace, but speak it you must.

Perhaps this rule of thumb will help. If it is your opinion or your experience, hold on to it longer than you would like, and listen longer than you desire. If it is a word from the Lord, speak it as you would want to hear it, undiluted and with as much love and grace as you can offer. If you do this, you will neither sacrifice your character, nor the dignity of the one with whom you are speaking.

Lee Parish

A teenager took a rope and hanged himself in the family’s shed, depressed about his relationship with his girlfriend. A two year old is beaten with belts, her head repeatedly dunked into cold bath water, and is thrown to the floor because she doesn’t consistently say “please” and “thank you.” She dies from her injuries.

These examples of troubled hearts are extreme, but frightening familiar. Most people don’t take their frustrations out in such violent ways. They may become depressed, have difficulty sleeping, eat too much, or turn to substance abuse to numb the pain. They may react in anger or internalize their stress. They are still very troubled, nonetheless. They have lost their sense of balance and meaning.

We are told that everyone has a breaking point though few of us reach it. We ask how it could happen and why we didn’t see it coming. Could we have prevented it? What would have made a difference in the outcome? King David found the answer when he confronted his own enemies. He said, “In my distress I called upon the LORD; to my God I cried for help. From his temple he heard my voice, and my cry to him reached his ears” (Psalms 18:6). He went on to tell of God’s powerful response in delivering him.

Depression and despair that is borne of anger is like a brain cancer that eats away our peace. David continued, “Yea, you light my lamp; the Lord my God lightens my darkness” (18:28). The darkness of despair is made bright as day when we place our confidence in God. Unfortunately, many people never come to know the peace God provides.

Where do you go when you are discouraged or troubled in heart? Do you turn to destructive actions or become bitter? Or do you sit quietly and call on the Lord? Do you lift Him up in your heart and listen to His voice? He will lift you up.

By Al Behel

What’s mine is mine, and what’s yours is yours. We live in a world today where that is very much the rule of life. With houses, cars, boats, and $400.00 coffee makers, people living in this country understand they work hard for that they have, and others do the same.

But do we share our stuff with Christians? Acts 4:3 says, “…those who believed were of one heart and soul; and not one of them claimed that anything belonging to him was his own, but all things were common property to them.” This does not sound like the church today. Now, let’s understand that there are no commands in this passage. BUT there is a good principle to put into our lives. “Do you share your stuff?”

I have a beautiful 2012 Chevy Silverado 4-door. I love my truck. We use that truck for everything. We even have two car seats in the back for my sons. But I’ll tell you the truth about something. I don’t think I’ve ever handed the keys over to a Christian that needed it for something. If I have it has been very few times.

The passage later says in v.34, 35a, “For there was not a needy person among them, for all who were owners of land or houses would sell them and bring the proceeds of the sales and lay them at the apostles’ feet.” Do we have needy Christians today? Yes, we do. Really stop and think about what this passage is saying. There was NO needy person among them because Christians were taking care of Christians by sharing what they had!

What we can learn is to share our stuff. Ask Christians if they need something done this week. In my case, find a Christian that needs a truck for something and let them use it. This principle is Christians taking care of Christians with their stuff. Let us start asking brethren what they need and fill that need.

Devin Guillams

Jesus cited Isaiah 6.9-10 to explain why people didn’t understand his parables. Paul cited the same passage, and Luke uses it at the end of Acts, to explain the rejection of the gospel by the Jews.

What catches our attention about the Isaiah passage is that it follows directly the account of the prophet’s vision of God’s holy glory and his calling to go speak to the people.

He said, “Go and tell these people: “‘Listen continually, but don’t understand. Look continually, but don’t perceive.’ Make the hearts of these people calloused; make their ears deaf and their eyes blind. Otherwise they might see with their eyes and hear with their ears, their hearts might understand and they might repent and be healed.”

We have often emphasized, and rightly so, the place of hearing in the plan of salvation. Without it, there will be no understanding of the message and no salvation by Christ.

Hearing, however, like faith, is not a one-time action. It is a continuous process. This is seen clearly in the calling of Isaiah. He was an Israelite, one of God’s people. He did what Israel refused to do, in the preceding verse:

I heard the voice of the Lord say, “Whom will I send? Who will go on our behalf?” I answered, “Here I am, send me!” v. 8.

The Lord spoke to Isaiah. He heard his voice and responded to it. The Lord’s question points up the need, his will and desire, the importance of speaking the message of God. And this man, sensitive to his sin in the presence of God, steps forward.

You and I aren’t going to be privileged to see a miraculous vision of God’s throneroom and hear the booming voice of the Lord. It’s not going to happen.

But we have been privileged to hear the Good News of Jesus Christ, who left that glory and became a human being, who lived as one of us and witnessed to glorious truth, who submitted himself to the will of God and humbled himself to the point of death — and death on a painful cross.

When we stand before that cross, we ought to hear the voice of the Lord say, “Whom will I send? Who will go on our behalf?”

And we ought to say, like Isaiah, “Here I am, send me!”

You and I who are the saints of God stand in the same position as the person who is hearing the truth of Christ for the first time. God speaks. The gospel and the calling are one and the same. We are saved to save.

Refusal to hear God and respond brings to both groups the same condemnation. He who refuses to hear the plan of salvation will not be saved. He who refuses to heed the call of Christ to go will not save others and he himself will be lost.

If the plan of salvation is precious to us, why is the call to go not as precious?

The American church is shrinking. It is shrinking for a single reason. Because it has refused to hear the voice of God.

It is time to wake up and listen. For God will cast her aside and find people willing to hear and to go. And the passage of Isaiah 6.9-10 will close another sad chapter in the history of the church, when his people refuse his word and find themselves excluded from the Kingdom.

J. Randal Matheny

The kit comes with everything you need to raise your very own Sea Monkeys. I remember the very first batch of these strange creatures I grew when I was a young boy. A small package of tiny brown eggs are dumped into purified water and then after two weeks they’ve hatched into real swimming organisms. That change is fascinating and it’s almost mesmerizing to watch them all dart around inside their aquarium. In the animal world the process of metamorphosis is very common and we’re not too surprised when it happens. It’s interesting and exciting, but it’s expected. We aren’t confused when a tadpole turns into a frog or when a caterpillar turns into a butterfly, because it’s natural.

In Romans 12:2 we read that as Christians we are to undergo a drastic spiritual transformation by the “renewal of the mind.” The Greek word used for “transformation” here is where we get the word “metamorphosis” from, and that’s very telling. The idea is that the transformation process we are to undergo is not a small change like getting a haircut or getting contacts, but a dramatic and radical change. We are to have an entirely different mind, heart, and outlook on life. We have been transformed into someone and something entirely different. In the animal world there is an essential process involved in metamorphosis. If the caterpillar never spins a cocoon, then it could never hope to sprout wings. If the caterpillar leaves the cocoon too soon then it can’t expect to be as developed and healthy as it needs to be. There is a natural time allotted for the change to occur. Christians are expected to grow but not to be completely transformed overnight; we, too, have a process. This shouldn’t be used as an excuse to not be proactive in growing our faith, but it should be a reminder that if we’re not working toward this transformation we will remain in the same state in which we are now. That is unnatural.

Why does that caterpillar slowly climb that tall tree or take the time to painstakingly wrap itself in that cocoon? Because it knows it wasn’t meant to be a caterpillar forever. The work it takes to be transformed and to sprout the wings of a great and mature faith is a difficult process, but it’s worth it. That’s what God expects from us and He has the power to help us make this amazing change. Our prayer lives and our time spent in His Word are crucial to our development. We should let the end goal be the motivation to press on and allow ourselves to be completely transformed. One day that effort will show when we see our new bodies (Philippians 3:21) and we’ve reached our final glorious destination. We will live forever with the Savior who transformed us.

Dale Pollard

Someone (unknown to me) relates this story:

When my grandmother was in her eighties, she decided to move to Israel.  As part of the preparations, she went to see her doctor and get all her charts.  The doctor asked her how she was doing, so she gave him the litany of complaints — this hurts, that’s stiff, I’m tireder and slower, etc., etc., etc.

He responded with, “Mrs. Weiss, you have to expect things to start deteriorating.  After all, who wants to live to 100?”

My grandmother looked him straight in the eye and replied, “Anyone who’s 99.”

It’s so true.  No matter how old we are, there is the desire to live at least one more year.  Even Christians who look forward to being with their heavenly Father sometimes have a hard time letting go of life in this world.  But Jesus’ death (and resurrection) truly makes all the difference in the world.

“Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death — that is, the devil — and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.” (Heb. 2:14-15)

Satan holds the “power of death,” but praise be to the One who gives us hope because He holds the “power of life”!

Have a great day!

Alan Smith