Wise Men Still Seek Him

 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

– Matthew 6:23

When we seek something — or someone — we need to know what — or whom — we’re looking for. For example, Christ-followers on their life-long spiritual journey look toward Jesus as their Lord and Savior. And every day, they should seek to know him better and do God’s will with purpose and vision.

If you’re a Christian, it's no revelation that this odyssey can be rough at times. But let’s consider the original Christ-followers 2,000 years ago, who traveled countless miles through deserts and rugged terrain — just to meet Jesus in person.

They were called the Magi, but you might know them from the Christmas story as the Wise Men or Three Kings. It’s thought that they were astrologers from Babylon (ancient Iraq), who were familiar with the Old Testament prophesies about the Jew’s long-awaited messiah.

The time came when they spotted a special star in the nighttime sky. It was a sign that was both breathtaking and unmistakable. And the Magi would soon follow it at all costs to gaze upon and worship the King of Kings.

The second chapter of Matthew’s gospel reveals that the Wise Men lived up to their name. And if we look closer, we’ll see that their successful journey highlights some important principles that we can embrace today. We learn first that following God can be dangerous and demanding. Our winding spiritual pathway is full of hairpin turns and steep hills rather than long, smooth stretches of highway. And to reach their destination, the Magi chose the road-less-taken rather than the direct route. But how often throughout our day do we choose the easy way out rather than doing the difficult — but right — thing?

The Magi’s long journey also reassures us that as Christ-followers, we will find Jesus if we search for him diligently. The Three Kings may well have been familiar with Jeremiah 29:13, which reads:

You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

So whether it's Christmas or any other day, let’s follow the Wise Men’s example. They recognized their Savior's star from a great distance, and stayed on the path until they reached their destination.

The Gift That Keeps on Giving

Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.

– 1 John 4:8

Christmas is around the corner, but don’t despair if you're still looking for that perfect gift for that someone special. After all, there are plenty of options out there, as your next visit to Amazon.com will confirm. But with money particularly tight these days, every purchase must count. Whatever you choose, it should be a gift that makes an impression — without overspending. It’s best to maximize the bang for your buck.

There's nothing wrong with trying to stretch a dollar. But maybe a gift's real value has much more to do with the meaning and person behind it than its Low Everyday Walmart price.

That's certainly the case if we're to believe the Bible. So what does it say

about the characteristics of a good gift? And more to the point, what does Scripture tell us about being a good gift-giver? We can find the answers through its vivid portrayals of Jesus related to the issues of living, relationships and love.

It's from Christ's example that we learn to give with an attitude of generosity: one that exceeds what we expect to receive. Our gifts should also affirm the value of the recipient. But most importantly, our gifts — whatever they may be — should be given out of love.

The Bible doesn't say that an Apple iPhone is a better gift than a bicycle or a sweater. But the same principles apply. And what we also learn is that when it comes to gift-giving, it really IS the thought that counts.  

Christmas is straight ahead ... and time is running out. But before we log on to Amazon, tune into the Home Shopping Network or even drive to the mall, let's follow the examples of Jesus, who was and is the ultimate gift-giver. His greatest present was the salvation he bought for us through his death on the cross. It was an incredibly valuable gift that we can never repay. It was also given out of love. And it's free and available to anyone who's willing to untie the bow and open the package. 

Joy to the World

Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh.

– Luke 6:21

There’s an old saying in the news business: If it leads, it bleeds. Surf the web, turn on the TV or read a newspaper, and you’re bound to come across headline after headline about contested presidential elections, never-ending pandemics and degenerate human behavior. The fact is that the media thrives off of bad news and hyping the worst possible scenarios for maximum effect. After all, good news rarely drives ratings or sells magazines.

With bad news and scary headlines in such plentiful supply these days, how about counting our blessings and taking a much-needed break? For one week, make the effort to

avoid TV — particularly news broadcasts or shows with a political bent. Keep away from similar content on the web. And don’t bother with newspapers or magazines. (Even many of the so-called entertainment magazines have fully embraced politics.)

At the end of those quiet seven days, maybe you won’t feel quite as informed as you would have had you stayed glued to the evening newscast or a favorite website. But odds are you’ll experience much less stress and enjoy a more positive outlook on life.

That’s some sound advice for ditching the bad news. But what about finding some good news for a change?

As Christ-followers, the Good News about Jesus is what gives us hope and a much clearer perspective for tomorrow. And as we read in the Bible about the incredible promises God has kept over the centuries, our anticipation only grows as we ponder the amazing future that awaits. Until then, our life-journey will have its peaks and valleys. But we’ll find real hope in our darkest hours. What’s more, we’ll also experience joy, which springs from within through our relationship with God.

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace," said Jesus to his disciples. "In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

Are you going through some tough times these days? Good News and the blessings that accompany it are closer than you think!

Overcoming the Inevitable

 I am the living one! I was dead, but now I am alive forever and ever. I have authority over death and the world of the dead.

– Revelation 1:18

Although few like to talk about it, it’s something we’ll all have to face one day. It’s not a trip to the dentist’s office or an audit by the IRS. It’s something much more inevitable: DEATH.

Why do so many people worry about dying? For those who aren’t Christ-followers, death represents the unknown. It’s a gaping, black hole. And who knows what’s at the bottom of that pit or who’s on the other side? And besides, death is just so … final.

That doesn’t sound very reassuring. So here’s some good news: If you’ve accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you have nothing to fear from death. In fact, death is simply

the transition between our relatively brief existence on Earth and an eternity of joy. It’s from Revelation — the final book of the Bible — that we learn that all our troubles, tears and sorrows will be a thing of the past. That’s something to anticipate rather than fear!

How is this possible? 

Unlike you and me, Jesus lived a perfect, sin-free life. And he willingly accepted the death penalty on a Roman cross to pay for our failure to live up to God’s perfect standards. Then he proved that he was indeed God-in-the-flesh by fulfilling Old Testament prophesies and rising to life. The huge stone that had sealed his grave was rolled away, and the tomb was revealed to be empty and hollow. Likewise, so now was the devil’s greatest weapon against mankind: the threat of death.

It’s a reminder of a difficult truth: One day, death will take you. But if you’ve surrendered your life to Jesus, death can’t keep you. That’s because it’s already been defeated through his triumphant resurrection. It's in John’s gospel that we find this familiar passage about Christ’s power to overcome the grave: 

“I am the resurrection and the life,” the Savior proclaims. “He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?"

Although death is a sobering fact of life, you can believe in Jesus’ promises and have great confidence in your eternal future. It’s because he conquered death that every Believer will overcome the inevitable.

The Right Choice

“Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”

-- Acts 4:12

We live in a nation that’s blessed with choices. Need a cell phone? There are dozens of retailers offering hundreds of devices from Apple, Samsung, LG and other manufacturers. Well-stocked supermarkets may offer 10 or more brands of bottled water. And if you’re looking for entertainment, Netflix, Apple TV and Hulu have a program or movie for just about everyone — from cartoons to romantic comedies to horror flicks. Then there’s that ubiquitous online marketplace, Amazon.com. According to the BigCommerce website, Amazon is where you’ll find your choice of more than 350 million different products!

Choice has long been popular in America, so it’s no surprise that we also have

options for religion. There's something for every taste and preference. And making it more confusing is that many well-meaning people contend that which one you choose doesn't really matter — just so long as you're sincere in your beliefs and it makes you happy. After all, one person's truth isn't someone else's. It's all relative. And we're all worshipping the same god anyway. Right?

Not really! The Bible makes several startling claims that collide with the easy-going beliefs of our modern-day culture. And it also backs them up. For example, the Old Testament accurately predicted Jesus' birth — even the name of the tiny village where it would happen — centuries before the fact. And we read that in Jesus' brief time on earth, he cured the sick, raised the dead, forgave sins and became a living sacrifice to pay the price for all the wrongs of the world. His resurrection from the grave, just as he foretold, proved his ultimate power over death. And 2,000 years later, Christ's words continue to change lives and make an eternal difference:

"I am the vine; you are the branches," he proclaims through John's gospel. "If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing."

Many people, even those who aren't Christ-followers, agree that Jesus was a "good" man and a "wise" teacher. But the hot button question is whether or not he's the only way to God. The short answer is ... YES! Jesus declares that no one can come to the Father (God) except through him. But that's a disturbing claim these days because it asserts exclusivity. And many would call it intolerant.

But maybe Jesus’ claim isn’t quite so exclusive after all. Let's consider that his death and resurrection make eternal life possible for anyone who accepts God's free gift. No one who wants a new life through the Savior is turned away. And unlike manmade religions, the way to God isn't about keeping certain rules, saying special prayers or eating (or not eating) particular foods. Instead, being a Christ-follower is about having a personal relationship with Jesus, accepting what he’s already accomplished — and letting him live through us. All we need to do is choose to come to him in faith. 

In a world with 20 major religions plus thousands of related offshoots, Jesus alone is the right choice. 

At Your Service

My friends, what good is it to say you have faith, when you don't do anything to show that you really do have faith? Can that kind of faith save you?

-- James 2:14

The retail and hospitality segments of America’s economy lost millions of jobs in 2020 following the forced shutdown of businesses due to the COVID-19 pandemic. But as people from coast to coast sheltered in place and worked remotely from home, demand soared for residential deliveries of products and services ranging from groceries to exercise equipment. The result is that companies like Amazon, FedEx, and UPS are constantly hiring more workers to process and deliver it all. And the public’s insatiable demand for these services only continues to grow as we approach the holidays. 

The logistics industry doesn’t have a monopoly on service. The church, in

fact, has 2,000 years of experience with it. So whenever one of those familiar Amazon vans drops off a package in your neighborhood, think about Jesus’ example to his followers about serving others: 

“In the same way, the Son of Man did not come to be served,” the Savior tells us. “He came to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many people."

Jesus turns the notion of greatness on its head by emphasizing the server over the one he or she serves. What follows is that Christ-followers are to be Jesus’ hands and feet on earth while we wait for his return — or that day when he calls us back home (whichever comes first). Until then, we’re to help prepare God’s kingdom by making the most of the different gifts and talents he’s given us to serve others. 

But when we serve, it’s not about us. It’s instead about our Creator and his creation. With this in mind, let’s turn our faith into action by accepting Jesus’ invitation to help brighten a dark, dying world that’s so much in need of light, truth and love. 

“Make your light shine,” he says, “so that others will see the good that you do and will praise your Father in heaven.”

That’s a prime level of service that Amazon will never deliver.

Pledge of Allegiance

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

– Romans 12:1

Americans of a certain age will recall that the Pledge of Allegiance was recited each morning in classrooms across the nation — with millions of students placing their right hand over their heart — and all in front of the flag. It was a daily declaration of devotion to the Stars and Stripes and the republic for which it stands.

Being a Christ-follower also calls for allegiance, but to One who's much

greater than any flag or nation. In fact, Jesus requires total devotion from his disciples and would-be followers. Half-heartedness and non-committal don't make the cut.

Believers should therefore demonstrate a Christ-centered faith through their words and deeds. That doesn't mean we must earn God's favor through good works and morality, following a set of rules, or going to church religiously and putting a check in the bucket each Sunday. In fact, we read in Isaiah 64:6 that our so-called good deeds are considered filthy rags when compared to God's high standards of perfection. That's why Jesus — who actually DID live a perfect, sin-free life — was the only one worthy enough to pay the penalty we all deserve for failing our Creator.

Although we're powerless to save ourselves, our Savior did so willingly to accomplish what was planned at the foundation of the world. It's through this sacrifice that he made it possible for his followers in the centuries that followed to serve as his hands and feet on earth. To illustrate the importance of his incredible mission, Jesus told a story about a master, who gave each of his three servants a considerable sum of money to invest while he was away on an extended trip. After a while, the master returned to claim what was his. He was pleased with the first two servants, who had used their funds wisely. Their efforts and willingness to risk their allocations resulted in doubling the money. But it wasn't so with the third servant. He was afraid of his boss' stern reputation and didn't want to risk a loss. So instead, he played it safe and buried his master's money in a hole in the ground.

This is where modern-day Christ-followers enter the picture. Like the three servants in the story, we've also received resources, skills and opportunities to invest in the lives of others. The beneficiaries could be your spouse, sibling or child. They might also be a coworker, neighbor, villagers in Central America ... or maybe someone God puts in your path through unexpected circumstances.

So here's the obvious question: How are we investing what God has given to us? Are we turning our faith into action and changing the world one person at a time, or are we playing it safe? 

The answer depends on our allegiance.